No Holds Barred

Bordering on blissful

2006-04-27T15:26:00.000-05:00

Guess what I found in my local Borders store! Go ahead... Guess! I'll bet you know.... Uh huh. Yep. I found Fairy Godlover on the shelf, with Danielle Steele and Mariah Stewart and Maggie Shayne. Woohooo!

Gonna hafta celebrate.... Maybe a newsletter contest... Hmmmm... Stay tuned!

Teddy is a warm fuzzy!

2006-04-10T16:45:00.000-05:00

So I was hanging around Yahoo Music today, watching music videos and looking for inspiration, and I ran across one of the better videos I've seen in a while. It's pretty cool, and has a warm fuzzy ending perfect for us romantic types :-)

It's 'For You I Will (Version G)' by Teddy Geiger.

http://music.yahoo.com/ar-23687211-videos--Teddy-Geiger

Also went in and listened to his new (and only) album, 'Underage Thinking,' and it's pretty good... for 17-year-old kid. LOL. Nah. It's good. Really. *grin*

I'm a pirate! Arrr!

2006-02-19T09:23:00.000-06:00

Found the link to this quiz in the Phaze Starlight Lounge (http://www.phaze.com/forum). Kept me entertained for a while LOL

My pirate name is:

Captain Bess Flint

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

An exercise in...

2006-02-10T10:56:00.000-06:00

Okay, I know I've been delinqent on my blog entries, and delinquent on my writing, and delinquent on my email... *sigh*

Gonna go insane if I don't write, so here goes...

This morning I was running crazy, trying to respond to emails AND get everyone out the door to the responsibilities of the day. I forgot to eat breakfast. So I got to work, dug three quarters out of my purse, and headed for the vending machine, hoping to goodness there was something remotely healthful in it. I was standing there perusing the contents when a co-worker came in and we exchanged pleasantries.
She gave me an odd look as I gazed into the snack machine, and I explained that I'd forgotten to eat breakfast and lamented that the only thing breakfasty in the machine was a HUGE frosting-covered danish.

She said, "Oh, you're skinny. You can afford to eat stuff like that."

I laughed politely and replied, "I'm skinny because I don't eat stuff like that."

She expressed her sincere surprise. "Oh! I just assumed you were blessed with great genes!"

"Oh, how I wish I were," I told her.

Now why am I blogging this? It was an innnocent exchange that I've had many many times over the years. It hasn't bothered me much before. Perhaps I'm just in a PMS mood today. I needed something to write about and this was fresh. Who knows.

*steps up onto soapbox* *clears throat*

SKINNY WOMEN ARE USUALLY SKINNY BECAUSE THEY WORK FOR IT.

There. I said it. Our dirtly little secret. Please tell everyone you know. *grin*

But for a few very rare exceptions, skinny women over 30 are not skinny because they are blessed with great genes and eat frosting-covered danishes for breakfast. They're skinny because they eat right, they exercise. It may be a natural habit, or they may consciously make healthful body decisions. It certainly ain't genes.

So ladies, if ever you find yourself jealously looking at a skinnier woman's figure, please keep in mind that she more than likely earns that figure with every food choice she makes.

Thank you.

*steps down from soapbox*

What was I saying? Oh, yes. I've been delinqent. Website updates, newsletters... The whole works. I'm gonna do my best to put myself back on schedule.

Starting now. I'm about to update my blog! Woohoooooooooooo!

~D

Pimping at the Pink

2005-11-20T06:38:00.000-06:00

I am in Virginia Beach this morning, sitting at my hotel, almost ready to head home. I had the pleasure of hanging out with Crystal and the rest of the ladies at The Pink Banana Boutique yesterday. If you ever have any question about laws regarding what's legal and what's not in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Crystal is the woman to ask.

The booksigning was a lot of fun... though I think the sheer number of us may have intimidated some of the customers. We sat facing a the rather large collection of condoms, and some of those poor guys would come in, see the tables and all of us smiling... and walk around the store for a while, gathering the courage to get what they came for. And I saw no one pick up the Magnum XXL box. Guys who shop at the Pink Banana are a good honest lot :-) Though I suppose it might be true that everything's bigger in Texas...

It was very cool to meet Tula, Jessie, Jayelle, Laura, and Leigh for the first time. Phaze absolutely has a terrific group of ladies.

Big hugs to Bridget for arranging all that! Wow!

Phaze has a new Pheature!

2005-08-19T08:46:00.000-05:00

Yep, it's a Phorum for Phaze Phans. Isn't that phantasic?
Check it out! Visit my niche!

*hugs*
~D

Ficus trees don't like leashes

2005-07-27T22:44:00.000-05:00

I was amused to discover that today is Take-A-Plant-For-A-Walk Day. I'm presuming whoever invented the holiday meant leafy growing things and not pencil factories. I imagine it would be quite difficult to take a pencil factory for a walk, no matter how big your wagon, not to mention the all the workers inside complaining every time you hit a bump in the sidewalk.

Seems to me it would be rather... um... pointless... to take your ficus tree or African violets for a walk. I know MY ficus tree would balk at having to walk on a leash. And my African violets are just too dang lazy. They'd want to be carried the whole way, and would whine "How many more driveways?" as soon as we got out of sight of ours.

*sigh* I just don't get it.

Now a Take-A-Fruitcake-For-A-Walk Day... I could get into that. My neighbor would have a great time. He doesn't get out much, and would probably do okay on a leash...

~D

Tie up the one you love!

2005-07-24T13:40:00.000-05:00

Instructions for two different styles of make-em-yourself restraints are among the goodies available on the new GOODIES page of my website! If you've got a Walmart, a home store, and a needle and thread, you can make both sets for under $10.00. Have a gander and surprise your lover!

Find that page here: http://www.devisparks.com/goodies.htm

More goodies to come, eventually :-)

Renaming the beast

2005-07-21T11:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I got a wild hair up my...nose...and decided that 'Devi's Blog' was just WAY too creative a title for this thing. So there you have it. Perhaps the new title may inspire more interesting ramblings...

Tickled pink!

2005-07-20T08:55:00.000-05:00

I am so excited about Phaze's first in the pink mini-con and booksigning! This will give me an excuse to put my nose to the ol' grindstone and finish Cupid.

I'll probably have to buy something pink to wear, too. It's not a requirement to wear pink, mind you, but I always love an excuse to go shopping! I think the only plink article of clothing I own is a ratty old pajama tank top with paint splattered on it. Maybe I can add a taffeta skirt and a sequined scarf and call it haute couture?

My friend Robin Slick is going, too. Cannot imagine her NEAR anything pink, let alone wearing it! You can check out her blog here: http://inherownwrite.blogspot.com

See what I mean? *g*

Okay, gotta get some work done. Thanks for reading!
~Devi

2005-07-17T20:39:00.000-05:00

Hot Thrills! Erotic Chills! Edge-of-your-bed action!
Phaze HeatSheet Shivers

Phaze is now accepting submissions for its next HeatSheet theme: Shivers. Only six stories will be contracted for this line this year, so competition will be... stiff. Mwahahahaa!

What: Erotic women's fiction, romance preferred, containing creepy creatures, crypts, castles, coffins, candy corn--anything to make readers shiver with delight and horror! (BTW, horror should be plot-based, and not blood-based. We want tension, not gore.)

Length: 5,000-12,000 words

Deadline: Midnight of September 5th, 2005

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST ADHERE TO OUR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Please visit http://www.phaze.com for more information.

Feast or famine

2005-06-30T08:05:00.000-05:00

Sheesh! I either post every other day or every other month it seems!

For some ungodly reason, I've been particularly motivated at work lately. You know how you get on a roll being amazingly productive, and you just sorta STAY on that roll? Yeah, that's me. Unfortunately the author-maintenance side of productivity goes down the toilet when the work productivity goes up.

But I have PROMISED to have the final final final version of Destiny at Midnight (for the Midnight Treasures Anthology) in by tomorrow. *sigh* I may have to be a little late, BUT--shhhh... I know it's not going to matter until Tuesday anyway, when everybody gets back from holiday trips. Which means I'll probably be up until the wee hours of the morning, doing final tweaks so I can have it in on time :-)

Have a safe weekend!
~Devi

Hoo-Ha winners announced!

2005-06-07T08:18:00.000-05:00

Since we reached the goal of 100 subscribers (and then some!), I got to pick six winners for my Big Newsletter Hoo-Ha conest!

Check out the winners! Newsletter the Fourth is avaialable for all to read at the link below.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/devisparks_news/

Hugs,
~Devi

Gotta love a man in a kilt...

2005-06-05T23:43:00.000-05:00

I went to our local Scottish Festival and Highland Games yesterday. So many intriguing-looking men in kilts! And it was a windy day, too! Woohoo! Alas, they all wore shorts underneath as far as I could see. The games were fun to watch--muscled men tossing cabers (i.e. telephone poles) and other miscellaneous items like lead balls, anvils, goats, sheep, small children...

Okay, so not sheep.

Anyway, I think I feel a hero brewing who wears a kilt as often as not. An alpha-beta male who is rooted in his heritage, extremely comfortable in his masculinity, and doesn't give a flying flip what other people think. And of course he has that adorable Scottish brogue, too. Mmmm....

Newsletter Hoo-Ha Update: We made it! 104 subscribers at last count! Hoo-ha!

Blurbles and Bits

2005-06-04T07:34:00.000-05:00

When I reach the 'almost finished' point in a story, it's time to write the blurb for it. Caligari Heat is at that point, so that's what I spent my free time yesterday doing. Here's what I have so far: (Comments welcome)

_________________

Brig Hoffman once had a crush on Rordon Long...

Brig Hoffman has chosen to settle on Caligari, a young, sparsely populated planet in the Boles Galaxy. Living alone in a home of his own design with only a small robot for company, Brig devotes the bulk of his time to scientific research, though he occasionally enjoys the attentions of an Empath named Garin. But When Rordon arrives for a visit, old feelings refuse to be quashed.

Rordon Long insists he's not that kind of man...

Rordon Long made it clear long ago to anyone who would listen that he liked women, and that was that. Yet when DiCom Energy Systems gets wind of Brig's research, Rordon jumps at the opportunity to personally offer his college rival and friend a job. Once on Caligari, Rordon finds himself inexorably drawn to the man whose sexuality has never been a secret.

But who can doubt the word of an Empath?

On Caligari, Rordon finds freedom, but it's not at all what he had envisioned for his future.

_________________

Newsletter Hoo-Ha Update: We're so close! 93 subscribers! Only seven more needed for the big shaboozy! (See several posts down).

Have a safe weekend,
~Devi

Featured on Blue! (TRS, that is)

2005-06-01T08:35:00.000-05:00

It's June 1st and all's well, especially for me at TRS! I'm one of the featured authors on TRS Blue! Check it out:
http://www.theromancestudio.com/blue/home.php

There's an excerpt featured there that is not available anywhere else. And while you're there, you know, you might consider voting for my feature in the poll on the bottom left. If you want. *puppy eyes*

Newsletter Hoo-Ha Update: 80 Subscribers and counting! Woohoo!

Happy Wednesday :-)
~Devi

75 and counting... Hoo-Ha!

2005-05-31T08:01:00.000-05:00

Looking good in the quest for 100! We're at 75 exactly for subscribers. 25 to go! Woohoo! I mean... Hoo-Ha!

I'm back to work today after getting almost nothing done over the three-day weekend. I think I spent more time over at Romance Divas than doing any thing actually constructive. Good group of people, though :-)

OH, and my site is on a new server now--hopefully this host will be more reliable--and I've updated the menu bars and links. I'll be adding some articles I've accidentally written. :-)

Four day week ahead--Woohoo!
~Devi

Big newsletter hoo-ha! HOO-HA!

2005-05-30T09:33:00.000-05:00

While I'm in the process of switching web hosts *cough*, here's the deal on my newsletter...

If you already subscribe, you know I've been a schlump and haven't sent one out in two months. To make up for it, the June newsletter is going to be *mariachi fanfare here* magnifico! And if I get 39 more subscribers (for a total of 100) by June 6th, it will be even more *mariachi fanfare here* magnifico!

My June newsletter will feature:
--Sneak peek at Caligari Heat, my first M/M foray
--Sneak peek at Destiny at Midnight, my Midnight Treasures anthology story
--Progress report on Desperately seeking cupid
--News about Fairy Godlover and Animal Magnetism
--Quick reviews of Leigh Ellwood's The Stars Look Down and Bridget Midway's Adam and E-V-E and more
--PRIZES! I'll be giving away one copy each of Fairy Godlover, Animal Magnetism, and Bridget Midway's Adam and E-V-E.

And if we reach that 100-subscriber mark, I'll sweeten the prize pot even more with an autographed paperback copy of Fairy Godlover, a $10.00 gift certificate to Amazon.com, and a paperback copy of Secrets Volume 10.

What are you waiting for? Visit the link below to sign up! Hoo-ha!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/devisparks_news/

Happy Memorial Day :-)
~Devi

RT or Bust!

2005-04-26T07:57:00.000-05:00

I am excited and raring to go! I've got promo goodies and a new purse, so I'm good. Though perhaps I ought to pack a few changes of clothes and a maybe a costume or two...

YOWZAH!

2005-04-14T08:08:00.000-05:00

As Ms. Madeleine Oh so eloquently put it! She's the one who first told me Fairy Godlover was a Romantic Times Top Pick in the May issue! I about fell out of my chair! Had to rush out and buy it! And now I think I need to subscribe LOL

Right now I am working on my April newsletter. I know, it's way late, but it's coming. Better late than never, I say.

I'm also working on a M/M short for the Phaze Sparklers line coming this summer. I've never written this sort before, so it's been an experience. I'm at 3500 words and about half-way through. Already planning the sequel, too!

We're almost in the home stretch for the RT conference, too! Less than two weeks! I'm really getting excited! Need to plan my wardrobe! LOL

*hugs*
~Devi

Animal Magnetism is on the prowl!

2005-03-18T11:13:00.000-06:00

Sheesh, it's been a while since I posted here!

My latest news is that Animal Magnetism is now available! I had it with me in Long Beach, but the booksigning was pretty low-key. We were on the third floor, tucked away in a couple of conference rooms. Kally Jo Surbeck and Melissa Schroeder had to go physically put pens and bookmarks into people's hands. I don't think the library even announced us over the PA system. *sigh*

Overall, Long beach was a blast! There were nearly as many erotica authors as straight-romance authors. I attended some great workshops, met some great people (Murdoch Hughes is a riot!)...and searched in vain for ghosts to interview.

The Queen Mary itself is a gorgeous ship! Most of the original woodwork is still intact, even after carrying some 500,000 or more passengers in its days as a passenger ship and military transport ship. Liddy Mignight found some soldiers' signatures in her dresser drawers, one or two with platoon and regiment info. Very cool.

Many of the people from EPICon will also be at RT in St. Louis. Can't wait!

Catch ya later,
~Devi

Five Angels and a heavenly review

2005-01-31T10:20:00.000-06:00

FIVE ANGELS
"Fairy Godlover is a light-hearted erotic romance. The characters within the story are fun to experience and will have readers smiling throughout... Devi Sparks has filled this story with an entertaining plot and jaw dropping sexual exploits that will definitely have readers wishing for their own Sebastian... The scenes between Kelsey and Sebastian are extremely erotic. The variety and frequency of their escapades is amazing. Ms. Sparks has written the eroticism within their relationship in a descriptive, honest way. I enjoyed how she balanced the eroticism with the trust that grew between them... The ability to blend wit and passion so seamlessly was wonderful to experience." --Amanda, Fallen Angel Reviews

You can read the whole thing here:
http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/January2005/Amanda-FairyGodlover.htm

I need to take up tap dancing, I think. Install a good surface on the top of my desk and keep some dancin' shoes close at hand. :-)

Bookworm!

2005-01-13T21:08:00.000-06:00

I've spent a bit of time in waiting rooms this past week, so have been able to get some reading done. Thank goodness for purse-sized libraries! (I love my PDA!)

Earlier this week, I read Delilah Devlin's The Pleasure Bot. The computer assistant, Agnes, very nearly stole the show!

And today I read Willa Okati's Drag Queen of Faerie. Great story with extremely colorful characters (we're talking chiffon and bling here, baby!). Fast paced, funny, a little light on the gory details, but sexy nonetheless. Definitely a good read.

Next up is Lucy's Double Diamonds by Ruby Storm.

Oh, and Animal Magnetism was accepted at Phaze, Desperately Seeking Cupid is now at 5000+ words. I need a writing binge about now...

:-)

You can help...and maybe win a cool basket

2004-12-30T18:56:00.000-06:00

~PHAZE TSUNAMI DISASTER RELIEF RAFFLE~

Phaze will be raffling a basket full of goodies donated by our authors and friends to benefit tsunami relief. How do you enter?

Simply make a donation to any established nonprofit relief organization (such as the American Red Cross, Doctors Without Boundaries, or the UN World Food Programme) and forward your emailed donation receipt (which should contain no sensitive information) to Phaze at tsunami *at phazebooks *dot* com. The receipt is for proof of donation ONLY and will not be used for any other purpose than to enter you into the raffle. Limit 2 entries (donations to different organizations) per person.

Links to the above mentioned organizations are on our website at http://www.phaze.com

Your donation to these organizations is TAX-DEDUCTIBLE.

Included in the gift basket so far:

~New (still sealed) Franklin eBookman with 8 mb internal memory and 2 extra memory sticks with 16 mb each. Also includes USB cradle, software, and documentation. (Will read Mobipocket ebooks!) Contributed by Phaze
~CD-ROM containing Mobipocket versions of each one of Phaze's available books, plus various extras
~Glycerin soaps handmade by M. Barnette
~Book bag autographed by Madeleine Oh
~Heart-shaped pendant contributed by Leigh Ellwood
~Godiva Chocolates contributed by Trixie Stilletto
~Autographed paperback copy of EPPIE Finalist book Music of my Heart, by Dana Elian (contributed by Stacey King)
~$25 American Express Gift Certificate contributed by Robin Slick
~Beaded bookmark and key ring handmade by Stacey King
~Hand-crocheted bookmark and doilies contributed by M. Barnette's mom
~Bath & Body Works 'Let it Grow' Indoor Garden gift pack contributed by Devi Sparks

Please check our website often for additional goodies that have been donated!

AGAIN, SEND YOUR PROOF OF DONATION TO: tsunami *at phazebooks *dot* com

Drawing will be held on January 31st, 2005, and the gift basket mailed to the winner.

If you would like to donate items to the gift basket, please email Stacey King at slking *at* phaze *dot* com with details. Item donations are NOT tax deductible. All contributions will be listed on the front page of the Phaze website.

An Entertaining Stiff

2004-12-29T15:05:00.000-06:00

Not THAT kind of stiff! Sheesh. You have such a dirty mind!! *grin*

One of my Christmas gifts this year was a gift certificate to Amazon.com. So with great exuberance, I scurried over and bought, among other titles, a book I've been wanting since it first came out in hardcover two years ago: STIFF: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, by Mary Roach.

Before you say "Ew, gross," let me tell you that the book is a New York Times bestseller for good reason. It presents many of the opportunities available exclusively to the recently deceased with droll humor and a sense of respect for those who offer their abandoned earthly vessels for the betterment of humankind.

You can read Chapter One here:
http://www.bordersstores.com/features/feature.jsp?file=stiff

Okay, now you can say "Ew, gross."

Have a safe new year,
~Devi

She's hit the big time now

2004-12-17T20:45:00.000-06:00

Okay, so it's about time I organized a newsletter. I'm tickled that people are eager for Gina's story, and want to keep abreast on how it and other stories are progressing.

I'm hoping to send out one newsletter every month, probably around the 5th.

What's in it for you? Weeellll, sneak peaks, mini-contests, and freebies for a start. And then there's always...news.

So here's the deal: On January 3, I will be randomly choosing two lucky subscribers to my newsletter to receive a complimentary copy of my 5-Star, 5-Ribbon book, Fairy Godlover. If you win and you've already purchased Fairy Godlover, you'll get my next TWO books free and EARLY!

Subscribe now by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/devisparks_news/ or sending an email to: devisparks_news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Happy Holidays!
~Devi

Somebody pinch me

2004-12-07T23:06:00.000-06:00

Fairy Godlover recieved FIVE Ribbons from Miaka Chase at Romance Junkies! *doing the mambo on my desk*

You can see the entire wonderful review here:
http://www.romancejunkies.com/artman/publish/article_2598.shtml

*ba ba bam ba da bam bam bah*

2 x 5 Stars = One ecstatic author

2004-12-05T20:31:00.000-06:00

Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to go RIGHT? I know they only come once in a blue moon, but when they do, you just have to sit down at the end of the day and thank God you noticed how great a day you had.

Today was one of those days. Not only did I get all the laundry done--which is an accomplishment in and of itself--but I was also truly blessed with two outstanding reviews from Just Erotic Romance Reviews. Two separate reviewers gave Fairy Godlover five stars, and one gave it an 'Orgasmic' rating. How absolutely fabulous is that?!

I've posted both highlights of the revies and the full text of the reviews HERE.

I am unspeakably honored--and very VERY excited!

~Devi

P.S. I invite you to sign up for my free newsletter! Visit the Yahoo site or send an email to devisparks_news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

It's here!

2004-12-01T07:06:00.000-06:00

Ta-daahhh! *insert fanfare of your choice* Fairy Godlover is here!

http://www.phazebooks.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=29

:-)
~Devi

The Final Countdown

2004-11-28T13:41:00.000-06:00

Not only was Europe's 'Final Countdown' given the honor of being VH1's #1 Most Awesomely Bad Metal Song...Ever (uhhh...probably because it's not METAL?), but we're also in the final countown to the release of Fairy Godlover!

36 hours.... ;-)

Sneaky peeks!

2004-11-23T10:34:00.000-06:00

The good people at Phaze have told me that subscribers to the Phaze-Announcements newsletter will get first stab at the initial releases! Possibly FOUR DAYS before anyone else! Not just my book, but the other three initial releases as well! Good reading material, I promise!!

You can subscribe by visiting this link:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phaze-announcements/
Or by emailing the address below:
phaze-announcements-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

~Devi

First review quote for Fairy Godlover!

2004-11-18T19:05:00.000-06:00

"Devi Sparks will make you want to believe in fairy tales 'coming' true. FAIRY GODLOVER is a highly-charged sexual delight."

--Leigh Ellwood, author of TRUTH OR DARE

Thanks, Leigh!

Site update!

2004-11-16T15:05:00.000-06:00

Biggest addition: I added an excerpt for my book Fairy Godlover. Chapter One is now available for your reading pleasure.

Also redid the navigation menu to reflect the newer features, such as the message boards and this blog.

Thanks for visiting!
Devi

Bloggers aweigh!

2004-11-10T22:34:00.000-06:00

Blogs seem to be the 'in' thing these days for authors, so I decided to take the plunge myself. Now let's see if I can actually keep it updated!