Sabrina Luna Author News for July ...

is now posted at my blog:

http://sabrinaluna.blogspot.com



Check it out!

Thx,
Sabrina )O(


+ + +
Sabrina Luna
Spicy Romance with a Touch of Magick
http://www.sabrinaluna.com

Check out my blog ...

for my $1.01 on TROY (the film) at http://sabrinaluna.blogspot.com or http://sistersofthedarkmoon.blogspot.com

Plus a few hot movie pics too! :)

Thx,
Sabrina )O(


+ + +
Sabrina Luna
Spicy Romance with a Touch of Magick
http://www.sabrinaluna.com

More Commandments from the Vatican

Last week I blogged about the Vatican releasing the "Ten Commandments for Driving." In response, Slate posted a fabulous article.

http://www.slate.com/id/2168930/nav/ais/

As I am a self-confessed reality t.v. junkie, I particularly loved the Top Chef 3 Commandments.

"—Thou shalt not make thy dishes too complicated, and thou shalt take it easy on the saucing, lest the flavor of the marinade overwhelm the flavor of the protein.

—Thou shalt stop being so prickly all the time, Tom Colicchio. Yes, thou art a fantastic chef and successful restaurateur, but the contestants are under a lot of pressure and are trying their best, and sometimes thou art too critical.

—Thou shalt maybe think of asking the pope to be a guest judge one of these days. I wouldst deliver gentle and constructive criticism, and would invite the winner for a weekend getaway at the papal retreat, where I would cook a hearty Schweinsbraten."

Got e-books? How about free e-reader software?

Nifty new e-reader software, free from Adobe!




The free Digital Editions download is under 3MB (Windows version) and takes less than two minutes to install over a broadband connection. With an RIA service model, users always have the latest version of Digital Editions, taking advantage of new features and security enhancements.

Free download is available here:
http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/

Comments from a user review posted here:

"Reading electronic books on your computer can be an exercise in futility. Computer screens aren't really designed to display text in a the same way as a book, and it's hard to find a single application capable of handling all the eBook formats you might want (PDF, HTML, TXT, PRC, LIT, RB, and the list goes on).

While Adobe's new Digital Editions eBook reader doesn't solve the latter problem, it is a slick new solution for reading PDF, Flash, and XML files. It has a much smaller footprint than Adobe Reader and is designed specifically for reading books.

You can make bookmarks, add text notes, and change font sizes with ease. There also seem to be about a dozen ways to flip pages (with the up and down, right or left keys on your keyboard, the scrollwheel on your mouse, or the scrollbar on the side of the page).

Digital Editions is currently available for Mac and PC, with a Linux beta due out later this year."

Why Erotic Romance?

To be honest, I never intended to write romance at all. My main focus for writing most of my life has been fantasy and sci-fi. I found some authors Yahell loops and joined to start trying to soak up information about the business from others and most of the authors in the loops were romance authors. I started reading some of the books I saw promoted on the loops and found that I really enjoyed them.

I still had not really thought about writing romance until I saw the guidelines for the Masquerade anthology on AA's website. I loved the premise! I bought Volume 1 and loved it. I started writing since the website said that submissions were still being accepted for future volumes. After I started writing (but before I submitted) Volume 2 was released. I bought that and again, loved it.

I started writing erotic romance because I loved the story premise and had recently developed an appreciation for the genre. If you had told me a year ago that I'd be published as a romance author, I probably would have said you were crazy. *LOL*

Life takes us along some unusual paths. I sort of fell on to this one without really trying. So far I like the scenery!

--Des

Why Erotic Romance?

Okay, so I looked up the words Erotic and Romance in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, and this is what I got:


Erotic
1 : of, devoted to, or tending to arouse sexual love or desire
2 : strongly marked or affected by sexual desire

Romance
(1) : a prose narrative treating imaginary characters involved in events remote in time or place and usually heroic, adventurous, or mysterious
(2) : a love story especially in the form of a novel

Very interesting, huh? But it still doesn't answer the question of why I choose to write in this genre.

To be quite honest with you, I hardly give myself labels when it comes to my writing because I love to write in a variety of genres. I love to delve into the many different facets of human emotions. The only thing that remains a constant in all my stories is the paranormal, or dark-edge fantasy that I just can't stay away from.

That characters usually find themselves swept up in romance that leads to sensual and erotic events, is not a conscious choice on my part. Each tale I write requires a different degree of romance, it just depends on the characters and story itself. Or how the muse is feeling that day. Though I have to admit that I love to read and write about characters that are so intoxicated with each other, the sensuality keeps me on edge until they finally confess and connect. Both physically and emotionally.

Do I like to write sex for the sake of sex? No, not really. Still, I love writing the actual sex scenes within the plot. They're a lot of fun. And usually the easiest bits to write, and afterward revise. ;)

So do I fit into the Erotic Romance category? Sure, I write stories strongly marked or affected by sexual desire, that involve events remote in time or place and usually heroic, adventurous, or mysterious.

To answer the question of Why Erotic Romance? I say, Why not? It sure is a lot of fun!


Yolanda Sfetsos
http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/

Now available from Aphrodite's Apples:
HellBlaze and Masquerade, Volume 3.

Guidance At Long Last...

Today the Vatican released a document detailing the "Driver's Ten Commandments." I could say so much more on this, but honestly, they speak for themselves.

1. You shall not kill.

2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.

3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.

4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.

5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.

6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.

7. Support the families of accident victims.

8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.

9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.

10. Feel responsible toward others.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070619/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_road_rage

The Midnight Muses Go BAM!

Our lovely and talented promo group, The Midnight Muses, passed out flyers and chatted with customers at the Books A Million (Hwy 49 & 160) in Charlotte NC this past Saturday! We had an awesome time! Special thanks to Alexis, Shawn and the rest of the BAM staff for making us feel right at home --and they made us some fresh coffee too!

Crymsyn R. Hart, Dahlia Rose and Eliza Gayle

Sabrina Luna, Crymsyn R. Hart and Eliza Gayle

Stay tuned for out next Meet-n-Greet!

Hugs & Thx,
Sabrina )O(


+ + +
Sabrina Luna
Spicy Romance with a Touch of Magick
http://www.sabrinaluna.com

Another 5 Stars for Regency Romp!

It's another 5 star review for anthology Regency Romp! Dawn of Love Romances and More offers this glowing summary of stories by Emma Wildes, Kayleigh Jamison, Nikki Watson, Katrina Strauss, and Jennifer Mueller:

"This is one of the best Regency anthologies this reviewer has read in a long time. Full of captivating characters, sinfully passionate sex, and a love that will transcend the pages. Each story is a true gem in this anthology and each author delivers her own spin on this time period. Be swept away into the Regency period with these fine authors in Regency Romp, vol. 1, you won’t be disappointed!"

See the full review here:
http://www.loveromancesandmore.com/reviews/June2007/regencyromps_dawn.htm

And see what all the fuss is about here:
http://www.aphroditesapples.com/regency_romp1.htm
Be advised, this is not your mother's snotty, tea-sipping Regency! ;)

Hotter than a crop circle!

Local council orders racy ad removed from beneath airport's flight path

The Associated Press
June 14, 2007

LONDON: A giant silhouette of a naked pole dancer painted on a field beneath Gatwick Airport's flight path is disturbing the British countryside.

The 100,000 square foot (9,300 square meter) advertisement is nearly invisible from the ground, but can be seen by airline passengers, Tandridge District Council spokeswoman Giuseppina Valenza said Thursday.

She said the ad was painted on the field without proper permission and that the council would take legal action if it was not removed.

Sports Media Gaming Ltd, the company behind the ad, said the council had no grounds for removing it. "I think they're unsure about their own regulations to be honest," director Stephen Pearson said. "We're not going to remove it at all."

This is not the first time that the company's ads have appeared near the airport.

In 2005, an ad for Lynx deodorant featuring a man fondling two naked women was washed off a nearby field after Unilever PLC decided to pull it, Pearson said.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England expressed disgust with the ad.

"It sets such a nasty precedent, using our landscapes just for advertisement," said Paul Miner, a planning campaigner.


Source:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/14/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-Pole-Dancing-Ad.php

Cheers!
Katrina S.
Romance for the Black Coffee Crowd
http://www.katrinastrauss.com/

COFFEE, SEX & A LITTLE BIT OF THE PARANORMAL -COME JOIN US!

Another Meet-N-Greet with The Midnight Muses!

Meet The Midnight Muses on Saturday, June 16th at Books A Million Hwy 160 & 49 in Charlotte NC from 1-4 PM!

We’ll be there promoting our ebooks, passing out flyers and offering a Goodie Bag prize to be given away to a Lucky Winner!

Thx & Hugs,
Sabrina )O(


+ + +
Sabrina Luna
Spicy Romance with a Touch of Magick
http://www.sabrinaluna.com

All work and no play make Homer something something

I'm not a cook. Not even a pretend one. In fact, the most my friends will let me get away with in the kitchen is stirring. Maybe.

However, I've been meaning to go to bed for an hour now. I'm actually shaking from sleep dep and the fact that although I want to write more, I physically don't think that I can right now.

And I thought, is this a case of welcome to the very opposite of Writer's Block? :D

~

Nikki Watson - Dark Fantasy/Romance Writer
http://www.nikkiwatson.110mb.com/

un-dessert-related thoughts on ePublishing

I'm alive, y'all!

I'm pretty excited about that. LOL. Since I've been down with the flu I have all sorts of things to talk to you all about. I'm thrilled to announce that Aphrodite's Apples has joined both EPIC and the Erotic Authors' Association (EAA). Both of these organizations are representative of what we are trying to accomplish, in terms of the advancement of both intelligent erotica, and the elevation of ePublishing.

The EAA is interested in the promotion of erotica as an art form, something that's sorely needed in today's current socio-political climate. Mainstream writers groups (I won't name names) are pulling back and treating romantic erotica as if it's a redheaded stepchild, tolerated only because of sales. Some of the smaller presses who specialize in romantic erotica are being subjected to recertification. It's crap, in my opinion. If this is mainstream professionalism, I'd rather be an indie.

EPIC, on the other hand, is exactly what is needed in ePublishing. I joined a couple weeks ago, though I'd been meaning to for some time. Kayleigh Jamison, our Editor-in-Chief, has belonged for a while now. I'm really impressed with the group as a whole - they are just as dedicated to quality and the advancement of ePublishing as we at Aphrodite's are. They are intelligent, professional and I'm looking forward to working with them more.

Those of you not in the biz might wonder why I'm so delighted with EPIC. Right now ePublishing is in its infancy, and we're seen as electronic Pulp Fiction. In some respects that's amusing to me, as Shakespeare, in his day was a pulp writer. Ben Jonson was considered by his peers to be the far superior author. I'd like to see a show of hands for who's heard of him besides me. Who do we study today? Will Shakespeare, pulp writer.

But I digress. Some of ePublishing's pulp reputation is deserved. There are author mills and disingenuous soulsPublishAmerica claiming to be royalty paying presses, when in reality they accept anyone and do not edit or do anything that helps the author refine or market their books.

However, there are wonderful ePresses that want to create the best stories they can, in electronic form. We certainly do at Aphrodite's. I am delighted to find so many like-minded souls at EPIC. Places like Freya's Bower, Tease and Whiskey Creek. Indeed, EPIC's site is a good place to start if you are looking for a publisher, or information on eBooks in general.

If you are an aspiring author considering ePublishing, I would urge you to look around EPIC's site. When we were creating our original contracts for Aphrodite's, we looked to EPIC to make certain our language would adhere to industry standards. EPIC, Preditors and Editors and Piers Anthony's page on ePub are all excellent resources if you'd like to learn more about the business.

A well-informed author is a more confident and savvy submitter. We have a page on the advantages of ePublishing for would-be authors. Read it, and some of the other resources I suggested. As an author, I know how much work I put into my manuscripts. Protect yourself and your work.

If you're a reader, take a chance on an eBook. I think you'll be surprised and delighted at what you'll find, right here on the web.

Chocolate Mousse

Okay, when it comes to cooking... I'm definitely not the best person to consult. To be honest with you, the hubby does most of the cooking at our place. But when it comes to dessert, well, I'm the one that puts those together.

Only problem is that most of them are made from ingredients that come straight out of a box. I'm not the type of person that can stay inside the kitchen for hours starting something from scratch. I'd rather be doing a thousand other things.

That's where the box comes in. :D

One of our favourite desserts is Chocolate Mousse. As you can see to my (upper) left, it looks really nice and tastes even better. There's a bit of preparation involved, and you need to add milk, but I still enjoy putting it together as a Sunday treat.

Now for the instructions... Ah yeah, here they are:

See, it's easy! ;) Less preparation time means it takes a hell of a lot less to put together, but tastes yum! Though the dishes still pile up. But that's another story.

Yolanda Sfetsos
www.yolandasfetsos.com

Now available from Aphrodite's Apples:
HellBlaze and Masquerade, Volume 3.

"Chinese" Chocolate Banana Dessert

Okay, folks, this is a simple, EZ dessert that's quite yummy! I learned this wonderful little trick in my years working in Chinese restaurants where we served buffet-style lunches & dinners. ;)

Refrigerate a batch of ripe bananas, then remove when ready to make. Peel and chopped up bananas in bite-sizes pieces. Place bananas in large serving bowl. Drizzle *liberally* with Hershey's chocolate sauce and serve.

Yep, it's that EZ and folks will be begging for seconds! Plus you get two of your food groups --fruit & chocolate!

Bon Appetite!
Sabrina )O(


+ + +
Sabrina Luna
Spicy Romance with a Touch of Magick
http://www.sabrinaluna.com
CHARADE Now Available at Aphrodite's Apples!

English Trifle

This is a perfect recipe for this time of year and its Red, White and Blue theme makes it a grand centerpiece for 4th of July picnics. The trifle is an elegantly old-fashioned take on traditional shortcake, using fresh seasonal fruits and rich, creamy custard.


Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 
  
• 1 pint heavy cream
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 
  
• 1 (4.6 ounce) package non-instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 (8 ounce) jar seedless raspberry jam, or fresh pressed raspberry puree
  
• 1/2 cup sherry
• 4 fresh white peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced
• 1 pint fresh strawberries, rinsed and sliced
• 1 pint blueberries or blackberries
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x8 inch cake pan.
2. In large bowl, cream together margarine and 1/2 cup sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Fold dry ingredients into butter mixture. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake 25 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly touched in center. Cool in pan for five minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack. Cut into narrow pieces about 1 1/2 inches by 4 inches. Set aside.
4. In large bowl, beat cream with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Beat in 1/4 cup sugar and vanilla and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
5. Prepare vanilla pudding according to package directions. Set aside.
6. To Assemble Trifle: Brush each piece of cake with raspberry jam. Use half the cake pieces to line the bottom of a trifle bowl or other glass serving dish. Sprinkle half of the sherry over cake. Layer half the peaches, strawberries and blueberries on top. Cover with half the pudding and a third of the whipped cream. Repeat layers with remaining cake, sherry, fruit and pudding. Top with remaining whipped cream. Chill in refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving.

Deep-Fried Cheesecake

Because in the South, we'll fry anything...



Deep-Fried Cheesecake

1 prepared cheesecake (homemade or bought)
30 Oriental spring roll wrappers
Egg wash (whisk 1 egg with 1 cup of milk)
Vegetable oil (as needed)
Cinnamon Sugar (as needed, see recipe at end)

Cut already-baked cheesecake into uniform pieces approximately 3 x 1-inches in size. One large cheesecake will produce about 30 slices for deep frying.

Lightly moisten each spring roll wrapper with the egg wash. Blot off excess egg wash with paper towel.

Place each piece of cheesecake in the middle of a wrapper. Fold top of wrapper down over the cheesecake, and both sides toward the middle. Roll each piece of cheesecake toward you until it is completely rolled up. Give this "egg roll" a gentle squeeze to make sure the dough is sealed completely.

Using a deep frying pan, heat at least 3 inches of oil to 365°F. Dip the corner of one "egg roll" in the heated oil. If the oil sizzles, it is ready. If not, heat the oil a little longer. When the oil is ready, gently release "egg rolls" into the oil and allow to brown lightly, approximately 10 seconds.

Using tongs, remove the golden-brown "egg rolls" from the oil. Place each "egg roll" in the cinnamon sugar (see recipe at end) and coat well. Place deep-fried slices of cheesecake on paper towels to cool slightly before serving.

CAUTION: These will be very hot. Allow to cool at least 5 minutes before serving. They can be enjoyed warm or cold.


Cinnamon sugar mix:

2 cups granulated sugar
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Combine in shallow pie pan. Mix well.

**Variations**
Sprinkle with powdered sugar; drizzle with warm chocolate sauce; the more decadent, the better! ;)


Enjoy! :D

Katrina S.
Explore the darker side of love...
http://www.katrinastrauss.com/

Smart? Or sexy? Why not both?

Aphrodite's Apples continues to bust genres in romantic e-pub! Yolanda Sfetso's HellBlaze, which was released at Fictionwise just last week, is currently ranked #2 in the Horror category! We're also making in-roads in the burgeoning genre of Romantic Sci-Fi with LA Taylor's Azar, which hit #14 this week in the Science Fiction category!

Looking for something different in erotic romance that you won't find in the bookstore? Wishing you could find erotic e-books that stimulate both above and below the belt? Find HellBlaze, Azar and other fine Aphrodite's Apples titles here at FictionWise: http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/AphroditesApplesPresseBooks.htm

Intrigued? Find more and check out our newest releases at our direct site!
http://www.aphroditesapples.com/

Chocolate silk pie (vegan)

1 chocolate cookie premade crust (Arrowhead Mills, organic and vegan)

2 Mori Nu Mates chocolate pudding packs

2 Mori Nu silken tofu packages

Some Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips (vegan)

Blend two packages of the tofu with 8T of water in a food processor until creamy. Then carefully add the first package and blend, then add second.

Pour mixture into pie crust, smooth top, then add chocolate chips.

Chill overnight in fridge. This recipe is great for the lactose or dairy intolerant, or simply those looking to cut back on the fat in their diet.

And people think vegans are deprived. ;)

-A

***

Adrianne Brennan

www.adriannebrennan.com

Dark fantasy, science fiction, and erotica writer

Sabrina Luna's Author News Posted!

Drop by either my blog or Sisters of the Dark Moon's blogspot to find out what's new with me for June 2007!

Thx,
Sabrina )O(


+ + +
Sabrina Luna
Spicy Romance with a Touch of Magick
http://www.sabrinaluna.com