Lydia Parks Blog

E-books are finally standing alone!

2010-06-11T16:33:00.001-07:00

Can you feel the excitement in the air? E-books are finally being taken seriously. My DH has sworn off of paper (something I can't bring myself to do -- I love the smell of books, and smell is a very important sense for me). I must admit, he looks pretty comfortable holding his newest e-book reader in one hand, turning the pages by pushing a button.

One of the nicest features of e-books is the ability to sample authors before investing. I love Nocturne Bites for that. You can download a story and then look for more if you like the author's style. (Yes, I'm happy to point you to my Bite, MARKED, available all over the place!) Isn't the cover fantastic??

As one of the earliest authors of e-books, I'm just thrilled to see them making their marks.

Hope everyone in the Southwest is managing to avoid this heat! I'm looking for a cave...

New Title Coming Out!

2010-04-28T18:58:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited about the new title coming out from Nocturne Bites: MARKED. It's a sexy shape shifter story set in northern New Mexico. I'm really excited about it coming out! You can pre-order it now at eHarlequin, but you have to wait until Saturday, May 1st to get it. I hope everyone enjoys the story.

What do you think of the cover? Yummy, huh??

And a big thank you to Jessica Viarreal!

End of Winter update

2010-03-19T18:17:00.001-07:00

I can't believe winter is nearly gone. I'll miss the dark and cold, the snow on Sandia Crest, and the excuse for hot chocolate. But spring is on its way in, and it's time to update my newsletter.

NEWS FLASH: My next Nocturne Bite, Marked, is due out in May! It's a wonderfully spicy story about shape shifters, set in New Mexico, and incorporates some Native American elements. (Thank you, Jessica, for all your expert advice!) I enjoyed writing the story, and hope readers will enjoy reading it.

Devour Me and Addicted are still on the shelves at bookstores. Be warned: they're way past spicy!

Appearances coming up include a possible signing at Borders in Albuquerque and talks at local writers' groups. Stay turned for details.

The trip to Louisiana was a great success! I stocked up on crawfish, oysters, and Southern mystery. Can't wait for my next trip home to New Orleans...

What would you like to hear about in these newsletters? Let me know and we'll see what can be arranged.

Cheers,
Lydia

A Book Signing from the Inside Out

2009-11-22T10:27:00.000-08:00

I had an opportunity to participate in a book signing at Borders in Albuquerque on the 14th of this month. What a blast! I thought I'd share some of my photos, even though the quality is so-so. I took many of them from my chair so you could see what the signing looked like for the authors.

We started at 6pm (after an all-day conference), but I got there early to enjoy the excitement. The authors signing were Celeste Bradley, me, Amanda McCabe, Mary Buckham, Dianna Love, and Sherrilyn Kenyon. Sherrilyn has very devoted fans who show up in costume with gifts and lots of things for her to sign. They were wonderful! Some of them stood in line for hours, but no one seemed to be impatient or annoyed, and we stayed until the lines were gone.

I had the best time sitting at the first spot at the table where I got to talk to nearly everyone. Many were vampire fans, and some had read at least one of my books. I sold and signed quite a few copies of DEVOUR ME and ADDICTED!

One thing I love about being around other romance authors is the camaraderie. Even those not signing were around to help and join in the fun. Gabi Stevens and Belle Sloan hung out with me, and Molly Evans ran interference for Sherrilyn, Mary, and Dianna, who were all sweethearts and a kick to work with. And my dear husband was there, ready to chase down books or whatever I needed. (He's trying to hide in the background, but I got a picture of him anyway. Sort of.)

The management at Borders was great. They seemed to enjoy it all almost as much as I did. This was my first signing where "crowd control" was even discussed. I was impressed with how smoothly everything ran.

Now that this signing is over, I'm looking forward to the next. I expect to be signing books in Albuquerque in February and May of 2010, at least. Don't know where, yet, but I'll post information when I get it.

Happy November!

News for September 2009

2009-08-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog! I've moved my newsletter to my blog because of formatting challenges. I hope you'll enjoy this version.

Want a signed copy of the latest books? Email me at Lydia @ Lydiaparks.com (removing the spaces) with the subject "signed book." Two books will be given away to lucky winners: Devour Me and Awakening the Beast. (Be sure to include a statement verifying that you're 18 or over. Books will only be mailed to adults!)

Devour Me has hit the shelves! The sexy vampire novel contains:

Dark Obsession

For three centuries, Benjamin Bartlett's desire for blood—and for the woman who granted him eternity—has consumed him. But when he discovers a group of four people taking refuge in his home after their van breaks down, he's immediately drawn to Star Reid—and soon she drives him over the edge in a white-hot lust that won't be denied…

Blood Lust

Vampire Christopher Marsh has searched for years for the talisman that could make him mortal again and give him the chance to fall in love. On the archeological dig he's supervising, beautiful professor Nicole Stephenson reminds him daily of what he wants but can't have. But when he abandons all control and gives in to his explosive desires, his quest takes on more urgency—for he can't lost the woman he's been waiting so long for…

"…vampiric romantic novellas that sub-genre fans will want to sink their teeth into." ~Harriett Klausner

Watch for Awakening the Beast October 1st. The book is a collection of six sexy bites:

Enter the darkly seductive world that exists within Nocturne Bites^TM with tales woven by some of the most spellbinding authors: Lisa Renee Jones, Olivia Gates, Linda O. Johnston, Barbara J. Hancock, Caridad Piñeiro and Lydia Parks. Let them take you on a thrilling ride where you'll catch a glimpse of sensuous, sexy men who share their wildest desires in ways you thought only existed in dreams…

My contribution is Shadow Lover:

In college, psychologist Serena Brockman dreamed of a secret lover who watched over her and would one day bring her into his shadow world. Since then, she has spent her life convincing others that such mythical creatures aren't real. Until the night her shadow lover reappears in his true forma vampire....

Griffin has experienced centuries of pain and loneliness, only broken by the sight of Serena years ago. But to protect his existence, he must erase Serena's memory of him when she is at her most vulnerable: at the height of sexual pleasure...

What's next?

On November 14^th, I will be signing books at Borders in Albuquerque (ABQ Uptown) with Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, Mary Buckham, and others! Stop by and say hello.

Sexy Beast VI giveaway!

2009-03-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

I just got my first author copy of Sexy Beast VI and will be giving it away to a member of my newsletter group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lydiaparks/). Swing by and join right now to be in the drawing!

In case you're wondering what the book's about, here's a summary:

"Chanku Honor" by Kate Douglas - By invitation of Mik, Tala and AJ, a new group of six young people are discovering their Chanku heritage. They call themselves the Wolfpack, with Logan, the leader, Jazzy Blue, his lover, and Deacon, the outsider. Together they will learn of their shapeshifting power and their amazingly sensual legacy...

"Wings of The Swan" by Anya Howard - Deep in the northern woods, a Saxon chieftain comes upon a hidden waterfall - and watches in amazement as a woman lovelier than a swan appears underneath it. Can this vision of sensual grace be human? Her body is utterly dazzling, and when their sexual longings are satisfied at last, she shows him the ultimate in carnal pleasure...

"Animal Instinct" by Lydia Parks - Assigned to look into a series of deadly maulings, investigator Rachel McNeil tries to conceal the animal-like attraction she feels for the sexy Russian detective she's called to help with the case. But Nikolai arouses feelings in her she has never imagined, and she craves his touch and the erotic bliss she knows it will bring..

Fair warning: the book is really hot! Please don't sign up for my newsletter if you're easily offended by explicit sexual content. But if you aren't, join in the fun. My first shape-shifter story was a blast to write. I hope you enjoy reading it!

~Lydia

Lydia Parks featured in AReBooks Newsletter

2009-02-14T21:41:00.000-08:00

I've been interviewed by All Romance eBooks, and am featured in their newsletter. Check it out here.

What do you think?

Sexy Beast VI is on its way!

2009-01-26T18:35:00.000-08:00

The next Lydia Parks story, Animal Instinct, will come out in Sexy Beast VI in March of 2009. I can't wait! It's a privilege to be asked to participate in the Sexy Beast series; I nearly fell off my chair when I was asked. Only two more months to wait!

Animal Instinct is my first shape shifter story. I had a blast writing it, and was surprised at how strong the charters' voices were (in my head, that is). The best part was I finally had a chance to set a story in Siberia. I've wanted to do that since I visited a dozen years or so ago. It's truly quite a place full of wonderfully quirky characters. I hope to write more of them in the future.

Talk about a hunky book cover! Yow!

Shortly after that, Shadow Lover, a Nocturne Bite will hit cyberspace. I can't wait to see the cover! I had to pose for an author photo for Silhouette. It should appear soon on eHarlequin. I'm anxious to hear what you think about it.

The next full-length Lydia Parks book, Devour Me, is coming out from Kensington in September 2009. It's two sexy vampire stories that I hope readers will enjoy as much as I enjoyed writing them.

Time to get back to work. I always love to hear from readers!

ADDICTED is out!

2008-09-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

My first book from Kensington's Aphrodisia, Addicted, is on the shelves! I've seen it! And it has already received wonderful reviews:

Romantic Times gave it 4-1/2 stars! "This anthology is an intense and lushly dark novel about creatures of the night and the mortals they love. Replete with threats lurking in the shadows and sizzling sex between alpha vampires and intelligent heroines, Parks delivers a deliciously engaging bedtime story or erotic paranormal diversion."
Harriet Klausner gave it 10/10 stars and says, "Both tales are filled with bite as alpha vamps fall for feisty mortals making fun to read novellas; Lydia Parks delivers a pair of well written erotic vampire romances."

The book is two vampire novellas, both set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and both sizzling. I hope you enjoy!