~Walk Another World~

Gangbusters is here! I'm releasing the demons!

2011-11-01T13:31:00.001-04:00

I’m released! And so are my angels and demons. Just when you’d counted on the monsters going away.

Greetings, lovers of monsters everywhere.

Here’s a steamy excerpt of my brand-new angels & demons/Sci-Fi Romance release, Gangbusters, coming to you from BookStrand. Hot off the presses.

Be the first to review Gangbusters. Get in on the 15% new release price! Sweeeeet. Monsters on discount. The best kind. Storming villagers can afford new rakes with prices this low. :-)

Who will stand on the front lines against evil in the future?

Daniel Tierney and his fellow I-Marshals take down the organizations producing the most dangerous substance in the Alliance. But reporter Faith Vedder turns up at the worst times, including Danny’s near-assassination. He’s had enough of her interference and requires her source of information.

Faith won’t tell him anything that compromises her Pulitzer-worthy story, not even under the magic of hot attraction. She doesn’t know she’s surrounded by fallen angels at war. Danny’s not finished making demands. She doesn’t understand until a giant, snorting, winged monster slobbers down her back, threatening to flay her.

The gangbusters can’t delay in their mission to shut down gangs until Danny learns the new criminal kingpin of their world is a man who once held Faith’s heart. In the guise of a gangland executioner named Heretic, Danny will destroy him. Even if it destroys Faith.

Angels are watching. Demons are plotting. Faith is the key.
***
Are you in the mood for heat?
***
[This excerpt is rated R for just the beginning of unabashed sexual stimulation.]

“Stand over here, in the candlelight.”

Faith went to the spot where Danny pointed, and she stood in her Pulitzer gown for his inspection. He gained his feet, produced a thornless red vine rose from the side table, and he twisted it around the dress strap, then he returned to the bed and took in the sight of her. A rose was a gift of love, not a gift of acquaintance or friendship. The flowery fragrance enhanced her longing for him. The candlelight silvered his gray sight in a tactile way, but she always did feel his eyes when they were fixed on her.

“Do you like the gown?” she couldn’t help asking. His concentrated attention through overlong salt-and-pepper bangs caused her nipples to rise and brush against the soft cloth, quickening her for his capture.

“Very much. You look stunning in the dress, Faith,” his baritone voice murmured. His lips pressed together, revealing the tension it gave him. “The threads of the lace shimmer in the flame glow.”

Oh… Soft, flickering light seemed to cling to him instead of illuminating much else in the room. His breathing livened. His study of her lasted so long, she began to shy from his devoted gaze. “Have you had enough yet?”

“No. You aren’t enforcing a time limit, are you?”

She broke into an embarrassed smile, and his sly gaze said he enjoyed his torture of her.
“I’m divided. I want you
to eat, but I want to take that dress off you.”

“Some people think they have problems.”

Rising from the bed again, he collected the covered plate and eating utensil, and set them in her hands held out before her. Then he removed the cover to present a dish in the meatball family. His smile bordering on the diabolical, he loaded the utensil and put it to her mouth. Her sharp eye on him, she accepted a flavor she’d never encountered before, savory, mysterious, delectable. So was Danny.

Stalking, he roved around until he was behind her, and he leaned, pressing his nose to her exposed neck, inhaling her freshly bathed scent as she chewed. The act carried such an animal-feel to it. The alpha-male predator had brought his chosen a meal...and he savored his upcoming reward for that.

Having already been beneath him, arrested and detained by him, she chewed quicker. Was she sweating yet? She soon would be. Oh, gawd, she already throbbed, her body programmed now and eager for his possession. Did he know he owned her? She bet he knew.

His hair danced over her bare shoulder. “You smell like delicious dinner.”

Every word he uttered with that deep voice was verbal chocolate, making her ache all the more for him. “You always have an invitation to feast upon me, Danny.”

She felt his lips thin into another secret smile against the sensitive flesh as he pressed sizzling kisses up her neck to her ear. “Every night I’ll figure out a way to put you in my bed.”

Should she tell him how easy that will be?

Weakened, she scooped up a forkful of dinner and fed him over her shoulder. He groaned his approval, and he sent his big hands to span and stroke her figure in the silky gown, a sensuous experience that blotted out everything for the moment but his contact and body heat. She would memorize a list of the things that made him groan. Hearing it launched cascades of thrill through her. His exploration slipped downward from behind her and onto her belly, pressing her against his long, hard physique and sliding downward to the heat between her thighs. She almost dropped the plate.

Mm…Danny and good food together. That was total pleasure.

Again, he commandeered the fork and sent a bite to her mouth. As she chewed, he placed a sucking kiss below her ear. Then she forgot to chew, taken by the fantastic shower of ecstasy he inflicted, and she had to remind herself again to chew. His breath on her body enticed her to a new level of want.

Another bite administered, he drew the zipper of the dress all the way down her back, and he slipped his hands into the dress, around her, and cupped her breasts.

“Oh…” The rough surfaces of his palms and fingers abrading her tender flesh played with her nipples, stoking the fire.

“Take another bite.” His whispers rushed lightning through her. Hands slid from her dress, and she turned to watch him pull his T-shirt from his torso, all iron-worked muscle, pale flesh, a thin scatter of body hair she wished to feel scrubbed against her. Again. His lion’s mane skimmed broad shoulders. His silvery sight never left her. Before, they’d made love in shadows, and she hadn’t seen him wholly nude. Just shirtless, he was beautiful, blessed with a holy kind of glamour that activated her soul.

Oh…

He fed her another bite of dinner, then he released the clip holding back her freshly dried hair, and his long, tapered fingers caught her tumbling tresses. Stirred to a corrupt snicker, he took in the scent of her hair as though it told him everything about her, as if it fed every hungry part of him.

“How can your T-shirt say you’re faster than light when you’re so torturously slow with me?”

“I know, the longer I take with you, the more you’ll moan in my ear. And I like that a lot. It’s a triumph to feel you under my power, Faith.”

That just made her moan.

He took the empty plate from her hands and set it aside on the table, then he put her in his arms. He’d said he wouldn’t let her go to Max’s without making love to her. The intent in Danny’s eye revealed his plot to ruin her freshly bathed scent.
“Are you enjoying the moment of marking me for the demons to detect?”

“Enormously. I’ll kick them in their heads if they touch you.” His demon-slaying grin gave away his entertainment. She knew he meant for Max to get that message, as well.
“This is like unwrapping the most fun present.”

She loved being explored by him, adored it, and she noticed each lithe movement of his heavenly warrior-body, marveled at how well he’d been put together for hunting criminals and hellish merchants of misery. She’d never discourage him from doing that duty. Those monsters better run and hide.

Danny wasn’t a monster. Was he?

She reached for his jeans and unbuttoned them, feeling him hard beneath the metal teeth of the zipper. He pushed the jeans to the floor for the unwelcome interference they were. Her mouth went dry at the unveiled sight of him, worthy of an artist’s sketch, all muscle, brains, instinct, skill, action.

Danny was better than perfect. He was physically superior.

But what was he on the inside? The progeny of an angel, the breed of a demon. She recalled her brief study of the heavenly races. If Danny turned out to be more angel, what would that mean? Angels did many benevolent things, but they also struck down populations with disease, disaster, and genocide. A single angel wielded the power to destroy cities, cause famine, flood a planet.

Angels were heaven’s hit men.

Danny snatched her up by the waist, capturing her, pressing her against him, and snickering over his plans for her.

Oh… She could barely wait.
***
Don’t stop. Read more.

Investigate steamy, peril-packed excerpts, watch a woe-filled book trailer here.

Available right now. What are you waiting for?
The angels of madness are calling.
Gangbusters Here!

Read and live an adventure.
Have an action-packed day,

Michele Hart
Paranormal/Sci-Fi Romance Author
~ Walk Another World ~ http://www.ILoveShape-Shifters.com/
GANGBUSTERS - Available Now.
In the end, it’s either you or the demon that comes for you.

Gangbusters and I are released!

2011-10-30T18:45:00.002-04:00

Check out Gangbusters!

Then, come and get it for 15% off!

Read HOT, peril-packed excerpts:

http://www.MicheleHart.com/b28-book.htm

Have a thrilling day,

Michele

Upcoming Appearances

2011-10-04T09:29:00.011-04:00

I can't believe how busy I am.
Here's my schedule:

October 16th: The Steam Room with Michele Zurlo

Steamy...

October 22nd: St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading

October 23rd: Creatures of the Night - Love Romances Cafe

October 29th: Halloween Bash - The Long and Short Romance Reviews

All through November!

November 10th: The 2011 Fall For Romance One-Day Event

Stop by, say hi!

Check out my book trailers here.
Want a sneak peek at the next I-Marshal story, Gangbusters?

Wishing you love and romance,

Michele

Gangbusters is Accepted for Publication!

2011-08-11T09:41:00.011-04:00

Coming November 2011!

Danny on the job...invisible.

Gangbusters

Daniel Tierney and his fellow I-Marshals take down the organizations producing the most dangerous substance in the Alliance. But reporter Faith Vedder turns up at the worst times, including Danny’s near-assassination. He’s had enough of her interference and requires her source of information.

Faith won’t tell him anything that compromises her Pulitzer-worthy story, not even under the magic of hot attraction. She doesn’t know she’s surrounded by fallen angels at war. Danny’s not finished making demands. She doesn’t understand until a giant, snorting, winged monster slobbers down her back, threatening to flay her.

The gangbusters can’t delay in their mission to shut down gangs until Danny learns the new criminal kingpin of their world is a man who once held Faith’s heart. In the guise of a gangland executioner named Heretic, Danny will destroy him. Even if it destroys Faith.

Angels are watching...

Check out I-Marshal Stories Here. You'll love the risk, steam, and adventure!

Wishing you romance and action,
Michele

Sweetest Review Ever! 5 Stars! Really, it doesn't get better than this!

2011-07-31T14:32:00.009-04:00

If any author ever got a better review than this, I've never seen it. I think the reviewer liked Vigilant.

* 5 out of 5 stars from Book Binge: “ I am so incredibly thankful that I didn't miss this one! Wow! What a cast of characters!...It will be a rare person indeed who does not find this story to be awesome and one of the Grade A, Top-of-the-Mark books no one should miss.”

The reviewer said a WHOLE LOT more than that! Read it all here:
http://thebookbinge.com/2011/07/guest-review-vigilant-by-michele-hart.html

Check all my reviews at http://www.ILoveShapeShifters.com/

Scroll down to earlier blog posts and watch the book trailers.

Wishing you love and adventure!

Michele

Angels and demons and lasers, oh my! A new Paranormal/Sci-Fi/Futuristic Romance series by Michele Hart

2011-07-17T11:43:00.001-04:00

Space adventure!

Gorgeous, daredevil heroes! Smart, adventurous heroines!

Villains to make your flesh crawl.

Investigate I-Marshal Stories.

http://www.michelehart.com/series-i-marshals.htm

Read and live an adventure.
Have an exciting day,
Michele

Hot Authors! Free e-books! Contests! Prizes!

2011-07-09T20:45:00.001-04:00

Hot Authors! Free e-books! Contests! Prizes!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/summerlove-in/

Things Couldn't Be Better!

2011-07-02T08:41:00.007-04:00

I'm about to submit to my publisher my newest novel in the I-Marshal Stories series, Gangbusters! I'm so thrilled about this one! High action! Three brave and hunky I-Marshals, two strong heroines, and a whole lot of demons. It was so much fun to write, I delayed the ending, just because I didn't wish to say goodbye to the characters.

My life-long best friend Bonnie is coming over today and it's fine wine, fattening foods, fun, and movies! We're celebrating! Celebrate with us!

Luminous Nights, the first episode of the I-Marshal Stories series, was an award-nominated story, and an author can't ask for much better than that. The newest, Vigilant, is pulling in fabulous reviews!

Check out the book trailer
for Luminous Nights!
(Click the link at the top of the video picture.
Easier to watch that way.)

Here's the book trailer for Vigilant!
(Click the link.)

Here's to love, laughter, and adventure!

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! God Bless America!

Michele
Visit my web site for steamy excerpts, fabulous reviews, and action-packed book trailers: ILoveShapeShifters.com

5 Teacups from HEA Reviews! for Vigilant, a Paranormal/Sci-Fi Romance (angels & demons)

2011-06-20T12:14:00.000-04:00

Good morning, everyone!

I discovered a very nice 5-star review of my steamy, action-packed Paranormal/Sci-Fi Romance, Vigilant. It’s one of the first reviews, so I’m pretty thrilled.

“I very much enjoyed [Vigilant]. Whether or not you’re a sci-fi fan, you’ll enjoy this stirring, romantic adventure.”
Check out Vigilant’s 5 out of 5 Teacups review from Happily Ever After Reviews:
http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-vigilant-by-michele-hart.html

* Investigate Vigilant. Where do the mortals fit in the war between the angels and demons? *

One surviving hijacker is charged with the murders of a hundred citizens.

One cop sees her innocence.

     Alliance I-Marshal Weber hauls Yadira to her home planet and infiltrates the human-trafficking ring controlling her. But he finds himself unbearably attracted to his witness. A gift for detecting deception reveals she’s the next victim of a criminal industry.
     Descending into shadowy worlds of slavery, Yadira endures a dark angel stalking her dreams and watches the quiet I-Marshal become dangerous in her defense. Everything about him moves her…except the memory of seeing him execute the most important man in her life. Shouldn’t she take vengeance? Delusions of a heavenly guardian affect her mind.
     Slavers and demons plan to snatch her from Weber’s custody while he is uncovering connections, and Weber won’t hesitate to execute the guilty surrounding Yadira. Who but a son of fire can save her from fiends harboring hardcore fantasies of harming her?

***

Read more. You don’t have to wait.

Discover steamy, peril-packed excerpts, watch a mysterious book trailer at:

http://www.michelehart.com/b27-book.htm

Read the First Chapter of Vigilant:

http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/2011/05/vigilant-by-michele-hart.html

Vigilant

by Michele Hart

Buy Link: http://www.BookStrand.com/vigilant

ISBN#: e-Book 1-61034-396-4 * Print 1-61034-682-3

Available @ BookStrand, Amazon, B&N,

everywhere exciting stories are waiting for you!

Read and live an adventure.
Have an action-packed day,

Michele

Luminous Nights Makes the Finals in the Golden Quill!

2011-04-29T01:23:00.000-04:00

Luminous Nights had finaled

in the 2011 Golden Quill Contest!

Cop or convict?

How many faces can one man own?

An assassin wearing a holographic mask and a prison tattoo boards Rachel’s freighter during a prison riot, intent on collecting gadgets capable of changing a man’s identity from the black-market gang who'd stolen them. Rachel’s never sure of Jack's identity nor his goal, but he claims to be an Alliance I-Marshal. Cop or convict? The clues never stop contradicting. She's horrified to find the bright holographic mask conceals the gruesome face of a monster. And the badge doesn’t slow him from murdering people right before her eyes.

When Rachel learns Jack will trade innocent lives for the digital miracles, she determines to make the mercenary grow a heart. How could a stone-cold killer kiss her so hotly? How could she kiss such a dangerous deceiver?

Jack has done years in prison to learn who’d stolen the remaining Gemini ticks, 3-D magic. Nothing will keep him from gaining extreme technology capable of unleashing galaxy-wide chaos. Forget feelings for Rachel. She can’t stop him from killing everyone involved.

***

Luminous Nights

by Michele Hart

Buy Link: http://www.BookStrand.com/luminous-nights

ISBN#: e-book 1-60601-884-1 * Print 1-60601-885-X

Available @ Amazon Books, Barnes & Noble, nearly everywhere!

Read the first chapter:

http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/2010/08/luminous-nights-by-michele-hart.html

Read steamy, peril-packed excerpts, check out awesome reviews, watch a kick-ass book trailer:

http://www.michelehart.com/b15-book.htm

Love & Kisses,

Michele

This is IT! Vigilant is Released!

2011-04-27T18:51:00.000-04:00

Hi, everyone!

Vigilant is now available!

One surviving hijacker is charged with the murders of a hundred citizens.

One cop sees her innocence.

Descending into shadowy worlds of slavery, Yadira endures a dark angel stalking her dreams and watches the quiet I-Marshal become dangerous in her defense. Everything about him moves her…except the memory of seeing him execute the most important man in her life. Shouldn’t she take vengeance? Delusions of a heavenly guardian affect her mind.

Slavers and demons plan to snatch her from Weber’s custody while he is uncovering connections, and Weber won’t hesitate to execute the guilty surrounding Yadira. Who but a son of fire can save her from fiends harboring hardcore fantasies of harming her?

***

Vigilant

by Michele Hart

Buy Link: http://www.BookStrand.com/vigilant

Available @ BookStrand.com! ISBN#: e-Book 1-61034-396-4 * Soon in Print!

Read cool excerpts, watch a mysterious book trailer at:

http://www.michelehart.com/b27-book.htm

Wishing you all love & adventure,

Michele

Sneak Peek at Vigilant, my new Sci-Fi Romance!

2011-04-05T16:15:00.020-04:00

I think I sweat covers more than submissions, and unnecessarily so. I've been on my toes for the cover of my new Sci-Fi Romance Vigilant, and I was thrilled/relieved/thrilled to receive this fine cover. Very cool. I love it. The artist is Jinger Heaston/BookStrand Publishing. Awesome cover.

With the cover comes the video:

By the way, it releases April 26th.

Interested in a blurb?

One surviving hijacker is charged
with the murders of a hundred citizens.
One cop sees her innocence.

     Alliance I-Marshal Weber hauls Yadira to her home planet and infiltrates the human-trafficking ring controlling her. But he finds himself unbearably attracted to his witness. A gift for detecting deception reveals she’s the next victim of a criminal industry.
     Descending into shadowy worlds of slavery, Yadira endures a dark angel stalking her dreams and watches the quiet I-Marshal become dangerous in her defense. Everything about him moves her…except the memory of seeing him execute the most important man in her life. Shouldn’t she take vengeance? Delusions of a heavenly guardian affect her mind.
     Slavers and demons plan to snatch Yadira from Weber’s custody while he is uncovering connections, and he won’t hesitate to execute the guilty surrounding her. Who but a son of fire can save her from fiends harboring hardcore fantasies of harming her?
In the future,
you are the strongest witness against you.

Have an adventurous day,

Michele

PS - I deserve ice cream.

Best Wishes and Prayers for Japan

2011-03-15T20:16:00.000-04:00

Please donate generously to the American Red Cross for disaster relief.

American Red Cross

Love to Japan,

Michele

SOS Aloha: Aloha to Michele Hart. MIND-BLOWN and LUMINOUS NIGHTS

2011-02-09T09:22:00.000-05:00

SOS Aloha: Aloha to Michele Hart. MIND-BLOWN and LUMINOUS NIGHTS

Bam! Vigilant SIGNED!

2011-02-08T18:45:00.007-05:00

8 Days! Gosh, I'm a happy girl. When I decided to go for publication, I asked myself how many times will I have to get published before I realized I was published? I said five. Five books will make me feel published. Five times is more than a fluke. :-) I'm a hard person to convince!

Today, Vigilant, my sixth title, was signed in 8 days! As you can imagine, I'm pretty giddy.

Here's a little somethin'-somethin' about Vigilant:

In the future,
you are the strongest witness
against you.

One surviving hijacker is charged with the murders of a hundred citizens.

One cop sees her innocence.

Alliance I-Marshal Weber hauls Yadira to her home planet to infiltrate the human-trafficking ring controlling her. But he finds himself unbearably attracted to his witness. A gift for detecting deception reveals she’s the next victim of a criminal industry.

Descending into shadowy worlds of slavery, Yadira endures a dark angel stalking her dreams, watches the quiet I-Marshal become dangerous in her defense. Everything about him moves her…except memory of watching him execute the most important man in her life. Shouldn’t she take vengeance? Delusions of a heavenly guardian affect her mind.

Slavers and demons plan to snatch her from Weber’s custody. Yeah, plan… The cop’s uncovering connections and won’t hesitate to execute the guilty surrounding her. Who but a son of fire can save her from fiends harboring hardcore fantasies of harming her?

***

Stay tuned!

Hugs,

Michele

NOMINATED!: Preditors & Editors Best Romance Poll

2011-01-20T19:18:00.001-05:00

Both Luminous Nights and Mind-Blown were nominated Best Romance!

I don't have the foggiest notion who nominated them. I know Beth nominated LN for LRC, (thanks, Beth!), but your guess is as good as mine over who sent the nominations for P&E.

Nice surprise!

Thank you, whoever you are!

GO VOTE for your favorite!

Now, where'd my chocolate go...

NOMINATED!: LRC's Best Sci-Fi/Futuristic Book of 2012!

2011-01-18T17:24:00.005-05:00

I'm so excited! Love Romances Cafe has nominated LUMINOUS NIGHTS for the Best Sci-Fi/Futuristic Book of 2010!

Would you like to read an excerpt?

Imagine an avenging angel dragging you, unwilling, through the galaxy while he hunts demons, uncaring of the mortals he kills.

***

[This excerpt is rated R for violence, language, and sexual reference.

All the good stuff. :-) ]

The Whip

Spun around in her bindings tied above her head, Rachel focused on Jack observing his former cellmates shooting dice near the hall’s great hearth. The traitor. It was like he hardly noticed her strung up for a lashing, his prison buddies looking forward to her vicious flogging. Heartlessly calm and detached, he intermittently checked the currently inactive scene of her soon torture, not very interested.

“Jack…” she called out to him. He cast a lazy look her way.

“If Quattro beats me, you can’t use me the way you want to in the mountains.”

“What makes you think stripes on your back would stop me?”

God, she hoped Jack was bluffing. She really couldn’t tell if he were a good guy or a bad guy. Was it okay with him to rape her in the woods while she was wounded? She shuddered.

Jack rose from his table, abandoning his meal. His sight burned into hers, risk in his holographic sky-blue eyes. A low-grade anxiety pulsed through her. He sashayed over to where Quattro had left the whip on the floor behind her.

“You want to see her punished, Quattro?” Jack brushed the dust from his hands.

“I insist upon it,” the mobster replied.

“Do you want her frightened?” Jack picked the whip up, suddenly too attracted to it.

Quattro’s gross grin rose. “I want to hear her shriek in terror and fear me, you, and every man here.”

Rachel was well on her way to all that. She feared every sadistic criminal in the room, but Jack. And he was fixing that right now. She stiffened to keep from shaking. She watched Jack pull the lash through his hand as if he appreciated the braid…or measured it. Others took notice. He took another step back, nonchalantly taking a position. Her heart pumped harder, and her breath quickened. He wasn’t going to do it, was he…going to beat her?

“Hold still, Rachel…” he said low, getting a feel for the grip. She mashed herself against the wall in dread of the lash.

Then Jack reared back and struck. The whip loudly snapped so close to her back, she felt the ripple in the air through the thin cotton of her techsuit. Rachel felt a shocking sting shoot through her body, and she shrieked. But she hadn’t felt the whip dig into her flesh.

“You bastard!” she shouted at him, awaiting the agony and so fearful of the pain, she nearly started to weep. “I swear to God, I’ll find a way to kill you for this!”

Her terror thrilled Quattro so much, he applauded.

“You’re a passivist, Rachel Marie,” Jack said, berating her. “You can’t kill a thing.”

She couldn’t yet feel the pain, though she didn’t think the hall cold enough to truly numb her from the agony of a lash. She opened her eyes and watched Jack’s audience grow. Where was the pain?

Jack reared back with the whip again. Rachel pinched her eyes shut and screamed in terror again, certain he wouldn’t miss a second time. The strike ripped the material of the techsuit down her back. Except for blood-curdling horror and a puff of slapped air, she felt no physical pain or even any contact. The second strike caused the audience to cheer.

A third strike still brought out her terrified cry and more of Quattro’s acclamation. The leather braid never met her back. Of course, it didn’t. Jack hadn’t missed a shot since he was twelve. If he missed the shot, it was because he meant to miss.

Bets started going down to see how many stripes she’d last.

Jack halted the entertainment cold, staring at them. She didn’t know what he was thinking. She wondered if he thought them vacant, psychotic souls, if he wanted to burn their hearts out with the laser gun strapped to his thigh. He broke away from some tormenting theme of thought, and began to roll the whip. Thinking the bloodsport over too early, the malicious crowd found other things to distract them, their breakfasts, games of dice.

“Quattro,” Jack bothered to finally say something as he coiled the whip and tied it, “beating her for an audience of your enemies isn’t such a good move, though I’m sure it would conjure a wicked orgasm for you and your men. If you torture her before your enemy, she becomes a hero. If you kill her, she becomes a martyr. Heroes and martyrs fuel rebellion. You may start a fire you can’t contain.”

Rachel caught up with her racing breath. The panic attack slowly eased. The sweat risen from her body in fear of supersized agony made her colder.

“You got the fear and loathing from her you wanted, the juicy fear and loathing,” Jack told him, “so let my property go.”

Realizing Jack hadn’t beaten her at all when her back wasn’t bleeding, Quattro was stopped cold by a thought. The hovercraft the gangster sat upon gave a spit. “You can’t possibly think I should let the insolent bitch go without a serious blooding, do you?”

“You should care more that your beds aren’t razed by blue armies. You’re done with her.”

“Your first fuck in the free worlds hasn’t softened your black heart, has it?”

Jack rolled stunning, digitally perfect blue eyes.

“For as many men as I’ve seen you kill, you’re not much of a woman-beater. You’re already softer than you were in prison.”

Jack paused. Quattro hit a raw nerve. Rachel wished she knew his thoughts.

“I have more control than you,” Jack told him with a dead-eyed stare, his finger in the gangster’s face. “Don’t mistake that for weakness. I have control of everything in this room.”

The statement shut Quattro’s foul drunken mouth.

“You’re very reckless today.” Jack passed him the whip.

“She’s not getting any more punishment than she just got,” Jack told him. “If I allow you to beat her, she’ll never survive the mountains with me for my purpose. She pilots the only ship around capable of traveling the wormhole in one piece. Leave her correction to me. I’ll make her want to die. Release my property, now that you’ve gotten your rocks off seeing her terrorized. That’s all you required.”

“I hope she cuts your throat in the middle of the night.”

“If you couldn’t get the job done after five years of trying, she can’t.”

“You sleep with your eyes open.”

Rachel watched Jack. He was magical. He knew just what to say to make Quattro do his bidding, the cold timing required, and the guts and confidence to pull it off, not to mention his dead-on aim. He was impressive.

***

Later, she had to know…

“What were you thinking when you were staging my beating and watching your audience thrill to the show?”

Jack surveyed the west mountains with the binoculars, and then the sea line. Rachel considered he might not answer the question until he replied, “I was thinking of how I wanted to kill all the sick degenerates for getting off on a weaker creature’s fear and pain.”

At the time, he’d looked like murder was on his mind.

Maybe that’s what happens to a good man’s soul when he serves time in Hell. He becomes the cold executioner.

How would she stop this avenging angel’s killing spree?

***

Luminous Nights

Michele Hart

http://www.BookStrand.com/luminous-nights

ISBN#: e-book 1-60601-884-1 * Print 1-60601-885-X

Available @ Amazon Books, Barnes & Noble, nearly everywhere!

Read the first chapter:

http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/2010/08/luminous-nights-by-michele-hart.html

Read hot excerpts packed with peril, check out awesome reviews,
watch a kick-ass book trailer:

http://www.michelehart.com/b15-book.htm

Read and live an adventure.

Have an action-packed day,
Love, Michele

Coming Soon! Vigilant and Gangbusters!

2011-01-12T08:39:00.004-05:00

My newest books,

Vigilant and Gangbusters,

are on their way from

BookStrand Publishing!

Love,

Michele

PS - For those of you who have written and shown up, we're doing fabulous! My, how things change. Thank you for the help you've given in the last few weeks. Looking forward to the next meeting of the writers club. Happy New Year! It's going to be the best year yet. Suze! Call me!Ally! Call me!

What a Blast! Another Jammin' Review for Luminous Nights!

2010-12-16T11:35:00.002-05:00

My Sci-Fi Romantic Adventure Luminous Nights is racking up fantastic reviews!

Here's the newest review from Fire Pages Reviews!

Luminous Nights is a wickedly amazing intergalactic romance...The drama begins when Rachel unknowingly picks up Jack, a prisoner, after a prison riot on her Caprice ship. Jack is on a mission - expose the evil betrayer in the Draco Alliance. With Jack's strong will and intense focus on completing his mission, it seems that Rachel has no choice but to go along for the ride. Michele created a phenomenal world, fantastic characters, an intriguing plot, and a highly anticipated romance that will never let you see chocolate the same way again.

I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of Luminous Nights. It's a delightful read worth every page. And the plots twists are guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Top 5 Things Fire Pages Loved about Luminous Nights:

(1) Jack's Crazy Attitude! Call me looney but I loved Jack's murderous spirit. He is so intent on exposing the truth that he will kill anyone that gets in his way. That definitely added to the suspense of the plot and drove the story forward.

(2) Jet is Awesome! My favorite character hands down has to be Jet, Rachel's genetically enhanced dog. He is Rachel's Chief of Security and doesn't think anything of Jack. I am a huge sucker for dogs and reading about Jet made me smile every time.

(3) Jack's Digital Mask. What would you do if you had a digital mask that could change your identity? Oh, the possibilities. Well Jack has one of these super cool masks and definitely knows how to use it. Rachel suspects that there is something not right when she first meets Jack, but it isn't very long before the mask will come off between them.

(4) Rachel the Heroine. Rachel's character and personality is so relatable. While it is obvious that Jack is the aggressor between the two, Rachel does stand up for those who are weaker and I found that very admirable. Rachel has some fantastic heroic moments in Luminous Nights, and I really enjoyed reading about her.

(5) Luminous Nights is a Balanced Novel! My absolute favorite thing about Luminous Nights is that the story is balanced. There are equal parts of action, adventure, drama, intrigue, dialogue, and romance. This made the plot flow seamlessly. I found this book incredibly easy to read.

Check out the review on Fire Pages Reviews right here!

Interested in seeing more?

Luminous Nights

by Michele Hart

Buy Link: http://www.BookStrand.com/luminous-nights

ISBN#: e-book 1-60601-884-1 * Print 1-60601-885-X

Available @ BookStrand Publishing, Amazon Books, Barnes and Noble, nearly everywhere!

Read the First Chapter of Luminous Nights:

http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/2010/08/luminous-nights-by-michele-hart.html

Read steamy, peril-packed excerpts, check out awesome reviews, watch a kick-ass book trailer:

http://www.michelehart.com/b15-book.htm

Read and live an adventure.

Have an action-packed day,

Michele Hart

Sci-Fi Romance Author

~ Walk Another World ~ http://www.ILoveShapeShifters.com/

Siren-BookStrand * MIND-BLOWN * LUMINOUS NIGHTS * VIGILANT - coming soon!

Siren-BookStrand * LOOKS ARE DECEIVING - 2010 Readers Favorite Bronze Award winner

The Wild Rose Press * NO FUNNY STUFF! - 2008 LASR's Best Novella Nominee

All Romance e-Books * ZERO-G * 28 Days of Heart

Luminous Nights: 5 out of 5 Teacups + a Recommended Read from Happily Ever After Reviews

2010-12-13T09:42:00.005-05:00

Oh, happy day! Now, this is a review I'd like to see every time!

Here's a fantastic review for my Sci-Fi Romantic Adventure, Luminous Nights.

Watch the book trailer to get you in the mood.

Happily Ever After Reviews
Reviewed by Ren

A digital mask that can change your identity? Check.
A genetically engineered dog as your first mate? Check.
High intrigue and intergalactic adventure? Double check.

Rachel Waters is the captain of the Caprice, a small freight ship that unwittingly picks up the nefarious Jack Luminous, the legendary I-Marshal, during an illegal transfer on the prison orbit of Null. She is convinced that her new passenger is not who he claims to be. Jet is her dog, a genetically enhanced hound that speaks to her with the twitch of his ears (love it!). He is the Chief of Security and not all impressed with their new passenger.

Jack Luminous has more facets than a polished diamond. After being in prison for five long years, Jack is hell-bent on exposing the betrayer within the Draco Alliance. A high body count means nothing to him and he has no qualms about using Rachel to achieve his murderous goals.

I pride myself on being somewhat a fast reader but sometimes you tend to miss the details when you do that. When I first started to read this, however, I had to set it aside to start again because you can’t skim through it. It deserves better than that.

Michele Hart has crafted a world rich in detail similar to the movie Blade Runner (if you haven’t seen it, please do) Ms. Hart’s attention to detail, character development and dialogue is exceptional. You are immediately transported to another time and place, living and breathing each moment with the main characters. The bad guys are there in force, the twists and turns of the plot making it fast paced and again, the world-building is fantastic. The romantic element is just enough without taking over the whole story.

I want one of those Gemini tick things.
Honestly, I’m a sucker for gadgets and anything that makes me wish we had them in this day and age gets a thumbs up with me.

Read it.
It’s that good.

5 Tea Cups and a Recommended Read!

Here's the Review!

Here's More!

Read Exciting Excerpts
and Fantastic Reviews Here!

Love, Michele

You Tread on My Dreams - Yeats

2010-10-22T14:31:00.005-04:00

But I, being poor, have only my dreams. I've spread them below your feet. Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. - Yeats

That quote is in my favorite movie, Equilibrium. If you haven't seen Equilibrium, rent it when you get the chance. It's all about emotion, and the power it has to destroy us. But if we suppressed emotion, we would have little reason to exist. Very deep movie, and a lot of super ass-kickin' from Christian Bale and Taye Diggs! Not to be missed. Why it didn't garner huge acclaim is beyond me.

- M.

Awesome Reviews for Mind-Blown!

2010-09-09T12:43:00.004-04:00

Wow! Mind-Blown got some damned great reviews in the last weeks! I'm so proud!

Check them out!

http://www.MicheleHart.com/b26-book.htm

Hugs,

Michele

Nice Review from Novel Reaction!

2010-08-28T19:09:00.004-04:00

Oh! I just got the nicest news! My steamy Sci-Fi Romance thriller, Mind-Blown, just got a nice review from Novel Reaction!
Here’s some of what they said:

Mind-Blown is a Sci-Fi thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. The idea of a corporation influencing the minds of its employees and preying upon their need for an income was upsetting and believable... Jon and Holly’s relationship progressed at a believable rate and I enjoyed the give and take between the characters. I also really liked the scene where Jon convinces Holly to dress provocatively to distract the security guards while he broke into the company…

Here’s the full review:
http://novelreaction.com/2010/08/mind-blown-by-michele-hart-review/

Here’s a little more of Mind-Blown:

Jon Paige discovers his employer is developing illicit mind-control techniques. He quickly learns how to hijack the system and breaks down his beautiful assistant’s persistent walls. Will Holly forgive him for sneaking into her mind, if she ever learns of it?
Holly Maddox is determined not to dip her pen in the company ink, a policy that’s served her well…until Jon comes along. He steals her mind when he’s in the room, weakens her fortitude with every flash of his flirty eyes and secretive smile. How will she keep herself from falling in love with her boss when he melts her impulse control?
When Jon and Holly decide to sabotage the brain-washing experiments, they learn they’re up against a greater power than they’d bargained for. Doing the right thing risks lives. Will the truth of their beginnings wreck their sizzling affair?
***

Mind-Blown
by Michele Hart
Buy Link: http://www.BookStrand.com/mind-blown

Available in e-Book ISBN#: 1-60601-773-X

Read an excerpt, catch the reviews, watch the book trailer at:
http://www.michelehart.com/b26-book.htm

Read and live an adventure.
I hope good news awaits you today.

Michele Hart
Sci-Fi Romance Author
~ Walk Another World ~ http:/www.ILoveShapeShifters.com/

Siren-BookStrand * MIND-BLOWN * LUMINOUS NIGHTS
Siren-BookStrand * LOOKS ARE DECEIVING - a Readers Favorite Contest Finalist!
The Wild Rose Press * NO FUNNY STUFF! * Song of the Muses anthology
All Romance e-Books * ZERO-G * 28 Days of Heart

New Release! Luminous Nights, a Sci-Fi Romantic Adventure

2010-08-24T09:03:00.004-04:00

My steamy new Sci-Fi Romantic Adventure, Luminous Nights, comes out today at BookStrand! If you like nonstop action and adventure, check out Luminous Nights! Here’s what lurks in the pages: Cop or convict? How many faces can one man own? An assassin wearing a holographic mask and a prison tattoo boards Rachel’s freighter during a prison riot, intent on collecting gadgets capable of changing a man’s identity from the black-market gang who'd stolen them. She’s never sure of Jack's identity nor his goal, but he claims to be an Alliance I-Marshal. Cop or convict? The clues never stop contradicting. Rachel's horrified to find the bright holographic mask conceals the gruesome face of a monster. And the badge doesn’t slow him from murdering people right before her eyes. When Rachel learns Jack will trade innocent lives for the digital miracles, she determines to make the mercenary grow a heart. How could a stone-cold killer kiss her so hotly? How could she kiss such a dangerous deceiver? Jack has done years in prison to learn who’d stolen the remaining Gemini ticks, 3-D magic. Nothing will keep him from gaining extreme-technology capable of unleashing galaxy-wide chaos. Forget feelings for Rachel. She can’t stop him from killing everyone involved. *** Prison breaks, alien chocolate seduction, super weapons, doomsday devices, explosions, narrow escapes, murder-defying deceit, and threats of genocide, all while riding a harrowing roller coaster with a man wearing a holographic mask. Crazy fun! Frightening adventure. Luminous Nights by Michele Hart Buy Link: http://www.BookStrand.com/luminous-nights e-Book ISBN#: 1-60601-884-1 Read hot excerpts, watch a cool book trailer: http://www.michelehart.com/b15-book.htm

Read and live an adventure. Have an action-packed day, Michele Hart Sci-Fi Romance Author ~ Walk Another World ~ http:/www.ILoveShapeShifters.com/ Siren-BookStrand * LUMINOUS NIGHTS * MIND-BLOWN Siren-BookStrand * LOOKS ARE DECEIVING - a Readers Favorite Contest Finalist! The Wild Rose Press * NO FUNNY STUFF! * Song of the Muses anthology All Romance e-Books * ZERO-G * 28 Days of Heart

Mind-Blown's First Review!

2010-08-22T09:20:00.007-04:00

I awoke to find an awesome review on my steamy Sci-Fi Romance BookStrand release, Mind-Blown! I'm going to print the whole thing here, because I can do that. It's my blog. From Marilyn at Nights and Weekends Reviews: This romantic thriller caught me by surprise. At first, it appears to be a simple workplace romance, but it has a sinister plot. Suspense intensifies when the lead hunk discovers that his employer is conducting mind experiments on select staff. But the twisted doctor in charge has not factored in the sleuthing powers of sexy green-eyed Jonathan Paige, the new HR department head, or his witty brown-eyed assistant, Holly Maddox. Holly is a fun-loving person, but she’s avoiding men right now to concentrate on job security and being a good mom. Jon is tempting, though—and it doesn’t hurt that he smells like a cedar stick! Jon is extremely resourceful—always ready with a disguise for secret visits to the medical lab—so he decides to use a little science for his own gain, to get inside Holly’s head. Though the two are constantly joking around, they still manage to pull off some awesome stunts as they try to put an end to the doctor’s sinister experiments. But while the mystery solving is intense and quick-paced, their sensual moments are electric. Predictably, once the guy thinks he has the girl, he messes up. The relationship, which you now care about, is in danger. In order for them to survive, they’ll need to help each other heal past emotional wounds. Author Michele Hart knows how to develop her characters, from Holly and Jon to the obsessed Dr. Ramirez. You’ll see how the doctor’s methods alienate the other characters—and you’ll feel their dread when they interact with her. It’s mind-blowing to imagine what this doctor is trying to accomplish, but it’s even more mind-blowing that she thinks she’s going to get away with it. The suspense of it all is thrilling. Mind-Blown is definitely a page-turner—or, I suppose, a “page-scroller,” since it’s an e-book. I stayed up late reading it, just to find out what would happen next. For those of you who have never read a romantic thriller, give this one a try—it might just blow your mind. Damn, that's an awesome review! There’s much more! Don’t take my word for it. I’m a fiction writer! Check out the entire review here: http://www.nightsandweekends.com/articles/10/NW1000339.php Read a couple of excerpts, cruise the reviews, watch the book trailer: http://www.michelehart.com/b26-book.htm Buy Link: http://www.BookStrand.com/mind-blown Have a fantastic day, Michele

2010-08-17T10:09:00.004-04:00

Check my cool video for my
new Sci-Fi Romantic Adventure
Luminous Nights
Coming to you August 24th! Don't miss it!

Prison breaks, alien chocolate seduction,
super weapons, doomsday devices, explosions,
narrow escapes, murder-defying deceit,
and threats of genocide,
all while riding a harrowing roller coaster
with a man wearing a holographic mask.

Crazy fun! Frightening adventure.

Want to read an excerpt?

http://www.michelehart.com/b15-book.htm

Look for Luminous Nights August 24th
@ BookStrand.com!

Peace out, adventurers!

Michele

My Interview w/ Jon Paige, the Very Bad Hero of Mind-Blown

2010-06-30T09:53:00.007-04:00

Here’s a first bite of Mind-Blown:

Jon Paige discovers his employer is developing illicit mind control techniques. He quickly learns how to hijack the system and breaks down his beautiful assistant’s persistent walls. Will Holly forgive him for sneaking into her mind, if she ever learns of it?

Holly Maddox is determined not to dip her pen in the company ink, a policy that’s served her well…until Jon comes along. He steals her mind when he’s in the room, weakens her fortitude with every flash of his flirty eyes and secretive smile. How will she keep herself from falling in love with her boss when he melts her impulse control?

When Jon and Holly decide to sabotage the brain-washing experiments, they learn they’re up against a greater power than they’d bargained for. Doing the right thing risks lives. Will the truth of their beginnings wreck their sizzling affair?

***

MICHELE: Welcome, Jon, Take a seat, get comfortable.

Jon takes a seat, bounces a little to test the virtue of the chair.

MICHELE: So, Jon, you’re the hunky and felonious hero of Mind-Blown, my spicy new Sci-Fi Romance available now at Siren-BookStrand. What was your motivation to use mind control on your assistant Holly?

JON: (smiles wildly) Have you seen her? Take a gander at our book cover. Holly was a stubborn one, wasn’t a fast fall for my smooth charms. She hid behind walls built around her soul over some long-ago heartbreak, and she was prepared for a prolonged assault. Even when I could see magic stirring in her pretty eyes. Her mind was set. It was a stroke of Fate that I divined our company’s mind-control tricks, and I was offered the chance to confirm my theory of the discovery.

And I only pulled off a few small break-ins, nothing worthy of the full-blown adjective “felonious” (uses finger quotes). I prefer the words “resourceful” and “unique thinker”.

MICHELE: (issues a disagreeing shake of her head) Now, Jon. Most laws would consider the multiple penetrations of a federal medical institution felonious.

JON: (shrugs, still smiles coolly) I didn’t take much. This isn’t some kind of police trap-and-interrogation, is it? You aren’t a cop, are you? ‘Cause I haven’t admitted to anything specifically and you have no evidence against me. That’s what my kick-ass attorney will say to any guy wearing a black dress behind a judge’s bench. (taps the microphone) Is this thing on?

MICHELE: So, you tested your theory on Holly?

JON: I actually tested it on a group of unknowing employees, but I did slip a little subliminal romantic help into Holly’s memory experiment. Just to see if I could weaken her stifling opposition against spending casual off-time with me.

MICHELE: You say the opportunity to change Holly’s mind about not dating coworkers was just too juicy to pass up?

JON: It absolutely was. I’m a weak man for a hot redhead and legs up to her chin. I blame a loss of good judgment from basking in Holly’s bewitching company five days a week.

MICHELE: Blaming the victim... Not to mention sounding very shifty in the employer-ethics corner. Even sounds bad for a friend to do to another friend.

JON: That it was, a violation, really. I’m not usually one to wish for this sort of power over another person. I’d felt very bad after I’d done it, had wished to undo it, and had thought to confess…until Holly kissed me and led me to her bed. I lost all interest in guilt somewhere along the way to her bedroom. It was when I listened to the music of her panting my name in my ear that I realized there was no going back. Not that I wanted to, at that point.

MICHELE: Was it a case of desperate people doing desperate things?

JON: Yes, it was exactly that.

MICHELE: I guess you figured you’d never get caught. It didn’t end well, did it?

JON: (shakes his head, looks remorseful) No. I hadn’t anticipated my little test-run of brain-washing would end like this at all. By the time it was over, I ended up in a blood-smeared bunny suit--yes, a bunny suit--and the world media and the President of the United States had become involved. Even worse, I nearly lost Holly. We’ll be in hiding for months.

Find out how badly it went.

***

Mind-Blown

by Michele Hart

Buy Link: http://www.BookStrand.com/mind-blown

Available in e-Book ISBN#: 1-60601-773-X

Read reviews and hot, action-packed excerpts,

watch the book trailer at:

http://www.michelehart.com/b26-book.htm

Read and live an adventure.

Happy reading,

Michele Hart Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance Author ~Walk Another World ~ www.ILoveShapeShifters.com ~

LUMINOUS NIGHTS * coming Sep '10 * Siren-BookStrand MIND-BLOWN * LOOKS ARE DECEIVING * Siren-BookStrand ZERO-G * 28 Days of Heart * All Romance e-Books NO FUNNY STUFF! * Song of the Muses * The Wild Rose Press

New Release Day! Mind-Blown!

2010-06-22T08:07:00.005-04:00

Today's the Big Day for my Sci-Fi Romantic Suspense, Mind-Blown. Available @ Siren-BookStrand.
I'm very excited!

Read an excerpt.

Watch the book trailer.

~ Walk Another World ~

Here's a little bite:

Jon Paige discovers his employer is developing brain-washing techniques. He quickly learns how to hijack the system and breaks down his beautiful assistant’s persistent walls. Will Holly forgive him, if she ever learns of it?

Holly Maddox is determined not to dip her pen in the company ink, a policy that’s served her well…until Jon comes along. He steals her mind when he’s in the room, weakens her fortitude with every flash of his flirty eyes and secretive smile. How will she keep herself from falling in love with her boss when he melts her impulse control?

When Jon and Holly decide to sabotage the mind-control experiments, they learn they’re up against a greater power than they’d bargained for. Doing the right thing risks lives. Will the truth of their beginnings wreck their sizzling affair?

Mind-Blown is available right here:
http://www.bookstrand.com/mind-blown

Read reviews and more excerpts, watch the book trailer at:
http://www,michelehart.com/b26-book.htm

Read and live an adventure today!

XO,
Michele

Another Fantastic Review for Looks Are Deceiving!

2010-05-23T08:02:00.002-04:00

Wow! This 5-star review from Manic Readers blew me away! I wish I could hug the reviewer!
Don't miss it!

http://www.manicreaders.com/index.cfm?disp=bookDetail&bookid=1476

Love,
Michele

New Contract and New Review!

2010-03-27T11:54:00.007-04:00

I'm thrilled to report I've signed a contract for my Sci-Fi Romantic Suspense Mind-Blown. You'll see it in August 2010 in e-Book, January 2011 for Print! I can hardly wait to hold it in my hands. I'm holding my breath for the cover, over which I have no control.

I was thrilled again to have discovered Manic Readers had just given my Erotic Romantic Suspense Looks Are Deceiving a fabulous 5 out of 5 stars! The reviewer was quite generous and loved the book.

Read it here:

http://www.manicreaders.com/index.cfm?disp=reviews&bookid=1476

Cyber champagne for everyone!

Hugs,
Michele

New Release! Zero-G!

2010-02-03T08:01:00.005-05:00

Oh, happy day!
I'm tickled to announce
the publication of my Sci-Fi Romance novella,
Zero-G,
brought to you by All Romance e-Books!
Zero-G is a part of
28 Days of Heart,
a cool anthology with 28 stories
for each day in February.
All proceeds go to the American Heart Association.
READ FOR CHARITY!

Buy Zero-G now for a sexy space adventure!
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-zerog-402480-143.html

Love, Michele

New Release! Zero-G, my Sci-Fi Romance!

2010-01-30T10:59:00.015-05:00

Join me in celebrating my new release!
I'm so pleased to announce the publication of my Sci-Fi Romance novella

Zero-G

a part of
the Valentine's Day anthology
28 Days of Heart from All Romance e-Books

All proceeds benefit
the American Heart Association.

READ FOR CHARITY!

Out of this world...

Maggie Gates was madly in love with shy Will Hudson in high school, but he never made his move. 

Two decades later, they’re trapped on a lunar space station for eleven days. A relationship between the two should be off limits, but that isn’t stopping Will from setting his sights on Maggie for conquest in the cosmos.  

The shy boy she knew is gone, and this man possesses the will to storm her gates. Now he has the Moon and stars on his side.

***

Healthy hearts for everyone!

Find Zero-G @:

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-zerog-402480-143.html

Wishing you a prosperous 2010,

Michele

NFS! Nominated for Best Novella by LASR!

2009-02-04T14:24:00.003-05:00

I'll thrilled to announce No Funny Stuff! has been nominated for Best Novella of 2008 by Long and Short Reviews!

If you'd like to vote:

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/BB2008.htm

Thanks for participating!

Hugs,

Michele

Fantastic Review!

2008-12-04T21:10:00.003-05:00

*Reviewed by Bitten By Books Rating: 5 out of 5 Tombstones

YIPPEE!

What do you get when you mix the Muse of Laughter, a calamity-ridden man, a fantastically eccentric red head, a Chihuahua with the heart of a rottweiler, and a task from the Gods? An utterly fabulous story filled with humor and depth, that's what. This story practically flew off the pages and I had so much fun... I loved this spin on Greek Mythology...and the back story for Drew's family curse was interesting. The interplay between the different deities was well done and a rather humorous version of what was said to happen rather frequently when Olympians take sides. I also got a real kick out of Thalia's various shoe stores. I highly recommend this tale if you're looking for a laugh out loud story that is the perfect remedy for a downer of a day or a long day at work.

Reviewer: Sarai

Big Day! Big Day! for No Funny Stuff!

2008-12-04T20:23:00.010-05:00

Song of the Muses Book III is RELEASED!

Wow, what an experience it's been. I must say the best part was meeting the Muse writers. Alisha Paige is the Best of the Best people I've ever met. Masha Holl and Hywela Lyn (Both have marvelous stories in Book II) have been adorable. The other muses were just fabulous folk, and I'm proud to have worked with many of them.

My title, No Funny Stuff!, did pretty well, staying #1 on The Wild Rose Press's Bestsellers List for a solid month, and sat on the Bestsellers List over 2 months! I'm very proud. TWRP was wonderful to me, and my editor Ami was awesome. It feels like the end of something great, even though I'll have a long history with TWRP. More stories are coming. I have two more contracts in the works with other publishers.

Writing for Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, was a whole lot of fun. I just might write another. She's a wealth of unmined gold.

Buy your copy now! E-book or paperback! Your favorite flavor! Laughs aplenty!

Love, Michele

Hop on the Christmas Ride!

2008-11-22T20:30:00.016-05:00

Welcome to our newest contest

CHRISTMAS RIDE!

To spread more Christmas cheer, we're giving one lucky person a $75 Wild Rose Press gift certificate! All you need to do to enter is attend each day's blog post, identify the carol, and make a complete carol list to submit after the final blog post of Christmas Eve. Don't forget to check the list twice!

Send it to Christmasrideblog@live.com by midnight, CST Dec. 31st 2008!

Win a Free PDF copy of my Fantasy Romance NO FUNNY STUFF!

Here's your Christmas clue for this blog:

"In the meadow, we can build a snowman,"

Post the name of this carol AND YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS in the comments of this blog, and I'll draw a name to receive a free copy of my hilarious Fantasy Romance NO FUNNY STUFF!, a tale for Thalia, the Greek muse of Comedy!

And here's your next link on the CHRISTMAS RIDE! Have fun!

Teri Wilson's Blog

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Love, Michele

No Funny Stuff! - 5 out of 5 Tombstones!

2008-11-10T08:32:00.006-05:00

No Funny Stuff! rocks Bitten By Books!

*Reviewed by Bitten By Books
Rating: 5 out of 5 Tombstones
Bitten By Books <- Read the Review in its entirety!

…What do you get when you mix the Muse of Laughter, a calamity-ridden man, a fantastically eccentric red head, a Chihuahua with the heart of a rottweiler, and a task from the Gods? An utterly fabulous story filled with humor and depth, that’s what. This story practically flew off the pages and I had so much fun… I loved this spin on Greek Mythology…and the back story for Drew’s family curse was interesting. The interplay between the different deities was well done and a rather humorous version of what was said to happen rather frequently when Olympians take sides. I also got a real kick out of Thalia’s various shoe stores. I highly recommend this tale if you’re looking for a laugh out loud story that is the perfect remedy for a downer of a day or a long day at work.
Reviewer: Sarai
***

Wooooooooooo! Haunted Blog!

2008-10-20T21:29:00.016-04:00

I’m so excited! So much happening!

Want to win a free e-book? Check out these Haunted Blogs and win free stuff!

Skhye Moncrief
Alisha Paige
Tarah Scott
Betty Hanawa
Marly Mathews
Elizabeth Melton Parsons
Brenda Weaver
Alien Places
Hywela Lyn
Sheri Lewis Wohl
Sister Writers
PL Parker
Sky Purington Writes
Barbara Edwards
Beth Caudill
Susanne Saville

This Halloween I’ll be at The Wild Rose Press’s 24-hour Halloween Bash! If you ever wanted to chat with a TWRP author, now’s your chance! Come party with us! Who knows might stop by! The ghost of King Arthur! Wolves and witches of every description! The devil himself! A popular politician! The Wild Rose Press!

I’ll be holding a contest from 11am to 11:20am, giving away an e-book copy of my Bestselling novella, No Funny Stuff!, a tale for the Muse of Comedy! Don’t miss a chance to win a free e-book. More fun than a propeller beanie.

Or, better yet, don’t miss out on reading No Funny Stuff! for yourself for only $3! Cheaper than a sense of humor transplant! NFS! stayed on TWRP’s Bestsellers List for 2 months! Find out why!
Buy Link:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=925

Halloween night, I’ll be at the #1 Halloween party in 100 miles radius! I’m lugging out my fire-dragon sorceress costume—my very favorite costume--and going to town. The party’s thrown at a with cool things to look at and good food and drink. I can hardly wait. I don’t get out much.

I love this costume because the corset was made by a friend of mine who has passed away--too early--so wearing it is one of those times when I honor his memory. Gold leather with a dragon etched into it, identical to the dragon necklace of the costume. Wearing his creation on the night the dead are closest to the veil separating the worlds, I think of him.

Bless you, Bret, wherever you are, and thank you for your talent and craftsmanship.

Everyone commenting on my blog will be entered into a drawing for a copy of my Greek Romance novella, No Funny Stuff!

Everyone, have a safe and fun night,
Michele

PINK RIBBONS! Laughter: An Essential Part of Breast Cancer Recovery

2008-10-01T03:55:00.008-04:00

“Laugh when you can. It is the best medicine.” Lord Byron

How can a few jokes change the course of breast cancer?

Researchers are finding that those who laugh a lot through their breast cancer treatments have a high rate of recovery and a low rate of remission. Why, you ask? Laughter floods our bodies with chemicals called endorphins. These ‘happy” chemicals alter our bodies into staying happy. Becoming happy creates a chemical map to remain happy. It’s a lot like smiling when you don’t feel like it. Fake a few smiles when you’re unhappy, and you’ll find yourself feeling better and spreading joy beyond yourself.

But, can laughter kill cancer, physically-speaking?

"One characteristic of the cancer patient who does well,” says Dr. Michael B. Van Scoy-Morsher, an oncologist in California, “is the ability to often put cancer in the background for periods of time."

That’s what laughter can do, put breast cancer on the back burner of the body and healing in the forefront. Humor gives us power over things that bring us down, gives life to hope, and hope to life. The worst problem can lift a bit with a hardy guffaw or a bashful smile. Laughing relieves the stress that contributes to cancer, giving our bodies a “vacation”.

Humor affects our entire brain, especially the prefrontal cortex, the nest of perception and mood. The emotions and moods we experience directly affect our immune system, strengthening our fight against the challenge of breast cancer. Laughter often shows us what’s most important and real in life. A sense of humor allows us to perceive and appreciate the incongruities of life and provides moments of joy and delight. These positive emotions can create neurochemical changes that will buffer the immunosuppressive effects of diseases and stress. That’s helping your treatment along the way.

The secret of laughter … is that our bodies are hardwired with some surprisingly powerful natural reactions to extended hearty laughter. These side effects include:

•Blood & all major organs are fully oxygenated leaving us bursting with energy
•Blood pressure drops, circulation improves and pulse rate drops
•Depression is lifted, even chronic depression is often cured
•High endorphin levels put us in a great mood and reduce any aches & pains
•Immune, digestive & sexual systems that are switched off by stress are switched on
•Self confidence is boosted, communication skills and creativity are boosted
•Our lymphatic system is massaged and our immune systems boosted
•Stress levels reduce by 75% or more and we become more stress resistant
(Source: Laughter Yoga)

Humor is the Anti-Cancer. Laugh at the enemy and you will win the everyday battles.

So chuckle when your hair falls out from chemo. Buy crazy wigs. Use this chance to see how you’d look in different hairstyles and colors! Write a funny song about mammograms and sing it to your friends and yourself every day. Smile at your kids at play. Snicker when your dog chases his tail. Build yourself a DVD collection of movies that crack you up. Collect jokes, plan fun. Imagine that breast cancer as a small adversary to your grand attitude. Time flies when you’re having fun!

A breast cancer diagnosis is not a choice; it’s a challenge. How you face and deal with your breast cancer is your choice. Laugh your way into more life. Make breast cancer your favorite target of hilarity and humiliation. Attack the attack, a German martial arts concept. Make your humor more progressive than your sickness.

Here’s to LaughAngeles.com and their list of 40 Laughter Exercises!:
http://www.laughangeles.com/40-laughter-exercises.php

Wishing you good health of body and laughter of soul.
Michele

Zero-G off into the Stars

2008-09-27T09:29:00.002-04:00

My next story, Zero-G, is off to the Worlds of Submissions.

This one's special to me. I'll not say why specifically. It'll be obvious to any reader.

Cross your fingers for me.

NO FUNNY STUFF! Hits #1!

2008-09-06T15:56:00.005-04:00

I'm so pleased to tell you

my Greek Myth novella,

No Funny Stuff!, is a #1 Bestseller!

That's a great sign for the entire series.

I'm so tickled to be a part of all of it.

NO FUNNY STUFF! Hits #3 on TWRP's Bestsellers List!

2008-09-01T14:50:00.016-04:00

I'm beside myself with pride. Another of my babies have hit the Bestsellers Lists for their publishers. Both hit Lucky #3.

Hooray for Thalia!
Her first Bestseller!

Read the Fabulous Reviews and Steamy Excerpts Here!

Did you see the Book Trailer? Don't wait!

No Funny Stuff!, a tale for the Muse of Comedy, costs a big $3!
Funnier than a stump! Less than a cup at Starbuck's and much longer lasting!
WARNING: Will cause chuckles and snorts!

Buy
NO FUNNY STUFF!
Here!

What if they run out,
and here you are,
wasting precious time!

The Person Most Excited

2008-08-24T23:43:00.007-04:00

The greatest people I've come across in my life are a wonderful couple named Ron and Roberta Parshley. Bobbie Parshley is the most giving of people, sacrificed time with her husband so that he could help someone in need. If she ever complained, and she had the right to, I never saw it. I had the chance to live with them for a while, and I never saw a more generous person. Roberta Parshley has the most perfect soul possible in a human. She lives on an Alabama farm now around family and animals, her greatest loves. God, wait to take her sweet soul to Heaven just a little bit longer than she wants to hang out so the people around her can be so lucky.

Thank you, Bobbie, for all you gave me, much more than you know. You're the closest person to being a saint I've ever known. I love you, Bobbie.

Ron Parshley. I don't know where to start. He was my mentor, my life's best friend, my father, priest, my fellow journeyman on this path. Although I'd spent my life studying the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks, Ron opened the entire world of history to me on so many more planes, spiritually most importantly. More than just myth but the development of the soul, of God. He changed me immensely. Ronald Parshley, Lord Sylvanis, had been one of the co-founders of both the National Association of Pantheism and The Pagan Allied Network, a direct initiate from Alexander Sanders' hand. I'm so very proud to be of that line :-) The entire pagan world with miss him until we pass from this life. Freedom of Religion in the United States owes much to dedication and love of Ronald Allan Parshley. So do I. He was my most beloved cheerleader in writing. He'd had so much faith in me, he'd recommended me to a very well-known pagan author and personality for the position of co-author of her upcoming book. I'd declined, unready for such a big task. He'd be so proud to see me Greek Myth Romance. He'd be the person most excited for me. I lost Ron in 2001, about a month after 9/11. He's my life's greatest loss. He'll always be missing. I love you, Ron.

It's NO FUNNY STUFF!'s Big Day!

2008-08-15T19:56:00.015-04:00

Wow! A year ago, I wouldn’t have believed anyone who told me I’d be involved in a novella anthology and write a Myth Romance nor a comedy. Now I’ve been asked to do another. It’s been a priceless experience. I’m so proud, my smile makes my cheeks ache.

NO FUNNY STUFF!
is the first of two tales of
Thalia, the Muse of Comedy!

Something's Rotten at the Gates of Heaven

Under conspiratorial inspiration of Olympian thrones,
Thalia, the Muse of Comedy,
sends a blessing of love and laughter to Drew Murphy,
a young man cursed to a short and miserable life.
But when her favorite messenger Daisy Sullivan

accidentally launches the magic
--wrong time, wrong place, wrong method, wrong everything!--
Thalia must force to light buried secrets

of a millennia-old family curse
and face down a most vengeful Immortal

on his own bloody stage
if she wishes to free both Drew and Daisy from an unJust fate.

Ares, the ruthless God of War,
loves only one thing as much as he loves bloodshed....

How's Thalia supposed to make THAT funny?
At least, she's wearing her best sandals!

***
$3.00, less than a cup of Starbuck’s Coffee and more laughs!
What a bargain! :-)

Buy My Book!
Have you bought my book yet?
My family says I’m worth $3, but not much more.

:-)

Love, Michele

Holding the Baby! LAD in PRINT!

2008-08-03T11:40:00.014-04:00

My baby is in my hands!
LOOKS ARE DECEIVING is in print!
It's one thing to have e-books.
It's the next cool step to hold your story in paperback.
This week I plan to sneak into Books-A-Million,
put my book on the Romance shelf, and take a picture of it. :-)

Here's a secret:
If you buy one copy through Amazon.com, you pay for shipping.
Buy two copies, and you get shipping FREE!
Give your second copy to a friend who likes Sexy Suspense!

Buy LOOKS ARE DECEIVING Here!
Read Wonderful Reviews
and Steamy Excerpts!
Watch the Video!

What are you waiting for?

Announcing AMUSE ME!

2008-07-23T20:22:00.002-04:00

In the last few days, I've been invited to return for another Muse anthology, which I think is super-cool!

Look for AMUSE ME, another tale of the Muse of Comedy, in 2009!

Introducing THE VICTORY OF LUGH, available NOW!

2008-07-18T18:22:00.010-04:00

Valerie Everhart wrote the story for Polyhymnia, the Muse of Hymns, for the anthology Song of the Muses, available @ The Wild Rose Press!

Thrust through time to the dark ages of Ireland, Hymnia, Muse of Glorious Praise, finds Dacien, the Laird of Castle Lugh, anything but god-like. She uncovers the mystery of the disappearing women of the castle, but loses her heart to the very person she suspects is the killer, in THE VICTORY OF LUGH.

THE VICTORY OF LUGH is available NOW!

Valerie Everhart's Web site

Valerie's Blog

Introducing NO FUNNY STUFF!, available NOW!

2008-07-18T18:21:00.013-04:00

Michele Hart (Hey! That's Me!) wrote the story for Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, for the anthology Song of the Muses, available @ The Wild Rose Press!

Dispatching her favorite messenger to deliver laughter to a dying man, Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, faces down ancient curses and a vengeful Immortal bent on watching generations suffer. She'd rather be shoe-shopping! Luckily for Thalia, the God of War’s only weakness is Comedy’s greatest ally! NO FUNNY STUFF here!

NO FUNNY STUFF! is available NOW!

My Web site

Thalia's MySpace Page! What fun!

Introducing A LOVE BEYOND TIME, available NOW!

2008-07-18T18:20:00.012-04:00

Alisha Paige wrote the story for Clio, the Muse of History, for the anthology Song of the Muses, available @ The Wild Rose Press!

Cursed for mocking Aphrodite, the goddess of love, Clio, Muse of History, and her lover are thrust back in time to the Salem witch trials and then the Italian Renaissance. Only love can save them both, but is it enough? Is their love A LOVE BEYOND TIME?

Find A LOVE BEYOND TIME HERE!

Alisha Paige's Web site

Alisha's Blog

Introducing DANCING WITH FATE, available now!

2008-07-18T18:19:00.015-04:00

Hywela Lyn wrote the story for Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance, for the anthology
Song of the Muses, available @ The Wild Rose Press!

The task assigned to Terpsichore, Muse of Dance, appears simple enough - to restore a love of dancing, to the Celts. However, all is not as it seems. Danger follows. Legends are threatened; and she did not mean to lose her heart , or have to save the man she loves by DANCING WITH FATE.

Find DANCING WITH FATE here!

Hywela Lyn's Web site

Hywela Lyn's Blog

Introducing ERATO'S TEARS, available now!

2008-07-18T18:18:00.009-04:00

Reece Herring wrote the story for Erato, the Muse of Erotic Love, for the anthology Song of the Muses, available @ The Wild Rose Press!

A love cut short, burns eternally bright. Beyond Hades domain and perilous encounters, two mortals fight to discover their passion. Will their untried bond endure? Can the Muse of Love overcome the destructive power of one Gods revenge, and right the wrongs of history? Only ERATO’S TEARS will determine.

Find ERATO'S TEARS here!

Reece Herring's Web site

Introducing THE BRIGHTEST HEAVEN, available now!

2008-07-18T18:17:00.011-04:00

Masha Holl wrote the story for Urania, the Muse of Astronomy, for the anthology Song of the Muses, available @ The Wild Rose Press!

Urania, Muse of Astronomy, despairs: invention rules; creativity has disappeared. Then she meets Daniel Kettering. But his research threatens time, space, and every existing world. His choice: forget science, get eternal life – or else. But first, they must save the universe, defeat Chaos, and find happiness in THE BRIGHTEST HEAVEN.

Find THE BRIGHTEST HEAVEN here!

Masha Holl's Web site

Alien Places - Masha's Blog

Introducing DESTINY'S LIGHT, available now!

2008-07-18T18:13:00.008-04:00

Robyn Wren wrote the story for Euterpe, the Muse of Music, for the anthology Song of the Muses, available @ The Wild Rose Press!

Hades, Zeus, Hestia and the chaos of a forgotten memory, Euterpe, the Muse of Music, hurries to fulfill her quest to unlock the buried words to complete Ceris' unfinished song. Their bond forged the night she's almost killed, Ceris must venture to the underworld to save her and bring them both into DESTINY'S LIGHT.

Find DESTINY'S LIGHT right here!

Robyn's Web site

Robyn's Blog

Introducing HIGHLAND MUSE, available now!

2008-07-18T17:54:00.011-04:00

Sky Purington wrote the story for Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy, for the anthology Song of the Muses, available @ The Wild Rose Press!

Melpomene, Muse of Tragedy, risks everything to save Rowan Stewart’s life. Devoted to Scotland in life and the God of War in death, Rowan struggles to understand her undying devotion to him. Can a melodramatic Grecian Goddess and a resolute Scotsman truly love one another? Find out in HIGHLAND MUSE.

Find HIGHLAND MUSE right here!

Sky Puringon's Website

Sky's Blog

Introducing ANCIENT MUSINGS, available now!

2008-07-18T16:56:00.018-04:00

Hi, everyone!

I'm excited to announce the unveiling of Song of the Muses,
9 Tales of Romance for the 9 Muses of Inspiration,
available from The Wild Rose Press!

Here's a peek at ANCIENT MUSINGS by Skhye Moncrief, the tale of Calliope, the Muse of Writing:

When the muse of writing, Calliope, challenges Zeus to end her immortal existence, she faces the reality of death in Hades. Only Jake Genoese, an archaeologist's soul, can outwit Zeus's Harpies and help her find new purpose. Far more is at stake when both realize they are no more than pawns for ANCIENT MUSINGS.

ANCIENT MUSINGS is available now! Right here!

Don't miss it!

Skhye Moncrief's Website

Skhye's Blog

LAD Hits #2 on Siren's Bestseller's List!

2008-06-17T22:13:00.005-04:00

June 2, 2008

LAD holds #3 for almost 2 weeks!

2008-05-30T07:39:00.003-04:00

My launch of Looks Are Deceiving went well. LAD held it's #3 position on Siren's Best Sellers List for nearly 2 weeks, and that really shocked me! Promotions is hard work, but when you see your book on any Best Sellers List, you want to keep it up! Siren Publishing has been very good to me.

LAD goes into print in September! I can hardly wait to HOLD a book I wrote in my hands. I'm going to take it into the book store, put it on the shelf, and take a picture of it.

So strange that the first book published wasn't Luminous Nights. I always expected that to be the Big One. It still will be. I'm trying to talk my artist-exboyfriend to do a cover for LN. He's so talented. What a brat he is! One good spanking oughtta fix his wagon.

Where is Luminous Nights's publisher? Come out, come out, wherever you are....

It's No Funny Stuff 's turn. It's been some experience working on an anthology. What a writing challenge.
a) Never wrote anything so small. 35,000 words. I'm a Big Story writer.
b) Never wrote anything that must be funny. It's about Thalia, the Greek Muse of Comedy, so it demanded some chuckles. I sure wish I were Katie McAlister! She SLAYED me with You Slay Me. If you haven't read it, do.
c) Never wrote anything that hadn't sprung from my own head. My first book was 270,000 words. That's a crazy size. It's two sequels were that big too. LAD was my smallest story at 90,000.
d) Never wrote with other writers in mind.
Whew....
Despite fears, I'm proud to be involved with The Wild Rose Press, really great people. The writers I've worked with are some of the nicest ladies you can imagine.

Looks Are Deceiving Debuted at #3!

2008-05-26T17:12:00.011-04:00

It was AMAZING!! I'm so proud!

I celebrated with cheesecake and chocolate! I never expected such a great debut! I never expected so many pimples and pounds for all that sin!

I got some great reviews: 5 out of 5 Stars with "Review Your Book" and 4.5 out of 5 Stars from "Just Erotic Books". And readers have sent such nice reports.

Check out the reviews:
http://www.SirenPublishing.Com/michelehart/lad.asp
Sure is nice to see your name under "Bestsellers".

2 Days to Blast-Off!

2008-05-17T21:11:00.017-04:00

Looks Are Deceiving hits the world Monday, just 2 days away!

I'm so excited! Hold my hand!

I'll be chatting all day Monday on Siren-BookStrand's Readers' Loop! Come chat with me! I'll be giving away a copy of Looks Are Deceiving!

Don't miss a shot at a free e-book!

You gotta check out the 5-Star Review! Here's where to go:

http://www.SirenPublishing.Com/michelehart/lad.asp

Have you seen the book trailer? What are you waiting for? It's pretty cool!

See you Monday at Siren Publishing's Author Chat!

Be There or Be Square!

Right Around the Corner!

2008-05-06T12:05:00.006-04:00

My newest release is coming up fast!
Looks Are Deceiving will blast off in less than 2 weeks. I'm excited, nervous, optimistic, and your garden-variety terrified. I can imagine the haunting feeling of having not done enough promotion is natural, even though you've done tons. There comes a time when you have to sit back in the audience and watch your kid perform in the high school play. I'm proud of how this story has evolved.

I've been placed in the board of my RWA local chapter. Most people probably intended to get onto the board. It strangely fell into my lap so I'm going to answer the knock of Opportunity. She's done me right in the past. Steve, one of my very best friends , told me, "90% of success is showing up and listening." He was so right!

Have you seen my book trailer for Looks Are Deceiving?
What are you waiting for?

What do you think? Write me and tell me!

Passion and love,

Michele

Looks Are Deceiving's First Review!

2008-04-15T16:18:00.003-04:00

A review by Anna Small
author of To Tame the Wild Wind

While contemplating which brand of ketchup to buy, cash-strapped college student Elissa Baker receives a proposition by three goofy guys eager to set up their workaholic friend. The offer is too good to resist: 300 dollars to go on a blind date with Greg Moretti, whom, they assure her, is a handsome bachelor. Behind on her bills, Elissa accepts their offer, not knowing that the real reason they chose her was due to her ragtag, disheveled appearance.

Greg and the 3 “Amigos” have had a lifetime of playing jokes on each other, and Greg informs his buddies that he can fall in love with any woman, regardless of her appearance, as long as she has a brilliant mind. Little do the Amigos know that Elissa’s real beauty is hidden behind grass and dirt stains and work clothes. She appears at the classy restaurant where Greg works (turns out his wealthy family owns it) and confronts him with the stupidity and childishness of the bet. He convinces her to play along for a full month; at the end, the Amigos will award her $1,000.

Thus starts an unlikely pairing of the studious, sheltered Elissa and outgoing, devastatingly handsome Greg. As they go around town pretending to be a couple, love begins to blossom - an inconvenience to Elissa, whose sights are long-set on the FBI Academy. he resulting misunderstandings and a mysterious case of disappearing wine wraps the reader in Tampa’s seductive world of fine food, expensive wine, luxury homes, and old money.

Michele Hart has written an artful erotic romance with strong notes of suspense that leaves the reader breathless. I was drawn into the sensual world that opens up for Elissa as her love for Greg blossoms. Ms. Hart has created a page-turner that leads the reader from the underworld connections of the restaurant business to the glittering social scene of power and money, woven through with dark, sexy ribbons of desire and passion, danger and betrayal.

Looks Are Deceiving's New Stuff

2008-04-15T15:04:00.014-04:00

Oh, I've been doing so much in preparation of

LAD's release May 19th.

Check out LAD's Web Page!

There are pictures, a book review, a countdown clock,

a book trailer, and a unique contest!

Here's LAD's MySpace Page!

Don't miss Elissa's Diary and Greg's Journal.

Here's Michele's MySpace Page!

I finally built myself a MySpace page.

Here's Thalia's MySpace Page!

Stay tuned for my adventure written for

Thalia, the Muse of Comedy! August '08

Come over and be my MySpace friend on all the pages. Makes me look like I have lots of friends.

:-) !

Updates on Upcoming Releases!

2008-03-07T20:23:00.028-05:00

Looks Are Deceiving

I’ve sent in my publisher edits for Looks Are Deceiving, and I’m proud of how the story has matured through two publications.

Siren Publishing was very easy to work with, and I’m sure I’ve put LAD in the best hands. Siren was voted #1 Publisher by the 2007 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll AND Siren made 2nd Place last year. I really think LAD has landed in the top of its genre of Erotic Romantic Suspense.

Check Out Looks Are Deceiving Here!

Looks like Looks Are Deceiving's e-book release date is MAY 19th! YAY!
Siren Publishing * quality romance for the sophisicated reader

No Funny Stuff!
a tale of the muse of comedy!

I’ll be turning No Funny Stuff! over to my publisher in the next week or so, a few weeks early. I’m a touch nervous over it. The assignment, a short story with a theme supplied, was quite a challenge for me on so many levels, and I learned a lot, not just about writing, but comedy, human psychology and relationships, group dynamics, and the e-publishing industry. I wouldn't trade the experience.

Here's a bite of No Funny Stuff!

I've been quite blessed to be a part of the

SONG OF THE MUSES anthology, 9 Tales of the Greek Muses of Inspiration, Book III

No Funny Stuff! is due in e-book August!

SONG OF THE MUSES
comes in paperback October!
from The Wild Rose Press * where romance blooms

Luminous Nights awaits its moment.

LOOKS ARE DECEIVING signed!

2008-01-10T15:42:00.001-05:00

I'm proud to announce the sale of
LOOKS ARE DECEIVING
to a fabulous publisher, Siren Publishing.

Siren is top-notch and I'm delirious to be a Siren Girl!

LOOKS ARE DECEIVING will be e-published in July '08 and print-published in December '08.

I'm pretty tickled.

December was awesome!

I contracted a short story and sold 2 full novels, plus a resale!

2008 will be break-neck and in the best way!

Love,

Michele

No Funny Stuff!

2007-12-15T11:32:00.001-05:00

I'm tickled, elated, and energized to announce I've been invited to write a short story for a new anthology to be presented by The Wild Rose Press!

The Songs of the Muses will be short stories of the 9 Muses of Inspiration!
(Psst! I just heard a few sentences of every story from the authors, and the variety you will see is FANTASTIC! Historicals, Contemporaries and Fantasies!)
Look for Song of the Muses Summer 2008!

Oh My God! This is SO COOL!
I'm off to write a super-cool story about the Muse of Comedy!
Wakka, wakka!

No Funny Stuff! by Michele Hart <--What do you think?

2007 ROCKED for Michele!

2007-12-15T06:03:00.001-05:00

Clearly, I'm Santa's favorite!

I have sold Looks Are Deceiving!

That's right! Juicy publisher, too! LAD did far better than I ever expected. I figured it was an e-book and that's all it would ever be, but I was so wrong!

LAD will be born into the print world December 2008!
The anthology I'm currently working on will be in print October 2008.

Luminous Nights just might be signed in the next few weeks, making 2007 a year of Rock-n-Roll for Michele! If LN comes through, I will have sold 3 full-length novels and a short story. If not, hey, 2 full novels and a short story sale is not loafing!

HA! I remember New Year's Eve 2006 saying to myself, "I need to start looking for a job. This writing-thing doesn't look like it's going to work."
-- Famous last words! --

It was The Wild Rose Press who wrote me on New Year's Day to request the full manuscript for LAD. That kept me going, had come at the perfect, most needful time. They didn't buy it that first round, and for good reasons that helped me become a better writer. And I have a wonderful relationship with TWRP. They were the ones who invited me into the anthology!

2008 will be a busy year! The busiest of my life! Busy is GREAT!

Love to all,
Michele

Lucky Girl !

2007-11-29T08:45:00.001-05:00

I've been invited into a Fantasy anthology!
That's the cool side of the pillow!!!

I've been invited to submit a short story for a Mythology series for an RWA-approved publisher, with whom I have 2 submissions. I'm taking that as a good sign for at least the Sci-Fi/Fantasy submission. Even if they pass on my first 2 submissions, they must like my writing, so I'll just take it as a positive.

Gonna be a fun project! It's an anthology with 9 assignments, and it looks like they're mixing unpublished and published authors. I'm bound to learn a boatload of important stuff, and that's the best part. (OK, seeing my name on a book cover will be the best part. But becoming a better writer is just fractions of a molecule away in second place.)

I'm assigned a task to write a comedic story. I've written funny lines, funny scenes, but not a funny story. And here's my chance! I'm very excited, got great ideas.

I'm such a lucky girl. I come from a HILARIOUS family! My sister, my very favorite comedy partner, just spent a year living with me, and there wasn't a day we didn't put Mom in laughing fits. Gee, Sister just left this week and I miss her! My brother's another one. Although we don't get along, he KILLS me when he gets on a roll. One of the funniest guys in the world, IMO. (Don't tell him I said that.)

So, I'm really looking forward to working my comedy bones.
Gosh! I'm exCIIIIIITED!

Looks Are Deceiving Back in Submissions

2007-11-12T17:18:00.001-05:00

I’ve rewritten Looks Are Deceiving, have given it quite a “fluffing”, if you know what I mean.

WINK!

It’ll be a lot more attractive to the Erotic Romance publishers, and I’ve got faith in LAD. It's a better story now, deeper characterization.

I’ve learned much in the submission process, and my writing's already benefitted. I’m more ready for publication for the experience, for sure, and that makes it all pretty invaluable.

As hard as it was to suffer through StarDust’s closing just days after publishing LAD, it turned out to be a good thing. I learned a lot about the questions I should ask, the marketing I need to do, and I'm much more comfortable with it all.

Goes to show there’s light just on the other side of darkness. Nice when things work out that way.

So, both Luminous Nights and Looks Are Deceiving are on publisher desks right now.

Patience, patience. Calm blue ocean … Calm blue ocean … :-)

Patience - More than a Virtue

2007-10-31T10:00:00.001-04:00

Sometimes the Right Decision is Hard to Make

2007-10-16T12:14:00.001-04:00

Publishing's risky. You really gotta have guts, listen to your instincts, and develop super-human patience. It doesn't hurt to have a few poker skills.
Know when to hold them, know when to fold.

I've done what a majority of writers would call insane. I've turned down 2 publishers who wanted Luminous Nights. After much research, hanging around author loops, weighing suggestions made, I decided to pass. They weren't right for the story.

I know, I know ...

It's unwise for an author to be attached to a story. They are, after all, products, not our children. And I'm not so attached to other stories I've written, but LN is special to me for a few reasons. I'm willing to change it for the right publisher, however they wish. I want LN to be the very best it can be.
But it's gotta be the right publisher.

When it comes to LN, I'm going to hold this hand until I like the publishing house.
Luminous Nights is worth it.

Excitement In The Air!

2007-10-01T15:11:00.001-04:00

So many changes since my last blog.

StarDust Press has closed, and I mourn her loss. SDP was very good to me, an all-around very good experience. I had a few more stories in mind for SDP. but ...

Forward, forward, forward!
Still much excitement ahead.

I get the rights to Looks Are Deceiving back, and I'm loving the opportunity to give it another polish, which is what I'm doing right now. Have some publishers in mind for LAD. Can''t wait to submit it again.

I'm awaiting news for Luminous Nights from my dream publisher as we speak. I'm sweating bullets and holding my breath.

Can't wait to get back to my current work-in-progress, Alien Whip. It's a very fun and challenging premise. Can't wait to see where it goes. I have a feeling I'll be surprised.

Jennifer Estep's new book, Hot Mama is coming out in November. If you haven't read her first book, Karma Girl, what the heck are you waiting for? Superhero Romance - I'm an instant fan, and Jennifer is brilliant!

Stay tuned ...

September 5th I Became a Published Author

2007-09-06T17:52:00.001-04:00

I'm pleased to announce the publication of my novel, Looks Are Deceiving, available through StarDust Press. Break out the confetti and the brass band!

It was scary. I often wanted my mommy, even though it actually had been easy with very few corrections.

A step forward, a big one. Somebody, hold my hand. I've got lots of marketing to do! Here I go! I'm excited about the next step.

I've been offered a contract on Luminous Nights and a rejection from a publisher who REALLY wants LN if I fluff it up. Having two sales in the first year sure would be cool.

Must make the right decision ... Scary.

Wow! Here I am ...

2007-09-04T00:30:00.001-04:00

It's my publication date, my e-publication date, and I'm awaiting the hours. This is the moment, isn't it? Where the world has the opportunity to to commennt on you work?

Received a Contract Offer for LUMINOUS NIGHTS!

2007-08-13T21:05:00.002-04:00

Doing my research ...

Packing up SYNERGIZED, unpacking ALIEN WHIP!

2007-08-11T04:46:00.001-04:00

This entry should be subtitled, Until We Meet Again.

We're through with rough edits for Synergized, a work of the heart. I'm proud of it. That entire project will be for future publication, not for an immediate sale. It would take quite a presentation to sell a trilogy right off the bat, though I've seen it done.
(Looking at you, Cheryl, with admiration!)
I'm not going to plan for a grand slam first time out.
In a few years, I'll be a better writer, and I'll rewrite the first book of the series, Magnetic, in awful need of a rewrite. Well, it was my first completed single-title, finished before 1995. Even substandard writing, an agent assessed the manuscript and said it was very sellable, if rewritten. It's all about the writing.

Meanwhile, Mom loved, loved, loved Synergized! She came away with a huge smile on her face and some fabulous compliments. That was neat. It's also, all about makin' the momma proud.

NEXT!
I've started on my next project, Alien Whip, did a rough first chapter, introducing the hero and heroine. I'm excited about it. The original goal was to write a short one this time, but alas, the story is the story, and I'm going to write the story, whatever size it turns out to be.

Gonna do some things I've never tried before: an alien invasion, cybernetics, themes of growing sentience, a few things I'll not reveal. Stay tuned. I'll post the first chapter in the next few days.

My birthday's coming up. 42. Do you remember "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"? The gang asked the smartest computer in the galaxy, Deep Thought, what the meaning of life was. Deep Thought's answer was 42.

... Just 42 ...

42's gonna be a good year for me.
(Knocking on wood, throwing salt over my shoulder with crossed fingers, murmuring a prayer to the Gods. )

Hey! 41 was great!

Mom Just Read SYNERGIZED !

2007-08-06T12:24:00.001-04:00

I'm lucky to have such a gift as my mother. She's fully into my career and writing, and it really is a special thing for your mommy to love what you do.

She says Synergized is my best work yet. She really loves it!
I'm sad to say you'll not see it on bookshelves any time soon, as it's the 3rd of a trilogy, and the first book, the one that needs to sell the series isn't my best writing, so I'll need to set it aside until I become a better writer.

It's all about the writing.

Book 16 - Off and Running! ALIEN WHIP on its Way!

2007-08-06T12:19:00.001-04:00

Started Book 16 today.
Its name is Alien Whip, it's a SciFi Romance Action/Adventure. It's going to be a small one, I think, aimed at the e-publishers.
We'll see that happens. I'm a pantser insead of a plotter so it'll surprise me as much as anyone else. Cross your fingers for me.

Book 15 - SYNERGIZED - Done !

2007-07-25T11:46:00.001-04:00

Wow, Synergized was my biggest single-title and took the longest, but it's my best writing yet, and I'm really proud of it. I took on big themes on this one. Let's see if someone thinks it's good. I'll probably be editing for the next month or two.

Sadly, I can't be submitting it any time soon. It's the third of a trilogy, (The Shapeshifting Priestesses of Pygras) and I'll have to find just the right publisher. I've seen SOOO many sequels that just waned horribly at the end, and I'm really glad I did these two sequels well. Each is better than the book before, and I'm proud of that.

Here's the Series Summary if you're curious:
http://www.michelehart.com/series-pygras.htm

Doing Edits is COOL!

2007-07-21T09:13:00.000-04:00

Edits have been such a good experience.

Got a lot of experience with Word 2007, and my loathing of the program has diminished. I'll eventually entirely convert down the line, I imagine.

Edits allowed me to fix so many flaws I'd seen. Only had to rewrite ONE scene. I consider that a triumph! And the rewrite was just SO much better. I also got to plant a few more tidbits.

All said, I'm much more confident and proud of the manuscript. Thanks goes to Traci @ StarDust Press for a great eye spotting weaknesses. She was very patient in my learning Word, majorly helpful at all angles. I hope I get to work with her again. If she became disgusted with my bozo questions, she never showed it. First Class.

Looks Are Deceiving 's in the hands of line editors now. I'll get those edits soon.

Two Spaces or One? No Tabs. Where Did Tabs Go?

2007-07-21T08:29:00.000-04:00

I've decided to blog more. (NO!)
Yes, really.

I like e-publishing. This is a neat experience, and I'm glad to be on the show.

e-publishing has some interesting formatting differences compared to print pubs.

Two Spaces or One?

The e-publishers want one space between sentences, the print publishers want two. Hm ... How did that happen?

I'm typewriter-trained, which means I use two. I prefer the look of it, but that's just probably due to familiarity to it. I think the extra space brings a bit more clarity, which is never a bad thing.

All my manuscripts are 2-spaced, and instead of converting, I think I'll stay with two. After all, if you have an MS with two spaces, you can always hit Find and Replace, and replace every two spaces with one, job done in seconds. If it's the other way around, you can't replace one space with two. It'll put two spaces between every single word. If you have to look for the end of every sentence in 800 pages to insert an extra space, you might as well spend days in Hell.

I sure am glad I realized that before I quickly converted my stories to one space for submission to the e-pubs, then had to go back and spent a week EACH (14 books) putting them back for the print pubs. Maintaining two different files, one 2-spaced and one 1-spaced, opens the doors for mistakes.

Tabs. Are they no longer cool?

I like tabs. Never had a problem with tabs, always got along with them, once permanently set. Word is a monster with tabs, I've noticed, and I wonder how much that pain in the rump influenced the elimination of tabs. Damn you, Microsoft!

(Of course, if you know me,
you know I blame Microsoft for the following:
global warming, the dryness of my July 4th brownies (even though the box said "moist"), the Mid-East crisis, the high number of calories in peanut butter, the fact that shoes are uncomfortable. There is no Waffle House near my home and therefore, no good hash browns around. The overrating of Tom Cruise. The overwhelming fear that one day we'll have a President Cheney. The purse I most love is not big enough. Alien abductions. AND the inflated price of peach-yogurt shakes.)

I love you, WordPerfect, but the industry is forcing me to Word. I had wanted to be true to you and had hoped the world would come around to your superiority, but the enemy was too strong, too rich, and too dirty. You were good, really good, baby, but I'm going to have to sacrifice my finer tastes for my career. I'll always love you.

So, tabs are out and I'm down with that, not a crisis. Just an observation. Thank the stars for this computer world where changing such things does not take weeks and months.

If I'd ever had to actually hand-write a manuscript, I'd've never written my name!

I'm So Excited! Edits Underway!

2007-07-16T06:30:00.001-04:00

Just finished my 2nd round of edits, and my editor at StarDust Press, Traci, is really nice, and has remarkable patience with me over Word 2007.

For those who don't know, I've fought the good fight over Word 2007 for the sake of Word Perfect but, alas, I have lost. I am surrendering the fight. It's too big a war, and I like some of Word's features, so I'm just giving up and giving in.

Edits went much faster than I thought, and I've learned a lot.

Yep, I did it! I'm on the road to publication !

2007-03-11T13:46:00.001-04:00

With pride, I announce that I've sold Looks Are Deceiving, my first toe-dip into the world of Contemporary Romance, to e-publisher StarDust Press!

I'm very excited to see where StarDust will take the story. I expect to learn much about e-publishing and the entire publishing industry as a whole. I'll be holding hands with another author, both of us members of RWA's Paranormal chapter and contracted with StarDust, so I'll not be alone.

I expect I'll be asked to "plump up" the love scenes, make them steamier, and I'll be doing so. StarDust Press is focused on erotica, so I can say "I write erotic romance", something I hadn't seen coming. A testimony to the adage, "You never know what's ahead." There were times in my early life that I would've never believed I'd be a published author. Barring odd occurrences, I should be officially published in about a year or less.

I'm excited. I'm going to learn a lot.

My new e-mail signature will read:
Michele Hart
SciFi/Fantasy Romance Author
Looks Are Deceiving - January '08 StarDust Press

And THAT alone feels GREAT!
The whole world treats you better if you can say "Published" after the word "Writer" when describing your career and obsession.

Now, if only I could sell Luminous Nights or Magnetic ... Both better work than Looks Are Deceiving, and written in my chosen subgenre and true love, Futuristic Romance.
Who knows why these things happen.

I SOLD !!!

2007-02-15T14:47:00.001-05:00

I'm terrified to announce I've been offered a contract by an e-publisher for Looks Are Deceiving. I'm even scared to utter the publisher's name. More to come ...

Looks Are Deceiving

2007-01-12T00:36:00.000-05:00

I sure started 2007 right!

On January 1st, Wild Rose Press wrote me to request my Short Contemporary Romance, Looks Are Deceiving, and TWO of their editors want to read it. The Contemporary Romance editor to whom I submitted my query and synopsis took it to the Suspense editor, and they both want to read it. Two editors at the same publisher!

Needless to say, it recharged my batteries.
I'm waiting to hear back from them. I'm pretty sure the Suspense editor will pass it up because the crime is actually in the background of the story, not a major plot, which is why I'm not bothering to submit it as a Suspense. The crime unfolds behind the hero's, heroine's, and the reader's backs and gets them in the end, but it's almost not really in the story itself. So I don't suspect the Suspense editor will want it, but it was a nice charge to respark the Romance hopes. It was a wonderful way to start the new year. I’m crossing my fingers ...

I Love ShapeShifters !

2006-11-29T12:29:00.000-05:00

This is my new website address!

Stop by, we'll have coffee ...