Saturday, December 28, 2013

Holy Shite, What a Year!

If you haven't noticed by the title of this post we've been watching a little too much Sons of Anarchy in December!  Obviously we fell in love with the Irish! Seriously though, it's Charlie Hunnam that has given us a biker addiction!  With the crew being down most of the month we've had a huge amount of time to watch all six seasons.  Did we mention we get a little obsessive over things we love here?

One of our readers said she was a Hunnam Angel for life, and now we get why.  A few of the folks around here are now ready to start their own MC! The only problem with that scenario is none of us ride, but we'd make some great old ladies! Jail time doesn't seem like much fun either so our club would have to be strictly legit!  If you haven't watched the show you can catch the first five seasons on Netflix and then the sixth on Amazon.  It's worth the ride!

So what made us want to watch the show?  We started working on a new Biker Romance a few months ago and the research for the background in nonfiction was interesting but we wanted to get a feel about what people were relating to on a fiction level.  Someone suggested SOA and that's all it took.  Yes we were six years late, which we really regret now, but it was made up for!  Michelle's family is regretting that finding since now she's decided leather is pretty cool!

Vampires, Rock Stars, BDSM and now Bikers!  Things definitely never get dull around Tears of Crimson! Now if only we can remind our fearless leader that she doesn't need to go out and experience all these scenarios to write about them!  Five kids and a husband might just keep her grounded enough to realize she might have more fun writing about it instead!

We hooked up with Rachel Mizer of Shoutlines designs to get the lowdown on a possible new cover for the biker romance and can't wait to see what she comes up with.  Maybe she can come up with a Patch for all our Tears of Crimson friends?  2013 has been one hell of a year and we're looking at a 2014 that's packed with just as much excitement!  We're really hoping to finish out the Tears of Crimson series in 2014 as well, if we can get Michelle to stop whining about ending her baby!  Make sure you send her some encouragement and tell her you won't stop visiting just because the final book in the vampire series hits the shelves.

Sending out love to all our Tears of Crimson friends with best wishes for an incredible 2014!  Let's see what we can make happen this year!

Love,

The Tears of Crimson Crew

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas from Tears of Crimson!

From everyone at Tears of Crimson, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2013 was a wonderful year for us and we hope as you look back it had many memorable times for you as well.  Even with all the battles that were fought this year we made it through with our head held high and filled with love for all those that supported us.  The truth is nothing can stop what is meant to be and the readers of Tears helped us prove that!  We can only hope that 2014 shows the same pattern.


Heading into 2014 there are already five projects ready to be kicked off, including the final book in the Tears of Crimson series.  "God willing and the creek don't rise" things will stay on course for those adventures and many more.  As we end this year, Five nights remains in the top 100 of New Adult College romances and Whore is still digging it's way out from under the witch hunt on Amazon for the title and starting to gain ground.  It's been one heck of a ride, but as we said earlier, what's meant to be, will be!

As you go about spending time with your family and friends this Christmas season, we wish you nothing but joy and love.  Be safe and thankful for all the gifts given to you!  Each day that we breathe is a new chance to share a dream.  Much of our time was focused on bringing new books to readers this year, and the promotion behind them.  We hope in 2014 we'll have a little more time to help others!  If you'd like to share your releases with Tears, please get them in at least thirty days in advance.  We aren't doing reviews but we will spotlight books from authors with guest posts. 

Thank you again for all the love and support.  May 2014 be your year to shine and for all your dreams to come true!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

We Stand With Phil of Duck Dynasty - A&E


Our opinion is everyone has the right to Freedom of Speech.  A&E knew going in that Phil was a Christian and he made no qualms about how he would speak his mind.  Intolerance goes both ways and regardless of what our personal opinions are, Phil has the right to share his.  

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Cover Reveal for Body Language: Dahlia Salvatore

Coming January 17, 2013 a beautiful story that you don't want to miss by Dahlia Salvatore!  I was fortunate enough to receive the ARC of this book and I was blown away.  It's one of those books that I believe will find a place on a bestseller list quickly! Without giving away spoilers, let me just say that this one will find a way into your heart and pull on those strings.  But it's so much more!  It's about overcoming great odds and fighting back when life has dealt you a hand that makes it seem impossible!  I was so emotionally moved by this novel!

Blurb:  

Carmen Andrews hasn't spoken for a year, not since she was viciously tortured by a psychopath.  Forced into silence by the trauma, she finds a new life in a new town.  As a dancer, she can get away with her silence.  In her head is a mess of memories, withheld frustrations, and a host of wingless dreams.  When her new psychiatrist sends her to a speech therapist to help loosen her tongue, she meets Jacob Weller.

Fresh out of graduate school, Jacob is eager to help those who are suffering from mutism and other speech and language disorders.  When he meets Carmen, he finds her attractive but his high ethical standards keep him from mentioning it.  But when he's blown away by another woman, his thoughts wander back to the hauntingly beautiful face of Carmen, of the emotive way she looks through him and seems to know him.

As Jacob begins to treat her, he finds himself drawn more and more to her, and even begins to confide in her about himself.  As his actions border on the unprofessional, with no visible changes in Carmen, he faces an emotional and professional dilemma.

Carmen struggles with her demons and secrets... secrets that keep her mouth firmly shut and her heart desperately wanting.


Cover Design by:  Shoutlines
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Friday, December 13, 2013

The Phoenix Takes Over Tears of Crimson

Erotica
I present to you a twisted tale, born of politics, sex and music in a time we like to call the nineties. It was early in that decade, with vigorous campaigning for the 1992 presidential election taking a special place in the media. Go ahead and get started.

MTV, the music television channel was still in the habit of playing music videos back then and was championing the cause of Miami bass group 2 Live Crew in the name of free speech. Because of the graphically explicit lyrics on the group’s “As Nasty As They Wanna Be” album, 2 Live Crew had been the target of an obscenity trial and the album became the first ever to be ruled legally obscene (although one would think “illegally obscene” would be the proper term). Under the spotlight of Tipper Gore’s Parents’ Music Resource Committee (PMRC) and the Broward County Sheriff, the Crew was subjected to album seizures and arrest after a live performance. MTV played their videos, gave their ongoing situation plenty of MTV News coverage and tied the whole thing into their “Rock the Vote” effort to get their viewers interested in voting. In addition to campaign coverage, music luminaries like Madonna participated in attention-grabbing public service spots prompting people to vote.

I know it may be hard to believe since recent political party activities have actually tried to discourage select demographics of potential voters, but the 1992 campaign had a special focus on trying to draw younger voters. George Bush was seen as having an unassailable position, largely because of older, conservative voters. Bill Clinton made his play for the younger, more liberal citizens. The day after he received the Democratic Party nomination, he appeared on Arsenio Hall’s late-night talk show and played “Heartbreak Hotel” on the saxophone. His cool factor instantly skyrocketed. Clinton became a darling of both young and minority Americans and leapt ahead of Bush in the polls. That was June. “Rock the Vote” became even bigger and MTV kept shouting self-righteously about standing behind 2 Live Crew.

In October, things changed. The aforementioned Madonna released a book titled “Sex” in conjunction with her much anticipated “Erotica” album and the single “Justify My Love”. As usual, many loved it and some hated it. Leading the controversy, “Justify My Love” had a video that didn’t shy away from Madonna engaging in homoerotic activity. Pitchforks were taken up and torches were lit. Some critics said Madonna had killed her career. Naturally, no one remembers those critics because they’re irrelevant. Ted Koppel did a Nightline episode on the controversy, showed the video, then had an open talk about it. Something was missing, though…

Oh, right! MTV. If anybody was going to stand with Madonna, it should’ve been MTV. She was a music powerhouse. She was one of MTV’s key attractions. Siding with Madonna was a no-brainer, especially after all the First Amendment rants and 2 Live Crew support MTV had engaged in over the previous year. So, MTV mouthpieces quickly announced that MTV wasn’t going to run Madonna’s new video. Wait a minute! Was there a typo? Did someone misspeak?

MTV wasn’t going to run Madonna’s new video. Baffling. More than a little hypocritical. This made no sense.  So…without the convenience of the internet, (yes, welcome to the dark age of pre-worldwide web) I grabbed my land line phone and dove into the task of tracking down a phone number for MTV. Finding it, I called New York City and got as far as the MTV receptionist of whom I demanded to be connected with someone who could provide me with an explanation of their indefensible position. As it turned out, that person was the receptionist. Apparently, MTV had gotten a lot of phone calls from people demanding the same thing I was and so the execs prepared the poor woman with a single tool: the explanatory statement that “It’s just not for us.”

Seriously? That was it? I left her with a message for her employers: MTV is just not for me.
That ended our exchange with all the satisfaction it was going to bring. I turned MTV off my TV and didn’t look back. The folks at MTV had decided that they couldn’t predict which side of the issue was going to be the cool one nor, more importantly, which was going to be best for the bottom line, so the decision was to just stay out of it. That struck me as supremely uncool.
 
Afterglow

Free expression is important to me. When it comes to words, images and music, I continue to stand by the opinion that if you don’t like them, don’t look or listen. Not liking them, though doesn’t give you the right to suppress someone else’s expression. One of the things I don’t like at present is Amazon’s current book listing procedure that makes a writer’s work subject to special scrutiny by the company’s personnel. Much like the motion picture rating process, there are parts of the system that remain mysterious to those of us attempting to use it. In this case, it means creators must pass the scrutiny of unknown eyes that have the capacity to literally judge books by their covers and reclassify them based upon image or title no matter what the writer has to say about the content. It means that self-publishing writers are left without key controls over the marketing disposition of their own creations.

In theory, this seemingly subtle form of censorship can place a book on a virtual shelf where a writer never intended it to be. Having your deeply religious work end up labeled as philosophy or self-help and your scholarly documentary placed as a children’s book may not seem like much to someone who’s not a writer, but it’s a few exponential steps beyond any of those arguments you ever had with your parents those times when they were being arbitrarily unfair about anything you wanted to do. Fighting with Amazon personnel over it as an adult will leave you feeling about as impotent.

What seems to be the most extreme result of this is that Amazon has the power to relegate a book to the obscurity of a virtual pornography closet if it is deemed that any element of it is too dangerously adult unless it is changed. Again, to some it may not sound like much, but if you’ve been told by some government clerk that the carefully crafted name you’ve bestowed upon your love child (in honor of your beloved grandparents) has to be changed to something the clerk likes, you’re going to be upset. You could decide to stay with your original decision, but when it comes to a book that obscure placement can have a tremendous impact. Suppose that it had been decided that “Moby Dick” could only have been sold in adult bookstores because of its title because…come on, we know what that title means. No, it doesn’t matter what you say the story is about, just look at that title. Seriously? You want high school students reading porn? Now, imagine that “The Scarlet Letter” or “Lady Chatterly’s Lover” had been released under the name “Whore”. How many people would’ve found it on the shelf of the adult bookstores it was hidden in because they were the only places that could carry it? Should some disinterested functionary have had the power to change their titles to “A Small Town Scandal” because it sounded less offensive?

In realm of independent publishing supposedly governed by free expression, the correct answer is “No.”  If you’re writing, take heed, because the righteousness of your fight is going to matter less than you’d like. Unfortunately, the reality of it all comes down to this: whether you’re pouring your heart into a tragic chronicle of a prostitute’s life on the streets or a passionate virgin’s sexual awakening, don’t name it “Whore”. Sure, you know it’s a biography or a romance or a literary adventure or even a religious redemption, but you may not like how it ends.


Discover Phoenix Writing!

Phoenix Writing Blog  Twitter @BennuWright



What would it mean to your perception of self to not know key details of your own past? 

How does it affect your decision making when you learn that gods have taken interest in the things you do? 

Where do you place your loyalty when your own people will not stand with you in your most dire moments? 

Lar Kwa is the Lost Prince of Alban, absent from his frozen homeland of proud warriors for twenty years. Bearing Tshan’casai, the ancient sword of his fathers, he is determined to use its potent magics to become savior to his troubled people. From the Crimson Throne, with Princess Treutelaar, Light of the People, at his side and advanced technology at his command, he plans to accomplish nothing short of the reformation of the fragmented empire forged by his family in days long past. Many oppose Lar Kwa’s ambitions, content with maintaining the status quo, but the prince has opened himself to guidance by forces beyond mortal ken. Of what consequence then are the wishes of mankind, the power of dragons, the intervention of isolationist warlords or the concerns of neighboring nations to a monarch willing to plunge half the world into war in order to rule it? Can the disturbing visions of one young misfit be of significance as elements of strange prophecies continue to manifest? As truths struggle to find their way to light, they will threaten not only the sanity of those involved, but to unravel the very fabric of reality. Myth and magic born of ancient gods and lost cities continue to shape a world of science and ambitious mortals. 

Who will survive?




Thursday, December 12, 2013

Whore: To Hot for Amazon and Facebook but Deflowered is Even Worse?

If you can't beat them.... scream yourself into oblivion then change the title?  This was the only option that I could come up with for Whore, which as you can see by the book cover, I attempted to rename!  My first problem began when Facebook refused to let me advertise, claiming the title was against policy.

I was pretty ticked about that but decided if Facebook didn't want my advertising dollars, it was there loss.  So I released Whore and got several comments from loyal readers that they couldn't find my book without typing in the exact title along with my name.  I let that slide for a week, thinking it just hadn't had time to go through Amazon's search preferences.

Then I noticed the category for my book.  Erotic?  I didn't list it as erotic.  It was listed as a Contemporary Romance.  I went back through KDP and checked my categories just to make sure I hadn't inadvertently put the wrong thing in.  Nope.  The title was listed just the way I meant it to be, Contemporary Romance.  So I emailed them.  This was the tidbit of advice I got that shocked me.  If a book has been listed as Erotic it can't be listed in any other category.

Well I didn't list it as Erotic and since my people have clothes on the only deduction I could come up with for this was they didn't approve of the Title.  Whore was meant to be a play on words for the book, the (h) is a virgin for the love of Christmas! While I could get by without advertising on facebook, readers not being able to find my book because it was deemed pornography was unacceptable.  I mean come on... I write about virgins and strong men for heaven's sake!

I feel like I had no choice.  Amazon was obviously on a witch hunt and my book got screwed.  Selena Kitt did a great post on this: Selena's Post.  For my other author friends I highly suggest you go here http://www.salesrankexpress.com/ and see if your book has a red adult tagging.  If it does you might be forced to do exactly what I've done.  

So low and behold I get this nice little email from Amazon after I changed the title to Deflowered:

Kindle Direct Publishing <title-submission@amazon.com>
11:13 PM (7 hours ago)


Hello,

We’re contacting you regarding the following book(s), which are in violation of our content guidelines (see list below for details):

Deflowered by Hughes, Michelle (AUTHOR) (ID:4332246) - title

If you wish, you may make changes to your book (images, title, description, and interior content) to comply with the KDP Content Guidelines and re-submit it for publishing.

You can find our content guidelines on the Kindle Direct Publishing website: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A1KT4ANX0RL55I

We’ve set your book to an editable state. Upon changing your content, please re-submit your book for publishing and respond to this email at title-submission@amazon.com in order for your book to be made available for sale in the Kindle Store.

Best regards,

Kindle Direct Publishing

kdp.amazon.com


So Whore is an acceptable Title, but if I use it then Amazon will make it an ADULT book refusing to let it be seen in normal book searches and it can't be categorized as Romance since they deem it Erotic?  So after going through ALL that frustration I get an email back from Amazon saying they've reconsidered Whore and it is now no longer Adult.  Here's that email:

Kindle Direct Publishing <title-submission@amazon.com>

Hello,

We’ve reviewed your response concerning the following book(s):

ASIN: B00H3T3GS4

After further review, we have decided to remove the search restrictions so your book(s) will now be found in our general product search results. This may take up to 24 hours to process.

We appreciate your feedback and apologize for any inconvenience caused by this temporary restriction.

Best Regards,

Beatrice K
Amazon.com
Your feedback is helping us build Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company.



So here I am back where I started originally.  With a Contemporary Romance Novel that was never erotic to begin with, not that I agree with what they are doing to Erotic Authors, hoping that since I resubmitted that it won't get red flagged as ADULT again.  If this book doesn't get flagged as an inappropriate title (trust me I'm not holding my breath there) it should be available for sale again tomorrow. 

This may not be considered Book Banning, but it definitely is holding a book hostage!  And let me just say that I find it somewhat ironic that if you're E.L James who's making them millions, you can have a book in Erotic and Contemporary Romance and NOT get red flagged.  Of course Amazon would NEVER play favorites like that.  Right?  Just had to say it.  You can check out that little tidbit of information out for yourself by using the Sales Rank Express Link above.  

 I'm a glass half full kind of person and try to see the positives in every negative situation.  So what have I taken away from all this?  Never title a book with a word that might be considered offensive (although Whore and Deflowered are words even my seventeen year old daughters could say without getting in trouble), even if it perfectly fits your book.  

I have no idea what's going to happen with this book, but let me say this has been an eye-opening experience. 

Love Always,

Michelle Hughes 

Monday, December 9, 2013

Real Christmas Joy Is a Child's Smiling Face

Every year I'm reminded of the true gift of the Christmas season when I see my children smile.  It's a magical time of year when wishes and dreams come true.  These are my little angels and I've been blessed beyond belief.  Christmas to me is all about children and it's hard not to think about the children that will be waiting for Santa to come when families have fallen upon hard times.

There's one organization that brings smiles to these little dreamers and I hope you'll consider them this year when you open your heart. Toys For Tots.  Why do I ask for your support?  Years ago, before I met the second love of my life I'd fallen on such hard times.  I was the single mother who wondered how she was going to keep the Christmas dream alive when I was doing the best I could to keep food on the table.

Toys For Tots gave my children the magic of Christmas that year and it still brings tears to my eyes to remember that gift.  So while you're enjoying all the blessings that life has given to you, I hope you'll remember those that are struggling and bring the Christmas Miracle into the little hearts that need to be reminded of the good things in life.



MISSION:
The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

GOAL:
The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.

OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

ACTIVITIES:
The principal Toys for Tots activity which takes place each year is the collection and distribution of toys in the communities in which a Marine Corps Reserve Unit is located.  In communities without a Reserve Unit, the campaign can be conducted by a Marine Corps League Detachment or group of men and women, generally veteran Marines, authorized by Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to conduct a local Toys for Tots campaign.  Local Toys for Tots Campaign Coordinators conduct an array of activities throughout the year, which include golf tournaments, foot races, bicycle races and other voluntary events designed to increase interest in Toys for Tots, and concurrently generate toys and monetary donations.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Competing with Fifty Shades? That's Not My Goal!

I got a review today on Goodreads about the new book Whore, which frankly disturbed me a little.  Not that I mind a person speaking their mind but the idea behind this was that all these authors were trying to rewrite Fifty Shades of Grey.  I thought the comment deserved to be brought up for further discussison and contrary to popular belief E.L. James wasn't the first person to write a romance novel with a BDSM theme.  Not taking anything away from Mrs. James on the success of her work, but the person I hold as the person who started this genre was Anne Rice.

Anne wrote a great series called the Sleeping Beauty trilogy and it was my first introduction to BDSM themed romance.  Trust me when I say Christian had nothing on her characters when it came to sadomasochism!  The first book came out in 1999 and I have to say it changed my life in ways I won't get into in this posting.  I obviously don't know the mindset Anne Rice was trying to portray with this series, but it spoke to the darkest part of my soul and I was fascinated.

Another point that was raised in this review was the Virgin/Millionaire scenario.  Again let me share my view that E.L  James didn't create that phenomenon either.  Harlequin Romance brought that out into the field and I remember reading my grandmother's four box set that came every month (I was only eight at the time) so giving credit where it's due is deserved.  Trust me I'm not downing the Fifty Shades phenomenon.  I enjoyed all of those books and I'm very happy for James on her success, but saying that she has already done the theme is a little ridiculous.

I've been writing virgin/alpha romances since 2009 myself and that was years before James published her book.  The truth is that's what I enjoy writing and there are still readers out there that want to read books along that theme.  If you as a reader don't that's your reading privilege but saying that an author is copying someone else is ludicrous when no author has the rights to the topic.  It also shows that the reviewer didn't actually read my book because Whore has very little to do with the issues of BDSM.


Taylor Ross wasn't abused as a child, nor does he have the need to control every facet of Laura's life.  He is rich and powerful and believes he can pay for sex.  He doesn't believe in relationships and he has a very good reason for wanting Laura to be his whore.  That reason comes out throughout the book, and I won't spoil it here.

Laura is struggling in life after being abandoned by her mother and she has to make a decision about what's important to her.  She's definitely not had an easy life and here's this strong male accustomed to getting what he wants not only in business but his personal life as well.  He offers her the opportunity to better herself but in doing so she will have to give up who she is as a person.  I consider this to be a coming of age, new adult romance, because the decisions she's faced with deal more with finding out who she is as a person.

What I'm hoping readers will take away from this book is her internal struggle.  There are some sexy scenes that might be a little much for some readers, but to me it's all about Laura's ability to see past what she thinks is right and her own sexuality.  She isn't taken to a dungeon, whipped into submission or anything of the like.  Taylor is just a true Alpha Male who likes to push buttons and he's going to see just how far she'll bend.

The ultimate question this book tries to answer is can a virgin be a whore?  I have my own ideas about this and after reading it, I'm hoping that readers might question there thoughts about the question.  This entire book started because of that question.  I love how the muse throws things at me (when it doesn't wake me up from a sound sleep to write).  Whore was my nanowrimo challenge as well and I'm proud to say I managed 52,000 words in 14 days to meet it!

In closing let me just say that while I support E.L James and her great success, she didn't create this genre and people have been writing about Alpha Male/Virgin scenarios long before either one of us ever typed our first manuscript.  The Pioneers of this genre have given me incredible books to fantasize about over the years and I  hope the theme never dies!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Introducing Khiana Meyer - 16 Year Old Singer

I received an email from this very talented young singer and immediately fell in love with her voice. This is obviously a cover and I'd love to see what she could do with her own music.  Take a minute to enjoy this great voice then like the video on youtube, and share it!
These were the links I was given to get in touch with Khiana:

KhianaMeyer.com
Twitter.com/KhianaMMusic
Facebook.com/KhianaMeyerMusic
Reverbnation.com/khianameyer

*For business inquiries: Book.khiana@gmail.com

Backing track by: Sing to Piano https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDBdag7Ck-Y

Dual Personality and I Quit!

See that chick over there?  Well she's me and I did something really stupid trying to make things right that really weren't wrong to begin with.  Because of a few shallow people's thoughts about my work I made a rash decision to go back to a pen name and I guess I just woke up today.  The truth is if you're that insecure with your own sexuality that you have a problem with the type of writing I do... that's your problem not mine!

To my sexy Alpha Male Jay... I love you too babe but I'm done trying to hide who I am to live in this backwater town.  They can accept me, or we can do what we've always done since moving here and just be a family.  It's no secret that Coosa County is one of the most Southern hick places in the world to live and the only reason I agreed to live here at all was because my husband happens to love our forty acres of land.  It has everything he wants but as far as a social life for me?

Let's just say that if you're not on your knees worshipping 24/7 and pretending to something you're not, the chances of finding friendship are pretty close to nil.  Honestly it doesn't even bother me much because I have four great kids at home who I'd rather spend my time with anyway.  The way things work around here in deliverance country is you are either a redneck party person or bible thumping zealot.  I hate to say, well I don't really, but I'm neither.  So yes the last ten years isolated in this country version of hell hasn't been much fun!

I grew up as a military brat and after that I traveled all around the world with my singing.  Chicago was my favorite place on earth and I miss it dearly!  For the last ten years I've called this place home and have tried my best to fit in.  No more.  I'm sure there are some people out here in the sticks that feel the way I do but I doubt seriously they are willing to speak up about it.  It's not only the adults but the children in the schools here as well.

If you've followed me on facebook you'll know that my 17 year old daughter has had horrible problems with bullying because she, just like her mom, doesn't fit in here.  She's going to kill me for this BUT at least she keeps her legs shut and has decided to wait to find the love of her life.  For that and her love of drawing and anime these horrible children have ridiculed her beyond belief.  Stifling creativity and making people feel like they are beneath you because you don't share their idiotic ideology, that's what you can expect in our part of Alabama.

This has turned into a huge rant, but I swear I needed to get it off my chest.  Accept me for who I am or not.  Mess with my children and expect to end up in a court of law!  And Coosa County Board of Education... believe me I'm watching you like a hawk!  So in short (can I even say that now) I REFUSE to use the pen name, I REFUSE to apologize for being an erotic writer, and I REFUSE to let you make my children suffer for your narrow mindedness.  This is my life these are my children and I will fight you tooth and nail to make sure that MY rights are upheld!

Attention! Whore Has Taken Over Bookstores!

It's official! Whore is now available everywhere great books are sold! The debut starts today and we are encouraging readers to embrace their inner Whore and share it with friends!  Not sex!  The book of course. Not that we'd tell  you what to share if you feel the need, but there are laws against encouraging that kind of behavior.  Unless you live in Vegas, where I think it's legal? Okay this is getting off topic!  Please help us welcome Cara Faith Donovan back into the writing world by spreading the word about Whore!

Blurb:  Can a virgin be a whore?  I guess it depends on your definition of the word.  Working a minimum wage job, I was struggling to save up money for college.  Things were tight but I was managing to scrape by. At least I had a roof over my head, right?  Wrong.  My mother was moving on to husband number five and decided to sell the house without giving me notice.  The bank took care of that with a thirty day grace period.

Taylor Ross walked into the coffee shop where I worked and offered me the perfect solution.  His father was a regular customer and apparently thought highly enough of my service to mention me in his will.  I couldn't just take money but when offered me a job with a great salary including room and board, how could I refuse?  I didn't know at the time just what services Taylor thought I'd offered his father.  

He wanted me to embrace my inner whore and in return my financial worries would be over.  There was only one problem.  I had no idea what that meant.  Taylor was willing to train me, so the only real question was what was I willing to do to have everything my heart desired?

Purchase Links:

Monday, December 2, 2013

Aliens take over Amazon!

Okay, not really but I bet if this new drone program works out there will be many more sightings called in.  I mean think about it, you see a little thing like that flying over your house and what would you think?  What if it's all really a disguise and Amazon had been hiding the aliens all along?  Oh yeah I like the ideas I'm getting from this.  See what you started Jeff Bezos!

You can catch the full article over at  The Telegraph because as you know we're only interested in the parts that entertain us, not the facts! Unless of course the facts are entertaining.  Artificial Intelligence is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality.  I'm all for the robo maids, feel free to send one over for testing! Speaking of, do you remember that movie with Gene Simmons and the robotics?  Better watch out.  We're one step closer.


So yeah I could have referenced a newer movie, but I enjoy the classics.  The future has to start somewhere. Considering that Amazon is an innovator of making cool things happen, why not there?  Seriously, when are we going to get the sexy dudes (or chicks) that are half-breed robot and human?  If we're going to dream let's dream big!  I'll leave with you with two of my favorite movie clips about androids.  Have a great Monday folks! 

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Let's Get It On!

What happens at Tears of Crimson after the Thanksgiving feast?  Our mind sinks right back into the gutter and we get to work!  So what are we getting ready to serve up?  Well this sexy image of Eric Balfour, you know Duke from Haven, pumped up the fantasy muse.  I mean seriously the guy looks like he should be riding a hog and getting down and dirty in the sack... hey don't give us that look!  So a sexy Eric in leather with some rough and rowdy loving... that got our minds whirling.

We pummeled our brains trying to figure out what we knew about biker gangs and turns out, well not a hell of a lot!  So what do you do when you have this great idea for a book and want to get the 411?  You find a great author friend who just happens to know a lot about the subject and beg him to fill you in.  So much love to Zach Kullis for the knowledge because even though the new book will be a fiction and contemporary romance, we want the facts to be straight.


Of course at Tears of Crimson we rarely have an issue with shyness and decided on whim to go out and tweet the sexy Eric, doubting he'd ever give us the time of day and I'm sure this means way little to him but we were so stoked to get a tweet reply.  So stoked that all our friends of Crimson were sick of hearing about it, I'm sure.


Obviously we can't use Eric's name or image in the book but the fact that he answered was just pretty cool and has put him as our number one fangasm dude of the month!  

Okay so back to the book!  March is the estimated release date... but you know how the craziness works around here, it could be sooner.  All we can say now is that it will be a biker romance and be based off some great factual knowledge and of course with everything we write.. lots of steamy hot goodness involved! And obviously we can't use the brand names of the bikes... because seriously being sued would suck royally... but at least you'll know now what he'll be riding!

We're sending out some serious love to Brandy Dorsch because she supports the insanity at Tears when most people tell us we're crazy for some of the stuff we talk about here!  I know a little random thought but I think she'll get it.  So while we're being random (because having ADD just kind of makes that crap happen) let us know what you think is worthy of a fangasm dude (or chick).  







Sunday, November 24, 2013

Jennifer Lawrence was on fire during the second movie of the Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Jennifer Lawrence was on fire during the second movie of the Hunger Games:  Catching Fire.  A brilliant emotional portrayal of the reluctant leader that stole our hearts as Katniss Everdeen. We discover a more grown up version of the Mocking Jay with part two and after the post traumatic stress she's dealing with after the Game, it show beautifully on screen.  This reviewer wanted to join Haymitch in a drink watching the heart-wrenching scenario unfold.

President Snow (Donald Sutherland) was easy to hate and made the perfect villain, which played right into giving Lawrence the spotlight she so rightly deserved.   As a long time Woody Harrelson fan, this role is such a delight to watch and friends who remember him from Cheers will get the humor that he's now the drunken tutor that we finally understand is dealing with his own Post Traumatic Stress from playing in the Hunger Games.

Five out of Five Stars from Tears of Crimson (and the reviewers giving lower ratings were either on crack or didn't see the same movie).  We're are waiting impatiently for the third in the series and even going in knowing we'd be left hanging for the conclusion, it still made us cling to our seats hoping the show would keep going on.  The writers did a fantastic job as did the supporting cast.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Creating an Awesome Twitter Landing Page



  Start with a background image 2500 x 1600 is what I used to make sure it wouldn't tile.  (hint you can visit www.morguefile.com to get free background pics like the one above).


Create your insert by making a new transparent image  339 x 663 write whatever you want on that insert.


Merge the two pictures together.  Make sure to keep the insert .5 away from the top and left for a cleaner image.  Save the completed picture as a jpg to make upload faster.  Really there's nothing to this and with a little trial and error you can have a great facebook landing page.

After you make your background image:  Go to your twitter profile.  Select Design.  Then upload the new background.  That's it your done.  You can mess around with the background color and links until it matches your new background image!

You can see my profile on twitter at www.twitter.com/caradonovan_  If you get stuck just leave me a message below and I'll help.  Don't forget to share your new background with me here!  I love seeing what people create!









Whore Radio - Embrace it!


  
So maybe we're a little obsessed with our inner whore!  Come join us!  Oh and a little reason why author's shouldn't be songwriters *grins* This is what all the songs would look like!

Whore - Michelle Hughes song lyrics

I know what you want from me, but baby I just can't give in
Doesn't help that, that body of yours is like a one way ticket to sin
You make me feel things that I can't resist
Long to surrender with just one kiss
I know you're wanting even more .. but I feel like your whore

Slow down I'm begging just let me breathe, before I can't say no
The feelings you bring to life inside of me, leave my body anything but cold
Those hands know just what I need
Few minutes more I'll be on my knees
I'm shattered right to the core, still I feel like you're whore

Chorus -

Climb on into my feather bed there's plenty of room for two
You've been teasing me all night long now let me show you what I can do
You make me feel like a whore, and I want it deep down inside my core
You make me feel like a whore, so let's flaunt it I've never wanted any man more
I'll give you nights of ecstasy, for the lust you bring out in me
I've got what you're longing for, you make me feel like a whore

------

Long legs wrapped around me tight, fingers that know how to please
Are you ready for the ride of your life, just look what you've done to me
Those lips better step up their game
If you want me to scream out your name
My bodies ready to soar, there's no doubt I'm your whore

Come a little closer give me what I need, hot loving against the wall
Show me the animal you need to feed, answer that mating call
I can be your little tiger or a kitten in bed
I see those dirty thought running through your head
Don't make me beg you for more, I already feel like your whore

(Repeat Chorus)




Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Whore: Banned from Facebook

I tried to purchase an ad for the new book, Whore and was shocked when I got this reply from facebook:

Your ad wasn't approved because it uses profane, vulgar, or threatening language, or insults, harasses, or demeans people, or addresses age, gender, race, physical condition, sexual preference, or generates high negative feedback.

Before resubmitting your ad, please visit the Help Center to learn more and see examples of ads that meet our guidelines.

If you’ve read the guidelines in the Help Center and think your ad follows the rules and should have been approved, please let us know.
For more information, please read our Terms of Use and Advertising Guidelines.

Thanks,


The Facebook Ads Team

So there had to be a misunderstanding, I thought.  I decided to write them back and explain this was a book title that I was promoting and here's the lovely little reply I got back.

Hi Michelle,

This book cannot be promoted on Facebook. Both the book cover and the name violate policy.

This decision is final.

Thanks,

Ralph
Facebook Ads Team
Facebook

I guess Ralph told me.  His decision was final and it didn't matter what I thought about it (trust me I'm laughing here because I happen to like dominant men, pretty obvious since I write about them).  What I don't get is how Whore can be a violation of policy when I see books all the time being promoted about sluts, sexual relationship, and yadda yadda yadda.  Baby it's romance and if Whore offends you, I'm thinking that's a personal issue that you should take up with your shrink and not my book sales.  Just sayin'.

What's a girl to do?  Obviously spend her advertising money somewhere else.  It's just a little frustrating seeing half naked pictures of people pop up in my timeline (which btw I like) and then be told that I can't advertise my book because it's titled Whore?  And hello there is nothing graphic about the cover!  Oh well, guess I'll just go Whore my book elsewhere *giggling*  Feel free to pimp right along with me!  If facebook kicks me I'll be back on twitter @CaraDonovan_  Here's the links to all the places you can buy or read about whore http://bitly.com/bundles/o_3mqff28ubs/3




Monday, November 18, 2013

Bloggers and Reviews - We Need Pimps!

Don't look at me that way!  You know I wouldn't ask unless I felt I couldn't live without it!  Trust me it won't hurt at all (unless you want it to) and you'll be doing a favor that will be returned anytime you ask.  Seriously what's better than an open ended favor that you can hold over my head?

If you'll look follow this link it will take you to the Cara blog and you'll see a tab called Whores and Pimps (Honestly I know you want to look!).  The link will take you to a sign up for the release of Whore and we would like to get reviewers and bloggers on the feather bed.  Since we're pulling out the new Pen Name, it's going to take a lot of word of mouth to let people know what's going on.  Now I know I've got friends out there that know how to use that mouth!

So what am I trying to talk you into?  A review if you've got time, a excerpt of the book  if you don't (that I'll even create for you if you need it), and just word of mouth to your other friends that Cara Faith Donovan is putting out a book called whore.  See I told you it wouldn't be painful!  If you're a blogger then please follow the link to Whore and Pimps to sign up and if you'd just like to help spread the word and need to know more you can send an email to love@carafaithdonovan.com  (Just no lewd requests for naked pictures, my hubs gets a little ticked about those).  If you'd like to host a guest post drop me a line too, I give good blog I'm told (winks).

You can check out the goodreads link on the top right for more information about Whore and please add it to your TBR (to be read) shelf.  I'm getting rather good at wearing the pimp hat if i do say so myself!  Lots of love your way and I appreciate you working it for me!


Friday, November 15, 2013

Feel Like You've Lost Your Mind? Click Here!

We haven't exactly pulled out the little white jackets yet but we're close!  Holy sin someone explain why we needed to do everything so close to the holidays!  At Tears of Crimson we love a challenge but WOW! Giving birth to a new pen name, participating in NaNoWriMo, creating two new websites, and trying to format the book coming out in two weeks?  Yeah I think a little insanity might be in order.  Mix that in with our daily responsibilities and you've got One Crazy Month!  November will be known from now on as the time that we almost lost it.

On the positive side, the new cover is done and so is the website and Nook early previewed the book and has it on sale now!  Don't ask it's a long story and our brains are too tired to explain!  Does it sound like we're trying to pull the pity card?  We're not but if you have some sympathy, feel free to head over to Goodreads and add Whore to your reading list!

While you're at it, spreading the word that Cara Faith Donovan is the new name for books wouldn't hurt either!  On a serious note this is all part of the fun of publishing.  What's a great book without a little hair pulling out, banging your head on the desk, or feeling callouses on your fingers from all the love you put into it?  Not much!

We haven't had time (okay maybe we just forgot) to hook up with bloggers for a release day blitz.  If you've got a blog and would like to help us out there, please send an email to Michelle.  We're glad to send Kindle, Nook, or PDF version for review prior to release date if you've got a blog!

So that's what we're doing this week.  Feel like you've lost your mind?  Come share your insanity with us in comments!


Monday, November 11, 2013

5 Nights of Sinful Delights - 99 Cents!


Five Nights of Sinful Delights

Boxed Set

Purchase on:  Amazon    

or Dowload  the PDF from Tears  

In lieu of the changes coming as we bring back to life Cara Faith Donovan, we’re offering a great deal on five of our sexiest books from Tears of Crimson:  Sin, Romance Book Club, Undercover Submissive, Angela’s Salvation and Scarlett’s Temptation.  For a limited time you can receive all five full length books for the insane price of 99 cents!  833 pages of Sin.

Have we lost our minds?  That's debatable, BUT we wanted to offer our readers a last chance to have this collection before they were all changed to reflect the name change.  If you want to keep a little piece of history from Tears of Crimson this is your chance.  These will be the last books with the name Michelle Hughes on the cover.


The new book releasing from Tears of Crimson will be titled Whore, and will hit the shelves just in time for Christmas.  Obviously Cara Faith Donovan will be the author and Michelle Hughes will be thrown back into the administrative side.  With the new book release, Whore, we're inviting our readers to let go of all their inhibitions and embrace their inner whore!  Can a virgin be a whore?  That's the question we'll ask readers to decide for themselves!

Enough about that for now.  November has been a crazy train ride and we're all trying to catch our breaths as we flip-flop through the name changes, participate in NaNoWriMo, and basically try and catch all our friends up on what's going on.  Nothing says little white jacket like giving yourself an impossible deadline! Isn't that what life is all about?  So hang on tight and come enjoy the ride as we move into 2014!

We've got your virgin and alpha male temptations with seduction so steamy you might need a cold shower when you're done!  Our bad boys like them sweet and innocent and since it's getting harder to find that in today's modern age, it's what we love bringing to our readers at Tears of Crimson.  Take a virgin and put her with the right Alpha Male and watch her bloom.  That's what we want to be known for, not to mention that we just find it hot seeing how a sexy man can make a sweet woman turn into a tiger in the bedroom.  

Thank you Tears of Crimson Friend's for always giving us such undenying support!  Without our Friend's of Crimson all this would be just a dream.  So during the month of thanks... we're giving ours to you!


Thursday, November 7, 2013

The Rebirth of Cara Faith Donovan



Cara has been hanging out as my alter ego since I began my writing career and now she's coming back to life at Tears of Crimson.  So hang on to your garter belts ladies, and you men?  Well I'm sure you can come up with something to grab on to!  Michelle Hughes as most of the loyal readers here know, is my real name but all the books steaming up your Kindle, Nook, and bookshelves will now have a new secret identity, Cara Faith Donovan.

What the hell are you thinking Michelle?  Well let me explain.  When you live in a small little town in Alabama and happen to have children, writing erotic romance doesn't always go over well.  So as much as I love what I do when your kids teachers start talking about reading your books it's time to consider what's best for those little people in my life that are not ready to discover the work in mommy's books.  Betty Crocker might dish up some hot little tales, but I'm sure what she's cooking in the kitchen and the things she does in her personal life are two separate things.  I hope you get what I'm throwing down here today.

Those that have supported me in the past I'm hoping will embrace this new change and hey you'll be privy to a secret because after the transition I won't be discussing this again.  From this day forth, and until death ...you get the gist... I promise to obey my inner sex goddess and write stories that heat up your nights.  The only thing changing is the name!   The only books that will not be getting the Cara Faith Donovan secret service move will be the Vampire Series.  If you've read those books you'll understand why.  If not well might I suggest you do?

This site will continue running without change.  The new author site is www.carafaithdonovan.com the twitter name (same account btw) is now @Cara_Donovan and there's also the new facebook page www.facebook.com/carafaithdonovan  (which could use some likes since I've just created it).  The first book to be released under the name will be Whore and should hit your e-readers and paperback by December 4, 2013.   In light of the new book release you'll be seeing the tagline "Embrace Your Inner Whore"  and maybe that's what the freedom of a pen name will allow me to do with my books!

I'm hoping you guys will help make this transition easier by spreading the word.  The Street Team can always use new members and beta readers are in hot demand!  Michelle *wink wink* will still be handling the administrative duties for Tears of Crimson and Cara Faith Donovan so if you're subscribe to the newsletter nothing will change there.  If you'd like to be a part of the street team or a beta reader drop me a line at michelle@tearsofcrimson and I'll hook you up!  As always... Love from Tears of Crimson

Friday, November 1, 2013

Get Ready to NaNoWriMor!



It's on like Donkey Kong at Tears of Crimson.  Today starts the annual National Novel Writing Month where writer's are called to produce 50,000 words in 30 days!  You can get all the Groovy facts at NaNoWrimo.Org  Join the fun and insanity as we pound our heads into the keyboard and try to produce an incredible novel in just a month!  Now I know some of you are saying it just can't be done, but let me just stop you right there.

If you focus on writing everyday you can meet this goal.  One of the things I love about NaNoWrite is it makes you focus on sitting down and doing what needs to happen to produce a full length book.  I encourage every writer to come out and take on the challenge and find out what you're capable of.  You can keep up with  NanoWriMo on twitter, facebook, and by all means drop us a line at Tears of Crimson and share your experiences.

Let's get this party started and write a bestseller!  Who's with me... I see you over there trembling in the corner!  Get up and join in the fun.  Besides if you go nuts you'll look really cool in the straight jacket, right? Seriously this is going to be so exciting... give it a try!

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween from Tears of Crimson!


What better way to kick off Halloween Day than by exploring a strange phenomena happening all over the world.  We at Tears of Crimson had our own experience in Alabama a few years back.  Granted ours was more of a large Boom that was heard over a 100 mile radius and rattled glasses in homes.  The personal experience from our home office in Alabama was s topic of conversation for an entire little league baseball. While some of the noises and booms have been proven to be a hoax, several more like our employees experienced have no explanation.

Make your own decision as you comb through some of the more reliable videos we've found.  Happy Halloween from Tears of Crimson!







Monday, October 28, 2013

Stop Drinking the Kool Aid


Rock on Russell Brand.  Let's hope there isn't an Illuminati because if there is here's their next target.   The comedian (that I'll admit I fell in love with thanks to the Rock of Ages movie) had plenty to say about his political views.  Brand admits he doesn't vote and calls for a Revolution.  With the way things have looked in Washington recently, I'd say his words might resonate with the people.  Obviously our current political system isn't working for "We the People." 

We can't get an honest answer from the media because their pockets have been lined by the respective parties.  "The truth" is  a Hollywood script in the press lately.  Benghazi, Obamacare, and the inability of our leaders to act like adults has most of the people I've talked with sick of politicians and the games they play. Perhaps it is time for a Revolution.  Main stream media can't give unbiased opinions so maybe it's time that bloggers fulfill their rolls.

No matter what side of the fence you choose, it's hard not to notice that things aren't working for the American People.  That leaves two options.  Stick your head in the sand and continue drinking the Kool Aid, or wake up and start taking an interest in fixing the problems.  I'm all for a good fiction book but the reality is this country has serious problems that need to be addressed and our leaders seem more interested in lining their pockets than coming up with real solutions.

I don't have the answers but what I do have is a love for this great country and watching it being destroyed breaks my heart.  So is a Revolution the right way to go?  When you look at the path we're walking down I don't see any other alternative.  I'm sure there are smarter people than me reading this blog, so give your opinions.  Perhaps the greatest Revolution is the average citizen just waking up enough to realize that something is very wrong in this country and taking a stand?


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