This week at Fictionwise!

I have 3 more titles up at Fictionwise today -- Book 3 of the Eldritch Legacy, as well as two anthologies I'm in. Once the Eldritch Legacy is linked together, I'll be reposting a special announcement just for the trilogy. Oh, and the 15 percent discount is only good this week. ;)


Fates Fulfilled - Book 3 of the Eldritch Legacy [MultiFormat]
by Katrina Strauss



Marissa Blackwell and Devon Eldritch are first cousins, best friends, and heirs to a winery fortune. Before claiming their inheritance, they must survive for two years without their family's money. Street-smart Marissa is up for the challenge. By day, she works in the corporate world while by night, she explores the BDSM lifestyle. Torn between two men--one submissive, the other dominant--she must decide which lover truly fulfills her needs. Meanwhile, rich and spoiled Devon is free to embrace his vampiric tendencies... more info>> (Published: 2007)

Words: 81615 - Reading Time: 233-326 min.
Category: Erotica/Dark Fantasy
Regular: $7.99 $6.79
Club: $6.79 $5.77

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Masquerade, volume 3 [MultiFormat]
Anthology - Various Authors



One day to indulge your most decadent fantasies... Once a year, Arcadia Island hosts the Masquerade Ball. A select few are invited by the Gods to fulfill their wildest dreams! In Katrina Strauss' tale, shy mortal Tempest Rayne meets Aeolus, the lonely Keeper of the Winds. Two forces of nature collide, making for a stormy encounter, leaving them both...Windswept. A lighthearted departure from Katrina Strauss' usual dark fare, Windswept gives new meaning to "talking about the weather" ... more info>> (Published: 2007)

Words: 55270 - Reading Time: 157-221 min.
Category: Romance/Erotica
Regular: $6.99 $5.94
Club: $5.94 $5.05

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Spellbound [MultiFormat]
Anthology - Various Authors



Spellbound: Tales of Mischief and Mayhem brings together six spine-tingling tales. In Katrina Strauss' Grave Desire, Kaitlyn Sinclair, former goth girl turned suburban mom, struggles with her teenaged daughter, a recent divorce, and a mid-30's crisis. She's in for an All Hallow's shock when her ex-boyfriend Antoine knocks on her door--dead since 1987, he's amazingly well-preserved. Lighthearted yet bittersweet, Grave Desire is a tale of a first love never forgotten--and burying the past before moving on ... more info>> (Published: 2006)

Words: 35199 - Reading Time: 100-140 min.
Category: Horror/Dark Fantasy
Regular: $5.99 $5.09
Club: $5.09 $4.33

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These titles and more from Katrina Strauss, available now at Fictionwise!
http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/KatrinaStrausseBooks.htm

"A kiss is just a kiss..."

As much as the U.S. might be perceived as a prudish nation founded by uptight Puritans, in comparison to, oh say, Amsterdam:

"An [Indian] court issued arrest warrants for Hollywood actor Richard Gere and Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty on Thursday, saying their kiss at a public function 'transgressed all limits of vulgarity,' media reports said."

Full story here:

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/ap/20070426/117760068000.html

A new publisher acceptance, and a new review!

Two announcements today:

1. My work has been picked up by a third publisher! My short story, Sanctified, will be available later this year from Red Rose Publishing. As some of you in the business are aware, Red Rose is a new company started by Wendi Felter, who has a good deal of experience in the e-pub industry. I share a likeminded creative vision with Ms. Felter and look forward to being part of such a class-act venture. I will post more info as further details warrant. :)

2. Another review is in on Regency Romp - 5 Stars from CK2's Kwips & Kritiques! Here is what reviewer Jennifer had to say about the anthology overall:

"I should explain how I usually rate anthologies before I begin this review. I rate each story individually, and then average those scores to determine the overall rating for the entire anthology. Consequently, an anthology that has one not so good story can lower the rating on the book considerably. I had no problems whatsoever rating Aphrodite’s Apples new anthology, Regency Romp, Volume One with five Klovers! Each of the stories in this book earned a five, in my honest opinion. I love a book that makes the math easy for me."

Regarding my contribution, Of Licorice & Decadence, Jennifer says:

"Fans of Katrina Strauss’ Eldritch Legacy series (like me!) will be pleased to find a prequel to the second book of that series, Lessons Learned in Regency Romp. Of Licorice and Decadence recounts the first meeting between Klauss von Alstyne and Nicolette Neville, and the resulting tryst. Readers who have not yet read the other books in this series will have no problem reading this short story before picking up the other books – it works very well as a stand alone story."

Read Jennifer's full review here:
http://www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com/regencyromp1_jennifer.html

4 Cups for Regency Romp!

The first review is in on Regency Romp...4 stars (or in this case, cups) from Coffee Times Romance!

Of my contribution, Of Licorice and Decadence, reviewer Cherokee had this to say about my tale of musical inspiration:

"Katrina Strauss has a wonderful theme in this storyline. The music can almost be heard...With an affectionate passion, not only exciting and breathtaking, this read strikes a delicious chord straight to the soul."

Of the anthology and the five contributors overall, Cherokee says:

"Regency Romp is a collection of splendid tales. [It] cleverly instills romance that touches the heart, gets the juices flowing, and spins passion that sweeps the pages magnificently. Bravo to these outstanding ladies in this most gratifying read."

Way to go, fellow Rompers! ;)

Read the full review here:
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Regencyrompvolume1.html

RIP

When I was 5-years-old, my father invited me to sit down and watch a movie with him on TV. It was Slaughterhouse-Five, which had run in theatres a few years before in '72. I was fascinated with the random montage of the storyline. My father was impressed that I grasped it and didn't ask for any plot clarification. Looking back, I believe that to be the defining moment that destined me to a lifetime of leaning toward the odd and the different, of seeking out the intelligent and the messenger, whether in movies, literature, or music.

Enter adolescence. Being both a bookworm and the "weird girl", I naturally went on a Vonnegut run at the library at some point. I selected Slaughterhouse-Five from the shelf, thinking "Hmm, this sounds familiar." Just as I had at age 5, I fell into the story all over again, albeit with a higher level of understanding. I was amazed by Vonnegut's brilliance, how he took what might have been the typical "retrospective look at one man's life as representative of his entire generation", and turned it into something like you'd never read before.

As is often the case with genius, Mr. Vonnegut suffered from depression, and had attempted suicide in recent years. I hope he has found peace, and I hope he left knowing that he's left his immortal stamp on the face of 20th century literature. I just wonder...is Mr. Vonnegut really gone? Or did he get whisked off by his friends, the Tralfamadorians?

Rest in peace, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Sex sells...and it shapes our culture...

Porn could be the key to next-generation DVD war

Quote of the year:

"If the porn industry wanted to break the logjam of HD-DVD and Blu-ray, it could," McQuivey said. "If they said 'We are going to go with HD-DVD' you would see a few million homes immediately go out and buy HD-DVD players. They have that power."