CHESS QUEEN
Rowena's
Occasional Newsletter
Fall 2008
KF

Welcome... and thank you for clicking the link. Perhaps I should start by warning you that this issue is going to be more about me than usual. Why? Because Knight's Fork is here!

If this newsletter has a theme, it's probably about myths...

However, not having an interview with a mythical gentleman, I resorted an encore interview with a Medieval Times Knight who was once voted Canada's Hottest Hunk, and a brief update from CJ Hollenbach as well.

As usual, my webmaster has created live links in the index, so you don't even have to scroll past everything. You can go directly to whatever may interest you.

I'm the one in the hat.

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 Aren't the colors lovely? My German friend Ingrid and I were photographed in Arizona. On this holiday I discovered that I am a vey good shot with a six-gun, at least when killing empty soda cans. I also tasted a certain cactus fruit which is said to be both an aphrodisiac and a powerful laxative. Some very gallant gentlemen in our party informed me of the side effects of the Vitamin C rich fruit that tasted a lot like kiwi after I had volunteered to consume some. I  made use of the experience when I was writing the honeymoon chapters of Forced Mate.

The Hohocam myths are still bubbling on my mental back burner.

1. Introduction
 
2. Rowena's Ramblings

3. Interview with a Cover Model
spacerDavid Deslandes

4. Contest
spacerWinners and other Answers
spacerQuotes Contest
spacerContests I'm Co-sponsoring

5. Excerpt from KNIGHT's FORK
spacerby Rowena Cherry

6. Reviews

7. Of Professional Interest
spacerPublishing Myths;
spacerPenny Sanservieri on
spacerCrazy Tuesday;
spacerLinks to best book related blogs;
spacerMore useful links;

8. Coming Soon



David


The myth made me do it....

There's nothing new under the sun. What goes around comes around. If you live long enough, you can be original. Every story ever told has already been told (in other words, there are only two, or twenty, or thirty-six plots –depending on which plotters' manual you prefer-- and someone has already explored them.).

Fairy tales, the Arabian Nights, Arthurian legends and classical myths are popular inspirations for authors today (including me), just as they've always been since the days of the unknown author of Beowulf, and of Chaucer, and of Shakespeare.

By the way, one of my best friends is the niece of the late Sir Richard Burton (the adventurer and formidable swordsman who translated the Kama Sutra). She's quite a bit older than I am.

"Fractured" fairy tales were the fashion when I was a schoolgirl. In those chaste days, the big surprise was that Red Riding Hood shot the bad wolf. Last year, fractured fairy tales were all the rage all over again in my daughter's school. Now, Red Riding Hood is streetwise, and talks to all the animals… as in "Hoodwinked" (the cartoon).

Regency faery tales were hot (in more ways than one) fifteen to twenty years ago.

Moreover, these timeless tales of magic, morality and universal truths adapt very well to most genres of Romance fiction. Obviously, in Fantasy the faeries may or may not have wings, and the Elves may be tall and royal and very Legolas.

In Erotica the dragons may have the hots for smooth-skinned maidens, and the dungeons come with beds. In Paranormal and Goth and Dark the old morality of the fairy tales turns on its head, and the horrors become the heroes.

I was chatting on the radio with Cindy Spencer Pape last weekend, and I fastened with great tenacity and glee on a thorough modern twist she'd given to one of her werewolf heroes in "Curses". He'd had a vasectomy, but there was a problem.

Oh, joy! I love that stuff. Biology is one of the three sciences. My idea of sci-fi romance embraces biology with enthusiasm…. that, and forensics. Cindy's werewolf had preternatural powers of regeneration, so his body re-grew the vas deferens, and he became potent with alarming rapidity, and got someone into trouble.

To think I thought it was cooool when a vet (Josh Artemeier, "Pet Hates") told me that werewolves can't –or shouldn't—eat chocolates! It isn't good for their tempers or their irritable bowels.

And then, not last, and not least, (I haven't touched Time Travel, or ghostly cowboys, or Wagon Train in outer space --ie Battlestar Galactica) there's science fiction romance and futuristics, which is what I write.

Which myths have you retold, or seen used well?

The myths from which I've borrowed include The Abduction of Persephone (Forced Mate), Helen of Troy (Mating Net and also Knight's Fork), Perseus and the Gorgon's Head (Knight's Fork), Perseus and Andromeda (Knight's Fork), Tantalus (Knight's Fork). There are more, of course.

As for which myth made me do what…?

Can you guess?

The operative myth was the legend of Helen of Troy. The problem with a Helen of Troy heroine is that New York Romance editors tend to frown on a happy ending for adulterers. How to get around that? She could have been entranced... but the Stockholm syndrome doesn't make the hero look good. She could have been abused.

That has so been done!

So, I made her husband, the King, genetically incompatible, gave him really strange genitalia (but in the best possible taste), and obliged her to go after a specific public figure to ask him to be her sperm donor.

Imagine. Without putting names or faces to any particular world leader, just suppose the world's paparazzi happened to be staking out the gentleman's hotel room. Imagine the scandal...
 

This blog was posted on the Magical Musings Blog on Thursday 25th September.

To see the conversations that followed, click here:

http://magicalmusings.com/?p=2240#comments
 

 

 

 

David Deslandes is a Knight  with a title... Canada's Hottest Hunk

Astrologically speaking, David is a fire child. He is an Aries. He was born one April, in Hamilton, Ontario, and now lives in Toronto where he delights visitors with his special skills of horseback riding, juggling, and stage combat.
 

RC: Thank you so much, David Deslandes for granting this  interview. Were you always gorgeous?

DD: Absolutely . . . NOT! No actually I was always the "runt" in the class throughout grade school and I kinda stayed buried in the books and was fairly shy and introverted. I started working out at the end of seventh grade and did so throughout high school. Even then I didn't become a jock or anything, still kept to myself somewhat, and didn't "see" myself differently until my early twenties.

RC: So, what changed things? How did you get your start? The Hottest Hunk contest wasn’t your first contest, was it?

DD: I entered a local newspaper contest in 1999 … for no particular reason, just because…. They were trying to find 10 Canadian men from the Toronto area to add to the competitors already coming to the Romantic Times convention to compete for the title of Mr. Romance. I happened to win a spot and went through to compete in the Mr. Romance Contest in 1999. My first Mr. Romance contest is a highlight that really brought me out to see possibilities for myself.
 

RC: And there you are! What is that white thing you’re holding? I can’t quite figure it out?

D: It’s a pirate shirt that I’ve just taken off.

RC: What part of the Mr. Romance competition was the most fun?

DD: The most fun . . . I would have to say just meeting people there at the convention. It is a little tough doing all the rehearsals for the stage show (as I recall) because its so organized and timed, you don't get a chance to just hang out much, so when you do that’s a nice a break.

RC: How would you describe a POSE DOWN? (It's one of the most entertaining parts of the Mr. Romance pageant!)

DD. Posedown . . . well the organizers will set you up with someone [of the opposite sex] to pose with and you strike a number of different "romance cover style poses" hopefully to the judges’ approval.

RC: I guess the judges did approve! You nearly won at least twice, didn’t you?

DD: In the Mr Romance contest of 2000, I was voted 1st runner up, and 2001 I was voted 2nd runner up. Then, I had an accident in 2002 (at work) that sidelined me for a bit, however in that time I found it difficult to get work as a model primarily because of location being up near Toronto, instead of New York, although I did do a book cover... Southern Pride and Northern Honor.

RC: "At work, " you said. Is that at Medieval Times?...In Toronto?

DD: Yes, Medieval Times is in Toronto. I really enjoy performing in the show, in front of a crowd. Meeting young kids after the show – seeing their amazement at the show – is great. I perform live nearly everyday, unless it’s our "dead" time at work, then it’s only 3 times a week.

RC:  When you say you were hurt, was that during a performance? What happened?

DD: Yes the accident happened at Medieval Times during the show. I was in a joust with another knight. His lance did not break and glanced off my shield and through the slot of my helmet striking me just left of my left eye. Needless to say it was a little bloody....

RC: You mentioned that you were shy and introverted as a child. Is shyness still a problem?

DD: I don't really think about my shyness anymore, I just do it. I know the first time I set foot in front of the crowd at Medieval Times, I thought they were all looking at ME or might make fun of me, and I was so red that guys made fun of me backstage. Now I am probably one of the more extroverted people, who wouldn't care if someone said a thing.

RC: Tell me about being dubbed Canada’s Hottest Hunk. How did that come about?

DD: In 2002, I entered a contest run by a Canadian affiliate of NBC to find "Canada's Hottest Hunk" and I won! As a result, I was invited to appear on the Ricki Lake show representing Canada as "Canada's sexiest man". The title of the Ricki Lake segment was "Hottest Hunks from Around the World". That was fun.

RC:  How do you keep in shape, if you don't mind me asking?

DD: When I get time, I enjoy canoeing, hiking, bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, canoe races, polar bear swimming, and also indoor rock climbing.

 RC: And you work out?

DD: ...Had I never taken up weight training as a kid, I wouldn't have the physique I have (not that it’s demi-god or anything) but I certainly like to think of myself as athletic looking....


DD: Sometimes I find it weird still the way people can react to you in a given set of circumstances (being at the convention, with my hair down, people asking for autographs etc etc) when, if they saw me on the street everyday . . . well I wear jeans, t-shirts, baseball cap, hair tied back (because that's how I am comfortable) . . . probably wouldn't even give a second look.

RC: You think? David Deslandes, thank you very much for being my Knight in shining armour and allowing me to post your interview for the Knight's Fork issue of my newsletter!

    

CJ Hollenach reports: "I am helping Jon Paul promote his book. It's called "The Art Of Romance". Look for it online. I am on the back cover. JP is on the front. AND, another one of my covers "The Lady Of Sherwood" is up for "Best Cover of 2007". How cool is that?" CJ

David

Very cool, CJ!

 

I've been asked why I don't give away Amazon credits or plastic gift tokens from Borders or Barnes and Noble.

Here's the scoop.  I'd rather give my business to an independent bookseller who loves Paranormal Romance and who is knowledgeable and gives personal service. Moreover, Cy Korte gives me a discount, which means that I can afford to give a more generous prize than I otherwise could.  Also, Cy is the exclusive vendor for the electronic version of Forced Mate, so also has Mating Net, (neither of which Amazon has) but there's no pressure to buy my books if you win one of my contests.

Cy Korte writes:

Book Isle is an 'old fashioned store' -- our book inventory is not computerized but we do order from a top USA distributor - Send us your wish list - IF IT IS IN PRINT, WE CAN ORDER IT.  You can order ANY type of book -- audiobook (cassette, CD or MP3/CD), hard cover, paperback - (you can state preference "new or used if available").
 
BookIsle also has contracts with these small press publishers for EBOOK DOWNLOADS -- if it is listed on their site, we can order it for you.  (Remember to let us know what format you wish your download)

AMBER QUILL Press/ AMBER HEAT  http://amberquill.com/
WHISKEY CREEK Press/ WC TORRID http://whiskeycreekpress.com/
HARD SHELL WORD FACTORY http://www.hardshell.com/
NEW CONCEPTS Publishing http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/

Also, we have the Download edition of FORCED MATE by Rowena Cherry
http://ebookisle.net/inventory/print/Cherry_r.htm

BOOKISLE carries USED books at 1/2 retail price when available -- send us a wish list (Inquiry) and we will send you a quote of what is available.
 
SO, what all this means is -- although we are a small store,
we have a variety of resources and will make every effort fill your book wishes.
 
BOOK ISLE PAPERBACKS
2212 Division Street [Bus Hwy 51]
Stevens Point, WI 54481
715-341-8817 Open: 10 to 6 M-F ~ Sat. 10-3

http://www.ebookisle.net

New Jigsaw Puzzles
http://www.rowenacherry.com/puzzle/

I asked which were the two new hunky jigsaws that had been added to the puzzle page.

The correct answers were 11 and 12

Cathy M.  will receive credit for $25-worth of books and shipping from ebookisle.net 

August winners:

Kimberley
"If at first you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.” (Thor-quentin in Knight's Fork)
orelukjp0
 “Never ask a question if you don’t know the answer.”  ('Rhett in Knight's Fork)

July winner

Jlynn
"Never sleep with a lady only once, especially in the case of an older lady" ('Rhett in Knight's Fork)

Fallen Faerie
Carpe Scrotum. Seize life by the testicles… (Electra in Knight's Fork)

At least one drawing will take place in September and October.

Each winner will receive a $25 bookstore gift card or token.
 

Standard caveats:

There is no purchase necessary to enter.
You can also complete and mail-in an entry form for a chance to win.
Void where prohibited.

A complete list of rules can be viewed at http://www.rowenacherry.com/QuotesContest/
 or can be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope with the words "Quotes Rules" written on the outside of the envelope to:

Rowena Cherry,
PO Box 554
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48303-0554

The bookstore is ebookisle.net

The $25 credit can be used entirely for books (new, used, e- ) or can be applied toward books plus postage and tax if applicable.


Permission is granted to use any of these quotes in your signature file:

“If you’ve made up your mind to impale someone, do it with conviction.”
~'Rhett, Knight’s Fork by Rowena Cherry

“Never ask a question if you don’t know the answer.”
~'Rhett, Knight’s Fork by Rowena Cherry

“If at first you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.”
~Thor-quentin, Knight’s Fork by Rowena Cherry

“Never sleep with a lady only once, especially in the case of an older lady”
~'Rhett, Knight’s Fork by Rowena Cherry

“Having sex multiple times on the first sleepover does not count as more than one “date”…”
~'Rhett, Knight’s Fork by Rowena Cherry

“Your idea of dangerous and mine … are worlds apart.”
~Grievous, Knight’s Fork by Rowena Cherry

“Wouldn’t you rather play chess?....It’s less destructive of clothes.”
~'Rhett, Knight’s Fork by Rowena Cherry

More suggestions available http://www.rowenacherry.com/QuotesContest/
 


For readers who might wish to post one of my quotes on GoodReads ....

My quotes are considered legitimate, if correctly uploaded. Here's how (applicable to any quote):

Sample quote:

"If you've made up your mind to impale someone, do it with conviction."
~'Rhett, Knight’s Fork by Rowena Cherry

In the box, paste (no quote marks are necessary)

If you've made up your mind to impale someone, do it with conviction.
~'Rhett

A rectangular box pops up for "author"
type in Rowena Cherry

The system recognizes that I am indeed an author, and offers you a new box for the book title.
type in Knight's Fork

Save, and you are done. Thank you!

No purchase necessary. No posting necessary. Void where prohibited. Need not be present to win.

Full rules at htpp://www.rowenacherry.com/QuotesContest/ or by mail.


  
Jacquie Rogers's Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues Pet Pictures Contest

Give Jacquie Rogers your best shot!




Cats, Dogs, and Equine categories.

Win print books, T-shirts, earrings, and other prizes contributed by a dozen authors.

Let  the world see how cute your pet is!

We're looking for the Cutest, the Most Heartwarming, and the Overall Best pictures of your Cats, Dogs, and Equines.

Plus one grand prize winner of

The 2008 Best Pet Picture.

Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues Pet Pictures Contest Schedule.

Sept. 5 to Oct. 5, 2008: Enter your pet pictures!
Oct. 10 to Oct. 25, 2008: First round voting
Nov. 1 to Nov. 15, 2008: Final round voting
Nov. 16, 2008: WINNERS ANNOUNCED!


Go to

http://www.jacquierogers.com

and click on Contest

 (I'm sponsoring the grand prize with a donation of a $50 gift certificate good for
redemption at http://www.ebookisle.net )


 Borders Bookstores Romance Expert Heather Riley writes:

"...I am a volunteer for a local group, PAWS Humane Society (www.pawshs.org)

and we are in the process of planning our first ever
Fur Ball, set for Valentine's Day 2009. We are hoping to raise enough
funds to get a building. We would like to open a spay/neuter clinic
and adoption center. Right now our adoption center consists of a tiny
corner of our local PetCo. The reason I am contacting all of you is
because I am on the planning committee and we are currently seeking
silent auction items.

If you are interested in donating an autographed book or really
anything, please contact me at bookmaedin@comcast.net for my home
mailing info. Please put PAWS Donation in the subject line....

You do have permission to forward this on to any other author friends.

  I am donating

1. Autographed print ARC of "2008 Hollywood Book Festival Romance Category winner" Insufficient Mating Material
2. Autographed print ARC of Knight's Fork
3. "Mystery (ie miscellaneous) collection of gently judged Erotic Romance books"

What is a Queen to do when the sperm donor
of her dreams says no?

KF


The virtuous White Knight, 'Rhett, is caught between a problem father who has all the moral integrity of a Mafia Don, and a married Princess who would stop at nothing to have his seed in her belly. No matter which way he turns, he's "forked."

KNIGHT'S FORK

Excerpt from Chapter Five


Pleasure Moon of Eurydyce
'Rhett's bedchamber


"Alienating a Mated female's affections is the wrong thing to do in any civilized world," he recited. "Where I grew up, a married man may sue his wife's paramour and receive compensatory and punitive damages for 'alienation of affections' and 'criminal conversation.'

"I do not expect you to alienate my affections!" Her whispered vehemence sounded a touch overdone. After all, she wouldn't be there, in his bed, begging to have his baby if she didn't find him attractive.

"Nevertheless, it could happen," he insisted.

After all, any stud would warn a casual conquest that she would very likely fall in love with him and get her alley-cat heart broken. Did it matter that he was not the experienced, sexually sophisticated lover of her dreams? No, because she wasn't going to find out.

"You think so?" she sneered.

"I do think so."

Cocksure was the way to play it. He didn't want her to like him. Nevertheless, he stopped short of questioning whether there was any genuine love and affection to be destroyed. Electra could not possibly love her bald, hairless, naked Volnoth King with his flashing, pop-up body parts and a surgically deformed warhand that could rip her throat out.

"How presumptuous of you. My affections are not an issue. My Mate needs an heir. He cannot sire one on me, and he cannot and will not admit it."

"Are you sure of that?" He curled his lip, insulting her. The more she thrashed about for an acceptable reason to fool around, the more she brought out the latent predator in him.

"I need Djinn semen."

"So I gathered."

Do you realize the power I would have over you? Over Viz-Igerd? I could prove, any time I wanted to do so, that your baby was my get.

'Rhett considered the temptation, and his head rejected it. On the other hand, she was gorgeous, hot, a goddess, she wanted to have his baby, she knew the risks, and yet still she was in his bed.

He was master here, in this place with his brothers and his father within earshot. He could do what he pleased, and she wouldn't dare to cry out. She was his to punish. Who knows, he might learn something.

"Supposing I were to agree, let's discuss delivery."

#

"What is there to discuss?"

'Rhett was being difficult on purpose. Electra understood that, and for once she did not know what to do about it.

Here they lay, together, on his bed, shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip, whispering like lovers. He was naked, she was fully dressed, and yet she was the one who felt vulnerable despite her protection.

His arm was raised, holding hers, and the tantalizing scent of his pheromones made her want to bury her nose in the sensitive softness of his armpit and breathe in. His bare skin smelled of heady arousal, a recent washing, and of male. The dark centers of his cold, green eyes were large and unfathomable.

Either excitement, contempt, or anger flared his nostrils. He smiled a welcome, but showed his teeth in warning. The Moonstone's light threw sinister shadows across his face.

"The Lovers were in my cards," he murmured, as if this was the triumphant conclusion to an inner debate.

"I do not require a lover."

"What if I do?" he murmured. "Tell me exactly what you expect." As he spoke, his thumb caressed the soft skin on the inside of her forearm.

"I expect you to—" It was unexpectedly hard to say. When she'd decided to come here, she'd mentally rehearsed different versions of the same basic conversation. She'd thought of speaking in impersonal, clinical terms, of demanding his body fluids in the same way that royal gynecological faculty servants explained how Her Majesty should provide a urine sample.

But he was more than a delivery system.

She'd considered treating the entire process as an embarrassing practical joke, but jokes were ultimately shared, and what she wanted was a deadly serious matter. If she made a joke of it, he might share the joke with others or take his participation lightly. Or he might presume upon the connection and develop a delusion that they were intimately entwined.

"I expect you to ejaculate."

"Mmmm. Here's the problem. I am not the sexual equivalent of an espresso machine. I don't ejaculate to order. How will you bring me to the point where I want to ejaculate?"

He is trying to humiliate me! Electra did not understand his comment about what kind of machine he was not. She did understand that he was angry about her choice of words.


"Perhaps you could touch yourself?" she suggested.

"Where?"

"Down there."

"I could"—his sinfully beautiful lips curved into a wicked slow smile—"if I wanted to. How will you make me want to touch myself? 'Down there'?"

Electra swallowed. With a shock of surprise, she noticed that her private parts had begun to pulse and snatch nothing, like the pelvic floor exercises one performed.

"I might touch myself," she offered.

"Where? How?" he demanded.

"I might run my hands down my sides, if you let go of my arm."

'Rhett lifted one eyebrow at her.

"Masturbation is not like yawning, my dear."

Electra blinked at him. "I do not understand you!"

"No? You do know what a yawn is?" He opened his mouth wide, and sighed aloud to demonstrate. "When an ordinary being without special powers sees another person yawn, the yawn is contagious. One yawn sets off a spontaneous and involuntary chain reaction of others' yawns."

He stroked a line from her armpit to her hipbone with one finger.

"You seem to think that, if you run your hands down your sides, I will be unable to stop myself from running my own hands down my own sides. Real men…and gods…don't do that. Try again."

"I might cup my breasts." The instant she made the offer, she saw his eyes light up with malicious laughter—or lust—and she knew she'd made another bad choice.

"Now, why would you do that?" he purred.

"Wouldn't that make you feel like touching yourself?" There was no going back, so she moved forward.

"No. It would make me feel like touching your breasts. If you were to lift your breasts in your hands, I would look on that as an offer. I would dip my head and lick and suck on your breasts. I might lick gently and suck hard. Or lick hard and suck gently. I'd take my time…a very long time. I'd play with your breasts with my mouth and with my hands until my tongue was tired and I'd run out of ways to make your nipples change shape and color and size and texture. That's what I'd want to do. Soooo. Is that what you'd like me to do?"

"Absolutely not."

Again, she'd said the wrong thing. He was the most difficult god she'd ever tried to talk to.

"Do you expect me to become sexually excited by watching you make a cynical gesture designed to manipulate my feelings, knowing full well that your breasts are not on offer?"

His voice shook, probably with outrage.

"Yes. No."

"Then, I find myself unable to deliver."

"I beg your pardon. I am unaccustomed to males who are not animals." From a flicker in his eyes, she understood that bringing Viz-Igerd into bed with them was not a good idea. Prince Djarrhett would not be moved to ejaculate out of speciesism.

"I have heard that semen donors on other worlds find the necessary urge to release by looking at pictures and using their imaginations.…"

"I lack imagination."

"Possibly we could hire one or two of the professionals in this establish—"

His raised eyebrow stopped her. "That would hardly be discreet," he said dryly.

"Could I pay you to look at pictures until you find yourself…?"

"Paying me would cheapen things, wouldn't it?" He smiled unpleasantly. "How much—in terms of currency—do you think it would take to send me into transports of sexual ecstasy?"

Electra saw the trap. Any sum, great or small, would be a body insult.

"In chess terms, you are forked with that one, my dear," he crooned. "Let us go back to the beginning. Suppose you touch me?"

"Where?"

"Why waste time? Go for the operative part, just as you were doing when I woke up and intercepted your hand." He still held her arm. Now, he shook it gently. "Imagine your fingers are wrapped round my joystick. Imagine your mouth…"

"Excuse me? Your what?"

"My joystick. My root of all evil. My shaft of all pleasures. My volcano of love. My magic mushroom that springs up in the dark. My full-boost vertical. My—"

"Do ridiculous sayings like this excite you, Prince Djarrhett?"

'Rhett laughed softly and harshly.

"Not in the least. I leave exciting me to you. This is all your idea, so seduce me at your peril, if you can. I see no reason to help you, and every reason not to cooperate. Come now, you went to the Island School For Princesses, didn't you? Surely you haven't forgotten what they taught you in Concubinage class."

She did remember, although it had been a long time ago, and she had left the school before her studies were complete.

"You are mocking me!" She tried to twist free. In all her controlled and public life, she had never felt so close to breaking down. "You are not taking this seriously."

"It is a very bad idea, Your Majesty."

#

As she fought, 'Rhett was strongly tempted to kiss her inexpertly, perhaps roughly, to teach her a lesson she'd never forget. He could. She was in his power. With his free hand he could knead one of her lovely breasts until she gasped.

He could play the tough, heartless superimpregnator. She knew that he was Djinn. She only wanted him because of it, which was bloody insulting.

Rules, now. There must be "rules for a rake" that he should observe, were he—at this fork in his life—to take the broad, low road and to become a young, wicked, dangerous debaucher of lovely, virtuous females. Not that Electra could by any stretch of the imagination be called virtuous, and he would not be debauching her. The boot would be on the other leg. She would be taking his virginity…but he'd be damned if he'd let her know it, no matter how much of a turn-on it would be to be taken in hand by an Island School graduate who knew a lot about sex.

He would definitely formulate a code of conduct, because he enjoyed making rules. Making rules, like doing mental arithmetic, was an effective way of resisting the urge to do with his free hand exactly what she wanted him to do.

Rule One, then. Never sleep with a lady only once, especially in the case of an older lady. There would have to be a second occasion, shortly after the first, to prove that he was not after only one thing; also, to avoid leaving the lady with the impression that he'd found her too slow or too demanding in bed.

Electra was demanding. Delightfully so. She'd taken the lead and said what she wanted. Now what would she do? 'Rhett smiled down at the furious lady sharing his pillow and thrashing wildly to escape. Or was she trying to get a leg up and over him? That reminded him.

Rider to Rule One. Having sex multiple times the first sleepover does not count as more than one "date."

Rule Two. There had to be a Rule Two. The lady "comes" first? Ladies first, by whatever means necessary?

He considered that. Did a shameless, Royal adulteress—who was only there for the semen—count as a lady? On the other hand, where would be the power play, where would be the punishment, if she got what she wanted without having to put out?

If it took a lot of fumbling and prodding, and a great deal of experimentation on his part, what choice would she have? She could hardly laugh—or swear—at him, or she'd never have her wicked way.

Rule Three. The rest of the Nevers. Never wear a thong. Never kiss with a closed mouth, it's ungodly. Never kiss with open eyes…unless she does. Never strike, force, or take advantage of a lady, even if she climbs into your bed of her own volition.

Ah, well. It was fun while it lasted.

'Rhett opened his fingers and let her wrench free, leaving the next move up to her. She promptly fell off the bed.

"It was a very bad idea," 'Rhett repeated, as Electra exploded out of his room, and out of his life. "For both of us."

He'd done the right thing…but it had been a close call.

KF

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KNIGHT'S FORK is a page-turner from the very first one to the very last. I enjoyed it so much, after I reached the last page I started right from the beginning again. KNIGHT’S FORK has it all! If you only have time to read one book this season, I highly recommend you run out and grab a copy today!

~Kimberly Leslie, Romance Junkies
http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/paranormal/Knight_s_Fork.shtml

 
"Knight’s Fork is deliciously racy and erotic. The whole novel revolves around sex!

You could compare Cherry’s novel to Laurell K. Hamilton’s Meredith Gentry series about fairies because the Princess Electra seeks to get pregnant just like Meredith does. Or you could compare the novel to the Twilight Saga with ‘Rhett being a virgin, sworn to a vow of chastity, similar to Edward’s chase behavior. Whatever parallels you draw, Cherry spins a great story."

~Keira
http://www.reviewromancenovel.com/knight’s-fork-by-rowena-cherry/

 
Knight's Fork is not quite science fiction, nor is it paranormal romance. I can only quote Monty Python when I say -- "and now for something completely different..."

~SciFiGuy
SciFiGuy.ca - http://www.scifiguy.ca/

  I am a fan of Rowena Cherry. No doubt about it. She's a stellar writer, and her worlds are incredibly intricate. Not to mention the fact that her Djinn Princes are mouth-wateringly hot and scrumptious.

~Brenna Lyons
http://brennalyonsden.blogspot.com/2008/09/review-you-will-want-to-preorder-this.html

Ms. Cherry’s capacity to write complicated plots full of intrigue and stories populated with characters rich in personality and foibles make her books a delight to read. She also has a way of turning a phrase that hooks you and never lets go, such as Carpe Scrotum, Seize Life by the Testicles. How can you not love Rowena Cherry?

Knight’s Fork has substance, intelligence, characters I really cared for and is a romantic tale with a satisfying HEA. I may not know much about chess but I know a good book when I read one and Knight’s Fork delivers the goods.

~Michele, LongAndShortReviews

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/0808/KnightsFork-RC.htm

RV

"She is not an author to ‘skim’ read, but to savor her savvy turn of a phrase and intricate plotting..., I highly recommend Knight’s Fork for the reader looking for a book that is fresh, original and provokes a good laugh."

~Deborah Macgillivray, GoodReads.com


"Hilarious and spellbinding, KNIGHT'S FORK kept me hooked to the pages from the moment I opened the book."

~ Brenda, reader comment


Knight's Fork by Rowena Cherry is a taut and heady romance story of epic proportions. Move over Helen of Troy and Paris, you've been bested by Rhett and Electra.  I recommend this sci-fi romance to anyone who enjoys emotional chess and divining astrological tarot cards.  Five stars!

~"Creator" Cauldwell,
http://internetvoicesradio.com

Rowena Cherry has always been one of my favorite authors. Long ago, I read the e-book release of THE MATING NET, and I fell in love with her Tiger Princes and their ladies with just that novelette. Okay, let's set up the world. ...

~Brenna Lyons
http://tinyurl.com/Backlist-reviews


"I think Rowena's true skill is that she weaves this intricate world of aliens and sex just the same way J.K. Rowling weaves the world of Wizards."

~Des DiFabio, bookclubqueen
 http://www.book-club-queen.com/free-book-review-6.html

 
Jul 30, 2008 ... I search long and hard for books like “Forced Mate” and I was grinning from ear to ear by the second chapter! If you have an appreciation ...

~kmont, RetroLurv Reviews: Forced Mate « Lurv à la Mode
http://lurvalamode.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/retrolurv-reviews-forced-mate/

MUCH CHEAPER THAN THERAPY Interview with Rowena Cherry By Kim Watters

Knight's Fork is intended to be a stand-alone book, but it is also the sequel to Forced Mate and to its sequel, Insufficient Mating Material. 'Rhett –whose real name is Djarrhett Raven Perseus Pendragon Roland Djames—has always been too ...
Much Cheaper Than Therapy -
http://muchcheaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/
 

ONCE UPON A ROMANCE Interview about Insufficient Mating Material
 http://www.onceuponaromance.net/RowenaCherryFeature.htm

 BOOK-CLUB-QUEEN Interview: 
http://www.book-club-queen.com/book-club-questions-6.html

 Done!

TODAY'S AUTHOR RADIO SHOW with David Ewen

Click here for a link to the show.   It was wonderful.  Thank you.
 
David Ewen

www.BookRadioStation.com
 

 INTUITIVE EYES RADIO SHOW with Sherri Devereau
 
Sorry it is such a long url. Please feel free to use it as you see fit. Hope to have you on again when you get another book published.

Sherri Devereau
Author of 'Shadows On My Shift'
Owner of Intuitive Eyes
www.IntuitiveEyes.com

RAVEN RADIO with Michelle M Pillow and Mandy Roth

Author Rowena Cherry! Show Live: 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM EST. Listener dial-in number during LIVE shows (646) 595-3998 (New York number, long distance charges apply). There is also a LIVE chat during the shows. Follow the link below and ...
The Raven Happy Hour -
http://ravenhappyhour.com/ravenblog

 
Upcoming!

SEA OTTER AWARENESS WEEK
9.00 PM to 11 PM Sunday September 28th
http://internetvoicesradio.com

 
FASCINATING AUTHORS INTERVIEW with Author Marketing Experts
8pm Eastern, Monday October 6th

WOLVES OF THE SEA (WOLF AWARENESS WEEK)
9.00 PM to 11 PM Sunday October 12th
http://www.internetvoicesradio.com

FICTION PREVIEWS... FIVE DAYS OF EXCERPTS from Tara Green's newsletter


R

Rowena Cherry ~ Author Feature By Michelle M. Pillow
KNIGHT’S FORK by Rowena Cherry. “Carpe Scrotum. Seize Life by the Testicles.” —Electra-Djerroldina. The Queen Consort of the Volnoth needs a sperm donor, and only one green-eyed god has the right stuff. Little does she know she has ...
The Raven Happy Hour -
http://ravenhappyhour.com/ravenblog

 

STAR-CROSSED ROMANCE with Lynda K Scott
Monday September 29th
www.myspace.com/star_crossedromance
(giveaway tbd)

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM AN UNBALANCED MIND (Melissa Schroeder's blog)
Monday September 29th
http://www.melissaschroeder.net/category/categories/random-thoughts-from-an-unbalanced-mind/
(giving away a $25 gift certificate)

BITTEN BY BOOKS
Monday, September 29th, 11.00 Eastern 
http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=4
(Giving away chocolate)


Tuesday September 30th 
Guest blogging at Novel Thoughts blog to talk about Knight's Fork with Fatin
RRAH Blog: http://novelthoughts.wordpress.com

Awarding prizes on Monday's blogs

Thursday October 2nd blogging at ROMANCEREADER@HEART

 Friday October 3rd - Blogging on Simply Romance Reviews

Also on ROMANCEREADER@HEART Saturday October 4th

Wednesday October 1st
All morning chat at The_Haunt yahoo group

Monday October 13th
9pm Eastern chat on Writerspace

  Gosh!  I'm exhausted just listing it all.

 

 Get Real! Publishing Myths Exposed!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the years since I've been in publishing I can't even count on one hand how many myths I've heard or how many of them have been pushed on unknowing authors. Arming yourself with knowledge is always a good idea and my intention is to share what I've found to be the biggest myths in publishing. There are twelve that rise to the surface for me, you might have a few that you've learned the hard way. I hope that I can help dispel a few myths and, in the process, give you a few promotional tips as well.
1) If someone writes a review I don't like, can I get them to rewrite it? No, this will never happen, nor should you ask for this. Doing this will show you are a novice. If you get back a bad review, try to learn from it and move on. It happens to everyone at least once, it's disheartening but unfortunately, it's part of the business.

2) Radio is all I need to sell books. Not true. For some authors radio is golden, but that's few and far between. Doing a lot of radio may be great for your exposure, but it may not sell books. The best type of radio are interviews that are done to promote an event or workshop, that way you can at least drive people to something, rather than hoping they'll click on your site.

3) I'm going to take my independent title and get it on Oprah. Some years back, Oprah decided to be "unique" when selecting her books and she picked a title that came from a very small publisher. Because a mention on the Oprah show can produce a high demand, the publisher could not keep up with the orders, nor did they have enough in stock or stocked in a bookstore. The result? A lot of viewers called into the show when they couldn't find the book and Oprah vowed never to feature a small press title again. The challenge here is always availability. If you have a book from a small press but it has significant bookstore placement and availability, be sure to let the producers know this when you're pitching the book. It could go a long way to helping you gain consideration for the show!

4) I'm going to get my book on the New York Times Bestseller list. Bestseller lists are funny things, many of them, (like the New York Times list) are not based on sales but rather on exposure and popularity. Meaning that if your book is gaining huge popularity, it might not be selling a ton of copies but bookstores are buzzing about it. The New York Times has around thirty or so bookstores around the country that report to them on what's hot and what's not. None of this is based on sales, just on what people are asking for. Regardless of the sales quota, in order to attain this level of exposure your book needs to have a significant print run of at least 50,000 or more. This also means that there needs to be placement of the book in bookstores. Yes, there are always exceptions to this rule, we saw that recently with the success of The Shack, but if someone is promising you bestseller status, take your marketing dollars and run.

5) If I get into Amazon does that mean my distribution is handled? No, Amazon is not a distributor, they are an online portal. Distribution means that there is a distributor actively involved in selling your book into bookstores. While it's great to be listed on all the online sites, having this as your only access point could hamper your book's success. If at all possible, get someone to distribute your title. Distribution can be tricky but it's often the one missing piece to a book's success.

6) How can I prevent my review copies from being sold? Unfortunately you can't, nor should you waste your time and energy on trying to get them back. Review copies are sold, it happens all the time and spending your time chasing used copies isn't a good use of your promotional efforts.

7) When I schedule a book signing the store will do all the promotion, right? Wrong. The bookstore may do some of the promotion, but not all of it. You will handle the lion's share of promotion for your event - this includes but is not limited to: notifying the media, printing up flyers and taking them to the store (if they'll let you provide bag stuffers to notify patrons prior to the event), getting a calendar listing in your local paper(s), getting posters done with your book cover on them, printing up and inviting every single one of your local contacts.

8) Will major media outlets review my book? Possibly, it depends. There's a lot of competition out there for review space, and review space is shrinking. While aspiring to a review in the New York Times is nice, it's important to be realistic. If your book is print-on-demand, major media may be less inclined to review it. Instead, take a look at trade or local (regional) media. And if your regional media says they won't review your book, try getting them to do a story on you.

9) Your book will be judged by its cover: This means unless your grandson is Rembrandt he or she may not contribute her finger paintings to your cover design. Period. End of story. There is a rare exception to this but it's important to note that it's rare. Having a professional cover is like trying to decide whether to use hot pink paper for your resume or stock white. Unless the job you're applying for welcomes a wildly creative bent, it's likely that an off-beat approach to your resume will turn off any future employer. Your book is the same way. Your book is your resume, your book cover is your cover letter. If you want to get them to read on you'd better be careful about the first thing you put in front of them. Don't take chances with your cover. Do your research, know what sells and what doesn't, and know what will get your reader to pick up the book and what won't.

10) All of my friends will buy my book! Your friends may not buy your book; the truth is, strangers tend to buy books faster than friends do so don't be discouraged if your pals aren't snapping up your book.

11) How many copies should I plan to give away to promote my book? As many as it takes. Don't give copies to family and friends. I know this might sound mean but fair is fair, the only people who get a free copy are Mom and Dad. Friends and family need to pony up the money and buy their own copies. The rest (promotional copies) you'll buy and give away like candy.

12) How long will it take for me to be successful? I don't know, no one does. I wish I had the answer to that question. We've worked with authors who are rising successes after six months, and others who are still plugging away two and three years after their book came out. The key is to have passion for what you're doing. Passion and commitment will keep you going through the good times and the dark days which will most certainly happen. Passion and commitment will remind you why you're in this and why you need to stay dedicated to your work. If you're not passionately committed to what you're doing, how do you expect anyone else to be?

 

Reprint permission
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
You are welcome to reprint any items from "The Book Marketing Expert Newsletter." However, please credit us as a source with the following paragraph:

Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

 

 AUTHOR MARKETING EXPERT

 I consider this quite a scoop! 

 On Tuesday October 7th from 10.00 am Eastern Time until noon, Author Marketing Expert Penny Sansevieri and her web designer  will  share professional promo tips and also analyze what is wrong with Rowena's website http://rowenacherry.com on my Crazy Tuesday radio show. http://internetvoicesradio.com/CrazyTuesday.htm

Crazy Tuesday is when Rowena Cherry blogs aloud with guests. It's unrehearsed reality radio, warts, bloopers, sniggers and the occasional admonition to guests to stop doing the washing up while the world listens.
 

 

 
Penny C. Sansevieri,  Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
Turning Authors into Success Stories
 http://www.authormarketingexperts.com
 
 Office: 858/560-0121 Hotline: 619/808-BOOK
  

I'm not quite sure why it seemed a good idea to give you this... 

http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/index.cfm 

Now, this is a link to some of the best book-related Blogs

http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/search/label/BBAW

Last, and quite possibly least, here's a handy little link

 http://sharethis.com/getbutton 

If you are a published author actively writing and promoting Paranormal, Fantasy, or Speculative Romance, you are welcome to join the realmsoffantasyads yahoogroup

During the TRS "Studio Diva" contest, which Charlee Boyett-Compo won, I suggested to Charlee that we members of realmsoffantasyads@yahoogroups.com could do more to help and support each other in addition to sharing bimonthly ads in Realms Of Fantasy. Shortly after that IWOFA came into being.

I'm sorry to disappoint you. At this time, I have no bare chested gentlemen wanting to ... be featured.

 


IMM

KNIGHT'S FORK

Buy it here!

 
IMM

INSUFFICIENT MATING MATERIAL

Insufficient Mating Material won:

HOLLYWOOD BOOK FESTIVAL (Romance)
The Fantasm Award for Best Futuristic
The Cupid And Psyche Award (CAPA) for best Fantasy
SingleTitles.com for best print book of 2007 with strong romantic elements.

Insufficient Mating Material finalled in:

PEARL Awards for Best Futuristic or Sci-Fi Romance
Golden Quill Awards
UsaBookNews Award-Winning Finalist in the Fiction and Literature: Romance category of the National Best Books 2007 Awards

Buy it here!

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Forced Mate

FORCED MATE

Prince Tarrant-Arragon has found the mate of his dreams. She hates him. What is a god-Emperor to do?

FORCED MATE (by Rowena Cherry) is a futuristic take on the myth of Persephone and the god of the underworld: a dark ruler of an interstellar superpower abducts his perfect mate, never dreaming he'll fall in love.

Available Now!


Mating Net

MATING NET

Helispeta wanted to marry well... But not THIS well.

What is an ambitious young princess to do when she finds herself irrevocably married to the wrong god?

Available Now!

 

IMM

INSUFFICIENT MATING MATERIAL

Not only is Prince Djetth marooned on a deserted island with the ultimate fashionista who won't take off her clothes to save her own life... they are sitting ducks for whoever is trying to kill them.

Available Now!

 

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