Kisses under the Mistletoe

Jeez, when you think about it, it's kind of weird. We put poisonous parasitic plants up on the ceiling and then kiss people under it, but kisses are good, right? So why stop a good thing?

Kissing has been going on under the mistletoe for ages, but have you gotten in on the action? In theory it sounds like fun. Staking out the area under a plant and waiting for your future victims--ahem...crushes to lock lips with.

It's a nice place to set up a romance, and that thought is how a story can be born. Inspiration can strike anywhere, and that is when I will begin to research the inspiration so it can work for my future stories. Where did the strange cultural custom come from?

The answer lies in ancient Scandinavia. There it was recognized as the plant of peace. If enemies met in a forest beneath it, they would make a truce to not fight until the next day. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe began with the Norse myth of Baldur, who died and was then resurrected. Frigga, his mother at the birth of her son, made all the plants in the forest promise that they would not harm him. Loki, who was also the God of Mischief, noticed she forgot the mistletoe plant. He tricked another God into killing Baldur by fashioning a spear tipped with mistletoe. Since Baldur was a God of Vegetation, his death brought winter to the world. Eventually he was brought back to life and his mother decreed the mistletoe plant sacred, ordering it to bring love rather than death into the world. So even now when two people pass under the mistletoe they will kiss to celebrate Baldur's resurrection.

Have you ever kissed under the mistletoe? Not me, but I've always wanted to.

Lots of love,
Missy Lyons
www.missylyons.com
Phaze author of Closing the Deal, Gold Fever, Bound by Desire, Straight Up and many others!

Crossroads: Showdown Receives 5 Nymphs from Literary Nymphs

Title: Crossroads Showdown, Author: Keta Diablo
Publisher: Phaze Books, Publisher URL: PHAZE PUBLISHING
ISBN: 978-1-60659-522-0
Genre: {M/M} Contemporary, Suspense
Rating: 5 Nymphs, Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

PI Frank McGuire cannot believe how everything is falling into place. Rand, his lover, is doing well in school, his business is in the black and the visions aren’t part of his dreams, as they once were. When the FBI come calling, Frank knows the blissful peace is about to abruptly end. Three little girls are missing and if the FBI hopes to get them back unharmed, it will take Frank’s unique talents to save the day.

Crossroads Showdown took the parent in me on a road I could only hope never to walk down personally. Keta Diablo hit on the emotions of everyone involved splendidly without making the story too morose. Frank’s demons were definitely out to play this round, but it was nice to see him shove them to the side and do what he knew in his heart was right. Rand is growing into a fine young man. I love his fire and energy and his ability not to back down, especially when it comes to his happiness. The story moves at a pretty fast pace, but I didn’t feel rushed. I found the story enjoyable and recommend it to those who enjoy reading gay suspense.

Keta Diablo: Keta's Haunt

All I Want for Christmas...and Every Day After

As my priorities shift to acquisitions and marketing for Phaze Books, I am given the opportunity to glean from readers their Christmas and beyond wish lists. Often I receive mail from readers what to expect with regards to a specific author or genre, and from this and our sales I craft calls for submission.

More than once I've been asked what Phaze wants. Essentially, we accept all subgenres of erotic romance, and we wish to publish a variety of stories. If I had to craft my own wish list, I would ask for this:

Ideal word length: 25K - 60K. This is a good length range for eBooks. If you write between 40K and 60K you are print eligible, but if you write a series of 20-25K novellas we can look into a bound anthology, too. Pricewise, books at this length go for $3 to $6, and as I tell authors, the longer you write, the better the payout.

M/M Romance and Erotica - The G in GLBT remains a strong genre for us, and it's my wish to acquire more stories that emphasize the romance in this subgenre. I've had readers inform me that they have seen our titles in certain gay bookstores around the US, and I'm happy for the exposure. As most of the authors I edit write M/M, I am always open to reading more.

Interracial Romance and Erotica - I/R, particularly with an African-American heroine, is a popular genre for us. I am definitely interested in growing this type of work. Category length and novel length (45K and up) is especially in demand among readers, and while the majority of our I/R is contemporary I'd like to mix it up with some paranormal and fantasy, shifters, and BDSM.

F/F Romance and Erotica in Novel Length - Every time we set up for a Pride event, readers ask for lesbian romance. We've enjoyed critical success with our Sapphistocated anthology, and are planning to bring Lisabet Sarai's Exposure to print for our next events, but I would like to published one or two more exclusively F/F novels in the coming year, HEA ending.

Steampunk - The submissions for my anth call are slowly steady, probably because I haven't set a hard deadline. I may need to do that to light a fire, but in the meantime I'd love to have more steampunk, het or GLBT, for the coming year.

Please note, we do accept works of 10K, and works of 5-9K if submitting for our Binaries line. Our submissions page details everything we will and will not accept.

Right now, Phaze Books is scheduled through next spring, so if you have something for next summer, we are always open. Original works for new authors to our house, please, and feel free to contact klively (at) phaze (dot) com with questions.

Top Twenty At Phaze for November

Congratulations to all who made the top Twenty best-sellers list for November

Tameka's Smile - Zena Wynn
Double Trouble - GA Hauser
Bending the Rules - Jack Greene
Rip Cord - Jeanne St. James
Crossroads Showdown - Keta Diablo
Two In Two Out - GA Hauser
The Carpenter and the Fairy - Cassandra Gold
Mary and the Bear - Zena Wynn
Touch Me, Tease Me, Whip Me - Eliza Gayle
Burkett Isle - Mychael and Shayne
Home for the Holiday - Wendy Stone
Man to Man - GA Hauser
Indian Blood Moon - Jaxx Steele
Desire - Marie Rochelle
Rope Dreams - Eliza Gayle
Watch Me Hide - Eliza Gayle
Sexhibition - Tigra Luna LeMar
The Question - Zena Wynn
Taken by Storm - Marie Rochelle
Closer to You: Lee - Marie Rochelle


Keta Diablo,
Visit me at Keta's Haunt

Hot Hunk Wednesday on Sapphire Phelan's Blog

It's Hot Hunk Wednesday again. Check out the latest hottie on my blog. http://is.gd/5a28N

Sapphire Phelan

http://FantasticDreams.50megs.com
www.myspace.com/SapphirePhelan
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If on FaceBook, become my fan there at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sapphire-Phelan/324399690647

Go beyond the usual, instead take the unusual that stretches the boundaries and find romance with Sapphire Phelan's aliens, werewolves, vampires, fairies, and other supernatural/otherworldly heroes and heroines.

Finalist for EPIC AWARDS 2010: from Phaze Books: the erotic urban fantasy, Being Familiar With a Witch:Tina doesn't know she's a witch. It will take Charun, her demon Familiar, to convince her to make love with him and let loose her witch powers. For if she doesn't, then with the demon army about to bring Armageddon to the Mortal Realm on Halloween, she won't stand a chance in Hell.