Obviously, my website has been revamped – it’s it gorgeous?!  Waxcreative, as always, exceeded my expectations!  So now it reflected the wolf  as well as the romantic suspenses and I think it ties in so well.

Wax also redid the Sydney Croft page as well!

So, upcoming – and SOON – is the prequel to the Eternal Wolf Clan series – Dire Warning!  It releases February 7th and then Dire Needs:  Book 1 in the EWC series comes out March 6th!

For those who’ve been asking about poor Reid and Grier from Night Moves, yes, I totally plan to do something for them before the new suspense series begins in 2013 – I promise to keep you posted!

Other than that, I’m diving into the first of the new romantic suspense series – the book is currently titled Unbreakable and the series is called Section 8.  I just handed in book 2 in the Eternal Wolf Clan series and I’m getting ready for a blog tour for the upcoming releases.  And, I’m also going to try to blog here more.

Stop laughing.  Just keep staring at Rifter over there on the left.  And I’ll update here for the blog tour because there will be giveaways along the way!  Hope everyone’s doing well and having a good start to 2012 – we had our first dusting of snow last night so it’s finally starting to feel like winter.  I like winter.  Probably because I commute from the bedroom to the kitchen and back…

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

NIGHT MOVES

Anything can happen under the cover of darkness.

Kell Roberts has walked the thin line between life and death for so long that it now feels like home. He is a soldier, a survivor, and a loner. Still, Kell cannot turn his back on the beautiful woman caught in his firefight against the drug lords of Mexico. She says her name is Teddie, but Kell senses there’s much more to her story—and it’s about to pull him into a mission he didn’t sign on for: keeping her alive.

Teddie Lassiter knows this lean, mean rescuer just saved her life, but the steel glint behind those soft gray eyes seem to be hiding something deep. The men after Teddie are deadly, but the man who holds her life in his hands and tempts her with his wicked touch is even more dangerous. He could make her dream about living and loving again. And if they can survive, maybe, just maybe, they can stop fighting the world and each other—and simply surrender.

***

You can read an excerpt here and find character lists and soundtracks as well here!  And a few people have asked if it’s the last of the Shadow Force series – the answer is no, for sure.  I have a lot of plans, especially for Reid and Grier.  Also, I’m not done with Romantic Suspense – I’ve got a new RS series – Section 8 – coming out with NAL.  I’m excited for all my upcoming projects!

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

I think that’s an excellent reason.

Anyway, I’ve just sold a PNR (paranormal) trilogy to NAL (Penguin Group)!!!

And yes, I will be continuing the romantic suspenses!  Don’t forget, I was writing them along with the Sydney Crofts all these years.  So with the last ACRO book coming out June 2011,  I realized I would miss writing Paranormals a bit too much and I hatched my evil plan…because three hours a night is really way too much to sleep anyway.

I’ll share more details when I have them – but for now, I’m really REALLY thrilled with this sale!!! A nice early Christmas present…and books I’ve been thinking about for oh, two years now…

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

I still can’t really believe it.  I mean, last night, I was hyperventilating and in a general state of, well, stunned.  Like, really and truly and I’m so absolutely thrilled and thankful and grateful to all the people who bought the books and talked them up and blogged them.  You guys are awesome!

Even better, I get to share the thrill with Larissa Ione – we released the same day and her book, Ecstacy Unveiled, hit the New York Times at #23 and the USA Today Bestseller List at #58 (she’s hit both lists before and she just keeps climbing higher – I’m so proud of her!)

Larissa and I have done a lot together – I mean, we write together as Sydney Croft.  But it’s more than that – we sold our own first project within three days of one another.  She hit the Times with her third single title.  I hit it with mine.  And we’re right next to each other.  And we have purple covers.  So it’s really strange and really cool at the same time.

Zoo had a work dinner last night – when he came home, he said, you’d have thought I hit the list – everyone was buying me shots and drinks and stuff!

For the record, I had a brownie for dinner.  I know – I’m actually pretty happy about that.  Chocolate for dinner – who can complain?

Today, I’ll be trying to keep my mind on my revisions – and you can read my interview over at the Black Raven Cafe – stop on by and say hello and you’re eligible for a backlist giveaway!

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

I understand it can differ for ePubs, because they use actual computer count, so you can check Word or whatever program you use and get your actual word count there.  Easy enough.  So if the publisher says they want manuscripts of 40K, I’m assuming (I know, I know…) that they’ll get anywhere from 38K to 45K (or maybe a bit more).

But most print publishers – well, at least mine – still use the page count thing and I’ll explain why in a second.  On the contracts, publishers expect anywhere from 85K to 100K, although these days going over 100K is slightly more problematic than coming in a bit under.  Publishing costs and all, I’m guessing, although I do know that most editors will not trim away an extra 20K if it is fabulous and not simply filler.

So it goes like this – for every 20 pages, it’s assumed that it’s 5K.  So 200 pages should equal 50K, half a manuscript for a NY single title.

Here’s the rub – if you write lots of dialogue (like me) you’ll have low word count but a regular page count.  For instance, on the current WIP, I have 193 pages and 38K.  My manuscripts run anywhere from 400 pages to 424 pages (my highest, I believe) and they all log in around 90k – 93K.  For the record, when I hand it in, I use Courier New 12 point, because that’s an equal font and can give the publisher an idea of how long the book will be when printed.

For me, this all works out, because I don’t worry about word count – I know if I get close to 400 pages, I’m good.  I’ve told the story. And it seems to take forever – there’s a point when I think, I can take the words Larissa cut from her recent Demonica book and add them in – who will notice?

As always with advice, your milage will vary.  And btw, no one in NY will reject your manuscript if you don’t use Courier New 12. Just use a readable font and you will be fine, I promise.  Personally, I hate Courier New and I write in TNR 14, but I always convert so I can see the pretty page count.

The things we do to trick ourselves.

With this current WIP (aka PROMISES IN THE DARK aka Zane’s story), I have about 45K more to go (I’ll get the rest through revisions.)  I’ve lost ground as I mentioned yesterday, so I need at least 5K per day for the next few days to make up ground.  For today so far I’ve got 2K, which is good – I usually can’t get that much done during the day.  And I’m trying to work on Sydney book 6 at night, since that goes faster with two people working on the story.

Oh, and another Zoo train story – he IM’d me today to tell me that there were high school kids on the train this morning drinking beer at 7AM headed to the Yankee Parade and those were the days.  My response?  That was us – a looooong time ago. We’re old.

His response?  I know.  I almost gave them money to buy more beer.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF SPECIAL OPS ROMANCE

Trisha Telep

23 passionate stories of hard-hitting love  

Stirring romance featuring the heroes of the Navy SEALs, Delta Force, Air Force Pararescue, the Green Berets, the Army Rangers and other special forces: men and women who live and fight in extreme danger to preserve our freedoms, defenders and protectors of all we hold dear.

This collection includes the work of bestselling romance writers such as Shannon K. Butcher and Stephanie Tyler and Larissa Ione, writing as Sydney Croft. Sydney Croft’s special forces couple, Annika and Creed, work for the Agency for Covert Rare Operatives (ACRO), all of whose members have special powers, while Shannon K. Butcher’s hero is an ex-Navy SEAL. But these fighting men and women have a gentler, protective side; hard-edged weapons when on active duty, they can be caring lovers, of special forces teammates or the civilians they protect

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Personally, I don’t think think it was a glitch based on the very specific genre of books that were stripped of searches and rankings.  I’d like to see a better explanation, but I’m pleased that they’ve backtracked their position and claim to be working on the glitch.

As of tonight, none of the Sydney Croft books have rankings.  Nor does Sydney Croft show up on a search under All Departments. We’ll see how quickly that changes.  As I said earlier, I adore Amazon – I call myself the 1-click queen.  I use Prime and Associates and it’s a rare day that goes by that the UPS man doesn’t deliver an Amazon package here.  I think that’s why this was so disappointing.  

When I started writing, I got a lot of snide comments about ‘trashy romance novels.’  I still do – even from people who are my (non-writer) friends.   Of course, I’m not as close to them as I was because of the constant comments of this nature.  When I began writing erotic romance with Larissa as Sydney, things got worse.  I had family members who said things like, I’m embarrassed to say I’m related to her, while admitting that they’d read the entire book.

Whatever.  I expect that.  I’m thick-skinned about it.  But to have another major retailer – one that had always been fair and, dare I say, welcoming, to my erotic romance titles, turn and do this makes me very wary.  And I’m once again thankful for the internet and the way the romance and other communities jumped on this.  I know it made me feel very supported and a lot of my writing buds felt the same way.  

Hopefully it’s over.  Hopefully.  And thank you to my readers for jumping on this and emailing Amazon and joining the fray.  You guys are awesome.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

I’ve already taken time out of my busy schedule that includes actually writing more books that you can censor on your website by writing and calling about your disturbing new policy that bans adult materials from searches and sales ranking on your website.  

My alter-ego, Sydney Croft, is directly affected by this as are many  authors I know personally.  And it’s a very slippery slope once you try to decide that people need you to think for them – and to limit their choices toward what you deem acceptable.  How do I know that tomorrow, you won’t decide that some of my Stephanie Tyler titles have too much adult material in them?   Although granted, I’m now in very good company, as you’ve decided to stop ranking books like Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence. I’m assuming Shakespeare is next? Or Brideshead Revisited?  Feel free to reference these titles for your sweep of any books with any references to sex in them.

Shame on me – I used the S word.   

I’m a huge Amazon shopper, as my husband and the Amex bill can attest to.  I’m an Amazon Associate, and so the book links on my site go directly to Amazon.  I can promise you that all of this will stop if you don’t rescind this ridiculousness and stop censoring books.  

I encourage any and everyone – authors – readers – to read the post references above and these below that pertain to this Amazon debacle and then write or call Amazon.  This affects everyone – there is no way of knowing who Amazon will decide to censor next.  Information on reaching Amazon customer service is included in the links below.

Dear Author  

Booksquare

Amazon Rank

LA TImes

I’m off to shop at Barnes and Noble now – and Borders too!

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

SEDUCED BY THE STORM
ISBN – 10:0385340826
ISBN – 13:978-0385340823

Pleasure. Power. Fury.
A seduction so hot…it’s off the radar

DANGER IS THE ULTIMATE APHRODISIAC…

They met in a steamy Florida bar—then spent a night of mind-bending passion. Two secret agents who each possess unique telekinetic gifts—and whose combined sexual powers leave neither of them unscathed. For ex–Navy SEAL Wyatt Kennedy, assigned by the Agency for Covert Rare Operatives to the most treacherous mission of his career, the woman in black leather and lace has just become more than a one-night stand. Because Faith Black is the sole barrier to the success of his mission—and not even Wyatt’s legendary seduction skills can penetrate her deep cover.

Faith’s psychic gifts make her one of the world’s most dangerous women—but she hides a secret pain she shares with no one. Until Wyatt. And Faith has an agenda of her own: using her unique powers to save someone close to her—a move that pits her against a man she thought she’d never see again. For as a deadly hurricane is unleashed across the eastern seaboard, desire reignites between Faith and Wyatt, exposing secrets that thrust them both into harm’s way. With the hurricane sweeping closer—and their erotic hunger for each other growing—these two wary hearts must come together to heal, to trust . . . and to harness the power of a storm that could consume everything in its path.

You can read an excerpt here!

It’s been getting some great reviews as well…

“If you like intrigue, espionage, danger and sexy secret agents with psychic abilities, you will love this book – especially when one agent has to disperse a hurricane with sexual energy! Croft’s realistic characters have real, flawed motives that keep the action suspenseful and the sex extra hot. ”
—Romantic Times, Four Stars!

“Ms Croft pens a tale where she manages to combine action along with sizzling hot passion. You will not be disappointed in this book, it is a keeper.”
—Night Owl Romance Reviews, TOP PICK

Not only do you get Faith and Wyatt, but you get Annika and Creed and Dev and Oz. And Marlena. And you meet Trance, whose story is told in book 4, Taming The Fire!

So go forth and enjoy!

Steph T.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Inspired by the sultry heat and sensual ambiance of New Orleans , this steamy collection delves into the erotic underground of the Big Easy. Here is a tantalizing trio of stories by three rising stars that will tease your imagination—and seduce your senses.

Abandon your inhibitions and excite your spirit with a gathering of tales that’s as sexy and spicy as the city of New Orleans itself.

Mandy Burns from Fresh Fiction says, “The title says it all in this deliciously erotic anthology by stars of the genre. What a perfect name for an anthology! HOT NIGHTS, DARK DESIRES is a flawless blend of sexy characters and steamy chemistry proving once again that these authors are the best at what they do. Definitely a must-read!!”

You can read an excerpt from Night Vision here!

And if I owe you an email, give me a few days and I’ll get there – I got sick after my daughter’s operation and I’m not feeling much better, two weeks later. And then there’s the migraine that hit yesterday and prevented me from making the Writeminded chat – I’m so sorry about that!!!

Steph T.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Sydney’s Unleashing The Storm is featured this week on Michelle Buonfiglio’s Romance: B(u)y the Book!!! There’s an interview with Larissa and me and we’ll be blogging there on March 7th, so please stop by and see us (You’ll have to do a quick registration to comment!)

Michelle also reviewed Unleashing – she says,

“Unleashing the Storm” is emotionally satisfying, as well as fiercely erotic. The sexual tension is urgent and driving; it refuses to subside. That’s because the writing duo that is Sydney Croft (Larissa Ione and Stephanie Tyler) shows Kira’s need in an aching, frantic way sensual women understand. Then they gift us with Ender, who delivers high-emotion sexual fantasy even we veteran erotic romance fans find refreshing.

You can read the full review here!

Steph T.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

BEYOND HIS CONTROL
March 2008

RT Rating: 4.5 stars!!!

Beyond His Control (4.5), by Stephanie Tyler, is wonderful. The tension and love between Ava and Justin is perfectly depicted, and the almost nonstop adventure makes the story heart-stoppingly exciting.
—Page Traynor

UNLEASHING THE STORM by Sydney Croft
February 26, 2008
Bantam Dell

RT Rating: 4 Stars!!!!

This erotic romance delves deep into the paranormal world of ghosts and humans with special abilities. Croft’s current heroine is an animal psychic with a few animal tendencies of her own. The duo writing as Croft moves this story along by building on and expanding relationships from their previous novel, Riding the Storm. Each page is filled with attitude, danger and sex that heats up fast and goes well beyond the norm…
—Jennifer Madsen

And a special shout out to two friends who got TOP PICKS for their March books- Maya Banks for Sweet Surrender and HelenKay Dimon for Right Here, Right Now!!! Congrats, ladies!!!

Steph T.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.