2013 Round Up!

by | Dec 28, 2013 | | 0 Comments

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and are looking forward to fun New Year celebrations. While I am looking forward to 2014 and what it will bring, I’d also like to reflect on 2013 and what I achieved. I don’t often blow my own trumpet, so it’s cool to remind myself of what I’ve done. Here are a few highlights, in no particular order:

My total publication count was 30, which includes print and eBooks. This is the same total as last year, but I’m definitely not beating myself up over that, because I’ve had much longer stuff released and have been working on more novellas and novels. I also don’t count reprints.

I also totted up my word count. This includes works not yet finished or submitted, as well as published works, and I achieved a whopping 377,041 words this year. I’m very proud of that, especially since I don’t write full-time, and I don’t even write every day.

Here’s a photo of the paperbacks I’ve been in this year – click the image to enlarge.

2013pubs

 

All in all, it’s been an awesome 2013! I already have books lined up for 2014 so it’s already off to a promising start. I’m looking forward to it.

Happy New Year!

Lucy x

More About the Calendar Men Project

by | Dec 27, 2013 | | 0 Comments

christmas promo cal menHi everyone,

If you stopped by here or at ARe Cafe on Christmas Day (and if you didn’t, the link is here), you’ll know there was an exclusive reveal of a very exciting multi-author project.

Calendar Men is something that’s been in the pipeline for several months. Basically, there are twelve authors taking part, and each of us was assigned a month. We were to write an erotic romance novella set in that month, and what links each story is a charity calendar, in which our sexy male leads appear. Each book will release on the first day of the corresponding month. Decadent Publishing is the publisher.

I got June, so my story, The Other Brother, is set in June, as you may expect, in New York City. I’ve never been, so it took an awful lot of research to put the story together, but I think it was worth it. Thank God for Google Maps!

Here’s the blurb, and an another exclusive for you… the cover! Hot or what?! 😀

Photographer Melodie Carr moved to New York City to escape and make a fresh start. Her soldier fiancé was killed in a friendly-fire incident in Iraq, and she has been struggling to come to terms with it ever since. She still feels strongly about needless death and those left behind, so when she sees a call for photographs for a calendar of topless men, with profits going to the Fallen Warriors Family Fund, she’s eager to help out. Unfortunately, she doesn’t know any men that fit the profile, so she gives up on the idea. That is, until Patrick Brogan—her late fiance’s brother—turns up in New York. Seeing him brings up all kinds of memories, but she’s determined to push them aside and be friends with Patrick. She also realizes he’d be perfect for the calendar. But can she persuade him to take part?

For more information on the other authors and their books,  head over to the Calendar Men blog. We’re all very excited about this project, especially since book one, Outback Dirty, by JoAnne Kenrick will be available in a matter of days!

Happy Reading,

Lucy x

Stories for When the Sun Goes Down by Lily Harlem

by | Dec 26, 2013 | | 0 Comments

Hi Lucy, thank you so much for inviting me over to play at this festive time of year. It’s great fun to party with friends amongst the tinsel and mistletoe and enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a little festive fayre – Mwahh!

Stories For When the Sun Goes DownTo warm your cockles and spread a little magic I’ve brought with me my new collection of erotic and romantic tales – Stories for When the Sun Goes Down. These stories are perfect for snuggling up in bed with on cold winter nights, or, even better, reading aloud to a lover in front of the fire to get the sultry mood just right for an evening of fun.

This is my first collection and it’s a very special set of stories to me as they are each an enormous part of my journey to becoming an author of erotic romance. Every one holds a piece of my writing history and has built my confidence. I’m grateful to all the editors who gave me a chance and published my first words. I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing my name in print for the first time. An amazing experience that, as all new authors will relate to, I didn’t know if it would ever happen.

So what’s in this collection? Madam President is the first erotic piece I ever wrote and I entered it into an erotic fiction competition sponsored by LoveHoney. To my delight I won first place and that set me off on the road of steamy romance, a road that’s been up and down, twisted and turned and meant I’ve met a whole group of wonderful new friends from around the world. Some I’ve met in person, some only virtually, but still I look back and thank my lucky stars that I choose the path that I did because these friends and colleagues have made writing the most wonderful experience.

Coming Together With CurvesShy Bird and The Actress are both stories that feature in Coming Together Anthologies, a charity publisher that donates all royalties to good causes and authors provide the stories for free. If you enjoy my work in Stories for When the Sun Goes Down to check out the rest of the Coming Together As One anthology and Coming Together Triumphantly , but don’t stop there, Coming Together has many more titles as my lovely host, Lucy will testify to, including Coming Together with Curves which Lucy edited and I feature in alongside many of my authorly friends.

The I Promise… stories were great fun to write and feature a couple who’ve found some very raunchy sexual favour vouchers to gift each other with – a great idea if you’re stuck for something to buy the guy or gal in your life this year, don’t you think? And A Classic Wedding Night continues Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett’s story after the confetti has landed and the sun goes down. Oh, who can resist Darcy when he gets all dominant and determined?

Contents – Stories for When the Sun Goes Down

  • Madam President
  • The Champagne Whore
  • Shy Bird
  • The Actress
  • Making Shapes
  • I Promise to Please
  • I Promise to Surrender
  • I Promise to Perform
  • A Classic Wedding Night
  • Stable Manners

(All of these stories have been published in a variety of US and UK anthologies over the last five years and you can find out more about this on my website.)

rtsidebargraphicThis time of year we all tend to get a bit melancholy as we look back at all that’s happened and then forward to the future. So what’s in my year ahead? Well, to stay happy and healthy and enjoy every moment I can of my life and continue to be thankful for the wonderful man who loves me and whom I love in return. As for my writing, I’m breaking into paranormal for the first time this year. Both Bite Mark and Claw Mark will be hitting the virtual shelves at Ellora’s Cave. I’ve also got more Hot Ice set to release, that’s Misconduct and Russian Heat. I’m continuing with projects with Natalie Dae (we publish under the name Harlem Dae) and Lucy Felthouse. Raw Talent. I’m looking forward to getting to Eroticon in Bristol (March) and spending time with fellow Brit Babes and I’m tentatively planning a trip to the US in October to Romanticon where I’ll be able to put faces to the names of my wonderful colleagues at Ellora’s Cave. Perhaps Lucy will join me on a cross Atlantic journey if I ask her nicely!

I’ll also write a few more short stories that will hopefully end up in Coming Together anthologies (doing good while being bad!) and they’ll all become part of this rich and exciting path I’ve chosen as a writer. If you’d like to pick up a copy of Stories for When the Sun Goes Down here are the buy links.

Buy Links

Stories for When the Sun Goes Down – Amazon

Stories for When the Sun Goes Down – Amazon UK

Thank you so much for letting me natter on, Lucy, it’s been fun and a very happy Christmas and all the best for 2014 to all our readers and blog visitors.

Lily x

PS – Some special offers going on this week and freebies, details on my blog.

Lily Harlem Links

Website http://www.lilyharlem.com/
Blog http://www.lilyharlem.blogspot.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/lily_harlem
Facebook http://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Lily-Harlem/100003519563064
Facebook author page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lily-Harlem-author-page/200182030094568
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/lilyharlem/
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4070110.Lily_Harlem
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/106837751333678531161/posts
Harlem Dae http://www.harlemdae.com
Raw Talent http://rawtalentseries.co.uk
BritBabes http://thebritbabes.blogspot.co.uk
Newsletter Subscription http://www.lilyharlem.com/newsletter-subscription.html

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An Exclusive Christmas Reveal!

by | Dec 25, 2013 | | 0 Comments

xmas CAL MEN happy xmasHi everyone,

Myself and eleven other authors have been dropping hints for months about a secret project we’ve been working on. We’ve been sworn to secrecy for so long, but now, it’s a secret no more, woohoo!

Rather than spilling the delicious secret here, though, I’m going to direct you to the fabulous ARe Cafe, which has all the juicy gossip, as well as another special surprise for visitors. So go on, head over there now and see what it’s all about…

http://www.arecafe.com/category/cafe-news/

Happy Christmas, everyone!

Lucy x

Sunday Snog – Illicit Relations

by | Dec 22, 2013 | | 0 Comments

Sunday Snog

Illicit RelationsIt’s time for another Sunday Snog. And this time it’s tantalising lip action from my brand new release, Illicit Relations, a m/m erotic romance novella. It was just published by Ellora’s Cave as part of their Boys Will Do Boys series. Enjoy!

He didn’t need to make the first move. He was still thinking dirty thoughts when rough hands gripped his head and held it still while an equally rough mouth captured his.

His first thought—finally. His second—fuuuck! Shortly afterward, his mind went blank of anything but arousal—of anything but want, need, desire. It grew rapidly as their lips melded, their tongues battled and explored and their hands wandered. Before long, Terry had a firm bum cheek in each hand and wanted nothing more than to render them naked and push his tongue between them, to taste, tease and lubricate the tight hole before pressing his cock past its resistance and deep inside Justin. He couldn’t of course—not here, not now. Their entire family was out there, including lots of impressionable young minds. They’d have to stick to slightly more innocent pursuits.

There was nothing innocent about their passion, however—their eager lips, the way they fit together so well, so perfectly. He was consumed—the fact he was kissing a man at all was new, never mind the one he’d been in love with since he was old enough to know what love really meant. He had to fight incredibly hard to hold on to his rational thoughts, to hold back, prevent himself from going too far.

Eventually the fire between them grew so hot, so powerful, that they had to pull away before they got burned. Gasps and murmured expletives filled the air.

“So,” Terry panted, “does this mean you’re willing to give it a go? You’re not bothered if it doesn’t work out and we end up splitting up?”

Justin said nothing. His eyelids were hooded, the orbs beneath still full of intensity, of lust. Of want. In lieu of a reply, he grabbed Terry’s hand and pressed it over his hard cock. After a beat he said, “What do you think?”

Terry yanked his hand away, surprising even himself. “That’s not enough, Justin. I don’t just want a fuck. I can get a fuck anywhere. I want us to be together, to make a go of a proper relationship. I know it’s not going to be easy, but…I love you.”

There, he’d done it now. Bared his soul, put his heart on his sleeve.


You can get your hands on Illicit Relations here.

Also, don’t forget to head back to Blissekiss and see what other luscious lip to lip action other authors have posted. Yum!

My Sexy Saturday #12 – #MySexySaturday

by | Dec 21, 2013 | | 1 Comment

My Sexy Saturday

Welcome back to My Sexy Saturday. This is where writers post either 7 words, 7 sentences or 7 paragraphs from their published work or work in progress, sticking to the week’s theme. This week’s theme is sexy settings. So I’ve selected a snippet from A French Affair – come on, much of it is set in Paris, I had lots to choose from! 😉

‘OK. We’ll see if there are any seats available at the pond.’

She didn’t know what he meant, but didn’t ask either. She figured she’d find out soon enough.

After a few minutes, as she’d expected, she discovered exactly what Harry had been talking about. For there, in front of them, was a large raised pond, surrounded by deckchairs. A pretty fountain sat in the middle, spurting water into the air. As it was such a beautiful day, predictably, many of the deckchairs were taken. But Lady Luck must have been shining down on them because a couple packed their bags up and left, and Sydney and Harry took their places immediately.

‘Phew,’ he said as he sunk into the seat, putting the carrier bag carefully on the ground, ‘that was lucky.’

‘It was. Anyone would think you had used the force to get them to move.’

Harry waggled his eyebrows. ‘Perhaps I did. You’ll never know. And if you try and tell anyone, I’ll use the force to stop you.’

She gave him a playful swipe on his arm, and he stuck his tongue out. Then, their silliness temporarily over, they sat back in their chairs and watched the world go by. The sun continued to beam down on them, people continued to feed the ducks and the pigeons in and around the pond, and the din of the surrounding city was muted, somehow, making it easy to forget it was there. Easy to think she was sitting beside a pond on a grand estate, right out in the countryside, at the end of a long drive and far away from everything.

You can buy A French Affair here.

Please use the list below to head on over to the other blogs participating in My Sexy Saturday, and don’t forget to leave us all comments, we love ’em!

Happy Reading,

Lucy x

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