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Are you ready to GET ON?

11 Jun

I’m happy to let you guys know that GET ON has been accepted for publication by Ellora’s Cave! Woohoo! Here’s the tagline to whet your appetite…

Garrett wants revenge more than anything, until Mia ends up on the back of his bike and in his business. With passion blinding his vengeance, he’ll have to protect more than her life—he’ll also be responsible for her heart.

GET ON – Coming in Fall/Winter 2013

 

And that’s not the only iron in the fire. I’m shopping a couple of other stories around, and you guys will hear it here if there’s good news to be shared! A spicy contemporary featuring a young businesswoman, who’s less-than-thrilled to reunite with a past love. And there’s also a New Adult tattoo romance in the trenches, a college student who finds herself apprenticed to a sexy artist with a troubled past. So while it seems quiet around here, don’t worry. The words are flying like crazy behind the scenes!

Thanks to all you guys for reading my stories. It makes me unbelievably happy. :)

 

 

Switching Gears – SPELLBINDING update

18 May

Hey there everyone who manages to stumble upon this wee space of web I call my own!

 

I’m Regina, and I’m proud to say I write sexy, fun, entertaining books. But if you’ve been here for a while, you already know that.

I’m posting today to tell you a little bit about my writing journey, and what it means for you guys, the readers.

Image from Dreamstime Free

Image from Dreamstime Free

I’m a firm believer in the reader. After all, that’s who I am–a reader who’s devoted to her book friends. And as someone who’s been a tireless author-stalker in the past, wondering when the next title in a series will land, I owe it to you guys to let you in on what’s up.

You may remember that my most recent release, CAUGHT IN CRIMSON, was billed as the first in a series called “Spellbinding.” Well, it is. Technically. The bad news is, Spellbinding won’t be continuing right away.

Here’s the thing. I want to write what you guys want to read. And I also want to enjoy what I write. In fact, I’d say it’s VITALLY important for the author to enjoy what she does, otherwise, it’s meaningless. If I were to write a story I didn’t 100% believe in, I’d sooner hang up my quill pen and head to the nearest fast food joint. I’d take just as much pride in flipping burgers as I would writing something I didn’t believe in. More, actually.

BOUND IN BLUE was billed to be my next title. But I wasn’t connecting with it the way I wanted to–no, the way I NEEDED to. I was struggling hard with it. I got words down on paper, but they didn’t feel right. They don’t feel right still.

So here’s what I’m doing… I’m shelving the series for the moment. Not forever, because I do love this world and these stories. But paranormal isn’t where my heart is right now. I keep thinking about INDELIBLY INTIMATE. How much I adored writing that book. How much I loved the tattoo world, artistic personalities, the freedom to be young and make rash choices. And I wanted that again. I wanted to write another story with that aesthetic.

And since my editor and I apparently share a brain, she suggested a particular theme that I’d be good at. I wrote up a quick idea, and long story short, the next thing you read from Regina Cole will be a hot, sexy, and suspenseful contemporary romance called GET ON. Full of motorcycles, pierced and tattooed characters, and lots of heat and heart.

 

I’m truly sorry if the delay in Spellbinding is causing anyone to be sad! I promise those stories will come, eventually. But I’m figuring out what books my readers like most, and what books I like to write the most. I want to write what makes all of us happy. And for now, GET ON is where my heart is.

 

With all my love,

 

Regina

Paranormal Romance Series Bliss

9 Mar

So you guys know that CAUGHT IN CRIMSON is book one in my new Spellbinding series. Witches finding love and fighting evil is a hella fun story to tell. But I wanted to talk about some of my other favorite PNR and UF series! These books are the reason I wanted to write a series, because they made me fall in love with the world and want to chase them through it to the end!

 

1. The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series

by JR Ward

I fell in love with Wrath, and Rhage, and Zsadist, and the rest of the Brothers a long time ago. I’ll be honest, I’ve probably read the series through book seven about 10 times at least so far. I skip the parts about the lessers, and go straight for the sexy vampires.

 

Why do I love this series?

Strong, flawed characters

Incredible conflict

Men I can fall in love with

And satisfying endings.

 

 

 

2. Night Huntress Series

by Jeaniene Frost

Ah, Cat and Bones. I LOVED the first few books in this series, but then I had to stop reading, but that’s because of my brain. In this series, I discovered a problem (for me.)

I love books that follow a group of people. I prefer subsequent books in a romance series to tell the love story of another couple related to couple #1. In a series like this, about three books is all I want to do. The reason for this is simple. I want my HEA. In the case of a series like this that only follows one couple, after too many books, I feel like I’ve been in a tennis match.

They’re together!

They’re not. Bummer.

Wait! Together again!

Dammit, where’d you go, Bones?

Justaminute! Back together!!

Ohfortheloveof GOD.

See what I mean? But I know I’m in the minority here. If Iwasn’t, then soap operas wouldn’t exist. And many romance series with TRILLIONS of fans wouldn’t exist.

BUT, I do love this series. And this is why.

A. HUGE conflict.

B. A badass guy that I totally fell in love with. Ah, Crispin.

C. Did I mention that the sex was INCREDIBLE?

 

3. The Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Series

by Charlaine Harris

I read these books so long ago, but I still think of them fondly! I’m happy to say that I got at least five other readers hooked on Sookie. :)

But, Sookie has the same caveat that Cat does above. Poor Sookie. She’s so virginal in the first, oh, 5 books, and then you’re like “wait. She kind of has done about eleventy-billion guys now.”

Oh well.

I don’t really consider these romances, though they do sometimes have romantic elements. But I do love the series. And this is why.

A heroine I can relate to (for the first 7 or 8 books, anyhow)

SEXY guys that are easy to fall in love with

A unique setting, one that takes on characterization of its own

A complex world that keeps changing and growing

 

 

I’ve tried to analyze what elements I like (and don’t like!) from my favorites above, and really execute them in the Spellbinding world. It’s important to me to make this series a world that readers will love and relate to, and hopefully read for years to come! That’s my measure of success. I don’t want these books to be a one-time read. I’ve read the books I own from the series above multiple times. And that is how I measure a good story.

Caught in Crimson Cover Art Regina Cole

 

So what do YOU think? What elements of a series are most important to you? And what are your favorites? LMK below!

 

 

CiC Blog Tour Day 5 – Meet LUGH!

10 Feb

CiC Release Blog Tour Graphic

 

 

Hello hello! And welcome to Day 5 of the Caught in Crimson release blog tour!

Us writers are SUPER BUSY people. Almost without exception. So when Stacey Kennedy, my gal-pal and almost blog hostess today, sent me a panicked email that she was double booked, I didn’t stress! I just decided to plop my post up here, with the additional verbage HEY, go visit Stacey’s blog and enter to win her newest book, THE CAT’S MEOW. Double the chance to win AWESOME new witch books? Yes Please!

And now for today’s post. I have to admit, the character we’re talking about today is my very favorite. Don’t get me wrong, I ADORE both Delia and Adam, and Ravenna is very good too. But this character? He’s phenomenal. He’s dynamic. He’s intelligent. He’s powerful. He’s sarcastic. He’s witty. He’s…

Image Purchased from Fotolia

Image Purchased from Fotolia

A poodle.

 

CHARACTER SPOTLIGHT: Lugh

All witches in the world of Spellbinding have a familiar. These magical creatures are locked into the physical form of a common animal, to blend in. There are the typical cats, ravens, snakes, usual animals that you’d think of when it comes to witches, but Lugh’s a little different.
Lugh is a cream-colored toy poodle.
Named after a Celtic deity, Lugh has a rather inflated opinion of himself. But it’s justly deserved. He’s fiercely loyal to Delia, he’s tough, and he’s pretty damn magical in his own right. He’s been with Delia since she was young, and since familiars don’t age, he’s still as snarky as he ever was.
Lugh’s not too big on the whole question thing. I tried, but he refused to cooperate. So, instead of our Q&A, here’s a little excerpt to give you a taste of Lugh.

 

An excerpt from CAUGHT IN CRIMSON

Copyright Regina Cole and Ellora’s Cave

All rights reserved.

 
The apartment door slammed with a dull thud. “Lugh, this is all your fault.”
What do you mean? All I did was to give you two some privacy. Lugh’s fuzzy tail wagged slowly.
Delia launched herself at the couch, connecting face-first with the cushions, with a solid whumph. “You gave me to that Neanderthal on a fricking silver platter. You were supposed to stay there with me, remind me why it was a bad idea to sleep with him again.”
Neanderthal? You liked everything he did to you. Lugh sniggered.
Delia rocketed upright. “You watched us? You dirty dog! And he most definitely did not treat me like a gentleman should. He tied me up with the damn seat belt.”
So what if I watched? You’ve seen me poop. Privacy clearly isn’t something either of us understands. And from where I was sitting, you seemed to enjoy the seat belt bondage. So that argument really isn’t going to fly. Lugh jumped onto the couch and stared Delia dead in the eye. She squirmed. You need a consort. He needs a woman. This is perfect.
“It is most definitely not perfect. He doesn’t get me, doesn’t understand the whole witch thing.” Delia stood and paced through the living room, absentmindedly stepping over a tall pile of shoes she’d been meaning to cart off to Goodwill for a few months. “I need to go out, find a guy who’s a better fit for a consort.”
Lugh yawned. Seemed like you two fit together pretty well to me. But whatever. I’m just the furry familiar, what the fuck do I know?
Delia scowled and went to the bedroom to change. Lugh was wrong, totally and completely. Adam would never fit into the role of consort. He was, well, just too much.
 
 

Okay, so what do you think of Lugh? Got any questions about him? Any questions FOR him? If you promise him Chicken McNuggets, he just might answer them!
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway! Only a few more days remain before the contest ends! Win ebooks, giftcards, and more! And feel free to tell your friends. There will be 11 winners after all!

Rafflecopter CAUGHT IN CRIMSON Giveaway! Click the image below for the form!

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^^^^^^^^^^Entry Form HERE!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^

Caught in Crimson Release Celebration! With PRIZES!

6 Feb

Hi there romance fans!

I am SO FREAKING EXCITED to be able to finally share this book with you. Caught in Crimson’s release is in just TWO SHORT DAYS!! So, here on the blog today, we’re going to kick it off in style.

CiC Release Blog Tour Graphic

Welcome to the first stop on my first ever blog tour! Hop on the train, ladies and gents, because these are the prizes up for grabs:

GRAND PRIZE: One lucky winner gets…

An ebook copy of EACH of the books in the upcoming Spellbinding series*, beginning with Caught in Crimson, PLUS a $25 Amazon Giftcard!

*note- these will be delivered upon each book’s release. Basically this means you get a free book about every six months or so until Spellbinding is done. ;)

RUNNER UP PRIZES: Ten others will receive…

One of 5 $5 Amazon Giftcards OR

One of 5 copies of Caught in Crimson, book one of the Spellbinding series

Are you not convinced you need to enter yet? Here. I’ll post the excerpt from Caught in Crimson. If you like it, enter on the Rafflecopter form below!

Make sure you stop by the rest of the blog tour spots for more entries, and more stuff about Caught in Crimson and the rest of the world of Spellbinding!

Blog Tour Locations!

6-Feb Regina Cole’s blog Day 1 Introduction, Contest, Excerpt
7-Feb Sidney Bristol’s blog Day 2 Character Spotlight – Delia
8-Feb Darker Temptations Day 3 Character Spotlight – Adam
9-Feb Anya Breton’s blog Day 4 Character Spotlight – Ravenna
10-Feb Stacey Kennedy’s blog Day 5 Character Spotlight – Lugh
11-Feb Virginia Cavanaugh’s blog Day 6 Character Spotlight – Darkness
12-Feb Missy Jane’s blog Day 7 A Reading of Caught in Crimson
13-Feb Denise Tompkins’ blog Day 8 The World of Spellbinding – Witches in Color
14-Feb Denyse Bridger’s blog Bound by Passion Day 9 The World of Spellbinding – Upcoming Stories
15-Feb Regina Cole’s blog Day 10 Finale

Excerpt from Caught in Crimson

Copyright Regina Cole and Ellora’s Cave

All rights reserved

Adam’s brain boggled. He was in Delia Oaks’ apartment. A very messy, very cluttered apartment. He’d been injured by a shadow creature, fucked by a witch, then he’d watched as she blew the shadows to kingdom come. And now, after a nice, pretty normal dinner, he’d been given a magical bandage with the aid of a really cute poodle. What in four fucking hells was going on?

“Let me just lay this out there simply.” She lifted her pointer finger. “One, I am a witch.”

He tried to keep his frustration from mounting. Tough job. “I know. You told me that. How about keeping this conversation grounded in a modicum of reality.”

“It is. As I said, I’m a witch. Two…” Her middle finger raised. “Witches fight Darkness. They’re the creatures that chased us and made your back look like it had a cross between gangrene and frostbite. Normally humans can’t see them, but since you were with me, you got the dubious benefit of their company.”

Adam’s legs shook, aching with the need to pace, to move, to keep from sitting still and facing that what she was saying might be true. If pacing were possible in the tiny apartment’s living room, he’d have considered it. But with the space crammed with furniture, junk and plain old trash? No way. Tensing his thighs, he set his jaw and nodded for her to continue.

“Three, if witches didn’t fight Darkness, those shadows would take over the earth like they’ve taken over the Underworld.” She waggled three fingers in the air.

“And that’s bad.” His statement drew a nod from her.

“Very. The ideas that most people have of Hell? They’re of a Darkness-controlled Underworld. So we witches keep the peace.” Lugh jumped into her lap with a clear snort. She sighed as she ruffled his ears. “And our familiars help.”

“Wait. You want me to believe that you have a poodle for a familiar?” For some reason, the shadow creatures were more believable than a magical fuzz ball. Adam drew back slightly as the dog showed his tiny white teeth.

Yeah, I’m her familiar. I have more magic in my useless dewclaws than you have in your whole body. You give good scratches but don’t think you can talk smack to me and get away with it.

The floor and Adam’s jaw connected with a thump.

“Lugh. I told you to keep quiet.” Delia pointed at the dog with an admonishing grimace.

The poodle lay in her lap, giving Adam the stink-eye. Just tell your stud here to keep the comments to himself. I’m very sensitive.

“That is his voice I’m hearing in my head, right?” Proud of his nearly steady tone, Adam stiffened his spine and pinned the pair with a tell-me-the-truth stare.

Delia sighed and scratched Lugh’s ears. “Yes, that’s him. He was supposed to stay quiet but he had other ideas.” Her gaze caught his. “Listen. I’m really sorry you got caught up in that shit this morning. I’m also sorry that circumstances didn’t let us get to know each other in a more normal way. I like you, but I don’t think this is going to work out.” Her white teeth caught the pink skin of her lower lip.

Adam’s guts went cold. Seriously? He went on one date with a girl, had mind-blowing sex and that was her idea of “not working out”? He searched his fevered brain for any words other than what the fuck?

Seeming pressured, she rushed to fill his silence. “It’s not you, it’s me. There’s this issue within my coven and I’ve got to take a high-level position with tons of responsibility and pressure and stuff, and the timing for a new human relationship isn’t that great for me.”

“So you asked me out for no reason.” He barked a bitter laugh. “Well, at least you didn’t lead me on too long.”

His frank statement stumped her and she tripped over her words. “I, well, that is, you see, I hadn’t planned on…”

“Know what? Forget it.” Adam stood, keeping his fists at his sides. “For what it’s worth, I had a good time tonight and I was willing to give this whole witch thing a shot, even though I was sure you were crazy at first. But if you’re not interested…” He let his shrug finish the sentence and he turned to go. A dull ache settled in his chest. Why had he bothered?

“Adam, wait.”

A glance over his shoulder revealed that she’d stood and was cradling the poodle close to her chest. Her eyes were wide with trepidation.

“I’m sorry. Listen, can’t we be friends? If I find a way to get out of this mess, I’d be really interested in trying again. But right now I can’t commit to anything more than that. So what do you say?” Her words came softly, pleading.

Come on, man, she’s squeezing me too hard. Just say yes.

Adam sighed and stared at the floor. This was a bad idea. A really bad idea. He was going to do it anyway. “Fine. Just don’t crush the poodle.”

She let the dog jump to the couch and turned to Adam with a sheepish smile. “Okay, so…friends.” She stuck her hand out.

He shook it, trying like hell not to notice the soft slide of her skin on his palm. The way her breasts rose and fell when she breathed, her freckled shoulders creamy against the low neckline of her white sundress. The way she smelled like coconut and spice, exotic and tantalizing. His cock did push-ups.

Pulling away, he cleared his throat. “Friends it is.”

The silence was heavy. He stared at her, unable to forget how her body had received him that morning. How she’d writhed against him, purring and moaning as if she could never get enough. His blood warmed, flowing thick and wanting in his veins. How could he already want her again so badly? He was acting like a horny teenager with zero self-control. He needed to get a grip, and quick.

Didja like it? I hope so! Enter the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win lots of good stuff, and don’t forget to like, share, and come back tomorrow for the next post and more chances to win!

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It’s beginning to look a lot like… FREE STUFF!!

20 Dec

Hey everyone!

 

If you’re reading this, you need to get your heinie over to Herding Cats and Burning Soup. I’m doing a guest post over there and giving away three presents!! Scoot over there and enter, and while you’re there, check out my vision of erotic romance. The lovely Anna and her guest authors are giving away TONS of stuff this holiday season, so enter and tell your friends!

And in case I don’t get to say this later, I hope your holiday season is peaceful, happy, and healthy. Blessings to you all from your smut-purveyor Regina Cole! :)

Writing Evolution

12 Dec

Hi there, loves!

It’s been a while since I talked about “the process.” You know, the nitty-gritty of penning a book.

And there’s something that I’ve realized over the past year.

Writing evolves.dreamstimefree_241439

When I first started writing, I was a total pantster. If that’s a new term for any of you, it basically means I wrote by the seat of my pants. No plan, no outline, no character sheets or premade synopsis. It was me, a computer, and the ideas as they came.

Well, that was fun for a while. But I’d get stuck. And then I’d get bored, and change gears. This led to a whole bunch of halfway-begun and not-great stories.

Once I started selling books, I realized that there were things I didn’t do well in this writing thing. Problems got isolated, and while I realized I had some nice strengths, I also realized I had some pretty tough weaknesses too.

That’s when the tools came in.

 

Brainstorming by blurbing. The “W” plot. Goal, Motivation, and Conflict worksheets. World building spreadsheets. Backstory planning. All these things are part of my arsenal now, my “writer’s toolbox” as the master, Stephen King, calls them in this fabulous treasure trove.

This stuff can feel cold. Clinical. Dispassionate. But you know what? It’s not. It’s important. Vital. Vibrant and necessary. Because these are the things that make a well-rounded and fun to read story. These are the ingredients that take the book from nice to spectacular. This is the work that has to go in before the final manuscript can be sent to the editor to make it palatable.

It’s like the difference between a kindergartner playing with Play-do and a sculptor forming a statue. One is fun, heck yeah, but the other will stun you with its beauty.

And I’m after the most beautiful story I can make.

 

How has your writing changed? If you don’t write, what are some of your favorite elements of storytelling? Maybe we can talk about what work goes into creating them.

 

A Virgin Attendee- Romanticon 2012!

10 Oct

Hey there, dear peoples!

 

My other face, Gina Lamm, is ass-deep in drafting for a deadly looming deadline, but her other face, MOI, has a convention this weekend!

WOOHOO!

This is my first Ellora’s Cave Romanticon, and I’m so stoked that it’s RIDONKULOUS. I have swag to give away, freebies, books to sign and a panel to participate in! Me, Sabrina York, JK Coi, and my lovely editor Carrie Jackson will be dishing all about the Hot and Horrific category Erotic Horror.

Have any of you attended Romanticon? What’s your favorite thing about it? Any tips for me while I’m there?

If you want to keep up with my exploits, make sure to follow me on twitter: @ReggiCole

I’ll be live tweeting using the #Romanticon12 hashtag.

 

Okay dearies! I’m off to get to packing. Wish me luck!

New Cover Alert! Caught in Crimson

27 Sep

Hey ladies and gents, check out the cover for CAUGHT IN CRIMSON, a new erotic paranormal that should be releasing in the next couple of months from the loverly Ellora’s Cave Publishing. I have to say, they really outdid themselves with this cover! I’ll post the blurb as soon as I have one, hehehe. In the meantime, I’m recovering from some minor surgery, so I’ll catch you later. :) Ooh, but I do have some exciting news about a new group blog I’m joining! More when the pain meds have tapered off. :)

Enough Coffee in the World?!?!?

10 Sep

20120910-142032.jpg

I’m finding myself in a position that I’ve wanted for a while, but now that I’m here, I don’t know what to do with myself!

I’m two people. Both of me have deadlines, books to finish, proposals to complete, marketing to do.

It’s time to chug the coffee, knuckle down and get things done.

What do YOU do when you get what you wanted, only to find out its a lot more work than you’d anticipated? Give me ideas below!

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