Fresh snow, fresh story ideas

Ready for a shock? (Drum roll please...) THIS is my newest writing venture:

That's right. I'm writing a Western Romance. It is a sweet tale of new love healing old wounds, of acceptance and forgiveness. I don't want to put too much out in the public view yet, but it is part of a series, and is going to win the hearts of women readers everywhere!

For now, however, the sinus infection is winning and the couch is calling my name...

Sneak Peek

Okay, Peoples. We don't have a release date, and I can't give you all the details at this time, but I CAN show you the hot new cover for that project that I mentioned with Aphrodite's Apples.

RESURRECTED

New love emerges when past lives collide.

*cover art butt dance* How's that for eye candy, Ladies? :) RESURRECTED is a love story as hot as the sands of Egypt beneath the daytime sun. "And that's all I got to say about that..."

Naggy Nancy

Yup, that's right, my girlfriend Nancy Lindquist nagged me this morning for not posting in my blog in a while. So, I'm gonna update any readers here.

Nancy and I are actually working together on a *gasp* non-fiction project. It's a pretty cool idea, and one that my agent likes. She already has a publishing house (which she sells buttloads of books to) in mind for it. As things progess, I will update y'all here.

I sold a short story under my penname to The Wild Rose Press's Scarlet Rosette line. In other words, it's a hot and naughty little diddy. :) And, I am working on a super secret project for Aphrodite's Apples.

Past that, I'm kind of in a rewrite mode, with two different stories going through revisions. And, the sequel to Nuermar's Last Witch is in the works, working title of Nuermar's Only Guardian. It will follow the life of Jartis, Maelis's son. I'm also taken one of my penname's stories over as my own, and changing the title to boot. It's a dark dark (repeated on purpose) paranormal about a werewolf who is a real bitch.

Otherwise, it's hot and humid here. If you know me personally, then you know Summer is NOT my favorite season. Give me Fall! Crisp autumn air. Colored leaves. Sweatshirts and jeans. Hot cocoa. And kids in school!!!

Sneak Peek!

Rene Lyons and Stella Price are working on something awesome, and I get to be a part of it! So, I figured I'd give ya'll a sneak peek...

The gun?? It's a Glock, from the hubby's personal stash. :)

AHOY MATEYS!

FIND THE SEXY PIRATES!

Four Samhain authors challenge you to sail the high seas in search of sexy pirates! Your reward? Pieces of eight?

The Treasure:
A Samhain Gift Certificate for $20 * A copy of one book from each author * A treasure made by hand from each of the authors—a necklace, a bracelet, a book thong, and a candle!

Your First Mates:
AE Rought, Ciar Cullen, Ingela Hyatt, and Ann Cory

Your Mission:
Find the sexy pirates (hint: they look a lot like Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom for some reason)
Find the treasure chest

Your map:
http://www.ciarcullen.com/
http://aerought.blogspot.com/
http://www.anncory.com/
http://www.ingelahyatt.com/

BONUS HINT: Don’t forget Myspace and Livejournal pages linked at each site!

How to Win!
Visit each of the links above and look for the treasure chest. Then find two sexy pirates at each site in addition to the treasure chest. Jot down where you found the pirates and the treasure chest, and email your answers to ciar@ciarcullen.com
Don’t forget to tell us the title of the book where you found the treasure, or if it was on the homepage or blog of the author. Simply tell us the author’s name isn’t good enough. You’ll walk the plank for that!

CONTEST RUNS THROUGH JUNE! Don’t give up, if you have questions, email ciar@ciarcullen.com!

RENE LYONS HIJACK!!

Hey everyone! Rene Lyons here. Because I'm all laid up recovering from surgery, I've humbly begged my non-blood related sister, AE, to post this for me. Isn't it nice of her that I didn't have to get down on bended knee or offer up a kidney to get her to say yes?

I'm here to announce the print release of The Daystar. Yay! It's my second book to go to print and book two of the Templar Vampire series.

Here's the blurb:

Always feeling different from the world around her, a power grows within Lexine Parker. In the light is where she belongs—even as she finds herself thrust into the nocturnal realm of the Templar vampires.

Scarred by a brutal past, Constantine is a creature consumed with rage. He knows only darkness and sin. Believing he fights a losing battle of redemption, heaven is something he doesn’t dare hope for—until Lexine makes him believe salvation is possible.

Locked away in an ancient castle, they come together in body and spirit, searching for love to chase away the darkness. With Constantine’s soul at stake and Lex’s life on the line, the nights tick down to a cataclysmic event that could tear them apart forever.

Constantine was a real trip to write. He's all things dark and dangerous. Being in his head for the five months it took me to write Daystar was a trip down an emotional roller coaster. His backstory was brutal and often forced me to step away from the computer. To counter his darkness there is Lex. She was a heroine who I truly enjoyed writing. I liked her. It was nice to watch her find her strength. And man, did she need it to deal with the crap I threw at her. Not to mention she had to be able to stand up to the most fierce of all the Templar Vampires. Saying goodbye to them when I'd finished the book damn near killed me. I still find myself "writing" more of their story in my head. I simply can't let go of them. Thankfully, I have them make appearances in the final three books. That's the beauty of a series. I don't have to cut ties with characters I've come to love so much. They get to hang around a bit longer. And when you have a character like Constantine, it's always a bonus to have him stick around. *snicker*

Fictionwise's TOP TEN in Horror!

Aphrodite's Apples anthology Spellbound - Tales of Mischief & Mayhem is currently ranked as the 7th topselling Horror title over at Fictionwise!

Check it out:http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/HorroreBooks.htm

My short horror story PAST MIDNIGHT is the first title in this anthology, and is a spooky, atmospheric tale of karma come full circle. Sometimes, you can't go home...

For more information, check out Spellbound here:http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook45685.htm?cached

LMFAO

I think my sides are still hurting! Watch it only if you want ato laugh, and your NOT an animal rights activist:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f5d_1172741350

Bright blessings!

MARCH PRINT CELEBRATION CONTEST

First off, let me say "Thank you, Samhain Publishing!" for making this dream of mine a reality.
In celebration of Nuermar's Last Witch 's print release this month, I am running a big contest all month long. There are THREE PRIZES!!

PRIZES ARE:
1. An e-book of Nuermar's Last Witch, the novel reviewers are calling "a spellbinding fantasy," "an action packed adventure," and was nominated for Ecataromance's Reviewer's Choice Award.
2. A ruby and clear czech fire-polished glass bead necklace. 3. For the one who answers the trivia question correctly, Colly of Skinsations Soap and Bath Products made a goody basket! Included is a vanilla candle to set the mood, two lovely glycerin soaps of Amber Vanilla, and a bottle of Rapture scented body lotion!!

RULES:
The contest will be open all month, but there is only one way to enter:
1. Email me at AERought@gmail.com
2. put MARCH CONTEST in the subject line
3. in the body of the email put either
· NECKLACE
· BOOK, or
· TRIVIA (only for the goody basket)

The trivia question is:
Which monk who first greets Maelis and Joran inside the monastery?
(Please do not answer the trivia question here.)

To keep up with me, you can join DarkInk and set your email settings to Special Announcements, because I will be sending out my newsletters that way.

GOOD LUCK!!
ADDENDUM:
*onerous groan* Someone smack me, please. I've screwed up again. :( Seems I was supposed to post the needed excerpt in which the answer to my trivia question can be found. So, to keep things legal, you can find the need info in the most recent post to my LJ.
Slinking off to my cave...
AE

I've been TAGGED

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

WINNERS OF CONTEST 4!

Sorry I am so late in posting the winners, People. I got hit with tonsillitis again, and then my face just kind of blew up in a reactionary rash. :( Wasn't pretty, let me tell you! I have been down on the sofa under the influenece of drugs for days.

But, now to the winners... Everyone, let's congratulate Y, she's been trying since I started the contests, and she's finally won!!
Yolanda get's the necklace!

And Jackie Wisherd, who followed the links for a Fallen Angel's Review chat wins a copy of Nuermar's Last Witch!!

Congratulations to my winners!!

CONTEST*CONTEST*CONTEST 4th

PRIZE 1:That's right, Everyone, this necklace will be this Friday's prize (again!)! And, yes, as with the bear, I made this piece. It's a gorgeous necklace of black Czech glass, and red crystals with antiqued silver accents. Great for dressy wear wear, or that vampire/werewolf look!

PRIZE 2:Another copy of Nuermar's Last Witch will be given away this Friday! People need to read this story that The Romance Studio calls, "A spellbinding fantasy," that is "an exciting action-packed adventure that will enthrall the readers. A familiar plot where the hero and heroine set forth on a quest in search of objects of power to save the kingdom is made new by the exciting action and the surprising magical elements described in the story."

RULES: To make it easy on everyone, you may comment on the blog, with which prize you'd prefer, of email me at AERought@gmail.com. :)

Love and Light and best of luck!

AE

WINNERS of Contest 3

Wow! You ladies commenting in this blog made out like bandits in this drawing!! Every single winner is a recent commentor here. Way to GO!



Thanks go to my DH, who did the drawing for me this week, again. He's such a big help! Plus, it gives me a reason to post this picture--probably my favourite one of him :P



Okay, so here's how it shakes down:

1.) Annalisa (a newcomer) gets a copy of NUERMAR'S LAST WITCH

2.) Sue A gets a copy of SPELLBOUND

3.) Jennybrat wins the necklace

Ladies, please email me at AERought@gmail.com You lucky book winners will need to give me their email address, and Jennybrat will, of course, need to give me her postal address.

*Next week, if I haven't heard from Contest 2's winners, I will once more offer those prizes--gotta be fair to everybody, giving time to the winners, and giving another opportunity to those who didn't win the first time around.*


I'm waiting on you!


Smooches~


AE

CONTEST*CONTEST*CONTEST #3

Alright, Gentle Readers, I am having a prize basket blow out this week in celebration of the blessed Yuletide season! Not just one, not just two, but THREE different prizes! (Other authors are welcome to join in the fun, btw)

1. A copy of NUERMAR'S LAST WITCH, the e-book fantasy novel that is heralded as, "a wondrously magical adventure in a battle against good and evil, A.E. Rought has created a fantasy world that opens the door to love and passion. Readers will be able to experience a world like no other filled with amazing creations that will leave them in awe." (Anita of The Romance Studio)

2. A copy of SPELLBOUND, the e-book anthology published by Aphrodite's Apples, which contains my short horror story, PAST MIDNIGHT. PAST MIDNIGHT is a story of karma come full circle, a short story which Jennifer of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques says, "those of who love a good story that unravels naturally with an intriguing twist will surely enjoy Past Midnight."

3. This gorgeous hand-strung necklace of AB crystal, pressed glass, silver and hematite beads! (The picture just does not do these icy beads justice, People, it's a very pretty, sparkly piece, not matte like this picture.) It is not a choker, but lays just nicely on the neckline. The focal point has a silver charm dangling that simply reads, "Love," which is the highest power.

AND, to make it easier on those who have trouble leaving comments on Blogger, I am adding another way to enter the contest. You can 1) leave a comment here, 2) leave a comment on my MySpace blog, 3) email me at AERought@gmail.com, or 4) join my Yahoo! Group, Dark Ink, and leave a comment on the messageboard.

As addendum... There are two unclaimed prizes from last week. :( Amy, and Becky please contact me AERought@gmail.com so that your prizes can be sent out.

Best of luck to all of you!

AE

EXCERPT: Nuermar's Last Witch

**Blog exclusive excerpt**

Here's a little taste of my villian for y'all...

He felt the earth around him, cold and unforgiving through his blood-soaked tunic; his cheek came to know every grain of dirt, every pebble and piece of debris. He could smell the musty dung of animal scat mixed into the loam, even over the bitter scent of his own blood. He felt his heart beating, the interval between each heartbeat growing longer until his pulse all but stopped and Daysen knew he would live no more.

The assassin prepared himself for the gods’ final justice. But instead of blackness and eternal punishment, Daysen felt the edges of his belly wound begin to burn. His heart picked up an erratic beat. He unearthed himself, and pulled up his shirt; an apparition of one of Lord Nemenon’s demons rode the ragged edges of his raw cut. Needing contact with flesh to solidify, the creature dug its claws into Daysen’s skin, pulling the edges of his wound together.

The instant it touched Daysen’s flesh, the creature transformed from spirit to being. The demon’s black eyes pierced Daysen with its gaze.

“Your job is not finished,” it hissed, its forked tongue fluttering. “You will live only as long as I permit. If I leave your body, I will once again become a spirit and will take yours with me. Should you fail to do my bidding, you will face my punishment…”

The demon’s sentence trailed off. It began to fade again, like a shadow dissipating in sunlight, filtering through the assassin’s flesh until only it glittering black claws remained solid, cinching Daysen’s wound closed like crude stitches.

Daysen lay still in shock, his chest heaving with new life even as the crimson welt left in the demon’s wake wept dark blood and pus, as though infected. He was infected, he realized―with evil. He felt the demon inside his body. Even Daysen’s heartbeat was quick and shallow, echoing that of the creature. The solider even felt the demon in his mind, its talons digging into his brain and its snarling lips whispering over his lobes evil things beyond imagining.

The demon arrested his death, and now Daysen was in its clutches, forced forever to do its bidding. Such was the price of continued existence. He was a puppet suspended on strings of death. As the demon invaded the assassin’s soul, Daysen’s human form changed―he began to resemble his internal tormentor. Daysen was now little more than a vessel, filled with something malevolent. As a glass bottle displays its contents, so, too, did Daysen. His lips curled in a nasty sneer; his eyes sunken, piercing and black. Whatever remnant of humanity remained within Daysen lay buried deep in his heart, a place the demon considered useless to invade.

WINNERS of CONTEST 2 !!

Okay, dear Contestants, my kids are both gone this weekend, so my DH was kind enough to draw the names. And, in case you're wondering what my DH looks like, here he is in all his glory...

*wg*

So... This week's winners are:

Becky, from Samhain Cafe -- BOOK!

Amy, new comer to the blog -- the necklace!

Congratulations, Ladies!! *throws streamers*

Amy, I will need your postal addy, so please email me at AERought@gmail.com so that I can get your necklace out to you.

Becky, email me (same email addy), and let me know what format you want your book in!

And, to everyone else, thanks for coming back and for putting up with Blogger's snit-fits. We've still got two weeks to go, which means more e-books and other prizes! Plus, there will be a new excerpt up, too, so I hope to see you all again, soon! :)

CONTEST*CONTES*CONTEST (2)

PRIZE 1:
That's right, Everyone, this necklace will be this Friday's prize! And, yes, as with the bear, I made this piece. It's a gorgeous necklace of black Czech glass, and red crystals with antiqued silver accents. Great for Holiday wear, or that vampire/werewolf look!

PRIZE 2:
Another copy of Nuermar's Last Witch will be given away this Friday! People need to read this story that The Romance Studio calls, "A spellbinding fantasy," that is "an exciting action-packed adventure that will enthrall the readers. A familiar plot where the hero and heroine set forth on a quest in search of objects of power to save the kingdom is made new by the exciting action and the surprising magical elements described in the story."

Same rules as last week, just post a comment, and if you'd prefer one prize or the other, please let me know so. :)

Love and Light and best of luck!
AE

EXCERPT: Nuermar's Last Witch

Maybe you've read this posted elsewhere, but I still think it's one of my favourite scenes...

By the fourth night, she was captive to her fatigued petulance, and as the sun set, she scrambled from the bushes, spoiling for a fight.

She stalked over to the fireside, and dropped gracelessly to the dirt. She took the mug of tea that Joran offered her, but she met his evening salutations with little more than a grunt. Maelis’s mind buzzed with angry, ugly thoughts, as though everything came to crash in on her at once and Joran’s pleasantries and attempts at soothing only made her feel worse.

“Is something wrong, Maelis?”

“You tell me,” she growled. “My village was destroyed, my grandmother was murdered, I had to leave Ke’sair’s when it was beginning to feel like home, I’m on an impossible quest and I’m traveling with a man who wanted to kill me!” She glared at him, aiming her frustrations at the face across the flames. “Tell me how you would feel!”

Maelis flung her cup at Joran and then kicked at the fire, sending up a shower of sparks.

Joran rose, as much to defend himself as from anger. He pointed a warning finger at her and shouted, “Stop it!”

“What if I don’t?” she snarled. “Are you going to kill me, like you did the people in my village?”

“That’s not fair, Maelis.”

“Calling you a ‘killer’ isn’t fair?” Her words dripped venom. “Why not? It’s the truth.” She looked at him with searing green eyes. “Killer! Killer! Killer!”

Joran closed the distance between them, bristling, his fists balled up at his sides. He grabbed Maelis by her tunic collar and raised the other hand as if to slap her.

He inhaled. She exhaled.

“Killer,” she growled one last time.

There was no hesitation.

Her taunts had found their mark in a man easily given to violence; his hand arced down in a vicious swing. A resounding crack stung them both as Joran’s callused hand struck Maelis’ cheek. As soon as he slapped her, he regretted it. He saw the wounded look in her eyes and reached out to console her.

“The old nature lies just beneath the surface,” Maelis whispered. “And you expect me to trust you?”

copyright 2006

WINNERS!!

Alright, Ladies. This is my daughter Kat, and she's holding the hat your names have been added to. Kat and her brother Kyle drew the names this week. *drum roll, please*

THIS WEEK'S WINNERS ARE:

Billie I--free copy of Nuermar's Last Witch!!!

Loretta--teddy bear!!!

*throws confetti* Yay! Congratulations!!!

Now, Ladies, I need your contact info, so please email me at aerought@gmail.com Loretta, I will need your postal addy. Billie, I need your email addy and which format you would like to receive your free copy of Nuermar's Last Witch.

To the rest of my entrants, your names will stay in the hat, because next week I will have another great prize. I have more free books, and hand beaded jewelry, and possibly...another bear! (gray this time, antique rescued fur)

So... check back Monday for the next CONTEST posting. Until then, you can enjoy my normal pith and blather LOL, and an occasional excerpt from Nuermar's Last Witch, or up-coming works.

THANK YOU ALL!

CONTEST * CONTEST * CONTEST

Greetings, Dear Readers, and Happy Holidays!

All this month, I will be holding contests to win e-books and other great prizes!! Every Friday I will give something away. Downloads. Awesome prizes. What could be better?!?

This week, to kick things off, one lucky commenter will win a copy of Nuermar's Last Witch, my high fantasy novel at Samhain Publishing. AND one commenter will win this adorable, handcrafted pink teddy bear!!

Isn't she sweet?? Goddess knows, I almost hate to part with this bear. And, in case you're wondering out there, YES, I made her. Here's another pic of her precious little face...

And, of course, there is the download of Nuermar's Last Witch, my fantasy novel. Here's the blurb to whet your appetite...

Nuermar’s history is whittled in ruins, its prophecy carved in stone. Maelis, child of the Prophecies, is the last of her kind — a green-eyed witch, and the only one whom the stones of Nuermar say can channel the Elements. She alone has the power to vanquish the evil that reigns over her land. But without the greatest element of all, she has no hope of winning such an impossible battle.
A turncoat-assassin holds the key to her ultimate triumph. Yet the destruction of her village and the brutal slaughter of Maelis’ family lies on Joran’s hands. Can she overcome her hatred in order to fulfill the Prophecies and channel the ultimate Element – Love?

So what do you need to do to win? Comment here, and tell me where you heard about the contest and which prize you'd like to win. Simple enough? Friday evening, I will post the name of the winner here, so you'll have to check back and exchange contact info, and all that jazz. :)

So, come on, speak up and say 'Hi.'

BEST OF LUCK!!