I vote for chocolate covered ants with

perhaps oysters on the side? Well of all the things that are supposed to be edible - and good for you - and ahem! 'other' things I think chocolate is my best bet. Now Dark Thunder was released this month and I polled the characters -
Cyan said pepper is hot and it makes her hotter
Derian said anything that doesn't eat him first -- well he hedged on that he said sometimes eating him can be a good thing -- then he said he's game if any woman is.
Then in came Sharee - now there is a woman who prefers ceremony before anything - so even chocolate should be presented with ceremony and flair - .
Dark Thunder - that would be Derian -- you know what they are saying - well here try this on:
This summer has been weather intense. Dark storm clouds on the horizon signify danger, the potential for heavy storms. In a novel these same storm clouds signify danger of another sort. Dark Thunder is a knife-edged tale of desperation, passion and yes even perversion that strikes with lightening-like intensity at the heart of our comfort zone and reverberates across the fiber of our being, thundering through the atmosphere of our status quo, ordered world.
Pick up a copy and see what you would eat to satisfy your needs.
Cricket

Hot or Not?

I would be willing to do quite a bit in the name of love. Or romance. Or, yes, passion. I would be willing to defy convention, put aside opinions, and open my mind up to whatever possibilities I might find before me. I think I'm open minded. But I have my limits, as I suppose we all do. So where do I draw the line?

Well, recently, I was doing a bit of research on aphrodisiacs. Some researchers believe that they are stimulants, while others chalk their reputations up to mere old wives tales. What was on the list?

There were a few old standbys, which we've all heard of. And yes, most of us are willing to try. I'd rank them as HOT.

1. Chocolate - Find me a woman who can resist chocolate. No scientific evidence needed here.
2. Strawberries - Sweet, tasty, and potentially a lot of fun, especially given the introduction of whipped cream.
3. Oysters - I don't eat them, but I've heard first-hand accounts of the effects.

So what is on my NOT list? What would I refuse to consume in the name of passion? Let me tell you.

1. Atta laevigata - A leaf-cutter ant found in South America. Known for their strong mandibles. The good news is that they are low in saturated fat.
2. Turtle eggs - Yeah. I'm sure they are delicacies in some countries, but I can't get past the image of the pets we used to keep as kids.
3. Spanish fly - First, it is a bug. Second, it can "cause painful urination, fever, and sometimes bloody discharge." I'm no expert, but those seem like mood killers.

Any surprises for me on the list? A few...

1. Kelp - I never thought of seaweed as sexy...but hey...mermaids are hot, right?
2. Chili peppers - They release endorphins. They make us feel good.
3. Pine nuts - Apparently, they are high in zinc, which helps male potency. So the story goes.

I guess the point isn't whether these are scientifically proven to help improve mood but whether or not we believe that they do. And if we think we're hot, ready, and willing...then I'm betting we are!

Bridget Midway's book signing events in Winston-Salem, NC

Please join me. I'll be doing a mini-book tour there.

Friday, September 5th
12 - 1:30 p.m. - Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center at 1110 E. 7th Street in Winston-Salem, NC 27101

3:00 - 4:30 p.m. - Carver School Road Library Branch at 4915 Lansing Road in Winston-Salem, NC 27105

7 - 9 p.m. - Body & Soul Bookstore at 545 N. Trade Street in Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Saturday, September 6th
2 p.m. - ? Charlotte Library at 1230 Alleghany Street in Charlotte, NC 28208

At each event, I'll be doing a discussion on the publishing business, where I'm at in it, and where I see myself in the future, along with doing book signings and giveaways. I'll be signing both my Crystal B. Bright stuff and my Bridget Midway stuff including CORPORATE SEDUCTION and CORPORATE DESIRES, FASCINATION STREET and WHAT WHITE BOYZ WANT.

I hope I see you there!

Crystal / BridgeT
www.CrystalBrightWriter.com
www.BridgetMidway.com

Old-fashioned love in a high-tech world

I will be the first to admit that I am addicted to my iPod, I snap pictures constantly with my digital camera, and I had a virtual meltdown the day I left my cell phone at home. Gadgets and technology are a part of who I am these days. Like almost everyone else, I have a hectic lifestyle that is made infinitely easier by the use of technology. My main form of communication with friends is email, followed in a close second by cell phone calls and the miracle of text messaging. Although I’ve kicked my instant messaging habit, I still find pleasure of an occasional chat in my pajamas with 20 strangers in a room online.

But in a world where we never have to meet, where we can coexist by scarcely uttering a word to each other, I’m a sucker for old-fashioned romance.

Not that I haven’t met a beau or two on a personals website or in a chat room. In fact, they can be a great way for a single, working woman to connect with someone outside of going to a bar or concert…places too loud and impersonal to get to know someone.

But I can remember one instance in particular. I had been dating a wonderful, caring man that I had met through an online personal. We had been seeing each other off and on for a little more than a year. During that time, we emailed, we exchanged digital pictures when the mood struck us, and I called on my cell phone when I had a bit of time to chat.

Despite our high-tech relationship, one defining moment came at Christmas. It wasn’t the gift. It was more important. I can remember the way my heart caught in my throat when he gave me a card with a handwritten note inside it. I almost cried at the sentiment, written in his own beautifully manicured script. Me, an overbooked, laptop-toting professional with a slightly cynical side, choked up over a note. I carried the card with me long after the holiday was over, kept pristine inside my hard-cover journal to make sure it stayed neat, dry, and as precious as the moment I took it out of its envelope.

I guess I realized that it is those take-your-breath away moments where I find the most romance. Nothing compares to the heat of someone’s breath on your lips before you kiss. Or surge of excitement when they knock on your door after a too-long absence. Or the instant you realize you have been holding hands for a while, but you can’t seem to remember reaching for each other. Those are the moments I use to define romance. And in those moments, those moments where love reaches inside me and makes my heart ache from being so complete, so full, there isn’t a cell phone charger or modem in sight.

DARK THUNDER (On Sale Now)

Jumping from the frying pan and into the fire, Cyan regrets her move too late. When she trades a loveless marriage for lust and passion, she discovers that Derian, her dark-eyed prince, has turned into the prince of evil, manipulating and controlling.

The hypnotic control of his demon talents steal her heart and make her a slave to his blazing obsession and insatiable appetite for sex, but her willpower wilts under the heat of his lovemaking.

Finally, after finding some balance, things once again turn chaotic when her friend, Derian's cousin, is murdered. The dark prince once again returns, and hell-bent on revenge, embarks on a manhunt, determined for justice, despite Cyan’s attempts to stop him. Where will the taste for vengeance end in a land where nothing is as it seems, and love isn’t enough to fulfill all the appetites of a raven warrior?

Bio:
Cricket Sawyer has written several novels, many short stories, flash fiction, non-fiction articles, and won poetry contests for her erotic poetry. Her stories have been published in various e-zines and newsletters, both in print and online. Her favorite genres are Romance with an edge, a hint of paranormal, and lots of sizzling suspense.

In her spare time she reads, writes, play piano, gardens, knits, crochets, and quilts. For almost nine months out of the year she shovels the snow northern Wisconsin is usually buried under, a delight for snowmobilers and skiers. Living somewhere without the four seasons is unthinkable. She lives with her husband in the small village of Amberg where the winters are cold and long perfect for curling up in front of a fireplace with a good book, but the people are warm and friendly all year round.

Title: Dark Thunder
Author: Cricket Sawyer
ISBN: 978-1-59080-597-8
Genre: Erotic Suspense (Erotiqué Press)
Pages: 228
Price: $12.99 US $14.99 CAN

Retail Outlets:
Echelon Direct
Amazon.com
Fictionwise.com
All Romance eBooks

Bridget Midway's newsletter posted

What Bridget Midway title got 4 Stars from Romantic Times BOOK Reviews magazine? Which author made Bridget come up with a Top Ten list of why this author is so great? And what converted Bridget to becoming an M/M fan? Get those answers and an exclusive excerpt from Woman In Chains in her Midway Lowdown newsletter just posted! To read the newsletter, join the group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midway_lowdown/ This is not a chatters list!

Stay sexy,
BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com