Hey Everyone! I’m sooo excited to have finally pulled the trigger on getting Devil’s Descent I: purgatory out in print. Doesn’t it look so pretty? *sighs happily* I gotta show you my pics:

DD I VS. VBF

Okay, so even though I’ve been self-published since 2004, this is the first print project I did completely solo. I’m still fond of the special edition cover for Vicious Bliss: fallen (middle one) especially because it was my first cover attempt. (I will soon pull VBF from the current POD company and redo it under my own banner. Expect that later this year.)

DD I and Julian

I love seeing Julian’s face. (I have to admit I kissed his lips a few times. Strange, me? No way! ) Unlike the ebook cover, I added some distressed layers over his face and some blood for the print. I’m thinking I might add a bit more grit to it but I’m not too sure.

 DD I Back Cover

I like how grungy and distressed the back cover colors came out. You can see the much more of the blood on this side versus the front.

DD I Title Page

You can’t have a dark vampire romance without blood, right?

DD I Chapter Headings

I’m very pleased with how this turned out. Yummylicious graphics and easy to read font. Yay!

DD I and Mr. Vash #1

Mr. Vash had to check Julian out.

DD I and Mr. Vash #2

Mr. Vash approves!

I’m going to tweak a few things and do one more final read through to make sure everything is as it’s supposed to be. Once that’s done, DD I goes live! I’ll let you all know when that is ASAP.

Writing takes up almost all of my free time. Lately, when I’m not writing I like to look at decorating blogs. (I guess I can’t be dark and dreary and dreadful all of the time. ) I love seeing what budget-conscious chicks are able to do with their homes. I wind down by clicking away at all the projects, photos, and recipes. All too often I’m left drooling and inspired. It’s my guilty pleasure, I guess? Hmm…

Anyways, I came across this post “February photo a day kicks off tomorrow” by FatMumSlim via The House of Smiths. I think it’s a super-fun way of breaking up my routine of writing, cleaning, and writing some more. I’m going to tweet my pic everyday under the hashtag of #FEBPHOTOADAY and sticky this post until the end of the month. If any of you lovely readers are/end up participating, please let me know in the comments so I can link to you.

So without further ado and a day late:

FEBRUARY 1, 2012

My View Today

 February 2, 2012

Words

 February 3, 2012

Hands

February 4, 2012

A Stranger

Hey Everyone!

I’m sharing another sneak peek because Krissy asked so nicely. Hopefully this will tide you over until I can get elbows-deep into Julian and Lily’s dreadful romance. Again, this is a rough-draft so please excuse any unnecessary messiness.

EXCERPT

“I can’t help but want to bite you, Lily,” Julian drawled while nuzzling her neck. “You’re so shameless in your desires.”

“And you’re such a flirt. If I didn’t hate you so much I’d be enchanted.”

Julian brushed his mouth against hers. “I say you’re enchanted anyways.”

“Over-confident ass.”

“With good reason.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.” He smiled and smoothed her hair back. “I can’t wait until I break you completely. It would please me so much to see you in pieces, darling.”

The mood melted, bringing dark, dangerous things into play. “You don’t scare me.” Lily’s eyes made her a terrible liar.

“Really?” His smile slid into a cruel smirk. Seeing the ugly truth tattooed into her haunted stare, Julian promised, “I’ll make it a priority to see I do.”

“I’m sure you’ll try. Now what about you?” Lily’s recklessness kicked in to save her from herself. She traced the curve of his mouth with her tongue. Once. Twice.

“What about me?” Julian’s hands settled on her hips and squeezed.

“Aren’t you going to change your clothes?”

“Whatever for?”

“Don’t you want to keep your suit clean? Otherwise, my mama will think you were rolling around in the mud just for fun.” Lily flicked his nose once for emphasis. “You would just have to take it because you’d never tell her the truth.”

“And what would that truth be?”

“That I kicked your ass.”

“One—it would never happen. Two—if it did I wouldn’t have to tell your mother a blessed thing. She knows you a bit more than you give her credit for, darling. Besides, my suit will be just fine. I only need to take off the jacket and tie to take care of you.” Julian pulled away but not before leaving Lily an ephemeral taste. His stare challenged hers as he removed both items and laid them down on the ground carefully.

Lily needed audaciousness to make her words create a lurid divide between them. She slipped off her shoes and lifted the hem of her dress. “It’s a good thing you’re wearing a black shirt.”

“Really? Let me guess…so your bloodstains won’t show?” Julian strolled back to Lily. His hand snaked beneath her gown and unsnapped her garters with appalling ease.

“Ha! You’re so amusing.” Lily obeyed the pressure of his fingers and placed her foot on his thigh. She shivered as he rolled down one stocking before repeating the sensuous process. Baiting Julian suddenly became much harder. “My blood’s not going to get spilled tonight. Too bad the same can’t be said for you, Douglas.”

“I’ve already warned you about my name, Lily. Need I remind you again?”

Cool fingers curled over the tender flesh of her inner thigh. She chose her taunts deliberately. “Douglas.Douglas.Douglas.”

“Bad bitch.”

The smell of blood decayed the air. Lily waited for the animal to step through the pretty, human wrapper.

Hey, Everyone! As promised in the “Sneak Peek for Upcoming Dark Fiction” I am releasing another D. Cristiana piece: Dark Desires: Kept.

SUMMARY

Leah and Kiyoshi have been inseparable since they were children. As best friends they turned into lovers and eventually soul mates. Life was beautifully simple until Kiyoshi had to go back to Japan and become heir to the same aristocratic family that disowned his mother over 20 years before for marrying his American father.

Even though Kiyoshi brings Leah to Japan with him, the distance between them is growing ever wider. Confused, lonely, and abandoned, Leah runs away from her beloved, only to have Kiyoshi catch her and force her back into her pretty cage. Soon familiar arguments turn into blazing passion as they seek to find their way back home in one another’s arms. . .

EXCERPT

He had caught her at the airport.

Leah had just gotten out of her chair to line up for departure when she saw him standing there, flanked by her bodyguards and three more underlings. Shock painted her face white while perverse relief pounded blood thick in her chest.

He came for me.

Furious with her weakness, Leah jutted her chin and pretended to ignore his presence. When she took a step towards the line, Kiyoshi stalked forward and grabbed her arm.

“We’re going. Don’t fight me and just be a good girl. I’ll deal with you when we get home.”

Leah kept her head up as he walked them out. Part of her raged at his high-handedness while the other part of her purred. Something strange responded to his commands and always had. It had been their way, paving the way from childhood bossiness to sexual domination. Unfortunately, his aggressiveness towards her took on a different color once arriving in this very airport.

All the thoughts she had of them being together, united against the world, disappeared when she realized Kiyoshi—despite his towering height, broad physique, dark brown hair, and exotic eyes—was more like them and less like her. Isolated, stranded in a world full of contradictory customs, Leah quickly viewed her existence as extraneous.

So she wanted to leave.

Now with her back against the wall, legs wrapped around his lean hips, and arms fused to his shoulders, Leah found leaving him to be impossible.

BOOK INFO

• Dark Desires: Kept by D. Cristiana
• Word Count: 8,000 (approximate)
• Categories: Dark Erotica, Contemporary, Inter-racial, Short Stories
• DRM-Free
• $2.99

BUY

Amazon-US: Buy now!

Amazon-UK: Buy now!

Amazon-DE: Buy now!

Smashwords: Buy now! (Great for international readers. There’s no surcharge added to the price.)

All Romance eBooks: Buy now!

BookStrand: Buy now!

Barnes & Noble: Buy now!

Hey Everyone!

I’m popping in (as always) to share a snippet of Devil’s Descent III: divided. I definitely have so many balls in the air right now when it comes to juggling Claudia D. Christian, Charlotte DeCorte, and D. Cristiana so it’s great knowing Devil’s Descent is still just as fun to write as it always is.

Hope you all look forward to it’s release later this year as much as I am!

PS. It is a rough draft so…just sayin’.

EXCERPT

“Where have you been?”

Lily had just turned off the engine when she found herself snatched out of the car. She pulled away but Julian’s well-manicured hand only squeezed harder until she submitted. Lily remained trapped and entirely too close to him. His cologne intoxicated. She swayed forward before remembering who he really was.

Nice doesn’t mean anything when it comes to Julian. He’s just waiting around until he gets to kill me.

“I asked you a question. Kindly answer it.”

“Out. Now let go.”

“Is that any way to speak to the man who’s courting you?” Mesmerizing eyes flashed red.

“I’ll speak to you any way I want to.”

“Will you?”

“Yes.”

His fanged smile promised retribution. “You are a slow learner, Lily.”

“And you’re an asshole.”

Julian pinched the back of her arm. “No dirty words out of you, darling. You’re in enough trouble with me as it is. Now where were you?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“Hmm, you might be correct.” He smoothed Lily’s bare arm in a mocking attempt to alleviate the nasty sting caused by his punishment. “However, I don’t think so.”

“Of course not. That would make you reasonable.”

“Answer my question.”

“No.”

“Have it your way, darling, but know you will tell me.”

“I don’t owe you any explanations, Julian.”

“Hush.” Julian dragged Lily up the porch. “Behave.” His devilish grin couldn’t disguise the fury electrifying his crystalline gaze. He knocked on the door once before entering with Lily in tow. “Mrs. Walker, your daughter and I will be strolling about the grounds if that is acceptable to you.”

Hey Everyone! I just wanted to pop in and give you a sneak peek for what’s coming up in the next couple of months. I am concerned that I’m about to jinx myself by sharing but screw it! After all, how can I not share how freakin’ hot Constantine is?

Please enjoy and I hope you are looking forward to the upcoming titles as much as I am!

Claudia D. Christian

Paramour (Book 2 of the Beloved Series)

Charlotte DeCorte

Of Course, Mr. Collins (Book 2 of Natasha and Mr. Collins)

D. Cristiana

Dark Desires: Traded

Dark Desires: Found

Dark Desires: Kept

It’s nearing the end of the year and I wanted to see how I did in regards to my writing goals (posted earlier this year.) I rocked and I stunk all at once. How does that happen? Let’s take a look, shall we?

Claudia D. Christian:

1. Devil’s Descent II: impure: Final edits are chugging along. I’d like to have this out late March/early April. It’s difficult to say because once it’s out it’s out. (Yes, I’m being a total wussy.) *I met this goal so yay!
2. Grim Alice: I really, really want to have this book done and out by the end of 2011. You have no idea how much I love this book. I get sucked into this mad, mad world and find I don’t want to do anything else other than visit. (Which is probably why I haven’t worked on it for months.) *Oh my god. I think I opened this file once. I really love this story too. I better not put it on the goal list for next year or I’ll completely jinx it.
3. Vicious Bliss: broken: Ditto for VBB. It’s been almost seven years since I wrote VBF. (Damn!) I’ve been very wary of working on this one. (Do you see a pattern here?  ) I love Mikhail and all his many, many imperfections. Seriously, this man is so hated by many VBF readers and I can’t blame them. Still, I love him and must get this book written. *Yeah, this totally didn’t happen either.
4. Anna & Christian (Working Title): A novella-size dark romance that I previewed back in December. I’m aiming for about 30k words but don’t hold me to that. This will be in the works after DDII & My Love Forgive are released. *Nope, didn’t happen. I like the concept but I’m not sure if it fits with Claudia work anymore.
5. Suicide/Love: A print version of Suicide Doll and Love Unfortunate combined into one book. (I would definitely like to do one novella-combo a year.) *sigh* Didn’t happen. I’ve formatted most of the file but ran into some other issues. 
6. Devil’s Descent I: purgatory: Release print version in 2011. *double sigh* 
7. Vicious Bliss: fallen (2010 Edition): Release print version in 2011. *triple sigh*

Charlotte DeCorte

1. My Love Forgive: This is probably going to be a 40K +/- novella. The dark romance is absolutely here. The erotica is stronger than what I usually write as CDC. The mindfuck is present. It’s quickly becoming an uncomfortable work to write which goes to show it’s probably moving along in the right direction. I’m also toying around with this being part of a non-related series tentatively titled “Prisoner of Love.” Right now I want to explore love under duress, captivated love, and all that disturbing yummy goodness. *I’ve gotten quite a bit written but then it got super-uncomfortable for me. Which really should be the point where I keep going because if I’m not uncomfortable then I’m not growing. But I wussed out.
2. Trunk (Working Title): This was a CDC piece, my only non-paranormal one, and I think it’s going to work better as a Charlotte piece. This would also be part of the “Prisoner of Love” series. *I still want to do this but it got shuffled around as other fic pieces demanded priority.
3. Untitled: As I like to do everything in odd numbers this work would be the last in the “Prisoner of Love” series. No idea what’s going to be but I’m sure it’s going to be completely unconventional, scary, and strangely arousing. You already know I’m strange, right? I hope?  *I’m still game for this.

That’s all that I have planned for now. A super busy year is ahead of me, huh? Hopefully, I’ll also make room for submitting to anthologies this year too—especially since I had so much fun withHearteater. (One of my goals this year if the right opportunity comes up and inspiration is kind.) *I did not submit to any anthologies either.

Now that I’ve announced this I can’t back out, right? *heart beating a bit faster* *Apparently I can.  

Okay, so it really looks like I haven’t done jack this year. Which has been true during certain stretches. No doubt it’s been a trying year for me personally but I am proud of myself for accomplishing the following:

1. Releasing Devil’s Descent II: impure under Claudia D. Christian.
2. Releasing “Cry for Me” under Charlotte DeCorte.
3. Releasing “Yes, Mr. Collins” under Charlotte DeCorte.
4. Coming up with another pen name for explicit erotica: D. Cristiana.
5. Releasing “Dark Desires: Bought” under D. Cristiana
6. Releasing “Dark Desires: Sold” under D. Cristiana
7. Releasing “Darling” under Claudia D. Christian.

So even though I didn’t meet a lot of the 2011 goals, I met several others. Progress is good. If anything, I now have a super-long list for 2012. *rubbing hands together in excitement*

Hey, Everyone! I’m finally back with a Claudia D. Christian release. Yay! As promised months ago, I am happily releasing the first novella in my Beloved Series—Darling. This series is by far my sweetest Claudia fiction. However, don’t think I’ve softened up. There’s still angst, betrayal, good-intentions-going-bad—all that stuff I love! (And I hope you love it too. )

SUMMARY

“Vampires should not love, Mistress. Their love is dangerous, expressed in a way humans do not understand. It could bring out the worst in both of you.”

From birth, Cassandra has been groomed to be the Beloved of Lord Constantine. Deeply in love with her lord, she is obsessed with being his wife and mother of his future Half-Blood children. As the Pureblood Vampire King of Nightmares, Lord Constantine has been obsessed with keeping Cassandra sheltered from the necessary cruelty of his world.

Even if that means keeping Cassandra a perpetual maiden.

Unfortunately good intentions and love are not enough when Cassandra cannot be protected from the one man capable of destroying her—Lord Constantine himself.

EXCERPT

“Darling, you cannot continue to be so miserable. It kills me. I know what you want. . .what you’ve always wanted.” Lord Constantine’s hand found its way beneath her robe. “I will make you feel better, darling. I promise.”

His touch shocked Cassandra enough to stop weeping. Despite all their years of familiarity, Lord Constantine had never once caressed her in such an intimate way. Trembling, she parted her legs, hoping, praying, ready to bargain for anything, if only her lord would finally change their interactions.

Please, please, please!

“Is this what you want, Cassandra? Tell me.”

Besotted by the touch of leather against her skin, she sighed, “Yes, my lord. This is what I have always wanted. Always.”

His eyes flashed crimson. She immediately looked away. Her instinctive reaction apparently gave him much needed control. “I adore you so much I am almost willing to give into damnation.” Lord Constantine squeezed her thigh once. Face tight with tormented lust, he struggled to hold back the beast hiding behind the beautiful mask of a civilized man. Lord Constantine waited until Cassandra looked back up at him. “Almost, but not yet.”

Lord Constantine removed his hand. Ice descended. Shock made her body numb. “I do not understand, my lord.”

Pity softened his expression. “I know you do not and I am sorry for it. We cannot do this.”

“But why?”

He kissed her softly, silencing her plaintive cry, and whispered, “I will not allow your love for me to become a poisoned thing.”

BOOK INFO

• Darling by Claudia D. Christian
• Word count: 18,000 (approximate)
• Categories: Gothic, Dark Romance, Paranormal Romance
• DRM-Free
• $3.99

BUY

Amazon US: Buy Now!

Amazon UK: Buy Now!

Amazon DE: Buy Now!

Hey Everyone! I have been on fire; feverishly letting my electronic pen go where it wants. The result: Dark Desires: Sold. PS. I have not ditched Claudia’s work. Darling is coming up soon.

SUMMARY

Two years ago a chance encounter brought together Marguerite Grey, a woman with a distinct lack of care for the world, and Marcus White, a man who makes a lucrative living as an assassin. In a moment of uncharacteristic spontaneity, Marcus offers Marguerite half a million dollars a year to be his woman.

She accepts.

Now secreted away on a desolate mountain, Marguerite finds her humanity and true love in the arms of a conscience-deficit killer…

WARNING: This short story is intended for open-minded adults. Crude language and explicit descriptions of sexual acts, to include oral and anal, are contained within.

EXCERPT

“Have you missed me?”

Marcus’ teeth gleamed like bone in the liquid dark place between her thighs. His predator smile told her she was about to be devoured. While Marguerite still had the ability to think coherently, she returned the question back to him with a twist.

“Have you missed me while decreasing the world’s population?”

“I do my part rather well. You would know that if you watched the news. Or read the newspapers. Your phone and laptop get a signal.”

“And I still don’t care enough to do so.” She rested comfortably on her elbows, enjoying the erotic view. “Answer my question.”

Marcus traced her bare slit with the tip of his tongue. “You’re tucked away somewhere between one package delivery and another.” He gripped her thighs with smooth, elegant hands before lowering his head.

Marguerite flung her arms out and fell back against the rumpled sheets. Her delighted giggles bled into soft moans.

“Don’t tease,” she panted. “Been. . .three months. . .since I saw you last!”

Marcus turned his head sideways. He spread her pussy open with surgical precision, knowing exactly how much pressure his fingers needed to apply. His full lips closed hard over her clit. Marcus sucked her, slurping loudly before swishing his tongue.

Marguerite rotated her hips, ravenous to prolong the drugging sensations of Marcus’ dirty, intimate kiss even while eager to end it in a wailing loss of dignity.

Contradictory fucking. Contradictory living. Fucking living.

Marcus released her with a lewd smack. He slipped two fingers inside of her and crooked them before sliding both out. Marguerite felt how wet she was and imagined the long, slim digits glistening as a gorgeous result. Marcus placed his marvelous fingers on her clit and rubbed them from side-to-side very quickly. Just as she shuddered on the precipice, Marcus replaced his fingers with his lips and suckled her gently.

Marguerite’s spine came up off the bed in a violent arch. She cried out, a tormented exuberance bursting from her throat. She loved dying this way. It was absolutely worth living her life of pampered exile if only to have Marcus White make her come on his talented mouth.

He crawled up, sliding his hands over her pale snow flesh. Marcus waited until she opened her eyes. His lips curled at the damp edges, unrestrained from the mimicry of somber intent.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

BOOK INFO

• Dark Desires: Sold by D. Cristiana
• Word count: 6,500 (approximate)
• Categories: Dark erotica, contemporary
• DRM-Free
• $2.99

BUY

Amazon: Buy Now!

Smashwords: Buy now! (Great for international readers. There’s no surcharge added to the price.)

All Romance eBooks: Buy Now!

Bookstrand: Buy Now!

Barnes & Noble: Buy Now!

Hey, Everyone! I’ve been a beast lately. I’ve added yet another pen name to Claudia and Charlotte. (I think this should be the last one…okay. Maybe one more if I ever make the move to YA but that will be the last. Promise!)

D. Cristiana is my latest name for the work that floats around in my mind but doesn’t quite fit Charlotte. I’ve chosen it for my shorter but more explicit work. In keeping line with all my current fiction, D. Cristiana explores the darker side of lust and fantasy—especially the theme of ownership.

I hope you check out this side of my writing brain.

Here’s the description for “Dark Desires: Bought”:

“Who do you belong to?”

Arthur Westerfield has secretly taken his wife, Madeline, to a villa where wealthy men mix business with the pleasure of expensive whores. When Madeline disobeys him and is accosted by a business associate, Arthur punishes his beloved wife by letting her explore the dark desire of being his personal whore…

EXCERPT

“Do you seek to protect this man?”

“No.”

“Then who do you protect?”

“You.” Madeline sniffled. “I didn’t want you to kill him.”

“Dear, you overstate your value. If I kill him, how ever will I get his money?” Arthur knew his words were cruel. He chose them precisely for their viciousness. Rage boiled his blood at the thought of another knowing the silken warmth of Madeline’s mouth. Fury spilled over at the thought of her keeping this secret from him.

“You begged me to bring you here. You knew we were coming to a place where decent wives do not go. You swore not to interfere in my business. You promised not to leave my side tonight if I allowed it.”

Madeline nodded miserably.

“You knew you were going to be surrounded by whores. All masked, all beautiful, and all ready to be bent over. You knew if you wandered off you could be mistaken for one.”

“I know.”

“So if you knew, why did you do it?” Arthur squeezed the hand on her throat just the slightest bit. “Did you want to play at being a whore, Madeline? Did you hope someone like Bennett would take you into one of the many convenient rooms and fuck you like a dirty, disgusting whore?”

“No!”

“Then why?” Arthur rested his mouth against her temple. He let the words drip out of him softly like beguiling poison. “You can tell me, Madeline. The damage is already done. Nothing you say can make it any worse.”

BOOK INFO

• Dark Desires: Bought by D. Cristiana
• Word count:  5,500 (Approximate)
• Categories: Dark erotica, roleplaying, BDSM
• DRM-Free
• $2.99

BUY

Amazon US: Buy Now!

Smashwords: Buy Now! (Great for international readers. There’s no surcharge added to the price.)

All Romance eBooks: Buy Now!

Bookstrand: Buy Now!

Barnes & Noble: Buy Now!