Fanning the Flames of Romance

Looking Back On My First Book and Who I Have to Thank...

2009-02-28T14:26:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers,

My first book, Rules of Darkness, has been for over a year, and the second book in the series, Rules of Fire, just released earlier this week. Wow. I almost can’t believe it. I want to thank the readers out there, the reviewers who took the time to read my story, and Resplendence Publishing for believing in my work.

~Tia Fanning
"Fanning the Flames of Romance"
http://www.tiafanning.blogspot.com/

* * * *

In a remote forest settlement, a place almost untouched by the modern world, a baby girl is born with a powerful healing gift. But like all wondrous gifts, this one too comes at a high price.

Because of her special ability, Katia has to follow the twelve Rules of Darkness, rules she must abide by at all times, or else risk losing her soul forever. But when Katia accidentally breaks a rule, horrific repercussions ensue and an old love mysteriously appears at her door.

Katia will soon discover that things buried in the past can come back to haunt the present, that a promise made is a promise kept, and that no matter the circumstances, there are some rules that should never be broken.

“Rules of Darkness is a marvelous novel bursting with supernatural thrills that had me turning the pages... It's a story I would enjoy revisiting. I'm hoping that the author will write a sequel, and there are no rules to say I can't keep my fingers crossed.”

--Patrice F, a Reviewer Recommended Read, Joyfully Reviewed

“Tia Fanning has written an exceptional novella. The relationship between Katia and Stoyan is realistically developed, and the rest of the characters bring much to the table. Fanning has fully developed Rules of Darkness, and the storyline is absolutely perfect. You’ll be laughing, and crying, but in the end, you’ll find yourself loving the story, and extremely happy with how things turned out. Rules of Darkness is a fantastic story, and Tia Fanning is an amazing author.”

--Denise Kivett, a Reviewer *Must-Read* Award, Rogues and Romance

I just absolutely adored this story from the very first page. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. Ms. Fanning wrote with such detail and emotion that I was feeling everything that Katia was going through. Ms. Fanning did a superb job with the development of her characters and how she told the story... I highly recommend this story to everyone. You will not be disappointed!

--Diana Coyle, 5/5 and a Reviewer Top Pick, Night Owl Romance

Tia's Recommended Reading -- The Commander's Desire by Jennette Green

2009-02-13T09:29:00.000-08:00

Hi Readers,

I just wanted to let you know about a fabulous book I’ve read by romance author Jennette Green. You all should check her out. Her book, The Commander’s Desire, is a thrilling, yet sensual, historical romance. I loved the book so much that I just had to blog about it. (sigh...) The hero in the book is so awesome. And with Valentine’s Day coming up, The Commander's Desire is the perfect story to get you in the mood for love.

The Commander’s Desire by Jennette Green

Princess Elwytha wants revenge on the monster who murdered her brother. In a false exchange for peace, she offers herself in marriage to the enemy Prince. The plan? Kill the Prince’s battle-scarred Commander—the man who ended King Thor’s life with one filthy sword thrust through the back. To her horror, the Commander agrees to take Elwytha as his bride. Worse, the wedding date will be sooner than expected. Not all is lost, however. Now she has more opportunity to be alone with him—and exact justice.

But the deed becomes difficult to carry out. Fighting her innate sense of honor, she begins to see the ironclad integrity of the man behind the scars. And with this knowledge comes doubt. Did he slay her brother? What exactly is the new king’s plan? Whom can she trust? Elwytha must decide well, for more than her life is at stake. Soon she must betray either allegiance to her kingdom—or the man who is quickly claiming her heart.

You can purchase your copy of The Commander’s Desire on http://www.fictionwise.com/ (for you e-readers out there), and http://www.amazon.com/ for those who prefer print books.

A Little About Romance Author Jennette Green

Writing has always been a passion of mine. I wrote my first story over thirty years ago. Since then, I’ve written numerous stories and have had several articles published. My first love, however, is writing romance novels. I've written seven. I'm blessed with a wonderful, supportive husband, and three terrific children who put up with my crazy writing hours. When I'm not writing, I love reading, photography, making videos, and creating and managing my websites.

Learn more about Jennette Green at her website: http://www.jennettegreen.com/, or befriend her at www.myspace.com/jennettegreen. She has a beautiful MySpace page, so be sure to stop in for a visit.

Cheers!
~Tia

The tug of self-preservation insisting I eat the damn soup...

2009-01-06T20:15:00.000-08:00

Taken With the Enemy is the book of my heart. What does that mean, the book of my heart?

For me, that means it's the book an author has to write even if no one wants to publish it. It's the book that an author drops everything for, including their current projects, to complete because they are feeling the story that strongly. It's the story with characters and a plot that is so much a part of the author that if they didn't put it on paper, the story would haunt them and they would never be able to move on to write something else.

In the end, it's the book that an author loves best of all their work.

Taken With the Enemy is the book of my heart.

Inspired by a dream I had, Taken With the Enemy is a contemporary spin of those old historical novels where the heroine ends up falling in love with her captor. I had locked myself in my basement to write this book, completing it in about one month, during the holidays, knowing full well that the story might never see a printing press due to its "politically incorrect" nature.

I mean, this is the 21st century; you do not fall for your kidnapper.

But is it possible that true love could form under such circumstances? Could a solid, secure, healthy relationship develop around abduction? Especially in a modern world where psychological conditions like Stockholm syndrome exist—a term often used to describe any attachment a person might feel for their abductor?

I like to believe it’s possible, at least for the characters in my story. (LOL!)

I’m a hopeless romantic. I’m an avid believer in the concepts of love at first sight, of love conquering all, and that if two people are meant to be together, true love will bloom regardless of the circumstances.

I am a romance author.

Cheers!
~Tia

* * * * *

Yanking the covers away, he grasped my arm and pulled me off the mattress. I was so shocked, I didn’t object when he dragged my ass into the dining room. He shoved me down into the chair at the head of the table.

“You will eat. Now,” he growled.

Staring at the steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup and the glass of fruit juice before me, I instinctively touched the spoon resting on the napkin, but drew my hand back. The thought of putting something in my mouth made me feel queasy. I really just wanted to go back to sleep. I was exhausted.

At the other end of the table, he angrily slid the heavy wooden chair out, marring the air with the shriek of scratching marble. I flinched, hating the sound that echoed through the room.

He sat and stared me down. “I said eat.”

“I’m not hungry,” I mumbled.

“I don’t care.”

The edge in his voice, the hard set of his jaw, and the dark gleam in his eyes cautioned me not to press the issue. But amongst the inner chaos that consumed me—including the tug of self-preservation insisting I eat the damn soup—was the overwhelming urge to rebel against his demand.

“Don’t make me tell you again,” he warned, raising a dark brow.

What was I? A wayward child? If I wasn’t hungry, I wasn’t friggin hungry.

I shook my head.

“Eat.”

It was all too much.

Frustrated, I slammed my hands down on the table’s surface. “I’m not eating this.”

“Yes, you are.”

I swept my arm across, knocking the bowl and the glass off the edge. They hit the hard floor in a shattering, splattering mess.

The gratification was short-lived.

Quick as lightening, he was out of his chair and in my face, as dangerous as the first time we met.

“I’m going to let that slide,” he growled, “because apparently, not having food for five days has made you irrational and far braver than you should be, given the circumstances.”

I glanced away.

He pounded the tabletop. “Look at me!”

Flitching, my gaze immediately jumped back to his, my heart thumping in fear.

“I am going to get you another bowl and you are going to eat,” he continued, enunciating each syllable with careful restraint. “And if you don’t, I will tie you to that chair and force feed you. Am I making myself clear?”

~Excerpt from Taken With the Enemy by Tia Fanning

* * * * *

“I am a fan of Tia Fanning and her work. She pens wonderfully entertaining stories that don’t disappoint her readers. This story was extremely engrossing and had me wondering the entire time what was going to happen to Brenna. I will definitely add this one to my library...”

--Diana Coyle, 5/5 and a Reviewer Top Pick, Night Owl Romance

A Legendary Christmas... A Must Read!

2009-01-02T09:40:00.000-08:00

A Legendary Christmas Anthology by Maddie James, Janet Eaves, Magdalena Scott and Jan Scarbrough brings us four more enchanting tales from one of my favorite places in the fictional world... Legend, Tennessee. For those of you who are not familiar with Legend, I highly recommend you pick up the first anthology in the series, Ladies of Legend: Finding Home, so you can fall in love with the town and the people that reside there as I did.

Ladies of Legend: Finding Home

As for this latest 'holiday' installment in the series, I absolutely loved it! Written from the heart by four talented authors who know what real romance is, these four tales of love and hope will make you wish you could pack your things and move Legend, Tennessee. The characters are engaging and will have you smiling and sighing (and in some parts, wiping away tears) with each turn of a page. For those of you who enjoy 'second chance' tales (as I do), this is a must read anthology!

You can buy A Legendary Christmas at www.Amazon.com. Or if you prefer reading e-books, you can pick up the Legendary Christmas series at www.ResplendencePublishing.com.

The Christmas Gift by Janet Eaves

Christina Montgomery dreads another Christmas with questions about her soldier husband, Johnny, hanging over her and her daughter's heads. She believes he died with his small sniper squadron a little over two years earlier even though his was the only body unaccounted for. The Marine Corp has indicated they are leaning towards calling Johnny a defector. There are even a few Legend locals who believe it, too. This is something Christina refuses to consider. Until one snowy evening two weeks before Christmas, a man looking very much like Johnny arrives at her Tennessee farm with no idea of who he is. Stunned and confused, Christina doesn't know what to do with him. Is this man's sudden appearance a Christmas miracle? Or is it Christina's worst nightmare come true?

Home for the Holidays by Maddie James

The last thing Chelly Schul wants is to go home for the holidays. She left her hometown of Legend, Tennessee on a wing and a prayer two years earlier and hasn't returned. Her leaving humiliated her entire family, particularly her sister Suzie, since she ran off with Suzie's (almost-ex) husband. Legend Police Officer Matt Branson values being alone. Even during the holidays, he enjoys the solitude. Dubbed the town hermit, he tells himself he prefers his 'cave' to socializing. His friends say he still pines after that lost love, although he begs to differ. All that changes the snowy day he pulls over the older model sedan heading into Legend. His gut slams against his backbone as Chelly rolls down the car window and looks up into his eyes. His high-school sweetheart is back in town-- the woman who sent him into his cave in the first place.

Santa's Kiss by Jan Scarbough

Actress Dawn Smith's world is crumbling. She's always lived on the edge, seeking thrills, making herself into someone different. That's why her success in Hollywood came so easily for a small town girl from Legend, Tennessee. But things have changed. Dawn needs to get away from the bright lights, but it's Christmastime and that has always meant going home to family. She can't face family this year. Clint Roberts, former high school football hero and current car dealership owner, is a popular fixture in Legend. Affable and fun-loving, the bachelor is everyone's best buddy. Most people know about his infatuation for one-time Legend girl, now superstar Dawn Smith. Dawn needs someone to turn to, but she's rejected her family. When Clint shows up on her doorstep in a snowstorm dressed as Santa bearing gifts and food, she welcomes him. Will their night of lovemaking bring Dawn more heartache or can Clint convince the actress that it's time for her to come home for good?

Christmas Collision by Magdalena Scott

Rebecca Mayfield, the divorce lawyer in New York City, doesn't believe in 'happily ever after.' Why would she? Her beloved husband and law partner died of a heart attack a couple of years ago, and she spends every day of her lucrative work life ending someone's marriage. Her friend and former client, Midnight Shelby McClain, invites Rebecca to her new 'hometown' of Legend, Tennessee for the holiday. Small town Christmas-probably incredibly hokey. But Legend worked some magic in Midnight's life. What might be there for Rebecca? Her rental car slides off the icy road and is stuck in a ditch. She hikes through the dark in the deep snow toward the only light she can see...from a little cabin on the mountain. David keeps a vigil each Christmas Eve in a little weekend cabin on the mountain outside Legend. He needs this time alone--away from his high stress life in Knoxville. He does not appreciate the interruption of having to take care of yet another lost soul-no matter how cute and spicy the package it's wrapped in. The power goes off, but the sparks continue to fly between these two strangers... There's something magical about this cabin. Maybe this is the Christmas to find love-- and a new beginning-- in Legend, Tennessee.

A New Year and A Letter of Thanks...

2009-01-01T07:02:00.000-08:00

I’ve always been a writer. Like my love of reading books, the passion I have for writing stories is something that has been in my blood since I was a child. In school, I was one of those weird students that actually got “all excited” about writing assignments.

However, I didn’t start writing seriously (and with the hopes of being published) until I was in high school. Of course, being a melodramatic teenager, I began by writing dark poetry, some of which became published in the school’s literary magazine.

I was twenty-six years old when I decided that I wanted to be a romance author. But somewhere around 44,000 words into my first novel, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. So, after much internet research, I signed up for an aspiring authors course at a Romantic Times conference.

Going to that conference was the best thing I ever did.

First, I never would have thought I could learn so much from one three-day Aspiring Author class. My fabulous teacher, Author Judi McCoy, explained all the ins and outs of getting established in the romance industry. Honest and up front, she shared the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in-between.

(If you are an aspiring author, I highly recommend her course.)

It was also at this Romantic Times conference that I met four other amazing, beautiful women who would change my life in profound ways.

Two of these women ended up becoming my critique partners and, more importantly, my close friends. Without Author Aleka Nakis and Teanette Major staying up long nights to read and correct my work, my manuscripts might never have been accepted. The other two wonderful ladies I met at the conference would later become the dazzle behind Resplendence Publishing— founders Leigh Collett and Jessica Berry.

So let me take a moment to say… Aleka, Judi, Tea, Leigh and Jess… thank you for everything. Your insight, wisdom, patience, encouragement, and friendship have been invaluable.

Of course, I have to thank my family as well. They fueled my love of reading and writing.

Mom, you are the reason I love romance novels. I will always appreciate the time, and money, you spent supporting my “romance novel” addiction for all those years.

Dad, if you didn’t take the time to read to me when I was young, I might never have grown to love books the way I do now. Ever since high school, when it came to writing, you’ve always been my biggest fan.

And Aunt Celeste, you have always been a flowing spring of positive encouragement and love.

I love you all so much.

Also, I want to thank my husband, Warren. He was the one who taught me the true meaning of love, who supported my dream, and stuck it out with me (and our marriage) even though I ignored him for days and nights on end while I worked to complete my books.

Warren, you’re a wonderful husband. I couldn’t imagine my life without you.

Last, but not least, I want to thank the readers out there. As a writer by nature, I will always write, but it is because of you that I became an author.

Sincerely,

Tia Margaret Fanning
“Fanning the Flames of Romance”

Handcuffs and Lace... What a Combination!

2008-12-31T07:45:00.000-08:00

Handcuffs and Lace... A Law-Enforcement Themed Erotic Romance Anthology by Melinda Barron, Celia Kyle, Demi Alex and Tia Fanning is now available! Pick up this sizzling collection at

www.Amazon.com

Are you an e-reader type? No worries! You can purchase downloads for the whole Handcuffs and Lace Series at

www.ResplendencePublishing.com

Ticket Me More by Tia Fanning

Meli works long hours making bouquets for women lucky enough to find love, while she herself lives a life of solitude. She yearns to share her heart and body with someone other than Bob, her Battery Operated Boyfriend, but acute shyness keeps her from engaging the “living” world. Then she is pulled over one night by the sexy Officer Michael Johnson. Though he doesn’t seem to notice her as anything more than a traffic violation, Meli makes plans to overcome her timid nature and seize the police officer’s attention—using any speed necessary.

Cuff Me Lacy by Demi Alex

Three months is way too long to wait for some simple, low-down, straight forward sex. It’s not like Officer Chrissie Hansen is asking for prince charming to offer her the love of a lifetime, all she wants is a good orgasm that she doesn’t have to work for alone. At least with “The Bull” she knows what to expect. But when Patrick MacKlick returns to her life and tempts her with new options, she discovers that lace can imprison a heart better than handcuffs can.

Search Me Baby, One More Time by Melinda Barron

Wren is back home in Texas, babysitting her grandmother while grandma and her boy-toy work through their list of sexual exploits, making themselves the talk of the town. But what Wren doesn’t know is that things in her hometown are about to heat up even more, and it will have nothing to do with her grandmother. It seems that Bryan Stockard wants to get back into Wren’s life—and he has just the tools to do it: A police uniform, handcuffs, and the authority to make Wren assume the position.

What the Cuff? by Celia Kyle

God really should have reconsidered making werewolves. That, or Lyssa needed to get better taste in men and stay away from those with wandering eyes—and other things. Drunk as a wolf, she stumbles to her best friend's house to sleep off her whiskey induced haze and wakes to…cuffs? Caleb’s buddies on the force ribbed him good for buying silver plated cuffs. But with a werewolf in his bed, the woman he's yearned for since they were teens, he wasn't taking any chances. Lyssa was his. She just didn't know it yet.

Red Garters, Snow and Mistletoe

2008-12-30T00:46:00.000-08:00

Red Garters, Snow and Mistletoe... An Erotic Holiday Anthology by Mia Jae, Demi Alex, Catrina Calloway and Tia Fanning is now available! Pick up this sizzling collection at

www.Amazon.com

Are you an e-reader type? No worries! You can purchase downloads for the whole Red Garters, Snow and Mistletoe Series at

www.ResplendencePublishing.com

Unwrap Me, I’m Yours by Demi Alex
With their holiday agreement set, Jon gives Hope the present of her life…

After an embarrassing break-up, Hope lies about having a new fiancé, but now her family expects him to come home with her for the holidays. She needs a man that fits the bill — and fast! She finds the perfect solution at her local coffee shop.

Eight Erotic Nights by Catrina Calloway
How far will Laney go for eight erotic nights?

A winter storm gives Josh and Zach an opportunity to share the pleasures of the ‘festival of lights’ with Laney, and a chance to fulfill their long-held erotic fantasies. They can hardly believe the good fortune the Hanukkah holiday has brought them.

Red Ribbons and Blue Balls by Tia Fanning
Why deck the halls when it would be so much more fun to deck the balls?

After Winter's dominant husband, Nicolas, punishes her for being naughty, the-usually-nice-but-now-sexually-frustrated Winter arrives at their secluded mountain cabin bearing gifts — special gifts that will ensure his submission and her revenge.

Nice and Naughty by Mia Jae
Cassie has to prove herself...

Cassie is the first female head of the English department at her university. But that doesn't mean she has to prove herself sexually to Eric Marsh, a fellow professor, does it? Then there is Ryan. Strong and sexy, with hands that can ease away the tension of most any job, he almost makes her forget her risky escapades with Eric. But Ryan and Eric have a closer connection than she ever could have imagined, and they have very specific plans for her...

It's All About Tia... Oh! And Tia's Tiara

2008-12-29T06:47:00.001-08:00

Me at my very first book signing... (sigh...) I know, it's an awful picture. Goofy smile, scrunched nose, squinty eyes, buckteeth, double chin...

I also know you all are wondering why I'm wearing a tiara on my head.

Seriously, that tiara helped me out a lot. Others wondered the same thing and kept coming to my table. I managed to sell out of my books that day, and I truly think the tiara is the reason why.
;)

I began writing early on in life, as most writers do, but I took a very nontraditional path to becoming an romance/erotic romance author. Believe it or not, I began exploring my passion for writing as a poet. Don't get me wrong, I had always loved reading stories, especially tales involving some kind of romance (like fairytales), but it was not something I ever thought I would write.

Poetry was my outlet. Not only did I want to tell a story, but I wanted it to be beautiful, lyrical, flow the way a whisper is carried on a moonlit breeze. I wanted my words to wrap around the reader and subtly caress their senses. I wanted to pull at that secret place deep inside a person where fond memories and distant dreams resided, and take them far away from the harsh realities of the world. (Fluffy, I know…)

While I wrote poetry, I continued to feed my other passion—reading. Everyone once in a while, I would stumble across an author that wrote stories the same way that I strove to write my poetry. Not only were these stories beautiful, romantic, stirring, but they were written in a way that made me feel what I always endeavored to make others feel with my own work.

Because of this influence, my poetry slowly evolved into short stories. But as time went on, I grew older, wiser, and eventually moved into adulthood. Sadly, I abandoned my childhood aspirations so that I might concentrate on other “grown-up” things. However, the more I lived life and learned what a cruel place the world could be, the more I grew bitter and jaded. (sigh…)

Thankfully, while I gave up writing and my desire to be a writer, I never gave up reading romance.

So years passed and I matured physically, mentally, emotionally, and finally sexually, (or in some order close to that) and I discovered that my reading tastes also matured. I found that I still wanted the romance, but I also wanted the passion to be a little hotter. Reading myths and fairy tales gave way to sweet fantasy romances, which gave way to historical romances, and—now confident and secure in myself and my sexuality—mainstream romances gave way erotic romances.

One day I met a wonderful man, and like a storyline from one of the many books I read, we fell in love and got married. A little less bitter and jaded with life, I started writing again. (LOL!)

So, here I am.

I believe that my work today is a blend of all I confessed above. I find that many of the stories I write, whether it be contemporary or paranormal, still have the element of fantasy and fairytale that I loved so much as a child. My stories promote the ideals of love at first sight, of extraordinary things happening to ordinary people, the concepts of fate, destiny and coincidence, and always have the perfect happily ever after.

However, I also find that most of my characters (especially my heroines) tend to exhibit a very... um... realistic attitude that many associate with the modern world. I think it makes the story interesting when the heroine comes across with that honest “this is freaking unbelievable, but since my luck is so bad, I shouldn’t be surprised that it happened to me” attitude. I like to think it allows readers the ability to relate to a character, and this makes the overall “fairytale” feel of the story believable—like it could happen to any of us at any moment.

Cheers!
~Tia

Official Website: www.tiafanning.com

MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/tiafanning
Official Blog: www.tiafanning.blogspot.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/tiafanning

NowLive: www.nowlive.com/tiafanning

You can also find me hanging out at Amazon (www.amazon.com), Fictionwise (www.fictionwise.com), Coffee Time Romance (www.coffeetimeromance.com), and of course… Resplendence Publishing (www.resplendencepublishing.com).

A Letter To My Readers...

2008-12-28T06:51:00.000-08:00

* * * *

www.tiafanning.com

Dear Reader,

Welcome to a world where love, romance, and desire burn as hot as flame...

Whether you want to read about love at first sight, or a reunion of love from the past, there is a story to be found here. From contemporary romance to the paranormal, from the shy heroine who has a secret love of adult toys, to the powerful hero who uses magic to protect the love of his life, in this world, the flames of passion and romance are fanned to scorching levels as love conquers all.

I love hearing from my readers, so please, feel free to contact me by e-mail at tia@tiafanning.com or befriend me on MySpace at www.myspace.com/tiafanning.

Sincerely,

Tia Margaret Fanning
"Fanning the Flames of Romance"