Our Booksigning

By: Stephani Hecht

Yesterday Patti Shenberger and I had a very fun and successful booksigning at PaperBack Trade Inn in Clawson, Michigan. It was us two troublemakers and our good friend, Harlequin author, Michelle Celmer. There were cookies, punch and candy galore, alas there was no sock monkeys. Sorry AJ. My son was kind enough to stop by and take some pictures so of course I have to share them with all of you.



Here is us looking all professional like. From right, Stephani, Patti and Michelle. Note how Patti and I are twinkies. Totally unplanned. If I were going for a twinsie look it would have been matching pink rompers.

Me, doesn’t that vacant gaze just scream intelligence? Ma would be so proud.

Patti, doesn’t she look so nice? Don’t let those innocent eyes fool you for a second.

Michelle Celmer, I still can’t believe she agreed to go out into public with us. What was she thinking?

An Interview With An Angel -Cam

After months of wheedling and whining, I finally got the Chief of the Archangels, Michael, to agree to let me interview some of the angel warriors. Of course the first one on my list was Cam. It’s no secret I’ve always loved him. So as I sat in a coffee house and waited for him to arrive, I was nervous to say the least.

After several tense minutes, Cam came in. I sucked in a breath as I realized how big he really was. Easily several inches over six-foot. This guy was a tower of muscles and attitude. The black leather pants and jacket he wore emphasized those muscles too. The way he styled his blond hair in messy spikes only added to his bad boy image. He gave me a tight-lipped smile, no doubt to hide his fangs, like the dark glasses he wore hid his bright blue, cat-like eyes. Half demon, Cam was unlike any angel existing. He was also sexy as hell. A fact that didn’t go unnoticed by all the female patrons of the coffee house. Heads turned so fast to get a better look at him there were probably six or seven cases of whiplash. Cam seemed oblivious to all this as he sat down at my table. After a few moments of pleasantries, we got down to business.


Me: Thank you for taking the time out to talk to me today. I know how busy you are with leading the empaths.

Cam: Tell me about it. (laughs) Just cleaning up after Bear and Dina’s messes is a full time job. When you multiply that several times over, it makes it almost impossible to keep up.

Me: So all empaths are a handful then?

Cam: You’ve got to understand something about empaths. They are consistently having to deal with other’s emotions bombarding them from all sides. Since we’ve come to live on Earth it’s even worse, since humans are the hardest to block. So, if they want to let their hair down from once in a while who can blame them?

Me: But you’re still left picking up the pieces after they mess up?

Cam: It could be worse. Michael has to keep all of warriors in line.

Me: Speaking of Michael—

Cam: Oh, God. Here we go. Why did I even mention his name?

Me: How did you feel when you found out he was really your uncle? (Cam curls up one corner of mouth and I get a glimpse of a really sharp looking fang.)

Cam: Great, it was nice finding a new relative. (Even though I couldn’t see his eyes, I knew he was rolling them.)

Me: Come on, Cam. Are you trying to tell me there are no lingering hard feelings after he hid it from you all those years?

Cam: Look I’m not going to lie and say it didn’t hurt when we first found out, but I got over it. I realized Mike had his reasons and I put on my big boy panties and got over it.

Me: So it’s all water under the bridge?

Cam: What are you looking for? Tears, as I talk about how close we are and how we go to the ballpark every weekend? Sorry, not going to happen. The relationship between the Chief and I is complex. I can’t figure it out in my own head let alone being able to talk about it.

Me: How about your mother?

Cam: What about Lehor?

Me: How is your relationship with her? She lied as much as Michael, if not more so.

Cam: I would prefer not to talk about her.

Me: She’s your mother. How can you not want to discuss her?

Cam: (Leans forward and whips off his glasses so he can fix me with an icy glare) Next topic.

Me: But—

Cam: Next. Topic.

Me: (Gulps) Okay, moving on. Why don’t you tell me about Amadeaha?

Cam: (He slowly runs his tongue along his left incisor.) Now that’s a topic I can really sink my teeth into, if you catch my drift. Amadeaha is my mate. Hell, she’s more than that. She’s my life. I don’t know how I survived without her.

Me: So I take it you like her then? (Laughs)

Cam: You have no idea. Before her I was a mess. She really helped me clean up my act. Amadeaha doesn’t even care that I’m half incubus, she just accepts me as who I am. To her my differences don’t matter.

Me: I heard she likes your fangs.

Cam: She, really, really likes them. She likes what I do with them even better.

Me: Amadeaha is the niece of your biggest enemy, Jehel. Have there been any issues because of that?

Cam: You’re not who your family is. Appolion, Abdiel and Rachael taught me that. Amadeaha is nothing like her uncle. Where he’s an egotistical ass, she is caring and giving.

Me: Have any of the other angel warriors had a problem with it?

Cam: They know better. If anyone so much as looks at her cross-eyed they will have me to deal with.

Me: I can’t think of any warrior that would want to tangle with you.

Cam: Then you haven’t met my oldest brother, Ramiel. He still makes me spar with him every night. He says just because I’m the leader of the empaths doesn’t mean I still don’t have to train.

Me: I would love to see one of those matches. Who usually wins?

Cam: It’s pretty even. He’s stronger, I’m meaner. (We both share a chuckle before growing serious again.)

Me: The angel warriors have been in the middle of this war against the Justice Council for a while now. How is it going?

Cam: Not good. Our teams are vulnerable to attacks and they are getting picked off like flies. The bitch of it is we can’t stop sending them out. If we did then the demons would have a field day on the humans. Unlike Jehel and his Justice Angels, we’ve taken vows to protect mankind and we value those vows.

Me: So do you have any idea on how to turn the war around?

Cam: No, which makes for many sleepless nights for not just me, but Mike and the leader of the healers, Raphael. We take each loss of life as a personal failure and we can’t rest until this whole clusterf*&k is over.

Me: Do you wish that you’d never become the leader of the empaths?

Cam: No. I love this job and I wouldn’t trade for anything.

-Stephani

Writing Goals

With the New Year upon us, I have been spending the past week setting up my writing goals. Not only do I have new releases coming out at eXtasy Books, but I have decided it is time to get an agent. Well actually, I have been told by many well-intentioned writer friends it is time and, after much reflecting, I have to agree with them.

So I have vowed I will start working on my “Agent Book”. Not matter how busy I become with my other projects, I will set aside time each day to labor on that. Then the hunt will begin as I try to find an agent willing to take me on. My husband has already promised me the tax return, so I will be able to go the RWA National Convention this year. There I will stand in line with countless other authors to give my pitch to whatever agent is willing to listen. This is going to be my first time ever going to Nationals and I am so excited that I will finally be able to enjoy the experience. I have been told by others it is overwhelming, fun and life changing. I can’t wait to participate in some of the workshops and attend the many events there as well. I have always felt you can never learn too much about the craft.

In the meantime, I am happy to announce that eXtasy is going to continue releasing both my Archangel and Drone Vampire series. The fun starts January 15th with, Angelic Redemption, Book Six of the Archangel Series. Then on February 15th, Blood Fever, A Drone Vampire Chronicle will be released. I have many surprises in store for both series and I hope my readers will continue to enjoy them.

I am excited to see what the coming year will bring, not only me, but for all my writer friends at eXtasy and the Many Shades blog. I have a feeling this next chapter in our lives will be intense.

-Stephani

I'm Loving Twitter!

Once in a while you come across something that completely transforms your life. It brings delight to your days while at the same time making everything so much easier. For me this latest find was Twitter.

What is Twitter you ask? It’s a relatively new way to communicate on the web. Like a mini-blog of sorts, you write a very short passage and share it with your network. What’s even more fun is you can do it from the comfort of your computer or even your phone.

I first got turned on to the trend thanks to the Smart Bitches Blog. They talked about Twitter and even used it during the Romance Writer’s Convention this year to keep their followers up to date. Curious, I checked it out.

I soon became hopelessly addicted.

I now find myself chained to my computer as I look for new people to “follow” on Twitter Land. You would be surprised at the people you could find. Barack? Biden? Yup, they both Twitter or at least someone does under their name. Either way, I thought I should follow them. Just in case.

Then I find it a dire necessity to tell my followers how I feel about everything. And I mean everything. The new cereal I tired this morning was awful. Got to Twitter about it. It’s cold outside and my dog is mad. Must Twitter and tell. I am watching the latest release on DVD and am really enjoying it. Twitter time.

Next I found I could “personalize” my Twitter page. I spent countless hours, trying to decide which of my book covers looked best spotlighted on my page. Angelic Desires won out because my harpy’s wings look so pretty against the black background.

Then I had to look at everyone else’s updates to see how their dogs, cereal and movie adventures are going. Of course I have to add my comments back to them with the usual, LOL, WTG and ROFLMAO. Can’t leave any of my Twitter pals hanging.

In the meantime, back at the homestead, the kitchen is a mess, the kids are running around hungry, the dog needs a bath, my writing isn’t getting done, but I don’t care. Why? Because I’m Twittering and it’s so much fun.

You can find me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/StephaniHecht. And just to show that everyone needs Twitter, even archangels who are half demon and have a chip on their shoulder, one of my characters has one too http://twitter.com/CamLehor.

Hope to see you there!

-Stephani

An Angel's Christmas

As a Christmas present to my readers, I thought I would give you all a glimpse of Christmas at the angel warrior’s compound. Enjoy!

-Stephani Hecht

An Angel's Christmas


“You know, maybe this isn’t a good idea,” Michael protested as he pulled on the back of Cam’s shirt to make him stop.

Cam heaved one of his suffering sighs as he turned around to give his uncle a bored look. Or at least Michael thought it was a bored look. Half-incubus, Cam always wore dark glasses to hide his demon eyes, so he couldn’t read his gaze. But, he knew his nephew well and he could tell Cam was annoyed, bored and a bit amused too. They were standing in the middle of one of the angel warrior compound’s long hallways and all around them various angels were rushing around. While some of them nodded their heads respectively at Michael, most were too busy with holiday plans to give him notice.

“Look,” Michael tried to reason. “The last thing a group of angel warriors wants is their Chief to show up at their Christmas party. They’ll be too self-conscious to relax and have fun if I’m there.”

“You’re their uncle.”

“Yeah, but they didn’t know that until a few years ago.” Michael ran a hand through his collar length, shaggy, dark blond hair. “Your brothers and sister still see me as their Chief first.”

A young female empath ran over and handed Cam a candy-cane. He gifted the angel with one of his trademark smiles before he thanked her. The female giggled and ran away as fast as her feet would allow. Michael worked hard not to roll his eyes. While his followers look at him with fear and respect, the empath’s worshiped their leader, Cam.

“I’m going to be honest with you here, Uncle Mike.” Cam opened the candy cane and licked one end. “I kind of promised Ana you would be there and there is no way in hell I’m going to disappoint my only sister.”

“She only invited me out of some twisted form of family obligation.”

“Maybe she invited you because we actually want you there.” Cam threw out a cocky smile, which was in direct correlation to his usual spiked hair and arrogant swagger. “I see it as we can do this one of two ways. One, you come willingly with a smile. Two, I get my seven brothers to help me drag your ass there. Either way you are going to that party.

“You wouldn’t dare,” Michael growled. “You may be the leader of the empaths, but I’m still your Chief. All angel warriors answer to me.”

“Not on Christmas,” Cam countered. “Today you’re just Uncle Mike and all bets are off.”

There was a stretch of silence as Michael weighed his options. Never in all of his immortal life had he celebrated Christmas with anybody. Usually he patrolled for demons or holed up alone at home. To actually entertain the idea of spending it with others was foreign. Hell, to think that others actually wanted to spend it with him was even more foreign.

“Fine,” he conceded. “I’ll go, but only for a few minutes.”

“See.” Cam beamed as he threw an arm around Michael’s shoulders. “That wasn’t too hard. Who knows, you may actually have some fun.”

Somehow Michael doubted that, but he let Cam lead him to Ana’s quarters. Once they got there he hung back while Cam knocked on the door. When Ana answered it, Michael observed how much she looked like her mother. Her long blonde hair was pulled back with a large red bow and her blue eyes were nearly sparkling with excitement.

“Did you bring him?” she asked.

“He’s right behind me.” Cam jerked his thumb over his shoulder.

Michael stepped closer so she could see him. “Hi Ana, thank you for asking me over.”

He could see the crowded room behind her. Not only were all his nephews present, but so were all their friends, mates and God knew who else. Taking a step back, Michael was prepared to search for a graceful way to bag out. Then he saw the ecstatic smile on Ana’s lips and knew there was no way he could disappoint her.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” she said as she reached up and gave him a hug.

“Of course I came.” He squeezed her back. “There is no other place I’d rather be.”

“Don’t worry,” Ana whispered before pulling back. “All the guys are under direct orders to treat you just like any other family. Today you’re not our Chief, you’re just Uncle Mike.”

“So I heard.” He smiled over at Cam.

“Come on inside.” Ana tugged on his hand and urged him forward.

Ana got him a drink and ran off to mingle with the rest of her guests. Michael situated himself in a corner and tried to be as inconspicuous as possible. Surprisingly, it had been easy to do. Aside from a, “Hey it’s Uncle Mike!” and a, “Uncle Mike is here!” the clan acted like he was just one of the gang.

“Michael, you came.”

Startled, he looked up and saw Rachael standing in front of him. As always, his reaction to the female archangel was instantaneous. His gut clenched, his heart rate skyrocketed and his cock grew so hard it hurt. She was wearing a tight red skirt, with white boa trim and a long-sleeved matching top. Completing the look were thigh-high stocking and red stilettos. Her long, raven, curly locks were free and spilled over her shoulders and her deep, blue eyes were snapping with amusement.

“Ray, I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said in a choked voice. He hoped to hell she didn’t notice his slip in composure.

“My brother is Ana’s mate,” she reminded him with a smile. Michael notice, not for the first time, how cute her dimples were. “Of course I’d be here.”

Michael wondered if she would still freely smile at him if she knew how many sleepless nights he spent thinking about her. Wanting her. Would she still talk to him if she knew that she and she alone brought alive needs and desires he’d long thought dead?

“Hey, look at that!” Cam called from across the room. “Uncle Mike and Ray are under the mistletoe.”

Blushing Michael looked up and saw that they had indeed ended up under some mistletoe. Heart hammering, he tired to think of a graceful way out of this mess, but none came to mind. Then he realized that was because he didn’t want to get out. He’d often wondered what it would be like to taste her lips and now that he had a chance damned if he wasn’t going to take it.

Burying one hand in her soft curls, he cupped the back of her head and brought his mouth down to hers. A soft gasp escaped her parted lips right before he claimed them in a soft, gentle kiss. Even though every part of him was screaming to give into his hunger, he held back and took his time.

Then she gave a little moan and started to kiss him back, her hands wrapping around his neck. Ray parted her lips in invitation and he took it, slipping his tongue in to sample the sweetness inside.

Heaven. He’d found Heaven on Earth and it was in her arms. Even though he knew he could never claim this female as his own, he allowed himself this one moment because he didn’t have the strength to deny himself. Ray deserved more than him, better than him.

A cough and someone clearing their throat reminded him they had an audience. Michael reluctantly pulled back and stepped away from her. Ray looked as stunned as he felt. Her eyes were glazed over with passion and her full lips were swollen from his kiss.

“Sorry, I forgot myself,” he muttered.

“We both did,” she responded, brining her fingers up to her mouth.

“I got to go.” Yeah, he had to go quick before he did something really stupid like telling her how much she meant to him.

“Don’t go on my account. We could—“

“I have guard duty. I promised Uriel I would take his shift so he could spend some time with his family.” Feeling every inch the coward he was, Michael retreated to the door. “Merry Christmas, Ray.”

“Merry Christmas, Michael.” He took exactly two steps before she added one last zinger, “By the way, how long do you think you’re going to be able to deny what’s going on between us?”


All material copyrighted by Stephani Hecht 2008

Goodbye to Another Year of NaNoWriMo

Well as November comes to a close so does National Novel Writing Month. To remind all of you, NaNoWriMo is when writers all over the world strive to write 50,000 words in one month. It’s a fun way to either jump-start a career of motivate those who are old to the writing game.

I’m happy to report I did manage to get in my 50K, mostly due to the fact I had deadlines up the wazoo. Not that I’m complaining about said deadlines. I truly consider it a blessing to have a publisher actually wanting my work. I can’t help but reflect about all that has happened in my writing career since last November.

In the year 2007, the small press I had been published with had closed its doors and I was without a home for my books. To say I was disappointed, despondent and depressed would have been an understatement. The last thing I felt like doing was writing. I felt like my career was over before it had even started. I know what you are all thinking. This is the publishing industry and houses come and go all the time. If you’re going to be a writer you need to learn to take such speed bumps in stride. I know that now. But last year, I wasn’t in that frame of mind. I was in a depression that I thought I could never shake.

Then I gave myself an internal bitch slap and let go of the pity. Just because I didn’t have a publisher didn’t mean I wasn’t a writer. So I sat my butt down and started to write Angel’s Blood. I also got out my MS and started to look around for a new publisher. I vowed to myself that I would find a new home for my angels or die trying. Am I ever glad I never gave up.

I found a new home for my Archangel Series, eXtasy Books. Not only is eXtasy bigger and more established than my last house, but the staff there has really helped me and my career grow. In this past year, I have had five of my Archangel Series books published, one from The Drone Vampire Chronicles, One Fantasy Game, plus three shorts in anthologies. Plus, in the next year month I have another FG and a full-length Christmas book coming out. It doesn’t end with that either, in the coming year I have plans for at least three more Archangel Books, two more shorts for anthologies and two Drone Vampire Chronicles.

In retrospect, I now know it was a blessing in disguise when I lost my first publisher, and I can’t help but wonder at the many twists and turns life has for us. I can’t wait to see what this coming year has in store for me.


-Stephani

The Edits Are Coming! The Edits Are Coming!

I have been hard at work on the edits for my October release, so you will have to excuse me if I ramble and make no sense. No sleep tends to do that to people. Me especially! Let me tell you, Red Bull and coffee have been my best friends this weekend.Still, I am happy because there are many an aspiring writer who would love to have to this problem.
Everyone in the family is avoiding me and the dark cloud of grumpiness that always comes when I am working under a deadline. The dog hides out in the yard, the kids go to a friend's house, and the ugly cat retreats to the closet. As soon as they all see me pull on my "editing" sweat pants and t-shirt, they all abandon ship. My husband on the other hand, get an evil glint in his eye. He knows that I will be so lost in my computer he will have the television to himself and he can watch all the Ultimate Fighting that he wants. I hate the sport whereas he loves it with a passion. I'm sorry, I just don't get it. To me it looks like two guys rolling around with blood covering them. It reminds me a bit of the Roman Gladiator battles and sadly, there is no Russell Crowe. Believe me, I looked.

So, I ignore him and continue to battle my edits, cringing at some of the stupid and obvious mistakes I make. In my Archangel Series, one of the Lehor brother's name is Mael. For two paragraphs in Hell's Angel I call him, "Meal". My editor, J, just loved that one. I wonder if I am the only author that makes such stupid errors. Surely not?

To make things even worse, the weather outside is beautiful. It would be so nice to go to the cider mill and get a caramel apple and hot cider. I ask myself is it worth it?

I answer my own question immediately. Yes, it is worth it. I am an author, not just in my job description, but in my heart. I write because I can't imagine not writing. It is who I am, what defines me. To give this up would be giving up a piece of me. I love it all, even the edits. Nothing fires my blood up more than to have to work under a tight deadline. I love the challenge of having to complete something with the clock ticking. Call me crazy, call me stupid, call me certifiable.

Me, I'll call myself a writer.

What's A Writer To Do?

Whenever an author decides to write a series, the inevitable question comes up. How long is this series going to last? I thought I had answered that question to myself about my Archangel series. I was going to make sure all the Lehor brothers had their HEA and then I would be done. Finished. Kaput.

Then the strangest thing happened to me the other day while I was mopping my kitchen floor. One of my secondary characters, Raphael, paid me a visit.

I’m down on my hands and knees, because that is how I always scrub my floors and he just rudely barges into my house and marches in. The first thing I notice, is the bugger didn’t even bother to take his boots off and he is leaving scuff marks on my freshly cleaned floor.

“Raphael!” I admonish. “Take those things off. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get that off tile?” I look up the length of his leather-clad legs, to his taunt stomach, hard chest before setting on his dark green eyes. His collar length, raven hair is slightly mussed, like he left his house in a rush and didn’t take the time to style it properly.

“I heard that you were going to end the series?” He pinned me with an accusing glare.

“Yes, what’s it to you?” I start to rub furiously at the offending marks.

“But, you haven’t given me my HEA yet.”

I looked up, surprised. Raphael almost sounded like he was whining. That was so unlike the normally reserved archangel. As that thought was still rolling around my head, he opened my fridge and helped himself to a slice of cold pizza. Now that really wasn’t like him. This guy was so uptight that even eating off a paper plate was barbaric in his opinion.

“I can’t believe that you could forget about me,” he mumbled around a mouthful of pizza. I watched as bacon crumbles fell off the slice and littered my once clean floor. I stood up and threw the cloth into the sink, realizing I wasn’t going to get anything done until I settled this matter.

“Look Raphael, this series has to end sometime. I’m sorry, but that’s the way things have to be.”

He set his food down on the counter so he could gently grip my arms in a pleading gesture. As I craned my neck so I could look up at him, I wondered why in the hell I had written him so tall.

“You haven’t given me a chance to tell you my story yet.” His gaze was so earnest that I almost caved. Almost.

“Not going to happen, big guy. You tell me your story and then I’m going to have to write it.”

“Please?”

“No!”

“Pretty, please?”

“No! No! No!”

Then he did the one thing that could shatter my resolve. He gave me the puppy dog eyes. Raphael, one of the oldest archangels, leader of the healers, and angel warrior gave me the frigging puppy dog eyes. So unfair.

Damn. It.

“Fine, tell me you story,” I relented with a sigh.

Then he went on to spell out his future adventures, complete with his heroine and some surprising twists for the angel warriors and I realized there was no way I could pass up the chance to write his story.

“Fine,” I snapped. “You win. After I get finished with the brothers, I’ll do your story next. Happy?”

He gave me a cocky grin. “I knew you would see things my way. I’ll get out of your hair now so you can get to writing.”

“I can’t write yet, because I have to re-mop my floor, you rude angel.”

He made his way to the door, tossing over his shoulder, “By the way, Uriel was asking where you lived.”

No! The last thing I needed was another visit by yet another secondary character. “Please, tell me you did not tell him.”

He shot off another grin. “I’m sorry, it just slipped out. He said to expect a visit sometime real soon.”

I let out a shriek of frustration as Raphael left, shutting my front door quietly behind him.