C. Margery Kempe: The Swan Prince

Please help me welcome a woman who has been called the Queen of Erotic Fairy Tales, C. Margery Kempe. And with stories like Love Me Like a Reptile, Spinning Gold, and her latest, The Swan Prince, it's easy to see why C. Margery has picked up this monicker.

Her backlist doesn't stop there. C. Margery boasts a number of releases . . . Dragger Ella, Text Play, Sex Cymbals, and many more, including the popular Man City, published by our very own Tirgearr Publishing.

When not writing erotica, C. Margery can often be found blogging at Nights of Passion, researching her next sexy story, or traveling . . . and not necessarily in that order. In fact, C. Margery just spent a year in Ireland teaching at the esteemed University of Ireland at Galway. How cool is that?

C. Margery's latest story, The Swan Prince, was just published with Tirgearr Publishing. This is the story of Lena and Charles and and evil curse. You see, Charles was turned into a swan by an evil sorceress and is doomed to live out his days on the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park if he can't find a way to reverse the curse. Along comes Lena who falls head over heels for him. When she discovers his secret, and not being one to shy away from a challenge, Lena looks for a way to break the curse. And not being one to shy away from a little adventure, C. Margery lets her characters explore their sensuality . . . even if it's in the middle of Hyde Park in broad daylight!

The Swan Prince is a sweet erotica. C. Margery has left gritty language and bold scenes at the door with this story and focuses on how love and romance can heighten sexual response. Daring outdoor trysts enhance this story, and pulling in a bit of a fairy tale backdrop makes The Swan Prince a very elegantly told story. One with a VERY satisfying ending.

I've been chatting with C. Margery, as I'm wont to do, asked her about her life outside of her actual writing.

Hi C. Margery! Thanks for visiting us today. Readers will be familiar with your work, or will be soon! Your stories give us a view of what's inside your head when you're writing and what ends up on the page. But let's talk about where you work rather than how. Please describe your writing space.

At present I write in bed at my sweetie's house, a jumble of electronics on the table next to me, my calendar in the vague hope of remembering what day it is. My sweetie brings me tea while I write: how spoiled am I? I often drag my MacBook around the house, curling up on the sofa or sitting in the kitchen and writing away. If I feel restless, I head off to the library or the museum with a pad of paper to figure out what needs to filtered out.

What is your daily writing routine like?

I wake up, open the computer and write. When I've got a good bit done, I finally get out of bed and join the living. I generally do email and social media and some reading and then more writing later in the day, although often a different project than the morning.

What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?

Not...writing...? ;-) I like to dawdle. I wander around town and visit museums or the library or gardens or the lovely Howff Cemetery. When I was living in Galway, I would head to the bay, listen to the waves and watch the clouds. I love films and theatre, too. And then there's travel, too.

And we know C. Margery loves to travel. During her year in Ireland, she could be found as often traveling around Ireland and the UK as she was around Galway itself. And she spent the summer in Dundee, Scotland.

For those unfamiliar with C. Margery's work, and for those anxious for her most recent release, here's an excerpt from The Swan Prince.

• • •

"Shall I walk you back to your side of the park?"

Lena smiled. "That would be lovely."

The shouts from the boaters as they crossed the Serpentine Bridge reminded Lena of the rescue. Was it only yesterday? She squeezed Charles' hand. He had taken it without comment when they began walking and she thrilled to the feel of his warm fingers. He had large hands that looked soft despite the recent scratches that adorned them.

He must be new to this kind of life. Lena's heart melted again to think of the burden he bore. What was he doing at night that he couldn't tell her? Something that shamed him? Something that worried him? Could he be in some kind of trouble? Maybe he's living rough in the park!

Once the idea had flown into her head, she couldn't chase it away. Surely he had to wait for darkness to fall and hide himself. Lena wondered if she could find a way to get him to reveal this secret, turning the thought over in her mind as they walked through the bright cheerfulness of the late afternoon sun.

"I guess we should say good-bye," Charles said when they reached Clarendon Gate. He blushed a little as he said so, looking down at his feet.

"Thank you for a lovely day," Lena said, stepping closer to him.

Charles gazed at her with a smile. The white shock of hair flopped over his forehead as he tilted his head down to meet her eyes, those blue orbs of his shining brightly. "Thank you for a tasty lunch."

And just like that their lips were touching in the first soft exploration of a kiss. Lena closed her eyes to enjoy the bliss. Charles moved his hands up to cup her face as Lena opened her mouth. His tongue thrust between her lips and she wanted to melt right there. Their chests pressed together as his fingers slipped into her hair.

This could go on forever and I wouldn't mind a bit. Lena had no concept of how much time had passed before they pulled apart and looked blinking at each other. Charles grinned. Lena grinned back.

"One of us ought to say something," Charles said at last.

"Why?" Lena leaned back in for another kiss. She slid her hands around his waist and thrilled to contours of his body. How simple but strong was the pleasure of being close enough to feel the power of his breathing, the beat of his heart.

• • •

C. Margery Kempe is a writer of erotic romance distinguished by its humour, intelligence, and fearless sensual pleasures. Her stories range from contemporary thrillers to medieval era fairy tales.

An English professor by day, she also writes on medieval literature, film, creative writing and New Media, as well as humor, drama, mainstream and genre fiction under her real name and non-explicit romance as Kit Marlowe.

She's a weekly blogger at Nights of Passion on Sundays.

 • • •

For more information on The Swan Prince and C. Margery Kempe, readers are invited to visit these sites. C. Margery loves hearing from her readers, so drop be a note --

C. Margery's website - http://www.cmkempe.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/cmkempe
Twitter - https://twitter.com/cmkempe
C. Margery's blog: Nights of Passion - http://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com
Tirgearr Publishing - http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Kempe_CM

And if you want to buy a copy of The Swan Prince, be sure to visit C. Margery's page at Tirgearr Publishing with all her buy links. The Swan Prince is available for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony, iTunes/iBooks, and all other readers --

--- } http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Kempe_CM

And don't forget to check our her previous release, Man City

ANNIVERSARY SALE --

This Wednesday, 29 August, Tirgearr Publishing is hosting a one-day only 50% off sale on all of our current titles. Don't miss this event. Just log into our website and click the buy links on your favorite authors. Readers can pick up both The Swan Prince and Man City at 50% off each title . . . as good as 2-fer-1. An excellent investment in any erotica reader's collection!

Miriam Newman: The Eagle's Woman

Please welcome the multi-talented Miriam Newman. I've only met Miriam recently but found she's one of those kindred spirits one is lucky to come across in a lifetime. She's a lovely woman with wide-ranging talents and interests, many of which include helping those in need through social work and animal rescue. She's also an avid traveler and voracious reader.

My first introduction to Miriam's work came with her historical romance called The Comet, which is the story of a Norman knight who's wounded at the Battle of Hastings and nursed back to health by Saxon woman, as is her Christian duty. But her growing love for the Norman scares her, as does her sudden marriage to the man, and she runs home to her family across the Borders for protection. She doesn't expect her new husband to come for her. Lots of action and intrigue here!

Miriam's newly released book, The Eagle's Woman, is book one of The Eagle series. Ari is the son of an impoverished Norse chieftain. Why his father lays dying, Ari takes to raiding as a means to support and feed his people. Ari develops a notorious reputation, someone whom is feared beyond measure. He's a Pagan and therefor a heathen in the eyes of the Church, yet he spares priests during his raids, and any Christian woman who falls in love with him will be committing a sin in the eyes of God. Which is fine with Ari, as his life as a warrior doesn't have time for women or love.

During a raid to Ireland, Ari abducts Maeve from the peaceful fishing village where she lives, and from that moment, every belied he had in himself is called into question the moment he's alone with this woman.

Something tells me Miriam relishes a great, action-packed historical!

I had the pleasure of chatting with Miriam about life behind the pen. She lets us into her sanctuary for a peak.

Hi Miriam. Thanks for visiting with us today. Please, describe your writing space.

In my little two bedroom Victorian cottage, I have turned one of the bedrooms into my office. A nice solid desk sits tucked into an alcove beneath a picture of a steeplechase race in Aiken, S.C., to the side of another picture representing a typical Chester County foxhunting scene. Would you guess that I live in Horse Country? On the right-hand wall is a picture of my husband on the 37 horse farm where we lived just after we were married. The remaining walls are splashed with framed book covers—all 14 of them!  It looks like a romance Rogues’ Gallery. Finally against the fourth wall an overloaded bookcase is on the point of collapse, suffocating under the weight of research books. If it over-balances, it will fall on the FAX machine roosting on its spindly stand.  Eek! Oh, yes, and my pit bull puppy is asleep on my feet after an altercation with the cat that wore her out. Meanwhile, I am attempting to write. 

Sounds like you're a nester . . . collecting all your best-loved items around you and making a comfortable environment for your writing.

What is your daily writing routine like? 

It usually happens in the middle of the night because I work two jobs and write when I should be sleeping. Everything looks as described above except that at that point the puppy has despaired of my coming to bed and gone to sleep on it! She will wake again at 5 a.m., when I have been asleep for three hours.

So, you're a night writer too! You're one busy lady! I don't know how you fit it all in. What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?

Sleeping! There is so little time for it and some of my best ideas come in dreams. I also love to travel and will be going to Ireland on vacation at the end of September.

How wonderful! You'll be on my turf soon. Maybe we can hook up for a face-to-face! Thanks for stopping by today.

So, here it is . . . an excerpt for The Eagle's Woman. You can tell by the cover, Ari is one sexy Norseman!

• • •

“What?” Ari asked, reaching with his free hand to take her chin in it. His thumb caressed her bottom lip and she thought she was not out of danger with him, no matter how disheveled her appearance. This man wanted her, no doubt of it. Not enough to commit violence on her, apparently, but she thought gentleness held its own dangers. If she was not careful, it could weaken her will. He was not unattractive—with fair skin, strong angular features and striking eyes—though just then he looked like a drowned rat as all of them did. It did not obscure the strength of his body or the keen intelligence in those eyes. She turned her head to the side, dislodging his thumb.

“I have not seen tears from you before,” he said thoughtfully, “though many of the others are crying. What has finally broken you?”
 
“I am not broken,” she spat, “only mourning two good people who raised me. But I am sure you know nothing of such feelings.”
 
He sat back on his heels. “Do I not? Two good people raised me as well. One lies crippled in his sickbed and the other waits for me to bring coin to buy things a sick man needs.”
 
Maeve was silent, surprised and momentarily chastened. She had never seriously supposed he had motives other than greed.
 
“Do you think raiding is worthy of a fighting man?” he persisted. “I would rather face an army than hungry children.”
 
She stifled an impulse toward sympathy. “Ours are dead or captive. You seem to have no trouble facing that.”
 
Abruptly, he set both feet beneath himself and got up, undaunted by the motion of the ship which made such things impossible for Maeve. She had not noticed a wineskin hanging from the rigging, but she saw him reach for it then. “I cannot help your children.” He took a fulsome swig. “Just mine.” Wiping the neck with his wet tunic, he held the wineskin out to her.
 
It was decent wine, probably from their monastery, tasting of strength and summer. She needed strength to remember that summer would come again, so she drank.

• • •

Fantasy poetry driven by myths and legends has been Miriam’s passion for as long as she can remember.  She was published in poetry before catching the romance writing bug.  She brings that background to her writing along with a lifelong addiction to horses, an 18 year career in various areas of psychiatric social services and many trips to Ireland, where she nurtures her muse.  Her published works range from contemporary fantasy romance to fantasy historical, futuristic, science fiction and historical romance.  Currently she lives in rural Pennsylvania with a “motley crew” of rescue animals.  You can view her books at www.miriamnewman.com.

• • •

For more information on The Eagle's Woman and Miriam Newman, readers are invited to visit these sites. Miriam loves hearing from her readers, so drop her a note --

Miriam's website - http://www.miriamnewman.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/miriam.newman1
Dark Castle Lords Publications - http://thedarkcastlelords.net/?page_id=502

---} And if you want to buy a copy of The Eagle's Woman, you can find a copy on Amazon Kindle, or drop over to Fictionwise or All Romance Books.

Elizabeth Delisi: Fatal Fortune

Please help me welcome mystery author, Elizabeth Delisi. Liz and I have been friends for many years, and over that time, I've become very fond of her stories. Almost as fond as I am of her ;-) Liz has been telling stories since she was very young and publishing since the late 1990s, starting with Fatal Fortune, which Tirgearr Publishing has had the honor of republishing this year.

Fatal Fortune is the first in the Lottie Baldwin Mysteries. Lottie, Carlotta Baldwin, is a woman who reads tarot cards and has some deeper sense of when things are about to happen. The townspeople aren't too keen on Lottie or her abilities, usually preferring to shun her. But when the town Sheriff's Deputy Chief, Harlan Erikson, first meets Lottie, he falls head over heals for her. He loves her quirkiness and how everything around her seems to brighten because of her uniqueness. He's dubious about her abilities, but quickly comes to learn that Lottie is a lot more than what she lets others see. Sometimes even what she lets him see.

Fatal Fortune opens with Lottie performing her ritual morning card reading and discovers someone quite close to her is in trouble. When her best friend, Janet Larson, appears at Lottie's door, erratic and saying her husband never came home last night, Lottie is put into action to find Harry. Try as Harlan does, he can't repress the irrepressible Lottie Baldwin. Not when she has a goal in mind. Especially when that goal involves beloved friends.

Fatal Fortune is a great fireside mystery with a touch of romance. This story takes readers through the intricacies of a classic whodunnit that includes a cast of interesting characters who all have one wondering which of them is responsible for Harry's disappearance.

This is a unique read in that, while Liz is great with imagery and has a knack for twists and turns in her tales, each chapter is headed by a tarot card from her own homemade deck. Each card is like a reading for that chapter. Fun stuff!

Well done, Liz!

Liz took a brief hiatus from writing, but she's back on track with republishing some of her back list on the lead-up to releasing some new stories. Fatal Fortune is the first in that effort, and I understand the sequel, Perilous Prediction, is well-underway. And she's penned the outline for the third in the series, Deadly Destiny. I'm just loving these titles!!

I had a chat with Liz recently and we talked about her writing life. Those of you who know writers know we're an interesting bunch of characters ourselves!

Hi, Liz. Thanks for the chat. So, tell us about your writing space. What's it like in your 'writer's cave'?

We live in a very small house, so my writing space is in a corner of the bedroom. I have my computer desk, a filing cabinet, and my Governor Winthrop desk that used to belong to my mom, in one corner. They're all cluttered with cartoons, keepsakes, and computer accessories. Hey, I never said I was neat.

Most days, my parakeet Koko and his cage accompany me, keeping me company from the window next to my desk. When I let him out, he hops onto the keyboard and bites me if I try to type. I guess he has some story ideas of his own he wants to get down! On days when the upstairs is too hot, Koko and I hunker down in the living room with the window AC.

I've seen pictures of Koko. He's such a beautiful bird, and I know you've had him practically from the shell! When he lets you write, what is your daily writing routine like?

Most of my morning is taken up with chores, including 1-1/2 hours of exercise, feeding Koko, making coffee, etc. When all that is done, I sit down at my computer, go through e-mail, then start on the work of the day--writing, editing, and/or teaching. With breaks for lunch and coffee, I work until my husband gets home, usually around 7 p.m. I work a shorter day on Saturday, and usually take Sunday off.

What I work on on any given day depends on my deadlines.

You're a busy woman, I know. Makes me wonder how you fit it all in. What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing? What do you do for fun?

Reading, of course. I read in a wide variety of genres, especially mystery, romance, paranormal, and suspense. I love to knit, have been doing it since I was five. My yarn stash takes up another corner of the bedroom, and just seeing all those soft, colorful skeins of potential makes me happy. I collect tarot card decks and enjoy using them for family and friends. I also collect antique compacts, and giraffes, so looking for new items at antique stores is a lot of fun.

I'd say you and I would be deadly together! Yarn, tarot cards, antique stores . . . bliss!

Here's an excerpt of Fatal Fortune. Reader, you can see for yourself what a great read this is. The prologue to Fatal Fortune is on Liz's page at Tirgearr Publishing. Here's chapter one!

• • •

CHAPTER ONE

A Friend Seeks Advice

Lottie Baldwin turned with a sigh from her bedroom window with its monotonous view of leaden skies and swirling flakes. Something inside warned her today would be a doozy.

She knew from experience there was little she could do to avert whatever unpleasant events the day brought. The best thing she could do was wait and try to roll with the punches.

She walked gingerly down the narrow, steep stairs, promising herself for the hundredth time to have a handrail put in, and turned into the kitchen. She rinsed the teakettle, then filled it and set it on the stove to boil. Tea had soothing properties; it seemed she would need them today.

When her tea was made, she went into the dining room. Setting her mug on the table, Lottie retrieved her tarot cards from her desk drawer and slid the cards from their emerald green velvet bag. She might not be able to avert the day’s events, but there was no reason she couldn’t use the powers she possessed to prepare herself for what those events might be.

She shuffled the cards to remove any trace of influence from the last reading. She placed her significator, the card that represented her, in the center.

Then, she dealt the cards into the five-pointed star pattern she’d devised. She found the pattern excellent for revealing the day’s general happenings.

The Queen of Pentacles appeared first. That could mean one of several people, but the most likely candidate was Janet Larson.

Janet was Lottie’s closest friend; the only female friend she had, in fact, in Cheyenne. Lottie had met Janet while waiting tables in a cafeteria at the college Janet attended in Brooklyn, and they’d struck up an instant friendship. Two years after graduation, when a serious affair of Lottie’s had ended, she felt she needed a change of scene. Never one to do things by half-measure, she packed up her belongings and moved to Cheyenne.

Most of the townspeople had been turned off by Lottie’s flamboyant charm. She was an oddity in the small farming community. If her personality were the only unusual thing about her, she might have eventually won acceptance. But almost everyone viewed her psychic powers with disbelief, disapproval or outright fear. Many people sought her prophecies under cover of secrecy, but no one came openly. A “fortune teller” was more than Cheyenne could handle. But Janet had welcomed her with open arms.

Lottie turned the next card, the Hermit, and laid it beside The Queen of Pentacles. A friend would seek Lottie’s advice and counsel. That had to be Janet. The only other person in town who was more than civil to Lottie was Harlan Erikson, and he was sure he knew it all. Though he was willing to take her love and affection, he wouldn’t ask for her advice. Like the seekers of late-night predictions, Harlan only took advice that was veiled in shadowy suggestion.

Next, she turned up the King of Swords. Analytical, logical and incorruptible, the card suited Harlan perfectly. He would play an important role in the events to come.

Trying to elicit more information about the advice-seeking friend, Lottie turned up the next card, the Ten of Swords. Treachery; a stab in the back. Was Janet in danger? Or perhaps Janet’s husband Harry, or their daughter Laura? The idea seemed ludicrous, yet Lottie had learned to trust her interpretation of the cards. Most often she was correct.

The final card revealed was the Three of Swords. It foretold heartbreak, betrayal, perhaps death.

Lottie became alarmed. Janet was willowy and frail, and it appeared she was in for a very rough time. What the problem would be, Lottie couldn’t determine. But it was obvious Janet would turn to her for help, and she had to be prepared.

She gulped down the rest of her tea, then gathered up her cards, shuffled them and replaced them in the green bag. She took her mug to the kitchen and rinsed it out, then put a full kettle of water on to boil. Having a whole potful of chamomile tea on hand wouldn’t hurt.

She didn’t have long to wait and wonder. The doorbell rang twice in close succession. As Lottie walked to the door, it rang a third time.

“I’m coming, Janet,” she called. She reached the wooden kitchen door, opened it, then pushed open the storm door. “Come in.”

Janet’s cheeks and nose were pink from the cold, but the rest of her complexion was pale as porcelain. Her green wool coat matched her eyes. Janet looked as if she’d left in a hurry. Her jacket hung open and the front of her pink sweater and long, denim-clad legs were freckled with snowflakes, as was her short, dark hair. The flakes instantly disappeared when she stepped into the warm room, leaving drops that glittered like tiny stars under the kitchen light.

“How did you know it was me?” Janet asked as she pulled off her coat and shook it, scattering moisture all over the floor. “Never mind. You always know.”

She dropped her coat where she stood and grasped Lottie’s hands, clutching them with a strength Lottie never knew she possessed. “You’ve always seemed to know things other people don’t. That’s why I came. I need your help, Lottie. Will you help me?”

Lottie smiled stiffly through the pain in her hands. “Of course I’ll help you, Janet. You know that. What are friends for?”

The throbbing in her hands abated as Janet’s grip slackened. Janet sighed and her thin shoulders slumped. “Thanks, Lottie. I knew I could count on you.”

Lottie stooped to retrieve Janet’s coat and hung it on a hook next to the door, then steered her friend to the living room. “Sit down,” she urged.

“I’m too nervous to sit.” Janet paced back and forth like a pendulum on Lottie’s orange shag rug, wringing her hands.

“Look, I know something is bothering you. You always twist your hands like that when you’re upset. Why don’t you tell me about it? The quicker you get it out in the open, the sooner we can deal with it.”

“I’m afraid it won’t be that easy.” Janet shook her head. “I don’t even know why I came. I doubt you can help.”

“Go ahead and talk about it, anyway,” Lottie encouraged. “Maybe there’s something I can do. If not, at least you’ll get it off your chest.”

Janet turned to face her at last. “It’s not me; it’s Harry. I’m afraid he’s in some kind of trouble. Serious trouble. Lottie…Harry went out last night, and he never came home.”

• • •

Elizabeth Delisi wanted to be a writer since she was in first grade, and probably would have written in the womb if she could have convinced her mother to swallow a pencil. But life hasn't always gone the way she planned, and on her road to publication she worked as a motel maid, waitress, secretary, administrative aide, substitute teacher, and newspaper reporter.

Elizabeth is a multi-published, award-winning author of romance, mystery and suspense. Her time-travel romance set in ancient Egypt, Lady of the Two Lands, won a Bloody Dagger Award and was a Golden Rose Award nominee. Her romantic suspense novel, Since All is Passing was an EPPIE Award finalist and Bloody Dagger Award finalist. Fatal Fortune was a Word Museum Reviewer’s Choice Masterpiece. Elizabeth's contemporary romance novella The Heart of the Matter is featured in the Valentine's Day-themed anthology Cupid's Capers and was an EPPIE Award finalist. A Carol of Love is part of Holiday Hearts anthology and an EPPIE Award finalist. A Cup of Christmas Charm is part of Holiday Hearts 2 anthology and was also an EPPIE Award finalist.

Elizabeth is an instructor for Writer’s Digest University. She has taught Creative Writing at the community college level, has worked as a copy editor for several small publishers, and edits for individuals. She holds a B.A. in English with a Creative Writing major from St. Leo University.

Elizabeth is currently at work on Deadly Destiny and Perilous Prediction, the sequels to Fatal Fortune, and Knit A Spell, a paranormal romance.

Elizabeth lives in New Hampshire with her husband and feisty parakeet. She enjoys hearing from her readers.

Tirgearr Publishing republished a newly revised Fatal Fortune July 2012.

• • •

For more information on Fatal Fortune and Elizabeth Delisi, readers are invited to visit these sites. Liz loves hearing from her readers, so drop be a note --

Elizabeth's website - http://www.elizabethdelisi.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.delisi
Twitter - http://twitter.com/delisi
Liz's blog: The World According to Liz - http://www.elizabethdelisi.blogspot.com
Tirgearr Publishing - http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Delisi_Elizabeth

And if you want to buy a copy of Fatal Fortune, be sure to visit Liz's page at Tirgearr Publishing with all her buy links. Fatal Fortune is available for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony, iTunes/iBooks, and all other readers --

--- } http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Delisi_Elizabeth/fatal-fortune.htm