1) You've had an amazing last month. What can you tell us about it?

Hmm, I’m not even sure where to start. I split my time between Ohio and Louisiana and I feel both of them are my home. I’d just returned to Ohio on August 19th and I was scheduled to return roughly three weeks later…then came Hurricane Katrina and all of my plans went out the window.

The same day that Katrina hit the Gulf Coast I began making plans to head south. I contacted friends, readers, strangers – anyone who would talk to me about gathering supplies and cash for the trip. In the end, with the help of numerous people, I’d amassed something like 1200 pounds of supplies for endangered infants. (there are some photos of my car on the website in my journal) What was normally a 16-hour trip took me 25 hours straight what with people hording gasoline and so many roads were closed due to storm damage etc.

I ended up in Houma, Louisiana and I set up housekeeping. I immediately began making contacts with the shelters, making arrangements to have items bought, donated or shipped down. In the background I had some amazing assistance with friends fielding calls, running errands, making deliveries, buying supplies and arranging accommodations for horses in danger. It was a complete and utter whirlwind consisting of 16 – 18 hour days with my ear glued to the phone and sticky notes plastered all over my body.

In the end we raised about 6000.00 which we used to buy supplies and arrange housing. By the time I left Houma on September 19, I figured that we had collected 600 full sets of adult clothing, 1000 pounds of baby formula, thousands of diapers, blankets, baby clothing. 200 pounds of medical supplies, 10 cases of toys and probably another 500 – 600 pounds of miscellaneous items such as shampoo, razors etc.

I also help create an organization to help those in need and the website is available at http://www.writestuffrelief.org and that website outlines what we’re still trying to accomplish.

I met some amazing people and I’ve been truly, truly blessed by this experience.


2) Do you think this will affect your writing? Are you doing any writing?

This experience has affected every breath that I take –there’s no way around it. Currently I’m not writing but I should be back into it hot and heavy by November.


3) What are your writing plans for this year and what have you done most recently?

Once I return to Ohio and get settled, I have a full plate of work waiting for me. I will be working on the third title in the Men of SWAT series (tentatively titled TACTICAL ASSAULT) and I cannot wait to get to it. Not only is my hero a handsome officer, but he proves himself to be a hero in the fullest sense of the word.

After that I will be working on the next installment in the Shadow Hunter series, a sexy paranormal from Ellora’s Cave. The tentative title is ARCHANGEL and the hero is a very, very sexy were-cat with a penchant for high heels (on his women, not him) and leather. I do so adore writing the proverbial bad boy characters.


4) Is there anything you want to add?

Coming in December I have a big contest coming up called the 24 days ‘til a Wilder Christmas and the prizes will be fabulous and much fun will be had! You can visit me at http://www.jcwilder.com.

Beverly Havlir
http://www.beverlyhavlir.com

Excerpt from Karn'al: Jed's Revenge by Beverly Havlir
Available November 2005
Ellora's Cave Publishing

Kate sat still, absorbing his light touch, concentrating on his voice, letting his words wash over her. His hands were never still, trailing down her arms, tracing the ridges on her palms, following the curve of her waist. But all she felt was a pleasant tingle, a warm feeling. Where was the rush of blood pounding in her veins? Well, she reasoned, maybe there were different levels of arousal. Sex couldn't always be explosive and mind destroying, right? Sex could sometimes be warm and gentle, she insisted to herself.

Rohm's hands ventured to the undersides of her breasts, the heat of his skin penetrating through the thin cotton of her sundress. She didn't demur when he curved around the mounds, cupping them lightly in his hands. She didn't protest when his thumbs brushed against her nipples. Again and again. She felt a mild stirring inside her. At last. There it was.

Curiosity, more than anything else, made her sit still and absorb her body's reactions to Rohm's touch. She breathed deeply as he grasped her hands and gently tugged them to either side of her. "Your Highness…"

His chuckle felt entirely too warm at her nape. "Don't be afraid, Kate. I won't hurt you." He had secured one of her wrists to something metal, clinking softly. Before she could protest, he'd done the same to the other one.

"I don't think-"

Rohm silenced her with a finger on her lips. "Shhh. You think too much." He pulled off her blindfold.

Kate blinked. It was a moment before she could focus. She looked from side to side and found her wrists tied to metal rings on the floor. It was loose enough that it gave her some movement, but not much. She was effectively tied down.

He was behind her, softly caressing every bit of exposed skin he could reach. She sucked in her breath sharply as the door opened abruptly and slammed against the wall.

Jed.

She was unable to take her eyes off him as he came towards her. His face was drawn in tight lines, his eyes dark and unreadable. Kate swallowed. Her gaze dropped to his chest. Shirtless, his muscles rippled softly as he approached where she sat. Her eyes unerringly found the bulging muscles of his thighs, strong and powerful under the soft material of his pants. But it was his crotch that drew her gaze and kept it, for it strained against the fastening of his trousers, making its presence known. He was aroused, magnificently so.

Heat spread like hot liquid in her veins. The flaring of his nostrils, the hot slide of his eyes over her body, stirred her like no other. She felt her nipples pucker and tighten, plain for him to see.

"You did not think I was going to let him have all the fun, did you, Kate?" he drawled softly, coming to kneel in front of her.

Instinctively, she tugged on her hands and realized she was bound and helpless in front of both men. The thought should have scared her. Instead of terror, she felt a slow melting of her defenses, accompanied by the sharp sting of hot awareness. Oh God, were they both going to fuck her?

The thought brought a soft moan to her lips.

A grin tugged at the corner of Jed's lips. His eyes were shooting hot sparks at her breasts and she trembled. He was looking at her like he was about to devour her. She glanced over her shoulder at Rohm. "You planned this," she breathed unsteadily.

In response, he skimmed kisses over her shoulder and placed his big body behind her, positioning her between his spread knees. His hands were never still, always roaming, touching and gliding over places she never knew were so sensitive. Jed wasn't idle either. He stripped her of her dress and tossed it somewhere behind him. Left in bikini briefs, she gasped as he pushed her legs wide apart and pulled the silky material taut over her pussy.

"Beautiful," he murmured.

"Very," Rohm murmured over her shoulder, looking at the picture of her splayed out in front of him.

Little needles of fire were pricking her skin all over. Kate squirmed, trying to dislodge two pairs of hands that were driving her to distraction. Her mind fogged over. This was wrong. She shouldn't let them do this. "Stop," she whispered, half-heartedly.

The two men stilled. Jed tipped her chin up, making her look directly at him. "Do you really want to stop, Kate?"

© 2005 Beverly Havlir

Katherine Kingston
http://www.katherinekingston.com

From "Checkmate" by Katherine Kingston
In the PLEASURE RAIDERS anthology
November 2005
Ellora's Cave

When the lift doors opened, depositing them on the fourth floor, he pointed left and they raced down the hall.

They made it into the room, ran across the floor, kicking off boots and shedding clothes as they went and landed together on the bed. He stretched out beside her.

She had time for a quick glance at his form and liked what she saw. Liked it a lot.

As she'd noted earlier, he was tall but on the slim side, with no extra bulk. Broad shoulders topped a hard chest, then narrowed down to a slim waist and hips. Lean muscle and smooth skin wrapped the strong bones into one very appealing package. His cock stood at attention, nicely filled out and eager for her.

His mouth found hers again, for a long, dazzling kiss that made her blood fizz and her womb throb. His hands bracketed her face, then slid down along her throat and chest to her breasts.

Electric sparks ignited everywhere he touched.

Devonne reached for him in turn, running her fingers into the silk of his dark hair. He pressed against her. Rivers of heat streamed from every place his flesh met hers. The hard length of his cock dug into her belly. She moved to position it closer to where she wanted it.

He had other ideas and drew back a few inches. "Not yet," he said, between placing nipping kisses all along her throat. The delicious tingly ache of those drew a sigh and then a moan from her.

"I don't… I'm going to explode," she warned him. "Soon!"

"Beautiful." Lips nuzzled her breast. A raspy tongue circled it just outside the areola, then spiraling inward until he brushed across her nipple. The sharp pleasure drew a louder moan from her. "You're so beautiful," he sighed as he moved from one breast to the other. "And so responsive."

"You're setting me on fire."

She felt like a volcano with the magma building up inside, threatening to erupt in heat and flames. Delight sparkled in his eyes as he watched her reaction. When his gaze met hers, though, he stilled for a moment. It felt as though their souls brushed together in that brief instant as they looked at each other.

 

Samantha Winston
http://www.samanthawinston.com

Excerpt from TIGER GOLD by Samantha Winston
Asteroid 6969 series available from Ellora's Cave

...Three days after Heidi arrived, she woke up when Fanny came to her room and told her to get dressed and get ready for school. Heidi was tired, and wasn't used to getting up early. No Condozzi had ever woken up before noon.

Yawning, Heidi said she didn't see the use of schooling, that she already knew how to read. But Fanny explained that it would be nice to have people skilled in medicine, science, and all sorts of things to make life better on the asteroid.

Heidi remarked the best thing would be to study rocket building, so they could all get the fuck off the planet.

Fanny had frowned mightily, and had told her in no uncertain terms that young ladies didn't use that sort of language. If she wanted to be a ruffian, she could go right back over Glitch Gully and hang out with the Condozzi gang.

Heidi had started to cry then, the first time she'd cried since her parents died, and Fanny had held her until her tears had finally all gone. Then Fanny had kissed her on the cheek and told her all about the Fandango House.

"You know why I set up this place?" she said.

Her eyes still swollen from crying, Heidi shook her head.

"Because I do want everyone to get off this asteroid. It's worse than Hades here, I know that. But we're stuck. For now. But bit by bit, I make enough money to buy safe passage. You know what that is? It's what it costs for a ship to take someone to a Federation planet and get them set up as a real citizen there with papers and everything. It takes lots of money, but it's worth it. So far, I've sent five young'uns away. And they send money back to me, so I can help others."

"Safe passage." Heidi whispered the words, her heart beating fast. "I want to help. Let me help too. We have to send Ivy off next. She has a cough, and it ain't getting better."

"I know." Fanny looked sad, and gave Heidi another hug. She also shook her head. "You know what? You're the first person not to ask for safe passage for yourself. You thought of Ivy first."

Heidi looked down at her bare toes, wiggled them a bit. "Well, I was going to ask for it after Ivy," she said, shrugging. Actually, she hadn't even thought about it. Getting off the asteroid was almost too much to wish for-it was like wishing that the stars would fly down from the sky and make a necklace for her. She looked at Fanny. "I want to stay and help you. I can earn money too."

Fanny raised her eyebrows. "And just how do you plan to do that?"

Heidi's plan had been simple. They needed clients. The west side of town, where all their regular clients lived, had a fair-sized population, but money was scarce. There were a few other seedy bordellos, most of them owned by sleazy types. The east side of town had the Condozzi bastards. But the spaceport was virgin territory. So far, no one really controlled it and it still got a fair amount of traffic from smugglers and such.

Heidi got to work painting signs, and early one morning she'd gone to the spaceport with Clive, Fanny's right-hand man, and they'd put the signs up everywhere.

"Spaceport bar closed for repairs? Spaceport beer flat? Spaceport dancing girls ugly? Come to Fanny's Fandango House of Pleasure and Fantasy, various dance establishments, bars, etc. and have a great time on Asteroid 6969!"

The signs had done their work.

And Clive had made sure the spaceport bar wouldn't be open for business any time soon.

"You used too much explosive," said Heidi, awed, as half the building turned to rubble.

Clive just shrugged, a grin on his face. "Not to worry-no one was there. But next ship that lands here will see your signs, and Fanny will get new clients."

And that's how it went.

But as Heidi grew up, she wanted to do more than just paint signs, help the cook, and do housework. She begged and she pleaded, and finally Fanny gave in.

"All right. You want to lose your virginity, you silly twit?" Fanny had started to yell at her, something she hadn't done in years.

Heidi pushed her chin out stubbornly. "I'm eighteen years old. I'm emancipated and have all my shots. Why can't I have some fun? I see what goes on between men and woman, by Hades! I see it all the time. I get so horny some days I come just by crossing my legs!"

"So get a vibrator!" cried Fanny.

"I already have a vibrator. But I'm sick of it. I have an idea. You can make even more money off me. You can auction me off."

Heidi had thought it a brilliant idea. Fanny fumed and fussed, and finally gave in.

Looking back, Heidi figured it was the stupidest thing she'd ever done.

* * * * *

She breathed slowly, rubbing her arms as the terrible ache persisted. In the darkness she couldn't see the welts and bruises on her body. She was glad. In the dark, she could pretend she was still untouched. Still pure. Still a virgin. Until the auction. Until Ivan had bought her.

Heidi had been too greedy. She'd wanted to make enough money for two safe passages in just one night. What better way than to auction off her virginity? She'd even painted signs for it and had posted them up in the spaceport-despite Clive begging her not to. And that's how Ivan had come to find out about the sale.

Ivan wasn't a newcomer to the establishment. He'd swaggered in one day and had announced he was looking for a new slave girl to tie up and beat.

Heidi had been horrified, but a couple of the girls on the floor had gotten off their chairs and had strolled over, their eyes bright. Fanny obviously knew he wasn't dangerous, because she hadn't ordered Clive to shoot him. Heidi's curiosity had been piqued. When Ivan took his woman into the bondage room, Heidi, for the first time, had gone to the peephole to look.

All the rooms had peepholes. It was for the girls' protection. Heidi had never looked, although some girls loved to do that. And the bondage room had never interested her before. But this time she was curious. She knelt in front of the peephole and watched.

Ivan took his time. First, he ordered Claire to do a striptease. Then, when she was naked, he made Claire lie down on the bed and made sure she couldn't get loose. But he did it gently, with hands that fluttered over her body as he attached the handcuffs and ankle restraints.

"What's the safe word?" Claire asked, her nipples hardening beneath Ivan's firm touch.

"Spaceship," said Ivan, and he twisted her nipple.

Claire gasped, but she didn't say anything, and Ivan took both nipples and twisted them cruelly. Heidi wondered if Claire would shout "spaceship!", but she just arched her back and said, "More!"

When he was finished with her nipples, Ivan took a little leather crop and slapped Claire until faint red lines appeared on her thighs.

Heidi thought that Fanny would come in and take the crop away, but she didn't, and Claire started writhing and moaning in a way that made Heidi think Ivan wasn't hurting her all that much.

When Ivan finally took Claire, Heidi had been worked up into a state of excitement she'd rarely experienced. Seeing a woman tied up and spanked had at first horrified, then wound her up. She'd rushed to her room and grabbed her vibrator, and put it to good use. All the while thinking about handcuffs, crops, and Ivan.

At the auction, Fanny had announced that Heidi was a virgin, and a submissive. The winner would get Heidi as his main woman for a whole year. He'd get her virginity, and he could come back during the year and ask for her, and she'd have to drop any client she had to service the winner first.

The crowd, already the biggest crowd ever at Fanny's, had gone still. And then an eager murmur swept over it. The bidding was fierce.

When Ivan finally won, Fanny had looked uncertain. Ivan was a regular, but he didn't have the best reputation. Some girls had refused to serve him after a few times, although no one ever made a formal complaint. Clive said that Ivan got most of his money fighting sabre duels at the spaceport, which might have had something to do with the lack of complaints.

But Heidi had gotten wet just thinking about getting tied up, and Ivan's bad-boy reputation had titillated her. Once they were all alone in the bedroom, Ivan had told her about the word "spaceship", and how it was the safe word and would make him stop whatever he was doing. Heidi nodded. She'd felt perfectly secure.

Then he'd sternly told her what he wanted her to do, and she'd nearly come all by herself…and afterwards he'd left, and she'd waited. And waited. And waited.