Samhain Publishing Ltd. Weblog

Why the Regency?

With all the time periods throughout history to choose from, why is the Regency apparently the most popular period for romance books? I want your opinions.

How about Victorians? Medieval times? The Rennaisance? Vikings? Westerns? There are followings for each of these, but overall it feels like the Regency wins out and I’m curious about what draws readers to it. Is it because of writers like Jane Austen and, much later, Georgette Heyer who laid out the template for what a Regency story should contain? Is it because many of us grew up reading that formula and so are very comfortable with it? We know the language of “rakes” and “the ton” and eloping to Gretna Green.

Maybe it’s the pretty, flowing clothing that’s the draw. The simple, clean lines of an Empire waist dress are certainly more romantic than a huge hoop skirt.

Process

I’m closing in on finishing a book. Now each book has its own unique process. But nevertheless I do think a writer often develops recognizable patterns in their writing of a book.

Fantasy & the City

I’m not here.
With any luck, by the time you read this I’ll be in Richmond, VA, warping young minds—er, participating in pre-RavenCon programming at a local Richmond high school. Or maybe you’ll read this a little later, after my roommates and I head out to the local cold spots—the kinds of places where the ghost of Edgar Allen Poe never sleeps.
I love finding the weird in a new locale. No two places have the same feel.
It’s more than a matter of kind.

History has been made!

Did you hear the news? A woman, Danica Patrick, has won an Indycar race! WON, as in first place! In a major auto racing event!

That’s such great news…why?

Even for Me Released! and an excerpt

I cannot describe to you how absent I’ve been from my day job I’ve been because my very first publication is now available through Samhain! I have had butterflies in my stomach and tried to write this blog a thousand times. I’ve always loved telling stories but grew up painfully shy. Writing seemed like the perfect occupation. No one ever saw you. They didn’t mock you or try to get you to be their picture perfect ideal of what they thought the story should be. But therein lies the rub, as Hamlet would say.

Nothing comes from nothing. The stories and characters that I create are all pieces of me that have come to life on a page through hope, blood, sweat and dreams. That’s why I’m so nervous. Perfect strangers are about to take a peak at what goes on in the dark recesses of my mind. I hope you like the ride as much as I do.

Even for Me by Taryn Blackthorne Excerpt

Treasure Hunting - now on sale!

This was one of those stories that trickled slowly into my head. Meg appeared fully formed and poked, prodded, and cracked jokes until I broke down and wrote! She refused to be the proper damsel in distress, which is probably a good thing—she made me laugh, and I’m hoping she’ll make you laugh, too! Better than that, she made Santiago laugh; I’m pretty sure it’s why he kept sticking around…

Synopsis:
A good tromp through the jungle fending off giant bugs and hunting for long-lost ruins in South America is exactly Meg’s idea of a great vacation. She takes the sudden appearance of a wounded jaguar in stride, thinking it’ll make an interesting story. But when she wakes up to find a man in place of a cat, she wonders who’s going to believe it!

Santiago has learned the hard way that he and human women just don’t mix. When you can change into an animal at will, it tends to upset people. But despite his best intentions, he finds himself falling hard for the little blonde who saved his life.

It’ll take a leap of faith-and of love. Or this treasure will slip through his fingers.

Excerpt:

Might I tempt you with Tempting Adam? Shelli's new book!

‘m thrilled to shout out that (yes, I’m shouting, can’t you hear me?) book two in the Seattle Steam series has arrived! Each book in the series is stand alone, so you don’t have to have read one to understand the other.

The man she wants is the one she must deceive.

Seattle Steam Book 2
Christy Wallace may be a respectable Seattle Spanish teacher, but she’s got a sultry side. She lets it come out to play during the summer, when she moonlights as a Salsa dancing instructor.

Sexy, cowboy Adam wants more time with her than just a fleeting cup of coffee, but she makes it clear that if he wants her, he’ll have to sign up for dance class. Amazingly enough, he does. And Christy finds herself falling for a charming country hick with hands as fast as his feet.

Adam’s no hick, though. He’s the owner of Adam’s Apples, the fastest-growing cider business in eastern Washington. To his own surprise, one night with her has him thinking in terms of forever. That is, until he walks into a restaurant for a family lunch—and finds Christy on the arm of his brother.

Is there a logical explanation? Or is something rotten in Seattle?

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, dirty mechanical bull riding, and the violation of blueberries.

IN HEAT releases

Leigh’s best selling book is coming back, longer and filled with sexy adventure!!

Enter a contest to celebrate the release – Details HERE

ISBN: 1-59998-907-7
Length: Category
Price: 4.50
Publication Date: April 4, 2008
Cover art by Anne Cain
A mating ritual as old as time could be the death of them both…

Jax’s yearly mating cycle couldn’t come at a more inconvenient time. He’s on the verge of ending seven years of exile and claiming his birthright, but for 24 hours he’ll be vulnerable to his enemies, alone and in agony—unless he can find a willing partner. He thinks he’s found the perfect solution in the beautiful slave Waverly. He’ll buy her at any price, and after it’s over, he’ll give her the one thing all slaves crave. Freedom.

But Waverly isn’t really a slave. She’s a transport pilot double crossed by Junkeaters and sold to a notorious gunrunner. Escape is the only thing on her mind—and she better disappear fast, before her own heat reaches a crescendo.

Before she can slip away, the overpowering need to mate crashes over them, the intensity taking them both by surprise. But the Inter-World Council is out to hang Jax for a crime he didn’t commit, Junkeaters are hot on their trail, and ruthless arms traders are gunning for them.

Their passion may burn hot enough to last a lifetime, but first they must survive.

This book has been previously published and has been revised and expanded from its original release.

READ AN EXCERPT HERE

Release day - The <i>Rocktastic</i> Corduroy Peach

Big schemes, big dreams and some really big drama-queens; yes, The Rocktastic Corduroy Peach is released today in print!

“I like the author’s breezy style and sense of humor…I’m going to steal some of his punchlines, heh” Mrs. Giggles, 78%

Zandia by Tilly Greene now in paperback!

With trepidation, Sui Erom left Zandia for Earth in search of better choices. One day Xer Rieh and the speedball team come to town, reminding her what she’s missing from home. Will love prevail, or will Sui settle for warm memories?

Only Sui can decide.