Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

I love reading. No secret there, that’s what prompted me to start writing and pursue publication. Living in New Zealand, it used to be difficult to find romance novels and like many others down this end of the world, I started off by reading Harlequin Mills & Boon stories since that was it for choice. Then something happened – I wanted more. I wanted different. I scanned shelves searching for different and discovered a love of paranormal way before it became fashionable. Ghosts, genies, shapeshifters and time-travel. There weren’t that many vampires around at the time.

I discovered Romance Writers of New Zealand and a specialist romance store right here in Auckland. I pounded away on my keyboard and wrote, targeting Mills & Boon like many of my fellow writer friends. I received rejections and realized I didn’t fit. I looked further afield and discovered ebooks. I researched the publishers and purchased some of their ebooks. I purchased more, submitted a story or two to epublishers and found a home.

That’s a brief potted history. I was thinking about the way my book buying has changed. I now purchase loads of ebooks since I’m comfortable ordering online and can get my “different” fix this way. I have a PDA to read my ebooks or use my laptop and don’t have a problem reading from the screen. I don’t hanker for the smell of paper. In fact ebooks are awesome when it comes to storage. What hubby doesn’t know won’t hurt him!

Part of being a writer is keeping up with the market. That’s expensive, and I can’t afford to buy every book I need to read. The library I belong to is very romance-friendly. I was ecstatic last year when I found they’d started to order in a lot of erotic romance. Over the years I’ve seen lots of blogs, articles etc about how people shouldn’t use libraries but should buy books and support authors. I don’t subscribe fully to that wisdom. My local library has copies of most of my books, and I’m happy with this. I mean they’ve purchased them initially so I do get one sale. My books aren’t readily available in New Zealand but readers are able to check out my books from the library and I’m building a local readership. For me, that works. These days lots of peope don’t pick up a book at all, so yes, if having my books in a library encourages people to read I’m all for it.

When I was in Hawaii recently I discovered most of the books I wanted to buy were trade paperback, and at $14 a pop my suitcases weren’t crammed quite as full of books as I’d envisaged before leaving home. I couldn’t afford it. Once I get through my to-read pile I’ll check the ebook sites online because a lot of the books I want are out in this format now. Ebooks are certainly cheaper for me down here in NZ. A mass paperback sells for between $15 – $20 and a trade paperback is around $30 – $35. This makes ebooks for around $8 (with the exchange rate) a much better deal.

I’ve also been known to visit the local secondhand bookshop but they don’t have many recent releases available, apart from Harlequin category books.

My biggest, bestest advice. For those of you who live in New Zealand or Australia I’ve discovered Fishpond (links below). Fishpond is our local version of Amazon and very good value since they’ve started discounting books. I shop there quite often these days.

So where do you buy your books? Have your book buying habits changed over the years like mine?

It’s been great to get back to work on my writing again, although I did do a little while I was in Hawaii. This week I sent off my Cavemen sub, and I’ve started a new Middlemarch story titled Cat and Mouse. I’ve been writing during the mornings and editing in the afternoons. I’m editing another Middlemarch story called Assassin. Hopefully I’ll get quite a bit done during the weekend since Mr. Munro is working.

My bookmarks arrived today, and they’re very pretty. Frauke from Croco Designs designed them for me and Printing for Less did the print job. I must say I was really impressed with the ease of ordering and efficient manner in which my job was carried out. I highly recommend both Fruake and Printing for Less.

I’ve read some wonderful books during the last three weeks. When I couldn’t pick which book to read first I decided to read in my books in alphabetical order as per my PDA. The system worked really well so I think I’ll use this method again. These are some of the books I enjoyed most of all. Alien Overnight by Robin Rotham, Fire and Rain by Lauren Dane, Gift of the Godess by Denise Rossetti, At Her Command by Marcia James and Dangerous Lover by Lisa Marie Rice.

Does anyone have a good read to recommend? One or two more books added to my to-read pile won’t make much difference since it’s a huge tower already!

As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Lauren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people. Now a defector, his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins—cold, pitiless, unfeeling. Until he meets Brenna…

Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted—and had her mind violated—by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them. Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives…

Wow! All I can say is that Nalini’s Psy/Changeling series just keeps getting better and better. I’m hooked, and luckily there are more Psy books to come. If you’re a reader who loves paranormal and wants something original and different, go no further. I loved the hero, Judd. He’s so conflicted, his way of life so totally Psy with no emotion, but the love of a good woman gradually changes him. It was great to see and I loved Brenna’s tenacity in going after what she wanted, even though she is wounded, too.

Pre-order your copy here or if you’d like to read excerpts Nalini’s website is here. The first two books in the series are Slave to Sensation and Visions of Heat. Caressed by Ice releases on 4 September – an auspicious day since it’s also my wedding anniversary.
Go on – try them. I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed

PS – check out Nalini’s blog and take part in the special quiz Nalini has designed to see which Psy/Changeling character you are…

Mr. Munro and I have started going for a walk after dinner. I’m not sure how long this extra exercise routine will last, but it’s actually quite nice walking briskly in the dark with the wee dog.

Paige Tyler has tagged me. Since my middle name is a highly kept secret I’m considering what to post. Watch this space.

Spice Briefs: Has anyone purchased/read the Spice Briefs by Delilah Devlin and Sarah McCarty? I downloaded them today and hope to read them during the next couple of days. I’m interested to see what they’re like.

And finally, in my monthly website update I’ve uploaded some new photos on my photo blog and added some new excerpts for my upcoming releases and a new article for writers.

TJ, my Dynamic Trio buddy has a new release. Go and buy it right now

Serati’s Flame by T. J. Michaels
Genre: Red Hots!, Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 1-59998-549-7
Length: Novel
Price: 5.50
Cover art by Anne Cain

For two Seekers of justice, hunting rogues is dangerous business. But not as dangerous as their yearning for each other.

There’s a rogue on the loose, and the Vampire Council of Ethics has just the man for the job. Alaan Serati, along with his team of elite fighters, is a Seeker for the V.C.O.E. The lethal vampire law enforcement assassin is also the most eligible bachelor of Clan Serati. His job: Take out the rogue vampire who killed his mate years ago. But working with a fellow Seeker quickly becomes a pain in his backside. How is he supposed to accomplish the mission if he can’t keep his mind or his hands off of his fellow officer?

For more years than she wants to remember, Tameth Serati-Cole has worked almost every day, side by side, with the gruff and gorgeous Alaan. It’s been hell considering the special bond between them, something rarely developed between mates. But Alaan doesn’t really want her. He’s still pining away for the woman taken from him years ago. So when he declares his need to bond with her, this lady Seeker ain’t biting…even if she’s wanted to since the day they met.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, and violence.

Read An Excerpt Online

Buy from MBaM!

A story from the National Geographic blog feed caught my attention because it’s about hyenas. My story Romantic Interlude features hyenas. Richard and Hinekiri, my hero and heroine, encounter them when they go on safari in Africa.

Evidently a study has found female hyenas force males to leave home by snubbing their sexual advances, thereby cutting the risk of incestuous mating. It seems female hyenas prefer mating with males from other clans or males born after they were, and this is nature’s way of preventing incestuous encounters and ensuring the breed stays strong. The full article is here

Below is a shot of a hyena mother and pups. There were actually three pups but there’s only one in this photo. This was taken in Kenya at the Masai Mara game park. We sat and watched the hyena family for quite a while. They’re not exactly attractive animals but it was fascinating watching them nonetheless.

I thought I’d mention two books for you to check out. If you enjoy sci-fi/futuristic stories check out Christine d’Abo’s The Bond That Ties Us. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet but it’s sitting on my hard drive ready for my next spare moment.

Here’s the blurb:

The Bond That Ties Us By Christine d’Abo

Haylie knows her life is about to change the moment she sets foot on the Eurus colony. What she didn’t count on was her instant, overwhelming sexual desire for the seven-foot-tall, sexy as hell alien ambassador. He’s in her every thought and dream, teasing and taunting her body into a sexual frenzy.

Kamran has waited his whole life to find his bonded mate. When she arrives in the form of a slender human with brilliant eyes, he can’t stop his all-consuming need to possess her. If their bond is discovered, they will be forced by Briel law to leave the colony, giving up the lives they’ve worked so hard to build.

While Haylie and Kamran fight their growing desire, their colony is threatened by an unseen enemy. When the colony comes under attack by a brutal alien force, can Haylie and Kamran keep their bond a secret and stop the invasion in time to save everyone?

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Lauren Dane also has a new release coming out this week on July 25. It’s called Threat of Darkness and you can read an excerpt here. I read Lauren’s Ascension not long ago and loved her new werewolf series. Lauren writes great characters – strong heroines who know their own minds and don’t take crap from anyone and heroes that you just want to steal for your own. There are usually intriguing family dynamics at play and by the time I close one of her books I’m ready to apply for adoption into said family. Check out Lauren’s Ellora’s Cave books right here

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I’m finding my writing frustrating at the moment. My word count isn’t as good as it could be, but at least I’m writing a little every day. Too many other distractions in my life at the moment. It hasn’t been a good year. Assassin is almost at 40,000 words. If I keep at it I should manage to finish my first draft this month.

I’m also working on a new idea and started doing character sheets tonight. I don’t normally do character sheets but I’m making a conscious effort to dig deeper into my characters and thought this might help. Charlotte Dillon has an awesome page of links just for writers who want to build their characters. There are loads of articles here that will keep you busy for a while. She also has a link for a character sheet. There are many variations of the character sheet. The one I’m using comes from the Harlequin site.

How do you flesh out your characters? Do you do character sheets or use some other method to make your hero and heroine come alive? And if you’re a reader rather than a writer, what book are you reading at the moment?