Anniversary Contest Winners

Thanks so much to everyone who entered our contest and popped by to help us celebrate our anniversary. And thanks to the ever efficient Random.org for it's hand in choosing our winners.

Contemporary Prize Pack Winner - Drea

Erotic Prize Pack Winner - Eva

Paranormal Prize Pack Winner - Suzi

Amazon GC Winner - Kim B (send your email addy to Sydney)

Drum roll please...

Grand Prize Winner is - Ashley

Book winners can contact ninenaughtynovelists@gmail.com with their preferred download format and we'll take care of the rest.

Productivity in Reverse

When my old laptop died, I rejoiced, researched, and replaced it. The excitement lasted all of five minutes, until I realized I had to start from scratch. Loading programs, setting up my desktop, arranging my files (but thank god for DropBox!), and syncing my browsers.

In that time, my productivity dropped off because the barrier to writing, or tweeting, or blogging was that much bigger.

But I learned some valuable lessons in distraction-proofing your computer--and lessons in making a computer transition easier.

1. If a shortcut isn't in the toolbar of your browser, and you need to manually type in the URL, it's harder to go to that site--just hard enough that you may not wander off to Facebook or Twitter while doing research. I'd suggest having one browser JUST for writing (look at Opera, for example) and another for all other activities. Make the writing browser as distraction-free as possible.

2. Same goes for auto-saving your passwords. If you do like to have them autosaved, I'd recommend installing LastPass. It's a secure password keeper that autofills your username and password for every site you've saved. The cool thing here is that you can set the browser extension to have you log in each time you open a new window. It's one more barrier from distraction.

3. Pinning distracting shortcuts (Tweetdeck, etc) to your desktop toolbar is a bad idea. Same goes for having shortcuts there at all. If the only shortcut you have is to your writing program, and you have to take those extra steps to get to, say, solitaire or social networking, it'll give you a chance to pause and think before heading away from your writing.

Now on to tips for improving the transition to a new computer:

1. If you use Google Chrome as a browser, there's a function that allows you to sync the browser between computers you use. This is also helpful when you write from a laptop and a desktop. You choose what to import across devices, but it can load your bookmarks, preferences, saved passwords, etc. This is much easier than trying to rebuild your bookmarks bar, and all it takes is setting it up and logging in through your Google credentials. Firefox has a similar option, but theirs relies on a long passcode, and of late I've had trouble getting my devices to sync--but it's worked like a charm in the past.

2. Keep all your files in a cloud-based program like Dropbox. It will not only add a layer of protection, but you won't need to transfer your files to a new computer.

3. Same goes for note-taking. I love Evernote and Springpad for keeping my story notes (and my life!) organized. They're cloud-based, so you can log in to each program from any browser, and your notes will be there. Evernote also has a desktop program, which I like.

Ok, your turn--how do you improve productivity or make the computer transition easier?

Celebrating the release of Hotblooded & a GIVEAWAY!

Have you ever done something spontaneous and really regretted it? Or have you done something crazy and later felt it was the best move you could have made?

I’m not a super spontaneous person by nature. Mostly because I over-think stuff. I go through all the what-ifs and usually talk myself out of anything that isn’t rational and well-planned.

But, (you knew there was a but right?) there was this one time…
(a lot of really great stories start this way :))

There was this guy (of course it’s about a guy) and we’d been friends for a long time. A LONG time… six years actually. And it had never crossed into “that” territory. But there was always this vibe between us. So one night, after we’d gone to play together (no, I don’t remember which one), we were in the car in the parking lot of my apartment complex and I got up the nerve to kiss him. I didn’t think about it, I didn’t second-guess it, I just did it.
When I pulled back I said, “I think we should be more than friends.” He blinked, a bit stunned, and said “Me, too.”

Seven months later we were engaged.

That spontaenous kiss was eighteen years ago.

Yeah, maybe I should be spontaneous more often.

In my new release, Hotblooded, my heroine also acts spontaneously but it’s within minutes of meeting the hero. And almost immediately she’s sure it was a Really Bad Idea. But, by the end of the book, I think she changes her mind :). See what I mean…

She opened her mouth to tell him that she didn’t have a boss, thank you very much, when a brilliant realization struck. He didn’t know who she was. He thought she was— Well, she wasn’t really sure, but it didn’t matter.

She stared at the big hand holding ice against her knee.

He didn’t know who she was. He was a complete stranger. Not from here.

And she wanted to kiss him.

It was a thought completely contrary to what she was used to allowing herself to think. It wasn’t that she never had crazy, it’s-a-really-bad-idea-but-wouldn’t-it-be-great thoughts and impulses. But she was very good at resisting them. She’d had years of practice.

At the moment, however, it was very, very tempting to give in to it and worry about the consequences later.

It had been so long since she’d been spontaneous. So long since she’d had a chance to be. And it would be a long time before she had another chance. That fact reared its ugly head almost daily as she manned the clinic that her late husband had stuck her with in the last place on earth she wanted to be.

The moments were rare when she could crank up the music, put on her comfy clothes and let go. She always did so at the risk of someone finding out and disapproving.

But this guy was a salesman, passing through, on to the next town and the next potential sale by dinnertime. No one would know if she kissed him. Sure, he might talk about it to his buddies at the gym tomorrow or the next day, but no one in Honey Creek would know.

It gave her a little adrenaline rush just thinking about it.

She could French kiss the big, good-looking stranger right here in the clinic, right at the front desk

. Just imagining the shocked look on the faces of people in town made her want to do it. She knew the rebellious streak she’d inherited from her mother was some of her trouble here in Honey Creek, but just like telling a dieter they had to avoid cheesecake at all costs, the more forbidden it was, the more tempting she found it.

Just to test the waters, Brooke put her hands behind her on the seat of the chair and leaned back slightly, keeping her elbows straight.

“My boss won’t be back for a while,” she said. And it was true. The level-headed, do-the-right-thing Brooke she’d turned into over the past few years seemed to have stepped out for the time being.

He glanced up, and she was gratified to see that his eyes didn’t immediately make it past her breasts, which were thrust forward against the soft cotton of her tank top. And, in the spirit of really letting go, she wasn’t wearing a bra.

She watched him swallow hard and noticed that the hand on her knee seemed to have forgotten its job as the ice pack slipped to one side.

This was exactly the kind of thing she usually worked so hard to avoid. She’d inherited her mama’s looks, body and love of men. She could only assume that her self-control came from her father.

She’d never met any of the three men that could have supplied the other half of her DNA, but Brooke sure as hell hadn’t gotten any modesty or sense of appropriateness from Dixie. Still, it did do a woman’s ego some good to have a man—especially one like Jack Silver, who no doubt had women clamoring and strutting for his attention all the time—give her some good old fashioned lookin’-good-honey attention.

“My knee is feeling a lot better. You have the touch,” she said, her voice a little throaty without even trying. Flirting and teasing were natural for her—another Donovan trait. It was resisting it that had always been the challenge.

His eyes found her face and he gave her a half grin. “So I’ve been told.”

Oh, I just bet you have, she thought, as a little tingle in her stomach responded to that cocky grin.

“Are you married?” she asked. If he’d been around as many blocks as she was guessing, he’d know where that question came from.

He definitely didn’t react as if the question was odd. “Nope.” His hand remembered her knee then, but he let the ice pack slip to the floor and let his palm begin warming the skin as he kneaded the joint gently.

She didn’t ask about a girlfriend. She wasn’t planning on keeping him, after all, or even compromising him too much. It was just a little kissing. But she most definitely drew the line at married men, no matter how they made her knee feel.

Her skin was quickly regaining its ability to sense heat.

She pulled her foot from where it rested on his thigh, sitting forward on the chair seat.

He seemed reluctant to stop touching her and his hand slid down and around to the back of her calf where it began a slow, seductive stroking up and down.

“Gay?” she asked. Not that she cared. She was going to kiss him anyway. He just might not enjoy it as much as she would.

He laughed and stroked his fingers into the dip behind her bent knee, pressing gently and making heat zing through her.

“No.”

She leaned forward until her elbows rested on her knees and her face was less than an inch from his. “You do this kind of thing a lot?” she whispered.

His eyes dropped to her lips and she felt anticipation and awareness shimmy through her. He knew exactly what kind of thing she was talking about.

His breath was hot on her mouth as he whispered back, “Does it really matter?”

Then he kissed her.

Now tell me about a time you were spontaneous—for better or worse—and get entered to win a copy of the book! I’ll draw from all comments on Saturday! (Be sure to include your e-mail address!!)

Hotblooded is out now! You can find it in all e-formats at Samhain Publishing, Amazon, and all other major retailers!

Happy Anniversary!

So it's been two years since we first joined together as Nine Naughty Novelists, and we have a few memories to share. Happy anniversary to all Nine Naughty Novelists!

Juniper Bell

I’ll never forget the day I got The Call. Actually it was an email from PG Forte telling me one of the Nine Naughty Novelists was leaving and offering me … ME! … the position. I jumped up and down out babbling with excitement, which was a problem because my husband and I were in the middle of pouring concrete at the time and he had no idea what I was talking about. I didn’t hesitate a moment, just fired off a, “YES YES YES, count me in!!!” The next email contained a barrage of information including some crazy stuff about a Zillionaire Vampire Cowboy, but I tuned that out because I figured they must be nuts and would forget about that project soon enough. I’m so glad I got that part wrong!

My second memory is from shortly before I left for Hawaii to get married. I got a cryptic email from Kelly telling me to check the blog. When I did, I nearly cried. They were throwing me a virtual wedding shower, complete with a male stripper, naughty gifts and advice about married life. I loved it so much! In case you missed it, here it is. It gives you an idea of just how special the Naughties are. Not only are they talented, but they’re wonderful human beings and I’m so grateful to know them.

Meg Benjamin

My favorite memory of all was our first brainstorming session for The Zillionaire Vampire Cowboy’s Secret Werewolf Babies. Everybody was throwing out these outrageous suggestions, and I was laughing so hard it was actually hard to type. Which leads to a second favorite memory: the day we posted the first chapter. None of us knew whether anyone would want to read a totally nutzoid parody mashup, but they did! It was so exciting to see the comments as people read the story and enjoyed it.

It’s definitely been a short two years—I can’t even remember what it was like without being part of this group!

Kinsey Holley

1. I saw a thread somewhere - I think it was Romance Divas? Or maybe Samhain Cafe? - from someone gathering writers interested in starting a group blog. So I responded that I was interested - because I was so overwhelmed with the idea of blogging, and I had my first book coming out, and I was really scared and alone. So I sent an email to a stranger and said sure, I'll join your group blog. Whatever. And now look at us...


Ok, this isn't a second memory, but still...I've got an addendum to my will, listing all my IDs and passwords to sites that Hub will need to get to if I drop dead one day. And on that list are all the emails of the eight of you. Which is real different from what I expected when I responded to an email saying Sure, I'll join your group blog. Whatever.


Kelly Jamieson

For sure my favourite memories from the last two years are the brainstorming sessions we had for the serial stories. You can count that as two memories, even though there have been more than two sessions. I know the first one we had, my family thought I’d completely lost it, sitting in front of the computer laughing so hard I was crying. Of course when I tried to explain to them what was so funny, they didn’t get it at all, even further convincing them that Mom had finally gone right the edge. But these sessions were more than just funny. It was connecting with people on a level I rarely have before – people who were smart and talented and laughed at the same things I did. People who love romance and know the genre well enough to pull out all those tropes and clichés, but who don’t take themselves so seriously that they can’t poke a little affectionate fun at the genre. And I’m not just biased in saying this – check out the reviews on Amazon for The Zillionaire Vampire Cowboy’s Secret Werewolf Babies. We did more than just write a funny little parody of romance – nine of us put together a cohesive story that’ s not just funny but romantic and suspenseful and seamless.

Cheers ladies and happy anniversary! *raising glass of wine*

Erin Nicholas

One of the memories that always comes to me when I think of this group was

when Skylar and I were talking about how we wanted to find other members.

We decided to put the call out on the Samhain author loop and *hoped* two

or three people would want to join us. We were bowled over when we had

twelve answer that first call! Of course, after we really got to talking

about what we were going to do a few bowed out, but we were left with the

best of the best ;) (oh, and Kinsey's signature line had a quote from The

Librian and I knew she had to be in the group! :)) It amazes me over and

over how nine writers could find each other that way and end up with the

kind of chemistry and comaradarie that we have. What are the chances?

It's just proof that at some point in my youth or childhood, I must have

done something good. (Sound of Music, anyone?)

The other memory is when Juniper joined us. She just jumped right in,

getting into writing the Zillionaire Vampire Cowboy serial with us within

the first, what, two weeks of being part of the group? :) And she's been

the perfect fit in every way! I knew it as soon as I saw which picture

she chose for her "avatar" (or whatever we call those pictures with our

names along the side ;)).

I think it's safe to say that this group has far exceeded my expectations

and hopes! And I hope that these are the same 8 ladies I'm celebrating 10

years with! :)

Kate Davies

So many great memories! The first I remember is the email from Erin, telling me about the new venture. She was the only author I knew personally prior to the launch, but now I feel like all eight of the rest of the naughties are close friends. *mwah* to you all!

And my other memory to share is sneaking around behind Juniper's back to put the virtual wedding shower together. It was so much fun, and a perfect example of why I feel so lucky to be part of this group.

PG Forte

Really? I have to cut this down to two memories? That sounds a whole lot simpler than it is. Brainstorming the serial stories is one for sure, even though that's actually more like half-a-dozen memories. 


Ooh, and getting to be the one who emailed Juniper and asked her to join us, that was a good one too. 


Thanks for a fabulous two years ladies. Y'all are the best!

Sydney Somers

One of my favorite memories comes from plotting the serials. A zillionare vampire afraid of blood? A vampire hunter who hates the family business? I mean, Billybob Bobson? Where did we come up with this stuff? LOL I have never laughed as hard as I have when we've been throwing around ideas about how many boundaries we can push within our own genres. And then there are the disclaimers for these serials...

2011 has been a really tough year for me, and although I still haven't managed to get to some of the conferences that the others have and meet any of these outstanding women in person, every single one of them supported me in a way I'm not sure I'll be able to repay. Blogging with these eight amazingly talented authors is even better knowing they're also my very good friends. Thanks for an awesome two years ladies. Here's to many, many more!

Guest Blogger R.G. Alexander - Friends Are Benefits!

I love the Nine Naughty blog and I’m so glad I got a chance to come and chat with them today. My group blog, The Smutketeers, had so much fun with them at the last RT convention, and I know we’re going to have an even better time in 2012. Did I mention I loved the blog swapping too? *g* I am, by nature, a communal creature. As an isolated workaholic writer, I know the importance of friendship for balance as well as enjoyment’s sake.

For those who read my stories, you know I have a tendency to write series. This stems-I suppose-from my love of large casts of characters. Honest friends, overprotective family members and snarky, sassy sidekicks who are there to say what you most need to hear, when you least want to hear it.

Characters, just like people, are shaped by their experiences, yes. But also by the company they keep. I can tell a lot about my heroes and heroines by who stands by them in their darkest hour, and who puts up with them when no one else will.

I think my Bone Daddy series—Possess Me and Tempt Me (my book that just released last week)—is the perfect example of what I’m talking about. Several families, the Toussaints, Rousseaus and Adairs, are all tangled up in each other’s lives. Brought together by their family histories, their gifts, and one sexy and mischievous voodoo spirit named Bone Daddy.

In Tempt Me, those connections and friendships made and reaffirmed in Possess Me are even more important. Gabriel, our hero and Michelle Toussaint’s twin brother, is about as low as a man can be in the beginning. He’s been lied to by those he trusted, and in his mind he’s betrayed all the people who truly cared about him. He is lost in the darkness. But he is not as alone as he imagines.

Angelique, on the other hand, has always been loved and protected. Overprotected, if you ask her, by her mother and older brother Celestin Rousseau because of their father’s mistakes. She also has two friends who would do anything for her (two friends inspired by a few Smutkedettes the Naughty Nine know well-Kelly and Ive). All that love has given her a confidence that Gabriel has never known. Has put a light inside her that could, just maybe, be a counterbalance to his darkness.

Why am I talking about the importance of friendships in erotic romance? I suppose I write romance because I love love. In all its forms and guises, with all its blessings and dysfunctions. (Yes, I’m corny. It comes with the territory)

In real life, I fell in love with my best friend. And without the support of him, my reality checking and unconditionally loyal sister and my Smutketeers Eden Bradley, Crystal Jordan and Karen Erickson-as well as a handful of other amazing people that make up the large cast of my life—I would not be the person I am. I would not be a writer…and poor Gabriel would never have been given a second chance to be a hero.

Thank you 9N for letting me visit with you today. It is good to have friends.

Bio:
R.G. Alexander (aka Rachel Grace) is a bestselling author who has written over 20 books in the erotic paranormal, contemporary, sci-fi/fantasy and steampunk genres for Samhain, Ellora's Cave and Berkley Heat. She is happily married to a talented chef who is her best friend, her research assistant, and the love of her life.

If you want to find out more, go to: Website: www.rgalexander.com
Group Blog: www.smutketeers.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RachelGrace.RGAlexander
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RG_Alexander
Link to Tempt Me http://www.amazon.com/Tempt-Me-R-G-Alexander/dp/0425243338/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1320699151&sr=8-14
Link to Possess Me http://www.amazon.com/Possess-Me-R-G-Alexander/dp/B005FOFUL0/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

KINSEY'S FAVORITE RESEARCH LINKS

Some people seemed to like my last post about research, and since I just got home from a trip out of town with the Diva and I'm way too tired to think of something interesting to write about, I thought I'd just share some of my favorite research links. Some of these links will be of most interest to writers, others are useful to everyone. If this post proves popular, I'll do another one down the road.


FOR EVERYONE

Computer-related

Look, for most people -- including writers -- Google is the most comprehensive and easiest to use search engine. There's really no reason to go looking for any others. But if you're interested in search engines in general, if you want to know how search engines target consumers or attract advertisers or manipulate results, or you want to know how to drive more search engine traffic to your blog or business site, Search Engine Watch is where you need to go. There's fun stuff there, too, like Google Easter Eggs. (An explanation of online Easter eggs can be found here.

On the other hand, if you're interested in the un-Googled, un-indexed parts of the web - the so-called "hidden web" or "deep web," this site - WHICH, PLEASE NOTE, IS NO LONGER UPDATED - is very helpful.

How many times have you been unable to access a certain website and asked yourself, "I wonder if this site's really unavailable or if it's just my computer?" Next time, go to Down For Everyone Or Just Me?

How many times have you been sitting in a theater with your bladder near to bursting but you didn't want to get up and go to the bathroom because you might miss something important? Prepare yourself with RunPee. ("Because movie theaters don't have pause buttons.")

Ever wish you could browse the web without Google and everybody else knowing your IP address, where you shop, what you read, where you're going for dinner that night? Well, that's why they made Anonymizer.

If you're in a strange city, or even a different part of town, and need to know where you can find WiFo, go to the WiFi HotSpot. If you're in NY, just go to New York CyberCafes.

Okay, so how about non-computer specific reference? These are just a handful of links I pulled out of my huge (like, unwieldy-ly huge) bookmark list of "reference tools you don't know you need until you need them":

A database of world embassies and consulates.

Fact Check - a nonpartisan (truly!) site that checks the veracity of politicians' statements, statistics, boasts, accusations, bullshit and hogwash.

From the US Postal Service, a zipcode database. You can find all cities in a given zip code, or all zip codes in a given city.

To search for cities in a county, counties in a city, all cities in a state or counties by zip code, go to the National Association of Counties' city search page.

To convert anything to anything else, go to http://www.onlineconversion.com/.

An annotated bibliography of resources dealing with identity theft.

A one-stop spot for information on obtaining vital records.


Okay, now for the writers.

For one thing, start reading Lynn Viehl's site. She is an endless font of imformation for cool toys and reference resources for writers.

Want to name a character, a town, a pub, a ship, an as-yet-uninvented weapon? Go to The Seventh Sanctum.

Need to just make up a name for something? Go here.

Stuff and Nonsense has a Regency name generator.

Need a synonym for licked or stroked or throbbed or moaned? The Erotic Thesaurus.


Writing a fantasy and need to do a fight scene? Go here.

How is the US Army organized? See here.

The best urban legends reference pages is Snopes.



Ok, that's all I have for now - I'm very sleepy. I'll do more links in a future post soon.

What, more about shoes??

Several people have asked about the shoes I was wearing at ECWC that attracted so much attention. I honestly don't know why they were so interesting, they're just shoes, but it was so hilarious! After PG and Erin decided to turn it into a drinking game, er, contest, every time someone noticed them we all just cracked up. So here are the shoes I was wearing:

Damn I'm not a good photographer. Oh well. These pink shoes above have a story. They are my "Michael Jackson" shoes. I know, they don't look like something he would have worn. The story is, we went to California the day after Michael Jackson died and we thought while we were in Los Angeles we should go to Hollywood Boulevard and see all the commotion. Just to see it. So we did. It was crazy, people lined up to see his star, crying, leaving a mountain of stuffed bears, security and television cameras everywhere. Well, I turned around and THERE WAS A SHOE STORE! Right there by MJ's star!(DSW) I went in and saw these pink shoes and had to have them. So every time I wear them I think of Michael Jackson.


These black ones are my newest and I know they're ridiculously high but I love them. I was threatened twice with bodily harm by ladies who wanted them.

And last, my boots. The TSA guy who made me take them off in the airport was quite interested in them.

So there y'all go, those are the shoes!