Projects in the works!

I always get asked the question, "What are you working on now?"

Well, here's the short list:

1) The Oath, Book 5: Union. Yes, the last book at LAST! And yes, I am thinking of penning a sequel featuring Lila and a particular character who showed up in book 3. Book 4 is on my editor's desk and details on its release forthcoming.

2) Blood and Spice, the sequel to Blood and Mint Chocolates. More adventures of Merideth and Kalia, plus the introduction of a character mentioned in Blood of the Dark Moon that had people either ranting or intensely curious. Hint: it's NOT what you're expecting. I think you'll enjoy it. :D

3) Shadows of the Dark Moon, the sequel to Blood of the Dark Moon and official Book 2 of the Dark Moon series. Really enjoy political intrigue? I'm going to delve a bit more into the Order of the Dragon and the Rose, its various clans, and a bit of background on how it started. It'll take place after Blood and Spice.

4) Legend of the Dark Moon, the prequel to the Dark Moon series. All about how the Order of the Dragon and the Rose and how its Clan Gladius began. The focus will be almost entirely on Janius/James. I won't say too much about it right now as some of it is based on some lovely spoilers for the sequels above. :)

I also have a few other stories in the works which either are stand-alones or potential starts of new series. One is a steampunk romance and the other is a dark urban fantasy erotic romance involving witches and the fae.

Having WAY too much fun, just wish my day job allowed me more time to get this all out sooner! But in the meantime, there will be four upcoming releases to enjoy. :)



Love & Magic,
Adrianne
http://www.adriannebrennan.com

It's the end of the year as we know it...

Some of you may think, "Hey! Aren't you calling it a little prematurely?" I probably am, but would you believe there are only two months left of 2010? How time flies! I was just getting used to writing 2010 on my checks and saying "twenty-ten".

When I look back over this year, I think that writing-wise, I've done great. I made a number of different writing deadlines, one of which landed me a traditional publishing contract with an anthology due out next year. My primary job is even going well and I'm still in it--and hopefully will be next year, knock on wood. I've even gotten into exercising and am pretty consistent with my P90X/Insanity hybrid routine.

Do I have any regrets? Some. I wish I had budgeted both time and finances better. I also wish I had taken advantage of certain opportunities when I had them. Was it a better year than the last? I think both yes and no.

Time will tell over the next couple of months how I will feel about 2010...as I suspect it will for you all. So make it count, and like me...keep an open mind.



Stay warm,
Adrianne
http://www.adriannebrennan.com

Fall is falling

Today I wrote a blog post which is essentially a guide to surviving the oncoming winter. Being a resident in New England, I am very aware every year from around November until March that I live in the absolutely wrong climate not just for my severe seasonal and environmental allergies, but climate as well. I don't do well in the winter, and getting by means saving up money and getting away at least once or twice to someplace warmer. When I'm there I don't rent a car, I just walk everywhere and hoard as much sunshine and natural vitamin D as I can before returning to the Cold Cruel North.

This is why I am VERY excited to announce the following: I do have a number of winter and spring releases coming up! Two are slated for February and another will be in the spring. There is a fourth whose release date is pending edits and executive decision, but I'll let people know first thing once I get the news. Here's the brief list:

Feb 2011:
Pisces - a f/f scifi/thriller erotic romance in the Sapphic Signs with Torquere Press
Catch the Touch of Blue, a paranormal romance in the Dreams and Desires vol 4 anthology with Freya's Bower

Spring 2011:
Love Under Will, an interracial paranormal erotic romance featuring angels and fallen angels in the Mammoth Book of Hot Romance with Running Press

TBD:
The Oath, Book 4: Anointed - a paranormal/fantasy/BDSM erotica with Freya's Bower

Also in the works is Book 5 in the Oath series, the sequel to Dawn of the Seraphs and also the sequels to Blood of the Dark Moon and Blood and Mint Chocolates.

There will be no end to my being busy this coming season, and I hope to bring everyone more goodies. And with any luck...survive the cold and lack of sun. :P




Love & Magic,
Adrianne
http://www.adriannebrennan.com

New contract! Catch the Touch of Blue, paranormal/sweet romance coming soon to Freya's Bower!

New contract! Catch the Touch of Blue, paranormal/sweet romance coming soon to Freya's Bower! It will be in the Dreams and Desires volume 4 anthology, benefits going towards A Window Between Worlds, which provides art therapy programs for battered women's shelters.

Blurb:
An artist named Isobel possesses the ability to see auras around others, a secret which isolates her from the very people whose souls she can see. She meets John, a quirky yet outgoing man who demonstrates not just interest in her paintings, but in her as well. With each encounter he draws her out of her shell, and she finds herself falling for him. But can she risk trusting him with her secret?


It is slated for release in Feb '11. :)




Love & Magic,
Adrianne

Why the Prop 8 ruling is a beginning step, but not the end

When Prop 8 took hold in California, banning gay marriages in that state after they had previously been made legal, a lot of us were cheering on the people who challenged it in court. As of yesterday, we now know that they won and Prop 8 has been declared what it is, "unconstitutional".

But this is only the beginning. There will undoubtedly be an appeal and it's possible the case could go all the way to the Supreme Court. We could be hearing about the ramifications of this for months and perhaps years to come depending on how fast the process moves.

Then there is the other problem: the fact that this law was passed at all. The main argument against gay marriages is that they are "morally wrong" and marriage should lead to babies. What about all of the childless couples out there who either can't or don't want children? Has anyone stopped to think about how disturbing this argument is?

And of course, marriage equality is the tip of the iceberg for people in the LGBT community who are bullied, harassed, assaulted, and even killed on the basis of their sexuality and sexual identity on a regular basis. Even here in "liberal Massachusetts", I have a friend who is a trans woman who was physically assaulted because she is trans. We are a LONG way away from establishing civil rights for all, including the basic right to live without physical harm or death for whom we love and who we are.

I will be honest: growing up I refused to say the pledge of allegiance. Why? Because I feel it's a lie. We are NOT given "liberty and justice for all" and the issue over civil rights in regards to the LGBT community is proof of this. When I heard a young child was taking a similar stand in a news interview, I was thrilled. The sad part is that twenty-five years have passed since I was in school, and people in the next generation still have to take that stand.

The battle also continues in other states where marriage equality continues to be an issue, and some authors have done their best to do their part to increase awareness and fight the good fight. I contributed to an anthology called To Love and To Cherish, which is a collection of stories about women marrying women. Note that I don't use the term "lesbian" as I feel it excludes the segment of women who are bisexual but wind up in a monogamous gay relationship. My own story, "My Big Fat Greek Pagan Lesbian Wedding" is about two women who are Greek polytheists, one who is a devotee of Hera and the other Aphrodite, and the trials and tribulations that unfold for them as they plan their wedding. Between friends and family who try to mean well but sometimes miss the mark and miscommunications between them, I take snapshots of it all. LGBT couples go through the same sorts of issue we all do regardless of our backgrounds, and that was more or less the point of my story.

Proceeds from To Love and To Cherish are donated towards Marriage Equality in order to fight for civil rights.

You can find my story in the anthology in ebook, Kindle, or print format on Amazon.com and other retailers online.

Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com

For those of you who missed the Crazy Tuesday radio show...

...it's now available for download!

http://lsc.audioacrobat.com/download/b1521881-6305-7f61-9c40-728be7b545ff.mp3

Please let me know if you have problems downloading, and hope you enjoy! Crazy Tuesday was a crazy amount of fun, and once again huge thank yous to both Rowena Cherry and Lillian Caudwell for having me there!

:D




Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com

I'VE GONE CRAZY! Internet Radio show Crazy Tuesday today from 2-4pm EST!

From 2-4pm EST today, I will be the guest host on Crazy Tuesday, an Internet Radio Show normally done by Rowena Cherry and assisted by Lillian Caudwell. However, Rowena thought I had the right level of insanity to hop on board this month, and so I hope the show meets to expectations. :D

My guest with me for the show is Rhiannon Mills, a fun and talented new writer whose recent debut Immortal Ties, a paranormal erotic romance features "blood and demons and vampires and romance". You can read more about it here.

On the show we talk about the Blogathon I recently hosted to benefit the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, the writing craft including tips on plot, where to start, and the dreaded writer's block. We also discuss our views on Twilight, the vampire myths in fiction, and the romance genre in general.

If you're unable to listen to it when it airs, the program itself will be made available for download after the show.

You can listen to it live or download it after it's over here:

http://www.internetvoicesradio.com

A huge thanks to Lillian for dropping by at the start of the program to chat with me about writing, and to Rowena for inviting me to drop by! :D



Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com

Blogathon After-party!

It's like those gatherings after a major, major bash. You're hungover, feeling funky. Sense of time utterly destroyed. Panic at the Disco's! "Nine in the Afternoon" begins to have special meaning for you. And so you gather with your friends afterwards for caffeinated drinks and hope the fog begins to lift.

The party has ended, people crashed on my coach and they're still eating and drinking at my place. There's expresso being made and the tea kettle is on. In short...


...donations are STILL pouring in! Total donated on behalf of the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center so far is $445 and counting.

So...join the after-party? Please consider sponsoring me and a good cause! There are two contests going on! You are entered to win a copy of one of my books in PDF format if you do one or more of the following:

1) Make a donation

2) Post a comment to one of my blog posts made during the event

So, what are you waiting for??? EVERYONE WINS!! :D

If you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon"

So that people have a chance to catch up on the posts, I will be drawing two winners by the week's end, one from the comments and another from the donations made.


Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com

This is the end, my only friend, the end...

...but I'd rather think of it as a beginning.

First of all a HUGE thank you to all who have supported in some form or another. THANK YOU!!! <3

I'd like to do more charity events like this using social networking as a tool to generate exposure, awareness, and...well, fun.

I plan to do the Blogathon again next year. It's an annual event I've watched my friends do and decided this year was the year to do it. Believe it or not, I generated everything and made the plans all in two days' time. Next time will be more advance notice and more publicity.

I also would love to coordinate with others interested in similar projects. Please feel free to contact me if you're interested.

If you liked any of these postings for the past 24 hours, I urge you to consider sponsoring me by making a donation to BARCC on behalf of the Blogathon. No amount is too small; many of the people who donated gave $10 amounts. But they all add up.

I've raised $365 so far through my blog posts and word of mouth. If you wish to sponsor me please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

Oh, and lastly...a Happy Lammas to all who celebrate it. :) And perhaps some sleep for me, cause OH I CAN FLY! I CAN FLY! LOOK! LOOK! I'M FLYING! O THE HUMANITY-




BUNNIES!!!!

*thud*



Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

Good news? Yes! News.

A LOT of news recently, and here's another good one to add to the pile:

I just signed a contract with Torquere Press for "Pisces" in the Sapphic Signs line, which will be released next February. It'll be a f/f sci-fi erotic romance.

That in addition to Love Under Will in the Mammoth Book of Hot Romance, slated for release in Spring 2011, are so far among the list of forthcoming releases.

As for ones even closer to that, keep an eye out for the latest books in the Oath series. Once Blogathon is over, there'll be a lot of editing and hopefully a release date on that one soon, so stay tuned!


Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

An hour away until the end of Blogathon...

...and I'd like people who have been on the fence to consider donating to a worthy charity, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.

Remember the kitties. Think of the kitties. You wouldn't want to disappoint them, would you?

Also, keep in mind your now semi-delirious author, who has been blogging nearly 24 hours straight. That's a lot of blogging!

An awful lot of blogging, brought to you by Adrianne Brennan...who is blogging about blogging, and blogging about blogging about blogging. And here we go now...blogging!

Every person who donates is entered to win a copy of one of my books in PDF format, their choice! They get another entry if they comment on one of my posts.

Lots of chances to win, a good cause...why not?


Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

Favorite new paranormal/scifi/fantasy author or book?

Tell me about the latest books you've gotten into in the paranormal, scifi, and/or fantasy realm!

There are never such things as too many books, I'm a firm believer in this. I also love to read and discover new authors.

So tell! What ones have you discovered as of late?



Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

Hello, Anachronisms R Us... what can we do for you yesterday?

Time travel historical romances, science fiction romances featuring time travel... time travel in general is pretty popular in the erotic romance genre. It allows the main characters from the modern day world to find themselves swept off to medieval Scotland, ancient Egypt, a future Earth--and many other romantic destinations. It allows readers to escape and wonder what living in that period was like. Does it have romantic or action elements you wouldn’t have otherwise, such as men fighting with swords or dueling with pistols at high noon? Or does it sweep you away to a far-off world in the future where the imagination can run wild as to what human beings have done and can accomplish? After all, where else can you read about having sex in zero gravity?

One of the things I like best about time travel romances is that it can span genres. Books involving time travel can be fantasy, science fiction, and/or paranormal works. They can even be more mainstream in genre and have time travel as the sole paranormal element.

In terms of the speculative fiction genres, I also greatly enjoy alternate history as a basis for developing characters and setting. This is part of why I think urban fantasy does so well; it’s a “what if” scenario where every day elements are mixed in with the fantastical, allowing the development of a whole new world that looks just like our own.

My favorite time travel series is sadly not a romance, but has held romantic plots as of late: Doctor Who and Torchwood. Fans of science fiction programming should check them out--especially if you like m/m and f/f as Torchwood contains elements of both.


Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

Blogging on blogging!

Which of the social networking tools have you found to be the most fun, most efficient--and the least?


Facebook?
Twitter?
Blogger?
Tumblr?
Livejournal?
Myspace?

Or someplace else?


Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

Blood of the Dark Moon - PG-13 Excerpt

One of my favorite excerpts from Blood of the Dark Moon. There's just something about a story that begins with "Two vampires walk into a bar..." that just gets the brain churning. :D

Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

Blurb:

Amanda, graduate student and devoted follower of Apollo, is intrigued when she meets Jesse, a handsome young scholar who shares her love of both the classics and the occult. He quickly sparks her interest--and ignites a dark flame of passion between them. Together, they embark on a shadowy path that leads Amanda straight into Jesse's scintillating underworld of vampires, magick, and eroticism.

Little does Amanda know she is about to fulfill a legacy that began over thirty years ago and ended in tragedy. Can she learn the truth about her identity in time to help those whom she has grown to care about, and find happiness in her new life with Jesse?

Blood of the Dark Moon combines the classic eroticism of vampires with a touch of modern sensual romance and occult intrigue.

To read rave reader and reviewer reviews, go here: http://www.adriannebrennan.com/reviews.html

To read more about this book, click here: http://adriannebrennan.com/botdm.html

---

The pub was a small but stylish bar that had a live jazz band playing. Above the stage where the band played shone a large, bright blue neon sign with a crescent moon and the name of the pub: Blue Moon. Amanda found it strangely fitting.

Amanda watched, trying not to feel self-conscious as the elder vampire studied her for a moment before heading inside the pub. Déjà vu. I feel like I've done this before, somehow.

"Here, put this on," Lynne ordered.

Amanda started to ask what it was she wanted her to wear, but Asherael pressed a small silver ring into her hands. She looked at it. It had an amethyst stone, but she could discern nothing else about it that was special.

As if in answer to her unspoken question, Asherael informed her, "The amethyst has special magickal properties. Wearing it will enable you to drink alcoholic beverages."

"Oh, yes. Of course. It's sacred to Dionysus."

Asherael smiled. "Yes, exactly. Plus," she added, "the ring itself is enchanted. Enjoy, it's yours."

Slipping it onto the ring finger on her right hand, she found it fit perfectly. "Thank you. I—I promise not to abuse it."

Asherael chuckled. "Just enjoy it. It's okay to take a break every now and again. I just don't want to see you trashed all of the time, okay?"

Amanda nodded. As pissed as she still was at Jesse, it wasn't likely. Tempting, but not her style. Besides, she was robbed of much of her wits around him as it was. Why make it worse by being drunk all of the time?

"Good." Asherael walked up to the bartender behind the counter. "Hi, I'll have a martini. What would you like, Amanda?"

"Cabernet, please. House would be fine."

Asherael made a noise that sounded like a cross between a snort and a sigh. "Screw house selection. Whatever you recommend as a really good cabernet, sir, would be fine with us."

The bartender nodded at them both. "Right, then. One martini for you, and for you, miss," he looked at Amanda, "I have just the thing."

Lyrael gingerly sat down at the bar. When she managed to speak to Asherael, the words stumbled out awkwardly.

"You really didn't have to—I mean—this is nice and all, but—"

"Amanda, the beginnings are always uncomfortable. And difficult. Mine were pretty harsh as well—harsher than yours, if you can believe it. But that's a tale for another time. I just want you to have the chance to unwind and…I don't know…forget about it for a while."

The bartender brought them their drinks, and Asherael took a sip of her martini before continuing.

"Whatever's going on with you, I can't solve it. I can maybe guess at the problem—or problems—perhaps even sympathize, but…." She shook her head. "It's been a long time for me since I was an apprentice. Say, do you like jazz?"

"I—yes, I do."

A nostalgic smile spread across Asherael's face. "I used to sing in a blues band many years ago. In pubs like this, actually."

Amanda looked at her, stunned. Asherael, in a blues band? "When?" she asked.

"1920s, shortly before the Depression started. Down in New Orleans."

Asherael pronounced the city's name differently than Amanda was used to hearing it. To her ears, it sounded like "Naw-lins". Then she did a small double take. 1920s. How old was Asherael, exactly?

And another disturbing thought came to her—just how old was Jesse, anyhow?

"But that was a long time ago," Asherael stated in a dismissive tone. "Anyway, I didn't come here to ramble about myself. Other than Turel, not many of us have had the chance to really talk to you. While some of us can be terribly stuck up and with our noses in the books, it's still no excuse. And especially after reading your essay. I would've loved to have had the chance to meet you before this. I just wanted you to know that. I'm really…grateful…to have the opportunity to meet you. Seriously."

Amanda regarded her. The blonde vampire spoke very plainly, with few frills or preamble. While she had the feeling Asherael held back certain thoughts, she didn't get the feeling of bullshit from her—and she rather liked that lack of bullshit.

Not knowing what else to say, she smiled back at the older vampire and sipped her wine. As she tasted the beverage, she marveled at the way it glided down her tongue like silk. It was neither bitter nor overpowering and had an aftertaste that reminded her of berries.

"Now, I'm not sure about that bass player, but the guy on the sax definitely knows what he's doing. He handles that instrument like he's made love to it a thousand times. Now, that's how you play a sax."

Amanda grinned. "What a great description."

"I'm serious. You can't play an instrument like that on the stage and not love it, and I mean, really love it. Heart and soul. Seriously."

The younger vampire nodded in return. "So you used to sing jazz?"

"Oh, yeah." Asherael sipped her martini. "I still miss it. Sometimes when James is locked away in his office, I dream of sneaking down to a karaoke bar and singing my lungs out."

"Why don't you?"

"Too much work to do. Too many students to look after, papers to read…I need to make more time for myself. Speaking of relaxing," she added in a self-deprecating tone.

"I've always loved singing," Amanda confessed. "I sing for the god if nothing else. Apollo, I mean. But I rarely sing for others."

Asherael gazed at her for a long moment. "We should head to this Noraebang nearby here one of these nights. You'd love it."

"A what?"

"Noraebang. It's the Korean version of Karaoke. The videos alone would have you in stitches. You rent a room for a period of time—very reasonable price—and you get to sing to all of these crazy Korean music videos."

Amanda was puzzled. "But if they're Korean…."

"Oh, the videos are all Korean, but it's done to American music. With subtitles and a bouncing ball so you know when to sing a word. It's also quite fun to do when utterly smashed. You need to try it."

"Sounds like fun," she replied with a laugh.

The band stopped playing their song at that moment, and as the lead player strolled up to the front of the stage, microphone in hand, the people in the club were applauding. Asherael joined in, then Amanda.

"Thank you, thank you, folks. For all y'all who's new here tonight, welcome to the Blue Moon. Here's another special tune that we'd like to play for y'all…."

A more lively song played next, and Amanda soon found herself tapping her foot against the barstool. When she noticed her movement, she almost stopped—but saw that Asherael's foot against her own seat and fingers on the surface of the bar behaved similarly, so she figured that she was in good company. The wine coursed through her veins, pulling her under into that stage beyond tipsy and into drunk. She sensed that Asherael was also considerably under the influence at this point—and an equal feeling that the older vampire didn't care in the least.

"I wonder if they have any CDs out?"

"Oh, if they do, I'm getting a copy. Trust me. Hey, bartender," Asherael called out to the man behind the bar, "what's the name of this band?"

"The Original Sin," he yelled out over the music and talking patrons.

"Thanks," she called back and laughed. "What an amazing name for a band. I rather like it." Lynne continued to sip her martini, her green eyes twinkling as she spoke.

"I have an odd question for you, if you don't mind."

"No such thing as an odd question. Well, maybe. I dunno. Go right ahead, Amanda. Ask."

"How—how old are you exactly? I mean, if you don't mind my asking…."

Asherael nearly choked on her drink, and for a moment Amanda wondered if she'd offended her. But she realized that she choked due to laughter, not anger.

Turning to Amanda with a smile and a quirk of her brow, she replied, "I was born in 1908, Turned in the year 1927."

"NINETEEN?"

"Hush, you," Asherael admonished with a swish of her finger. "No, I am not nineteen. I was nineteen. Don't make this nice bartender panic on us, okay?"

"I mean…you were—"

"Yes, most of us were initiated in our late teens, a few of us in our early twenties. Remember, different times back then. Different times."

"Wow. I mean….you…you…," Amanda stuttered, trying to explain her reaction, "you don't look a day over twenty."

For some reason, Asherael found this outrageously funny. She put down her drink on the counter as carefully as she could manage in her drunken state and roared with laughter. The elder vampire quickly wiped at her eyes. Pink, she thought curiously. Her tears are pink. She realized it was because they were tinged with blood. She wondered if this was a natural vampire trait and if all of their bodily fluids contained blood. This got her thinking about other bodily fluids and consequently her previous night spent with Jesse. She flushed, both with the pleasant memory of their lovemaking and the nasty recollection of how she woke up that evening.

Copyrighted 2008 by Adrianne Brennan

Kitty hockey!

This is what one of my kitties, Squee, does when she wants my attention:



Kitty hockey! The poor little dear will cry and mew outside my door until I stand right behind it. Then she coos and purrs like a Tribble.

If I bat a water bottle cap under the door, she'll bat it back. This will go back and forth in a little game I've dubbed "kitty hockey".

She's a very sweet little kitty. :) But she makes it hard to write!!


Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

I'm at $365 and counting!

A Memory on Record - PG Excerpt

A Memory on Record is a holiday short which takes place right after Blood of the Dark Moon. Here's an excerpt from it! :)


Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

Available at Freya's Bower now: http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17&products_id=155!

For more information on this and other books, go to http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html

A Memory on Record> - holiday short within the Dark Moon series by Adrianne Brennan Genre: Vampire/Paranormal Rating: Tangy Book Length: Micro Price: $1.49 Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year, a time for honoring many different holiday traditions. For vampires, observing the day when the sun shines the least is a sacred event. Finding Jesse, Amanda's lover and Sire, the right gift for the Winter Solstice brings her great frustration this holiday season. A treasured memory provides the ideal solution to her predicament. Despite all that has changed in her life, can she uncover a way to show him how much she cares? This short continues the tale from , Book 1 of the Dark Moon series. Excerpt:< “This solstice event,” Jesse replied, drawing out the words with care, “is in honor of the longest night of the year.” Impatience nudged Amanda, and she fought to prevent herself from rolling her eyes. “Right. That’s what the solstice is.” “And the longest night,” he continued, “is sacred to all vampires. It’s the most amount of time we get to spend at any point during the year not having to run around trying to avoid the sun.” Her eyebrows lifted. Ah, I see....“Okay, then.” “It’s customary in the Order to mark this event. You know that the Golden Dawn celebrates the equinoxes in order to observe times of balance. We honor those, too, but as vampires...lack of sun is, what can I say,” he laughed. “Beneficial.” “Riiiiight. Thanks for the 101. So what you’re trying to tell me is that I have to show up for this event.” “Precisely.” “And?” She looked up at him for clarification. Jesse appeared to be making a big deal out of this ritual, and she didn’t know what he was attempting to tell her by doing so. “Get plenty of sleep today. Show up at the main hall in robes. And also, expect to be asked to stay afterwards. I’ll think up an excuse for us not to.” Amanda nodded. “Got it. So should I expect this to be entertaining, or boring?” He glanced at the ceiling. “It’ll be your first Winter Solstice ritual. You can show up and enjoy it as much as you want.” “How is it for you?” “Boring.” She laughed. “Okay, that explains the sleep part.” He unfolded his arms and with an almost apologetic glance at her, stuffed his hands into his pockets. “You know how Janius is with traditions and ritual. They’re not always interesting to me. Frankly, I’d rather be doing other things.” “Like what?” “Like this.” Before she could utter another word, he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. The sensation of his skin on hers both shocked and melted her, and Amanda found herself melting against him. She returned the kiss with fervor, savoring the taste of his mouth, the warmth of his skin.... Copyrighted 2008 by Adrianne Brennan

Facebook pages in your general interest.

Ever feel this way?



There's a page on Facebook dedicated just for you. Yes, you. You can feel the burn right now, correct? And it's not just the hour I'm posting at! You may have read something in the news, saw something on tv...and the stupid, o holy hell, the immense STUPID just makes your brain itch. It's on FIRE, your poor, precious brain. And it burns with the stupid.

Come, join us. We have cookies.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/OMG-the-stupid-it-burns/114037631982206


Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

Creative wine labels

There's just something about creative wine labels that appeals to both the wine lover and the little imp in me:





Want some evil? Bitch? XD

No, wait...I know. You need a time out:






Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

Doctor Who themed alcoholic drink recipes for your entertainment!

Sex in the TARDIS (Tenth Doctor version):

Mix following to taste:
Godiva chocolate liquor
Bailey's mint chocolate Irish creme (vegan version: replace with additional Godiva chocolate liquor, creme de menthe, and soy milk)
Kahlua
chocolate syrup
milk (soy or regular)
vodka (banana flavored optional)
ice cubes
1 banana
(optional: add 99 Bananas for more kick)

Add to blender... comes out rather like a cross between a mudslide and a banana daiquiri with a kick.

Sex in the TARDIS (The Master version):
Ingredients:
1 package hot chocolate mix
1 shot Whiskey (whichever brand you prefer, add more if you wish)
cinnamon
cayenne pepper
whipped cream (optional)

Directions:
- Prepare hot chocolate according to directions on package.
- To your hot chocolate add Whiskey, cinnamon and pepper to taste.
- Top it off with whipped cream, if you so desire.
- Repeat as necessary;)

Sonic screwdriver:
70% Sobe orange energy drink
20% vodka (orange or banana flavored optional)
10% 99 Bananas (99 proof banana schnapps)

Laser screwdriver:
(this one is the most potent... do NOT say I didn't warn you...)
50% Sobe orange energy drink
20% Stolichnaya orange flavored vodka
20% 99 Oranges (99 proof orange schnapps)
10% After Shock cinnamon liquor


Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

What's your guilty pleasure?

What guilty pleasures turn people to read various erotic romance or erotica books? Is it an alpha male? Bondage? Sex magic? Werewolves? Vampires, werewolves--or just being bitten? What about menage or even “bi-curious” works?

When I look around for a good, hot read often what catches my eye are the books that write about the buttons that I enjoy being pressed. I greatly enjoy paranormal erotica including magic and I'll have to admit that a particular Mercedes Lackey book gave me my telepathy during sex fetish. Reading fantasy and paranormal erotica may never be the same again! Then there’s BDSM, particularly if well written. And when all’s said and done, who doesn't like a hot vampire?

Then there’s the exploration into different sexualities and modes of expression. F/f is one of my favorite pairings and not always easy to find. And who at one point hasn’t been curious about what it would be like to be in a hot threesome—or even an orgy—with either two hot men, or a hot man and an attractive woman? How about sex with aliens in a sci-fi novel?

Part of why erotic romance sells is that safe escape to enjoy things we may not necessarily have the courage to experience in real life—and in some instances, would not necessarily want to! We can try on new directions like one would try on clothing and test drive it for a while. Erotic romance allows us to indulge in our passions and have fun with our guilty pleasures, and that’s what makes both reading and writing erotic romance so enjoyable for me.

One of the things I touch upon in the BDSM/fantasy/paranormal Oath series is the idea of trying new directions, exploring one’s sexual desires and impulses, and the idea of letting go within a safe, controlled environment. Nothing is sexier than giving your fantasies full rein, but the ability to trust in that space is an additional comfort. :)


Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

Blood of the Dark Moon - PG Excerpt #2

Another excerpt from Blood of the Dark Moon! Enjoy.

Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com



Please Note: I am blogging on behalf of the Boston Rape Crisis Center, and if you wish to sponsor me in any dollar amount--none is too small, every bit counts!--please go here: http://tinyurl.com/AdrianneBlogsforBARCC then email me your receipt at adrianne@adriannebrennan.com so I can keep a running total. If you don't know what to put down for the donation, just put "Adrianne Brennan - Blogathon".

Blurb:

Amanda, graduate student and devoted follower of Apollo, is intrigued when she meets Jesse, a handsome young scholar who shares her love of both the classics and the occult. He quickly sparks her interest--and ignites a dark flame of passion between them. Together, they embark on a shadowy path that leads Amanda straight into Jesse's scintillating underworld of vampires, magick, and eroticism.

>

Little does Amanda know she is about to fulfill a legacy that began over thirty years ago and ended in tragedy. Can she learn the truth about her identity is in time to help those whom she has grown to care about, and find happiness in her new life with Jesse?

Blood of the Dark Moon combines the classic eroticism of vampires with a touch of modern sensual romance and occult intrigue.

To read reviews by readers and reviewers go here: http://www.adriannebrennan.com/reviews.html

To read more about this book, click here: http://adriannebrennan.com/botdm.html

---

Amanda ran down the street, taking advantage of the crowd already going through the crosswalk in spite of the oncoming traffic. She made it to the coffeehouse with two minutes to spare, ordered herself a mug of mocha, and sat down at one of the tables in the corner. The too-hot mocha burnt her tongue, but it gave her something to put in her system before she met some guy whose first name and email address were all she knew—that and an apparent mutual interest in ancient studies. The magazine from one of the tables and the mocha distracted her from her nervousness, and after a time, the rest of the coffeehouse.

She thought she heard someone calling her name. She lifted her head from her magazine to see a young man who appeared to be in his late twenties, perhaps early thirties. He looked at her with intense, dark brown eyes.

"Amanda? You are Amanda, right?"

She smiled. "Yes, that's me. You must be Jesse. Here, have a seat." She gestured towards the chair on the opposite end of the coffee table. He took it with a grateful grin. She noted that his chosen attire included a leather jacket, a dress shirt, and a pair of slacks—all in black. A silver chain hung from his neck, but she couldn't see the bottom of it, for the rest lay concealed under his shirt. His short, slightly wavy dark brown hair was neatly combed. One thought leapt to her mind: Business goth, perhaps? I wonder if he's Italian? She figured probably Italian but of mixed heritage, for his skin was paler than average, especially against his attire and dark hair and eyes. His smooth features reminded her of a Roman sculpture.

Jesse smiled, and she realized that his features appeared quite striking to her, even by her particular standards. His email initially brought all of the academic stereotypes to mind; Jesse sounded very intelligent and thoughtful. It made her anticipate meeting a very prim-and-proper looking gentleman. J Crew with a side of geek, perhaps.

"Do you come here often?" he asked. "I hear their vanilla chai is pretty good."

She blinked, realizing that she had been staring at him. "Vanilla chai? No, I've never tried it. I've come here maybe once or twice. I typically don't have time outside of my studies," she added in an almost apologetic tone.

He chuckled. "Yeah, so I figured." His face got serious, and he rubbed his hands together. "So," he said, "I hear you're an expert on Ancient Greece. What got you into the subject?"

Amanda sipped her mocha before answering. "My religion."

His eyebrows went up slightly. "Your religion?"

"Yes. My beliefs are based on Ancient Greek religion." She gave him a shy smile. "I'm actually a devotee of Apollo."

He blinked hard, clearly taken aback. "Really?"

"Yup." She took another swallow from her mug. Of course, his response would satisfy the litmus test of how well he could stand being in the same room as her, let alone engage in a conversation....

"Great." He grinned. "I'm actually a Kemetic myself."

She nearly choked on her drink. He laughed quietly as she sputtered and coughed. "I take it that I don't look the part?" he asked with a fairly amused tone, taking in her reaction.

"I, um," she managed to choke out, "wasn't expecting that. I typically run into either atheists or Christians who think that my soul needs saving, or something. And don't even ask about the academics." She coughed some more, feeling her cheeks grow warm—and not due to swallowing her mocha the wrong way, either. She tried not to cringe in her embarrassment.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just went down the wrong pipe." She gave him a quick smile of reassurance. "Looks like we have some things in common. But, I gotta ask, why is a Kemetic like you interested in my, um, research about Ancient Greek religion and Apollo?"

He looked at her questioningly before glancing in the direction of the counter where people were ordering coffee, then turned his attention to her again. "Actually, my interest is somewhat on the, well, unusual side. I'm fascinated more by the mystical elements in common between both religions." He gave her a lopsided grin, his friendly demeanor giving way suddenly to a shy awkwardness. "I'm sure that you know of the Greek Magical Papyri?"

"That mishmash of Greek, Egyptian, and Hebrew spells? Yes, along with several other books on ancient Greek magick on my shelf." She leaned back in her chair, completely intrigued by this guy. What exactly was he about? Curiosity struck her, and she dared to ask, "So, do you study, practice, or both?"

His mouth fell open slightly, but he closed it fast. "Since you ask...both, actually. I have an interest in magick and mysticism." He shrugged. "One of my many hobbies." He smiled.

"Ah," she half-smiled in return. She had no clue what to make of this individual whatsoever. She wondered if he were completely out of his mind or just easily impressed by women who attempted to earn an academic degree in unusual fields of study.

He leaned forward slightly and looked into her cup. "What are you drinking?"

"Mocha."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Mocha. Okay. I think I'll grab some and then I'll be right back."

"Gotcha. I'll be here." She watched him go to the counter and order the beverage and began wondering just who Jesse truly was. He didn't look like your standard occultist; aside from the all-black attire, he looked like someone who had just stepped out of a law office or some other professional building. Jesse also handled himself in a very assured, graceful manner—not to mention so far sounding reasonably intelligent and well spoken.

The fact that he was good-looking as hell also disturbed her slightly. Perhaps more than slightly, she admitted. She continued to sip her mocha thoughtfully, maintaining a casual expression on her face as she continued to watch him order at the counter.

Amanda hadn't dated anyone for a while; her studies kept her from socializing very often. She realized that she hadn't had much time to meet any potential significant others since high school. This side of things made what she had hoped would be a nice, professional meeting with an interesting conversation or two into a not-too-welcome distraction in the least. Amanda originally envisioned the potential of helping someone with their own research into the classics, particularly in her fields of study. She sighed, praying that this wouldn't keep her from finishing her thesis.

She frowned slightly, remembering his earlier words. Amanda also possessed a strong interest in theurgical practice. Being a devotee of a Greek deity renowned for oracles and divination, she frequently received dreams and visions from Him that later proved themselves accurate. Nothing about this man or her meeting with him came from Apollo in earlier dreams or visions—not a peep. This struck her as strange and seemed to imply that either this guy would prove unimportant in the long run and would fade from her life quickly, or...perhaps the oracular god had reasons for not telling her.

Either way, Jesse piqued her curiosity, and she wished to know more about him.

He returned with mocha in hand and sat back down in the chair. "Okay," he stated, "Now where were we?"

"Ancient Greek magick, I believe." She gave him an inquiring look. After all, this face-to-face meeting came about due to his email.

"Right. Ancient Greek magick." Jesse put down the drink and began to talk about the reasons for his interest in her thesis.

It struck Amanda that he seemed to know a bit more about her than she'd initially thought. After an extensive conversation on folk magick versus religious magick, the discussion somehow got into modern magickal practices. Apparently Jesse's studies spanned a number of subjects, including Golden Dawn and Thelemic work. She knew of the Golden Dawn and worked on her own as a solitary practitioner via her studies in books by Israel Regardie and the Ciceros, but he had her beat on knowledge of Thelema. He chattered enthusiastically about some ritual he referred to as "Reguli", which she had never heard of, and also referred to texts that he claimed resembled Thelema in some ways, but contained more ancient practices and beliefs.

Amanda tried to press him for more information, but he kept changing the subject. Her thesis work fascinated him, particularly in regards to personal religious practice in Ancient Greece, and thus he had assumed that she might know something of the more esoteric religious practices that also took place. Referring to himself as an "occult geek", he stated in the same breath that he wanted to learn more about Greece. He'd studied some of the Greek influences that made up Egyptian practice—and more in reverse—and wished to learn more from her. Rambling some more, he talked about how he "sorta stumbled into hearing about her work," and about his intense interest in the subjects she studied.

Curious, she thought skeptically, wondering if he belonged to one of those "trad Wiccans" who claimed to have witches in their family dating back to year 30,000 BC. Propriety kept her from chuckling out loud at the thought.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, he announced that it was getting late and would she like to continue the conversation at another time? She nodded, amazed to see that the clock indicated a time of eleven p.m. They had been talking for the past three hours. As she grabbed her bag, she observed that his mocha was hardly touched, if at all.

They started to walk out of the coffeehouse, and she noted appreciatively his opening the door for her. "So where did you grow up?" he asked. "I've been talking to you this whole time about ancient languages and cultures and have completely forgotten to ask you about your present." He smiled at her as if in apology.

"I grew up in Westchester County, but moved here after I graduated from high school. I've lived here in the city ever since."

The rain had finally stopped, and the streets held that damp smell mixed with the scent of city grime and street corner hot dogs.

"Do you like it here in the city?"

She nodded. "I like the pace."

"You must live off-campus, I presume?"

"Y-yes, I do."

"I can walk you to your building, if you like. How far away is it?"

She hesitated. She barely knew this guy, and giving him information about where she lived before she got to know him better didn't seem like a safe idea.

"I take the subway," she said. "But it's not far."

He nodded, looking at her facial expression, which she hoped appeared blank. Then he smiled. "I'll walk you to the subway, then."

She nearly sighed with relief. Jesse seemed like a nice guy, but certain habits were drilled into her that she couldn't get rid of, and being paranoid of new people—especially strange men—was one of them.

"Would you mind if I called you sometime? I had a great time tonight and, well, I'd like to speak with you again, if you don't mind."

Amanda glanced up at him. It occurred to her that he seemed shy beneath the surface.Maybe he's interested in me romantically or something? It was then that she realized that he wasn't that tall for a guy—probably wasn't more than 5'11" in comparison with her 5'6". He seems to carry himself as if he were taller.

She smiled at him brightly and gave him her cell phone number. He took it with a grateful nod, mumbling something about how he really enjoyed talking with her and he didn't know many people who shared his interests. A strong electric shock struck her deep at the core of her being as his fingers touched hers, accompanied by a heaviness in her chest.

The Moirai have their hands in this, she suddenly thought. She wondered if she would dream of him that night, and if so, what she would dream.

©2008 by Adrianne Brennan