Shelley Munro Blog

I’m going to sleep with the turtles tonight at Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic and Underwater World. It’s probably weird for me to be so excited about spending the night inside old stormwater and sewage holding tanks, but I can’t help it. I’ve been looking forward to it all week. My sleeping bag is packed, and I’m all a dither because I can’t decide what to wear. Insert eye-roll here. No doubt I’ll post some photos next week so watch this space!

It’s my birthday in December - 8th of December to be exact. Last year I had a blog party all month long and I thought I’d do something similar again. So, blog visitors, if you’d like to do a post for me on a day in December either email me at my website contact or leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.

The posts can be on any subject. If you’d like to tie it into your book that’s fine, but I don’t want anything that’s pure promo. No excerpts please, although you’re very welcome to put links to excerpts! Aspiring writers and readers - you’re very welcome to join in the fun. Email me!
Authors - I read all genres so don’t hesitate. I love to add to my to-buy list. (Hubby mutters but that’s another post entirely!) Really, come and join the party. I’d love you to visit me.

Middlemarch Mates fans - I’ve just contracted book seven in the series. Leticia’s Lovers follows Leticia, a character introduced in Stray Cat Strut. I’m so excited about this sale. As the title suggests it’s a naughty menage a trois story. If you follow the series you’ve met one of her lovers already and her second lover is introduced in Cat Burglar, which is out on 31 December.

Have a fun weekend and think of me sleeping with the turtles plus dozens of excited kids.

The lovely Tempest Knight invited me to guest blog at Midnight Moon Cafe today. My post is about cats and black cats in particular. I’m also giving away a download of Cat and Mouse. I hope you’ll visit me there.

And speaking of my Middlemarch series, I’ve received three reviews today.

At Alternative Reviews.com WitchGiggles said about Assassin: “Ok, this has some of the most interesting shifters, secrets, hot sex, and incredibly interesting characters and premises I’ve read in a bit. I was intrigued by Isabella and the secret borne by her, charmed by Leo and his family and can’t wait to read something else by this talented author.”

At Romance Junkies: : “ASSASSIN has proven to be an erotic as well as sensual read. Ms. Munro continues to satisfy her fans so completely. There is passion, intrigue, mystery, romance and all of them intertwined with the paranormal element. To top it off it has a realistic flare to it that gives you the sense that such could actually be happening behind closed doors so to speak. This story was very well done and I look forward to more in the MIDDLEMARCH MATES line of stories.”

And at Romance Readers Connection, Gloria said: “CAT AND MOUSE is everything you want in a shape shifter story. Shelly Munro gives us strong, independent Lana, and helpful, understanding alpha male, Duncan. The story has adventure, sex, humor, more sex, and romance. CAT AND MOUSE is one you don’t want to miss.”

Running Update: My legs hurt!!

I’m guest blogging over at Access Romance today, doing a special Tell-tale about my Middlemarch Mates series. Come on over and say hi.

1. Middlemarch is a small country town, in Central Otago, New Zealand. It is about 80 km West of Dunedin. It’s located in the Strath Taieri Valley.

2. Several suggestions exist about how the township was named. One is that Mrs Alice Humphreys, whose husband Edward Wingfield Humphreys owned and had surveyed for sale of sections in this new township, was reading George Eliot’s novel Middlemarch. Another is that the name is from the obsolete English term “march” meaning a boundary - in this case a middle area between two rivers.

3. Middlemarch is the setting for my feline shapeshifter series, Middlemarch Mates.

4. Each year Middlemarch holds a singles dance and a special train (nicknamed the Love Train) carries women and men to the dance from Dunedin.

5. HOW IT ALL BEGAN - the dance.

In November last year our Community Board was presented with some statistics about rural health and other services in this area. As part of her presentation, Pauline Carruthers, the local Plunket Nurse, District Nurse and at that time only local practise nurse in the area, noted that we needed more nurses and made the flippant comment that we should marry some of our bachelors off to some nurses.

The Community Board took the idea one step further and suggested to the local A & P Society that it would arrange for the sponsor of the Dance for its Centenary Show. We contacted Country & City Contacts (NZ) Ltd. They are an Amberley-based dating service that has had huge success in the rural areas, especially of the South Island. Henk & Joy van Leir were enthusiastic and supportive of the idea of publicising the dance as a good place for their clients to meet each other and also some of our bachelors.

6. The area has some rare creatures - the mountain weta, the Otago and Grand skinks and the NZ falcon.

7. The area is also home to the Sutton Salt Lake. The water in the lake evaporates during the summer.

8. There are also special clouds in the area called the Tairei Pet. A cloud formation reportedly found only in one or two places in the world. It is formed by high north westerly winds being forced upward over the Rock & Pillar range - spectacular and unnerving by its sheer size and its association with the high winds.

9. It is the start of the 150km Otago Central Rail Trail, a path that stretches from Middlemarch to Clyde. People can walk, cycle or ride horses along this path, staying overnight at stops on the way.

10. As I mentioned earlier, there’s a train from Dunedin. It travels through the spectacular Tairei Gorge and is popular with tourists.

11. Scarlet Woman, Peeping Tom and Stray Cat Strut are all set in Middlemarch and feature various members of the Mitchell family.

12. Go here to learn about how the series was born, plus there are photos. There are also Middlemarch photos here.

13. Assassin, Middlemarch Mates book 4 is coming on August 6.

Here’s the blurb:

Feline shifter Leo Mitchell is the pretty brother who attracts women with ease, but he’s turned picky. He suspects the mystery blonde hanging around Middlemarch is the one for him. If only he could grab the elusive female and seduce her. Oh yeah. He craves some hot, sinful lovin’ with the lady in black leather.

Assassin Isabella Black has harbored a huge crush on hunky Leo for ages. Because the timing sucked she’s watched him from afar, praying another woman won’t snatch the hottie away before she’s free to stake a claim.

Finally the pair meet. Isabella offers her naked body but Leo counteracts with a cup of tea. Seems Leo likes to call the shots when it comes to sex. A day later they’re finally dancing horizontally. It’s smokin’ hot, steamy, delicious—everything she’s ever wanted. Isabella is ecstatic until another assassin threatens to ruin her happiness. It’s life or death now. One wrong move and her secrets will destroy the Mitchells along with everything that has become dear to her…including Leo.

Do you like small town settings or do you prefer sophisticated city settings for your romances?

I can’t believe it. Despite the weathermen telling us we’re in for yet more storms and rain, today is sunny and warm. Everyone is drying out a little after the weather bomb from the weekend. Me - I’m looking forward to sunshine and heat so that I can wear shorts. No one knows me over there in the US so it doesn’t matter if I dazzle anyone with my winter-white legs. I’m actually packed and very organized. I think I’ll even have time for a final bike ride tomorrow. We’re meeting up with friends at the airport. I can’t wait to see everyone.

It’s my nephew’s birthday today, and I spent the morning making cupcakes and updating my website. I have release dates for two Ellora’s Cave releases. Fringe Benefit will come out on 14 November and Cat Burglar is out on 31 December. That takes my total releases for the year to ten. Hard to believe I’ve done all these books, but I have worked hard. I’m ready for a six-week break.

There are blurbs and excerpts up for the two new books. Just follow the links from the coming soon page. I’ve also put up new articles- one for readers and one for writers. They’re under the extras tab.

I’m off to do a final few things. Be good!

I received awesome news in my inbox today. I’ve sold Cat Burglar, the sixth book in my Middlemarch Mates series to Ellora’s Cave. Yesterday, I finished writing the first draft of book seven. I tell you, I’ve been on a roll with my feline shifters recently.

The final days of Brenda Novak’s auction for Diabetes Research are under way. There are raffle tickets on sale for $20 each. The raffle ticket aimed at writers is particularly interesting. I have my ticket already. The Reader’s raffle is for a Kindle so hurry and get your ticket. There’s only a day left.

Today I’m also blogging over at the Danger Zone about writing adventure stories.

I have a new cover for Cat and Mouse, the fifth book in my Middlemarch Mates series. It will come out on 1 October from Ellora’s Cave. Here’s the blurb:

Every woman has sexual needs. Lana Sinclair, feline shapeshifter and widow, is more than ready for a fun night with a likeminded male. Hot lovin’ is compulsory because she’s determined to scratch the itch that’s driving her crazy. This time, career-girl Lana is picking a malleable male who won’t try to corral her into the housewife role.

Fellow shifter Duncan Ross is the perfect candidate. The cowboy follows the rodeo circuit and is only in Middlemarch for the bull riding. One night of mutual seduction, slick, naked bodies and pleasure then he’ll be on his way.

Duncan is astonished when Lana propositions him, but no one could ever call him stupid. He’s always desired Lana and now that she’s ready for sex, he’s all action. It’s time to lasso the woman of his dreams with some sweet lovin’ and charm, a sexy massage and ropes spliced together with addictive pleasure. He’ll seduce her to his way of thinking—a permanent arrangement. This is one go-round Duncan is determined to win.

I’m giving away a copy of Midnight Treat over at Author Island today - that’s the anthology with Sally Painter, Margaret Carter and me. (cover in the sidebar to the right) Make sure you hop on over and enter the contest. The winner will receive a print copy of the anthology just as soon as I get my hands on one. This book hits the shelves on June 10 2008.

Excitement! I’ve sold the fifth Middlemarch book to Ellora’s Cave. I’m not sure of the release date for Cat and Mouse yet but will let you all know as soon as I do. Cat and Mouse features a cowboy hero and a heroine who owns a restaurant in Queenstown. Meantime, I’m hard at work on the sixth Middlemarch book.

I’ve opened a hotel. Yes, it’s true. I now own real estate space at Coffee Time Romance and you’re welcome to visit me at any time. There will be excerpts, inside info and fun discussion, news of contests and upcoming books and I hope to cajole some of my writer friends into posting some of their excerpts and covers in the Presidential Suite. Author friends? Are you there? Please come over to my new hotel, say hello and help me celebrate my opening week by posting an excerpt. To post you need to register but it’s free and only takes a couple of minutes. I hope to see you there. For all you paranormal writers out there, Coffee Time is having a special paranormal day on 27th. The Ellora’s Cave day I attended recently was lots of fun so check this out.

On 1 March I’m starting in the third Sweat for Sven challenge. I want to complete my current work in progress and make inroads on a tiger shifter story I’ve storyboarded. Is anyone else sweating with Sven?

I’ve read some great books recently. I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of Lauren Dane’s Standoff. Here’s the blurb:

Cade Warden has put his Pack first for most of his life and now Warren Pellini and his thugs threaten everything he holds dear. Into that life of intense focus and increasing loneliness walks the woman he’s been waiting for.

Grace Pellini isn’t just Cade’s mate, she’s the sister of his greatest enemy and she’s been putting herself in grave danger to gather information to aid the Nationally Allied Packs. Cade is everything she could have hoped for in a man even if he is overprotective and pushy at times.

Against the backdrop of their increasing passion and deepening bond, they race against time to find a key to stop Pellini’s biological weapon. And then the stakes rise again when Pellini calls an ancient Challenge. It’s up to Grace to stand by and let her mate risk everything for his people. And his life is in her hands.

Standoff completes the series story arc and it’s a great finish. It’s no secret that I love Lauren’s books. True, she’s a writer friend, but check out her reviews. You know there’s a reason she’s selling to New York publishers now. Cascadia Wolves is an excellent series guaranteed to satisfy the paranormal fan with strong alpha heroes and equally tough heroines who don’t take any nonsense from their mates or anyone else. Each successive book is like a visit to friends since we get to see all the family interaction, their bickering and loving and the way they face a challenge. In this book we finally get to see Cade find his mate, and it’s a beautiful thing. Standoff is out from Samhain on 4 March.

Another book I’ve read and enjoyed is Another One Bites the Dust by Jennifer Rardin. It’s paranormal meets James Bond with Jaz Parks as the heroine. There’s vampires, wizards, bellydancing, acrobats and a winter festival. Jaz and her team need to retrieve a special piece of stolen equipement. I’ve mentioned the first book Once Bitten, Twice Shy before and I’m eagerly awaiting a chance to read the third book in the series. Really, this is a great series.