Dress Up Dress Down

Dress Up Dress Down Friday:Guest author Guy Ogan #MFRWAuthor

Please join me in welcoming Guy Ogan, as he gives us a peek at the attire of a Russian officer.  *******

Blurb: The enemy vampires have been eradicated, so it appears our guardian vampires may look forward to a peaceful existence. Eviana is planning on having more children; she has had a son, now she wants a daughter. Magdalena, believing she is incapable of having children, still would like to be married. However, much as in human life, peace and family are placed in harms' way by unforeseen events.

Immortal Relations, Love and War amps up the action of the first book to a fever pitch. The greedy leaders of Communist China plan to capture the oil, gold and mineral rich fields of Siberia by decapitating the Russian Federation's Government as a prelude to invasion. Minions of rich OPEC Sheiks seek to stem the flow of Russian Oil so OPEC can raise prices to destroy the economies of the West. The plan to use a "dirty bomb" to destroy the main pumping station and have the radiation make the oil fields unusable.

The radiation containment cap at Chernobyl is failing; the release of poisonous radiation could happen at any time. Worse, some scientists predict the damaged nuclear reactor at Fukushima, Japan could collapse and cause a potential Extinction Level Event!

Who, or what, can be called upon to save civilization and mankind and what impact will the vampire covens experience? Could potentially catastrophic events turn out to offer unforeseen opportunities?

An "Immortal Relations" reader said: "Being a bit of a vampire-phile, I find myself constantly searching for the next vampire series to reach out and grab, or, more appropriately, bite me. I believe I have found my holy grail of vampire novels..." Buy link: http://amazon.com/dp/B00A4IEHL6 

Excerpt (Shortened): It was a short flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg. There, our party was met by two limousines and whisked along to the historic Hermitage Museum. Arriving, it looked to me like the whole world was there, I didn't know why President Kolukov had me wear the Russian General's Uniform he gave me, but I wanted to humor my good friend. We exited the limousine onto a red velvet carpet that had wide gold piping down each side and which looked to be almost 400 meters long. I thought it odd that President Kolukov had me stand to his left and next to him, when Stephan was senior in rank ot my uniform. When we got to the head of the carpet we turned. Stephan and Adam moving behind us, I looked up and turning the corner onto the same red carpet we had just traveled was someone I would recognize anywhere, under any circumstance. It was Magdalena, on the arm of Roger, our doctor. At first I was confuse, but when I saw the dress she wore, an exact copy of her hand made blue dress, only in brilliant white and then heard the music, I realized what was happening...Magdalena and I were getting married! My friends had somehow arranged all this without even a hint that I picked up on. I had already glanced at some of those on either side of the isle and thought I recognized some political figures from various countries.

As Magdalena was escorted slowly forward, I was unable to look anywhere else; she was the only thing that existed in my universe. When she got close, I noticed she had a ribbon with a gold star hanging from it pinned over her left breast. I'd seen a similar medal, back when it was called "Hero of the Soviet Union," but this one had the double eagle of the Russian Federation. Only an old "war horse" like me would notices that when the woman he loved stood in front of him. An Eastern Orthodox Priest spoke the vows, translated into English for me. Magdalena didn't need a translator as she spoke several languages, Russian being one of them. We both answered "I do" and "I will," then I was asked to put the ring on Magdalena's finger - I started to panic, but Kolukov stepped forward and handed me a ring. My eyes bulged when I looked at it as it must have been five carats of a Red Ruby mounted in Gold! He said, "Just a little bobble courtesy of the Russian people and the Hermitage. I placed it on the finger of my bride, we were officially married and we kissed. Maggie red my thought and on impulse we both turned and kissed Kolukov, each of us on one side of his face. he broke out in loud laughter and said, "Everything has been taken care of for tonight, but the car will be there to pick you both up at 0900 tomorrow."

The two of us shook hands with Stephan, Adam and Roger, and then we made a bee-line to the limo that pulled up nearby,, as the driver beckoned to us. As we drove off, I wasn't aware of anything else except the pools of eternity that were Maggie's eyes! A few minutes after arriving at the hotel and in our rooms, I heard a knock. When I opened it I was dumbstruck to see the face I never expected to see in a hotel. He asked, "Will you invite me in?"

I stammered, "Of course, sir, you are most welcome, always!"

I think Maggie was as surprised as I was as Vlad Dracula walked into our honeymoon suite.

Vlad said, "I watched your marriage ceremony from the roof of the Hermitage Portico, I think it went very well. I hear you both are flying back to Prague in the morning. I am leaving in my private train in an hour or so, but I wanted to stop by and give you both my congratulations and my profound appreciation for all you have done." With that Vlad took Magdalena's hand and kissed it in formal European fashion, shook my hand, turned back to Magdalena and handed her a small box, smiled at both of us, then turned and walked out the door. I have to admit, I stuck my head out the door, but he had disappeared into think air.

I went to the closet and found my good suit hanging there, as well as my old suit, the one that had once had bullet holes in it from the terrorist ambush. It had been expertly repaired. I remarked to Maggie, "I doubt any tailor in the stares could have done that quality of work - our society would have just thrown it out. Maggie had hung her new dress up and when I looked she was wearing a beautiful white set of lingerie complete with white stocking, garter-belt and demi-bra. I was all silky, lacy and very sexy. Part of me stood at attention seeing her looking that way. Maggie suddenly scooped me up and flew over to the bed, placing me on it. I remarked, "I thought that was my job?" Maggie said I was taking too long so she got tired of waiting.

I said, "We're vampires, we've got eternity...why the rush?"

Maggie replied, "We have to be on the plane in less than 12 hours, and I've got an agenda planed for you to do to me, my loving husband, and a few things I intend to do to you as well!"

Author Bio: Born in Washington D.C. during the early stages of WW-II, Guy & his mother moved to Texas while father went off to war as a member of the Office of Strategic Services later to become the C.I.A. After the war, mother and child returned to Arlington, VA to join his father now working back in Washington and on "temporary duty" in spots around the world. Guy was interested and involved in long-distance running, which he continued when the family moved to Northern California in the late 50s. He graduated from Los Altos High School, obtained an Associate of Arts from Foothill Junior College and Transferred to Texas Christian University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the U.S.A.F. while in the military he obtained a Master of Arts from the European Campus of Ball State and upon his retirement from the service completed a second graduate degree, Master of Education, from Hardin-Simmons. While in this program he taught undergraduate Psychology, Sociology and Counseling at local colleges as well as writing a book on the assessment and treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder. He was then employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TX Prison System) to write treatment programs for inmates with addictions and later as an Associate Clinical Psychologist, retiring early to care for his disabled mother upon the passing of his father. He and his wife have two grown children and four grandchildren as well as three Pomeranians. They now live in West Texas.

To read more about the books or the author, check out these sites: http://immortalrelations.blogspot.com/ or http://amazon.com/author/guyogan

Dress Up, Dress Down Friday: Raven de Hart

Dress Up Dress DownWe're hosting a second Dress Up Dress Down Friday this month to celebrate the release of Silverfall by Raven de Hart. Please welcome her as today's guest blogger. My basic, everyday wear is jeans and a T-shirt. If I’m feeling particularly festive, I might wear a button-down blouse. That’s about as far as it goes. Sure, I have dresses and skirts and all that jazz, but who has the time? It’s not like I leave the house all that often, after all. Am I going to dress up to impress the dogs?

That’s essentially how my characters dress, too. Whatever would be normal. In the case of Leon and Tony from Silverfall, they’re two dudes who live in San Francisco. It’s basically always jeans and a T-shirt, and normally whatever they can get. Tony’s living paycheck to paycheck, and Leon’s clothing can’t be something he minds getting ripped up. Things he can move easily in at work (He’s a security guard, after all, and he lives a fairly drama-filled life aside from all that.). There’s nothing designer or all too fancy on either of them. Tony owns a suit, but he rarely breaks it out. As for Leon, he would probably consider it pretentious.

And, as a matter of pure writerly ease, you can’t deny how simple it is for them to get out of jeans and a T-shirt when the time comes for things to move to the bedroom. A three piece suit would put a major halt in the spontaneity factor, at least in my opinion, and spontaneity is definitely a buzzword for these two.

~~~

BLURB:

The city hides a lot of secrets. Sometimes, those secrets break free.

Cover Credit: Fiona Jade

Unicorns can’t be real. That’s what Anthony Gates always thought. At least until he saw one murder a man. Now there’s a myth stalking him through the streets of San Francisco. And right when he’s starting in on a very passionate—and promising—relationship.

Leon Phillips is a security guard with a secret. A dangerous secret. One he can’t even share with his new flame, Anthony. But when the mysterious Lionshead organization rears up, he’s left with only two choices: come clean about who he really is, or give up on Anthony forever.

Can their romance survive onslaught from all sides, or will the secrets eat away at what could have been?

EXCERPT:

I made it through and leaned against the other bar. This bartender wasn’t quite as cute as the first one, but I hardly thought I’d be headed home with either one of them. “Double bourbon, rocks.”

I reached for my wallet to give him my card, start a second tab, but a large, gruff hand wrapped over my wrist. Its partner handed a twenty to the bartender. “I’ll cover it.”

Shit on fire. Someone was actually paying for my drink. Of course, it was probably some old fart who was hoping to get lucky with someone the same age as his fucking grandson. That would be my luck. But I had to show my appreciation. Hopefully I could end the bad situation there.

“Thanks, but you really don’t have to.”

“It’s my distinct pleasure.”

He didn’t sound old. Fuck it. I dared eye contact, and I was fucking thrilled with the outcome. He was tall. Over six feet. Short black hair, clean-shaven, and well-built. Very well-built. He had these big, dark eyes. Almost black and almost too big for his face. His gaze bored into me. Even when I blinked, I could see them, clear as the clearest night sky. He had scars all over his face, neck, and arms. Subtle, but there. And, perhaps most importantly, he had to be somewhere close to my age. Or know a really good plastic surgeon.

“Hi.” I offered him my hand properly. He grabbed it, squeezed it as he shook. Strong.

“Hi. My name’s Leon.”

“Anthony.” I sipped at my drink, but suddenly, I didn’t seem to need it so much. I leaned on the bar and smiled. “So, how about that small talk?”

“Hate it. But I occasionally endure the torment.”

“On what occasions?”

He shrugged but didn’t break eye contact. “Mainly when my conversational partner is lovely enough to warrant the effort.”

“And do I qualify?”

Again, a shrug. Then a smile. It wasn’t a cute smile or a sexy smile or a pretty smile. It was too big, and his teeth were too horsey. That was all right with me. He was real and attractive, not fake and plastic like all the other guys I’d come across in California.

He took a drink of whatever was in his glass. “So the weather’s been pretty good lately.”

“It’s California. The closest thing I’ve seen to bad weather here is an earthquake.”

“Well, that’s not entirely true.” He clinked his glass against mine before continuing. “It rained that one time.”

“Must have been before I moved here.”

“Where’d you move from?”

“Montana.”

“Cow country.”

“Not exactly. Our neighbors did the whole cattle thing. My family was always more into horses.” And just like that, the unicorn trotted back into my mind. But it also trotted right back off and let me focus on Leon. “What about you?”

“I’ve pretty much been here my whole life. Moved around to different towns, but the city life always suited me best of all.” He took another drink and finished it most of the way off. “What do you do for a living?”

That was a great question. Totally made me datable material, talking about my dead-end job. “I’m on the night crew down at Michaelson’s Grocery.”

“What do you do?”

So much for my artful dodging. “I’m a stocker. Nothing special, but it pays the bills.” Needed to get off that subject quick. “What about you?”

“Security.” He said it fast. If I wasn’t feeling the liquor so hard, I might have questioned it. And if he wasn’t so damn good-looking and interested in me. For once. “I work for whoever decides to pay me that week.”

“Is it dangerous?”

He snorted. “Hardly. There’s not nearly as much activity as the TV writers would have you think.” He reached over and touched my cheek, rough skin scratching. “How do you feel about kissing strangers, Anthony?” When he pulled his bar stool closer, I didn’t back off. I thought I maybe should have, but I didn’t. I let him touch me. His skin was warm and hard, and he smelled like cut grass and wet dirt. I don’t know why. Maybe it was just my imagination. That was completely possible. But I still breathed deep. If my brain wanted me to think he smelled that perfect, I was going to take full advantage of the delusion.

He kept his hand there for a long time. Longer than I’d ever normally allow a stranger to touch me, sober or not. My heart thumped hard in my chest. Damn it, I felt good. I brushed my fingers through his hair. Soft to the touch.

And then it happened. I leaned forward, balancing my stool on two legs. Given how much liquor I’d had, that was an impressive fucking feat. I hesitated for half a breath just an inch away from him. Close enough to see his pores. Close enough to feel his gentle breath, hot and scented like whatever fruity cocktail he’d been drinking.

I leaned in that extra inch and pressed my lips to his. Not long. Hardly more than a peck. No tongue. But it still sparked inside me, lighting something animal to life in my core. I snuffed it out. Or tried…and failed. It remained there even as the heat of embarrassment took hold.

“Was that all right?”

“No complaints from me.” The big toothy smile again. “In fact, I think we should do it again.” He scooted even closer, weaving his legs between mine. He whispered the next part. “Go ahead.”

It took me a bit to believe it, to believe he really wanted to kiss again. But he didn’t pull back when I leaned closer. I parted my lips, conformed to the curve of his mouth. I dared a flash of tongue, just the slightest brush against his teeth. His tongue touched mine just as I went to pull back, and the sensation stuck there, lingering in my mouth.

I looked into the big, dark eyes. The skin crinkled around them as he laughed. “Well, I think that was okay, don’t you?”

BIO:

After years on hiatus, Raven de Hart has once again picked up her pen to write her salacious stories and tantalizing tales. And the occasional lewd limerick, if she's had enough wine. Her short work has been published in various anthologies from Cleis Press and Bold Strokes Books, among others. She is also the author of a variety of books, including Wild Ride and Silverfall. When she is not writing, she can be found tending her herb garden, playing with her Basset Hounds, and trying to figure out this new-fangled internet fad.

BUY LINK:

http://www.loose-id.com/silverfall.html

Find Raven at:

http://dehartslist.blogspot.com/

 

Dress Up, Dress Down Friday: Guest Author Kathryn Lively

I'm thrilled to welcome Kathryn Lively to LAM today. Great to have you, Kat! ********

promogeekmg

Geek Chic and the Romance Story

When I attend SFF or fandom conventions, I normally don’t go in costume. As much as I enjoy meeting people with similar tastes in books and TV, I lack the drive to gather props and put together a costume based on a favorite character. Mind you, I wouldn’t be embarrassed to try cosplay, it’s just that I’m more comfortable in a“Han Shot First” t-shirt and my reliable Vans, especially if I’m walking a lot that day. J

Recently, though, I go to these events with my daughter, and she loves to dress up. In the last few years she’s worn her old Monster High Halloween outfits to cons, but for a recent event she wanted to dress up like her favorite My Little Pony character, so it was off to Michael’s to get the necessary materials for the unicorn horn, wings, and jewelry. Watching her light up as we made the costume inspired part of the story behind my contemporary romance, GEEK MEETS GIRL, which is available in the FALLING IN LOVE contemporary romance box set.

The story’s heroine, Grace, attends her first convention dressed as the Fourth Doctor with a scarf she knitted herself. I would imagine any Doctor Who fan who takes up knitting attempts the scarf as the first project, and indeed I have knitted three so far in my lifetime. One as a gift, one as a raffle prize, and one for me. The Tom Baker scarf is probably one of the most recognizable fashion accessories in geekdom, and it’s this particular scarf that brings Grace together with her red shirt-wearing love interest, Mick. Yes, in sci-fi the red shirt implies bad luck to the wearer, but in Mick’s case he sees a different fate. J

Throughout GEEK MEETS GIRL I relied on memory of cons past to highlight the costumes worn by people Grace meets. If you’ve attended a convention you might picture in your head the Stormtroopers and superheroes and even some unusual cosplays you wouldn’t expect to find. Once at MarsCon I saw a guy dressed as Torgo from Manos: The Hands of Fate, right down to the straw hat and bulging knees. Cosplay fashion know no boundaries, and paired with romance you get a most attractive story.

About GEEK Meets Girl

bookA Time Lord, a Trekker, and a Ghostbuster walk into a science fiction convention. One finds love, one finds trouble, one finds both.

Grace is excited to attend her first event, while con veteran Mick enjoys tweaking her in a debate over whether or not Quantum Leap is superior to Doctor Who. Meanwhile, Mick’s roommate has designs on Grace to win a bet which has nothing to do fandoms.

Mick trades in his redshirt for shining armor, but can he win Grace’s heart first?

GEEK MEETS GIRL is part of the 8-author FALLING IN LOVE box set.

Author Biopic

Kathryn Lively writes mystery novels, comic novels, romance stories, and suspense. Feel free to chat her up on Twitter at @MsKathrynLively.

Web: http://www.kathrynlively.com

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bq-RML