Adele Dubois Blog

It’s no secret that life has a way of kicking you behind the knees and dropping you face-first in the gravel when you least expect it. And so it happened that while working on the early chapters of my futuristic erotic romance novella DREAM TRAVELER my husband was diagnosed with a virulent form of a potentially fatal illness. Our lives imploded with the news and everything at our house changed in an instant.

I don’t remember how long it took for me to try to work again. I think my brain simply shut down to anything outside the immediacy of family needs between hospital visits. Eventually, though, I emerged from the fog of numbness and shock and picked up my laptop to revisit my WIP; not expecting to get any real work done. To my surprise, my DREAM TRAVELER characters pulled me into their story and immersed me in their world. My raw emotions channeled through their voices, animating them with hope and the amazing power of enduring love as they, in turn, lifted me. DREAM TRAVELER’S central theme became evident as the story posed the crucial questions: If technologically-restored youth were possible, would you choose it? What if you couldn’t take your lifelong partner with you? Would you choose it then? 
 
I finished DREAM TRAVELER, submitted the manuscript to a writing competition, and to my absolute delight, won a prize. At the same time, Ellora’s Cave offered me a contract on the book. My characters enjoyed their Happily Ever After while my husband and I celebrated his stunning full recovery. Life had pushed our faces in the dirt, but then dusted us off with silver-lined gloves and sent us on our way, closer than ever. 

In the afterglow of my husband’s miraculous return to health I began my paranormal erotic romance novella INTIMATE ART. While writing this book I was filled with renewed vigor and bright-eyed optimism. My characters overcame the wrath of a powerful ghost determined to keep them apart. Love transcended death in the lives of my characters as it had in my own. The ghost fled. Ellora’s Cave contracted INTIMATE ART, and gave it a heart-stopping cover. INTIMATE ART is my new release.

What creative lessons have I learned from these life-changing events? Deep emotions may wound and paralyze, but can also sharpen creativity as the artistic process heals the troubled soul.

I love DREAM TRAVELER and INTIMATE ART for entirely different reasons. One book gave me strength in the face of adversity while the other celebrated euphoric victory. The emotions I experienced while writing them were equally powerful opposites.

Our Happily Ever After kicked some major butt.

–Adele Dubois

The Joy of a Re-Release
By Mary Winter

Having a book release is an indescribable feeling. First there’s excitement that this story which bears your name is out. Then there’s the worry. Will the readers like it? Will it sell enough so your publisher wants more stories? Then there’s the flurry of promotion. Chatting it up on loops. Blogging and sending out promo materials.

So when the book is a re-release of a previously published book, is it still the same?

Yes.

Like most authors nowadays, I have my share of stories that were with a publisher and now have the rights back. For me, these novels were the ones published with the ill-fated Venus Press. I’ve taken my time with them, placing a select few with publishers. And the rest, I’ve been spending my time going over them, polishing them and making them stronger stories. The next book to once again see light is “Good Medicine” (formerly “Money Man”) releasing July 3 from Pink Petal Books.

I love this story and its companion “Juli’s Choice”. The two books are meant to be a loose series, with the heroines, Juli and Sadie, being good friends. Veterinarians in love set in Kansas City was the premise, and I got to explore not only a town I love, but a profession I admire. Throw in a hunky show jumper and a sexy vet (for Juli and Sadie, respectively), and in my mind, I had a winning combination.

With these stories, the moment is sweeter because I waited until I found the perfect home for them. Now, my hard work and perseverance has paid off, and these stories will see the light again. After having over twenty books published, the “new release glow” doesn’t wear off. If anything, it grows stronger with each book, because I know how hard it is to get here and what it will take to do so again. When I can give life to a story once thought buried in the files of my computer, well, the glow takes on an even brighter hue.

I think every author should celebrate her, or his, re-released novels. The publishing business is full of hard knocks; we’ve all taken our share. To know that we have risen, learned from our experience and moved on is a powerful lesson symbolized by that release day where finally, you see your book on sale.

And we hope the readers celebrate with us by rushing to buy it. We hope!

***
Mary Winter is the author of more than twenty erotic romance novels. Visit her website at http://www.marywinter.com/ to learn about her most recent release RILEY’S SPARROW, her first from Aspen Mountain Press, and her upcoming release, GOOD MEDICINE, from Pink Petal Books. Visit PPB at http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/

While driving to a writers workshop recently, I stopped at an out-of-town branch of my bank to make a substantial cash deposit, intending to split the money between two accounts. I used a personalized, printed deposit slip for the first account, but because I had forgotten a deposit ticket for the second account, I filled out a counter slip supplied by the bank. I waited in line, deposited the cash into my two accounts, and took my receipts from the teller. As I returned to my car I glanced at the receipts and knew instantly that something was wrong.

I read and re-read the account digits printed on the receipts, and realized, to my horror, that one of the account numbers wasn’t mine. Half my cash had been placed into someone else’s bank account. Somebody had just gotten a nice little windfall at my expense.

I rushed back into the bank and straight to the manager’s office. She asked me to point out the teller who had misdirected my deposit, and logged on to her computer to check account records. Sure enough, the cash deposit made with the counter deposit slip, and not my personalized deposit ticket, had been routed into the account of a total stranger. If I had driven away from that bank without checking my receipts first, my money would have been lost forever.

Though I gave the teller the benefit of doubt, I couldn’t help but wonder who had received my money. The account number on the receipt she issued wasn’t remotely similar to mine. A suspicious little voice inside my head wondered if the account belonged to the teller’s mother… or maybe her boyfriend. But no…I decided it was probably an honest mistake and let the matter go.

I suppose I’ll never know the details of the error. Thankfully, the bank manager made things right, and redirected my deposit. She gave me a new receipt and showed my updated account balance on her office computer screen.

Lessons learned:

Never leave your bank without checking the accuracy of your transaction receipts. Use your local branch where the tellers know you, and you know them. Always use personalized deposit and withdrawal slips pre-printed with your name and account numbers.

So, what do you think? Honest mistake, or was the teller attempting to steal my cash?
 

CLASSIC HUNKS will bring you pictures and fun facts about those handsome, to-die-for heroes of movies, music, sports and television from yesteryear.

Who could forget those incredibly good-looking, stylish detectives of Miami Vice, Det. James “Sonny” Crockett and Det. Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs played by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas?  The show was ground breaking;  one of the first programs on American television  broadcast in stereophonic sound.

Miami Vice used music videos and popular songs, high fashion, pastel colors, fast cars, a multi-ethnic cast, and handsome lead men in combinations that made the show totally unique. Miami Vice is considered “One of the most revolutionary and influential television shows of all time.” (Wikopedia)

Miami Vice aired for five seasons, premiering September 16, 1984, and last showing July 28, 1989. An unaired episode was broadcast on the USA Network January 25, 1990. The Miami Vice Movie was released July 28, 2006.

Classic episodes of Miami Vice appear regularly on the Sleuth channel. Free full episodes can also be viewed online at www.NBC.com/ All five seasons are available on DVD.

Sonny and Rico, you’re my first picks in the CLASSIC HUNKS lineup. Thanks for the wonderful and oh-so-hot memories! 

Readers, nominate your favorite CLASSIC HUNK for this column in the comments section.

I survived my daughter’s Senior Prom and High School Graduation events. Bodybuilding champion Sagi Kalev’s sexy photos stood watch over my blog while I was busy with (exhausting, stressful, and expensive) family affairs. Thanks, Sagi! Your presence always arouses… uh, excitement. Based on the number of hits my site received while you stood guard, readers of erotic romance love you. Remember, though, I’m the author who introduced you to fans of this genre. When you turn romance novel cover model, think of me first, k?

In the meantime, I’ve got a few new things planned for readers. Next up is a column called CLASSIC HUNKS. I’ll post pictures and facts about the sexy men over forty we love on television, in old movies, sports, and music. 

Stop by and visit my blog often. I hope you enjoy the memories.

It’s time for more photos of the sexiest, most handsome man in the world, bodybuilder and model Sagi Kalev.  Check my earlier blog posts for sensational hunky videos of Sagi. There are many posted here for your viewing pleasure.  I don’t know if Sagi is still married or not, but I envy his wife having such an incredibly handsome husband. Wow! Sagi sure gets this erotic romance author’s heart racing. I’d love to have him as the cover model on one of my books.

Sagi, are you available?

–Hugs, Adele Dubois

Should Carrie have married BIG?

Saw the new SEX AND THE CITY movie and loved it, LOVED IT! The storyline was (mostly) wonderful. The clothes were so fabulous they nearly upstaged the characters. (What percentage of our population pays $550 for a single pair of shoes? Wears nothing but couture?) I’m thrilled to see over-forty women featured in a film, all looking fantastic, and taking charge of their (successful) lives.

But I ask — Would YOU have forgiven BIG? I’ve been thinking about whether or not I would have since I saw the film. Considering he broke up with Carrie “15 times” (as they stated in the movie) I’m having a hard time with this plot point. Forgiveness was the story theme, but what he did to Carrie in the movie is HUGE! (a la BIG) Let’s face it, BIG is an unreliable guy.
 
What do you think? Should Carrie have forgiven BIG and married him?

What would YOU have done?
 

Raven Radio by Michelle Pillow and Mandy Roth  We couldn’t be more excited. When we started our free story for readers, Raven Happy Hour, those few years ago, we never expected it to be such an incredible journey. But, nearly 50 chapters later, a paranormal blog, website, yahoo group, cult following and Raven minions, we’ve embarked on our latest adventure—a live, weekly Raven Radio show. Raven Radio was a natural progression for us. It offered another outlet to express ourselves, our creativity and to invite friends of ours to hang out and share in the gabbing. Fortunately for us, the listeners seem to enjoy hearing us talk about everything and nothing and just generally being our normal, comical selves. We started off prerecording the shows and splicing them together. We’re now up to weekly, live shows. All the more fun to screw up without a net while talking to New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors as well as those wonderfully talented authors soon to be there. *wink* We’ve had some really amazing authors join us on Raven. To name a few… Jacquelyn Frank, Gena Showalter, Jaci Burton, Lauren Dane, Anya Bast and Caridid Pineiro. And Raven Radio was recently mentioned in Romantic Times Magazine. 

All the shows are archived afterwards and uploaded onto our subscriber sites to be listened to at leisure. Our most recent guest was author, Gena Showalter, who talked about her new series, Lords of the Underworld. But, as the interview proves, we often lured her into our usually digressed topics and ended up discussing chocolate allergies, beauty products and interpretive dance. Other shows feature Mandy and Michelle switching roles while Mandy’s live at a coffee shop and Michelle’s left in charge of the controls with no clue on how to run them. Callers were welcomed with the pleasant sound effect of a toilet flushing whenever they called in. Needless to say, Michelle’s controls were taken away and the password changed. *laughing* 

Listeners are welcome to join the live chat or call in to the show to talk to us and our guests. The show will move to its new evening schedule, May 28^th where listeners can catch us every Wednesday at 11PM to 12AM EST. We have a lot of authors on the upcoming line up and you can see a full schedule of guests here: http://ravenhappyhour.com/raven_podcast_schedule_of_guests.htm   

Authors looking for more information about taking part in various Raven opportunities can visit http://ravenhappyhour.com/raven_faq’s.htm#Advertise%20With%20Us

About the AuthorsMichelle M. Pillow and Mandy M. Roth are published romance authors. Michelle’s newest release, Recipe for Disaster, will be on bookshelves June 10^th. Mandy’s newest release, Daughter of Darkness 3: Bella Mia, comes out the end of June. Check their websites for more details.  

MandyWebsite – www.mandyroth.comBlog – www.mandyroth.com/blogGroup - http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/Mandy_M_Roth  

MichelleWebsite – www.michellepillow.comBlog – www.michellepillow.com/blogNewsletter - http://www.michellepillow.com/newsletter/?p=subscribe  

Raven Happy HourWebsite – www.ravenhappyhour.comBlog – www.ravenhappyhour.com/ravenblogRadio Show – http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ravenradio