Checking In with a Surprise...

Hey all, How's it going? I want ya to know I also blog at http://wildromanticladies.blogspot.com/. So, check me over there sometimes too. I'm chatting and traveling so please check back here or my myspace for info. I'm going to post a Free Read here before it goes up on my site.
I'm still working on a story called Torn. Here's a blurb:
Alyssa Kendall is a bookworm and movie-watcher extraordinaire. She lives her life in the pages she reads and the movies she watches. Never did she expect Julian Turner to have any real interest in her. When he saves her from becoming someone’s hood ornament neither could resist the connection. Alyssa wants to fall in love; she wants to throw caution to the wind with Julian.

Once she opened her heart, Julian suddenly has to leave. Shattered, Alyssa tries to put him behind her. Four years later they ran into each other again.
Can they pick up where they left? Or has Alyssa moved on with her life with stable and sexy Christian. The battle for Alyssa’s heart has begun. Can Julian and Alyssa find the spark they once had? Or does her heart truly belong to Christian. Find out in Torn.

This is the free read though. LOL Just a sneak peek into what I'm toying around with right now. So, I don't know where you guys are located but I'm on the East Coast and it's still a little chilly. The sun is out but it's cold. It's like a lie. You look out the window and see the sun shining, no clouds in the sky. And you say to yourself, "Self, it looks warm and inviting today. Let's go to the park."
You hurry and get dressed and ran outside to find it windy and chilly as hell! I guess it is what it is, right?

Ok what's up with this Twitter? I have to say I have a blogger, a myspace and a face book now I'm crazy about Twitter. I'm Raven K Starr over there so follow me. Wow it really sounds like an anthem for stalkers though. LOL

Alright I'm going to leave ya with my Free Read. Go on and read it you've deserved it. LOL
Talk, chat, Tweet ya all later.
Raven




A Legacy Lives On.
By Raven Starr

Taylor fidgeted in her seat, the hard back of the pew dug into her skin. The paper-thin material of her black blouse offered her little to no comfort from the scratchy wood. Her tear-filled brown eyes darted around as she tried not to look at the corpse in the coffin lying in front of her. Taylor looked up instead and marveled at the high vaulted ceiling. Three gold chandeliers dangled above her; they seemed to sway to the sweet lull of the organ music.
She swallowed back the huge dry lump of grief threatening to spill over and consume her right here and now. She blinked; her eyes fell on the beautiful lilac coffin containing her beloved grandmother. Her heart pounded in her chest, it thundered so loud she swore the whole church could hear it. Dots of sweat beaded on her brow as she tried to catch her breath.
She examined the casket for any visible flaws and found nothing out of the ordinary. What was she looking for? Taylor couldn’t keep her eyes from embracing her grandmother’s serene expression. Her brown skin seemed as soft in life as well as in death. Salty tears streaked down her face and she quickly dabbed the corners of her eyes with a white handkerchief with embroidered flowers.
The organist played as a member of the congregation sang a hymn that sent shivers down her spine. Taylor hadn’t been in this church since she was a child. What a shame her grandmother’s death brought her back inside these doors again. It took more strength than she could muster to pull her gaze away from the casket. She shook her head and tried to focus on the sermon that the preacher was giving.
A whizzing and hissing noise from the air conditioner filled the church making several people mumble complaints. Murray, Kentucky had been her childhood haunt, her home away from home, the special place where she’d spent summers with her grandmother. All those days were over. Every Sunday they would come to church, Taylor remembered her time in the choir and how her grandmother beamed when it was her turn to sing.
Taylor put a smile on her face as a slew of people came to shake her hand or give her a comforting hug. She wished the smile on her face was true, but all she felt inside was numbness. Her hands shook as the time neared for her to speak. Nervously, she picked up the paper with the poem she had to recite; it crackled loudly shaking like leaves in a fall breeze. Not wanting to disturb the service, she swapped the paper for her handkerchief, which she began folding and unfolding. ‘I have to keep my hands busy,’ she thought. “Idle hands are the devils workshop;” she could hear her grandmother say.
Her aunt’s big, soft hand squeezed her shoulder lovingly. Taylor turned her head to gaze at this woman, who by all rights should be sobbing and wailing, but instead was the epitome of strength and grace. Her aunt flashed a knowing smile and wink. Taylor knew she was at peace. Why wasn’t it that simple for her?
She remembered her own mother’s death and the way she felt then, is the same way she felt now, a jumbled mess of emotions stirring about in her soul. In the last five years, she’d had to live through losing her mother, and then her father two years later of multiple myeloma. After that death dealt her another blow when she lost a very good friend.
Now the crème on top, losing her grandmother made her feel as if the ground underneath her feet had disappeared and she was weightless floating in the ether.
Her grandmother always stood in her corner, silently and then sometimes not so silently fighting for her. Wave after wave of memory hit her as if she were sand and the waves dashed upon her. She tried stifling the urge to stand up and flee, weeping like a lost child. When her big brother stood up to speak about their grandmother’s life a thought dawned on her- death isn’t the end. As her brother told the church of their grandmother’s life, she’d learned things about her she’d never known. Her grandmother had worked at the Pentagon being one of the first black women to work there. When her grandmother turned her sights on helping the sick she became an RN. A true smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. No matter what life had dealt her grandmother, she always had a smile on her face and joy in her heart. Her grandmother’s strength was her strength; the same blood flowed in her veins too.
“Go with God,” Taylor whispered softly.
As the day ticked by, the cloud of anger surrounding her heart slowly began to fade. She looked down at her hands, they were no longer shaking and her heartbeat had returned to normal. Yes, she was sad her grandmother was gone, but she lived in not only the people she touched, but through each and every member of her family.
“Let your life shine,” she recalled the preacher saying. “People will not remember you for the car you drive or the clothes on your back. It’s your life they will remember; so let your life shine. Give all your troubles up to God and He will find a way.”
With all the death and hardships she’d experienced in her thirty-something years on this planet when it came to faith, hers was shaky at best. When pains struck, Taylor hid deeper and deeper inside herself, casting doubts on everything especially her belief in the Lord. But as the words of the Bible began to make sense, she decided to give her pain up to God and let Him clear it away. She closed her eyes and let out a long exhalation. This was not a time to question her faith or to let her anger guide her footsteps any longer.
She looked at her grandmother again and the answer was clear. It was time to stop running and face her fears of the darkness, instead of being separated from her family she needed to embrace them. No more should she run and hide, angry at God and her family most especially herself. It was time to let it all go, to give it up to God. For the first time since childhood she wanted to step on out faith and truly believe. If she had learned anything from her grandmother is she had her unwavering belief.
Taylor looked at every face in the church, remembering memories, laughter and tears they had shared. But in each family member she saw a bit of her grandmother. Her grandmother didn’t leave, her legacy lives on in the five generations she’d spawn.
This family had all begged and borrowed to come back home for Big Mama’s funeral. There were no complaints, just love and affection making the years of change while indifference become a shadowed memory of the past. Some of her family she hadn’t seen in years but it felt like a misty summer memory. But in everything she learned, love brought this family back together again. All the grudges were let go it wasn’t worth it. Living life isn’t what keeps a family apart, its living life without love and belief.
Taylor thought about what she had in Connecticut, a high-rent from a heartless slumlord who never fixed a thing, to a sprinkle of friends, but no real family. In all honestly, she had nothing but stress and grief, struggling to make ends meat all alone. If anyone asked her to describe herself in one word it would be lonely. Everything she wished and searched for had been right in front of her all along. All her doubts, grudges and silly misunderstandings ebbed away along with the frayed ends of her intense loneliness. Look at how far her family had come from the days of slavery and the wars that plagued this country. Her family had endured and stayed together. She shared a rich beautiful heritage, something to be proud of and something she wanted to share with her own children.
No, her grandmother’s spirit lived on inside her heart, with every shared memory her legacy lived on. Taylor finally understood where she belonged. She belonged with her family, thick or thin, good and bad; this was her home and her family. From this moment all she knew was the truth. To be able to trust in her faith in God and let Him guide her heart. She knew she could not outrun her problems any longer. It was time to truly believe and step out on faith. It was time to live in the light of the truth and not hide in darkness of regret.
Her grandmother’s blood was her blood and she would let her life speak for itself. With each day, she would let her life shine to continue the legacy of her grandmother and all of the people before her. With God’s help Taylor knew that this was just the beginning.

Inside the heart and mind of Raven Starr.

Happy Sunday Afternoon All.

Well, this is my day to sit back and meditate on the week that has ended and the one beginning in a few hours. This new year has brought me great joy. I have ups and downs but this year, I truly can't complain. I've received two new contracts within the last few weeks and I'm proud.

It was hard to get back to writing after I wrote The Perfect. I don't know why, honestly. My process usually requires me to take a small break after finishing a story. I use this time to clear my mind and ready myself for the next adventure. But I was at a stale-mate, my first in my writing career but certainly not my last, I'm sure.

I felt lost without writing but when I sat down to do so, the words didn't flow out. I just sat here, in limbo wishing I could but not wanting to write. If that makes sense.

I know all writers have their own way of creating their work. I love to light candles, meditate a bit and then find the perfect music for the feel of the story I'm writing. Like if I'm writing a fight scene I like Metallica , Creed or something hard and raw. (No perverted thoughts you guys. LOL)
If I'm feeling romantic it's Earth, Wind and Fire, Barry White and something smooth. Jazz helps too.

But none of my tricks of attracting my muse helped and I just sank. I started to write a story first entitled Twin Souls but after writing more of it, I found the storyline very close my life, including the death of my mother. I had to stop writing it. Even after I changed the title to To Start Again I still couldn't bring myself to write about my mother short but traumatic hospital stay and her death.

I have grief still in my heart even though it's been 6 years. The wound left by my mother's death has a hold on me. I'm for the belief in life after death and that our souls carry on. So, in saying that I hope my mother watches over me. I pray that she can see the progress I've made in my life. Right after her passing, I must admit I lost my way. It took 2 years to find my way out of the darkness.

I find my release in writing. It made me feel, connect and truly grieve over what I'd had and lost in my short lifetime. In knowing what true lost, I was reborn. I love my family more and more each day, never sure if we will all greet the dawn together. I try to fill my heart with as much love and understand as I can. So everyday writing wasn't a chore. It was a release.

Now, feeling as if I'm again stepping into the unknown the ground beneath me wobbles and threw me off my writing urge. It took some digging and some looking inward, but I found my strength again. I take each day as it comes. No pressure. My dreams and goals are important to me. So, I sit everyday and bang out my word count, which is only 1,000 words a day but at least it's something. Going from nothing a day to 1,000 words is pretty decent, I think.

I want to find the strength to complete To Start Again, but maybe the reason why I can't finish it is my life is completely written yet. There are still some surprises to come. Lovers to be found, teachers to learn from and children from all over to teach. I know now that my writing isn't a fluke. I'm not a one hit wonder.
I am Raven Starr! You better recognize! LOL

Take Care of yourselves, my friends. Live, Love and laugh everyday!
Blessings,
Raven Starr

I'm Dancing...

I just received another contract for a story called The Perfect Match. Yippee!!
Happy happy happy!
Raven
Here's a quick blurb:

The Perfect Match

By Raven Starr

Interracial Romance



Kiora Webb is a typical Pisces woman. Independent, creative, and romantic, but she just couldn’t meet the right guy. Kiora worked at a Caper’s New and Used was the perfect place for her to hide. For an early birthday present her friends treat her to a girl’s night out to Club Fusion where she meets slick talking Donovan Black. From his self-assured stance to his lame, run-down pick up lines, she dismisses him swiftly. Within days of their meeting small gifts begin to appear, each bringing them closer. Is this her perfect match or something else?

Donovan Black has never been turned down before and when beautiful Kiora Webb doesn’t fall head over heels for him, he’s crushed. Taking his failure as a game Donovan’s buddies persuade him into thinking, he could never have a decent woman like her. Donovan set out to prove them wrong. But what started out as a ploy turns into something that not neither one of them could foresee.



The Perfect Match

Hey I Blogged Today

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Dana Littlejohn's Blog

Ladies and Gents let's welcome Dana Littlejohn:

Hello followers of the fabulous Raven Starr!
I want to thank Raven for having me on her blog and thank you guys for taking the time to read my contribution. Today Raven and decided I would talk about what makes me tick (well, sort of). She had a few questions for me and then a few more came from those and in the end I hope you have an idea of why I do what I do…and still want to read my stuff after you know. LOL Let’s get started, shall we?
Q: Where do you get your ideas to write inter racial romance? Let me first say that when the ideas for my stories form in my brain it does not distinguish between races or color. In fact, when I begin the journey to build the main male character for a story I go people watching. Living in a major city is really good for that because we have a major airport, a large Greyhound Station, the largest library in the state and lots of college campuses. I go to different places until I see ‘him’ and then I take a mental picture of him and go home to finish building him from the inside out. I appreciate the beauty and differences in men of all races so my male characters end up from all races.
Q: Do you find that writing this genre is hard to get agent attention or build up a real following? I didn’t even know ‘inter racial’ romance was a genre. LOL I just write what my brain sees. I have several books that are not inter racial (WCP-Torrid Teasers:55, Behind the Wings and The House, Red Rose Publishing-The god’s Silver Connection, Phaze- Christmas with Holly, and Take Over Publications- Blaze’s Black Widows). As far as getting an agent goes, in the beginning most of my stories were too short to go into print so I didn’t really think about one. Now that I have 3 full length novels under my belt I don’t know if I need one, I find that I want an agent. Finding one has proving to be extremely difficult. I don’t know if it’s the competition, the genre that I write (mostly erotic romance, mostly interracial) or they just think that I suck. But never-the-less, I just keep on trying!
Q: When you ‘build’ your characters, do you start on the inside out? Yes, my characters have a life and a personality before they have a face. The circumstances they are put through while growing up and personal taste determine what their significant others will look like.
Q: How do you come up with your female leads?
Usually my female leads are usually African American (or a mixed race) women who are spunky, feisty women with some kind of issue to overcome so they can be happy with themselves and whoever they choose to be with.
Q: Once you have your characters, how does the story form? Do you know what happen from start to finish? In the forming stage my story is usually a mess. It comes to me in spurts, but by the time I piece it together I have a beginning, a middle and an end.
Q: You have written several sub-genres, how do you choose which one you will do next? Nope, no template, no chart, no pre planned ideas. LOL I am truly a fly by the seat of my pants writer. I can see a story happening before my eyes and I write what I see. I choose which story to write by who speaks the loudest to me. I just finished a short story called The Foot has Spoken (it is a foot fetish story) and have already started the next, I call it Ming Bling (it’s about a married couple who have hit a slump and what the wife does to get them out of it)
Well, I hope this little look inside my head will still have you turning the pages of my books and not running away from me screaming at the top of your lings. I had a great time, Raven, thanks again for having me.
Dana~
www.danalittlejohn.net
www.liljohndana.webs.com
www.myspace.com/liljohndana

Another Update...

Wow, the lack of sleep is helping today. I've got an update about the Virtual blog. I'll be blogging here on my birthday, which is next Thursday. So come check me out over there.
Lots of love,
Raven

http://www.brigitsworld.blogspot.com/

Get Your Mind Right!!

Hello Red Rose fans! I'm here to drop a little of of info your way. Next Thursday is my birthday!! Yippee! At the RRP chat room, we'll be a March Birthday Bash! So, mark it down on your calendar on make sure you stop on over for the party. There will some fabulous authors from RRP, a contest or two and some great laughs to boot.
So, if you wanna party us the March babies of RRP come check us out. Even your a March baby too, swing by and tell us.

Don't let the party start without you. Jot down the info and come ring in our March birthday bash!!!
Come for the party, stay for the fun.
Hugs to all,
Raven Starr
www.redrosepublishing.com
www.ravenkstarr.com

Updates

Hey there everyone,
Yup, I know I haven't been here for a bit and I do apologize. Do you forgive me? Hope so. All right now let's get down to business. I've I wrote two new stories The Perfect Match and Tainted Blood, they haven't found a home yet so let's keep our fingers crossed about that. But honestly, since finishing both I've had a hard time getting back into the swing of things. Yup, I admit I'm blocked! The weather is FINALLY turning around so maybe if I can see the screen through my blurry vision I can manage to type something.
I will be doing a Virtual Book Tour Blog thingy. LOL Check this out:Virtual Tour Schedule

Denyse Bridger - March 8, 2009

Jaxx Steele - March 11, 2009

Kendra Mei Chailyn - March 14, 2009

Brigit Aine - March 17, 2009

Raven Starr - March 20, 2009

Delilah K. Stephans - March 23, 2009

Kadian Tracey - March 26, 2009

Dana Littlejohn - 29, 2009

The day after my birthday..Waayyy cool! After I blog here: http://romanceblogtour.blogspot.com/ An author will be chosen to come here and blog. Please tune in for that and show them love.
Well, my friends I must bide you goodbye. May be today will be the day when I break the block.
Wow sounds like a great game. Let me think about it.
Hugs and Blessings,
Raven

New Cover The Pleasure Cruise by Raven Starr

Hello there
Book 2 of The Misadventures of Raine Matthews will be coming at cha on
Thursday February 26th 2009.

Check out this excerpt:"I'm Raine. Nice to meet you," she replied,
holding out her hand to him.
Miguel's grip on her hand was warm. She smiled as he ran his fingers
across her delicate skin. She took her head back and looked back at
the people sliding down the water slide, but Miguel was intent on
talking to her.
"Have you ever been on a cruise ship like this one before?" he asked.
"Nope. Is it that obvious?" she asked, not making eye contact with him.
"A little bit," he teased.
To her surprise, he ran his hand up her arm and gave her shoulder a
squeeze. "You're tight," he said seductively.
Raine flashed a sexy smile. You have no idea how right you are. She
turned her head, looking at his fingers creating tiny unseen circles
on her shoulder. She shivered as his thick digits toyed with her strap.
His misty, green eyes awakened some dormant passion within her soul.
She could tell from this man's mannerisms and straightforwardness he
didn't often take no for an answer. Being a free spirit, his
authoritative role intrigued her very much. It made Miguel very hard
to resist.
"So, let me be your guide then," he offered, leaning over so his hot
breath danced on her skin.
Raine looked over the brim of her sunglasses at him. She smiled,
fighting the urge to run her fingers over his shiny shaved head. A
quick vision of a strong, bald man in a tight, white tee holding a
cleaner popped into her mind. Even though her ideal man happened to be
the tall, dark, and handsome type, Miguel's shaved head made him look
even sexier. He slouched back in the chair, spreading his broad
muscle-bound legs over the sides.
This big, strong man could bench press her over his head fifty times
and probably not even break a sweat. Her eyes traced his manicured
goatee and sideburns. Sunlight bounced off his bronzed skin. Damn he's
sexy!
"I know you're thinking about me right now," he said with a confident
wink.
"How do you know that?" she asked coyly.
"Because you're staring at me with a big-ass smile on your face,
that's how. You're going to have a good time with me, believe me, mama."
By the looks of it, this is going to be an adventure of a lifetime.
Miguel flashed a sexy, dimpled smile, then abruptly sat up, cupping
her chin in his big hand. His soft touch gliding across her skin felt
as if a lightning bolt streaked through her body and pierced her heart
with the sensation, spreading to her nether regions. She crossed her
legs, trying to hide the warmth growing in between her chocolate
thighs. Miguel's fingers flowed effortlessly along her jaw line then
around her ear to run them through her hair.


For more stay tuned and be ready on Thursday!!
Much love,
Raven Starr

My Chat and Contest too!!

Hey all I'll be having my first contest at my chat Mocha's Erotic Review on Friday.

http://www.mochaseroticreview.com/mochas_erotic_review_homepage.html

It starts 7pm central 8pm eastern time. Tell one, Tell all.

Come on over and we'll have a ball!
I hope to see you all there.

Hugs and thanks,
Raven Starr

New Cover for Thievies In The Night by me Raven Starr

Hey Everyone, yes I know I haven't updated this site lately but I've got to tell ya that I've been majorly busy. So sorry, guys, but if you ever need me stop by my myspace and drop me a line.

For now enjoy the cover. I'll be back.....

Updates and Newsletter

I've completed both of my goals. I promised myself
to have two new stories completed for upcoming anthologies through Red
Rose Publishing, both are due in September. With school right around
the corner, I wanted to have both stories done and submitted so I
could free write. So I'm proud to announce I've done just that. I
finished The Perfect Match- a contemporary interracial romance I think
it might be almost 30,000 words. yay!!
And I finished my other story Tainted Blood- a interracial
paranormal.(Which I had so much fun writing, I'm thinking of expanding
it into a series.) YAY!!

So, please everybody chat and chill here. I'll be posting polls and
asking random questions and such.

As of right now I have no real writing commitments so I'm going to try
to finish up a novella called Twin Souls and submit to a print
publisher. I've always wanted to see my books in print, so wish me
luck on that one. lol


I started a newsletter/yahoo group. Join me there for some chatty fun.


Hope to see ya there,
Raven Starr

Reveiw for One Night at the Office is Here

Check out the review for my latest paranormal story called One Night at the Office.

http://redrosesforauthors.blogspot.com/2008/07/one-night-at-office_23.html

This is a book you will want to own!


Post a comment and I'll personally post back to you.
Big Hugs,
Raven Starr

A Celebration and A New Release....

Red Rose Publishing having a birthday! We are celebrating the whole month of July, strating off with our Red Rose cyber-picnic which includes a scavenger hunt. Check out www.redrosepublishing.com for more details. Join the Red Rose Publishing yahoo group and drop off a recipe for another chance to win great prizes. So if ya don't have any plans for this whole month then stop into Red Rose and let us show you how to party down.


Plus on July 3rd I'm having a release of my first vamp story, One Night at the Office. So come check out what all the buzz is about.


Hugs and see ya on at the picnic.
Raven Starr

Trust by Raven Starr~~~~ Poetic Korner

Eager to trust.
Quick not to know.
Can I do it?
Shall I try?
How can I trust you?
When before I almost died.
Trust takes time to regain.
Do you care I can't trust you?
Does it even matter?
Without trust our relationship will shatter.
written by Raven Starr.
All poetry on this website is copyrighted. Taking it from this site is a violation in state law. You want it, ask me for me..

So Sorry

Hey Everyone... I'm so sorry I haven't been around lately. Busy writing and getting things done, plus I'm just a little addicted to myspace. lol
So what's been happening???Well, I have three e-books out, Fan-Tasy, Her Smile and Going Home Again... Please feel free to stop by Red Rose Publishing to check them out. www.redrosepublishing.com

I've been working on more stories and a full length piece that I'm no where near finished. I've completed an Egyptian themed book and a paranormal both will be released very soon. I'll let ya when. I'm working on getting a very kool website. I can't wait till its live. What a thrill that is.

Oh if ya wanna catch me please check out myspace. www.myspace.com/dkraven.

I don't want to stop with the reasons I began writing in the first place so I will upload a poem or two.
Please add me on myspace and keep stopping by for updates.

Thanks and Big Hugs to All,
Raven Starr

My New Interview

Books and Authors

Tuesday, 5 February 2008

Getting to Know Raven Starr
Topic: Author Interview
Raven Starr the person:

1. What three words do you think describe you as a human being?

Compassionate, honest and loving

2. How do you think others would describe you?

Way too nice, easy going and hopefully compassionate.

3. Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.

Playing with my kids. Plus I'm a major horror movie buff.

4. Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.

Yep, I sure do. I have a 7 month old, Pushon named, Rosie

5. What is your most precious memory?

All the ones that contain my mother.

6. What is your most embarrassing memory?

Now, if I told ya this one everyone would know. Nope, I'm skipping this one and going to number 8.*strolling away, whistling*

7. If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing with your life?

Being a nurse which I is my day job. I love taking care of the elderly. I think we have so much to learn from our ancestors but most of us are always too busy to listen.

8. In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.

Raven Starr lies behind three wonderful children and a wealth of friends and family. She was not only a writer touching our hearts but her words of poetry entangled into our very soul.

Not just writer, a mother to all children, friendly or non- friendly. Her compassionate, gentle free being will be missed. She was our voice in the darkness. Now she is our light.

Raven Starr the writer:

9. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a "real" writer?

Honestly, I've been writing since I can remember, but the first time I knew I was writer had to be when I received my first contract. I was blow away (I still am). I am humbled by this experience and only hope that I can touch someone and let them know that love is all we need.

10. What is going on with your writing these days?

Well I'm working on two different stories. I'm working on a vamp story and another romantic, longer story.

11. What are your future goals for your writing?

My future goals include getting an agent and to get my books into print. I love to have books in the hands of anyone that would like it; I know I would faint to hold a book with my name on it.

12. Can you describe a typical writing day for you?

Depending on whether my kids are home so I'll give ya both versions. No kids- after dropping my boys, I come home, fix a steaming cup of dark chocolate Mayan coffee(yup it tastes as good as it sounds) sit in front of my computer. I try to write when the mood strikes me or write in the genre that calls my name. But if my kids are home, now well that's another story. With chasing them around and stopping the constant fighting I still write, not as much, but they help me focus and keep my eyes on the prize.

13. Why do you write?

I write because it soothes the raging monster in my brain. Writing is apart of me, so I could never see myself not writing something, if not stories then poetry. My muse is twisted so I love delving into the colorful world that is known as, my imagination.

14. What writer most inspires you?

My inspiration comes from my journey in this life and the lessons that I've learned thus far. I've seen things and I've had experiences in my life where I've realized how precious living life is. So I try to do what makes me feel good and writing makes me very happy. Why? I heard once, in looking for a career choice, you should chose to do something that you makes you happy and would do for free. I write because I love it. I believe that we are all born with some talent and when we find out what this talent is, we should use it. I've missed many opportunities in life, so now I smell the roses, so to speak. Life is too short to live in the darkness of the world's hate and sometimes all we need is one light. I hope to be that light for at least one person. If I can, then I'm happy to have been able to bring light and love to them.

15. How do you define your writing?

Wow, okay personally I think my writing is romantic. Being a hopeful romantic to heart, I make sure there is romance in my stories.

16. In one sentence-what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?

I would love for people to say my writing touched them that I opened or showed something, within themselves that they couldn't see before.

Raven Starr the details:

17. Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?

Okay here's the details. I'm always toddling around on myspace-----> www.myspace.com/dkraven and my website(for now) www.freewebs.com/ravenstarr and let's not forget my blogspot.. www.dkraven.blogspot.com

18. Is there a place where readers can reach you?

Yup, I love hearing from readers, so check out my myspace and shoot me an email.

19. Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?

Absolutely. Fan-Tasy.. Her Smile... Going Home Again...

20. For new readers-what can they expect when they read your book(s)?

Love, romance and wickedness. hahahaaa

In conclusion:

21. Take as much space as necessary to speak to our readers-what would you like them to know about you and your writing?

On this planet there are a lot of stresses. Sometime we take a lot of things for granted, but when you want to step outside the norm and read something that will touch you, tantalize you, tease your senses and remind you that love is real then pick up one of stories. Let me sweep away into the world of my imagination. Come ride the waves of destiny with me. I want to thank you all so much because I wouldn't be sitting here doing what I love if it wasn't for my readers. I loved doing this interview. It was very bold and fun, just like me. hahahaaa. Please be on the look out for new books and information. Thanks again, Joyce, for this opportunity for the interview. I had a blast.

Interview with Fleur.. Come take a peek..

1.) With the countless number of interview questions let’s try something different. Tell us something about yourself that hasn’t been previously stated.

I’m a hermit, lol. Seriously, I am a homebody to the extreme. If I didn’t have to go out at all, I wouldn’t. I live on the third floor of an apartment building with no elevator, so the stairs add to my hermit status.

2.) How long have you been writing?

Hmm, at least 27 years. I started with poetry at about 9 and a cheesy teen romance when I was 12. I still cringe when I think about it.

3.) What drives you as a writer?

For me, it’s about filling the voids in my own life. There’s a lot I wish for, to be assertive, alluring, strong in my own skin…and romance.

4.) Give us your plans for this New Year.

Well first off, no resolutions. I’m taking a break from them this year. But I am hoping to get another book done and start a children’s story under my real name.

5.) Give us your pick for sexiest man of the year.

GERARD BUTLER *drools and swoons*

6.) If you and he were single if given 24 hours what would you do?

I’d probably end up just gazing at him and drooling, basically embarrassing myself, lol

7.) What genre do you write and what genre would you love to try?

My first book is contemporary romance, but my second one is a romantic thriller. I would love to try paranormal romance. There’s just something about it that lets anything happen.

8.) What is your biggest pet peeve?

Oh dear. Where to start! Drivers that don’t obey the speed limit, the ones that go too slow and people that use the 10 items or less lanes with more than 10 at grocery stores.

9.) Since the beginning of the New Year what goal (short or long term) do you have planned?

To be the best person I can be

10.) What are you working on now?

Staring at my computer screen, willing the words to come for my next potential book.

11.) What do you have out?

Nothing as of yet, but hopefully Steamed Desire will be out in March.

12.) Beer or wine?

Actually, wine. But I do like Hornsby, a cider based ale, when wine isn’t appropriate.

13.) Sinful indulgence?

Long soaks with Japanese Cherry Blossom bath and marzipan.

Well, I thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. I leave the floor to you. Tell us if you’re making any appearances, book singing, chats, etc…

Thank you again and have a brilliant New Year.

Raven Starr

Well, unfortunately my floor is pretty clean right now, lol. Once my book is released, we’ll see what happens promotion wise. Stay tuned and keep writing!

Jade Twilight Interview

New Interview with Jade Twilight... She has a brand new contract so that's great so read on...

1.)With the countless number of interview questions let’s try something different. Tell us something about yourself that hasn’t been previously stated.

Ok I'll give you five strange facts about me.

1) I'm scared of the dark

2) I don't like tomatoes, but I like tomatoes products

3) I once ate a cricket for a dollar (they taste like sour milk)

4) I had a crush on Will Scarlet, from Robin Hood in middle school

5) Ok here’s the topper... When I was little I thought Freddy Kroger lived in our toilet

2.)How long have you been writing?

Since I was about 13.

3.)What drives you as a writer?

I guess it’s an outlet for my over active imagination. If I didn’t write I don’t know what I do it’s just some thing I have to do.

4.)Give us your plans for this New Year.

I'm just gonna wing it... like every year.

5.)Give us your pick for sexiest man of the year.

I'm so gonna get razzed for this but Jack Black

6.)If you and he were single if given 24 hours what would you do?

Um should this be PG13. Cause I'd just let him tie me up and have his way with me.

7.)What genre do you write and what genre would you love to try?

Paranormal Erotica/Romance, Fantasy Romance/ Erotica, Sweet Western Romance, these are the main ones but basically anything I can think up.

8.)What is your biggest pet peeve?

People who say one thing and do another.

9.)Since the beginning of the New Year what goal (short or long term) do you have planned?

I'd like to finish one of my novels.

10.)What are you working on now?

I have a bunch of irons in the fire but the one I writing right now is a fantasy erotic short. Called The Wingless Fairy (tentative title) It's about an icy fairy who loses her wings and become the slave of the god of pain and lust. I'm only a couple thousand words in right now.

11.)What do you have out?

Black Calla by Jade Twilight

Mainstream/ Paranormal

Fantasy, Mystery, & Romance

Word Count: 23,889

From Red Rose Publishing

Jessie's Dirty Little Secret

Genre - Paranormal

Heat Level - Intense

Word Count - 14,135

From Dark Eden Press

12.)Beer or wine?

Beer all the way

13.)Sinful indulgence?

Every know and again I enjoy a clove cigarette.

Well, I thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. I leave the floor to you. Tell us if your making any appearances, book singing, chats, etc..

Thank you again and have a brilliant New Year.

Raven Starr

Thank You Raven for giving me this opportunity.

Going Home Again by Raven Starr Release Date

Yay today!! Thursday January 24th my newest and steamiest to date book will be out and about.
Check it out

www.redrosepublishing.com

Raven Starr

Cassie Exline Interview

Another Intyerview with Cassies Exline
Current mood: bummed
Category: Writing and Poetry

Yup here's this hot new author Cassie Exline...
Check her out.

1.)With the countless number of interview questions let's try something different. Tell us something about yourself that hasn't been previously stated. I was very close to becoming a wedding photographer, but I got hired at the newspaper.

2.)How long have you been writing? It seems like forever, but it's actually been since was I was in grade school. I used to fill up the tablets the school gave us with my stories. Wished I'd kept them.

3.)What drives you as a writer? Those voices in my head. LOL Seriously though, it's sort of like hearing voices in my head. Different things — songs, movies, real incidents — happen and I want to write a story, putting my own spin on it, of course.

4.)Give us your plans for this New Year. Get my name out there more and more. Myspace is wonderful but I need more exposure. Interact more with other authors. I tend to hold back. Write different types of stories — longer stories. I'm a short story writer so length is my top goal. Learn to promote better. Have a topnotch website. I'm always tweaking and tweaking, but I'm willing to learn new things.

5.)Give us your pick for sexiest man of the year. Orlando Bloom.

6.)If you and he were single if given 24 hours what would you do? Well have lots and lots of sex in every position imaginable. Then we'd talk and have more sex. Walk under the stars and have more sex. Then I'd read some of my stories to him and have sex.

7.)What genre do you write and what genre would you love to try? Contemporary – usually romance. I want to blend sex with mystery. And I want to write a time travel story.

8.)What is your biggest pet peeve? People who don't use the common sense they were born with.

9.)Since the beginning of the New Year what goal (short or long term) do you have planned? Submit more stories. I've got them written but won't let go.

10.)What are you working on now? Several things. Putting the finishing touch on Confessions of a Murderer and going back to my work in progress stories and thinning those out. I reread some of them last night and they're good, but stopped for whatever reason. A friend and I have been discussing doing our own anthology. So we'll see.

11.)What do you have out? Tree of Buried Secrets at Dark Eden Press (www.darkedenpress.com).

12.)Beer or wine? wine

13.)Sinful indulgence? Dill pickles. I'd put pickles on everything if I ate if I could.

Well, I thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. I leave the floor to you. Tell us if your making any appearances, book singing, chats, etc. My only appearances will only be online at chats or yahoo groups. Thank you for your time, Raven. You've been a lovely interviewer.

Thank you again and have a brilliant New Year.

Raven Starr

New Interview with Debbie Gould. Come in and check her out.

1.)With the countless number of interview questions let’s try something different. Tell us something about yourself that hasn’t been previously stated. I’m an LPN by day. Just made the married 25 years mark.

2.)How long have you been writing? Six years

3.)What drives you as a writer? I love to tell stories. I guess I like fantasizing.

4.)Give us your plans for this New Year. Write, work and taking care of my 3 year old grandson who’s mom is being sent to Iraq in Feb for 7 months

5.)Give us your pick for sexiest man of the year. Tim Mcgraw- yeah I’m a hick.

6.)If you and he were single if given 24 hours what would you do? Oh my, try not to se daylight that’s for sure. Damn!

7.)What genre do you write and what genre would you love to try? Romantic Suspense, would love to try paranormal.

8.)What is your biggest pet peeve? Complainers

9.)Since the beginning of the New Year what goal (short or long term) do you have planned? Really havn’t set any. Trying to work up my stamina for when the grandson comes.

10.)What are you working on now? RS called Betrayal

11.)What do you have out? Mountain’s Echo, soon to be released by Red Rose Publishing

12.)Beer or wine? Both

13.)Sinful indulgence? Hot Fudge Sunday

Well, I thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. I leave the floor to you. Tell us if your making any appearances, book singing, chats, etc..

Thank you again and have a brilliant New Year.

Raven Starr

My book wont be out until March so no appearances as of yet. Please check out my website www.deborahgould.com to see the cover and read some excerpts. And thanks to you Raven for this opportunity! Debbie

New Interview with Cassie

1.)With the countless number of interview questions let’s try something different. Tell us something about yourself that hasn’t been previously stated. I was very close to becoming a wedding photographer, but I got hired at the newspaper.

2.)How long have you been writing? It seems like forever, but it's actually been since was I was in grade school. I used to fill up the tablets the school gave us with my stories. Wished I'd kept them.

3.)What drives you as a writer? Those voices in my head. LOL Seriously though, it's sort of like hearing voices in my head. Different things — songs, movies, real incidents — happen and I want to write a story, putting my own spin on it, of course.

4.)Give us your plans for this New Year. Get my name out there more and more. Myspace is wonderful but I need more exposure. Interact more with other authors. I tend to hold back. Write different types of stories — longer stories. I'm a short story writer so length is my top goal. Learn to promote better. Have a topnotch website. I'm always tweaking and tweaking, but I'm willing to learn new things.

5.)Give us your pick for sexiest man of the year. Orlando Bloom.

6.)If you and he were single if given 24 hours what would you do? Well have lots and lots of sex in every position imaginable. Then we'd talk and have more sex. Walk under the stars and have more sex. Then I'd read some of my stories to him and have sex.

7.)What genre do you write and what genre would you love to try? Contemporary – usually romance. I want to blend sex with mystery. And I want to write a time travel story.

8.)What is your biggest pet peeve? Stupid people.

9.)Since the beginning of the New Year what goal (short or long term) do you have planned? Submit more stories. I've got them written but won't let go.

10.)What are you working on now? Several things. Putting the finishing touch on Confessions of a Murderer and going back to my work in progress stories and thinning those out. I reread some of them last night and they're good, but stopped for whatever reason. A friend and I have been discussing doing our own anthology. So we'll see.

11.)What do you have out? Tree of Buried Secrets at Dark Eden Press.

12.)Beer or wine? wine

13.)Sinful indulgence? Dill pickles. I'd put pickles on everything if I could.

Well, I thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. I leave the floor to you. Tell us if your making any appearances, book singing, chats, etc. My only appearances will only be online at chats or yahoo groups. Thank you for your time, Raven. You've been a lovely interviewer.

Thank you again and have a brilliant New Year.

Raven Starr

New Interview with Melody Knight.. Check it out!!

1.)With the countless number of interview questions let's try something different. Tell us something about yourself that hasn't been previously stated.
2.)How long have you been writing?
Twelve years, as of November 26, 2007. That was the date, way back when, I went to the local library, checked out 11 books but couldn't get "into" them, and began writing what I wanted to read.
3.)What drives you as a writer?
I seem to be driven, whatever I do - whether I'm writing, painting, studying archaeology...
I don't know why this is. Perhaps I should have it checked out , but for the moment, let's just admit I'm a teeny bit obsessive-compulsive about my writing.
4.)Give us your plans for this New Year.
I have 3 novels on my desktop (1 romance, 1 for a continuity series, and 1 paranormal thriller) to finish, then I'd like to write at least 3 more. I'm also working on an online novel, plus I'd like to get my backlist - down to 4 novels and 2 novellas (yay!) - safely into a publisher's hands.
5.)Give us your pick for sexiest man of the year.
Johnny Dep. I was discussing this with women aged 15 to 55 at dinner the other day, and he was the universal favorite.
6.)If you and he were single if given 24 hours what would you do?
Pray that he'd develope a sudden lust for myopic sci fi writers with unhealthy fascinations for fungus, viruses, and archaeology.
7.)What genre do you write and what genre would you love to try?
SF, horror, fantasy, paranormal suspense, YA, sf romance, fantasy romance, paranormal romance, erotic romance
I definitely am interested in attempting a historical romance. My only historicals to date have been time travel scenes in some of my paranormal novels.
8.)What is your biggest pet peeve?
Anything which makes me feel guilty about being a chocoholic.
9.)Since the beginning of the New Year what goal (short or long term) do you have planned?
I want to travel. Eventually, I'd love to visit obscure places and have my writing pay my way.
10.)What are you working on now?
A book of my heart, which isn't a romance, but an archaeology paranormal thriller; a ghost story, which also happens to be a romance; and one I hope will be specific to one of my publishers' continuity series.
11.)What do you have out?
Books: The Trees Series (fantasy - 6 books), The Light Play Trilogy (sf - 3 books), The Elf Chronicles (fantasy - 2 books), The Grave Images Series (horror - 4 books), Vision (horror), Static (sf), Gilded Folly (fantasy/sf), In Trysts (romantic suspense), In Flames (romantic suspense)
Contracted for release this year: ErRatic (paranormal suspense), The Hollowing (horror), Gray Beginnings (horror), GlassWorks (paranormal romance), Relic (sf/paranormal), BoneSong (sf/fantasy/horror)
My publishers: Five Star, Fictionwise, Cerridwen Press, Red Rose Publishing, Linden Bay Romance, Drollerie Press
12.)Beer or wine?
Wine
13.)Sinful indulgence?
Chocolate. Chocolate and Coke Zero.
Well, I thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. I leave the floor to you. Tell us if your making any appearances, book singing, chats, etc.
Heaps of library visits planned, beginning in February. Other than that, I have chats at least once a month somewhere, so watch for reminders from "N. D. Hansen-Hill" or "Melody Knight" on MySpace ( http://www.myspace.com/ndmanuscripts).

Thanks for this, Raven!

Cheers,
ND|Melody
http://www.NDHansen-Hill.com
http://MelodyKnight.com

Thank you again and have a brilliant New Year.

Raven Starr


--
Heroic Fantasy, SF, Horror
THE HOLLOWING, GILDED FOLLY, ELF, TREES, STATIC
http://www.NDHansen-Hill.com | http://MelodyKnight.com
Fictionwise, Cerridwen Press, Five Star, Linden Bay Romance, Red Rose, Drollerie Press
http://www.myspace.com/ndmanuscripts [add me!]

New Review Posted

Hey y'all please check out my new review for my latest creation, Her Smile.
http://redrosesforauthors.blogspot.com/2007/12/her-smile.html

Leave me comment and tell me what ya think..
Thanks so much,
Raven Starr

My latest Guilty Pleasure

Okay I know its crazy but I love the Tila Tequila show. I know that everyone has their own show. Thanks Flava Flav! And now New York, (who if she gets any bigger she might explode..lol)
But Tila, come on now what a show that is.

What a fun-tastic show. So I wanna know-----> Who saw Tila lastnight?
Who do you think is right her?
What do you think about the fight lastnight? Is Vanessa cute but crazy?
Let's chitchat about Tila, my latest guilty pleasure..

Come on, lets I wanna know....

Raven Starr

Contest Time

Since my new book Her Smile is live Im having a contest.
Goto my website www.freewebs.com/ravenstarr
read the excerpt, answer the questions then email me your answers. The contest is open till Saturday. I'll post the winner on Sunday. Good luck to all. If ya like what you read please make sure you stop by www.redrosepublishing.com to pick up a copy of Her Smile.

Thanks,
Raven Starr

Her Smile has a release DATE!

Wake up Y’all it's that time again.
Are you ready?
My new ebook, Her Smile will be going live on Thursday, November 1st.

Come and get your copy.
www.redrosepublishing.com.

There will also be a live chat on the website so come check me there.

Stop by say hi and maybe win a prize.

Excerpt to Her Smile by Raven Starr. Out Nov.1st

Kylie bit her lip and raised her sculpted eyebrows. “What are we doing here?”
“Come find out.” He opened the door and got out.
He waited for Kylie to join him on the other side of the car; he locked her arm around his and proceeded towards the entrance of Rock Woods Park.
“What are we doing here?” Kylie asked again reading the sign.
“I wanted to show you something.” Mark led her a little ways down the path. When he heard a gasp escape her lips, he knew she saw it. He unlocked his arm from hers and slowed his pace. He watched Kylie walked over the twisted, odd-looking, yet hauntingly beautiful tree. Gone was all the trash and debris, replaced by a small white picket fence surrounded the area and a gold sign in the ground. Kylie leaned closer to read the inscription. Our journey begins here. M.S. and K.S. forever.
He watched her as she tried to decipher the last part of the message.
“Our journey?” she asked turning to face.
“Yes, in this place you opened my eyes. So I couldn’t a more significant place than this.”
“This is all wonderful, it is Mark, but those are not my initials.”
“Well, we can fix that too.” Mark said kneeling on one knee in front of her.
“Oh my God,” Kylie clasped her hands over her mouth.
He reached into his pocket, produced a tiny black velvet box. He casually popped it open. “Kylie Thomson will you do me the ultimate honor of becoming my wife?”
Mark looked up into her eyes as tears flowed down her face.
“Oh Mark,” she whispered. “Yes, Oh my God, Yes!”
“Yes?” He sounded shocked.
“Yes,” she said with more confidence.
Mark stood up, took the three-carat canary yellow diamond ring with platinum setting out of the box, and slipped it on her finger. With the ring in its proper place, Mark picked up his new fiancée and swung her around. There was no feeling in the world, save probably the birth of his first child, that could top this moment.
“I love you, Kylie.”
“I love you too, Mark”
Their embrace rivaled the most the strongest union and shake the foundations of true love to its moral core. They stared into each other eyes, lost in the infinite bounds of their love.
Mark held her face. Kylie’s smile beamed up at him.
“I love your smile.”
The End

Monday Morning

It is Monday yet again and I'm checking in to see how everyone's
weekend was.
Mine?
Well, I'm trying not to catch a cold, but Im still feeling ichy blah
blah, yanno?

I took my kids out with our new puppy to the park and there my
daughter freaked me out by acting like her mentor Steve Irwin(God
rest his soul)
I am afraid of snakes. I mean over the summer time we went to an
animal expo and first the first time in my life I touched a snake and
even let the rangler put it around my neck. I did freak out! My
vision went completely white.

But yesterday my daughter and I saw this snake. I was the biggest
girl, screaming and whopping and hollering. hahahaa
But just like she saw on tv she grabbed a stick, used it to steady
the snake, then picked it up(holding its head)
Oh my goodness. Let's just say I was impressed to see this normally
girlie girl, who can't touch or handle raw meat, get down in the dirt
and catch this gardner snake.
Did I touch it?
***rubbing chin***

Yep, I did..

I was so proud of myself to be able to touch this wild snake. Its so
different from the first tame snake. I mean this thing was wiggling
and writhing around. eewww... But I touched it. Im getting over my
fears one step at a time.
What did you do?
I hope everyone had a wild weekend too

Happy Monday...
Raven Starr

My Latest Review

Hey everyone clink the link and check out my latest review for Fan-Tasy. http://redrosesfora uthors.blogspot. com/2007/ 10/fan-tasy. html

Leave me a message or comment. Tell me whatcha think.

Raven Starr

Google Thyself

All this bloody talk of folks googling themselves isn't what its cracked up to be. Yep, I feel prey to this and got broken by what I saw.Even though my book sold 99 copies on every site I have only ONE rating that is following me everywhere. POOR! That one rating reflects one person's opinion but it still hurts very much. Since I googled myself, I started questioning my work and myself.I know that I am my own worse critic. I know that NOT everyone who reads my books will like them. Its not the Poor rating as much as it is the ONLY rating, that troubles me.This is a hard business I know and I've only just begun.My friends have come out and shown me such support that it brought me literarly to tears. My publisher and editor both wrote to me and expressed how good my work is.But why then am I stuck in this rut? Who knows. Maybe its just writer's block. Every writer goes through this and I will break free and start back to work. But what are some of your thoughts on writer's block. What do you do to pass the time when you are blocked? Do you continue to write? Or just stop altogether?How do you take the negetive critcs?Let's work it out. Share your thoughts with me..Raven Starr

99 Copies Sold........

Hey all just wanted to share the good news with yall. Fan-Tasy. my first ebook has sold 99 copies!
I want to thank all you that bought a copy of my ebook. I want to thank all of the people who kept me writing and supported me. Thank you to all my friends and family around the world. I appreciate your support. Keep reading and I'll be sure to keep writing.

TGIF
Raven Starr

Poet of the Month

Hey Y'all Im gonna try something different. I'm gonna find some reallt passionate poets and post their work here for everyone to enjoy. My first poet is Angee. Her 1st book of poetry called, 'Inspired' is avaliable now. Enjoy some of Angee's passionate words."Intimacy Of A Kiss”The subtleties of your touchYour lips on mineThe gentle tenderness of your kissSoft, warm, wanting, needingYou arms encircle meDrawing me into your embrace, Your personal space you let me inI melt, feeling the heat as we meetAs one, our eyes lockI love the way you look at meAs one, your kiss can say moreThan a thousand of your words ever couldOne kiss can mean moreThan a quick touch ever shouldA kiss can mean many thingsHello, goodbye or until we meet againI’m sorry or I love youEven where you are kissed is importantNot just the lips or your intimate bitsA tip of the nose, a closed eye, a handThe hair on the crown of your headThe ultimate forehead kissEven that saysYou are my heartYou are my soulYou are my everythingI’m missing a beat from my heartEvery time I have to go awaySo give me a kiss that will lingerLeaving me anticipatingNeeding me to come home to youSo I can be complete once more.© 10th April 2007 Written by Angee Edgar All Rights Reserved.


“Stealing My Thunder”I won’t allow you to steal my thunderI won’t let you take my voiceI know I’ll be stronger for my trialEven when I didn’t ask for help I was shown I had another choice.You won’t steal my thunderYou won’t drag me around by the handI’ve found someone worthy of me – it’s meSo I no longer have to live with your demands.When you first started taking my thunderIt was little things like shouting and pulling my hairThen it got more serious, you drew blood and left bruisesYou stood above me laughing and mocking “Ha ha! Life’s so not fair!”When I let you steal my thunderI let you take my pride as you slept aroundI let you take me for a foolish foolI let you beat my spirit into the ground.As my thunder was continually erodedNo one near to me had a clueThey only thought this vivacious woman’s a little quieterIf only the whole truth they knew.When thunder is stolen it’s gradualSometimes friends and family might suspectBut an expert in denial and hiding the bruisesUltimately through fear he controlled the noose at my neck. When another whose thunder was stolenApproached me one day in the streetShe said so sincerely and deeply “I see you. It happened to me.”She gave me a card and said “Call if you want to meet.”I looked at the thunderbolt card she gave meA stranger I thought ‘Who the hell is she?’I didn’t know my family told her about meI put away the card not knowing she’d be the one to help set me free.I decided my thunder had to come backIt hit me as I looked in the mirror one dayI saw I was a shadow of my former selfIn this relationship I knew I didn’t want to stay.My thunder was not yours to be takenThe beatings and punishment I could take no moreI gathered the courage to make that callI asked for help and phone in hand slid crying to the floor. My thunder is under reconstructionAn ex gave me a lesson I needn’t have been taughtI’ve been helped through this awful time in my lifeTo my family and friends I’m grateful for their true love and support.As I heal I’m taking back my thunderEventually I’ll blossom again like a roseI’ve realise there’s life after spousal abuseIt will take time, how long? I trust God it’s only he that knows. © 22nd September 2007 Written by Angee Edgar All Rights Reserved

New blogspot!

Hey I gotta new place to blog. Im honored to be apart of One Kiss.http://foronekiss.blogspot.com/ A place where published authors blog, post, and have a great time promoting each other and ourselves. Come check me out. What would you do for One Kiss? Stop over and tell me.. Raven Starr

Fan-Tasy is.........

still climbing in up the Red Rose Bestsellers Charts.
It is now at number 4. Thank you to all the folks that stopped by the sites and picked up their copy. Please continue, spread the word. There is a new interracil author and her name is Raven Starr....

New vidoe added...

Hey all,Check out my new website and see the video for Fan-Tasy. Sign my guestbook to be entered in the contest to win free reads for me and upcoming YA writer Cheyenne-Skye
Check it out!
http://www.freewebs.com/ravenstarr/
Thanks a bunch,Raven Starr

Too Bad for you (Poetry Korner)

Its time to throw some poetry into the mix. I have to stay faithful to the art form that started my writing frenzy. So for all the folks who like to read my poetic work here's a little tid bit of some of my old school poetry. Enjoy...
Too Bad for You.

Too Bad for You.

To be you is a choice
Not a rule to be followed your jealous of a famous man
I find this very hard to swallow.
So here we are
Sadness seeping in
No talking. No arguing
No where to begin
So it's over before we start
What a shame we have to part.
Maybe this is best
You can find someone like the rest.
But for now I am done, Finished.
I am through
Too bad. Too bad for you

Check out my new website

Wow things are really moving and Im learning alot throughout this whole process. One thing I've learned is you have to have website. So please check out my new site.
http://www.freewebs.com/ravenstarr/

Sign my guest book and be entered a contest to win free reads once a month from me.
Thanks for all your support,
Raven Starr

Over 50 copies sold...

wow, over 50 copies of my new ebook Fan-Tasy have reached awaiting readers. Thank you all so much. I'm very happy about the release and how well the book is doing. Let's rock the boat. Spread the word. Raven Starr is coming. Please check out my new ebook and keep your eyes peeled for more ebooks. Check out Red Rose Publishing.. www.redrosepublishing.com Thank you all so much. Coming soon from Red Rose Going Home Again and Her Smile. Raven Starr

A new Contract!! Her Smile has a home...

YAY! With Fan-Tasy taking off I've been writing and submitting. I wrote a story called Her Smile and I'm happy to announace that Red Rose has picked it up! I was nervous about it, thinking I would have to scratch it and start over. The owner of RRP told me it was very well written and a wonderful story. I'm so happy! I'm still working on my bigger novel Twin Souls and another short story called The Pleasure Cruise. Stay tuned for more updates and snippets of the work to come. If you haven't picked up your copy of Fan-tasy stop by www.redrosepublishing.com/bookstore Fan-tasy isstill in the top 10 bestsellers list on Red Rose, let's keep it there. Happy Sunday, Raven Starr

Fan-Tasy is here and already

number 4 on the bestsellers list on The Red Rose Publishing site.
Let's keep it there or higher.
Make your Fan-Tasy come True Today!!
www.redrosepublishing.com

YAY!!!

Raven Starr

Fan-tasy has a release date!!!!

Hello everyone..
I am very proud to announce that Fan-tasy has a release date of September 6, 2007...
I am very very excited about the release. Check out Red Rose Publishing.....http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/

Fan-tasy first round of edits done.....

Oh wow, I wanted them, right? Yup. I kept checking my email everyday for the edits and when I got them. Oh wow. I finished thou I have to say Im pretty proud of myself. It the story had been over 20k I dont think I would have finished tonight. Well knows what the mind can do once the muse is on and kicking.
This whole experience has been a roller coater ride of up and downs. Everyday there is something new to learn. It's not easy. By NO means am I saying I could do this in sleep or blah blah. Nope this is no easy task my friend. I love it. I here at almost 2 in the morning, my work hours looming in my near future and I have the stamina of King Kong right now, yanno?
Ppfft... maybe I should go to bed.
I don't know, but I do know tomorrow is another filled with more lessons. I just hope my eyes and heart are open enough to see them
Good night and Good Morning,
Raven Starr

Vampire's Embrace excerpt.....

This room is huge. The cathedral ceiling was perfectly balanced between four ceiling to floor pillars. The pillars were made from some kind of stone. In the back of the room, two figures sat incased in a wavy translucent light. Kia walked towards them she heard creatures in the darkness scattering around her.
“Just keep your mind clear and stare straight at them. Don’t worry about the darkness.” Tristan whispered a warning to her. Kia exhaled slowly and focused her sight on the light, once they got close, a booming voice said,
“STOP!” Instantly, they both stopped.
“What is this, Tristan?” said the voice again. Kia wished that the voice wasn’t so loud, her ears were ringing as she concentrated on the creatures scattered in the void of darkness.
“She’s the hybrid of the prophecy.” Tristan said clearly.
“Oh, really?” another voice sounded in the distance.
“Yes.” Tristan replied
“Has it stared yet?” the more male sounding voice of the two said.
“Yes.” Tristan answered.
“Good.” Said the voices in unison.
It has stared, that is good. Now we must change her .We must change her. She must be a part of all; we must drain her, but slowly, to feast on her very tasty flesh. The damn Lycans have scarred her, but no matter she will taste good nonetheless .We must have it, it must be ours.
Holy shit, are they talking about eating my flesh?
No one is draining me! I gotta get the hell outta here
Quickly scanning her surroundings, she tried to work out plan of escape. Tristan saw her glancing around and knew that she was again tense. What the hell is she doing now? She worries too damn much
“Tristan, you have done a wonderful job. You may leave us now.”
Tristan smiled at Kia as if saying good-bye, but there was something in her eyes, screaming at him. As Tristan walked towards the door with a heavy feeling in his chest, he heard her voice screaming in his head,
They are going to FUCKING eat me!
As Tristan’s hand slowly turned the knob, he bowed his head contemplating his very destiny. He reached into his coat pulled out his Glock, and flipped off the safety lock.
“Get down!” he yelled moving swiftly towards her.

Fan-tasy Excerpt..Enjoy

A tingle of excitement ran down her spine. Star slipped in the cab and closed the door. The cab drove down the street only to blend in with all the other traffic.
Closer and closer the cab drove Star to her final destination. Her destiny. Her stomach churned and hummed with a sensation she hasn’t felt in a long time. Butterflies. I need a damn drink, she thought. Maybe she was obsessed, maybe these were delusions of crazed woman, the beginning of a new stalker.
“Just relax. What ever happens tonight happens.”
“We go home and live again tomorrow, yeah?” Kaylee joked.
“Yea you’re right. I need to relax. I need a drink.”
Just then the cab pulled up in front of the venue. Loud music filtered out onto the crowded street.
“Here ya go.” Star flashed a smile while she pulled out a ten dollar bill and handed it to the cabbie. “Keep it,” she smiled getting out of the cab.
“Thanks and have a good night,” the cabbie yelled back.

Yay, my personal goal is complete

What a lovely morning it is today. The lazy sunday sun drift heavenly over ahead. The love doves in my backyard sing a blessed song and rejoyce in the fact I have finished my latest story, Her Smile. Now after the tweaking and polishing I just have to it a good and loving home. My next mission is to work on Thieves in the Night and a new MS I've got bouncing about in my head.
Check out my Red Rose page and drop me aline. I will post a few excerpts today from Fan-tasy and maybe give ya a little of Her Smile.
Relax, love and enjoy, today is Sunday!
http://redrosep.ning.com/profile/RavenStarr

I've been tagged...

Here are the rules:1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts. 2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. 3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts. 4. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog. Shannon- S-I try to make everyone in my life feel special. H- I write as much as I can to hon the craft that has been given to me. A- I have three crazy yet totally awesome kids. N- with my work, college, and kids I feel like I Never get a chance to sink into my thoughts. N- oh no not another n..LOL O- I try to maintain an open heart and mind at all times. N- again well I okay Im stumped. That's just too many N's. LoL

Happy Saturday!!!!

How how wonderful it is to be Saturday. The birds are singing, the weather is cooling and I have a quiet house! LOL At least for a few hours. I have uploaded a poem called Save Yourself check it out. I will try to do so at least once a week for all my poetry buffs out there! As for my writing updat well I am currently working on a contemporary romance that I am hoping will be done today so I can start on a antho from Red Rose entitled Taken by a Sheihk. Each story will feature a romanctia/erotica theme about capture and a sheihk. Stay tuned for special sneek peak of that story coming soon. Fan-tasy is well in the works and Im waiting now for the edits to begin..lovely..lovely. No matter what I am plugging away bringing the poetry and mind swept romance that I can. Stay connected, stay posted and come back. Raven Starr

Save Yourself (Poetry Korner)

Save Yourself.

Save yourself from hell.
The burning wells,
that creeps into your brain.
Causing you to go insane.

Instead of drowning in sorrow and pain.
Try to love and refrain
let all your troubles
wash away with the rain.

Imagine- Poetry Korner

Imagine.

Imagine you were here.
And I could touch your face.
I can now imagine your strong but gentle embrace.
I have waited for so long,
to feel this strong.
To show you all the love I have inside.

Imagine there is a love.
Powerful like no other.
One where we are true
and good to one another.
Imagine how good that feeling will be.

Imagine that you could really love me.

Check out my New Red Rose Publishing Page!

Hey everyone come check out my Red Rose Publishing Page!
Leave me comment and tell me what ya think..
Raven Starr
http://redrosep.ning.com/profile/RavenStarr?viewAsOther=1

So much great news to tell...

Wow, it has been such a long long time and for that I must say Im greatly sorry for.
I got wrapped in myspace and other battles but Im back!
I have always kept up my writing and great news is that I have a paranormal book called Vampire's Embrace published by Tress Press and an e-book called, Fan-tasy published by Red Rose Publishing both coming out very soon. I am working on a few writing journeies right now and I am trying to manage all my pages. So please bear with me..
Check out my myspace.
www.myspace.com/dkraven

Stepping on the woman..(Poetry Korner)

Stepping on the woman
People think that the woman inside is hiding
That she only exist within them
They see what they want and ignore the rest
Strength is what is needed when dealing with a woman like me
I don’t play games and everything is not a sexual fantasy
I need a man in my life that doesn’t just say ‘hey man she will make a good wife’
Cuz been there and done that fuck that!
I wont go back
I am better that that, better than you and once this is over you can join the rest of the crew.
I have dreams and goals and just to let you know
I have a heart of gold but it does get cold when I am in a place I don’t need to be
Understanding goes a long way too bad not a lot of people can understand me.
Stepping on the woman is not goin well
You can not step on me without treading through hell
For I am human and I know what I like, Im running empty on men maybe I should date a dike. Hahahha laughter is good and this poem is better
I needed to get this out, your lucky its not a letter. It would long and over drawn but the same would be said
Don’t fucking steppin on me cuz when I hurt your feelings you’ll wish you were dead!
Don’t like the way I dance I never wanted to go out. Don’t like to get pissed or to scream or shout. Just wanted to see what you were all about. I am glad I know and believe your true soul shows.
Strength is what I need for I have dreams and goals. Don’t want someone that will hang on my folds. I don’t need a boy in my life someone I have to scold. Accept me for who I am, for who I will always be. And if you don’t like that then you don’t like me.
I am a woman, strong, black and not ghetto. I like sneakers and jeans not them stupid stilettos! I am a woman with a heart, but don’t piss me off cuz I can dismiss you like a stank ass fart!

Cry of the Empath (Poetry Korner)

lonely and ashamed
playing the same ole game
feeling the pressure of being unwanted
visions in my brain and always being haunted
fleeting feelings of happiness
growing out of feathery earthen nests of
dreary sadness sinking upon me
can not swim no longer have the will
heart that beats the sounds of defeat but my eyes still seek a vision that is unclear
year after year of giving of myself
is it worth it but I have no one else
plodding thru this life of mine
wondering when it is going to be my time
will it come or will I still have this feeling of being unwanted
constantly haunted by the demons in my head
visions of Christmas angels that I know are dead
happiness is something out of reach
since I can not feel it maybe I am just to teach
That shit is unfair for I have feelings too
Where is my hero? My rock? What am I to do?
Standing tall for everyone else but me
falling apart so endlessly
Strength is my weakness sensitivity my crutch
maybe I care alittle too much
I take pain from others who can not bear it. They give it over to me so willingly. But it is killing me,why cant they see.
I hate feeling this way the pain in my heart never truly goes away
music in my ears drowning out my eternal fears
wanted to be left alone but not really
Deserted by my family and even friends
but I am to smile until the end
shouting inside for my soul is torn
a light of happiness can be reborn
but the empath feels the weight of the world
A world not of my choosing a world full of pain
The cry of the empath
is the cry of the insane.

Pieces..(Poetry Korner)

Pieces
Pieces of me losing in you
I feel like the bottom of a homeless man’s shoe.
What will I do? Where will I go? Shit, I don’t know..
This weather blows cold and the days blend together.
Pieces blow through and but really fitting forever.
Pieces are misshapen to sharp or too blunt. Never trying finding the right fitting ones.
Scuffed, marked up pieces of me. Bleeding, crying begging to be free.
Can do I go through this alone?
Without the pieces that I needed to own?
For me to be completed for me to whole
To close this gaping wound in my soul
Pieces of you fit sometimes but not always is the reason for this rhyme.
Lost is translation without any explanation
Of where I can find those missing pieces of mine.

Updates and well wishes.

Hello all. How is the holiday rush treating all of us? Yea, its crazy out there but the feelings that this time of year should bring up we should have in our heart all year long. Let's try to be nicer when someone cuts us off in traffic. Or when someone grabs the last Tickle me Elmo.. ok now about the book. I am still working on rewrites and edits for my Vampire book. I haven't really been working on the sequel, but I am getting some well needed information. I am working on new poetry though especailly for this time of year. I will post some very soon. Check out my sister Kelley's new Anthology on her site, www.kelleyvitello.com.Happy Holidays. Please keep checking back for more updates and just Raven's Rants.

Great news!!! again this time its really great.lol

Hello everyone. I am so sorry that I haven't been around but I have been so busy. I am still in school but I am doing doing edits on my paranormal book. I have great news I finally landed myself a book deal and I am now in the process of lengthing and editing my book. It will be in print and available worldwide! YAY!!! Thank you so much for everyone that believed in me, that pushed me and supported me. This is only the beginning. Much love and I promise to blog more often. I blog all the time on myspac. I am www.myspace.com/dkraven look me up. Raven

Wednesday September, 13 2006

Yay, I finally heard from the very nice woman who read my vampire story. I was going to submit it somewhere else because I didn't think she was interested. But I was wrong, she contacted this afternoon and told me that she is behind in submissions but she is still very interested in my work!!! I can't believe this, this really might be it. First I am going to be published in a London mag for my poetry now someone is very interested in my book. Hell Yea!! Thats what I am talking about. So, I am just going to continue working on the second half of my vampire story and hopefully you will all be able to read it very soon. I have 3 stories that are all ready to go too. Now should I submit them somewhere else or what? I dont know this is all so new to me but it very exciting as well. I want to really thank all the beautifulpeople that helped me through this process and kept my hope alive. Kelley, my loving sister, thank you so much for all your support. I love you girl. Susan, to you my wonderful friend, thank you so much for all your advice, it was you that gave me the advice to send my poetry over sea for that I can not truly thank you enough. To the rest of you that have posted such wonderful supportive comments,thank you all and I will never forget yall. This is a glorious day(even though it is cold as hell)hahaha My love and respect to all. Raven

yay!!! Goods news has finally come

Wow! today is a good day.I have sent some of my poetry off over seas(Thank you very much,Susan!!) Today in the mal I got a letter saying that a mag in London wants to publish some of my stuff!!! what!? that is totally kool!! I am so happy! I can not believe it! I wasn't having the best day and now I am. Ilove writing poetry and I am so glad that I sent off that stuff. Now I will send off more. Poetry rulez!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok This might be it!

Alright just like in the last post. I did tweak my story last night and resubmitted it. I just got another email back and she said and I quote, " Wow Raven. I will be in touch, dear writer." Did she just call me a writer?! Are you serious. I am so happy that I cant even stand it! I don't want to get overly excited and then be let down,but I have a big smile on my face and honestly it feels good. I am proud of myself and proud of my work. I just had to tell someone!! WoooHooo

A Good Start

Hello Fellow writers, How are yall on this beautiful Wednesday afternoon? Well, today is a weird day because I got a reply from one of the stories I wrote.Yes, it came back like the other one but this time the lady said that she would re read it if I tweaked it more. Funny because I don't even remember sending this out. I went back into my story and read it and I found it was good but not the best I could have done. I was happy to be finished but to me it could have been so much better. I have been working on this story now I get this reply back saying if I tweak send it back and maybe it will happen for me. Merit! She said my story has MERIT! I love it, that makes me so happy. So when I am done I will send it back in and cross your fingers, the awesome journey of mine just might goto the next level. I have a question where can I go for someone to critique my work? Happy writing everyone!!

Shameless plug!!

"Dream Man"
By: Kelley Vitollo
September 8th
Forbidden Publications
check out her website at
www.kelleyvitollo.com

Enter her contest http://kellyv.blogspot.com she is a hell of a romance writer!!

Remembering September 3

I made it through another year and what a year it has been.
As of last night it has been 4 years since I lost my mother. Every year it does it a tad bit easier but the pain of losing her is still haunting my heart. I try to smile and be strong but inside I feel lost and weak still,as if it just happened and I can not see my way through the darkness.
I miss her so much. I struggle everyday, the stresses of daily life, but nothing compares to her lost. I feel bad, I lost my father recently and it just doesnt feel the same way. I loved him, but my mother was my rock, my support, my everything, my daughter's everything. How can I even explain to my youngest who has never even had the chance to see her, how can I explain how much she loved him?
I try not to think about everything that happened that faithful day 4 years ago.
I just try to live each day and love as much as I can, everyday because I know that tomorrow is not promised to anyone.
It was funny, I got my first few rejections(yup more than one. But not for my poetry,I have to become a better romance/erotica writer) and it didn't stun me but hurt me. It tried to dent my armour, this business is like modleing, it hurts when your on the outside looking in,but once your apart it, it is the best part ever. Being published makes a person feel that they have achieved something in thier lives and that thier writing means something to someone besides themselves. I started going over my work line by line changing,re writing, adding more detail. I will do this, I have promised myself because I want my mother to look down upon me and say That I finally made my mark. I want my kids to be able to say my mother is a writer and it means something. I know this field is not easy to break into and I know it takes work to achieve any goal or dream.
So watch out world, I am coming and then reap the whirldwind because I am a writer right now published or not!

A Traitor among us( poetry korner)

There is a traitor among us, Roaming free. He is in our mists and we can not truly see. That his intentions are not as good as he may seem to be. With a smile on his face And a dagger in your back. Be careful of this snake for he will one day attack. For his jealous eyes have spotted and trained upon this weary soul. He can no longer have this love. And that is why his anger grows. He lashes out at the world he does not know, At a child that is not his, but he watched grow. Turning her from docile to untamed and wild But his mind can not fathom what a terrible deed he has done. For he only thinks that is it all in good fun So again be careful traveling alone with your kids This traitor is among us And I know who he is.

I am back!

Yay,
I just needed some soul searching and I did that. I am here where I post what I want and say what I want. I am happy as hell today and I am not letting anyone or anything drag me down. Thank you to my sister Kelley and my writer inspired friend Susan for giving me all the support and love for the written word as much I.
I am proud of what I can write and what flows naturally from me.
I am a poet!
I am a write, no matter if I am writing romance novels or supernatural ones, even in my poetry I am different and I had to realize that it my differnce from others that draw the attention that I need.
Happiness to all!
Raven
Oh I am looking for a professional to ctitque my work anyone wanna take a stab at it?
thanx in advance

Im leaving..

Hi all, to my friends who come here to support my work thanks,but I guess I am packing up my quills and finding somewhere else to lay my head. It has nothing to do with this site or anyone just me. Writing fills a aprt of me that I can not explain. I don't to make money or to get famous. I write because thats who Iam.
I am a writer and always a poet. I am not sure that I belong here with such writers as yourselves and I dont want to change my style or who I am to achieve what it is that I truly want. Yes this is confusing for me. I have not totally made up my mind but I will be slowly deleting my work from this site but hopefully not from the hearts and minds of the few of you that I might have touched with my words.
Thanks again and I hope to meet all of you someday.
Write on, my friends.
Follow your hearts and the quill will follow.
Raven