More News...

Okay, I've been sitting on some of the news for some time...

I was nominated for (local) Senior Cultural Australian of the Year - alas I didn't win...but my contribution to the Australian Romance Writers (and particularly the erotic girls) has been acknowledged.  What a huge step in the right direction, especially for an Erotic Romance Author.

So when I step onto the cruise ship on Saturday morning, I'm going to wear that knowledge with pride :)

In other news... 

There is always so much happening!  For those attending ARRC2013, remember to pop along and find me in the signing.  I will have giveaways!  Yummy stuff...

• Excerpt booklets
• Sleep masks

I'm also hoping to have some magnets, if I can get around to organising them quickly enough. (lol!)

Oh now for a fun links...

My friend Georgiana Louis has her website live... pop along and have a look.

Also my friend Khloe Wren :)


Both are Hotter Than Hades Authors and superb writers.

And that's it for me until February - I'm going on a much needed holiday - Cruising around the Pacific.  Once I get back, I'll even upload some photos.

Catch you all later.

Imogene

Competitions Time!

Woo Hoo!

In honour of the unveiling of the cover art for Blame The Wine, I am giving away a copy of Starburst.  To enter is simple.

Please Read all the information to find out How To Enter.

Tweet &/or Share the news on Facebook & Twitter.  The most amusing and or raucous will win.

There is 24 hours to blitz the world.

 

Now, when you are done add your username or twitter handle so I can see who you are in the comments below.

You must either tweet or share and then comment below.  Competition closes 6.30pm Saturday 19th January 2013 Queensland Time.

Have fun!!

 

Release Day - Starburst

Woo Hoo.  Today is another release day.

It feels like both an ending and a beginning.  On the 24th of January it will have been a year since Starline released to the world.  Now we have Starline, Star of Ishtar, Starfire and Star of the Fleet.  However, as with all *good* things, we have come to an end.

Starburst.

ISBN 9781618854636

Available from 15th January, 2013 from

Secret Cravings Publishing

$5.99

Excerpt:

Meredith Gentry is a woman with a mission.  To decode everything found on the Alpha Star Colony.  Maybe, if she’s lucky, she might finally get closer to the one man who makes her burn.
Chowd Sturat Sur Banden is different.   He’s always known that and that the differences have kept him apart from everyone else.  Until now.
At the end game, will these differences keep Meredith and Chowd apart for good?  Will his own unwanted heritage tear them asunder forever?  And will the crew of the Elector finally prevail over Crick Sur Banden?
The Warriors of the Elector’s cataclysmic conclusion has arrived.
Excerpt:
He stank of sweat. The damp stickiness coated his skin as he shrugged out of the ship suit, letting it drop to the floor silently. He sighed, rolling the tight muscles in his shoulders. A good workout helped, but still, he felt the coil of desire burning in the pit of his stomach. Since she had come on board, it never went away.
Chowd snatched up the tube of water, letting it slide down his throat, not quite quenching his thirst. His nudity didn’t worry him as he padded through the office to his sanitary unit and gave the order for the showerhead to engage at full spray, the steam rising upward as he watched. Stepping beneath the stinging, hot spray, he splayed his hands against the cool wall, feeling the flow of water down his body, and considered the latest situation.
Crick Sur Banden had escaped in the mess of the operation on the Alpha Star Colony. They had managed to get Jemma out in time for Elara to save her, though it had been touch and go for a while. The operative his uncle Admiral Gustav Elphin had ordered them to rescue had been rescued, but that mad dash for the shuttle at the end had angered him. Somehow, Crick Sur Banden had slipped through their fingers once more. But this time, they had the majority of his forces from the Alpha Star Colony base held in detention, the women they had released had started putting the pieces of their lives together and giving information to the Admiralty officers, and they had Crick Sur Banden’s tactical plans. Their location, in what the teams surmised were his private rooms, had been unsurprising in hindsight, to Chowd who had thought the installation abandoned. After he had joined the Admiralty, they had sent a strike force there to find it empty.
“Water off,” he growled. The near loss of Jemma had worried him, though, reminding him that every member of the crew remained in danger. Including Meredith. Ahh…now how he wished he could continue to avoid thinking about that possible outcome.
He breathed deeply, letting the emotions drain away, the heavy beat of his heart once more slowing to a steady life-affirming rhythm. Slowly, his eyes opened and sought the mirror. She stood behind him, waiting silently in the half light, watching him with gleaming eyes. He felt his body become firm and erect, just like it did every time he saw her.
Chowd turned slowly looking at her, watching as her eyes ranged over his nakedness. He made no move to collect the towel from the rack beside him. He knew she liked the view, as her eyes dilated with desire and her soft pants betrayed her arousal.
“Is there something I can do for you, Meredith?”
Meredith’s eyes glazed with passion, and he watched, fascinated, as a red flush crept up her cheeks. She licked her lips, sending a surge of awareness through his body.
“I, um…I came to see how you were feeling.” Her eyes flicked nervously, as if she didn’t know where to look, and he smiled, feeling triumph roar through him. He had guessed—well, rather hoped—that she too felt that quick spark of lust. Yet his experience remained limited to vids and reading, so he hadn’t been totally sure. At least, not until now.
She stepped forward, a shy smile appearing at the side of her mouth, and his knees trembled. Her hand reached out—
The buzz of the alarm woke him with a jerk. His arm flew and hit the side of the desk screen with an audible thud, and his head snapped up. Barsha! He had dreamed about her again. Chowd raised his hands from the hard surface of the desk, and he scrubbed them across his tired and aching eyes, gritty with the lack of sleep. When did I fall asleep?
The buzz cut through the silence once more, and he knew it emanated from his communicator. He answered the insistent wail. “Yeah?” he answered with a groggy voice as he willed his tired mind to respond.
“Chowd? Are you free right now? New orders have been received and I need the command crew in my office immediately.” Duvall’s voice filled the air, the tinny value of the communicators something that continued to irk him. They could travel through space but not get the sound quality of communicators right. He rose slowly, feeling the ache in the muscles of his back from the cramped chair and desk where he had found himself involuntarily napping. Not to mention the ache in his arm from that sharp crack.
“On my way.” He flipped the communicator off and moved around the desk, working to clear the fog from his mind, hoping he didn’t look like the wreck he felt. Short naps never powered him, but after thirty-nine straight hours, his body had shut down in retaliation of its abuse. Since they had returned from the mission on Alpha Star One, the entire team had worked every possible hour to track the movements of Crick Sur Banden.

News...

It's just over 2 weeks into the new year and I'm up for my second round of good news.

The Shuttle - originally written as a single scene for the Hotter Than Hades blog page has been picked up by Red Rose Publishing to release initially as a free book and later on at cost.  As soon as I have details, I will let you all know.

Starburst - is releasing early.  It could be available as early as 15th January 2013.  So look out for it on the Secret Cravings store site.

The Trailer!  It's done and you can watch it below.  Please like it and leave a comment if you feel inclined.  

Christmas itself was a whirl of activity as it is with most.  While many partied my darling husband remained on call, so I'm so pleased to say in less than 2 weeks we are dragging our girls away for a fantabulous cruise taking in New Caledonia and Vanuatu.  

I promise I will add pics when I get back.  I'm so looking forward to a change of pace, slowing down and getting ready to read, read & read some more.  I think it will top up my writing tanks.  So far this year I have subbed 2 books.  One has been picked up.  

I have another book being edited and am going back to an older manuscript, hoping to finish it off.

Right... need to write.  More news hopefully soon.  And a new series of How To helpful blogs are in the wings.

Imogene

 

Another Announcement

I am overjoyed to announce that The Blood Bride - my erotic paranormal title has been picked up by Total E Bound. 



Hope just wants to be an ordinary nestling.  She went to college and escaped, but now she’s back and there’s a secret everyone is keeping from her. 

Xavier is the new master of the nest, ready to welcome home the daughter of the house who he has never met. He’s unprepared for the woman who steals his breath and enchants him. 

Now Hope and Xavier must fight for lives and those of the innocents. After all, it is only by overcoming the rogues that they will have a chance of a timeless future together. But will it be in time?

Warning:  If you love sexy alpha males that go bump in the night, hot and heavy encounters and strong females, then this book is for you…

Welcome to Sydney with Imogene Nix

As an Australian, I like to include Aussie Locations in my stories.  So far, I have included Brisbane and Bundaberg, but it's always nice to get an opportunity to share the wonders of my home country with others.  For SCP's Second Anniversary, it was decided that we would hold a virtual cruise.

What a great idea!  So I get to share the wonders of one of Australia's most well known destinations.

Sydney, Australia

 

Back in 2002 my husband and I took our two daughters to see Sydney and Canberra.  It was an amazing tour and one we haven’t ever been able to emulate since.

  My two very little girls (circa 2002) on the steps of the Opera House

For us, to get to Sydney was a three day drive.  Nowadays, we live a little closer.  If we got in the car we could be there in about 13.5 hours.  (It’s roughly 720 miles from where I live.) Sydney has lots to do, being a truly international destination with a melting pot of cultures now calling it home.

Flying into Sydney

Fast facts:

*Sydney is the most populace city in Australia.  As of 2009 there was in the region of 4.5 million inhabitants (Sydney Statistical District encompasses Blacktown, Sydney West, Parramatta, Sydney Central, Hills Shire, Liverpool, Hunter’s Hill, Burwood, Inner West and Lower Northern Sydney)

 Sydney and Centrepoint Tower from the air

* Sydney's urban region is broken up into thirty eight municipalities/city management areas.

*The Bridge opened in 1932 and is still the largest steel arch bridge in the world measuring 1,149 metres in length and 134 metres from sea level to the top of the arch.

 Sydney Opera House Framed by the Famous Bridge

*Sydney was first “discovered” by Captain James Cook on the HMS Endeavour in 1770 and was colonized by Governor Arthur Phillip in 1788.

 The Harbour Bridge

*Sydney Harbour is the home of the Sydney Opera House (which looks like mating turtles) and was designed by Jorn Utzon after he submitted his design to an international competition in 1957.  It was finally opened in 1973.

 

Sydney Opera House

 

*Sydney is the home of Kirribilli House, which was used as the address of choice during the Prime Ministership of Mr John Howard from 1998-2007.

*Sydney Harbour was one of the major locations for the world famous movie, Finding Nemo. (42 Wallaby Way Sydney is a catchphrase still associated with Nemo)

 Finding Nemo

Attractions:

Among the major attractions are:

The Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Opera House

Kirribilli House

The Sydney Aquarium

Sydney Harbor

The Centrepoint Tower

Elizabeth Bay House & Elizabeth Farm

The Rocks

Bondi Beach

Taronga Zoo

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race which begins in Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day each year.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

How to see Sydney:

Depending on how long you plan to stay, there are several ways to get around and visit sites in Sydney. I would not recommend hiring a car, as parking can be an issue.  There is quite a well developed transportation system, including buses and trains to travel to and fro within the city.

We chose not to stay in the heart so needed to trek in daily, which really wasn’t an issue with 2 young children. 

It is worthwhile investing in a iVenture Card.  Details can be found here.

 The Harbour

Weather:

Sydney weather is formed from a temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters. The city enjoys more than 340 days of sun each year. Average minimum temperatures in the winter months of June through to August are at their lowest. The summer season is from December through to February when the highest temperatures are recorded. During the summer months the beaches are packed with locals and visitors trying to escape the heat and lack of humidity.

As you can see from the table below, rainfall is reasonably well spread across the year. The start of the year sees the easterly winds dominate and rainfall is slightly higher at this time. Sydney never has to deal with cyclones.

 Bondi Beach March 2011

Sydney Temperatures

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max°C	25.8	25.7	24.7	22.4	19.3	16.9	16.2	17.7	19.9	22.0	23.6	25.1
Min°C	18.6	18.7	17.5	14.7	11.5	9.2	8.0	8.9	11.0	13.5	15.5	17.5

Sydney Monthly Rainfall

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rain mm	103	117	131	127	123	128	98	82	69	77	83	78

(Weather information courtesy of Sydney Visitors Bureau.) 

Places to visit and stay Near Sydney:

*Bathurst – The home of the V8 Supercar Racing which takes place every year in October.

*Canberra – The home of the Australian Federal Parliament

*Hunter Valley – One of Australia’s Premier wine growing areas

 Replica Ship in Harbour

Insider View:

It’s cheaper to stay outside Sydney City CBD and travel in daily with the iVenture Pass – make sure you get one with the optional transportation card.

Make sure you get on down to the wharf area and check out the Sydney Aquarium.

A must do is the ferries which traverse Sydney Harbour every day, get on one that takes you around the Harbour and past Kirribilli House.

For more details on things to see and do in Sydney, check out:

 At Taronga Zoo

http://www.sydney.com.au/activities.htm

http://www.sydneyguide.net.au/sydney_attractions.html

http://www.sydneyshowcase.com.au/visitor-information/things-to-do-in-sydney/

Competition Time:

Simply email reviewcoordinator@secretcravingspublishing.com with the name of the city I have focused on.  How simple is that?

To be eligible for the grand prizes - bloggers have to answer/match a minimum of 25 of the 30 authors to their location.  All valid entries must be received between January 4th and Janurary 6th to be eligible for the prize pool

Prize Pool:

Grand Prize- iPad2

First place- Kindle Fire

Second Place- $50 SCP gc

Third place- $25 SCP gc

 

To see the other stops on the virtual cruise visit: www.secretcravingspublishing.blogspot.com OR click on the very top image.

And as a thank you, for reading my blog... here's a sneak peek at my next release Starburst, available form 6th February 2013 from Secret Cravings Publishing.

****

Fleet Captain Elphin. His uncle. For many years, his mother had spoken of her younger brother, Gustav, a man set on achieving a larger and more powerful ship since he had attained his rank of captain. Not that he had expected fleet captain. His mother would have been so proud of her brother, but she hadn't lived long enough to experience a reunion with him. He turned his mind from the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him, bringing himself back to the now.

The door slid open quietly, and the voice of his gruff uncle, prematurely aged from his command and the concern over his sister, came from within. "Chowd, could you come through, please?"

Chowd’s uniform rubbed his skin, and the scent of new material wafted into the air, assaulting his senses, something he now understood came from his Ru’Edan heritage. He stepped into the office, the atmosphere surrounding the two openly hostile men leaving him bristling. He worked to release the bunched muscles. A cold pool settled in his belly.

"Chowd, meet Duvall and Grayson. Both are commanders that I respect and personally would call friends. They have been apprised of the need for you to be stationed aboard the Star of Ishtar with me. Grayson here will be in charge of your training and your day-to-day integration into the crew. I have discussed your background and the training you have told me you received, with an emphasis on engineering and security." His forehead creased as he sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers.

"Commanders," he greeted. He refused to hold out his hand, though, until either of them made a move. If they wanted to play power-control games, then let them, he thought sourly.

"How do we know you aren't a plant from Crick Sur Banden, given you are his son, according to the captain."

Irritation and anger washed over him. "If I was a plant, do you honestly think that I would be prepared to undertake the gene therapy my uncle has asked me to take? You sure wouldn't know anyway.” He stopped, taking a deep, cleansing breath before continuing. “I'm here because my mother died giving me the opportunity to get away." The burn in his belly grew. How in Eshra do they expect me to prove my allegiance to the empire when no one will let me show what I can do and what I know? When no one allows me to show my allegiance?

He took a step forward as the dark-haired man, Duvall, raised his chin. The silent question flowed between them. Would he try to take Duvall McCord on? He sure wanted to, but his uncle had warned him of the need to accept the pre-determined and imagined offences against him based on his mixed parentage and people’s prejudices. So he let the anger subside to a place at the back of his mind where he could control it.

****

To see all my Secret Cravings Titles, visit their website today.