Guest Post by Eliza Knight

First impressions are very important—especially when potentially meeting your soul mate. Or are they?

Many people put up a front when they first meet someone they are considering romantically. We want them to see the best parts of us. We want the other person to think we are fun, worthwhile, exciting, and sexy. We want that other person to like us, and fall for us. And this means not showing all of our TRUE selves.

It isn’t as if we do this consciously. It is an unconscious decision. And believe it or not we do it when we meet most people for the first time.

In essence, we are selling ourselves—or the vision of ourselves that we want someone to buy into.

My husband always jokes around that I am most definitely NOT the woman he met ? He thought me a witty, cute, agreeable, sexy woman. Then KA-BOOM, my real self came out—an independent, opinionated, stubborn, intelligent, sexy woman. Now, luckily for me, he wouldn’t have me any other way. But I guess when we first met, I gave off the impression of being somewhat pliable, maybe even lacking the intelligence I have. He was attracted to me, but didn’t think it would last as he likes a stronger woman. Thank goodness I let my true self out! (And on 11-11-11 we will celebrate our ELEVENTH wedding anniversary! How fascinating is that?)

In essence, the pursuit of love can define who we are, who we want to be and how we want to be perceived. But is changing who we are to impress someone else betraying our own souls?

Why am I talking about this? Because in my medieval romance novel, it is all about putting up a front. My heroine, Chloe, must put up a front first for her Scottish father who does not want to hear her speak in her naturally French accent. She has to pretend to be someone different. Then she must deny who she is when she is uprooted from her own life and another charade of being a servant vs. a noble begins.

At first her charade is for safety, but as she falls for the hero, she often wonders if he is attracted to her or the persona she has created around herself. She tries to let bits and pieces of her true self out without compromising her identity, but in the end, it eats away at her. She wants to be loved for who she truly is. When she finally does lay her life at his feet and confess to her true identity—as his enemy—will Alexander, our ultra-sexy knight hero, still love her? Does their love falter? Shift? Change in any way?

How it ends I’ll keep a secret, but as it is a romance, a happily ever after is required!

Tell me, how have you let the pursuit of love define you? What lengths have you gone to catch the eye of another?

A LADY’S CHARADE

From across a field of battle, English knight, Alexander, Lord Hardwyck, spots the object of his desire–and his conquest, Scottish traitor Lady Chloe.

Her lies could be her undoing…

Abandoned across the border and disguised for her safety, Chloe realizes the man who besieged her home in Scotland has now become her savior in England. Her life in danger, she vows to keep her identity secret, lest she suffer his wrath, for he wants her dead.

Or love could claim them both and unravel two countries in the process…

Alexander suspects Chloe is not who she says she is and has declared war on the angelic vixen who’s laid claim to his heart. A fierce battle of the minds it will be, for once the truth is revealed they will both have to choose between love and duty.

Read an excerpt.

Available in ebook at: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple

Available in print at: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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Eliza Knight is the multi-published author of sizzling historical romance and erotic romance. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain, and enjoys cold winter nights when she can curl up in front of a roaring fire with her own knight in shining armor. Visit Eliza at www.elizaknight.com or her historical blog, History Undressed, which was recently mentioned in a feature article in The Wall Street Journal. www.historyundressed.blogspot.com

by Vivienne Westlake.

It’s something we hear over and over, particularly in our twenties. You can’t love someone until you love yourself. In the case of Lady Northam’s Wicked Surrender, the issue is love as it relates to trusting your partner and trusting yourself. The heroine, Rowena, fell in love with Simon eight years ago, but she did not trust that this love was stable and lasting. When circumstances became difficult and she felt like the hero had abandoned her, she didn’t have the strength to stick it through. Partly, it was the ignorance of youth and partly it was letting other people influence her decisions.

When we are young and in love, initially everything is exciting and new and every day is full of hope for the future. However, it isn’t until we get past that stage and experience the challenges, and differences of personality, that we can truly say we are in love. It is easy to love when things are perfect and both partners are blissfully happy. But the current divorce rates show us that this initial infatuation cannot sustain a relationship for long. One of the key foundations for a committed relationship is trust.

Most people think of this as having an honest and trustworthy partner. Someone who calls when he says he will, who is loyal and faithful, a person who will put you first and drop everything if you need a ride to the doctor or if you need money for bail. What we don’t always think about is having trust and faith in ourselves. How can you know you are in love if you don’t trust your own experience? And how can you trust that your partner is honest and faithful if you don’t believe in your own choices or if you fear that the world–or the opposite sex–is unsafe?

In order for Rowena to move forward with Simon, she had to realize that her fears of abandonment were less about what Simon did–or did not do–and more about her own fears and insecurities. She had to realize that some part of her was afraid to trust him, afraid to believe in love, and that it was easier to listen to hearsay than to take the real risk of loving someone and entrusting her heart forever.

Do you know any friends or family who have sabotaged what seemed like a good relationship or friendship because of insecurities or mistrust? Or, have you noticed a difference in how you look at relationships now versus how you looked at them 10 or 20 years ago?

Website: www.viviennewestlake.com

All my paranormal romance is influenced by historical legends and mythology. I like to say that I write very smart books for very bad girls. But I’m not the only one. Today I’d like to share an article with you about one of the coolest love stories from ancient history, written by a friend, chapter mate, and talented author of paranormal romance. Take it away…

Royal Watching

by

Sharon Buchbinder

He was the reluctant heir to the throne of a desert kingdom. She was a virgin queen living far away in the south.

A little bird told him of her beauty–he had to meet her. A traveling merchant told her of his wisdom–she had to meet him.

Something greater than either of them conspired to bring them together. When they met, could there be any doubt they were meant for each other? But would duty to country prevail over their pledge to one another? Only time and love would tell.

Sound like the stuff of romance novels? Yes, this was a romance writ large because it was an affair of state and royalty. And these characters appear in no less than four holy books: the Ta Nakh, the Koran, the King James Bible and the Kebra Nagast (The Glory of Kings).

In Biblical times, he who could kill or overcome enemy tribes became king. With lots of children and careful planning, his heirs would succeed him. But not all countries had the same traditions. In some parts of the world, women ruled by might or by right to the throne. For the royals, marrying and having children was an affair of state. Right up until recent times, it was not uncommon for the royalty of different lands to marry for the mutual benefit of their countries. In our modern era, heads of state and heirs to thrones have been granted the freedom to marry whom they choose–within reason.

Millennia before Prince William and Kate Middleton’s time on the world stage, people have been royal watchers. Some watched to see if they were in favor and able to gain, others to see if they were out of favor and about to lose–their heads! Still others watched because it was simply the best show in town.  So when the royalty of Israel met the royalty of Sheba, all eyes were upon them. Based on the appearance of these two royals in no less than four world religions, no one could resist watching the wise King Solomon and the beautiful Queen Makeda.

In researching my work-in-progress, Kiss of the Virgin Queen, I, too, have become a royal watcher–from a distance of over three thousand years.  My historical voyeurism has taken me down a circuitous path across time and cultures to their mythic romance.  Destinies entwined, some would say the Makeda/Solomon romance was beshert.

With construction on the first Temple well underway by the time King Solomon greeted the extravagantly generous Queen of Sheba,* he already had seven hundred (700) wives and three hundred (300) concubines. By marrying princesses of rival kingdoms, he had built an extraordinary alliance and ensured the safety of the trading routes. Curious about the man behind the legend, Queen Makeda traveled fifteen hundred (1500!) miles from Ethiopia to meet the wisest man on earth–and to ask him “hard questions.” When they met, the Queen was “left breathless by Solomon’s magnificence” (Coogan, Brettler, Newsom, & Perkins, 2001, pp. 508). The attraction was mutual–but there was nothing they could do about it. Or was there?

The eyes of the world were upon them.

Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, while madly in love with Solomon, had to return to her country a virgin, or risk losing her throne. For his part, King Solomon was besotted with her and had to have her. In a cagy move, Solomon feasted with Makeda and made her promise never to steal from him. If she broke the promise, she had to sleep with him. Offended, Makeda pointed out that she had no need to steal from him, that in fact she had more gold and spices than she needed in her home country. However, unbeknownst to the Queen, the King had her food heavily spiced. That night, she became terribly thirsty and searched the palace for water. The only pitcher available was in King Solomon’s room. When she drank, he leaped up and demanded that she come to his bed.

That night Solomon dreamed the sun travelled from Israel to Makeda’s home country, Ethiopia.

Much as she wanted to stay, Makeda insisted on returning home carrying within her a very special gift from Solomon. Saddened by the loss of his true love, King Solomon gave her a signet ring and told her that if she had a son, to send him back to Israel with the ring so he would know him. Nine months later, Menelik was born just outside of Ethiopia. He grew up strong, healthy–and the spitting image of King Solomon. When he turned twenty-two, he insisted on meeting his father. Queen Makeda gave him the signet ring, but there was no need for it, as everyone in Jerusalem could see he was his father’s son. King Solomon rejoiced and anointed his son, renaming him David, after his grandfather.

But the Elders and the seven hundred wives and the three hundred concubines grew worried. What if this David took over? What of the other sons of Solomon? After a meeting of the Council of Elders, Menelik/David was sent home much to his pleasure, but against his father’s wishes. King Solomon decided that since his eldest son had to leave, so should the eldest sons of all the other tribes. Amid great noise and with many wagons and animals, Menelik/David departed. But little did King Solomon know at the time, the Ark of the Covenant went with him.

When the loss was discovered, King Solomon sent his horsemen after the travelers. To their amazement, the ark and the retinue were gone. Sped on by the Ark’s own desire to be with Menelik/David, its supernatural powers enabled it to move faster than the horsemen. To this day, the Ark of the Covenant is kept in Axum, Ethiopia, watched over by a priest for his entire lifetime.

This story, like many other wonderful legends, takes place in the space between science, religion and the paranormal.  Kiss of the Virgin Queen, the second book in my Jinn Hunter Trilogy (Kiss of the Silver Wolf was the first book) will explore that space and the effects of the epic romance between King Solomon and Queen Makeda that continue to ripple down the centuries to their descendants. Stay tuned…

*(“Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones, never again did such spices come in such quantity as was that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon” (Kings 10:10 in Coogan, Brettler, Newsom, & Perkins, 2001, pp. 508-509).

If you are interested in reading more about this topic, here are some books for you.

Budge, W. (Translator). (2007). The Kebra Nagast (The Glory of Kings). Lexington, KY: Silk Pagoda.

Clapp, N. (2001). Sheba: Through the Desert in Search of the Legendary Queen. New York, NY: First Mariner Books.

Coogan, M.D., Brettler, M.Z., Newsom, C.A.,  & Perkins, P. (Eds.). (2001). Kings 10:1-13 in The New Oxford Annotated Bible. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, p. 508-509.

Fraser, A. (2004). The Warrior Queens. New York, NY: Anchor Books.

Razwy, S.A.A. (Ed.) & Ali, A. Y. (Translator).  (2009). The Qur’an Translation. Elmhurst, NY: Tahrike Tarsile.

Sharon Buchbinder has always been a story-teller. As a child, she got into a lot of trouble for “making things up.” Now, she is rewarded for making things up. She’s been writing fiction since in middle school and has the rejection slips to prove it. She found friendship, support and the opportunity to develop as an author with the Maryland Romance Writers and the Romance Writers of America(RWA) Since romance has over a dozen sub-genres, she was able to turn her fascination with horror and mystery into paranormal romance and romantic suspense. When not writing she can be found reading, fishing, working out, golfing or enjoying a good meal and laughter with friends and family.

Website: www.sharonbuchbinder.com

Blog:  www.sharonbuchbinder.com/blog

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sharon.buchbinder.romanceauthor

Twitter: @sbuchbinder

Today I have the honor of hosting a guest post from Carmen Webster Buxton, an early adopter of eBook technology who has gone on to become an authoritative source of news for all things eReader. We’d all be wise to listen to what she has to say. And as a bonus, Carmen will choose one lucky commenter on this post to win a free Smashwords or Kindle copy of her latest book.

eBooks: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

by

Carmen Webster Buxton

The last two years have seen explosive growth in digital publishing for books, shifting an industry that hadnít really changed much over the last half century. The tipping point for change began when Amazon introduced the Kindle. The Sony Reader had beat them to the punch as far as providing a good quality e-ink screen; if you’re not familiar with it, an e-ink screen resembles a printed page, black text on light gray. Because it’s not backlit there is less chance of eyestrain, and, as a side benefit, the battery lasts a long time (days or even weeks) on a charge. A lot of ebook readers prefer e-ink to LCD for long-form reading for those reasons. But in spite of the screen, the Sony Reader didn’t sell that well. It didn’t offer wireless connectivity, and Sony didn’t have much of an ebookstore. The Kindle was simpler to use, and offered a lot more books; it caught on and inspired a plethora of competition, including the Nook (and later the Nook Color) from Barnes & Noble.

Next, Amazon and Barnes & Noble began offering applications (apps) that let you buy and read Kindle and Nook books on smart phones, PCs, and Macs. You didn’t need a dedicated (single-purpose) ereader to read ebooks. When Apple came out with the iPad, that also helped push digital publishing forward. Apple opened its own iBooks store, and other companies made ereader apps for the iPad. Having ereader apps available captured the occasional reader. No one buys a dedicated ereader if they only read four or five books a year, but if you already have a shiny new iPad, why not also use it to read those four or five books? Besides, the color LCD screen on iPads, tablets, and laptops are big enough to also display magazines and even comic books. Digital reading grew even more.

That’s the good. The bad is, between ebooks and online sales of print books, bookstores are dying left and right. My hope is that the weakening of the giant chains will leave some breathing room for small independent bookstores. The chains could beat the indies on price and selection, but online can beat the chains on those things. What the indies can offer—knowledgeable staff, atmosphere, readings and other author events—online can’t do. Besides, another new technology, print on demand (POD) offers hope that bookstores could eventually print books on site, a more viable selling model for a store than having to keep shelves full of the books they hope people will want to buy. Right now POD machines are too expensive for most small stores, but as they come down in price, we could see more of them.

And the ugly? Well, for a while that was ebooks themselves. Publishers are still working out the kinks in their workflows. At first they simply converted the PDF they used to send to the printer to create the ebook version. Using that file had the advantage of having all the last minute corrections in it, but the conversion didn’t always translate the printed page into the correct ebook layout. Paragraphs sometimes ran together, and words hyphenated for line length ended up in the ebook looking like this: hyphen- ation. Alternatively, publishers would use the MS Word files that authors had submitted, which didn’t have all the typos corrected. This also produced bad results, for obvious reasons. Finally, as ebook sales grew, publishers began to pay attention to their digital products and workflows. You still see occasional problems, but it’s much better than it was.

The final development combines good, bad, and ugly into one huge ball. That’s self-publishing. Because ebooks are always sold online, writers can self-publish without having to cart boxes of books around to bookstores, pleading for shelf space. Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble offer easy-to-use self-publishing platforms that put those ebooks into their stores right along with traditionally published books. Companies like Smashwords offer only self-published books. What this development means is that anyone can publish a book. And that’s good in a way, because it gives writers a chance to find a readership without having to find an agent and/or editor whose taste matches what they write. But it’s bad, too, because no one is imposing any quality control on self-published books. Some self-published writers get feedback, and hire editors and cover artists, and others operate strictly on their own, and it shows when you start reading their books— really ugly! The only reason self-published books are worth checking out is another great thing about ebooks—the free sample. When you look at Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Amazon or other online ebook retailers, they almost invariably (for novels, anyway) offer a free sample that you can download or read online. Truly ugly books are obvious on page 1, and you have about 10 to 20% of the book to tell if you will like the story or not. It’s a wonderful feature.

Of course, some people love their print books and have no interest in changing over to reading on an ereader or multi-purpose device. That’s just fine. I don’t think print is going away any time soon. eReaders have gone mainstream, but they aren’t yet ubiquitous enough to replace the print market.

But we definitely live in exciting times where books are concerned! In fact, it’s getting harder and harder to write far future science fiction because our technology now is catching up to some of our classic science fiction. I have “book readers” in some of my books that can use energy from the human reader’s hands to power the screen, and can translate the text into any language desired. That’s one reason I like to include a love story in most of my books. I am pretty sure falling in love won’t change as much as ereader technology will.