Friday, February 25, 2011
I can haz cover?
Look at what Amanda Kelsey made for LOST WAGES OF SIN! I tell you, I can't WAIT for the release!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Lost Wages of Sin - Excerpt
I've now sent back the second round of revisions for Lost Wages of Sin and approved the cover, which will be made public shortly. In celebration, I thought I might post another short excerpt.
I'm going to have some bookmarks made shortly. If anyone's interested, drop me a line at rosalie.stanton@gmail.com and I'll send one to you - absolutely free! I'll start with an order of 50, so it will be a first-come-first-serve thing. :)
Lost Wages of Sin - Excerpt
In a blink she was in front of him, her body between his and the demon she called Mammon. “Shut up,” she snapped.
Then she captured his cheeks between her hands and brought his mouth crashing down upon her own. And all thought of the collection box or the demon in the black robes vanished. Dante moaned, his demon receding, all fight abandoning him as his body seized what it wanted above all else. Ava was against him. Ava’s lips molded to his. Ava. Everything around him ceased to exist. The ground vanished, the house faded, and Mammon merged into nothing. Reality blinked away, and there was nothing but the pure, unadulterated truth of Ava. The way her lips spoke against him, brushing his with softness Dante had never before touched. Not with anyone. Not this--this tenderness, this gentleness. Her mouth moved with girlish curiosity, consuming him with her richness. Her taste. Her good.
The kiss hadn't been planned--she was far too tense to have acted on anything but impulse. For what cause, he knew not, but he was there to catch her when her body relaxed. When her lips parted with a pleasured sigh, his eager tongue dove into her wet, wonderful mouth. Exploring, searching, drawing in as much of her taste as possible. Committing her to memory; there was little chance he'd get to savor her again. But she was here--against him, kissing him with enthusiasm. Holding his chin to anchor him into her mouth with small, hungry murmurs scratching her throat. There was no way to tell if she was aware of herself for the way she leaned into him, her hips swaying against his, rubbing herself against the iron hardness at his crotch, but he was too far gone to care. All that mattered was that she did.
“Fuck,” he panted. “Ava…”
A pause. He worried his voice had broken the spell around him, but only for an instant. She was kissing him again before he could miss her warmth, blinking away coherent thought. All he knew was her heat. Her liquid fire. The scent of her arousal attacked him without warning, teasing his tastebuds, flooding his nostrils and confirming what he already knew. He was lost. Dante was completely lost in Ava. For whatever reason, he was hers.
“Ava…” Her name rolled between them on a groan as he sucked at her lower lip. “Want … fuck … want you so much…” Then she was gone, and the loss was crushing. Dante's eyes flew open.
“You with me?” she demanded, breathless and flustered. That much was satisfying. Good to know her feathers weren't beyond ruffling.
Not that he paid much attention to anything but her moist pink lips, swollen by his ardor. That couldn't be it. She couldn't deny him her kisses. She couldn't give him so much without giving him anything at all--no, he'd taste her again. He needed to taste her again. However, he wasn't able to put as much into words. All that came out was a definitively ineloquent, “Huh?”
Ava nodded shakily. “Okay, you're with me.”
I'm going to have some bookmarks made shortly. If anyone's interested, drop me a line at rosalie.stanton@gmail.com and I'll send one to you - absolutely free! I'll start with an order of 50, so it will be a first-come-first-serve thing. :)
Lost Wages of Sin - Excerpt
In a blink she was in front of him, her body between his and the demon she called Mammon. “Shut up,” she snapped.
Then she captured his cheeks between her hands and brought his mouth crashing down upon her own. And all thought of the collection box or the demon in the black robes vanished. Dante moaned, his demon receding, all fight abandoning him as his body seized what it wanted above all else. Ava was against him. Ava’s lips molded to his. Ava. Everything around him ceased to exist. The ground vanished, the house faded, and Mammon merged into nothing. Reality blinked away, and there was nothing but the pure, unadulterated truth of Ava. The way her lips spoke against him, brushing his with softness Dante had never before touched. Not with anyone. Not this--this tenderness, this gentleness. Her mouth moved with girlish curiosity, consuming him with her richness. Her taste. Her good.
The kiss hadn't been planned--she was far too tense to have acted on anything but impulse. For what cause, he knew not, but he was there to catch her when her body relaxed. When her lips parted with a pleasured sigh, his eager tongue dove into her wet, wonderful mouth. Exploring, searching, drawing in as much of her taste as possible. Committing her to memory; there was little chance he'd get to savor her again. But she was here--against him, kissing him with enthusiasm. Holding his chin to anchor him into her mouth with small, hungry murmurs scratching her throat. There was no way to tell if she was aware of herself for the way she leaned into him, her hips swaying against his, rubbing herself against the iron hardness at his crotch, but he was too far gone to care. All that mattered was that she did.
“Fuck,” he panted. “Ava…”
A pause. He worried his voice had broken the spell around him, but only for an instant. She was kissing him again before he could miss her warmth, blinking away coherent thought. All he knew was her heat. Her liquid fire. The scent of her arousal attacked him without warning, teasing his tastebuds, flooding his nostrils and confirming what he already knew. He was lost. Dante was completely lost in Ava. For whatever reason, he was hers.
“Ava…” Her name rolled between them on a groan as he sucked at her lower lip. “Want … fuck … want you so much…” Then she was gone, and the loss was crushing. Dante's eyes flew open.
“You with me?” she demanded, breathless and flustered. That much was satisfying. Good to know her feathers weren't beyond ruffling.
Not that he paid much attention to anything but her moist pink lips, swollen by his ardor. That couldn't be it. She couldn't deny him her kisses. She couldn't give him so much without giving him anything at all--no, he'd taste her again. He needed to taste her again. However, he wasn't able to put as much into words. All that came out was a definitively ineloquent, “Huh?”
Ava nodded shakily. “Okay, you're with me.”
Friday, February 18, 2011
***NEW*** Lost Wages of Sin - Excerpt
From Sinners and Saints Book I: Lost Wages of Sin
Gravel crunched beneath her feet. Bugs chirped and the wind made love to newly budding leaves. Above her, clouds rolled against the ominously darkened sky.
“I am absolutely out of my mind.”
“Are you?”
Ava whirled around. He was there. Of course he was there. There was no way their paths wouldn’t cross again. For this, she was seemingly destined. Wherever she went in Natchez, Dante would be with her. No matter how she tried to shake him he wouldn’t let go.
“That’s a hoot,” Dante continued with a grin, taking slow, intentional steps forward. “’Cause just a second ago, you were of sound mind.”
“Fuck me.”
“With pleasure.”
She chose to ignore that. “What are you doing here?”
It was a redundant question. They both knew perfectly well what he was doing here, thus it came to no surprise when he ignored her question.
“Now, I’m a man who knows my crazies,” he drawled instead.
“I’ll say.”
“And while I’ll give you points for effort, I gotta say you lack the essentials.” Dante’s grin broadened as he shrugged, hands diving into his pockets. “Ava, gotta admit, never pegged you one for breaking and entering.”
“Breaking and entering?”
“That’s what you’re doing, right?” he said. “Isn’t this one of those touristy places?”
The accusation--or the hint of one--left her feeling bitter and foolish. To the layman, her actions would seem crazy. To anyone who knew her, though, it was preemptive. Therefore, she wiggled self-consciously and said, “I felt something.”
He grinned. “I’ll say.”
“Dante...”
“Figures you, err, dwarf types to follow your tinglies in the dead of night.” He rocked slightly on his heels. “What are we doing?”
“I am...none of your business,” Ava retorted, crossing her arms and cocking her head. “What are you doing here?”
Dante shrugged. “What’s it look like?”
“Wasting my time?”
“I’m helping.”
“Helping?”
He nodded as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I got nothing better to do.”
Ava just stared at him for a second. “No.”
“No what?”
“No to this. No to you helping. No to everything.”
Dante pouted. “Why not?” he whined. “You got no one else, do you?”
“There are plenty of demons I could call on if I wanted.”
Okay, so that was a lie, but it was the only one she had.
“But none others that are yours. I’m here for a reason, you know.” Dante’s head tilted as he studied her. “You need me.”
Ava reeled. “No.”
“There’s the makings of a good argument.”
“Dante--”
“What’ve you got to lose?” he demanded.
“Not much. I’d prefer to hold onto what I have left.”
Dante glowered. “Fine then. Have it your way. Just figured you wouldn’t mind a bit of company, seeing as you’re chatting yourself up to keep from going crazy. I’ll be on my way, then.” He waved and began to backtrack down the path. “Cheers.”
It was the most pathetic bluff she’d ever heard, yet as Dante’s familiar form began to fade into shadow, part of her succumbed to panic. She really didn’t want to be alone; another thing that seemed good on paper yet failed miserably in reality. Thus before she could reconsider, she heard herself call after him.
His answering grin was the one of a canary-stuffed cat. “Miss me already?”
Ava sighed and wagged a finger at him. “Don’t make me regret this.”
Dante just shrugged, not bothering to hide his satisfaction as he took his place at her side. “Not much chance of that, is there?”
No, there really wasn’t.
Yet as they started up the path, side-by-side, Ava couldn’t bring herself to mind.
Gravel crunched beneath her feet. Bugs chirped and the wind made love to newly budding leaves. Above her, clouds rolled against the ominously darkened sky.
“I am absolutely out of my mind.”
“Are you?”
Ava whirled around. He was there. Of course he was there. There was no way their paths wouldn’t cross again. For this, she was seemingly destined. Wherever she went in Natchez, Dante would be with her. No matter how she tried to shake him he wouldn’t let go.
“That’s a hoot,” Dante continued with a grin, taking slow, intentional steps forward. “’Cause just a second ago, you were of sound mind.”
“Fuck me.”
“With pleasure.”
She chose to ignore that. “What are you doing here?”
It was a redundant question. They both knew perfectly well what he was doing here, thus it came to no surprise when he ignored her question.
“Now, I’m a man who knows my crazies,” he drawled instead.
“I’ll say.”
“And while I’ll give you points for effort, I gotta say you lack the essentials.” Dante’s grin broadened as he shrugged, hands diving into his pockets. “Ava, gotta admit, never pegged you one for breaking and entering.”
“Breaking and entering?”
“That’s what you’re doing, right?” he said. “Isn’t this one of those touristy places?”
The accusation--or the hint of one--left her feeling bitter and foolish. To the layman, her actions would seem crazy. To anyone who knew her, though, it was preemptive. Therefore, she wiggled self-consciously and said, “I felt something.”
He grinned. “I’ll say.”
“Dante...”
“Figures you, err, dwarf types to follow your tinglies in the dead of night.” He rocked slightly on his heels. “What are we doing?”
“I am...none of your business,” Ava retorted, crossing her arms and cocking her head. “What are you doing here?”
Dante shrugged. “What’s it look like?”
“Wasting my time?”
“I’m helping.”
“Helping?”
He nodded as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I got nothing better to do.”
Ava just stared at him for a second. “No.”
“No what?”
“No to this. No to you helping. No to everything.”
Dante pouted. “Why not?” he whined. “You got no one else, do you?”
“There are plenty of demons I could call on if I wanted.”
Okay, so that was a lie, but it was the only one she had.
“But none others that are yours. I’m here for a reason, you know.” Dante’s head tilted as he studied her. “You need me.”
Ava reeled. “No.”
“There’s the makings of a good argument.”
“Dante--”
“What’ve you got to lose?” he demanded.
“Not much. I’d prefer to hold onto what I have left.”
Dante glowered. “Fine then. Have it your way. Just figured you wouldn’t mind a bit of company, seeing as you’re chatting yourself up to keep from going crazy. I’ll be on my way, then.” He waved and began to backtrack down the path. “Cheers.”
It was the most pathetic bluff she’d ever heard, yet as Dante’s familiar form began to fade into shadow, part of her succumbed to panic. She really didn’t want to be alone; another thing that seemed good on paper yet failed miserably in reality. Thus before she could reconsider, she heard herself call after him.
His answering grin was the one of a canary-stuffed cat. “Miss me already?”
Ava sighed and wagged a finger at him. “Don’t make me regret this.”
Dante just shrugged, not bothering to hide his satisfaction as he took his place at her side. “Not much chance of that, is there?”
No, there really wasn’t.
Yet as they started up the path, side-by-side, Ava couldn’t bring herself to mind.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Coming soon!
Since LSB only requests electronic rights, I'm having LOST WAGES OF SIN put into print by Lulu. This isn't the final version; I won't have it available for distribution until I get my edits complete, but I did have a copy sent to me to make sure everything looks right. Aside from a few cosmetic things, I'm pretty psyched!
It's coming soon! Hurrah! I can't wait!
Cover made by me! Text done by the awesome JA Saare.
It's coming soon! Hurrah! I can't wait!
Cover made by me! Text done by the awesome JA Saare.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Lost Wages of Sin - Excerpt
From Sinners and Saints Book I: Lost Wages of Sin
A hot flash of anger raced down Ava’s spine. This was so like him. Show up, distract her, and ruin the one solace the night had given her. Glad as she might be to see a familiar face, her frustration needed a channel, and he’d just stolen the only one in sight. “Dante!”
He tossed her a cocky grin. “Snooze you lose, darling,” Dante said, seizing Demon Two by the head and giving it a good snap. It crumbled to his feet without a fight.
“Son of a bitch.”
He rocked proudly on his heels. “You’re welcome.”
“What the hell, Dante?”
“Looks to me like I just saved your life.”
Ava gestured furiously. “Saved my life?”
“Glad we agree.”
“Those were my demons.”
He shrugged. “Weren’t killing them fast enough.”
“That was on purpose.”
“Likely story. You can admit it, now. It’s just us.”
“Admit it?”
“Yeah. That they were too much for you to handle.”
Ava snorted, flexing her fist. Times like this it was difficult to keep from showing the overconfident pest just how much power she wielded...but then again, she was in enough trouble already without running the risk of exposure.
“I’ll give you something to handle.”
“That a promise?”
“You don’t wanna find out.”
“You’re a spoilsport.” Dante shook his head. “I just helped your ungrateful ass, putting myself...” He paused and slapped a hand across his heart, his eyes wide with false sincerity. “...at great personal risk.”
“Too bad they didn’t wipe the floor with you. Your ego’s due for a downgrade.”
He scowled. “Is it too much to hope for a thank you?”
“I didn't ask you to do anything!”
“Fair enough. I suppose next time I'll just let them have their way with you.”
There was no end in sight, and Ava had neither the patience nor the inclination to talk herself in circles. Thus, rather than taking a further dive down a verbal labyrinth, she grounded herself with a long sigh. The pressure on her chest didn’t alleviate, but it would with time. Ending an argument without bloodshed was something knowing Dante had forced her to learn.
Perhaps she liked him so much because they fought so well.
“Okay,” she conceded. “Okay. What are you doing here?”
“What?”
“I don't want to fight.”
“Since when?”
“Since now. What are you doing here?”
“It’s my concern,” he replied indignantly. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m on the lamb.”
Dante nodded tightly. “That’s what I heard. What’d you do this time?”
Fell in love with an angel. Got the holy treatment.
Ava’s face flamed, her skin growing itchy. It’d be a cold day in hell before she gave Dante that bit of blackmail fodder--and she happened to know the last cold day had occurred in 1908, when the Cubs won the world series. “None of your business.”
His brows perked mischievously. “Nothing to do with a certain angel?”
A long, tired groan rumbled through her throat, her head swinging downward. “Fuck,” she muttered. “How’d you hear?”
“Demon falling for a celestial one? Not much chance of keeping that in.”
“Of course not.”
“There’s a story there.” Dante took an eager step forward. “Come on. Talk to daddy.”
“Not a chance.”
He bounced impatiently. “What do you have to lose?”
“Except my dignity?”
“You’re in Mississippi and word on the wire is there’s a hefty price on your head. Plus, the last man you had between your legs couldn’t find a clit if the salvation of mankind depended on it.”
“Fair point.” She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Wanna grab a beer?”
“Thought you’d never ask.”
A hot flash of anger raced down Ava’s spine. This was so like him. Show up, distract her, and ruin the one solace the night had given her. Glad as she might be to see a familiar face, her frustration needed a channel, and he’d just stolen the only one in sight. “Dante!”
He tossed her a cocky grin. “Snooze you lose, darling,” Dante said, seizing Demon Two by the head and giving it a good snap. It crumbled to his feet without a fight.
“Son of a bitch.”
He rocked proudly on his heels. “You’re welcome.”
“What the hell, Dante?”
“Looks to me like I just saved your life.”
Ava gestured furiously. “Saved my life?”
“Glad we agree.”
“Those were my demons.”
He shrugged. “Weren’t killing them fast enough.”
“That was on purpose.”
“Likely story. You can admit it, now. It’s just us.”
“Admit it?”
“Yeah. That they were too much for you to handle.”
Ava snorted, flexing her fist. Times like this it was difficult to keep from showing the overconfident pest just how much power she wielded...but then again, she was in enough trouble already without running the risk of exposure.
“I’ll give you something to handle.”
“That a promise?”
“You don’t wanna find out.”
“You’re a spoilsport.” Dante shook his head. “I just helped your ungrateful ass, putting myself...” He paused and slapped a hand across his heart, his eyes wide with false sincerity. “...at great personal risk.”
“Too bad they didn’t wipe the floor with you. Your ego’s due for a downgrade.”
He scowled. “Is it too much to hope for a thank you?”
“I didn't ask you to do anything!”
“Fair enough. I suppose next time I'll just let them have their way with you.”
There was no end in sight, and Ava had neither the patience nor the inclination to talk herself in circles. Thus, rather than taking a further dive down a verbal labyrinth, she grounded herself with a long sigh. The pressure on her chest didn’t alleviate, but it would with time. Ending an argument without bloodshed was something knowing Dante had forced her to learn.
Perhaps she liked him so much because they fought so well.
“Okay,” she conceded. “Okay. What are you doing here?”
“What?”
“I don't want to fight.”
“Since when?”
“Since now. What are you doing here?”
“It’s my concern,” he replied indignantly. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m on the lamb.”
Dante nodded tightly. “That’s what I heard. What’d you do this time?”
Fell in love with an angel. Got the holy treatment.
Ava’s face flamed, her skin growing itchy. It’d be a cold day in hell before she gave Dante that bit of blackmail fodder--and she happened to know the last cold day had occurred in 1908, when the Cubs won the world series. “None of your business.”
His brows perked mischievously. “Nothing to do with a certain angel?”
A long, tired groan rumbled through her throat, her head swinging downward. “Fuck,” she muttered. “How’d you hear?”
“Demon falling for a celestial one? Not much chance of keeping that in.”
“Of course not.”
“There’s a story there.” Dante took an eager step forward. “Come on. Talk to daddy.”
“Not a chance.”
He bounced impatiently. “What do you have to lose?”
“Except my dignity?”
“You’re in Mississippi and word on the wire is there’s a hefty price on your head. Plus, the last man you had between your legs couldn’t find a clit if the salvation of mankind depended on it.”
“Fair point.” She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Wanna grab a beer?”
“Thought you’d never ask.”
Thursday, February 3, 2011
From Lost Wages of Sin: Dante and Ava, First Impressions
Title: First Impressions
Timeline: Centuries before Lost Wages of Sin
Characters: Dante and Ava
Length: 523 words
Note: I know the dialogue in this snippet is an anachronism to the time. Forgive me. I just can't unhear them like this.
~~~~~~
There were three things Dante knew with absolute certainty. Blood tasted best off a fresh kill, never tell anyone where you slept, and he was going to die.
Right now.
Granted, he hadn’t known the last part very long, but rather the last ten minutes. How it had happened, he didn’t now. One moment, he and a group of local vamps feasted on the blood of a sadist, and the next he was on the ground, a holy man waving the business end of a torch in his face. He could be wrong, but Dante was certain everyone would calm down if one of the bastards currently whipping iron spikes into his flesh would stop long enough for someone to explain. Vampires weren’t careless creatures, at least not the ones who wanted to live more than a century or two. Death came to those who deserved it, and no one deserved it more than a defiler of the innocent.
It was a rather large step for Dante, who rarely gave a fig about anyone’s head save his own. The man who had met death by his fangs tonight had merely been at the right place at the wrong time, with the wrong sort of blood on his hands. Child’s blood. A girl, by the scent. A girl whose death had come only after her body had suffered horrors beyond the wickedest imagination.
Dante hadn’t been the only vampire present, but he had been the first to notice the man. And he had been the first to lunge. The others had merely followed suit.
And then they’d been ambushed by men of God.
Anger, fear, and doubt polluted the climate, ensuring no one felt safe in their skin. Perhaps these righteous lads currently intent on beating him to death didn’t know the difference between monsters. Either way, Dante was sure he was about to die. Silent screams stilled in his throat, his hands burning from holy water and his skin weeping blood. It would come soon. The vampire at his left had disappeared, burned to a rapid crisp after the torch’s flames dug into his chest. It would soon be over, and then—
And then nothing. Nothing at all. The thunderous cries around him silenced without warning, and the blows to his body came to a halt.
He didn’t want to open his eyes, but somewhere he found the courage.
At first he thought himself dead, for standing above him was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Ribbons of dark red hair fell over her shoulders, playing against soft, smooth skin and drawing his attention to the rather large sword in her grasp. She wore black, but he swore she was an angel, and the fire in her ember eyes stirred something in his chest he hadn’t known existed.
And then she opened her lips and spoke.
“If you plan on staring at me all night, you’re better off diving onto one of those torches.” She indicated the fallen flame at his side. “Or is this your first holy war?”
“My God,” Dante panted, drinking her in. “I think I’m in love.”
Sinners and Saints Book I, Lost Wages of Sin. Coming soon from Liquid Silver.
Timeline: Centuries before Lost Wages of Sin
Characters: Dante and Ava
Length: 523 words
Note: I know the dialogue in this snippet is an anachronism to the time. Forgive me. I just can't unhear them like this.
There were three things Dante knew with absolute certainty. Blood tasted best off a fresh kill, never tell anyone where you slept, and he was going to die.
Right now.
Granted, he hadn’t known the last part very long, but rather the last ten minutes. How it had happened, he didn’t now. One moment, he and a group of local vamps feasted on the blood of a sadist, and the next he was on the ground, a holy man waving the business end of a torch in his face. He could be wrong, but Dante was certain everyone would calm down if one of the bastards currently whipping iron spikes into his flesh would stop long enough for someone to explain. Vampires weren’t careless creatures, at least not the ones who wanted to live more than a century or two. Death came to those who deserved it, and no one deserved it more than a defiler of the innocent.
It was a rather large step for Dante, who rarely gave a fig about anyone’s head save his own. The man who had met death by his fangs tonight had merely been at the right place at the wrong time, with the wrong sort of blood on his hands. Child’s blood. A girl, by the scent. A girl whose death had come only after her body had suffered horrors beyond the wickedest imagination.
Dante hadn’t been the only vampire present, but he had been the first to notice the man. And he had been the first to lunge. The others had merely followed suit.
And then they’d been ambushed by men of God.
Anger, fear, and doubt polluted the climate, ensuring no one felt safe in their skin. Perhaps these righteous lads currently intent on beating him to death didn’t know the difference between monsters. Either way, Dante was sure he was about to die. Silent screams stilled in his throat, his hands burning from holy water and his skin weeping blood. It would come soon. The vampire at his left had disappeared, burned to a rapid crisp after the torch’s flames dug into his chest. It would soon be over, and then—
And then nothing. Nothing at all. The thunderous cries around him silenced without warning, and the blows to his body came to a halt.
He didn’t want to open his eyes, but somewhere he found the courage.
At first he thought himself dead, for standing above him was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Ribbons of dark red hair fell over her shoulders, playing against soft, smooth skin and drawing his attention to the rather large sword in her grasp. She wore black, but he swore she was an angel, and the fire in her ember eyes stirred something in his chest he hadn’t known existed.
And then she opened her lips and spoke.
“If you plan on staring at me all night, you’re better off diving onto one of those torches.” She indicated the fallen flame at his side. “Or is this your first holy war?”
“My God,” Dante panted, drinking her in. “I think I’m in love.”
Sinners and Saints Book I, Lost Wages of Sin. Coming soon from Liquid Silver.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)