Yes, I'm leaving my books behind! And - the horror - my computer as well. It's tricky, but I hope that reality will be enough to keep me occupied for the next ten days. I really, really hope so...

I probably won't be able to answer my email or check my website regularly, so have patience if you write me - I will write you back.

Have a nice holiday everybody!

And have it published with Torquere Press?

Then read an interview with president of Torquere Press, Shawn Clements, at examiner.com. Among other things, she's talking about what Torquere's looking for in a submission.

Oh, and she mentions her favorite piece of erotica art: The Barberini Faun at Munich Glyptothek. I looked it up, and it's amazing:

Or, you know, Tom and Mischa's got a date. With you:).

In other words, I got a date for Happily Ever After, the sequel to A Russian Bear: September 12. I just sent back the first rounds of edits a couple of days ago, and I really hope that you'll like it.

I really enjoyed writing Happily Ever After because it's a little darker than A Russian Bear - and just as kinky. To be honest, even though I love reading angst, I think I'm rubbish at writing it. I just want my guys to be happy. Alas, they're not happy in this book - at least not until they figure out how to get themselves out of the emotional mess they've ended up in after the assault on Tom. Luckily, with those two involved, that means one kinky scene after another. I must admit that I was blushing repeatedly while writing it...

I've tried not to make the book too "sequelly". In other words, you should be able to read it without having read A Russian Bear first. It does begin right after A Russian Bear stopped, though - only minutes after, as a matter of fact. Here's the first excerpt:


They were going to be okay. Tom sighed and pushed his head closer, resting it in the crook of Mischa's neck. Mischa had been about to get up, but now Tom's lover sat down next to him on the spanking bench in the quiet playroom, putting both arms around Tom and hugging him securely.

Tom took a deep breath, and then another, the air feeling as if it was somehow cleansing him. He could feel Mischa's hand caress his shoulder, and he relished the touch, relished the simple fact that touching felt good again. It had been so fucking long.

He had tried telling himself over and over these last months that it had only been an assault. An unfortunate meeting, only a few minutes of close contact with some homophobic asshole who didn't like the look of Tom's face or something like that.

It was just that the consequences had stretched far beyond those few minutes. Tom had been messed up when the man had left him in that alley, bleeding and unconscious. It had taken weeks, months even, before his broken bones had mended and the bruises had paled and taken that horrible deep pain with them. The pain that kept him from what he needed most: being touched and comforted by Mischa.

Unfortunately, those hadn't been the only after-effects. Somewhere along the way, Tom had completely lost faith in himself, in his ability to be touched. To be loved. He shuddered and pushed closer.

"Shh, you're okay." Mischa cuddled him, gently stroking his hair.

The knowledge that Mischa was right, that he was finally going to be all right, almost took his breath away for a moment. The relief made his throat tighten up, and he chuckled ruefully.

"What?" Mischa pulled back far enough to look questioningly at Tom's face. The dark eyes were soft.

"Nothing," Tom shook his head. His voice came out slightly strangled. "I'm just…" He cleared his throat. "I'm just happy."

Pride Month Sale! Torquere's celebrating Pride Month - here's how you can get a discount on all your purchases:

"June is traditionally Pride Month. To celebrate Pride, we're offering 20%
off your purchases from now through the end of day Saturday! Just put
'pride2012' in the coupon code box any time you check out at Torquere Books
(www.torquerebooks.com) before Saturday at midnight to get 20% off your
order.

Sale good now through Saturday June 30 at Midnight (est)."

An excellent opportunity to, say, catch up on A Russian Bear before the sequel will be published in September;). 

They most certainly are, and they are hotter than ever. And kinkier. Unfortunately, they're also fucked up. I can't decide which part I enjoyed more:).

So far, the title of the book is Happily Ever After. It's had another working title, but I think I'll stick with this one. Here's the blurb:

    Mischa isn't stupid; he knows that happily ever afters only happen in fairytales. Still, he had thought that as            soon as Tom got over the horrible assault that almost tore them apart, everything would be better. Perhaps not     fairytale happy right away, but better. Instead, they seem to be falling apart, and quite spectacularly so.

    What Mischa hadn't taken into account was the fact that violence have longtime consequences -- consequences     that are threatening to shake the very foundation of Tom and Mischa's relationship. Because Mischa can handle     Tom's weakness, but he can't face his own. He doesn't have a choice, though. Not if they're going to make it. 

    As Mischa and Tom struggle to rebuild their relationship, it turns out that happily ever after is damn hard work.     It's also wildly kinky, because Tom and Mischa have to build a new trust in the playroom as well. One scene at a     time, Mischa and Tom explore their new limits, and that's the kind of work that Mischa likes. After all, that's           what badass Doms do.

I'll let you know as soon as I have a date for it!