Author Christine d’Abo

I want to start this post by saying thank you! I’ve met so many wonderful people over the past year of blogging. You’ve been there for me when I’ve struggled, and to share my successes. The support I’ve received over the past few days, weeks, month has made me realize how truly lucky I am. To everyone who has ever linked to my site, offered a word of support, or simply been there to chat, I’m sending you cyber HUGS, KISSES and my most sincere gratitude.

And now…

OMG IT’S OUT!!!

Second, today is the release day of my cyber friend Joely Sue Burkhart!! I’ve been reading Joely’s blog for quite a while now, after having discovered her through Thursday Thirteen. A wonderful lady! Survive My Fire sounds delicious and I can’t wait to buy this once I get home.

 Last, today is the official Launch of 6 Degrees of Sexy!!! I’m joining Wylie Kinson, Amy Ruttan, Renee Field, Robin L. Rotham, and Red Garnier on a wild adventure into the world of sexy. Yes, another blog you MUST add to your list. The official release is today, so stop by and say hello!

Well everyone, the day will finally be here tomorrow! The Bond That Ties Us is set for release bright and early tomorrow morning from Ellora’s Cave. Am I nervous…damn straight! But here are thirteen things I’ve done to try and keep my mind off of R-Day.

1. Work. Yes, no calling in sick for this trainer. It’s actually a good week for me because I have my customer service class to train. No time to think about the fact my soul will be bared to the world tomorrow.

2. Watch season three of Doctor Who / season one of Torchwood. And reading every damn bit of trivia I can find on the show. Other than Star Trek, Doctor Who is the one sci-fi show I’ve been watching since I was a kid. Has a special place in my heart. Plus I love David Tennent!

3. Write. Okay, so this week hasn’t been so good on the writing front. I did much better last week. Sven will be upset. But I’ve still managed 5000 or so words, so not too bad.

4. Talk. When I’m nervous I talk…a lot. Even more than normal. It’s really quite scary.

5. Haunting the blog world. I’ve been reading so many blogs this week it’s crazy. People I haven’t met before, checking out new places. Every time I start to panic about Bonds, I simply look for a new blog.

6. Promo. Or at least try to promo. It’s all so new to me still.

7. Go to the Ellora’s Cave Coming Soon Page. Sad as this is, I’ve been watching my cover move up the list. The art work is finally up too! Which is good considering it’s releasing TOMORROW!

8. YouTube. I’ve been spending more time than usual on YouTube. I’ve found some very strange things. That will have to be another TT list.

9. Make marks on my calendar. I actually have three locations where I’ve marked the day. I have a white board at work with the countdown number in the corner. I have it circled on my calendar in my cube, and at home. You’d think I know the date already. OCD anyone??

10. Read. I’ve actually have been on a bit of a vampire kick, which is odd because I don’t normally read vampire books. I finished December Quinn’s Blood Will Tell (which totally rocked - go buy it!), Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (which also totally rocked!) and I’ve just started J.R. Ward’s Dark Lover. Loving Wraith so far.

11. Exercising! I’ve been saying for a while I needed to get back to exercising, and I’ve actually started. Nothing major yet, but I’m going to set up my routine this weekend and start.

12. Trying not to whine. This is hard, because of #4. When I talk a lot it can come dangerously close to whining. My husband usually give me “the look” and I stop.

13. Coming up with a TT list. You’d think this would be easy! I’ve toyed with a few ideas over the past week but couldn’t think of a thing to say. So I did what I normally do - just sat down and wrote.

Happy TT everyone!

I thought for this Thursday Thirteen, I’d give you thirteen facts about The Bond That Ties Us, release next week!

1. The Bond That Ties Us is set on Eurus colony, found many hundred light years from Earth. The colonists had to be cryogenetically frozen to make the trip.

2. Haylie Bond is the new security chief. No one knows what happened to her predecessor and his files have gone missing.

3. Haylie doesn’t act on impulse because she feels she’d be too much like her mother, who’d abandoned Haylie and her father for another man.

4. Ambassador Kamran represents the Briel, a race of people who have helped the humans establish a colony and presence in this sector of space.

5. Kamran is the youngest and most celebrated ambassador his people has ever had. He takes his job very seriously, and has spent the last year trying to prevent the Ecada from attacking the human/Briel colony.

6. Ownership of Eurus is currently under dispute. A brutal race known as the Ecada want the planet for their own. Ideally with the humans for a food source.

7. The Briel are governed by a matriarch. There are fewer women than men on their planet, and finding a mate is of great importance. Only single Briel men, or widowed Briel females have positions off world.

8. Sara Fergus is Haylie’s best friend and the colony’s new doctor. Sara is a bit clumsy, but is a fantastic doctor. She tries to get Haylie to relax.

9. Taber is the Briel head of security. He’s completely loyal to Kamran and lives strictly by the Briel rules of conduct.

10. Off world, the Briel are governed by a subset of the Briel government known as the Elder Council. This is comprised of widowed Briel females.

11. As soon as Haylie arrives on the planet, she is overcome with a wave of desire. She’s not sure what is wrong or who it’s directed toward until she sees Kamran.

12. Once Haylie and Kamran realize there is a connection between them, they decied to hide it from others. If the council finds out about them, they will be forced to leave the colony and return to Briel.

12. The Bond That Ties Us goes on sale from Ellora’s Cave on July 20th!

I have to say that my multitasking skills have been tested over the past three days. I’ve somehow managed to write 21 pages (9781 words) in my WIP since Sunday, watched 6 episodes of Torchwood with my husband and even played a bit with my kids. Oh, and work full time.

So this morning, I find myself a bit tired. No, I’m not giving up on sweat. I’m thrilled that I’ve managed to get as much writing done as I have. I’m a deadline person apparently and external pressure is something I thrive under. Simply a statement.

Part of it has to do with the fact I haven’t really had any vacation this year. My trip to PEI, while fun, wasn’t relaxing. I’m still freaking out about The Bond That Ties Us release next week, and I know that’s taking a toll. I’ll be glad when it’s out so I can stop worrying.

Oh, and about me stopping in the middle of a love scene yesterday…my love scenes tend to be a chapter in length (or there abouts), so I’ve learned to press pause on the passion when I need to. I’d rather stop mid way than be tired and try and write it.

Hi everyone! Nothing better to perk you up than someone saying wonderful things about your book. Cathyrn Fox just finished reading, The Bond That Ties Us and had this to say:

Solid storytelling, creative plot, and decadent sensuality.  The Bond That Ties Us is a highly erotic, fast paced, heart pounding love story that will grip readers from page one and not let go until the very end.  With her captivating characters, vivid descriptions and excellent imagination, this new author of erotic romance is going to leave readers salivating for more. 

Award winning author–Cathryn Fox

I’m so excited!

The Bond That Ties Us is coming out in two weeks!!

Hello everyone! I made it back from PEI in one piece. We had a great time, despite the fact it was cold and rainy for two of the three nights. The kids had a great time and we got to see lots. We want to go back next year and just hang out in some of the more kid friendly areas. I went to the Cows store and got myself this new t-shirt! If you haven’t seen these before check them out!

I’m glad everyone enjoyed the excerpt! Remember, The Bond That Ties Us is set to release on July 20th!

I’m still not 100% with it today, but I’ll be back into the swing of things tomorrow when I get back to work *sob*.

Well, I’m going to be away for the next few days. I won’t even be thinking about my computer, but I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures to share when I get back. Also, check the post below this one regarding some help that Colleen Gleason needs about giving away a free book!

I thought I’d leave you with an excerpt from The Bond That Ties Us, which will be released in 22 days!!

Happy Canada Day weekend!

—

     “Are you okay?” She said the words against his ear.    
     “It happens like this…before we…I’m fine.”
     He licked up the side of her neck, tasting her salty skin. Better than the finest food.
     “Before we what?” Haylie gasped and tilted her head back.
     “Before we mate. If the female rejects the male, he dies.”
     Her lips moved everywhere. Against his cheek. Kissing his jaw line. Making their way to his ear, she circled the ridge. He sighed, clutching her shoulders when she began to suckle the lobe.
     “I need you.”
     Haylie’s soft words in his ear elicited a dark, almost primal response from him. Kamran pulled her back, her face finally coming into focus. Her long brown hair covered her shoulders and back like a veil. She stared up at him with the most amazing green eyes. They were the color of the Briel countryside after the planting rains.
     Her face was flushed, the color traveling down her neck and disappearing under a soft, smooth shirt. He had to know how far down that blush went. Kamran took the tip of his finger and hooked it on her neckline. Tugging her shirt down, he now had access to the tops of her breasts. The blush continued lower, tempting him to continue his exploration. Bending his head down, Kamran placed a single kiss in the top of her cleavage. She smelled like sex, the promise of pleasure.
     She pulled his head up and crushed her lips against his again, driving her tongue deep into his mouth, teasing as it went. He lapped at her, tasting her sweetness. His cock tightened and pulsed as her lips demanded more from him. Kamran, in turn, slid his hand under her shirt, brushing his fingers against the side of her breast and across her waist before reaching the smooth hollow of her back.
       Her sigh told him she enjoyed the sensation and he fleetingly wondered if all Briel males instinctively knew where their mates liked to be touched. Kamran moved his mouth along her cheek to her neck. His tongue licked as he kissed her. Her heartbeat quickened under his lips and she drove her hands into his hair.
     “Please, don’t stop.”
     Her plea pushed Kamran to the edge of his control. Reclaiming her lips with his, he slipped his tongue deep into her mouth needing to taste her. Haylie’s fingers were cool against his heated skin. His heart pounded as wildly as hers. She ran her hands over the tunic that covered his chest, sliding them down the length of his sides to tug on the hem.
     “Take this off.”
     Kamran obediently stood. He watched her eyes widen as he reached his full height. He knew his size wasn’t as impressive as some of his race, but she seemed pleased. He yanked the tunic off and was rewarded with a sigh from Haylie.
     “Just like I pictured you.”
     The unexpected incapacitation he’d experienced minutes earlier was gone. In its place was blinding arousal. This was what his brother spoke of. When she rose to her knees and ran her fingers over his stomach, Kamran thought he’d died. His cock was straining painfully against his pants as she pressed her cheek against it. He wanted her to free him, take his shaft in her mouth so he could feel her wicked tongue on him. A groan exploded from him and the sound echoed in the hall.
     They both froze, realizing at the same time where they were.
     “Oh my god,” Haylie said with a shaken voice.

I just snuck a quick peek at the Ellora’s Cave coming soon page. The Bond That Ties Us is there! I just squeaked it! They don’t have the cover up art yet, but I hope it’s there soon.

 I’m so exctied!!!!

I don’t know why but last night I officially started my countdown to the release of The Bond That Ties Us. Maybe it’s the OCD coming out in my personality, heck maybe it’s just nerves, but I needed to know.

43 Days.

I’ve come to the realization that I haven’t done much in the way of marketing to get the word out that my book is coming soon. I need to correct that. I’ve talked about doing this before, but now with only 43 (eek) days left the urge to get off my butt and take action is growing.

So, I’m going to get some book covers made up, and maybe some magnets. And I’m planning on running a contest in July. Other than that, I’m not sure. People have sent me lots of resources on what/how to market, I just need to take a look at them.

Other than writing and starting to sweat (43 days…) I’ve been reading. I bought and devoured Gideon by Jacquelyn Frank. I’ll do a review on Friday, but I have to say I really enjoyed this book. Next on my plate is Rises The Night by Colleen Gleason. I can’t wait to get more Max…love Max. I’m sure I’ll read that one quickly too. After than I have the first four books in J.R. Ward’s Dark Lover series. Until the pile on my night stand drops, I’m not allowed to buy anymore books.

Must read faster…