Doreen Orsini

First let me say how sorry I am that I’ve been MIA so long.   Sometimes family comes first.  Well, it should always come first, but when you are a writer,  the line between the characters you created and the ones in your life grows blurry.  Your fifth grader asks for lunch just when your hero is in the midst of a life and death struggle.  Or, your teenager wants a ride to her boyfriend’s house–the boyfriend you despise–just when your heroine falls into the arms of your hero.  LOL Or you are in the middle of finally blogging and your teen son calls and asks if you could please, please drive him and his pals to Toysrus so they can buy a Ouija board!  Saying no, or telling them to wait becomes habit and if kept in check, works for both family and the writer.  There are times when your writing and communication with your readers must be put on that side burner while you give your family 100% of your time and love.  I’m sure many of my readers thought my absence was due to Triskelion’s bankruptcy.  No.  The two situations just came barreling into my life at the same time.

That aside…I have good news.  Ellora’s Cave has No One But Madison.   I’m looking forward to a long relationship with the publisher I have called my favorite since they first appeared on the internet.  I’m also writing like crazy and have a few agents asking to see my WIP.  I think I’ll keep the title a secret for now, but the book is as hot as No One But Madison and just as intense.  I’m trying something different…something that may test the limits RWA has put on romance. *chuckle* 

Tell me what you’ve been up to.  Authors are more then welcome to post about their new releases or sales here.  I’ve been out of action too long and would love to hear it all!

Doreen

My mother, a very wise woman, always told me that just when you think life has knocked you on your ass, and you want to wallow in your misfortune, God will find a way to remind you that you are truly blessed.  I did wallow after hearing about Triskelion filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and using our contracts as assets.  I cried.  I yelled at my computer.  I looked at what I’d written for book two of my Vampires of Mina’s Cove series then cried some more.  Then, when I thought life couldn’t get worse, I heard that my favorite aunt, Aunt Adeline, was knocking at death’s door and would definitely cross that last threshold of life.  Sob!  Could it get worse?  Poor me! 

Last night, Aunt Adeline passed away.  In the midst of my grief, my mother’s tears touched me.  I may have lost a cherished aunt, but she lost her sister!  My cousins lost their mother!  Her grandson, a boy who was once considered a genius but now, after a mishap that thrust an umbrella into his temple, can barely speak or function has lost his grandmother, a grandmother who lived with him and cared for him daily!  I have since learned that my cousin, Aunt Adeline’s oldest daughter, is in ICU and struggling to hold on.  And so, my cousins are not only dealing with losing a mother. 

Guilt.  Grief has no defense when that emotion we Italian’s were born and raised to embrace rears its head.  How could I pity myself?  I am so lucky to have both my parents with me.  My children are healthy and, barring the usual teen drama, bringing joy to my life.  As for this Triskelion mess, I had the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream and see a book with my name on it in a store!  Reviewers not only wrote rave reviews but emailed me to say that they loved Hunting Diana and my other books.  Readers have become devoted fans and quite a few are true internet friends.    I have a husband who responded to the Triskelion downfall not only with his usual support and confidence in my writing, but with two dozen roses and a four-pack of my fave comfort drink, mudslides.  I have a new series in progress that has caught the interest of top NYC print houses and a major agent.    I have met a group of authors at Triskelion I adore.  Triskelion may have folded in a way that left me and other authors struggling to get our rights back, but I will never regret becoming a Triskelion author.   I only wish that they had stopped taking on brand new authors during these last couple of months.  They are the ones needing the most support.  Their first contracted books are now held up in bankruptcy court and will not be their first releases.  Well, I’m hoping that they get something published fast enough to make the previous statement true! 

Death has a way of showing us that life is good.  Look around you and count your blessings. 

(I’d like to thank www.DearAuthor.com for posting helpful facts about bankruptcy and literary contracts.)

Doreen

Ever wish those tall, dark, tragic vampires you find in paranormal romances really existed?  I know I do.   When the sun sets, I listen to the sounds of awakening night creatures, and I wish that those romantic hunks with fangs that frighten and excite us were real.  My ideal vampire hunk would have long hair as black the sky on a moonless night.  His eyes would be the lightest blue with flecks of gold.  When passion takes hold, those gold flecks will burn until his eyes glow and heat flares beneath his gaze.  Sigh.  On to his body.  I’m petite so it doesn’t take much height to tower over me, but I want my vampire hunk a foot taller.  Why?  I want to feel his domination.  I want big hands that are rough and scrape when they glide along my skin.  Give me callouses!  *Ok, the legs are crossing*  What else?  Lips.  I think Brad Pitt has perfect lips.  They are full and strong, but that pouting lower lip gives me a sense of vulnerability and lets face it, we want them strong but vulnerable!  Leg muscles are a must.  Gotta have the strength to go all night, right?  Oh, what the hell, muscles that bulge just enough to show all over his body. 

Speaking of muscles, I saw a show the other night that made me cringe.  The man had a nice face but had triceps that were way, way, way too big.  His measurement for biceps and triceps was 24 inches!  Now, my vampire hunk had better look like that.  Yuck.

And yet, I want to see his arms bulge when he’s….ah…working out with me.  Hell, I don’t just want to feel the energy; I want to see his body strain from it!  Stubble.  Gotta have stubble.  Yes, I like to feel the scratch of more than just those calloused hands. 

There is one thing I feel all vampires should have.  A roar.  Is that lame?  Maybe.  But I want roars and growls, animalist sounds that prove I’ve pushed my vampire hunk close to releasing his inner beast. 

Tell me a bit about your perfect vampire. 

I’m sure those of you who are familiar with my writing saw the title and thought I meant sexual climax.  Sorry.  I’ll talk dirty later.

I received an email this past week about my paperback, Hunting Diana.  It seems the reader loved the book but found the ending rather abrupt.  How could I leave her wondering if the Slashers make it over the wall?  Why doesn’t the book tell her what happens to Lucian and Diana?  My response….WHAT???   After some investigation, I uncovered the problem.  Some of the books went out with the last 30 pages missing!  That means some readers’ copies ended during the climax!  And so, I implore all who had similar questions after reading Hunting Diana, book one of The Vampires of Mina’s Cove, to contact the publisher, bookstore, or online store.  You will receive a copy with the ending.  Now, this makes me wonder.  My Romantic Times Magazine review was as follows:

This wonderfully sensual vampire romance is accented with a touch of horror. The vampires are fairly traditional, with a unique soul-mate bonding ritual. The villain is quite evil, and readers will find themselves rooting for her to get her due. The ending is rather abrupt, leaving you wanting just a bit more.

Is it possible that she read a book that came to an end during the climax!

Speaking of climax…

I realize that many women believe the fun ends when they or their partner climax.  Not so!  First of all, we all have the ability to have multiple orgasms.  Well, not men, poor souls.   I thought that I was one of those unlucky ladies who was lucky if she climaxed once.  Believing that, I  — like so many — felt the fun ended when my orgasm ended.  And then I discovered Jack.  Mr. Rabbit to some.  Jack Rabbit can bring anyone to orgasm.  It’s true!  Those magical ears can perform miracles.  Forget running through a shopping list or balancing the checkbook while Jack’s doing his job!  And if the honey reaches his climax before you do, don’t cry.  Get out Jack!  Unlike most men, Jack will go on and on and on until you’re ready to stop…or pass out from one too many orgasms.  Beware though, Jack is addictive.  Some men *smiles at hubby* will call you greedy.  Especially when they know you faked NOT having a orgasm just so you can take out Jack.  I even wrote an ode to Jack for my first month as the columnist of  Suite’s toy review column, Pandora’s Box.  Check it out at www.suitemag.com

Wednesday, I’ll post some pictures from the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention in Houston!  If you have any of yourself and me in Houston, send them to me at doreen.orsini @ yahoo.com!  I’ll put them up! 

Welcome to Doreen’s new blog!