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Friday, May 29, 2009

Seeking Truth - RELEASE DAY!!!



This is it! Today is the day!

Seeking Truth is available for purchase from EC today.

To celebrate my release day, I'm blogging about medieval sexuality and research over at History Undressed. One lucky commenter will receive a copy of my book hot off the e-press from Ellora's Cave.

I hope you drop by to share this special day with me, and I very much hope you enjoy the book when you read it!

Friday, May 22, 2009

Author Spotlight at Dark Diva Reviews Blog

Dark Diva Reviews blog is featuring ME for their author spotlight this week! Please stop by to visit and leave a comment.

And...
ONE WEEK TO RELEASE!
Seeking Truth comes out on May 29!!!!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Eight Days and Counting...



In a week and a day, my second book will be released by Ellora's Cave. I'm so excited! I hope everyone enjoys reading Seeking Truth, because I really loved writing it. Eaduin Kempe is one of my hottest heroes.

On release day - May 29, 2009 - I'll be a guest blogger at History Undressed where I'll be discussing medieval sexuality. Stop by and post a comment. All of my commenters will be included in a drawing. The winner will receive a copy of Seeking Truth for their very own!

To whet your appetite until then, here's an excerpt:

By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.

An Excerpt From: SEEKING TRUTH
Copyright © FRANCESCA HAWLEY, 2009
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.


She moaned when he dropped featherlight kisses over her face. His mouth covered hers softly, growing more forceful and intimate with each successive kiss. He teased her mouth open, dipping his tongue inside her parted lips. Vérité jumped, her eyes opening as his tongue explored her mouth. As he lifted his head, his dark eyes seemed lit with an inner fire.

“Do I frighten you?”

“Nay, I’ve just never been kissed this way.” Vérité’s eyes unfocused as desire filled her.

“Have you been kissed in other ways?” His expression darkened, and she saw the glow around him change slightly.

Vérité blinked as she realized she could read his soul, though she hadn’t concentrated on her gift to do so. His spirit reddened with passion, but as he asked his question, parts of the spirit halo surrounding him darkened. She didn’t know whether to feel pleasure or dismay at seeing the jealousy flash through him.

“Only chastely by my brother.” The glow of his aura lightened to a brighter red again, indicating the strong desire he felt for her.

“And your father?”

“Nay, my father never showed me affection.”

“I’m very sorry, Vérité. I understand. Truly. My father never showed me any affection either, but I’m heartily sorry for the lack in your life.” He kissed her and again his spirit lightened, reflecting a glow of gold and white at his genuine concern.

She didn’t understand how she saw his glow without consciously focusing on it. She saw very few people’s spirits without effort. Only her mother’s and her brother Falc’s. Ah, but there had been two others—she’d forgotten. The spirits of Lord Osweald and Lady Annys had all but assaulted her, which is why she sickened in their presence. Perhaps it was the Kempe bloodline that spoke to her, though Eaduin did not make her sick, quite the opposite.

When Eaduin kissed her neck, her thoughts stilled in favor of the sensations surging through her. His mouth teased her skin while his rough cheek sensitized her. The contrary textures increased her need for Eaduin’s warmth. His touch. His possession. She wanted more but didn’t know how to ask him for it, so she clung to him reveling in the exploration of his mouth, her gasps quickening with excitement.

“Eaduin. Please…”

“Please what?”

She drew back to look up into his face. “I don’t know. I just know I don’t want you to stop.”

He smiled. “Good, for I don’t want to stop any more than you want me to. Come, let us remove your garments.”

Eaduin unbuckled her girdle, letting it fall to the floor, then he released the lacing at her sides to loosen her kirtle. Vérité swallowed hard as he gathered the voluminous fabric of her overdress into his hands, lifting it upward over her head. He tossed it onto a nearby chair as he stared at her then he groaned, shifting his hips.

Though she still wore her underdress and shift, she felt naked and vulnerable before his desire. Heat rushed into her face. Eaduin licked his lips, his hands clenching and his muscles tight while his gaze made a leisurely tour of her from head to foot. If she questioned his hunger before, seeing him thus erased all doubt. Fire filled his eyes as he fought to control his need for her. All those years ago, he’d looked at Mistress Emma similarly, but never had she hoped he might look upon her with such need. Vérité exulted in it.

She walked over to him with more confidence than she felt. “And you, my lord? We should make you more comfortable as well.” He caught her hands as she reached for his belt, her gaze flew to his.

“My lady, I stand on the edge of a knife. Push even slightly and I’ll tumble, taking my feeble control with me. I have no wish to frighten or hurt you.”

“Has it been so long since you’ve had a lover, then?”

“I have been alone far longer than I care to admit.”

“I wouldn’t think a man like you would spend his nights alone.”

“A man like me?”

“A handsome, powerful and wealthy baron. Any one of those traits might incite lust in a woman.”

“Do you think so? Is it my power and wealth that attract you?”

“Nay.”

“My pleasing features, then?”

“Nay.” Vérité blushed at the lie, her body always betrayed her in some way when she told a total falsehood and this was one of those times.

“Truly, my lady? Your blush belies your denial.” She shivered as his finger brushed her cheek.

“Well, I must admit your handsomeness appeals to me but neither power nor wealth can sway me. Wealth and power can be a blessing or a curse. It depends on the use made of them and position is the same.”

“True enough. I accept you enjoy the way I look, for I must admit I feel the same for you. Your beautiful hair is but a fitting crown for your luscious form.” He pulled his red velvet bliaut over his head, tossing it to where her gown rested, leaving behind a fine white linen undertunic.

“There. Now we are equally bare.”

“Ah, but I have on one more layer than you, my lord.”

“So you do. Your underdress is a lovely golden color but let us remove it.” Eaduin helped her ease it off so she stood before him in only her shift. She trembled under his gaze. “The linen of your shift is so fine I can see your tight, pink nipples and your red nether hairs.” She shivered with excitement listening to his soft murmur.

His fingers traced her skin along the neckline of her shift, dipping between her breasts so her nipples strained toward him. Vérité whimpered, waiting for him to finally cup her breasts, but he didn’t. Instead, he drew close to her, dipping his head so his lips could follow the tingling path his fingers had left in their wake. His arms encircled her to pull her against his hard body while he pressed his hips into the curve of her thighs. His erect manhood thrust against her lower belly, so she spread her limbs to allow him nearer.

Vérité moaned. Her eyes closed and her head fell back as she wrapped her arms around him. She lifted her leg to hook around his, groaning when he ground his pelvis into hers. He cradled her bottom to hold her in place and hissed with pleasure, his breath tickling her sensitive skin. When his tongue snaked out to taste her, she nearly collapsed in his arms. He kissed the curve of each of her breasts as their hips undulated together, her breath harsh with need. Vérité clenched her fingers in his undertunic, dragging him against her. She wanted his lips pressed to her breasts, his mouth open as he sucked her nipples. More. She wanted everything.

Monday, May 11, 2009

I'm writing again!!

Last week I wrote 10,000 words. In one week. I'm over the moon happy about it too and I have my critique partner, Paris Brandon to thank. Love ya, hon!!!!

I'd gotten stuck on a love scene. It wouldn't go anywhere and I tend to be a very linear writer. A linear pantser - not an easy combo. Well, I was whining and complaining to Paris and she said. "Francesca, why don't you skip the scene and come back to it. You have all of these other scenes in your head. You need to write them down."

Maybe I'm dense, but I'd not really considered skipping a scene before. I had discovered I'd left a scene out and had to go back to add it. But I'd never intentionally said, skip it. I'm moving on for now. And you know what? It worked. I discovered tons of stuff about my characters and the story is moving fast. I'm excited to sit down at my computer again and I love that! I'll keep you posted, because eventually I'll have to go back and insert the skipped scene. At least now, I know the elements that should be in that all-important love scene.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

A shot of Adrenaline to go...

Hi all,

Yesterday was a full round day. I worked at the library and we were hopping so I didn't manage to get lunch. All seemed normal as we closed up. I shooed people out the door, checked the library and locked up. We turned off the lights and my two co-workers left for the day. I had a bit more to do, so I went around to all the printers and added paper then I headed to the back office.

I sat down at my desk to catch up on some email. Someone yelled, "Heeeellllloooooo." I looked up and thought what the hell is that? Again I heard, "Heeeellllloooooo." Which needless to say scared the crap outta me. Then one of the exit door alarms went off. I'm sitting at my desk looking out through the glass trying to figure if someone was still out there.

I stand up like I'm gonna take a walk around the library, then I decide NOT to be the stupid heroine in a horror movie. You know, the one that hears a noise and goes to investigate with nothing more lethal in her hands than a pair of scissors? So I called 911. Now, I was pretty sure there was no one out there, but I was so creeped out I was not gonna clear the building myself. I figured I'd let big strong people - in this case dudes with guns - do what they're trained to do.

It felt like forever before they arrived at the back door. I told them to come there because I KNEW the back office was clear. They went through the building to verify we were empty and gave me the okay to go turn off the door alarm. They left and I left right after I called my library director to leave a "heads up" message on her answering machine cause no way was I staying in the building at that point. They probably think I'm a nut job, but better that than sliced and diced by a mad serial killer-who was probably just a freaked out reader. I mean, how do you sit around reading while people make announcements and the lights go out without noticing that the lights have gone out and NO ONE is left in the building?

Thereafter I indulged in a little retail therapy...I went shopping. I didn't spend too much money but I did get a nice pair of sandals. So how was YOUR Saturday?

Sigh. What a day!