Excerpt from KISS OF MOONLIGHT

A Halloween Treat. Here's a little taste of Kyle, from Tam's point of view, in Kiss of Moonlight.

Excerpt:

Barely awake, Tam opened her eyes to hazy, dawn-pink light.


And a wonderfully relaxed feeling in her body.

“How’d you sleep?”

Until that voice made every muscle in her body tense in expectation of pleasure.

God, the man made her heart pound.

Stretching her entire body like a cat, she propped herself up on her elbows and looked at him. Kyle sat on the chair next to the bed in jeans and nothing else, elbows on his knees, staring at her.

Starting at his waistband, her gaze traveled from the six-pack abs to the tattoo she’d noticed last night, a beautifully stylized depiction of a sun with tiny dots ringing an inner circle. She’d already seen the alien-looking markings on his arm but hadn’t realized the harsh, coal-black symbols went all the way to his shoulder. She wanted to ask what they meant but when her gaze met his, she got lost in that glittering topaz gaze, though his expression was set in stone.

She smiled at him, feeling lighter than she had in years. She’d had the best sex of her life last night. She hadn’t freaked out. And Kyle… Kyle made her feel alive again.

“I slept fine. Thank you. And you?”

He didn’t answer right away, just watched her with those eyes.

Finally he sat up only to slouch back into the chair. She’d never seen anything as sexy in her entire life.

The man was a work of art, from the ripped abs and broad shoulders to the chiseled cheeks and muscled arms. Those arms could have terrified her, reminded her of the attack. Instead she’d felt safe. Protected. Had anchored her even when she was flying from the first orgasm she’d ever had with a man.

And his smile, when his mouth finally loosened enough for it to curve, was a revelation. “Probably better than I should have.” Then he sighed and the smile disappeared. “We need to talk, Tam. We need to figure some stuff out and we need to go talk to someone.”

The real world tried to intrude but she wasn’t ready for it. Not yet.

Instead, she let her gaze drop to his lap, where she saw the bulge of his erection pressing against his zipper.

She did that to him. God, she loved knowing she affected him like that. “And we need to do that right now?”

His gaze darkened as he held hers, heat beginning to build between her legs. Her lungs felt heavy and the air in the room thickened. She wanted him again. Wanted him to take her and make everything else go away again.

Then he shook his head. “You have time for a shower and breakfast. Then we gotta get going. I want to get started tracking down who those men were working for.”

Happy Halloween Reading

So today's the day. KISS OF MOONLIGHT is released from Ellora's Cave, just in time for Halloween!

I love werewolves. They were my first paranormal love, going all the way back to Lon Chaney Jr.'s "The Wolf Man," which I remember watching with my mom when I was five or six, huddled on the couch in front of the TV. The visuals in that black-and-white classic have stuck with me through the years, just as they have from "Night of the Living Dead," "Nosferatu" and "Cat People."

It's those shades of gray, the light and dark and, most importantly, the shadows that call to me in those films. I want to know what's hiding in the shadows. I want to see the monster. And yet, I don't.

Many early horror films are adept at playing with those shadows until the very last minute when the creature is revealed. Of course, the actual monster is never as scary as the unknown but by the time you actually confront the monster, you're too terrified to care. I think only Ridley Scott's original "Alien" and Owen Peli's "Paranormal Activity" get that formula right.

While I love films, I am a voracious reader. As a kid, I sank my teeth into the classics: Lovecraft, J. Sheridan LeFanu, Seabury Quinn, MR James, Manley Wade Wellman and Robert Bloch. On my desk right now are two of the anthologies I've had since I was a teen, "Tales of the Undead" and "Nameless Places." If you ever see them at a library sale or used book store, pick them up. And prepare to be amazed.

When my mom gave me Stephen King's CARRIE when I was 10 or so, I discovered a whole new world of contemporary horror. I'm sure it helped that I identified so much with Carrie at that time in my life but that only solidified my adoration of Uncle Stevie. He understood the freaks and the outcasts, and the bullies always got what they deserved.

Then I read THE STAND and understood how a love story could be an integral part of horror. Because if you have nothing at stake but your life, the reader isn't going to care if you live or die. But if you have that one true love waiting for you, the reader is invested.

Fast forward a few years to the moment I discovered Maggie Shayne's "Wing in the Night" orginal trilogy from Silhouette Shadows, first published in 1993. And I realized, yes, you can write a romance featuring the monster. And make it work. Shayne did, amazingly well. And continues to do so.

I believe Shayne played a role in paving the way for JR Ward (who I adore), Mary Janice Davidson and yes, Laurel K. Hamilton (the Anita Blake series started in 1995). Shayne made it sexy, cool and, above all, believeable. She made you love the monster.

That's all I can hope to do, as well.

KISS OF MOONLIGHT: Cover and Excerpt

Plagued by nightmares. Stalked by kidnappers. Tamra McMillan needs a safe haven. When tattooed bad-ass Kyle Rossini steps into her life, the last thing she expects to find is a sanctuary from her demons or steaming hot sex. In fact, everything about him screams danger. But appearances can be deceiving. The tender possessiveness of his touch, the hunger in his eyes, the scorching sensuality of his kiss—all of it sears him into her soul and brands her as his for life.

But otherworldly forces are afoot and death hovers…

Etruscan werewolf Kyle is a loner. The king’s assassin with a killer’s instincts. The last thing he needs is a mate who could be placed in danger because of him. Until he meets the one woman who needs him more than he needs his solitude. When Tamra, battered but not broken, stumbles into his world and tumbles into his bed, she captures his heart. And nothing—not kidnappers or visions of his possible death—will keep him from her.

KISS OF MOONLIGHT will be released tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 30) from Ellora's Cave. This is the first story in my Lucani Lovers series, focusing on the Etruscan skin shifters, the werewolves.

I've always been fascinated by weres. The ability to shift into another creature seems like the ultimate magic to me. My weres are descendents of a secret legion of the ancient Roman army. They're wickedly strong and oh so passionate.

Check out my website at www.stephaniejulian.com to read an excerpt. There's also a different, lengthy excerpt at the Ellora's Cave website. And be sure to check back here tomorrow for another.

Happy reading!

Authors After Dark Paranormal Event Recap

This past weekend was the first Authors After Dark Paranormal event featuring a host of paranormal authors and readers from across the country and the world.

At left, that's me and my critique partner Judi Fennell, author of the Mer trilogy from Sourcebooks. We're at the Masquerade party Saturday night.

At right are the winged women at the Masquerade. So many different wings and costumes, all gorgeous.

At left are author Cat Johnson

and me, light and dark.

At right are Judi Fennell and Joey W. Hill during their poolside mer talk.

I met so many great people this weekend, talked to readers about their likes and dislikes, talked to other authors about the industry and had a wonderful time. I sat on three panels: Faerie Tales, Witches and Shapeshifters. It was amazing how many variations on the same theme authors can come up with.

Many thanks to Jacquelyn Frank and Stella Price for organizing everything. If you missed this year, don't worry, we'll be back next year. It's already in the planning stages.

I'll be there. If you're a paranormal romance fan, you should be too.

Authors After Dark Reader Weekend

I had a great time today at the Authors After Dark Reader Weekend.

Hosted by Jacquelyn Frank and the Authors After Dark bloggers, the weekend is devoted to paranormal authors and readers and has been a great way for the two to interact.

I loved being on the Fairy Tale and Witches panels this morning. It's fascinating to hear how other authors, including Mima, Diana Castilleja, Teresa Noelle Roberts, Eliza Gale and (not pictured) Joey W. Hill approach their writing and their stories. And I love to get feedback and answer questions from readers.

I was thrilled to sell out of books at the book fair and had a huge smile all day as I talked to readers and my book signing buddy and roommate Judi Fennell.

Boo!

I love Halloween. The changing leaves, the cooler weather, jeans and sweaters. I love huddling in my office on a gray day to write with the cats snuggled in their chair.

I love that it's okay for kids to dress as demons and ghouls and carry bloody knives and get candy. Sure I love a cute little fairy or adorable cowboy. But the kid dressed in black with his face made up like something out of Fangoria always gets two treats from me. I was blessed with parents who didn't balk at a steady diet of Stephen King, Sam Raimi and Universal horror movies.
 
Maybe the most influential person in the early development of my love of all things paranormal and horror was Dr. Shock. Dr. Shock was really a magician named Joseph Zawislak who hosted a show on Philadelphia's WPHL-TV. (For more info, check out http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/3257/drshockphilly.html). But to me, he was master of ceremonies for a fright-filled Saturday afternoon.

Dr. Shock introduced me to Larry Talbot, Dracula, The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon and too many other nightmares to name. And I loved them all.

I cried when they shot Larry Talbot in "The Wolf Man" and chased Frankenstein with pitchforks and fire. I wanted Dracula to finally find a bride. I had a huge crush on Roger Corman and Tom Savini (George Romero's incredible FX man). Okay, I was kind of a weird kid.

But the emotion and the yearning inherent in these great old films is what I love about writing paranormal romance. In PNR, the so-called monster finds love and gets the girl (or the guy) in the end. They may be hunted and feared by others but their differences, their gifts, have made them strong, powerful and capable of an understanding so-called normal people just don't have.

Dr. Phibes is distraught at the loss of his wife. In most of the Corman-produced films based on Edgar Allen Poe stories, love is what pushes the horror plot. Hell, all the Mummy wants is to be reunited with his lover.

In PNR, we get to give the so-called monsters their happily-ever-after. And after the trouble we've put them through, don't they deserve it?

RomantiCon 2009

Had a great time at RomantiCon, EC's first reader event in Akron, OH. Drove out by myself on Friday and have to say, I love listening to my Sirius radio. Switched between On Broadway, Octane, Alt Nation, 70s on 7, Liquid Metal and occasionally Classic Rewind.

Friday night's Psychodelic Soiree was a blast, Saturday's workshops and focus groups informative, Saturday night's dinner tasty and Sunday's book signing loads of fun.

The first photo at left was taken at Author Mania. That's me on the left, Kathy Kulig, Samantha Kane and Judith Rochelle aka Desiree Holt.

At right, me and my roomie Adele Dubios heading into the Author Appreciation Dinner Saturday night.

This is me at the signing, trying not to look too much like a deer in the headlights.

And this is reader Terri Wade who made my day when she bought my book and told me she'd read all of them already. That was so cool.

Always a pleasure to see Cai Smith, half of Marilu Mann.

And this is Samantha Kane, my book signing buddy who always sits next to me.

Release Date for KISS OF MOONLIGHT

Just got the word: The first story in my Lucani Lovers series, KISS OF MOONLIGHT, will be released October 30.

Here's the tease:

Plagued by nightmares. Stalked by kidnappers. Tamra McMillan needs a safe haven. When tattooed bad-ass Kyle Rossini steps into her life, the last thing she expects to find is a sanctuary from her demons or steaming hot sex. In fact, everything about him screams danger. But appearances can be deceiving. The tender possessiveness of his touch, the hunger in his eyes, the scorching sensuality of his kiss—all of it sears him into her soul and brands her as his for life.

But otherworldly forces are afoot and death hovers…

Etruscan werewolf Kyle is a loner. The king’s assassin with a killer’s instincts. The last thing he needs is a mate who could be placed in danger because of him. Until he meets the one woman who needs him more than he needs his solitude. When Tamra, battered but not broken, stumbles into his world and tumbles into his bed, she captures his heart. And nothing—not kidnappers or visions of his possible death--will keep him from her.

Excerpts will be coming soon.
 
And I'll be sharing photos and news from Ellora's Cave's RomantiCon throughout the weekend so be sure to stop back.