Shameless Self Promotion

Time for a little shameless self promotion.
 
Wait! Didn't I talk about POS (Promotion Overload Syndrome) last time? Yes! I did, but the truth is, I'm not as popular as some of the greats yet, so I gotta do what a writer does...promote.

Sessions was released this month and this story is especially important to me. No, it's not like that. Get your mind out the gutter! It's because this is the story that originally got me a contract. I know, pretty cool huh? And now my baby is out there for all the world to see. I'm so proud.

As the title implies, it is about therapy, but wait, don't knock it yet! I can just hear it now..."I all ready know the ending." Are you sure? This isn't your typical, girl has problems, girl goes to therapy and therapist fixes it with sex. Well, okay, part of it is any ways, but the story isn't at all what you think and that's what I love about it. I even mixed some B&D in it to help the characters along. Wasn't I sneaky?

If I did a good job with the story, you'll find yourself rooting one of the characters along, and hating the other only to find out that maybe you were wrong all along. Or maybe not, I don't want to give too much away.

Now, as some of you know, I am a lesbian erotica writer because...well, I'm a lesbian. Shhh...did I really just out myself? Krud! I gave it away, didn't I? Here's the thing, you're going to find f/f sex in every chapter, oops, session in the ebook. And its explicit. Oh, one more thing, you can read an explicit excerpt on my website: http://www.anniealvarez.net/ (For mature audiences only, please.)

Now the other side of me is the Paranormal books I've been working on. The Hightower Series.

Book 4, Lustful Torment is actually from Mistress Tamara's POV (Point Of View) and believe me, my vampires don't sparkle!

Oh, where do I begin? How about at the beginning? Book 1, For The Love Of Blood, introduces you to Tamara and Izzy. Again, I say, I am a lesbian erotica writer so you'll find a lot of f/f interactions in this series, too.

I would say that it's a must read series, but that would be tooting my own horn, and I won't do that. Instead, I'll quote my cousin David. "Damn girl, even my wife thinks your girls are hot!

In honor of non-sparkly vampires, we're having a Naughty Little Vamp June Extravaganza, and I invite you all to participate in the festivites! Starting on the 1st of June, stop by and leave a comment and you could win a prize! http://naughtylittlevamp.blogspot.com/

See you next month!

Spring is here!

I know what you're thinking. It's that dreaded time to open the windows, air out the house, chase down those insidious dust bunnies that hide in the most awful to reach places, clean every inch of your home while running out the stale winter energy and replacing it with new beginnings. Yes. That also includes packing up the winter clothes and pulling out last year's favorite shirt that wouldn't have done more than sat in the closet, looking pretty, while the cold weather encapsulated us. I know the drill, believe me.

As if I don't all ready have enough to do, this year, I've added something else to my list. I am systematically going through all the emails accounts, all the groups, all the contacts, all the everything that has been bogging down my computer and deleting them. Yeah! you heard me right, deleting them!

No. I'm not looking forward to it. However, I realized that as a writer, spring cleaning involves my time as well. Considering that statistics said my genre was not a favorable one, my books have done well and for that I am grateful. There is no greater joy for me to know that my f/f stories have not only entertained, but developed a fan base. A small fan base, but nonetheless, a fan base.

So, instead of spreading myself thin, keeping notebooks of passwords for all the Ning accounts and trying desperately to remember what my username and password are for a specific account, I'm sticking with the ones proven to be successful.

Yeah, this spring cleaning is going to be exhausting and take time, but I'm excited to clear out some of the old baggage and start fresh. What a great way to start the new season.

Speaking of fresh starts, if you get a minute, check out my upcoming release, Session from eXtasy Books. You can read an excerpt and watch the book trailer on my website.

Happy Spring everyone!

Annie :0)

http://www.anniealvarez.net/

Titanium Ovaries

As of Wednesday, I really didn't have anything to write about, but we all know that the Goddess has a sense of humor, and she bitch slapped us on Tuesday. For those of you who know us, you'll get a kick out of this...

We have a neighbor, and I'm not saying who it is, that constantly complains about cats pooping in her yard. I know. I know. She's obviously not paying attention to what's going on around her, or she's so bored with her life that she has time to worry about a cat pooping. Sad, but true.

Anyway, on Tuesday afternoon, my partner and I found a Notice of Violation from the City of Fort Worth tagged to our door. Yes, really. I couldn't make this up. Us. The people who pick up strays and have them fixed because it's the responsible thing to do. The same people who take injured cats to the vets, nurse them back to health and find them homes. Yes, us.

The "Notice of Violation" states that we failed in:
1- Restraint of Animal(s)
My animals do not ever leave the house without me.
2- Failure to provide/display current rabies vaccination.
Don't you have to be asked for it to consider it a failure to show proof?
-And-
3- Unaltered animal(s)/no intact permit
All of our animals sing soprano, why would I need an intact permit?

Additional Comments from the code officer states,
"getting complaints that you allow your cat to leave your property."
Okay. Okay, I give...only when he asks nicely for the car keys.

Really? This has to be some kind of a joke...
I called the "officer" and asked which one of our animals were seen leaving our property.
His response was "read the pamphlet."
Did that answer my question? NO. So, I asked again, and again he came back with one of two standard answers, either "he's your cat" or "read the pamphlet."
He said and I quote, "a cat was seen leaving your property."
In my infinite wisdom, I asked, "If birds fly over my house, are they considered mine too?"
His response was...you guessed it! "Read the pamphlet."

This continued for twenty minutes.
I asked for a supervisors name and after another twenty minutes of the officer yelling and threatening me that his supervisor would side with him, he finally released the "secret" name. I called and left a message. Can you believe I still haven't heard back from him?

Here's what has me chapped.
1- My animals don't ever leave my property without me. Period end of discussion.
2- This Code Compliance Officer is accusing me of violating city code when he can't even give me a description of the cat that allegedly pooped in my neighbor's yard. As if it's my problem and
3- The alleged cat was considered mine because he was seen leaving my property. Really?

Is this truly about the cat? No, but it's going to cost me time, energy and money to prove the cat isn't mine, so I don't get fined.
It's about this ill-mannered officer trying to force us into taking responsibility for the cat because he failed to do his job and that's not my problem.
My animals may be fixed, but my titanium ovaries are intact, baby. Bring it on!

Shame on you Fort Worth and Mayor Moncrief for allowing city employees to treat the city's residents so poorly.

This ones for the ladies

Hello Ladies,

Now, I know that it's not Breast Cancer Month, at least I think it's not. However, I wanted to share something with you that happened to me recently.

As usual, I went and had the dreaded Mammogram done, because it's just one of those horrid things we women need to endue. You know what I mean. Any ways, they found a lump. Yes, you know I worried about it. Who wouldn't?

It turns out that it was just a liquid filled cyst. Nothing to worry about, thank God! Now, many of you may not know that I was laid off and don't have insurance so the cost came out of my own pocket.

When unemployed, Mammograms can be expensive, and if you need extra tests done, like I did, it comes down to which bill will get put off to cover the tests needed. Believe me, I've been there and done that!

Here's the thing ladies, while doing some research I found out that there are numerous places available to help us, unemployed women cover the cost of these tests.

In my area there's two places that offer voucher's - Catholic Charities, and the Breast Cancer Center at Baylor. Check your local hospitals or better yet call the Susan G. Komen Center and ask them if there's a place around you that offers assistance.

No one in their right mind wants a Mammogram, but the excuse of not affording it, just flew out the window.

Now, there's no good reason not to keep up with your annual boobie check!

There you have it

I've sat in front of the computer trying to come up with something worth while writing and passing on, but the truth is that I can't think of a single thing. Don't get me wrong! I have many fabulous things to be grateful for:

My Naughty Little Vamp blog is doing exceptionally well

I am working on book four of the Hightower Series of which I have a March 1st release date (keeping my fingers crossed I can make the deadline)

My family is well and knock on wood, none of our pets have had to go to the vet, as of lately - But wait, now that I've written this, oh, better if I didn't even finish that thought.

I have been told not to tell anyone that I'm quiting smoking and I can understand the reasoning behind that. So I will say that I am TREMENDOUSLY "cutting back" on my smoking. Was it a New Year's resolution? No. Do I want to? NO. Do I need to? Yes. Yes, it's time to get serious about my health and my future.

I can tell you that "cutting back" has been the most difficult addictions I've had to overcome and believe me I've had some whoppers! Details not forthcoming. Just trust me when I say, I only thought the others were difficult.

I don't mean to be cranky, uptight, mean, a downer, or as my friend called me - a suck ass.
I'm doing okay for the most part, but when an urge overcomes me, my thoughts aren't my own. I feel like a cross between one of the pod people from outer space, the swamp thing and the blob!

Well, there you have it, pure, raw emotion. Arrgghhh!


Hopefully, next moth I'll be a much nicer person. :)

Oh yeah, while I'm feeling normal, I want to wish you all a great New Year!