The Book Smugglers are having a steampunk week over at their blog. I’ve gotten a ton of questions about What Steampunk Is, and this might be a great place to start for those of you still wondering: The Introduction (and Primer) ETA: And this, Bloggers Talk Steampunk.

And for a look at how I am handling the question, I’ve put up an (unedited) excerpt for “Here There Be Monsters,” from the BURNING UP anthology out in August. THE IRON DUKE is up for pre-order as well at Amazon (it’s a trade sized novel, which is why it’s $15 — and I don’t know yet if it will be re-issued in mass-market. I suspect that is something the pub decides after they see how well (or not) the book does.) As soon as I see it for pre-order at other locations, I’ll add those links in, as well.

For those of you wondering about how The Iron Seas fits together as a series — all of the novels are lightly connected with some recurring characters, but each romance and plot stands alone.

When you meow at the door, wanting to be let in, then PLEASE COME IN instead of standing there, sniffing the doorframe, and deciding whether you REALLY want to enter the abode where your fricking food is. I swear to God, I’m going to shut the door in your cute little face next time!

kthxbai,
Meljean

P.S. *sob sob* Okay, I wouldn’t shut it in your cute wittle face. It’s true: I’m totally pussy-whipped.

…and my inner control freak. (Er, not that there is an outer control freak, is there?)

And I usually don’t post these, but one search term that brought someone to my site was

fuck against wall: romance novels

Dear searcher, you might like these:

Just click on a cover! Although, okay — DEMON ANGEL was against a closet door, DEMON NIGHT was while standing in the middle of a room, and DEMON BOUND was against a tree. Still. They were upright.

…and here is another post that could have probably just been on Twitter.

…I’m at Odd Shots, talking about the music for the Guardian series.

And in case you missed it, I put up an excerpt for Demon Blood (it does include spoilers for Demon Forged, so if you haven’t read that yet, be warned.)

Here’s a snippet from the Burning Up novella (I am LOVING the steampunk, but it’s also why I’m not posting here often.):

Her heart pounding, Ivy held still as Mad Machen crossed the distance between them. His dark face lowered, stopping with his lips a breath from hers. He murmured, “Here in front of my men, or in my cabin. That is your choice.”

“Your cabin.” Frustration shook through her whisper. “And damn you to a kraken’s belly.”

His brows rose, and a surprised laugh broke from him before his mouth suddenly covered hers, his long fingers cupping her jaw. Not a hard kiss, and not tender—it was a statement, she realized, for the men watching them. A claim, pure and simple.

A claim that went on until Ivy had to employ all of her willpower to refrain from biting him.

He finally lifted his head, and turned to the boy. “Duckie, escort Ivy Blacksmith to my cabin. See that she wants for nothing.”

“Yes, sir.” The boy gathered her satchel from the captain, and looked expectantly to Ivy.

Plastering on a smile, she pulled at her trouser legs and curtsied to Mad Machen. His laugh followed her to the stairs—and Ivy decided she could make a statement, too. A brass finial shaped like an egg decorated the end of the banister. Ivy closed her gray hand around it. Metal shrieked as she crushed the finial between her fingers.

His laughter stopped.

She released the mangled brass, and called over her shoulder, “I await your mighty prick, sir!”

A free short story. “In Sheep’s Clothing” was originally published in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF PARANORMAL ROMANCE, but now it’s here, too. Just click on the cover.

In Sheep's Clothing

My sister just told me that my brother-in-law’s cousin, 23-year-old Ryann Bunnell Crow, has been missing since Jan 30th.

Here is the TV news report and the article. If you are in the area, please take a look.

I’m trying to decide between getting up — and risk falling flat on my face — and bearing the pain of walking around on a leg as it’s coming back to life, or just never moving again and having a numb leg forever, even if it means I have to pee on myself.

…and to relate this post to romance novels, that metaphorically resembles the decision that an emotionally stunted hero must make at the book’s climax. It also explains why dogs like to hump my leg — they are channeling their inner stunted alpha.

I think that makes me a doormat by default, though.

***

Also, I’m starting to plan the website update in preparation for the new steampunk series. Is there anything on this site that you’d like to see that isn’t currently available? Anything about the current site that you wish wasn’t there, or that you wish was done differently?

Amazon seems to have Demon Forged on sale, for almost half off the cover price ($4.67). Will that last beyond today? I have no clue.

I have gone through every caffeinated thing in our house, but desperately need some to keep going this morning. I found some Godiva’s mocha mix that is six months past the pull date. Will it kill me? Check yes or no.

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