My first guest at the Playground needs no introduction. That’s right…no introduction. If you do not know who Larissa Ione is and have not read one of her books then I seriously have to ask―what rock have you been living under?

Larissa Ione is not only a talented author, she’s a totally cool individual and trust me I don’t throw comments around easily. I’d so totally want to be like her if—well—you know if I were like alive and all that.

Anyway, she is one half of the awesome writing duo, Sydney Croft, responsible for giving woman a whole new reason to love the weather and its sudden changes.

Her second book in the Demonica series, Desire Unchained, is unbelievable. Today I get the opportunity not only to meet this fantastic author, but she’s brought Shade and Runa with her today to share a little of their story with us.

So without further ado, please welcome Larissa Ione, Shade and Runa Wagner.

Larissa:
Thanks for having me!

Runa: Nice to be here!

Shade: *nods*

Sameera: It’s cool to have you guys here today. Larissa I was totally ecstatic when Kensana told me you’d accepted our invite.

 Larissa: I’m always happy to do anything for Kensana. She’s awesome!

Sameera: Could you tell us a little about the Demonica Series.

Larissa: Well, it’s a dark paranormal series set in and around an underworld hospital run by demons, vampires, and werewolves. The main characters are three brothers who happen to be incubi (sex demons.) Their breed’s natural abilities give them healing qualities, which help them run the hospital. The oldest brother, Eidolon, heads up the hospital.

Sameera: So the whole thing started with Eidolon and Tayla?

Larissa: Yes. He was on duty when Tayla, a demon slayer, was brought in after being badly injured by a demon. Eidolon felt the need to help her. Wraith and Shade pretty much just wanted to kill her. Those guys aren’t quite as sympathetic as Eidolon, which becomes rather clear in Shade’s book. *ahem*

Sameera: Runa, how did it feel when you ran into Shade again after your breakup?

Runa: I wanted to kill him. Had every intention of it, actually! But then we were chained up together and forced to…well, anyway, I really wanted to kill him.

Sameera: Shade, you can’t help but notice Runa is not your run of the mill human. No offense to you, Runa. What was it that drew you to her?

Shade: She’s hot. And she stands up to me. Which is even hotter.

Sameera: Larissa, you’ve managed to create a world any being of the night could live in comfortably. The whole demon hospital thing, I never knew such a place existed. Where did your inspiration for this world come from?

Larissa: From an episode of Angel. I’d always been interested in emergency medicine (to the point that I became an EMT so I could write my medical characters accurately – at the time I was writing contemporaries,) and when Angel got hurt, someone (I think it was Oz) suggested that he go to the hospital…but he couldn’t. He was a vampire. So I started thinking…what if there was some sort of facility vampires and other creatures of the underworld could go to? And what if it was run by these very creatures? And Underworld General was born!

Sameera: Runa, you get to kick a little ass in this book. Do you miss being the Runa of old?

Runa: Not at all! This being a werewolf thing? Awesome.

Sameera: Shade, do you like the new changes in Runa? I mean you fell in love with a human, was it hard to deal with her with the new hmm…changes to her personality?

Shade: Not hard at all. The new Runa makes for some…interesting nights.

Sameera: I’ll bet. Larissa, in this book you also gave more time with Gem and Kynan, can you share anything on their situation with us? Oh, and I can’t forget about Wraith. His book is your most recent release. He’s so dark and brooding. I would so date him.

Larissa: Gem and Kynan have gone over a lot of speedbumps in their road through books 2 and 3. And they appear in book 4…Kynan plays a very
significant role in Lore’s book!

Sameera: Well, when Lore’s book comes out I’ll have to get my own copy. I don’t particularly like reading over Kensana’s shoulder. Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers out there?

Larissa: Yes! I’d just like to shout out a big THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me and bought these books! Writing them has been a dream come true, but readers have taken that dream and made it bigger than I ever could have hoped. Because of YOU, Desire Unchained hit the USA Today bestseller list, and Passion Unleashed hit both the USA Today AND New York Times lists. Wow. Just…wow. Thank you!!!!

Sameera: Whoa, USA Today and New York Times lists? That’s awesome! I’d like to thank Larissa, Runa and Shade for dropping by and chatting with me today. It has been a pleasure and an honor to chill with one of the greats. I hope you’ll join us again. I can’t wait to tell Gideon.

Larissa: Thank you so much for having us! It’s been awesome!

Runa: Definitely appreciated being here. It’s not often we get out to hang with humans!

Shade: Yeah…that’s because humans are—oof!—Runa!

Larissa: Demons. Sorry…you can’t take ’em anywhere…

Sameera: If you haven’t read or picked up a book in this series, you don’t know what you’re missing. As usual, Larissa Ione creates such a realistic world within the darkness of paranormal that you’ll wonder why you haven’t visited it sooner. Once you begin reading Runa and Shade’s story you won’t want to put it down until you’re done.

About Larissa Ione…

Larissa Ione writes dark paranormal romances (the Demonica series) for Grand Central Publishing, as well as sexy contemporary romance for Samhain and Red Sage. She also pens erotic s/f action suspense novels for Random House under the name Sydney Croft, with writing partner Stephanie Tyler. She lives a nomadic lifestyle with her Coast Guard husband, 12 year old son, and a newly adopted stray cat.

Books That Make You Cry

Last night I read a book that had me in tears. I was crying so hard I had a hard time reading. I went to bed, still crying.  When an author can pull that emotion from you, you know they are great at their craft. Some day I would love to have that kind of impact on a reader. To know that they connected so much with my characters they feel their pain.

Now you probably want to know what book I’m talking about. It is by one of my top favorite m/m authors, DJ Manly. This is the third book of his that I’ve read (not counting the four I’ve read that he co authored with AJ Llewellyn) and all of them are so full of emotion, but this one…this one broke my heart.

Arsenic and Rio by DJ Manly. Here is a blub from the eXtasy site:

When Marshall met Hal, it was a match made in hell. Hal is a first class con man and manipulator. Marshall is the perfect pawn, a young guy who has been abused all his life, with no self confidence. Hal is pure evil, and he recognizes gold when he sees it. Marshall is handsome, gay and desperate to be loved and accepted. Hal is a former resident of the detention center where Marshall is living. He knows the unscrupulous director, who is deeply in debt with the mob. When the director is asked to do the mob a favor, a job that will set Hal up for life, Hal recruits Marshall to help him carry out his diabolic scheme.

When Marshall meets the handsome young owner of a coffee plantation, his job is to seduce him, and secure the plantation for the mob. Marshall doesn’t truly understand that Angelo will have to die. Marshall is completely unprepared for Angelo, and completely unprepared for love, something in his sad life, he has never known.

Passion and despair reign as Arsenic and Rio sweeps the reader away to a coffee plantation high in the mountains of Brazil, and to the warm sands of Rio.

If you’d like to read an excerpt here is the link: http://www.extasybooks.net/ebjmsite/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=ebook_flypage&product_id=3941&category_id=12&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=44

So, have you read any books that have made you cry?

Writing Slump

Kinda sorta.  I’ve been doing a lot of reading.  I think it started when I was in such a rush to finish my story Magnus. I entered it in a contest and there was a chance I could be asked for a full and it had to be 80k.  Well, I reached 46k and I’m on the down slide of Mag when I stopped.  I realized I would have to REALLY get into Mag’s emotions.  His woman was kidnapped and tortured. How would he deal? How could he deal?  I have NO idea!  lol I couldn’t write. I was stuck. He got her home from the hospital and then…and then…I got nothing!  So…I went on a reading binge.  It helped and I went to try for Mag again and I thought…okay…where do I go from here? What’s next? How do I wrap up the story?  So I sent it to a beta.  Found out…she thought it was too violent.  Okay…now what?  I sent it to another beta to see if SHE thought it was too violent too.  She’s still looking at it so I don’t have a verdict yet. 

Let me tell you a little about Mag.  He is a Marine.  Ho-rah! He has a small elite team that he takes on missions for the government. He is introduced to his first female recruit and is told she will go on missions with the team. He is NOT happy.  Especially when she keeps screwing up!  Not to mention the sexual tension between the two.  It’s off the charts.

Now let’s talk about his woman. She is more then he knows.  Emily is an undercover NCIS agent.  She is sent in to find out if Mag and his team are behind the kidnapping of woman and children in third world countries and selling them into the sex trade.

So Emily is a tough character and a great match for Mag, but…what happens when she’s hurt?  I guess I’ll have to find out!  lol

I don’t have to reach 80k now. Mag didn’t make the Editor’s Choice and I was never contacted about a full so he’ll be as long as he needs to be.  UM…heehee.  You know what I mean.  lol  I’ve decided to pitch him at Lori’s to Samhain!  We’ll see what happens.  🙂

Yummy Goodness

Heather: Have you seen all the yummy goodness floating around?  That isn’t even counting the new guy, but he is HOT!

Jambrea: He is easy on the eye and has something we both love…tattoos.

Heather: *sigh* Tattoos. He looks like such a bad boy. Hmm…I wonder what ever happened to Raven. I haven’t seen his cute butt in a while.

304 yrs old and half bad and he's into all the lastest fashions trends.

Jambrea: So when did you actually see his butt?

Heather: I’m not telling or you might drug me again. There is good in that man and I’ll help find it.

Jambrea: I thought you were focused on Matthias and his yummy tattoos?

Heather: That’s only because Raven has been missing. *pout* Matthias is more your style anyway. *wink* Speaking of dreamy men, tell me about the new man in your life, Ben Davies.

Jambrea: Now it’s my turn to sigh. We’ve introduced the next marine in Magnus’ story. His friend Ben Davies will be the next man in the Semper Fi series. Well…you’ve talked to him more then me at this point because I”m still trying to wrap up Magnus and Emily. I do know that Ben’s woman is the sister of one of his oldest friends. They’ve know each other for a while, but Maribeth is about to shake his world up. Kind of like Forever Guy, but this one will NOT be sweet.  Mari is going to rock Ben’s world.  He doesn’t even see it coming. I would say ‘poor guy’ but he’ll love every minute of it. Mari is a school librarian who has a few on line friends helping her plot to make Ben hers.

Heather: Can we start this one now?

Jambrea:  Sorry Heather, we need to finish Mag and Em first. Then we’ll look at Ben and Mari’s story.

Heather: *pout* You are just no fun this morning.

Jambrea: No, I’m just focused.

Heather: *sigh* Well, you go back to focusing and I’ll go look for Raven. 

Jambrea:  Now Heather…

Heather: *giggle* Okay, I’ll go now.

<i>Jambrea shakes her head as she watches Heather leave.</i>

Jambrea: That muse is going to be the death of me yet.

Kensi

Who’s your crush?

I posted a fun article at my site today:

I picked up this wonder idea from Gigi, from one of my Yahoo loops. It’s like having an internet blog slumber party. Let’s celebrate the long weekend by having a little fun! It’s truth or dare time, everybody. I DARE you to tell me the TRUTH: who’s your favorite crush? Come on, you know you have them.Kensana Darnell, Apr 2009

You should come over and comment on the article.

Kensi

Look who’s coming to the Playground!

On 23 April 2009, Playground Mystique will host our first author spotlight chat with Lyrical Press author, Nyki Blatchley. Nyki is the author of The Faery Princess. Join us at The Playground Mystique Yahoo Group for a chat with this brilliant author.

The Faery Princess
By Nyki Blatchley

Genre: Erotica/Extreme Sex
Length: Short
Price: $2.50
Digital Publication Date: July 21, 2008
Cover art by Renee Rocco

A love less ordinary Read Excerpt

Tom, a simple farm boy, gets more than he bargained for when he finds a little something extra in his bed one night. He assumes it’s a prank until he’s magically bound and ravished by Gossamer, Princess of the Faeries. Tom falls in love with the beautiful faery, but there’s a problem: his beloved Gossamer is merely a projection. The true Princess lies in eternal sleep, enchanted and imprisoned by an ogre.

Determined to rescue his love, Tom sets out on his heroic quest but soon learns it takes more than a sword, axe or bow to overcome the obstacles thrown in his path. His only real weapon is much more personal. And his devotion to Gossamer will only get him so far — The closer he gets to his goal, the more impossible it becomes to resist temptation…

Warning: This title contains explicit sex.

Kaydana and the Staff of Ishlun
Book One
By Nyki Blatchley

Genre: Erotica/Extreme Sex
Length: Short
Price: $2.50
Digital Publication Date: April 6, 2009.
Cover art by Renee Rocco
Coming Soon

Welcome to the dungeon, sorceress–where every man, woman and demon is against you.

Freelance sorceress Kaydana seeks her fortune in the city only to find it overrun with like-minded magical entrepreneurs. To make ends meet, she takes a commission from the seductive golden-skinned Tati.

Kaydana reluctantly agrees to rescue Tati’s lover from a sadistic king and his demonic devourer, knowing she’s no match against the castle’s mystical protections. Amid plotting, intrigue and sexual trickery, the powers hidden within the mysterious Staff of Ishlun begin to emerge and awaken Kaydana’s darker sensual desires.

Kaydana and The Sword of Ishlun is the first tale in a sizzling sword and sorcery series.

Warning, contains strong sexual content, f/f, f/f/m.

HooRah!

Mag: What the fuck are you doing here?

Emily: I’m taking a break with Heather

Mag: A break! Why do you need a break?

Emily: Why do you think I need a break? It’s been a rough couple months. I think you can agree with that.

Mag: I guess.

Emily: You GUESS!

Mag: Fuck, I don’t know. It just another day for me.

Emily:  You…you…you’re such a Marine!

Mag: You love it.

Emily: *smiles* Maybe a little.

Heather: You two want a room now?

Mag: Shouldn’t you be writing?

Heather: I needed a break. You two are enough to wear a woman down! Why don’t you go play at the Playground? It’s WIP day over there.

Emily: WIP day?

Heather: It’s a day where authors can show what they’ve been working on.

Mag: Will Jambrea be there?

Heather: I don’t know. You guys have been keeping her up trying to get your story finished. She hasn’t had time to work on anything else.

Emily: I’ll bet she’ll be happy to get rid of us.

Heather: Oh, I don’t know about that. *giggle*

Mag: Let’s go take a peek Em and then head home. *looks at Heather and winks*

Heather: Be good you two.

Emily: I don’t know if we can. *laugh* Jambrea just wrote a VERY steamy scene and I think Joe and I might need to have a reinactment.

*Mag walks to Heather and kisses her on the cheek*

Mag: Try not to work too hard.

Heather: *giggle* You either. Buy guys!

*Mag and Emily leave*

Heather: They are so dreamy.  Hmmm…I wonder how Ross and Jayme are doing?

*Heather walks off with a thoughtful look on her face*

WIP Wednesday

Today at our yahoo group is WIP Wednesday. Jambrea thought it might be a good idea to post something here that she is working on. Of course it isn’t something she is supposed to be working on. *giggle* Magnus wouldn’t stop talking and as you’ll see in the excerpt I’m going to post he likes to use the F word and I’m not talking about food. *giggle* We hope you like Mag. He is very yummy and his bark is MUCH worse then his bite. We like it when he bites. *giggle*

Untitled, Unedited WIP:

“Get the fuck outta my face, right now you maggot, before I skin you alive and wear your ass as a hat. What the fuck do you think you’re doin’” Sergeant Joe “Magnus” Rivers yelled at the recruit.

“Simmer down Sergeant.” His gunny tried to calm him.

“Fuck that shit. She got Benny shot! This is why women shouldn’t be on the front fuckin’ line. Fuck!” Magnus ran a hand over his face. “No fuckin’ way is this going to work.” He turned to walk back to the barracks.

“Sarge, Benny wasn’t really shot.” His Gunny Sergeant rushed to keep up.

“I know that Gunny. It’s the principle of the matter.”

“Oh, he knows another word besides fuck.” The words were almost too faint to be heard, but they reached the Sergeants ears.

Magnus whipped around and rushed back into the recruits face. In a quite whisper he addressed the woman.

“What did you just say?”

She stared straight ahead, and didn’t look him in the eye.

The only smart thing this bitch has done so far. I don’t know what the General was thinking. Take a deep breath man. Calm down. No one was really hurt and you know she isn’t really a bitch.

Reasoning with himself sucked, but lucky for the recruit he was able to leash his anger.

“Not so tough now that you have to face me, huh Patterson? Drop and give me twenty.”

She didn’t hesitate but dropped to the ground and started counting out her pushups. Magnus would expect no less and all his recruits new it. He turned back to his gunny and gestured for the man to follow him to his offices.

“Roberts, I don’t think I can keep this up. What was the General thinking? This woman doesn’t belong here. She’s some rich girl on holiday. How are we supposed to make her into a solider?” Magnus sighed.

Gunny Roberts looked back at the woman doing pushups.

“I don’t know sir; it looks like you’re doing a good job to me.”

Magnus looked back and waved his hand, “Physical exercise does not a solider make. You saw her at the range.”

“Mag, it’s only been a few weeks. Give her a break.”

“I can’t. I wouldn’t let the guys get away with that shit. No fucking way am I giving the wanna be warrior a break. She’ll do it my way or her ass is back to daddies faster than I can say give me twenty. We’re supposed to take her on a mission, a fucking mission. She’s going to get someone killed.”

“We have a month to ge—”

Mag glared at the gunny and he shut up. With out another word he entered the building trying to forget the woman doing pushups in the yard.

Trouble with a capital T is what that one is.

A Playground Visit

Butch: Hello! Is anyone here?

Mitch: Maybe they aren’t open yet.

Butch: I thought the Playground was ALWAYS open.

Mitch: Are you sure you have the right day?

Butch: Yes, I’m sure. Heather said to be here today.

Mitch: We could be early.

Butch: Hmm..Heather? Are you here?

Heather: I’m here! I’m here. Sorry. I was talking to Sunie and Gage and lost track of time. They are getting ready to have a small issue and I wanted to let them know that things will be okay.

Butch: That’s okay Heather. We just thought we were early.

Heather: Why don’t you guys sit down and I’ll get you something to drink. It’s a little slow around here. Everybody is working away, but I wanted to see how the two of you were doing. I know your book just released so you must be excited.

Mitch: I really didn’t think it would ever be finished so it’s nice to be done with it.

Heather: *giggle* You think its finished?

 Butch: What are you saying Heather?

Heather: Why do you think I asked you here?

Mitch: I thought it was to talk about our story and to introduce us to the other people here at the Playground.

Heather: Oh no. Well, I’m sure that will happen too, but that isn’t way I asked you to come visit today. *giggle*

Butch: Are we going to like this?

Heather: Well Jambrea and I have been talking and the reviews she got for your story were so good that she is going to write more. I just wanted to let the two of you know.

Mitch: More, like what?

Heather: We don’t know yet. There are a few other stories that need to be told first, but she put you on her list.

 Butch: I don’t think I’m going to like this at all.

Mitch: It’ll be okay babe. What more could she do—”

*Butch slaps his hand over Mitch’s mouth*

Butch: Do NOT finish that sentence! Have you not read some of these books our dear author is into?

*Butch drops his hand and pulls Mitch close*

Mitch: It really doesn’t matter Butch. I’ll always be here for you.

Heather: Guys! You’re going to make me cry. *sniff* don’t worry. I’ll take to her. Why don’t you two settle in? I’m sure the others will be here soon. I’m off to talk to a few other people. Make yourselves at home. *blows them both a kiss*

If you would like to hear more about Butch and Mitch you can buy their story here:  Runaway Man

So Pretty

Okay…today I am supposed to have another installment of You Rang? but I am a bad, bad author.  I haven’t had time to work on it.  I have been busy working on some other things. 

So today I’m going to share my pretty.  Valerie Tibbs is GREAT!  She is a cover artist with Freya’s Bower and a few other publishers.  Here is her link www.vtibbs.wordpress.com She also does banners.  🙂  Above is the pretty she made for me newly contracted story.  I LOVE it and can’t stop staring at it.  😀 

When I get a release date I’ll let everyone know!