Anya Bast

Indeed, putting tassles on 500 bookmarks by hand does suck in many horrible sucklicious ways.

They are very pretty, though!

I got the print proof for Witch Fire today. It is very, very, verra purty. 🙂

If Showtime ever does decide to bring Dead Like Me back from the, er, dead, I’m totally finally getting satellite.

I am a part of that neglected segment of the market that loves DLM and Firefly. Why do they kick us so?

Jane at Dear Author enjoyed Edge of Sweetness.

Thank you, Jane, for taking the time to read and review the novella. 🙂

Two great books that I’ve read lately and highly recommend:

This is what happened. I met him at the candy store. He turned around and smiled at me, and I was surprised enough to smile back. This was not a children’s candy store, mind you — this was the kind of the place you went to buy expensive imported truffles for your boss’s wife because you felt guilty for sleeping with him while you were both at a conference in Milwaukee. Hypothetically speaking, of course.

I’ve been hit on plenty of times, mostly by men with little finesse who thought what was between their legs made up for what they lacked between their ears. Someimes I went home with them anyway, just because it felt good to want and be wanted, even if it was mostly fake.

The problem with wanting is that it’s like pouring water into a vase full of stones. It fills you up before you know it, leaving no room for anything else. I don’t apologize for who I am or what I’ve done in –and out — of bed. I have my job, my house and my life, and for a long time I haven’t wanted anything else.

Until Dan. Until now.

This is a complex book with interesting, equally complex characters. It’s a book that wraps you up and holds you close from beginning to end. A book with meat on its bones, one that stays with you for a long time after the telling. I really, really enjoyed it.

Here it is on Amazon.com

You can find an excerpt on her web site.

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I always enjoy all the Secrets anthologies, but this one in particular is very good. It’s an enjoyable and well-balanced mix of novellas that will sweep you away until you’ve finished the last page.

Did I mention it’s hot? It’s very, very hot. 🙂 Always a plus in my book.

Of particular note is Ellie Marvel‘s story Birthday.

Here it is on Amazon.com

Isn’t it pretty?

Mira Hoskins doesn’t know she’s a natural born witch who possesses the
rare-and powerful-element of air. She also never expected to find herself
tied to a mahogany bed frame, captive to a man who aches to fulfill her
every desire and let loose the magick that dwells inside her…

Heat emanates from elemental fire witch Jack McAllister. The Coven, a
governing authority of witches, has sent him to protect Mira from a band of
warlocks who drain witches of power… and life. Long ago, he saw Mira’s
parents murdered by this same dark magick. He’d like to quell his guilt and
offer her everything she deserves. But she’s the long-lost cousin of his
boss-making seduction off-limits.

With Jack’s strong guidance, Mira is luring forth her inner magick. But his
sense of duty is quickly swelling into insatiable hunger. They warned him
about the natural attraction between air and fire. Now he risks being
consumed by the woman he shouldn’t want-but can’t stay away from …

It’s available for pre-order at Amazon.com right now!

New years are always so rife with possibility. They’re a time when anything can happen. It’s a place that’s full of energy and unfolding destinies. Charged with the electricity of the conceivable. It’s a clean slate, an occasion to start new. To slough off parts of the past or behaviors you dislike and adopt other ways of being.

Of course, any time can be a “new year”. Not everyone celebrates the turn of the wheel by our calender. Some people and cultures celebrate the New Year in the fall, some in the early, early spring. Some people choose any old time to start fresh. Nothing wrong with that.

Whenever you start your new wheel of time a ticking,  I wish for you all the beauty your heart can muster, all the love it can hold. I wish for you laughter until you can’t even speak at least once per week. I wish for you to achieve all your dreams and desires.

May you end the old year with a smile toward the past the enter the new one with a song in your heart.

Here’s to a gorgeous 2007!

Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis Volume IV — by, Anya Bast,Charlotte Boyett-Compo, Lena Matthews, Kris Starr, N.J. Walters & Ravyn Wilde

Reviewed By: Elise Logan for Romance Divas

“I love these anthologies – if for no other reason than they introduce you to a number of authors you might not otherwise read. In this collection, the stories run from fantasy to contemporary; from paranormal to the guy next door. The stories are very strong individually, with Anya Bast’s Getting Slayed and N.J. Walters’ Shadows Stir being the strongest offerings.”

Getting Slayed by Anya Bast

Bast’s contribution is one of the most entertaining stories I’ve read in a long while. It’s a definite twist on the “hero slays dragon to win the princess” fairy tale, and it is by turns hilarious and hot.

Dreams of the Oasis IV releases on Thursday, December 21st at Ellora’s Cave!!

My husband and I recently had a series of immunization shots in preparation for a trip to a developing country:

My husband: “My arm hurts.”

Me: (teasing) “Oh, poor baby. You’re so fragile. You’re like a leetle flower who needs many kisses.”

My husband: (stares for a moment) “That’s so wierd. I was just about to (jokingly) say the exact thing. I mean the exact same thing.”

This isn’t an uncommon thing for us. It’s like we read each other’s mind without even knowing we’re doing it. Do you do that with your spouse? I’m interested to know. 🙂

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In other news….

Witch Fire publication date has been moved up to June 2007!! Whee!!!!

I’m so excited for you all to read about Mira and Jack. I enjoyed writing their story so much. I think my characters are what I love most about writing. I fall in love with them. I hope you will too.

I am planning to soon add an excerpt of Witch Fire to my web site, so watch for that to appear within the next few days.

The day before Thanksgiving. Well, we call it “un-Thanksgiving” around here because my father has political problems with Thanksgiving as a holiday (don’t ask. LOL). I call it a day where I get together with my family. I love them, despite their many, many, many quirks.

That strange family gathers at our house tomorrow for a huge meal. We generally always do Thanksgiving at our house because we have this huge Amish-made dining room table that sits like twelve people. 🙂 We’re also all making donations to the local food bank for Christmastime.

So today I’m cleaning the house and making the sweet potatoes. These are really good sweet potatoes (I just follow the recipe. I take no credit!). If anyone wants the recipe, I can post it.

Every Turkey Day, I get up and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade because I LOVE watching the parade. I’m not sure why, but I’ve loved it ever since I was a kid. Then I start cooking. It’s a yearly constant I look forward to.

I’m also writing today. I have so much writing to do! Ack! Today I’m working on the truly stressful bit on my plate — the proposal for the sequel to Witch Fire. Aaaaaack! *falls over*

So, writing, cooking and cleaning for me today. I’m an erotic domestic goddess. 🙂 🙂

Thirteen things I’m thankful for today:

1. That I have a family to cook for tomorrow.

2. For the extra few pounds on my body because it means I have never known hunger.

3. For my husband, who after eleven years, still seems to actually love me as much as I love him.

4. For readers because without them I wouldn’t be able to do the thing I most love. You all are extraordinary in your enthusiam, friendliness and openness. Thank you. 🙂

5. For booksellers. There are some booksellers out there whom I just adore, booksellers who know so much about our genre and infect others with their passion for reading our books. Thank you.

6. That I have access to health care. Seems mundane, but it’s something never to be taken for granted.

7. For the personal knowledge that I can only control my own reality and perceptions, no one else’s.

8. For the peace in my heart and my ability to accept…because it’s the journey that counts.

9. For all my memories and experiences, be they good or bad, and for every single person who has ever influenced them, because they shaped me into the person I am today.

10. For my fur babies because they make me laugh and teach me about unconditional love every single day.

11. For my ability to be content with simple things and not feel a need to always have “bigger” or “better” than someone else.

12. For my friends. I hope I can support them half as well as they support me.

13. For writing. Writing, writing, writing. 🙂

What are you thankful for?