* an untitled contemporary erotic romance (BDSM). This is Ryan’s book. For those unfamiliar with Ryan, he made a brief appearance in Hardware. Like Hardware, the female lead in this book is also a geek. She games (a fact that pleases Allison to no end) and is Gatlin Falls’ newest radio personality with an affinity for hard driving rock music. If you missed it, I posted a sneak peek over at The Romance Studio’s New Years Party – just scroll down a little past the Hardware excerpt.  http://trsparties.com/index.php/featured-releases/2644-hardware-a-sneak-peek-of-a-work-in-progress-adult-excerpt-sara-brookes

* an untitled futuristic erotic romance (D/s). This is a project I’m working on that I’m not a liberty to discuss just yet, but I’ve just about finished the first draft, just one or two key scenes to go. This one has a word count target I’m desperately trying to stay under. I actually think I’m going to go over, but its easier sometimes to cut and remove. I should finish up this first draft this week.

* Chasing Sin, a contemporary erotic romance (m/m/f menage). The first draft of this one is done, it’s in week three of sitting on my hard drive percolating. Which means as soon as I finish the first draft of the futuristic I mentioned above, I’ll dive into personal edits on this one. This one about three storm chasers whose lives take a turn after surviving a close encounter with a tornado in America’s Heartland. I gave a sneak peek of this one as well at The Romance Studio’s New Years Party – same deal, just scroll down after the excerpt. http://trsparties.com/index.php/featured-releases/2681-hard-as-stone-a-sneak-peek-mm-adult-excerpts-sara-brookes

* an untitled contemporary erotic romance (BDSM). This is Adam’s book. For those unfamiliar with Adam, he is a close friend of Dalton and made a brief appearance in Ragged Edge. When Dalton left Second Circle, Adam took over one of his duties–instructor.

The CyberLaunch for Hard as Stone will be held on Monday, January 16. I’ll be giving away an Amazon gift card so be sure to swing by on Monday!

So that’s what is hot on my plate at the moment. While I’ve bought a ton of books to read lately, I have some judging packets that need my attention first. So, for the next few months, I’ll be reading those instead of anything in my TBR pile. Though, in the meantime, I have no doubt that pile will continue to grow. One day, I expect it shall consume the room it is stacked in. Not that I’m complaining.

http://laynapimentel.com/2011/12/29/interview-with-author-sara-brookes/

But, if that’s not enough motivation, I received the cover of Slow Break, a m/m entry into the Sypricon Master series, over the weekend and Lanya is featuring it exclusively at her blog for the week. It’s the only place you’re going to find it right now. And believe me, this is one cover you want to see–plenty of delicious man flesh to feast your eyes on.

http://wp.me/pyBsL-nx

So I thought just how much I like to employ the same technique in some of my books. So, check out some first lines from current books and even a few Works in Progress.

Current Books:

Flash of Dark: My head snapped to the side, vision blurring as my eyes watered from the shock.
Midnight’s Ghost: Whoever said karma was a bitch wasn’t kidding.
Blood Fever: He pleaded for his life.
Midnight’s Shadow: If Wallace didn’t kill us, I’d kill him myself.
Forged in Fire:  Two gallons.
Ragged Edge:  Dalton was damaged goods.
Impulse Control:  Today was the cherry on top of a shitty week sundae.

WiPs:

3rd Star Runner book To Be Titled: “Fuck it all to fucking fuckery.”
Contemporary Erotic Romance To Be Titled: “Is she insane?”

So, what about you? How do you like your first lines? Do you think they leave a lasting impression on you as a reader? If you’re a writer, what does the first line of a book mean to you? Oh, and I like first chapters too. But that’s for another day.

http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/blog/?p=8313

One of the main characters, Dalton, is the founder of Second Circle, a BDSM club in Atlanta. While the club is not a prevalent part of the story, Dalton is (obviously). While he’s not at the club anymore, that little detail is very telling about him as a character. In the snippet I posted on Tuesday, a line is said from Cade to Erin in reference to Dalton:

He is raw sex and I assure you, completely uninhibited.

The last part of that sentence is what is most important and plays a key role in language choice for Dalton. So, yes, if you read Ragged Edge, you will encounter this ‘contemporary language’ quite frequently from Dalton. He uses it very easily and in fact, it wasn’t what I had planned for him. The first time I wrote a section where he does use it, I wasn’t even aware of it–that’s how natural it is for this character. It was only later in the day when I re-read what I’d worked on that I realized it and was a little shocked to see it sitting there in black and white. I wanted to delete it, to be honest. But I kept it and as I developed the character even more, I realized it was there for a reason–and it stayed.

As I said, that language choice has to be appropriate for the characters and the story.

Now, for comparison, Impulse Control, which releases on July 22nd, does not share the same level of language as Ragged Edge. Perfect Limit, which is just finishing up edits, doesn’t either. Now, the same can’t be said for No Restraint which should be starting edits very soon. It’s not frequent, but that contemporary language is there because it’s appropriate for that character.

For me, that word choice is not–and never has or will be–about shock value.

http://decadentpublishing.blogspot.com/2011/06/sara-brookes-facts-this-friday.html

I’ve talked about The Lift Hill before and the long climb it can sometimes be. But today I’m talking about The Crest over at Paranormal Romantics and sharing some big news. Come check it out!

I just finished up my latest work in progress, Ragged Edge, a contemporary erotic romance involving two men and a woman. Gotta say, this whole going into new territory is a lot of fun. I enjoyed writing their story and it tore at my heartstrings as I discovered what made them all tick. Me and my fondness for broken heroes. Right now it’s with my CP and once I get it back and whipped into a smooth and polished state, I have to decide what to do with it.

Ragged Edge marks the third full length novel I’ve written this year. Hardware (which is already out) and Midnight’s Shadow (out in early 2011) are the other two. I’ve nearly finished whipping the third book in the Rebirth series into shape, but I don’t expect it to be done until after the first of the year–or close to it.

Speaking of Midnight’s Shadow…the first book in that series, Midnight’s Ghost, marked a bit of a milestone. Yesterday, 11/21, was the day I submitted it for consideration for publication with Liquid Silver Books in 2009. I can’t wait to share the continuing saga of Taran and Wallace with readers next year. All I have to say is two words: shower scene

Now I’ll dig my heels into a sci-fi romance short and a co-authored paranormal romance with Stacey Kennedy. This brain of mine needs a break from all the blistering hotness it’s been dealing with lately. There’s also another short in my brain somewhere that’s begging to be told–so you see what I have to work with for the next several months. LOL

On to some self-pimpage:

If you want to see an exclusive excerpt of Hardware and be entered to win a copy, swing by The Romance Studio’s four day Release Party where I’m participating. I’ll be posting an adult excerpt later tonight, but why not check out Allison and Patrick’s first kiss in the meantime?

And, should you find yourself unable to wait and absoltuely must have a copy right this instant, Hardware is now available at All Romance eBooks and Amazon.

/pimping

One last thing, a HUGE thanks to everyone who continually participates in Six Sentence Sunday. You have truly blown my mind with your enthusiasm and your support.

Come visit me there and check it out: http://romancewritersbehavingbadly.blogspot.com/

Oh! And…Blood Fever is now available at All Romance eBooks (which means there’s a discount on it right now!): http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bloodfever-470031-139.html