Talking Shop: The Girls That Started It All

This whole thing started with a vampire who refused to be a hero.

Have I been wrong?

Have I been wise

To shut

My eyes and play along?

~Natalie Merchant

Carnival

Readers of Lotus Petals might be surprised to know Rhiannon Donovan was the beginning of everything for me.

Erotic Audio: A Sexy Excerpt from Lotus Petals, Releasing Monday!

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Friday Free Read: The Bathhouse

On January 17th, my debut novel Lotus Petals turns 1! 

And we have just placed in the top ten for Book Cover Art in the 17th Preditors and Editor's Reader's Poll!

In honor of the book's anniversary and our win, this Friday's free read takes you into the halls of the Blood Lotus temple to meet Rhiannon and Aijyn, the leading ladies themselves!

***

Rhiannon closed her eyes, sinking a little deeper into the water, and then ducked her head under for just a second before coming back up. Aijyn tipped a nod toward a small wooden tray left by the rim of the pool, a tray containing soaps and oils for rinsing the hair. Rhiannon gratefully reached out for them.

"I am surprised the first thing you should want after such a long sea voyage would be a bath," Aijyn said.

"After weeks of hiding in a stinking cargo hold, picking off the deckhands, wallowing in the smell of men’s sweat and mildewing food?" Rhiannon growled bitterly, "What else could I want?"

We're Live Again! Welcome Back to Foreplay and Fangs

Foreplay and Fangs has been dark for the last month as you know, mostly to give me a chance to focus on National Novel Writing Month. But now the crazy November deadline is past, Thanksgiving is over and even the leftovers are gone. It's time to get back to work!

If you've only just joining us here at Foreplay and Fangs, or if you're wondering where this silly little blog full of naughty tips, tricks and tastes came from, well, today's post is for you.

This whole thing started with a vampire who refused to be a hero.

Have I been wrong?

Have I been wise

To shut

My eyes and play along?

~Natalie Merchant

Carnival

What are Readers Saying?

Lotus Petals is pulling in more five-star reviews on Amazon! Drop by and see what people are saying! http://tinyurl.com/ozanpnh

 

"This book is very deep and intense at times, and incredibly character orientated allowing the reader to really connect with the main characters and follow their story... The ending definitely left me wanting to know what will happen next, and if love really will save them."

~ Claire Taylor

"This novel is suspenseful, full of rich detail, has complex characters and lots of actions (and not just in the bedroom). I fully loved reading it and am anxious for the next book to be released as this one leaves us with quite the cliffhanger! I NEED to know what happens with these characters next! I give this book an enthusiastic 5 stars! I can't wait for the next book in the series!"

~Sheri L. Velarde

"In Lotus Petals, the author combines an eye for detail with beautiful writing, then adds in an engrossing plot, fascinating characters and a great love story. You simply cannot go wrong with this book."

~Jeff C. Morton

Thank you so much to ALL my readers, for the wonderful response we have received! I'm pleased to announce that I've begun work on Book 2, and hope to have it to you very soon!

In the meantime, please continue to help me spread the word about Lotus Petals, and if you have a review you'd like to give, or just comments you'd like to share, I welcome your emails, tweets, and Facebook messages!

Sexy Swag for Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Special!
Rhiannon's Valentine's Day Giveaway!

V-Day may have passed, my lovelies, byt I'm still yearning to give away some gifts!  

Lotus Petals is almost one month old on Amazon and Breathless Press, Bookstrand and ARE! And I would dearly love to share it with more readers. We have two new anthologies coming out as well, one of them on Valentine's day itself!

So please help me get the word out! Let's spread the news about Rhiannon and Aijyn as far across the web as we can!

My Goals:

1.   Reach 300 followers on Twitter

2. Reach 400 followers on Twitter

3. Reach 500 followers on Twitter!

4. Reach 200 Likes on Facebook

5. See 30 comments on the Lotus Petals YouTube Trailer

6. Get 15 more reviews on Amazon, Breathless Press, Bookstrand or ARE!

7. Get Lotus Petals in the Breathless Press bestseller's list!!

(What can I say? I dream big!)

 

Prizes, prizes, prizes!

And what lovely V-Day's gifts will Rhiannon and Aijyn be offering in return?

Grand Prize: a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card (your choice!). 

BUT, this gift card will grow if you help me reach my goals! When I reach 400 Twitter followers, it will become a $35 dollar gift card... if I reach 500 followers, it will become a $50 gift card!  And if you help me reach my goal of 200 likes on Facebook as well, I'll throw in a free copy of Lotus Petals, and My Bloody Valentine!

(If, by happy coincidence, you already happen to have your copy of Lotus Petals, there will be an alternate prize of equal value)

Other prize packages are listed below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Lotus Petal Blog Tour Schedule!

The Time is Almost Come, My Lovelies! Be Sure To Join Us For The Blog Tour For More Chances to Win Free E-Books!

Tour Schedule - Lotus Petals by Brantwijn Serrah

January 20 to Feb 2nd, 2014

Jan 20

Kelly P's Blog - Spotlight and Excerpt

http://kellyatx.blogspot.com/

Night Owl Reviews - Top Ten

http://www.nightowlreviews.com

Jan 21

Bound 4 Escape - Review

http://www.bound4escape.com

Jan 22

Cu's Ebook Giveaways - Spotlight and Excerpt

http://cusebookgiveaways.us

Jan 23

Crazy Beautiful Reviews - Review

http://crazybeautifulreviews.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

Jan 24

Darkest Cravings - Spotlight, Dreamcast, Playlist and Author Interview

http://darkestcravings.blogspot.com

Jan 25

Eclipse Reviews - Spotlight and Excerpt, Dream Cast

http://totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com

Author Karen Swart - Spotlight and Character Interview

http://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com

Jan 26

Darkmotive's Books and More - Spotlight and Review

http://darkmotivesbooksandmore.blogspot.com/

The Girl Bookaholic - Review

http://thegirlbookaholic.blogspot.com

Can’t Beat A Good Book - Spotlight and Character Bio's

http://www.cantbeatagoodbook.blogspot.co.uk

Jan 27

Sweets Books - Spotlight, Author and Character Interview

http://sweetsbooks.wordpress.com

Jan 28

Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews - Spotlight and Excerpt

http://devilishlydeliciousbookreviews.wordpress.com/

Jan 29

Rustys Reading - Author Interview and Dream Cast

http://rustysreading.com

Jan 30

Anny Books - Spotlight, Review and Dream Cast

http://httpswwwfacebookcomsexylmreftntnmn.weebly.com

Cajun Book Lover - Spotlight and Excerpt

http://www.cajunbooklover.blogspot.com

For the Love of Books - Review

http://ftlobblog.blogspot.com/

Jan 31

Our New Generation for Reading - Spotlight and Excerpt

http://jessica13bridgers.blogspot.com/

Feb 1

Angee's After Thoughts - Spotlight and Excerpt

www.angeesafterthoughts.com

Feb 2

Dalene's Book Reviews - Spotlight, Review, Author Interview, Playlist, Book Soundtrack and Character Bio's

http://dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

All Is Read with LexyPat - Review, Book Soundtrack and Character Bio's

http://lexypat.wordpress.com

Lotus Petals -- the Countdown Begins!

Rhiannon, Aijyn and I will see you in two weeks, my lovelies!

(and remember, I'm giving away a free copy of the book to whoever designs me the most wonderful tattoo to celebrate!)

Help me to Celebrate, My Lovelies! Design My Tattoo!

I have a very special tradition, my lovelies: when a book I've written finds a home, I commemorate the occasion with a tattoo.  My first was a cross on my left shoulder blade, in honor of the first book I ever finished (a story about finding faith); my second is an arrangement of Nordic runes, the Hero, the Thorn, and Tempered Strength, in honor of my first series being considered by DAW books.  Now, with Lotus Petals ready to make its debut, it's time to celebrate again, with a brand new tattoo!

The tradition for me is to make the tattoo reflective of the story. In this case, I want a version of the tattoo on Rhiannon, my hero, who is a member of the Guild of Orchalyva, the weaponsmasters.  Here is the description straight from Lotus Petals:

On her left shoulder blade, she wore the savage black tattoo, the image of a double-headed axe ringed by weaving knotwork patterns. The ring grew narrower at the top, wider and more intricate at the bottom, like a circlet, a royal diadem around the warrior’s blade. Along the bottom of the design read a short inscription in the Greek language—Aijyn recognized the characters from engravings and artwork the daimyo and his samurai sometimes collected. Orgí kai chályva, the creed of the weapons-masters: "rage" and "steel".

  
Here is my challenge to you, my lovelies: help me commemorate the release of Lotus Petals and become part of the tradition. If you are artistic, like to design tattoos, or just want a chance to win a free copy of the book, send me a tattoo design that will incorporate the elements of Rhiannon's tattoo above.  They don't have to be arranged the same way as described, but the key elements -- the labrys (axe), the Greek phrase, the diadem -- should all be included.  Fonts, designs, knotwork if you want to include it, are all at your leisure to design. Though Rhiannon wears her tattoo on her left shoulder blade, I've already got a tattoo there, so this one will be going on my right ankle.  Design it however you like: as a single image, as an "anklet", or any other creative design.  My tattoos are generally small, so something roughly 3x3 (think a standard Post-It Note) would be best. I would consider larger, if the design is worth it.  One thing to note: lettering on a tattoo can only be so small, and my tattoo artist won't do it if he thinks the letters will bleed together.

Lotus Petals is set to be released on Friday, January 17th; I'll be at the tattoo parlor on Saturday, getting the celebratory ink!  Submit your designs to me at Brantwijn at gmail dot com, by January 10th extended to January 16th!, for a chance to win a free copy of Lotus Petals on the day it is released. I'll post all the designs here to share them with the world, and one lucky winner will be announced.  If you help spread the word, you might have a chance to win some other free books from me, too! Please keep in mind that as I'm the one who will be getting this tattoo permanently inked on my skin, I reserve the right to choose the design based on what speaks to me most.

So get your pencils ready, darlings! Show me your tattooing talent and let's celebrate the book's release!

(Original designs only.  I shall be very cross if I find out you've taken another's design.)