About to Blow

New release time again!

And I love this cover and this story. About to Blow starts a new series for me. One where I hope to stretch my wings a little. There's lots more Valkyrie, so expect to see a few more of these short novellas coming your way.


Mist is a Valkyrie. She also kinds of a junkie and when she shows up to usher Kurt Stone to his afterlife, well...let's just say things go so very wrong for my grumpy little Valkyrie. Kurt has his own ideas of what heaven should be.

Here's the blurb and a link to read an excerpt. I really hope you enjoy Mist and Kurt!

Valkyrie’s Vow, Book One

For a thousand years, Mist has shepherded battle-slain warriors to their choice of Valhalla or Asgard. It’s the task she was charged with upon her own death, the mission she chose when becoming Valkyrie. Never before has she fallen for one of those warriors. But then, never has she felt emotions like those evoked by Kurt Stone.

As an undercover cop, Kurt expected a shortened life. He didn’t expect an afterlife spent jumping from realm to realm, screwing a tattooed hottie who makes his blood boil. He should be choosing his next destination, but he’d rather spend eternity indulging in Mist’s delectable body.

The vicious betrayal that led to her death has made Mist reluctant to trust, let alone love. If Kurt can help her face ancient demons, they both might find their idea of Heaven…together.

Hope you enjoy it.

Excerpt: Here
Buy: Here

Kiss Kiss
~Mari

p.s. I am working hard on the last of the Hot, Hard trilogy. Look for the exciting end of the series to finish up before the Author's After Dark conference in New Orleans.

It's about to get Hexing in here.

Quick break from NaNoWiMo to shout out some good news.

I have a release date for Hot, Hard & Hexing!

Sonja’s story, the second in the Hot, Hard series, will be available November 18^th !

When magic is attracted to magic, it's impossible to ignore!

Where Did The Time Go?

Home for a great trip to Ohio and the RomantiCon convention to find myself in the middle of October--Again. This time of year scares the crap out of me. Why? Because, in a couple of weeks it’s Halloween. I love Halloween; don’t get me wrong, but that means Thanksgiving is right around the corner, then Christmas. You know the routine. The year is nearly over and I need to take a peak at the writing goals I set way back in January. Hard reality check. Panic. Fear. I’m soooo behind. I always am. Why do I torture myself with these goals?

Ha! Not this year. Where am I on the list this year? Check my flow-

1. Write Hot, Hard & Howling. Check. Came out in March.

2. Secret Steampunk mainstream project with Sam. Check.

3. Acquire and Agent for said project. Check. We signed with the ever energetic Eric Ruben in July.

4. Write Hot, Hard & Hexing. Check. On the editor’s desk as we speak.

Superstar Award for the Death by Dildo scene in Hot, Hard & Howling>>>

I thought that was an ambitious list when Sam and I sat down to plan our

year. I seem to have accomplished it. AND I also did a hot, little Quickie for EC titled About to Blow. Which is the start of series about modern Valkyries. ADD much? Well, that’s done and on Kelli’s desk too.

Last year, I missed on every writing goal I made. This year…hit them all and then some. Why? No big secret here. It’s the old ‘Butt in Chair’ adage. I plotted carefully, then sat down and typed. Could not have done it without Kris Daniels. She helped me out a ton. We hang out on Skype, doing writing sprints and generally pushing each other along. It’s hard work girls. I swear it is. lol

So, I have a couple of months before the end of the year… what should I write next? Another Quickie, get a jump start on the last of the Hot, Hard series….or maybe, just maybe I could start on that new book in the Birthright world that finally came to me on the road trip back form RomantiCon.

We’ll see what comes out when I sit down and start typing.

<<< Nick Soto. New Caveman/cover model. I'm pretty sure I gave Syneca a lap dance to ensure he's on my next cover.

Kiss, Kiss

~Mari

Ready for a Sexy Christmas?

No? Me either. But it is the time of year for the Christmas Anthologies to release.

Our very first Christmas Story is out today in Silent Night, Sinful Night.   I'm excited to have a story out in the same anthology as Aphrodisia greats like Sharon Page and Melissa MacNeal.  Check out Stolen Chances with the very sexy Winston Matthews who has a thing for the thrill of almost getting caught.

Stolen Chances - Winston Matthews knows a thief when he sees one, even if she is stunningly beautiful. And so he offers himself as an easy target for a sensually sinful Christmas Eve seduction…


Also check out the great discounts for the other titles right now at Amazon. Paperback: $5.60 Kindle Edition: $6.89!!!

Biggest Loser...of clothes that is.

I was inspired by my friend and fellow HCRW chapter member, Sonja Foust. She participated in a crazy little challenge called Project333. Only 33 items in your wardrobe for 3 months. 33 total. Not me, said I. The thought actually made me shiver when she first blogged about it. I have far too much jewelry to even consider.But, like a bad dream I kept thinking about it. Sonja was a shoe Ho, works in a office for crying out loud… how was she living? Was she hyper ventilating everyday as she faced her closet? She must. I saw her at our RWA chapter meeting. She was smiling, looked her adorable self and didn’t seem emotionally scared at all.

She looked relaxed, confident. I thought back on that very morning. I had tried on three pair of jeans and about 6 different shirts until I was satisfied. She only had 6 shirts to choose from for cripes sake. No pressure.

That’s when it hit me! Wham. I got it. Sonja had no turmoil getting dressed because she loves everything in her closet. It’s there because she loves it. OMG!

I have no intention of storing stuff I know I won’t want as the program suggest. I know if I box it up, it will stay that way and clutter another part of my life. I won’t want it later. But, could I do a purge that works on a similar principle?

So I made my own goal on the spot and announced it to Sonja and all within hearing range in the coffee shop. 100…I could get it all down to 100. Right?

Well. Sunday I did it. I opened that closet door and threatened every fabric of my being and all the fabric hanging there mocking me. Fit me today… bloated, 10 pounds overweight and all, or you’re out of here.

And I went at it. Closet, drawers, big storage bags under the bed, they all bled. My exemptions were a little different than the website as well. Hey… My purge. My rules!

Bras, jewelry, costumes, sports jerseys were all safe in my world. And I added boots to this list as I got to them. I purged a bunch of my old riding boots when I left the farm. But the hot ones… they’re mine)

I have to admit it was tough at times. I made several revelations in the process of touching and evaluating my entire wardrobe.

1. I have a very sentimental attachment to some of these things. The leather jacket Allen bought me on vacation, the dress I was wearing at Big Girl’s 10^th birthday party, the dress I wore when HB and I went to a formal wedding. They all mean something to me, like wearable photographs. I’m still not ready to get rid of the Montana wedding cloths. Probably never will be. So be it.

2. This is a very frustrating exercise … grrrrr. Not for the weak. Maybe I’ll wear this black and white leopard suit-jacket again. Maybe? Not! It goes.

3. Ten pounds make a huge difference on me. Much of my clothing did not fit and it mocked me each and every day. Strong is the new Skinny for me. I can do 100 push-ups, 100 pull-ups and 100 sit-ups in 30 minutes. I am healthy, sexy and strong. Skinny is not coming back. Dump the size 3 jeans. Love the new curvy Levi’s. Move on.

4. and because of that, I now have only one pair of dressy pants. One. Tan. Not good. May have to add one thing to the closet. A black pair of slacks I love.

So here’s what happened. In 4 hours I dumped:

Belts: 14

Purses: 6

Jeans: 9

Workout clothes: 13

Misc long sleeve shirts: 37

Dresses: 15

Shorts: 7

Short sleeve shirts: 28

Bikinis: 6

Dress pants: 10

Business suits: 7

Sport jackets: 9

Shoes: 4 – recently purged

Bonus items:

Grocery bag of undergarments

Grocery bag of pantyhose (who wears these things anymore?)

2 straw hats

2 cowhide pillows

6 sun visors

1 iron

3 under-bed storage bags are empty

My total purged items came to 171. That included 14 things with the tags still on them.

I was left with clothing and shoes totaling 149 items. Total!

I am stoked. Now… this is ALL seasons. So if you divide 149 by 4… that’s 37ish. I almost made the 33 per season. (If you don’t include the 8 belts and purses and the 9 pair of boots. It’s my math… I can do how I like.) I did way better than I ever imagined.

All in all I found this to a very cathartic experience. Tomorrow, whatever I grab to put on will make me happy. I may not be in the mood for something hanging in that closet, but it will not look bad on me nor will it make me wish for 5 less pounds.

Another bonus. I also decided I do not need the 10x magnification makeup mirror I just had HB install in my bathroom this spring. Who needs to see all those tiny flaws? No one else sees my face the blown up to the size of basketball. Why should I?

This is an amazing thing for those who tackle it. Thanks Sonja. My morning routine will love you for a long, long time to come.

Additional bonus: Big Girl came home and whirled through her closet too… 79 items she added to the pile.

So you add that up and 228 things went to either goodwill or the consignment shop. Whoot!

Win. Win. Win.Considering doing this with every room and closet int he house. clothes, crafts, toys, everything!

You should really try this. Or something like it. What can you do to unclutter your life?

~Mari