Featuring Denise Rossetti
The Passionate Ink Cyber Circuit is a group of writers who belong to the Passionate Ink Chapter of Romance Writers of America and write erotic romance. Once or twice a month our members will tour a recent release in the hope of tempting you to add it to your to-buy list.
Today I’d like to introduce you to Denise Rossetti.
Brokeback with a Happy Ending
When the credits rolled up for Brokeback Mountain were you in tears? Denise Rossetti was.
Then she got mad – two souls who were destined to be together, so much love, so totally wasted. All because of the society those men lived in. But what if a similar situation occurred in another place, at another time? In a world Rossetti knew well?
Her writer’s brain started churning…
Enter Stage Center - Fortitude McLaren, a hard-bitten mercenary who’s had a gutful of mud and blood and death. Brought up in the bigoted society of the Straight Church on the fantasy world of Phoenix.
Enter Stage left - Griff, acrobat and knife-thrower, lithe and athletic, a man with a gift for friendship, for caring.
Put the players together and you get something like this…
When Fortitude McLaren joins the Ten Nations Fair as a roustabout, he’s shocked and angered by his hunger for Griff, a circus performer. Fort regards manlove with indifference and contempt.
Not for him. Never for him.
Although Fort fights with everything in him, Griff affects him like no one else. It’s not just his strong, supple body, the big mercenary is irresistibly drawn by the openhearted friendship the other man offers so freely.
Fort may have found a friend, but the cruel memories of his childhood are the greatest enemy of all. When a job for Jan the Aetherii puts Griff in danger, Fort discovers what’s really at risk—everything he is and everything he’s ever believed in. To save Griff’s life and preserve his own sanity, Fort must not only
fight the battle in his soul, he must
win it.
STRONGMAN
Book 3 in the Phoenix Rising series
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
ISBN: 978-1419914973
Genre : Male/Male / FantasyBook
Length: Novel
Release Date: 21 March 2008
Buy the Book
HERE!
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whine, whine, whine
Have you ever had one of those days in which everything that comes out of your mouth is just wrong? You piss people off you didn't even know NOTICED you, people you actually love are offended because they feel you've ignored them, or it's just one of those days when you could step in dog shit even if you didn't have a dog?
I've had a month and a half of those days. Today was no exception. I think it's because everyone here is quitting smoking - I really do. Some of us need to deal with being fallible and leave being perfect to the perfect assholes.
Or not.
I've already had a f***er of a day, right? Then I go to Wally World at damned near midnight with The Girl, and some idiot driver in front of us is bent over and
has her head between her legs doing God knows what
while she's driving 50 miles an hour. She weaves, crosses the center line and STAYS there for several blocks. We can't pass her - she's oblivious to folks around her honking at her. I mean, WHO can drive with their HEAD UP THEIR ARSE? She can, because she missed all the telephone poles and other drivers but hit every yellow and white line on the damned street. I think it's because the other drivers all missed HER and that the yellow and white lines couldn't get out of her way.
You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.
So while I'm being snippy...
If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea...does that mean that one enjoys it?
And since it's Easter weekend...I can't help but take at least one potshot at the religious fantatics...and I DO believe, truly, I DO - it's just that I don't believe everything THEY DO...so, fuck it...
There are only three religious truths as far as I'm concerned: a. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. b. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian faith. c. Baptists do not recognize each other in the liquor store or Hooters.
Okay, so I lied - I believe there's a 4th - There IS a God, and I'm not it.Last week on the bookshelf online group a book seller suggested that the governor of New York could have spent much less and just READ these books and would still be governor. Here's her suggestions:
1. The Happy Hooker: My Own Story by Xaviera Hollander
2. Callgirl by Jeannette Angell
3. Mayflower Madam: The Secret Life of Sydney Biddle Barrows by SydneyBiddle Barrows
4. Love for Sale: A World History of Prostitution by Nils Johan Ringdal
5. Brothel: Mustang Ranch and Its Women by Alexa Albert
6. Sex Work by Frederique Delacoste
7. Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbott
8. Soiled Doves: Prostitution in the Early West by Anne Seagraves
9. Courtesans: Money, Sex, and Fame in the Nineteenth Century by KatieHickman
10. The Madams of San Francisco by Curt Gentry
What was really shocking to me? I think I've read 80% of those - LOL - and ENJOYED them. Hmm. Maybe I should have run for governor.
Just when I think I've had a shit day, though...I'm reminded that things COULD (and HAVE) been worse.
Hope you got at least one smile out of all this crap...er...junk I posted.
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Not me, you understand...just somebody I know.
Editor #1: Just thought I'd say hello. Haven't heard from you in ages. Have anything for me?
Me: Nothing at the moment. (Because you don't pay worth a damn.)
Editor #1: I really wish you'd do a m/m for us. Lots of requests for those.
Me: I just don't have anything right now. (And I really, really feel guilty, because you're so flippin' nice.)
Editor #1: (disappointed) Well, that's okay. I'll check on you again in a week or so. Have a nice Easter!
Me: No, mine was the Christmas fairy elf waif screwing the reindeer guide's brains out story.
Editor #2: I'm just so far behind--I'm sorry. What did we talk about last?
Me: My FLE - you were to have the final line edits to me last month, remember?
Editor #2: Oh. Well, I don't think we received the contract on that one.
Me: I have an email confirming that you have them. (Besides, you used that excuse last year just before June. It hasn't even been a year - try something new on me, please.)
Editor #2: I'll have to get back to you.
Me: (Of course you will.) You do realize that this was a Christmas story, right? And that Christmas was 3 months ago?
Editor #2: Oh. Well, they're still printing Christmas stories - it really doesn't matter. But that's why we tell our authors not to write specifically to any particular time period or season.
Me: It was for one of your themed series - the Christmas one. I won a slot last August.
Editor #2: Oh. Well, I'll get back to you.
Me: (And I shall bite my tongue and sit on my hands for one more book.)
Editor #3: Did you ever get your complimentary copies for that January story?
Me: Sorry - still haven't received them. I did get my check, though (THANK YOU, JESUS).
Editor #3: Great. Have anything new? I really need something for the July issue - have to put it to bed in two weeks.
Me: I'll have something for you by the first. (Simply because you are on the friggin' BALL 24/7.)
Editor #1: Did we do something to offend you?
Me: What?
Editor #1: It has been a long time since you submitted anything. I just wanted to make sure that we're okay.
Me: We're fine - really! (WHY does she have to be so nice?) I - I'm just having a hard time this year for some reason. Just lots going on.
Editor #1: Well, we're here. Just take your time and email me when you have something. I'll check on you next week.
Me: (meekly, gratefully, guiltily) Okay. Thanks. (Fuck. Another day, another fifty cents.)
Flashed by the Easter Bunny?
(Damn, it's not working - LOL)
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Some goodies from Janet…
---MURPHY'S LAW AS WE ALL KNOW IT--- IF SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN, IT WILL.
---Here AreTen of Murphy's Lesser Known Laws--
1. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
2. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
3. Those that live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
4. Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
5. The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting somethingright, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
6. If you lined up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try to pass them, five or six at a time, ...on a hill, ...in the fog.
7. The things that come to those who wait will be the scraggly junk left by those who got there first.
8. The shin bone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.
9. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
10. When you go into court, you are putting yourself into the hands of 12 people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty.
Q. How do you get a sweet little 80-year-old lady to say the "F" word?
A. Get another sweet little 80-year-old lady to yell "BINGO!"
Q. What's the difference between a northern fairytale and a southern fairytale???
A. A northern fairytale begins, "Once upon a time..."
A southern fairytale begins, "Y'all ain't gonna believe this shit."
The card you will NOT be giving your kids this coming Sunday...
Janet ain't right, ya'll - she just ain't right. But she is a loveable cuss, and she keeps me in touch with my funny side.
You probably won't be giving them this one either - lol.
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Is this a European dish?
After my temper tantrum over the weekend, Sam suggested I try a nettle soup - nutrients, vitamins, that sort of thing, and...I had to admit that I've never had it. When I Googled for recipes, I got all manner of recipes from the Brits and the French for this dish but nothing readily North American.
What I'm looking for are comments from those who have #1 MADE this dish and #2 from those who have EATEN it. For instance, what goes well with it? How do you keep from stinging the crap outta yourself while preparing the dish? Tongs seem out of place here.
***addendum***go to end of this post to get link to Sam's, where she makes the soup and has photos to back up what she's demonstrating - it's kewl***
Thanks to Sam, I did come away from my search with some new recipe blogs - lol. I'm all about those.
Just the title of this one intrigued me.
Chocolate and Zucchini - I recently made my favorite Chocolate Zucchini Cake, which might have something to do with it.
Then there was this one.
Bean Sprouts - What hooked me wasn't her nettle soup recipe but her talk about
sodding cabbage - ROFLMAO. Then I looked, and damn if she didn't appear to have a good recipe on making cabbage, which doesn't seem to be
anyone's favorite food - at least no one in my circles. So now I want to try that one.
Back to what I discovered about Nettle Soup. Most recipes called for nutmeg. Why the nutmeg, I wondered? They also said that sour cream could be substituted for cashews, which COMPLETELY floored me - I'm just not seeing the significant relationship, I guess, between nuts and sour cream.
This seemed to be the gist of everyone's recipe:
Peel a couple of floury potatoes, dice, and simmer in half a pint of duck stock (if you don't have duck stock you'll have to use a chicken or vegetarian stock cube) and half a pint of milk. Whilst it's boiling, go outside and collect a breakfast bowl full of nettle tops - the top 4-6 young leaves of each plant. Give them a rinse and pick out any "extras", then add them whole to the potatoes. When the potatoes are tender, whizz it all up with a stick blender. Stir in plenty of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, and serve with a swirl of home-made yogurt (or cream, or creme fraiche, or whatever you've got).
Okay, let's pretend that I'm a wanna-be but that I'm not actually a gourmet cook by anyone's standards, that I've never lived outside the USA, and that I wouldn't know a nettle from a dildo, other than that both are pricks of a sort.
People actually have 'nettles' in their backyard??? Not in a garden but just...wild? Like...dandelions?
Is a "floury potato" something like gnocci???
I find this whole thing about cooking with a plant that can sting the hell out of you...well, intriguing. Animals, one would expect to put up some resistence before going into a boiling pot of water or stock. But a plant?????
DoChara.com says this:
Not so many people eat them nowadays, but in times past they were an important fall back when food was really scarce. They also provided a welcome change from the unrelenting monotony of plain potato soup which comprised a large part of the diet of poorer people, providing a free, tasty and nutritious addition.
DoChara also has this as her list of ingredients.
1 bag of nettles
2 medium sized potatoes, diced
2 medium onions, roughly chopped
I stick celery, sliced into small pieces (optional)
2 cups (1 pint) stock
1 cups (½ pint) milk
Small knob of butter
Salt and pepper
***
My question is - what the hell is knob? HOW BIG? - lol Lady Ridley (another reason I'm wondering if this is a European dish) calls for 2 oz of butter.
***
1 lb potatoes
½ lb young nettles
2 oz butter
1½ pts chicken or vegetable stock
sea salt & black pepper
4 tablespoons sour cream
***
Okay. Sunny is going back to Google to see if she can make sense of these recipes. Feedback on cooking with nettles is welcome at this stage.
* * *
Now that I've blogged what I was up to - go check out Sam's post today - she has photos and all kinds of good info for making her Nettle Soup!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Nettle Soup
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This writer's life today...
To all my friends and family who in 2007 sent me chain letters, 'angel' letters or other promises of good luck if I forwarded something:
NONE OF THAT SHIT WORKED!
For 2008, could you please just send money, Diet Coke, chocolate, movie tickets, gasoline vouchers and airline tickets instead?
To those who send "you'll have bad luck if you don't forward this..." PLEASE STOP - I hate that crap - I REALLY DO - and it makes me want to just delete everything else you send me without opening it.
WHY am I in such a pissy mood today?
Well, let's see. Last night around 10 pm, the family got into a heated fuss, and I stormed off in the freezing cold. Thought I'd better just 'cool off'. Well, I did. I was wearing my friggin' pajamas and a coat. Then I was too proud and stubborn to return for sweats, so I sat on a park bench a half-mile from the house, freezing my ass off. Plus, my thin cotton p.j. pants keep falling down.
I thought Okay, so we were all quitting smoking today. I did well. Till this moment. Now it's time for reinforcments of nicotine, because I can't handle the stress. So I walked to Quick Trip, bought smokes and a large hot fudge cherry cappuccino - Let me tell ya, the sugar and nicotine are really good for a diabetic without her inhaler who is a half-mile from home. *rolling my eyes*
I walk back to the park bench and sit. Too tired and too cold to budge. Wondering if they'll find my frozen body, sans pants on the ass, chocolate dribbling from my swollen, blue lips. Maybe some dog-walker will find me when Fido pisses on my legs and everyone realizes I'm not a stone statue.
Three teenage boys pass, laughing and cutting up. I flip them off when they stare at me. It's like I'm daring them to give me shit just so I can release the mad-on I've carried for several minutes.
Phone rings. It's Lex in Australia. I tell her what an asshole I've been. She chuckles and says she's sorry but that things will work out. You just need to go home. I tell her that I will. But I don't just yet. I sit some more. Sipping my cappie. The boys come back by. I glare at them this time. Phone rings again.
Son asks: Where are you?
I tell him: cooling off.
Son: Want me to come get you?
Me: HELL, NO. (I'm still an asshole.) Thanks anyway.
We go through this back and forth for several minutes before he talks me into letting him pick me up. Then he says he can't tell where I am.
Me: I'm an old white woman in a leather coat and pajamas, with the pants around her knees because they keep falling the fuck off - I'm holding a cappuccino in one hand and my middle finger is flying on the other - you can't miss me!
We get back home.
"Did you buy cigarettes?"
"Don't start with me, kid."
"No, I'm serious. I want a cigarette."
I toss him the pack. His face reflects his hurt and disappointment.
"Mom!"
"DON'T START WITH ME."
That was last night. This morning, I wake to brewed coffee. Daughter-in-law fixes me a cup and wants to talk. Apologizes. I apologize.
She wants a cigarette - I tell her to take 3 or 4. After all, son is still asleep, and I'm still quitting. Just not yesterday.
I open my email. Another fucking chain letter. I delete it without even swearing and listen to the sounds of my pets snoring, knowing that they and the kids without fur are okay.
My doctor has been telling me to eat more foods with color. I'm sure he meant carrots, beans, salads, that sort of thing, but...I'm still chasing last night's cappuccino.
We are all good. Now I can write.
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Hit Me
I am lifting verbatim from Denise Rossetti’s blog to introduce those who read ME to a project I’m involved with…
Introducing the Passionate Ink Cyber Circuit: We’re a group of writers who belong to the
Passionate Ink chapter of
Romance Writers of America and write erotic romance. (See the links in the sidebar.) Once or twice a month our members will tour a recent release, so you get to find fabulous new authors for your TBR pile!
It’s my pleasure to introduce our first author out on tour -
Nina Pierce.
In the female dominated society of 2172, mating with a male, even to save the human race, is a distasteful task and one Healer Jahara Hriznek, has successfully avoided-until now. Brenimyn is a gifted breeding instructor at the Garden. Forced to copulate with all females who request his services, he is tired of the government enslaving men. He lives to find the one woman who will fulfill his destiny and help him bring about social equality for all people.
The Healer’s Garden chronicles the sexually explicit love story of these two people and their changing attitudes toward the social mores of their time. There are many at the Garden who oppose the burgeoning relationship between Brenimyn and Jahara and will fight to keep them apart, but just as many who think now is the time for the vision of equality for all genders to be realized. Can Jahara believe in her love of a man and follow Brenimyn into a battle to overthrow the sexist government? Will Brenimyn trust his heart and allow a woman to lead the fight to bring about the new world order?
Kasey’s View, a website that reviews romance, says: I found The Healer's Garden to be a very well written and interesting story by a talented new author. And look forward in the future to reading more of her work.
How did I wind up with this motley crew? ALEXIS, of course – lol. Told ya’ll, that little woman whips me, beats me, makes me write smut…don’t know what I’d do without her.
As for our collaborations, we just turned in final edits on
Hit and Miss, which debuts with Total ebound Books this month. We’re in the process of writing Pandemonium, another in the Sexy Mythconceptions series. This one follows Hit and Miss, which is about Cupid, only Pandemonium is about…you guessed it…PAN, the god of lust.
Sexy Mythconceptions
First person to post on both mine and Lex’s blog and sign their post with “Hit me, don’t Miss me” wins a free copy from me of Hit and Miss – I’ll announce the winner on my blog – right here – as soon as I spot your posts. (And if I DON’T for some reason – RAG ME ABOUT IT! – lol)
Alexis and I are featured over on The Romance Studio blog today (Friday), by the way. THANK YOU, ROMANCE STUDIO. Kinda kewl to wake up and see this.
Hope you all have a terrific weekend.
Really, I do.
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How NOT to release a bear
There was another photo of bear on the guy's BACK that won't load for some reason. But...dunno about you, but by photo #2 I'd have been saying fuck this bear and I'd have been calling my backup to shoot the sonofabitch. By photo #3, I'd have been phoning the taxidermist and scheduling an appointment. And by final photo, family would have had bear meat for stew in freezer, I'd have a bear sentry being fashioned for my front door to ward off drunks, panhandlers, and thieves, or I'd have had myself a fur coat in the making.
Thanks, Janet. *shudder*
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Blogging at TEB Today
Hey! I’m not here today – I’m blogging at the Total ebound Books site,
HERE or here ~~~>
http://totalebound.blogspot.com/ - post # 99.
The class I was teaching is over, but I still have a few manuscripts to critique, and I’ll be sorta sad to see this class say bye – they were very sweet and a lot of fun, and they helped keep me sane during the past couple of weeks.
Got a new book cover for the novel that’s debuting next month.
Kinky Kruising-Mistress Mine was originally published by Loose Id and re-sold to Total ebound Books. Don't have the final edits done yet, but pub date is April 21, 2008, and it's probably gonna be a tad different. Will keep you posted. Just had to show off Lyn Taylor's fabulous art work. She's amazing, isn't she?
For someone who isn’t here, I guess I did have a bit to say today.
See ya next time. My parting 'gift' is a shot of the 1st book Alexis and I wrote together - it debuts this month on March 24th. *grin*
More on those naughty Greek gods and the havoc they wreak later.
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Raunchy Tuesday Humor
Remember ladies, the best way to attract a man is with your eyes.
That's why it's so important to have your eye makeup perfectly applied. If it weren't for the excellent application of proper eye makeup this young lady probably wouldn't get a second look from most guys.
My raunchy joke of the day (from Janet - gotta blame it on someone)...
SON OF A BITCH FISH
The parish priest went on a fishing trip.
On the last day of his trip he hooked a monster fish and proceeded to reel it in. The guide, holding a net, yelled, "Look at the size of that Son of a Bitch!"
"Son, I'm a priest. Your language is uncalled for!"
"No, Father, that's what kind of fish it is - a Son of a Bitch fish!"
"Really? Well then, help me land this Son of a Bitch!"
Once in the boat, they marveled at the size of the monster. "Father, that's the biggest Son of a Bitch I've ever seen."
"Yes, it is a big Son of a Bitch. What should I do with it?"
"Why, eat it! Of course. You've never tasted anything as good as Son of a Bitch!"
Elated, the priest headed home to the rectory. While unloading his gear and his prize catch, Sister Mary inquired about his trip. "Take a look at this big Son of a Bitch I caught!"
Sister Mary gasped and clutched her rosary, "Father!"
"It's OK, Sister. That's what kind of fish it is, a Son of a Bitch fish!"
"Oh, well then, what are you going to do with that big Son of a Bitch?"
Sister Mary informed the priest that the new Bishop was scheduled to visit in a few days and that they should fix the Son of a Bitch for his dinner. "I'll even clean the Son of a Bitch", she said.
As she was cleaning the huge fish, the Friar walked in. "What are you doing Sister?"
"Father wants me to clean this big Son of a Bitch for the new Bishop's Dinner."
"Sister! I'll clean it if you're so upset! Please watch your language!"
"No, no, no, it's called a Son of a Bitch Fish."
"Really? Well, in that case, I'll fix up a great meal to go with it, and that Son of a Bitch can be the main course! Let me know when you've finished cleaning that Son of a Bitch."
On the night of the new Bishop's visit, everything was perfect. The Friar had prepared an excellent meal. The wine was fine, and the fish was excellent.
The new Bishop said, "This is great fish, where did you get it?"
"I caught that Son of a Bitch!" proclaimed the proud priest. "And I cleaned the Son of a Bitch!" exclaimed the Sister. The Friar added, "And I prepared the Son of a Bitch, using a special recipe!
The new Bishop looked around at each of them. A big smile crept across his face as he said, "You fuckers are my kind of people!"
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