Barron Chronicles

I have a new website!

2008-09-07T07:57:00.001-07:00

It's brand spanking new, and it has snazzy jazz to entertain you. Well, I'm still working on it, honestly. It's only been up a week an I've been so busy with two deadlines and edits that I haven't started the blog yet.
But I will, this week, I promise...
Check it out here.

http://melindabarron.com/

Enjoy!
Mel

The second one this week!

2008-07-04T11:40:00.000-07:00

My Changeling Press release, Spaceport: Black Diamonds, is out now. This was a fun, and challenging, story to write.

Spaceport is a multi-author series and I've never done that before. It's great, though, to take part in this with such talented authors. Plus, although I love Star Wars, Star Trek (original and TNG), and Stargate, I'm not a techie, so I had to keep my story centered around the relationship between my three characters, Savannah, Ferris and Tiny.

That wasn't hard to do, though, because they were great fun. Ferris really melted my butter, and artist Karen Fox really captured him, and the other two characters, perfectly in the fantastic cover!

If you haven't checked out this series you need to rush over to Changeling and snatch them up. Remember that Changeling Press has a coupon code each week that gives you a discount off your final order. If you're a member of their Yahoo group you can find it at the Bar & Grill each week. If not, join up. and if you just want to e-mail me for it, I'll send it to you.

Happy reading, and Happy 4th to those in the US. I'll leave you with the blurb for Spaceport: Black Diamonds!

Master Thief Savannah DeCosta thinks she's got it made. A big-shot smuggler has asked her to steal a map from two other smugglers. Not a problem for Savannah, who's good at stealing anything she wants. When she sees Ferris Vaughn and "Tiny" Dixon, in a bar on Spaceport Adana, she uses their amorous moment to take what she wants. When the two find out what she's done, they decide to teach her a lesson.

The more time the three spend together, though, the more they realize there's something more than just a map at stake. They team up to try and find the real reason the map is so sought after; that is if they can keep their hands off each other long enough to decipher the map, and find where it leads.

Search Me Baby now available

2008-07-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

My latest release from Resplendence Publishing, Search Me Baby One More Time, came out yesterday. It's part of Resplendence's Handcuffs and Lace series. This story was a hoot to write. It centers around the idea of living your life for yourself, and not for what others want of you.

Wren and Bryan are hot together, and really love each other. Wren's grandmother, Constance, is a hoot, and will keep you laughing. I know she did me while I was writing the story. I wanted her to show that you should live your life for yourself, no matter the age. Here's the blurb, and a glance at the gorgeous cover art.

Take care everyone. I have a second release this week, Spaceport: Black Diamonds from Changeling Press. More about that one later in the week!

Enjoy the blurb!
Wren Thornberry’s life isn’t going according to plan. She let her father talk her out of marrying Bryan Stockard, the man she loves, and move halfway around the world. Now she’s back home in Texas, babysitting her grandmother while grandma and her boy-toy work through their list of sexual exploits, making themselves the talk of the town.

But what Wren doesn’t know is that things in her hometown are about to heat up even more, and it will have nothing to do with her grandmother. It seems that Bryan Stockard is still in town, he wants to get back into Wren’s life by any means necessary, and now he has just the tools to do it: A police uniform, handcuffs, and the authority to make Wren… assume the position.

Welcome to the party

2008-06-13T07:46:00.001-07:00

My Plain Brown Wrapper for Aspen Mountain Press, Pajama Party, released today. I'm very excited about this story. I wrote it some time ago, and a friend of mine convinced me to take it out, dust it off and do some editing, and send it to AMP.

The result is a short story that is fun, erotic and playful. I know you'll love it.
Here's the blurb, to whet your appetite.

Can lifelong pals turn a friendship into a love affair?

Plus-sized Maureen Henderson has had a crush on Dane since high school. But she knows that Dane only thinks of her as a friend. When Maureen’s best friend, Celia, decides to throw a coed slumber party for her thirtieth birthday, Maureen sees this as her chance. She’s going to finally let Dane know how she feels about him.

Stockbroker Dane Markham realized several years ago that he wanted more from Maureen than just friendship. But life kept getting in the way. Now he knows that Maureen is unattached, and so is he. He plans to use his time at Celia’s party to seduce Maureen and take their friendship to the next level.

Unfortunately for Maureen and Dane, there is trouble brewing in paradise.

A sweet award for Tygers4

2008-06-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

Tygers4: Sweet Awakening, received a Reviewer's Choice award this month from TwoLips reviews. I'm thrilled, to say the least. This story is part of the ongoing BDSM series available at Loose Id.

Special thanks to Julianne, who said, in part, "This is a fabulous series and I highly recommend it."

What I loved the most about her review is the fact she said the story made her "think." That really made me feel wonderful, to know the story was appreciated.

The next book in the series, Tygers5: Sweet Redemption, releases sometime in August. When I get a firm date, I'll let you know. Cheers!
Mel

A wish for luck?

2008-05-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

I've been thrilled at the reception Wish Me Up, Rub Me Down has received. Its the first story in the Desires of the Lamp tales, out now with Resplendence Publishing. It's garnered two recommended reads, which made me very happy.

But, on Sunday, I received even more good news about it. Victoria, over at TwoLips Reviews, has given the novella a Reviewer's Choice Award, which is sweet, to say the least. And it comes just a few weeks after the release of Aliya Baban and the Cave of Pleasure, the second story in the Desires of the Lamp tales.

The lovely lips with this post made my heart beat faster, and I'm thrilled to share them with you.

Mel

A new release

2008-05-20T12:42:00.003-07:00

My latest novella, Amethyst Eyes, released from Loose Id today. When a new book releases, I'm always a little nervous. I wonder at its reception, and about reviews. The same thing every author worries about.

This series of stories, tentatively titled The Pentagram Stones, took hold of me at the Romantic Times Convention 2007 in Houston. I spent a lot of time in my hotel room, plotting out ideas and making sure things were put on paper before I forgot them.

The result is Amethyst Eyes, a m/m/f paranormal that deals with stones placed at the edges of a pentagram that keep an evil witch in place. These stones have been stone, and must be recovered before the witch can break his bonds, and spread mayhem and death.

I know you'll love Ansling, Kellen and Tobias. I know I did. Ansling is a strong female who has long fought her gift of vision, and is forced to look at it when she meets her soul mates. The story continues with the second book, tentatively titled Garnet Lips. But that, as always, is scheduled to change.

Take a look at it, over at the Loose Id home page. I know it will entertain and delight your senses.

It's like having a new toy...

2008-05-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

My new release from Loose Id, Amethyst Eyes, comes out Tuesday. I'm really excited about this story, a m/m/f paranormal menage. It was a lot of fun to write, and the cover, which is spectacular, was done by Anne Cain.

Seeing the cover for the first time always makes me feel like a kid with a new toy. I want to look at it, and put it on my computer wallpaper, and then show it off to everyone.

Here's the blurb for your enjoyment. Later this week I'll post an excerpt on my Yahoo group, Eclectic Erotic Sirens.

Dive Master Ansling Carr is very happy with the new life she’s made for herself: Until she starts having dreams of two very sexy men loving each other. They want her to join them in a triad, where their sexual energy will locate, and retrieve, a stone that helps hold an evil witch captive in a pentagram.

Ansling, who has long fought her gift of seeing, quickly realizes Kellen and Tobias are her soul mates. They make her body tingle with their touch, and awaken powers inside her that she thought would never be used for good.

Together, they will battle an evil witch sent to protect the stone. And, to recharge their bodies and souls, they will join in mind-blowing passion, that will make all three of them more powerful than ever.

Yet more good news!

2008-05-07T12:33:00.001-07:00

For those of you who have written to ask about the next Tygers novel, I just wanted you to know I just received a contract offer for it from Loose Id.

The book, titled Tygers 5: Sweet Redemption, centers around Helena and TK, both of whom were introduced in Tygers 4: Sweet Awakening. I'm thrilled, to say the least. I'll post a blurb later in the week!

Take care,
Mel

I've been tagged...

2008-05-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

Tell seven random and/or interesting things about myself. Get five blog buddies to play, too and link to their blogs. Don’t forget to post the rules!

Things like this are always difficult -- *glaring at Michelle* -- but still, fun, *wink*.

1. I'm terribly unorganized (no big surprise there).
2. I make my living with my writing.
3. I write spanking stories for Bethany's Woodshed and Romantic Spankings.
4. I read my first really hot and descriptive romance novel, by Rosemary Rogers, when I was 14, hiding the book from my parents. When my mother found it on my nightstand one night when I forgot to hide it, and then read it, she flipped.
5. Unlike a friend of mine, who says she's never been stopped by a cop, I've received nine speeding tickets in my life. My favorite reaction when stopped? The nice state trooper asked why I was traveling 72 in a 55 mph zone (showing my age, here) and I said, "I don't have a reason. Give me a minute and I'll come up with something, though." I still got the ticket, but at least he couldn't start writing until he stopped laughing. I had high hopes he would let me go, but no dice, especially after he checked my record.
6. I almost got arrested during one of those stops because of a friend of mine, who'd had a bit too much to drink, couldn't keep her mouth shut. I was the designated driver, in case you're wondering.
7. Lots of my story ideas, like the one I just sold to Resplendence called Binding Gillian, come from dreams I have.

People I'm tagging: I'm not sure yet ... give me a bit and I'll get back to them!

Happy reading!
Mel

Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

2008-05-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

Or so they say. I am horrible at blogging, as we've discovered. Today, I've added my last two releases for everyone to see. I have another one coming up in two weeks, Amethyst Eyes, a m/m/f paranormal from Loose Id.

During the two months I've been gone, I've finally managed to kick the illness, which was some strange sort of flu that kept hold of me for what seemed like forever. I've also managed to amass a great deal of reviews that I need to let y'all know about.

I've been thrilled with them, and I want to share them. So this weekend I'll post the newer ones, grouping them into books, so you can see what others have to say.

In the meantime, I'm working hard on stories for all four of my houses, which means I'm writing and editing like a fiend. Sometimes I think the laptop is attached to my fingers permanently, but that's just fine with me. I love to write, and creating stories for people to read is a dream come true.

Hope everyone is doing well. I'm going to take a few minutes here and finally respond to a tag that Michelle Hasker gave to me some time ago and let y'all know a little bit about me ... Michelle, you know I'm going to get you for this, don't you? *WEG*

Take care! And look for Amethyst Eyes later this month from Loose Id!

Mel

Aliya Baban and the Cave of Pleasure

2008-05-07T11:00:00.001-07:00

This is the second tale in The Desires of the Lamp series. It centers on Aliya, the bi...um, witch ... who was introduced in Wish Me Up, Rub Me Down. Aliya has to account for her behavior to her new pleasure Djinn, Matuse. He learns quite a bit about her, and she learns quite a bit about herself, too.

Here's the link and a blurb for your enjoyment.

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=36-201-107-402-4

Advertising agent Aliya Baban is beautiful with a capital B. Unfortunately, she’s also a witch with a capital B. In her twenty-eight years of life, she’s managed to offend almost every woman she has ever met.

But she doesn’t care, really. That’s just the way life is.

When her boss tells her to get the Cave of Pleasure account, or else get a new job, Aliya takes her party invitation—and the strange lamp she’s received—and attends the nightclub’s grand opening, ready to do battle for her livelihood.

Matuse is more than just the owner of the Cave of Pleasure… he’s a pleasure Djinni. And Aliya has rubbed his lamp. For the next thirty days, she belongs to him. Though he intends to bring intense pleasure to her body, it’s also his job to make sure his "she-devil" changes her wicked ways.

Will Matuse be able to help Aliya overcome her painful past? Or will Aliya fail to make the five heartfelt apologies she needs to make to the five women she has hurt the most.

Serving The Sword - Changeling Press

2008-05-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

My BDSM/Urban Fantasy, Serving the Sword, is now available from Changeling Press. This was an interesting story to write. Creating your own world and imposing laws, both real and magical, is great fun. This is the first book in a planned series, called Doms of the Round Table. Here's a buy link and blurb for you.

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=835

Serving the sword… serving the king

Gwen Montgomery is on a much-needed vacation in England, taking in the sights, when she visits a castle that promotes itself as the home of Camelot. When she touches the sword in the stone, she starts hallucinating about a very dominant man urging her to come to him.

Transported into another reality when she pulls the sword from its home, Gwen quickly realizes there's nothing imaginary about the handsome King of Bregonia. He challenges her at every turn, making her want to submit willingly to his passion. Something she refuses to give in to. Despite her growing feelings for him, she knows she can’t stay.

Élan rules his lands, and his submissives, with an iron fist. No one would dare refuse him in any way. No one except Gwen. Haunted by dreams of the fiery redhead, he finds a way to bring her to his world. Now he just has to convince her to stay. Too bad nothing is as easy as it seems. Can their love keep them safe through the trials ahead, or will their bond be severed by the cold stroke of the sword?

Wish brings home a reward...

2008-02-22T15:13:00.000-08:00

I had planned on doing a big round-up tomorrow on all the reviews that I've received lately, and there have been quite a few. But I got one this afternoon that I just couldn't wait to share. Wish Me Up, Rub Me Down, my January release from Resplendence Publishing, received a Reviewer's Top Pick award from Night Owl Romance.

This book, which started out with a dull title, was so much fun to write, and to see it get five hearts, and a top choice award, makes my hands shake and my knees rattle. Thanks so much to Dee for honoring my work with this. Here's the link for the whole review:
http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=1282

And tomorrow, as promised, I'll list the links for reviews so you can see what people are saying.
Until then, take care
Mel

On deck from Melinda...

2008-02-21T09:39:00.000-08:00

I have been sick, true, but not totally idle. Maybe that's why it's taken me so so long to get over this crude that's infected my body.

I have signed four new contracts this week That's right, four. The sheer number makes me look at my calendar of editing time and groan. The first one is from Loose Id, for a series tentatively titled the Pentagram Stones. It's called Amethyst Eyes, and is about a trio that has to find a stolen magical stone to help keep an evil witch locked in a pentagram.

The second is A Dusting of Syn, for Resplendence Publishing. It's an adult Cinderella tale about a woman and her battle with, what else, her evil stepmother and two stepsisters, and the knight that comes to save her. It's historical, and is very hot.

The third is for Changeling Press, Spaceport: Black Diamonds. It features a woman who is seeking a map to lead her to a cache of black diamonds back on Earth. She has to battle two men for it, and they all end up winning. *WEG* It's futuristic and is set in the Spaceport world created by Changeling. If you haven't seen this series check it out. It's a lot of fun.

And the fourth is a new publisher for me: Aspen Mountain Press. It's for their Plain Brown Wrapper series, and is called Pajama Party, featuring a woman's coed birthday party set at her island resort.

So, it's going to be a busy time, with lots of editing for me and lots of reading for you. I'll let you know more about each one as the time draws nearer! In the meantime, take care.
Mel

I am awake now .....

2008-02-19T13:14:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the arrival of Tygers 4: Sweet Awakening. I've had a very nasty upper respiratory infection for the past week, and have spent most of my time sleeping. The fever broke on Sunday, though, and today I feel like I might live. Hopefully.

Which is a good thing, since I can come by and tell you about Tygers 4: Sweet Awakening. It released today from Loose Id, and is a different sort of Tygers book. This one is a m/f/m menage, and begins in Albuquerque, but goes to the Caribbean, and a BDSM resport called Paragon's.

I had a great deal of fun writing it, and I can't wait to hear what y'all have to say about it. I'm anxious about this one, since it features two Doms and a sub, and I wanted a good relationship between the three of them. So, after you read it, please let me know what you think. Thanks as always for sticking around for the fun! I have some book news, too, that I'll post tomorrow.... just to get you to come back.
Take care!
Mel

Cover for Sweet Awakening

2008-01-26T08:50:00.000-08:00

Some things just make you feel great. I've received the cover for Tygers 4: Sweet Awakening. It's absolutely gorgeous and it makes me smile, since I've had a difficult time with some neighbors, recently that has made my life difficult.

Sweet Awakening comes out Feb. 19th. It's the fourth book in the Tygers series, and this one is a menage, m/f/m. A friend of mine said it was great because, "Two Doms are better than one," LOL. Here's the blurb for your enjoyment, and a peek at the cover. I hope you enjoy it!
Mel

When Harper Sampson’s sister goes missing after spending a week at a BDSM resort, Harper turns to the only people who will agree to help her: A detective agency run by Dominants.

Walker Bryant knows the pretty blond will do anything to find her sister, including accompanying him and his friend Oscar Ruiz to the Caribbean resort and exploring her hidden submissiveness.

Harper has tried being submissive before, and didn’t like it. But if it will help find her sister, she’s willing to submit to these two men. Walker’s a loving dominant, who takes her to new heights using words, and sensations. Oscar’s darker side frightens her, and makes her shiver in ecstasy. As she submits to them she realizes that it just took the right Dom, make that Doms, to not only find Helena, but to help Harper find herself.

And the hits just keep on coming...

2008-01-15T15:33:00.000-08:00

My next release for Resplendence Publishing, Wish Me Up, Rub Me Down, is now available.

Wish is an adult fairy tale centered around a BBW, Anya, and two gorgeous Djinn, Makin and Anuis. Here's the blurb and the buy link. This is the first in a series of planned stories titled "Desires of the Lamp." The next one is tentatively titled Aliya Baban and the Cave of Pleasure.

I know you'll love Anya and her Djinn!

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=16-201-107-402-3

With no love life to speak of, BBW Anya Bartholomew lives only for her job. This dedication has paid off. As a successful advertising agent, she has risen in the ranks of her firm to be the top moneymaker.

But at the insistence of her two best friends, who claim she needs a break from work, Anya takes a weekend vacation to the small town of Pleasant, Maine. While shopping at an antique shop, she rubs a lamp that looks as if it could belong to Aladdin himself.

Things will never be the same.

Back at work on Monday morning, Anya finds that her boss has given her a new account… for a lamp factory. However, her clients—two very handsome, very sexy men—are more than what they seem.

They're pleasure Djinn. And they have come to fulfill five of Anya's most secret sexual wishes.

So, a few days late...

2008-01-13T10:42:00.000-08:00

My new release from Changeling Press came out on Thursday. I was at my mother's house, helping her to celebrate her 77th birthday. We had a good time, but I missed telling you about Garden of Stone, which is my first release from Changeling.
Garden centers around Ursel Seagrove and Remington Chase. It's a sexy story about a witch trapped in a statue of stone by a warlock, and her rescuer, Remington. Here's the blurb and the cover for your approval.
I had so much fun writing this book. It's full of love and humor and I know you'll love it!
And here's the link, also.
http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=770

Trapped for one hundred twenty-one years… in a garden of stone.

In 1887, Ursel Seagrove wanted nothing more than to save her lover from an evil warlock. Ogden Butcher was stealing the powers of witches and warlocks in Victorian England, and Ursel’s lover was determined to stop him. Instead, he was killed and she was trapped in stone.

For years, Remington Chase has fantasized about the manor, using its creepy garden as a playground for his fertile imagination. Now, armed with the deed to the house, the best-selling horror novelist can’t wait to use the setting for his next book. He’s drawn to the statues and one in particular. The stone woman is everything he’s ever dreamed about. When Remington comes across a strange book of spells, his words bring Ursel back to life and she steals his heart with a single kiss. Unable to let his dream woman go, he vows to join her in a dangerous search to destroy Ogden before the warlock can strike again.

Ursel never expected Remington to help her on her quest. Something in the man calls to her, makes her feel things she never thought possible again. It’s almost like she already knows him…

Diego is out ...

2007-12-06T06:09:00.001-08:00

For your reading pleasure. Sweet Silence came out on Tuesday, but as usual, I'm a day late (OK, two) and a dollar short, as the old saying goes.

I'm busy working on several things, trying to get them done before Christmas, they include final writes and edits on three stories, Wish Me up, Rub Me Down for Resplendence Publishing; Garden of Stone for Changeling Press; and Sweet Awakening for Loose Id.

That means for the next few weeks, the laptop and I will be very cozy together. I hope your holidays are going well and that you treat yourself to a break by reading Diego and Sorcha's story. Both of them are headstrong characters who mesh well together.

Enjoy!
Mel

Get ready for Diego...

2007-11-26T08:24:00.000-08:00

One week from tomorrow! Sweet Silence, the third book in the Tygers series from Loose Id, comes out Tuesday, Dec. 4. This one was challenging to write, to say the least, since Diego is a bondage expert, and I'm not, LOL.
But we, Diego and I, managed to find some great books, and some great sites, that led us on the right path. He looked over my shoulder constantly, letting me know what he thought was right, and what would work for him and his Sorcha. It's a hot little treat that I love, and I know you will to.
April Martinez has done a fantastic cover for it, as you can see. It captures the book perfectly, I think. So get your taste buds ready for Diego and Sorcha, cause they're hot, hot, hot.

Pirate's up!

2007-11-23T10:03:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited! The Pirate Wench is up. I absolutely loved writing The Pirate Wench. It was fun and breezy, and very, very hot!

It came out earlier in the week and is now available at Resplendence Publishing. Take a peek at it, and then take a peek at some of the feedback its getting! I got a mention on Lora Leigh's blog earlier this week, which made this fan girl almost hyperventilate.

http://pub4.bravenet.com/forum/330493581/show/1024139

The story is great fun, even if I do say so myself.

Mel

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=978-0-9795721-9-7

Happy dancing...

2007-11-07T19:07:00.000-08:00

all through the night.
Graceful Submission went up on Fictionwise this week, and it's now listed at Number 5 on the Loose Id bestseller list.
I'm happy dancing, walking on cloud nine and just plain happy, happy, happy!
Mel

New sale, new publisher

2007-11-04T10:09:00.001-08:00

I'm happy to announce that I've signed a contract with Changeling Press. Well, happy is putting it mildly. I'm very thrilled that they liked my story, Garden of Stone, and that they'll be publishing it. No release date yet, but I figure it will be sometime after the first of the year. Garden of Stone centers around lovers Ursel Seagrove and Remington Chase who battle warlock Ogden Butcher, who is stealing the powers of young witches and warlocks and then binding their bodies and souls into statues.

I hope this is the beginning of a long and fruitful association with Changeling!

Trick or Treat at Loose Id

2007-10-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

Go Trick or Treating at Loose tomorrow and get yourself something special! This promotion includes my Halloween Trick, Graceful Mischief. Check it out!

Happy Halloween! This year, the holiday's not just for kids. Loose Id has a steamy adults-only celebration planned for you. Do your trick or treating at Loose Id between 10PM and 4AM Eastern time on October 31st, and receive one of our eight Halloween Tricks or Treats FREE.
Here's how it works:
Some time on October 31st between 10PM and 4AM Eastern time, send an email to http://us.f528.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=looseid.specialpromotions@gmail.com&Subj=Trick%20or%20Treat?
Use the subject line "Trick or Treat?"
In the body of the email, type either "Trick" or "Treat" plus your Loose Id account email address.
Within 15 minutes, you should receive an email back from http://us.f528.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=looseid.specialpromotions@gmail.com&Subj=Trick%20or%20Treat? with a special coupon code and instructions on how to use it to get your free Trick or Treat.
Don't worry if you send the wrong text or don't know your account email. You'll still get your free Trick or Treat coupon. Also, please don't send multiple emails to the account. It will only slow things down. If something goes wrong and you don't receive your coupon code, contact http://us.f528.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=help@loose-id.com for further instructions.
The special event is one night only, 10PM to 4:15AM Eastern time on October 31st. So be sure to spread the word!

Two release dates... and a new contract

2007-10-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

So my nerves may be tied up in knots (see previous post about Brava) but I'm still happy. I have two release dates coming up, one in November, the other early December, and I signed a contract yesterday for Sweet Awakening, the fourth book in the Sweet BDSM series from Loose Id.

My first release comes November 20, from Resplendence Publishing. I loved writing The Pirate Wench, a contemporary m/f romance that deals with a woman's ability to loosen up, and to learn to have a good time. It's set in Ahoy Matey, a pirate-theme park in Florida. Did I mention I love this story?

So, the Nov. 20th release is in e-book. Sometime in December, I'm not sure of the date yet, the book will be released in paperback, which thrills me more than you could know. It'll be on Amazon, and the day that it appears, I'll be able to fly to the moon and back, without a rocket.

And another book I love, Sweet Silence, comes out from Loose Id on Dec. 4. Sweet Silence is the story of Diego Fuentes, a cop/bondage expert, and Sorcha Morales, a journalist. These two clash just a bit, but Diego has a way of keeping his subbies under control. This book is a little bit kinkier (OK, a lot) than the last books in the Sweet series, but it's delicious, or so I've been told. I know that I loved writing Diego. He messed with my head quite a bit, and let me know that, although I was at the keyboard, he was in charge.

And speaking of kinky... I just signed a contract with Loose Id for Sweet Awakening (thanks Maura, for the title). It's a BDSM menage (m/f/m) featuring one subbie, two Masters. The interplay between them is compelling, and the two men, Oscar and Walker, have very different personalities and different perspectives on BDSM. But they work very well together. Just ask Harper, their new subbie. She'll tell you.

I don't have a cover for Sweet Silence yet, but I'm posting the new and improved Coming Soon logo for Loose Id. Isn't it cool! I think so. Check previous posts to see the cover for Pirate Wench, which is fantastic and captures the spirit of the book perfectly.

So, there's a lot coming up, including my one year anniversary with Loose Id. I plan on a contest or two to give away prizes to mark that event. Watch this space for more details!

Have a great Thursday

Mel

The art of waiting...

2007-10-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Is not something I'm very good at. I'm all about instant gratification. When I see something, I want it now. When I know something's about to happen, like my birthday, or a holiday, I wait impatiently, wanting it to hurry up and get here.

I've been that way for a few weeks now as I await the outcome of the Brava novella contest. I entered, along with 356 other hopefuls. I am now biting my nails and waiting for the outcome. There's a poll up on the forum that asks if entrants think they have a good chance at winning. I'd put mine at 50/50. I've aways thought that was a good number. I could win, I could lose. But, if I don't play, then I lose for certain.

So, I'm playing, and waiting, and not being very patient about it. Hopefully, in the next few weeks, I'll be able to say yeah or nay...with an emphasis on the yeah!

A new look...

2007-10-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

Just for you, my readers and friends. OK, for me, too, LOL.

I had a great time this afternoon playing with blog layouts and trying to decide which one looked the best. This is still a work in progress. For some reason I can't get photos to load, and I'd like to load a few.

Take a look around while you're here. Let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy it!
Melinda

So, while I've been neglecting...

2007-10-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

my blogging, I've had a lot of things happen.

I've had two stories released:

Graceful Mischief released from Loose Id. I love this story, which centers around Grace and Toffer, two of my favorite characters who featured in my first BDSM book, Graceful Submission, which was a Recommended Read at Joyfully Reviewed.

Here's the link where you can find the book, and an excerpt:
http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=570
Graceful Mischief is part of Loose's Halloween Trick or Treat promo. Watch their site because there will be some special offerings toward the end of the month!

My short story Nuit Aux Trois also released, this one from Resplendence Publishing, a new publisher. Here's the link to it:
http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=978-0-9797946-2-9

NUT is a m/m/f paranormal that features a scary ghost, or two .

And, I've had a score of reviews, most of them this past week. Reviews for all my works have come from JERR, Coffee Time, and FAR. I've done separate posts on all of them so that each site gets the credit it deserves for taking the time to read, and review, my writing!

Take care everyone. Have a great Halloween. This holiday is one of my most favorite times of the year.
I'll keep you posted on the Trick or Treat promo at Loose!
Mel

Review: Sweet Perfection

2007-10-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

This review is also from JERR. Marcy Arbitman gave Eric and Angel a 4/5, which made them, and me, very happy . Once again, if you're not a member at JERR jump on over to the Yahoo groups page and join up. I love getting their newsletters!

Here's what Marcy had to say about Sweet Perfection:

Sweet Perfection was an amazing book to read. I found that I could not put it down until I was finished. I loved the main characters; it was unusual to find an Alpha hero who had such difficulties in his life. This story had many levels, from the robberies through the love story and the complete involvement in the lifestyle of BDSM. This book is not for anyone who objects to reading about the lifestyle; it is quite explicit. Angel was an interesting heroine She felt that she was completely satisfied with her life as a businesswoman, yet when she met Eric at a BDSM club, she began to realize what she was missing in her life. There were several important secondary characters, some of whom were involved in the robberies. The plot flowed smoothly and the sexual encounters were incredible. I found myself squirming in my seat as I read about the sex club and Angel and Eric's lovemaking. As dominant/submissive and as lovers, Eric and Angel told their story in a beautiful manner. I hope to be able to read another book by Ms. Barron soon.

Thank you Marcy! I'm glad that you enjoyed the book.

Mel

Review: Sweet Vibrations

2007-10-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

Caty Dean, of Just Erotic Romance Reviews (JERR) gave Sweet Vibrations a 4/5 in a newsletter. For those of you who don't know, JERR is a review site that puts out reviews on a Yahoo group, then posts them to their website.

I haven't found my reviews on their website yet, but they are in the newsletter. If you're not a member I can assure you that it's worth it. All you get is the newsletter in e-mail form, chocked full of reviews that you will love reading. They also interview authors and look at websites. (Heavens, would I fail on the website review or what?)

So, here's what she had to say about Sweet Vibrations:

This is a well-written BDSM novel, with a nice mystery twist. The mystery doesn’t overpower the story, and the characters and their relationship are definitely the main focus. The growth of their connection felt very realistic. I really appreciated that Lake and Lucy didn’t totally consummate their relationship until well into the book. It made the storyline and their emotional connection much more realistic. The erotic foreplay was hot, and kept me from feeling cheated during the first half of the book, and it was nice to read a BDSM story that was able to focus on the building romance. Lake is wonderfully insightful as a Dom, and has a nice blend of firmness and sweetness when he deals with Lucy’s insecurities. Lucy’s fear of commitment leads her to make poor choices, but her continued willingness to struggle to open herself to trust Lake, kept me rooting for her throughout the whole story. The other characters were also well developed, and I would love to read more about several of them! This was definitely an enjoyable read for those who are looking for a romantic D/s story.

Thanks Caty! So glad that you liked it!

Mel

Review: Nuit Aux Trois

2007-10-15T08:02:00.001-07:00

Coffee Time Romance and More gave me the first review on Nuit Aux Trois, which I lovingly call NUT. It's my first release from Resplendence Publishing, a m/m/f paranormal set in a haunted plantation in Louisiana. Perfect for Halloween!

Here's the link:

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Nuitauxtrios.html

And here's a taste of what LeeAnn had to say:

This story starts steaming up the pages practically from the get go. Wow could you feel the heat between these three characters. The Ghost story was also a very nice added mix to the feelings this story managed to elicit from the reader. This is a perfect story to read on those cooling October nights before Halloween.

Follow the link to read the rest. Thanks so much, LeeAnn for your kind words!

Mel

Review: Sweet Perfection

2007-10-15T07:53:00.000-07:00

While I enjoy my morning cup of coffee (the first of several, I can assure you), it's the perfect time to write about reviews from Coffee Time Romance and More.

Sweet Perfection is the story of Eric and Angel, both of them a little damaged from past events, who come together and make themselves whole with each other.

Here's the link:

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Sweetperfection.html

And here's a bit of what she had to say:

Sweet Perfection is a delicious page-turner. Not only is the reader pulled into the elements of romance, suspense and sizzling heat, Eric and Angel make the read believable with their thoughts and actions. Melinda Barron has written a story that makes the reader go awe. She creates Eric as a yummy guy who turns to a beautiful woman to help erase the demons in his life. The way he and Angel work to help each other is crafted so well that the reader is lost in their moments in this fascinating read.

Thanks Cherokee, for making me go awe! I really appreciate it.

Mel

Review: Sweet Vibrations

2007-10-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

I need to send Dana P some cyber chocolate. I had a third review from her last week, this one for Sweet Vibrations, the first book in what my friends are calling the Sweet BDSM series from Loose Id. When I wrote Sweet Vibrations I thought it might have a sequel, Sweet Perfection, to tell Eric's story. Then Diego pushed forward for Sweet Silence, which is currently in edits, and I'm plotting another book called Sweet Awakening. Feels just wonderful to have them so well received by reviewers, and readers.

But back to the review. Dana gave Sweet Vibrations five angels on the FAR site, which again made my day.

Here's the link:

http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2007/September/DanaP-SweetVibrations.htm

And just a taste of what she had to say about Lake and Lucy's story:

It is so wonderful to read stories, be they fantasies or not, where the character could be your next door neighbor or You. Melinda Barron is on my must buy list, I scoop her stories up as fast as she can get them out.

Thanks again, Dana! You made me smile!

Mel

Review: Tales of the Magician 2: The Lost One

2007-10-15T07:40:00.000-07:00

I loved writing this book. Derrick was so strong, and such a forceful character that he made it difficult for me not to do as he said. And I love that .

Once again, Dana P. of Fallen Angels Reviews gave TOTM2: The Lost One five angels, which makes me very, very happy. Dana, thanks for reading both Magician books. I really appreciate it! There is another one planned, Tales of the Magician 3: The Banished One, to wrap the story up.

Here's the link:

http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2007/September/DanaP-TalesOfTheMagician2_TheLostOne.htm

And here's a taste of what she had to say:

As I’ve said in the past, I thoroughly enjoy Melinda Barron. Tales of the Magician Book Two: The Lost One was a great sequel to TOTM Book One: The Captive One these books should be read in order to fully understand the premise of the storyline. Her female character is a bit more svelte than usual but as you follow the storyline you care for the disembodied voice. It was wonderful to see these characters find each other and to also visit with the ones from book one. I can only hope for Book Three…Please?

Review: Tales of the Magician I: The Lost One

2007-10-15T07:33:00.001-07:00

This is the first book I had published with Loose Id. It's hard for me to believe that it was a year ago November that it came out. Time flies, as they say.

This review is from Fallen Angels Reviews. Dana P. gave it five angels... thanks Dana!

Here's the link:

http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2007/September/DanaP-TalesOfTheMagician1_TheCaptiveOne.htm

And here's a taste of what she had to say:

The Captive One has several types of captivity within and as you read you will take pleasure in watching the imprisoned escape. I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to TOTM2: The Lost One. Melinda Barron writes for real woman about real personal issues. Brava Ms. Barron, brava.

Sweet release day

2007-09-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

Sweet Perfection came out today from Loose Id. A new release is always a great thing, and it makes me very excited.

This book is the second in the "Sweet" BDSM series from Loose, with the first one being Sweet Vibrations, which released in August. Sweet Silence, the third book, comes out sometime in November. Don't have a firm date yet.

In the mean time, here's a link for you to see the book and read a nice little tidbit...Enjoy. These books have been fun to write and are set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, one of my most favorite places. Tygers was fun to create, and I hope that if readers like the books that the series will continue.

The first book, Sweet Vibrations, has garnered some good reviews, which makes me happy. Have a great week everyone!

Melinda

http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=539

Third time's a charm...

2007-08-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to find a third cover in my inbox yesterday. This one is for a Halloween short, part of a promotion being put together by Loose Id featuring authors such as Angela Knight, Jet Mykles, Doreen DeSalvo, Treva Harte, Bobby Michaels, Kit Tunstall, Amanda Young, Samantha Winston, Cameron Dane, Essence, Marie Harte, Tuesday Morrigan and myself. I'm thrilled to be included in this special event with such talented authors.

My contribution is a "Trick," titled Graceful Mischief, featuring Grace and Toffer, characters from my Loose Id novel Graceful Submission. Graceful Submission is one of my best-selling novels to date, and has received great reviews, including a Recommended Read from Joyfully Reviewed. If you haven't read it yet, run to Loose Id to get your copy and get ready for Graceful Mischief.

Here's a blurb to get things rolling.

On their third Halloween together, Toffer and Grace are in England, where Toffer is filming a movie about Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. They are staying, with the rest of the cast and crew, in an old castle complete with a moat and a maze.
Grace thinks her Master is taking her to a fancy restaurant in London so they can be alone together on Halloween.
Grace is surprised, then, when Toffer takes her to the maze and tells her to strip down to her corset. A costume party is going on just hundreds of feet away, and Toffer plans on playing a game with the woman he loves.
If he wins, he gets to top her in the maze. There’s always the chance that anyone could walk up and see Grace being topped. If she makes it to the middle without him catching her, she gets the treat. But, in this case, Grace thinks the trick might just be the best part of Halloween.

Wish Me Up....

2007-08-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

Rub Me Down.... The cover fairy blessed me several times today. I also got the cover for my newly contracted story with Resplendence Publishing, an adult fairy tale titled "Wish Me Up, Rub Me Down."

The story is loosely based on the Aladdin and the Lamp tale. Here's a small blurb to wet your appetite, and the cover, which is awesome.

BBW Anya Bartholomew has everything, or so it seems. A successful advertising agent, at the age of 33 she’s risen in the ranks of her firm to be the top moneymaker.

She owns a beautiful brownstone in New York City, a car, and takes trips to Europe every summer. The one thing she doesn’t have is a boyfriend. No matter how hard she tries, she can’t seem to find the right man for her.

All that changes, though, when Anya and her friends take a trip to the small town of Pleasant, Maine. They think it will be a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of New York. But Anya finds something else.

While visiting a shop on the main street, Anya discovers a lamp that looks like it could belong to Aladdin. After much teasing from her friends, and the store owner, she rubs it, and nothing happens.

The next Monday, however, two gorgeous Djinn show up at her office, and tell her they’re there to fulfill her every desire. What a great way to start the work week.

Sweet Perfection - for real

2007-08-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

I received the cover today for Sweet Perfection, my Sept. 11th release from Loose Id.

It's such a trip to get a new cover. Here you are working on a new story, the old one already finished and ready for release, and you get the perfect thing to brighten your morning. I can hardly wait for Eric and Angel's story to release.

I had numerous computer troubles while writing Sweet Perfection, so it was anything but perfect at the time. Now, though, seeing the cover and knowing that it's finished is the closest thing to perfection that I can think of at the moment.

Enjoy!

Melinda

A release date, and a new contract

2007-08-17T16:26:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to pop by and let you know that Sweet Perfection will release on Sept. 11th from Loose Id. The story features Eric Neal, a detective you first met in Sweet Vibrations, out now from Loose.

It follows his recovery from a shooting he was involved with. Helping him to mend is Angelica Vega, a baker. The story is set in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'll list the burb at the end of this post.

Also, today I signed a contract with Loose Id for a story titled Sweet Silence, which features Diego Fuentes, another cop whom you first met in Sweet Vibrations. It deals with events started in Sweet Perfection.

Each story is a stand alone, and can be read separately, but I think they're better read in order.

Here's the blurb for Sweet Perfection:

Albuquerque Detective Eric Neal likes things perfect, in his job and in his personal life. As a sexual dominant he’s always been able to lead submissives to a higher plane, teaching them about themselves and helping them to grow.

But now, Eric himself is wounded. He killed a man in the line of duty and is having trouble coming to terms with the fact. He now doubts himself in all aspects of his own life. His job has suffered, and he no longer has the self-assurance to play at Tygers, a BDSM club that he absolutely loves.

Angelica Vega, owns and operates La Tienda Dulce, a bakery. Nicknamed Angel, she is anything but angelic. She’s been a little wild in her life, searching for just the right thing, but never quite finding it.

After Angel’s store is broken into two nights in a row, Eric’s boss assigns him the case, and tells him he needs to make sure that he doesn’t screw it up. Right away, Eric can tell that one of Angel’s employees is hiding a secret, and has used Dulce Tienda as the perfect hiding place.

Now, Eric has to overcome his self-doubts to solve the crime, and lead the woman that he’s come to love into the world of BDSM.

Sweet Vibrations

2007-07-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

My next release from Loose Id is a BDSM tale titled Sweet Vibrations. I'm almost done with the sequel, Sweet Perfection, which will release from Loose in September.

Sweet Vibrations releases a week from Tuesday and I wanted to share the cover, which is fantastic, and the blurb. Enjoy!
Mel

Lucy Travers wants to find a Dom, but her mistrust of men keeps her from fulfilling that dream. When Lucy’s uncle dies, and leaves her everything, she has to sell a dream motorcycle to pay her ex-husband’s debts.

Dom Lake Ross is very interested in the motorcycle, until he sees its owner. Then, his desires switch. After being shot down a few times, she agrees to meet him at Tygers, a BDSM club where he reintroduces her to the pleasures of submission.

Things are going great until the two start to look into a secret hidden by Lucy’s late uncle. As the investigation goes on, buried secrets come to light, and someone will do anything to make sure that secret stays buried.

Writing ghost stories in the dark

2007-07-18T08:44:00.001-07:00

I scared myself last night. I'm putting the finishing touches on a ghost story for Resplendence Publishing called Nuit Aux Trois. The story is set on a haunted plantation house in Louisiana.

My ghost, Alison, was making an appearance. It was right around midnight and I was lying on the floor in my living room, the laptop in front of me, when all of a sudden the blinds on the sliding glass door started to move.

I looked up to see my two cats, Amelia and Pippin, sitting side by side in a chair, staring at the blinds. They continued to move and my heart beat just a little faster.

What would Quinn do, I wondered? Quinn is the heroine in my book. Well, I decided she'd get up and investigate. So I did. And the blinds stopped moving. I checked the lock. All secure.

Laughing it off as a coincidence, I sat back down and started to write again. When the blinds started to move a second time, I decided that it was time to put the ghost story away for the night and concentrate on a different story.

The blinds stopped moving after I closed out the file. I'm telling myself it was wind from the fan. However, it hasn't done it before then, or since then ...

Hum, I guess we'll see what happens tonight.

Here's a copy of Nuit Aux Trois' cover for your approval. It's a scary menage that I know you'll just love!

Enjoy, and make sure to watch out for ghosts!
Mel

The Pirate Wench

2007-07-04T09:08:00.000-07:00

Is a story close to my heart. I wrote it as a short, and it was shot down... ... but like a good writer, I got over the rejection and sent it to my friend Tea, who's an editor for Resplendence. She sent it to owners Leigh and Jess. With some major changes, in which the story grew more than 20,000 words, it's now set for a November release.

Here's the blurb, just for you! And... here's the cover, too. This story is also available for pre-order at Resplendence:
http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/1.html?sm=37371

Can a staid, by the book journalist find love with a modern day pirate?
When by-the-book journalist Melani Canton travels to Florida to be maid-of-honor at her best friend’s wedding, she takes on an extra duty: taking a good look at the park and writing a story that will attract visitors. She also meets handsome swashbuckler Royce McKenna. Royce is a former lawyer who has given up the courtroom for life on the high seas, amusement park style.

McKenna is the co-owner of Ahoy, Matey, a pirate-themed park where the wedding is set to take place. When Royce sees Melani he knows that he has to have her. Melani, though, never sleeps with someone she’s just met.

So Royce does what any good pirate would do. He “abducts” Melani and gives her a wild night of passion on his pirate ship. Melani falls for him and becomes his wench. But when the times comes for her to go back to her stoic life, will Royce let her sail away, or find a way to make her a wench permanently?

The Siren Sisters take a bow...

2007-07-04T08:59:00.001-07:00

Several months ago, six in fact, I teamed up with two great writers, Jade Buchanan and Midnyte Dupree, to form The Siren Sisters. We have a Yahoo group to promote our new releases and we put out a monthly newsletter.

But now, we've written short stories that we've sold to Resplendence Publishing that will be released in November. We got the new cover this week! Take a look at it. It's gorgeous.

We've been working hard on these stories, which center on three daughters of Poseidon and their search for love. My sister is Iaha. Here's the blurbs just for you! You can pre-order these tantalizing tales from Resplendence:
http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/1.html?sm=37371

Poseidon’s half-mortal daughters, Iaha, Adara, and Aella, are irresistible to most men, but each has yet to meet her match… until now. They are being drawn to the sea, and to four very different men, by forces outside of their control. Will the Siren’s be able to uncover long-buried secrets and claim their birthrights?

Iaha is searching for an adventure. When she runs into underwater archaeologist, Shedd Collins, she is instantly drawn into his search for the lost civilization of Yumani. Despite her attraction, she isn't sure she wants to reveal her heritage to him. But, Iaha isn't the only one who has been less than honest; Shedd Collins is no ordinary man.

Adara is searching for a new beginning. With her life in shambles and desperate for sanctuary, she answers the call of the sea. But instead of finding insight and solutions to her problems, she is thrust into a hurricane and winds up stuck in a swimming pool. The pool’s owner, Jack, is a man with more than a few skeletons in his closet. Will he save Adara or will he destroy her?

Aella is searching for strength. When the seals under her care start to die, Aella needs all the help she can get. She asks two mermen, Damon and Pythias, for their assistance but they have secrets about themselves they aren't willing to share, and their help could come at a very high price. Can Aella trust Damon and Pythias? Or will misplaced trust leave her under their spell, and in their control?

I'm a slacker....

2007-07-04T08:50:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. I told myself that I was going to update my blog at least once a week. Well, now it's July and I haven't followed that personal goal. Hopefully, I'll do better from now on.

To make up for lost time, I have several posts today . My next release from Loose Id, Sweet Vibrations, comes out Aug. 7th. I'm very excited about it. It's a BDSM/suspense that has lots of suspense, emotions, sex, and motorcycles.

I've also signed a contract on its sequel, Sweet Perfection. That one comes out in late September. Here's a short blurb for Sweet Vibrations to wet your appetite:

Lucy Travers wants to find a Dom, but her mistrust of men keeps her from fulfilling that dream. When Lucy’s uncle dies, and leaves her everything, she has to sell a dream motorcycle to pay her ex-husband’s debts.

Dom Lake Ross is very interested in the motorcycle, until he sees its owner. Then, his desires switch. After being shot down a few times, she agrees to meet him at Tygers, a BDSM club where he reintroduces her to the pleasures of submission.

Things are going great until the two start to look into a secret hidden by Lucy’s late uncle. As the investigation goes on, buried secrets come to light, and someone will do anything to make sure that secret stays buried.

This book was great fun to write, and I know that you'll enjoy it!

Take care and Happy 4th to my U.S. friends!
Mel

New Release Day

2007-06-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

When you receive a release day for a book, it seems like it's months away, and will never get here. The closer the day gets, the more excited you become.

That's why I'll be bouncing off the walls this weekend. My new book, Tales of the Magician 2: The Lost One, releases Tuesday from Loose Id. TOTM2 is a continuation of Tales of the Magician 1: The Captive One.

I'm extremely excited about this book and can't wait for it to come out. If you want to see some juicy excerpts, stop by the Loose Id chat group this weekend. We'll be continuing the June Bash, and I'll be posting excerpts from both TOTM2 and TOTM1!

You'll even have chances to win Loose Id gift certificates.

Come and see us!
Mel

Loose Id group's June Bash

2007-06-08T18:32:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! A chance to win stuff on the Loose Id Community Group. Check it out! Special thanks to Jet Mykles for all her hard work on this project! It's going to be a rocking June for Loose Id authors and their fans! That's me, and you Mel.

The Loose Id authors are holding a bash! And we're giving away prizes!
Following are the official times, location and rules of the June Bash. Please email Jet Mykles at jetm@computerotika.com for questions or clarifications.

WHERE: The Loose Id Community on Yahoo Groups. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LooseId_community/. You must be a member of the group to participate. Authors will be posting excerpts and chatting all weekend, not just in and around the contest.

WHEN: Starting June 8th, the June Bash will take place Friday through Sunday for four successive weekends. The participating Loose Id authors will be posting excerpts on the following themes:- June 8-10 - All "real" or "true to life" fiction books- June 15-17 - All speculative fiction books- June 22-24 - All "real" or "true to life" books- June 29-30 & July 1 - all speculative fiction books
"Real" or "true to life" fiction means there are no fantastic or "out of this world" elements to the story; the category could include (but does not need to be limited to) straight contemporary, historical or adventure stories.

"Speculative fiction" means that there are speculative elements or paranormal elements to the story, which could include fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction. NOTE: Interpretation of the themes is completely up to the author and is not enforced.

PRIZES: One $25, two $10 and two $5 Loose Id gift certificates will be given away each of the four weeks. At the end of the four weeks, one grand prize of a Loose Id VIP membership will also be given away.

HOW TO ENTER: During the contest days, the authors will be posting official excerpts. Those containing contest eligible information will be marked in two ways: 1) The subject of each official excerpt post will include the phrase "JUNE BASH EXCERPT". Example, "JUNE BASH EXCERPT: Heaven by Jet Mykles". 2) The author will include a link to an official rules post toward the beginning of the email with the excerpt.

Between 12AM EST on each Friday and 11:59PM EST on each Sunday, send an email to liauthors@yahoo.com and include the following from ONE official excerpt: 1) Author's name 2) Title of the book for the excerpt 3) The name--first or last or both--of any one of the main characters mentioned in the excerpt
Again, the excerpt containing your information must be for the current weekend, not the previous weekend. And entry emails will only be accepted between Friday and Sunday.

Be sure to send this email from the same email address with which you are signed up for the Loose Id Community group.

Each entrant may send one email per weekend. With the exception of the grand prize, each winner may only win once for the month.

HOW PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED: On the Wednesday following each weekend, the winners of the prizes will be posted by email to the group. Each winner will also be sent an email directly. Winners have until Friday to respond. Those winners who do not respond by Friday will lose the prize and another entrant from the appropriate weekend will be selected to win the prize.
The grand prize of the VIP membership will be awarded to one entrant among all the official entrants from each of the four weekends. Previous winners are eligible.
Above rules are subject to update at any time. Updates will be posted to the Loose Id Community group.

New Post at AOER

2007-05-16T22:30:00.000-07:00

I just made my first post at the Authors of Erotic Romance site:

http://www.authorsoferoticromance.com/

This is a group of new authors with Loose Id, that have banded together to learn more about publishing, support each other and to promo our work. It's a great site and you should check it out.

You should also check out the great authors that are there. You'll love 'em!

Melinda

My Pirate Name....

2007-05-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

I love all things pirate, the romanticized version that is. A friend of mine sent me a link to find out my pirate name, just in time for the new CBS series Pirate Master, which starts at the end of the month. I'm looking forward to that series, and how it will play out. The idea of searching for buried treasure fascinates me.

So, when I got the link to find out my "pirate name," I couldn't resist. And, without further ado, here it is...

Red Jenny Rackham

Passion is a big part of your life, which makes sense for a pirate. You have the good fortune of having a good name, since Rackham (pronounced RACKem, not rack-ham) is one of the coolest sounding surnames for a pirate. Arr!

Way cool, and way fun questions. Find out yours at:

http://www.piratequiz.com/

Have fun!
Melinda

The Lost One-Cover

2007-05-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

Exciting news from the writing forefront. I received the newest cover for my next Loose Id book, Tales of the Magician 2: The Lost One, today. Special thanks to April Martinez who did a fantastic job of capturing the essence of the book.

It's exciting to see a new cover, and to know that all your hard work is going to be released soon. Sometimes I think I can't wait the month and a half until it's here!

Here is a short blurb:

Derrick Matthews has found the woman of his dreams, an Egyptian concubine named Nebetta. There’s only one problem: She in spirit form only.

Derrick, however, does not let that stop him. With her help, he has vivid dreams of taking her in his arms and making love to her. It is those dreams that lead him to believe that he has visited Ancient Egypt while Nebetta is alive.

With the help of Ahmed Nubi, an ancient Egyptian priest and magician, and his fellow archaeologists, Noble Walters and Julia Rafferty, Derrick travels back to Ancient Egypt to find the woman that he loves.

When he arrives he realizes that Nebetta does not know who he is. He sets out to seduce her, but first he has to overcome another obstacle. Nebetta is a concubine to Pharaoh Ramesses III, who doesn’t take kindly to Derrick’s intentions.

Derrick has to overcome that challenge, and another one that is placed in his way. The evil magician Peneb-Ra, whose spirit has been captured in the present time, is alive and well in Nebetta’s time.

Those obstacles don’t deter, Derrick, however, who sets out to win the woman that he loves, and finally hold her in his arms.

Romantic Times convention

2007-04-24T06:28:00.000-07:00

I'm off today for the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Houston.

Last year I attended the event in Daytona Beach, Fla., as an aspiring author. This year it was fun to sign up as a published author.

My friend, Briddie and I stayed up last last night finishing promo items for me to show to people. It was fun and we both mentioned that it was almost like college again.

Special thanks to the artistic Briddie who designed my business cards, and put together other promotional materials. She's a whiz at that sort of thing and I sit around and think, "hum, do you think we should do this instead..."

I'm looking forward to the convention. Lots of information on the romance publishing industry and lots of people to meet who are successful. And lots of readers to meet and thank for buying and reading my offerings.

I'll try and post during the event, but more than likely it will be afterwards. Too busy during.

Take Care,

Melinda

Joyfully Recommended

2007-04-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

I'm on cloud nine.

Graceful Submission has been selected as a Joyfully Reviewed Recommended Read. That is an honor that makes me very happy. It's so fantastic to see your work appreciated!

Here's a little bit about what Jo had to say: When Grace had to face her past problems, Toffer’s strength and love had me hoping and cheering for them both. The ending was everything I could have hoped for and had me closing the last page with a sigh. Graceful Submission is not only a must read, even if you don’t normally read BDSM novels, but one you (and I) will want to keep on your shelf to re-read. It is definitely a Joyfully Recommend Read novel for me.

Thanks Jo! You've made my day.

You can see the entire review here:

http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/RRs/April07/GracefulSubmission.MB.html

Being a wench...

2007-04-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Exciting news from the Barron Chronicles....

Just recently I signed a contract with a new publisher, Resplendence Publishing, for a novella titled The Pirate Wench. I'm pretty excited about this story, about about the new publisher.

Pirate Wench centers around a staid, modern-day journalist who travels to a Pirate themed park to take part in her best friend's wedding. There she meets a sexy swashbuckler who teaches her about opening her heart to love and adventure.

Resplendence Publishing opens in October, and Pirate Wench is scheduled to be released in November. Those of you who are looking for some great fiction should check it out. And, if you're a writer, you should also check them out:

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/

I've been lucky in my short career to find two great publishers, first Loose Id, and now Resplendence.

Being a wench can be so much fun .

Gracefully Reviewed

2007-04-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to April!

Thought I'd take the opportunity to post some news. Graceful Submission has been receiving great reviews, and it's very exciting.

Over at Coffee Time Romance, Tyna gave it four cups, and said, "This book is totally beyond words. It is an AWESOME read; you just cannot get enough of Toffer and Grace."
Thanks Tyna! You can find the whole review here:
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Gracefulsubmission.html

Over at Romance Junkies, Zoe said: GRACEFUL SUBMISSION was a joy to read. The chemistry between Grace and Toffer ignites and is smoldering with their combined passion. Melinda Barron captured the characters elegantly and brought them to life. GRACEFUL SUBMISSION was sweet, tender and playful.
Thanks Zoe! You can find the whole review here:
http://208.109.92.234/artman/publish/article_7667.shtml

And in a JERR newsletter, Oleta said: This is not an over the top D/s story; in fact it is quite mild compared to some but it is worth reading even by the more hardcore fans. I loved Graceful Submission and look forward to other books that Ms. Barron will hopefully write.

This review is not yet on the JERR site, but when it is, I'll post a link so you can see the whole thing.

It's very exciting to see reviewers say such wonderful things about my work. Thanks again to them all!

Melinda

Graceful blogging

2007-03-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

I think, perhaps, I'm very bad at blogging. I had another book released from Loose Id last month and have yet to post it here.

I obviously need to get it in gear .... so, here I go.

My February release from Loose Id is Graceful Submission, a BDSM romance set in Boulder, Colo., and Hollywood, Calif.

The book has received some very good reviews, for which I am very grateful, and has been received well by the readers. I'll post some reviews later in the week . Until then, here's the blurb and a link to where you can read an excerpt or two.

Blurb:

Plus-sized Grace Kinison leads a dull life in Boulder, Colorado. She’s a teacher and aspiring author, who does nothing but work, and then write on her novel. That is until she becomes a cyber submissive.

Grace has agreed to help plan a surprise party for her best friend. Grace thinks her fellow party planner, Toffer Shelley, is a writer on a TV show. What she doesn’t know is that he’s the show’s sexy star, Drake Dawson. He’s a Dom, and he wants to work his magic on her.

When Grace runs into trouble at work her cyber relationship turns into the real thing after she travels to Hollywood to meet Toffer. She’s thrilled to be meeting her Master, until she realizes that he’s the most gorgeous man in Hollywood.

But Toffer won’t let Grace judge him by his looks. He takes her on a sexual journey full of bondage and submission, while helping her to overcome her obstacles at work.
Just as the two think they’re settling into life together, a beautiful model throws them a curve ball that pushes them apart. Will they overcome the prejudices of the world and love one another for themselves?

Here's the link to read an excerpt and see the great cover:

http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=402

New Loose Id author contest

2007-01-23T11:56:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have read my book, Tales of the Magician 1: The Captive One, you can now enter a contest to win Ninja, a Loose Id book released today by Racy Li.

And if you haven't read it, you can buy my Feb. 6 release, Graceful Submission, and still have time to enter the contest.

Here's the contest details:

For the “fan of quality of literature”: One person who has bought any other Loose Id book released within the past year will win. Prove it by submitting to me the first line on page 55 of that book. (If there is no first line on page 55, then go to the next page that there is one and submit that instead.) For an additional entry, submit your favorite line from the book. (And don’t forget to include, the name and title of the book!) Email me your entry at superstories*remove*asterisks at racyli dot com. This contest ends February 16th (That’s Chinese New Year!)
You can learn more about the book at Racy's blog:
http://racyli.com/wordpress/?p=145

Of course I know everybody's read my first book . As a reward, you can now try to get a freebie.

2007-01-01T20:29:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

I hope 2007 has been good to you so far. To celebrate the new year I've teamed up with two writer friends to start a new Yahoo group promoting our books.

The Eclectic Erotic Sirens will feature works from myself, K.L. Bjork and Jade Buchanan. The group will feature news of our new releases, a monthly newsletter, contests for book downloads, and a free story titled The Siren Sisters, which deals with three daughters of Poseidon.

K.L. is a wonderful writer published with Ocean's Mist Press, Venus Press and Silk's Vault. You can find out more about her work at her website:
http://www.klbjork.com/

Jade Buchanan's very first book comes out from Changeling Press later this month. You can check out her work at her website:
http://www.jadebuchananbooks.com/home.htm

Run over to the Eclectic Erotic Sirens and check us out. Due to the erotic nature of the group it is open to those 18 and older.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Eclectic_Erotic_Sirens/

Take care,
Melinda

My first review!

2006-12-30T14:12:00.000-08:00

Woohoo! It's always nice to receive wonderful reviews, and I got one today from Two Lips Reviews. Thanks to Frost for the Five Kisses and very kind words about Tales of the Magician 1: The Captive One.

Here's what she had to say:

Melinda Barron delivers an exciting and fast-paced, breathtakingly heart-in-mouth exploration of modern scientific minds faced with the unexplainable, against a backdrop of two individuals very much magnetized to each other who are too ruled by pride to back down. Few readers will not feel a continuous shiver as this story unfolds, nor put the book down before racing to the end. This reviewer absolutely cannot wait for the next installment in the Tales of the Magician series: Book One, The Captive One, is that fantastic. Go get it, dear reader.

You can find the whole review here:

http://www.twolipsreviews.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=772&Itemid=36

I'm happy dancing!
Melinda

Tales of the Magician 1: The Captive One

2006-12-30T12:28:00.000-08:00

A little something about my first book:

Melinda Barron
Genre: BDSM Paranormal
Series: Tales of the Magician
Length: Novel
Price: $5.99
http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=343

Julia Rafferty has it all, or does she? A successful archeologist, she has finally realized her dream of working on a dig in Egypt. Professionally, she's on top of the world. Personally, she battles self-esteem issues because of her weight and the fact that the man she wants doesn't want her.
Noble Walters is known for being one of the best archeologists in the field. He hand-picked his staff for the dig in Egypt and made sure that Julia was on board. He wants Julia for more than her archeological skills. Now he just has to convince her of that.
While the pair are working on the dig site, Nob discovers the house of Peneb-Ra, an evil magician that lived 2,500 years ago. Julia discovers a paddle doll, an ancient Egyptian tomb artifact that was used as a sexual companion to the deceased. What they learn, is that this paddle doll contains the spirit of Nebetta, a concubine to Pharaoh Ramesses III.
While Julia and Noble, with the help of his friend Derrick Matthews, try to find a way to free Nebetta from her prison, Peneb-Ra is searching for a body to inhabit. And he wants Nebetta for himself.
Noble helps Julia discover many things about herself and her sexuality, with help from Derrick and Nebetta. But while the trio is searching for a way to break the spell binding Nebetta to the paddle doll, Peneb-Ra's power is growing. A final face off will determine all of their fates. Or will it?
Publisher's Note: This book contains elements that may be offensive to some readers: ménage and BDSM sexual practices.
To read an excerpt, visit: http://www.loose-id.net/MBTOTM1TCOex.aspx.

2006-12-30T12:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Almost New Year's Eve

I'm a new blogger who's wondering what exactly to say. When I was younger and writing in my diary, I always wrote things that I didn't want anyone else to read. Now, with blogs, we want everyone to read our private thoughts. It's an interesting turnaround.

I started the blog to promote my books at Loose Id. It took me a while to update it ...

My first book with Loose Id, Tales of the Magician 1: The Captive One, came out in November. It's the result of a lifelong fascination with Ancient Egypt. The second one, Graceful Submission, comes out in February. I just signed a contract on Tales of the Magician 2: The Lost One.

Since it's almost the New Year I decided that I needed to update. My goal for 2007 is to update at least once a week.

Thanks for stoppping by! If you like erotic romance take a look at my books on Loose. I think you'll enjoy them.