The Erotic Romance Madness Hop has landed at The Forbidden Bookshelf, and Diana is featuring a review and giveaway of Re/Bound there. The contest runs May 10-14, 2012 Here's a sample of her review:

"The characterizations of Malcolm and Darcy as a new D/s couple were spot on.  They were realistic, likable and full of depth and emotion.  Their relationship developed at a steady pace, where limits where explored and pushed, but safe words were always respected...RE/BOUND is a suspenseful and very steamy story, and I would highly recommend it to fans of BDSM erotic romances."

You can read more at The Forbidden Bookshelf and enter the contest. Good luck!

I've been very, very busy lately. I've banged out 63K words on the follow-up to Re/Bound (working title is Learning Curve) and I'm working on something special for those of you who want a little more from Awakenings.

In the meantime, Out of My League has earned a 5 Sweetheart review rating from The Romance Studio. Here's a sample of Shannon's review: "With Out of My League, the very talented pen of author Michele Zurlo sweeps the reader away, demonstrating her talent for creating an original, fascinating and a highly seductive romance that readers can embrace and enjoy. The combination of remarkably real, vulnerable and irresistible characters and also the tug-at-the-heartstrings storytelling, which takes the reader from the first page to the last and leave them charmed, has this reader ready for more from this wonderful author." To read more, follow this link to The Romance Studio.

I like that she called me talented and wonderful. My wife might disagree, arguing that I don't need a bigger head. Well, the size of my ego is her fault in the first place. She's the one continually encouraging me and telling me I can do anything.

In other news, Just Erotic Romance Reviews gave Re/Bound a 4.5-star rating, noting: "Re/Bound is a BDSM story with a few twists, including ropes and suspense, that just makes for a great read. The love story of Malcolm and Darcy is sweet and real. The suspense makes for a complex story that intertwines so beautifully with the sex. From the first Dom/sub experience between Darcy and Malcolm as strangers, the sexual chemistry just burns you from the inside. Zurlo gave the readers a special treat with Re/Bound." To read more, see the JERR May 2012 newsletter.

And lastly, my hair is about 5 inches shorter, but it looks good. Maybe the universe was trying to tell me I needed a new look.

I got a bad haircut this week. The moment I walked in the door, I had a forbidding feeling. Ignoring it, or chalking it up to the fact I was in a new place, I forged ahead. I had picked up one of my twins and we had an hour to kill before chess club ended and I could pick up the other one. And I really, really needed a trim. So did my little girl, who rivaled me for longest hair. (Now she wins that contest.)

The woman behind the counter saw us walk in. Her gazedropped to the computer monitor. Instead of greeting us--what happened to "Hi. Welcome to Really Good Fred's. How can we help you today?"--she said, "Phone number?"

Let me tell you something. I hate giving out my phone number. I engaged the services of TruGreen last year. Nothing spectacular happened to my lawn, so I dropped them this year. They've been stalking me, calling my cell at the most inopportune times, like the middle of a test I'm giving to 34 seventh graders. They won't take no for an answer, even after I threatened to report them for stalking. On the plus side, the heroine in my WIP picked up a stalker. So thanks (?) TruGreen. Anyway, I still hate giving out my number.

I chose the salon because it was close to my daughters' school.For the past ten years, I've been going to Supercuts. Because we moved away from that area, getting back there isn't so convenient. I've had nothing but great haircuts from there, and they fit my budget.

After that 21st Century greeting (what happened to eye contact?) things went downhill. I have very thick, curly hair. I have to lift and separate to get it wet in the shower with the water going full blast. First, she brushed it with a brush you should never use on curly hair. Then she sprayed it down in five squirts, wetting the top layer. I asked for a trim. I was willing to lose an inch or two. As I said, it's curly hair. User-friendly. Forgiving of mistakes. You have to work hard to screw it up.

She kept all my hair behind my shoulders. It falls--fell--halfway down my back, even with the curls. She regaled me with a tale of about she wasn't addicted to cigarettes because a pack lasts her a whole week, sometimes a week and a half. I didn't have to add to the conversation because I was just an audience for her monologue. That didn't bother me because I wasn't in the mood for conversation. I'd just spent the day reading chapter 9 of The Lightning Thief out loud to four different classes. So I listened.

I became concerned when she said, "Your hair is a half inch longer on this side. Whoever cut it last time didn't do a good job." I thought, "You were the last person with scissors near my head." My eyes darted around, looking in the mirror at my daughter, who was faring little better than I, and then for an escape. That's when I saw it. Her name.

It turns out she's a former student. I remember her well.She'd regularly blathered on about various topics that had nothing to do with the question you asked, smiling all the while. She was a genuinely nice kid, kind of ditzy, and she turned into a genuinely nice adult, still ditzy. Her work was sloppy and rushed. It's been over a decade, and I realized absolutely nothing had changed about her. Sure she was a little taller and she'd grown up, but that happens to us all.

I said nothing about our acquaintance. There was a good chance she didn't remember me. We didn't have a bad relationship, but we weren't particularly close. With 164 students in a typical year, I can't get close to them all. Heck, I'm not sure I can remember them all. It doesn't hel pthat I suck with names.

I told her to skip my bangs. Thank goodness I'd already trimmed them myself. And then we got out of there as fast as we could. (Ten minutes after walking through the front door.) When I got home, I realized she'd chopped off close to four inches. It doesn't fall far past my shoulders now. And the left side is an inch longer than the right side.

Supercuts, I'm so sorry. You are totally worth the drive. See you Saturday. (Daughter, too.) Please fix our hair.

Check me out at The Forbidden Bookshelf. I talk about the Safe Word: Oasis series and BDSM in my life.  http://theforbiddenbookshelf.net/interview-with-michele-zurlo-safe-word-oasis-series

Re/Bound is now available from Loose Id, All Romance eBooks, and  Amazon, and soon from Barnes and Noble.  Here's a little bit about this sinful treat:

 Genre:     BDSM Contemporary                             Length:     Novel Plus/$7.99

Cover Art by Fiona Jayde  

Picking herself up after the devastating loss of her master is more difficult than Darcy anticipated. Just when she needs someone the most, a handsome dom steps in and helps her out. Theo is thoughtful, dominant, and demanding -- everything she needs. He pushes her boundaries, tests her limits, and takes her to new heights. With him, she remembers what it is to feel joy and love and a firm hand on her ass.

Agent Malcolm Legato is after a corrupt businessman, and Darcy is his ticket into the upper echelon of Snyder Corp. As "Theo," he makes contact with her and cultivates her as an asset. Since she's also a suspect in her master's disappearance, he can't reveal himself to her, even when he realizes she's another of Snyder's victims. He falls hard for this feisty submissive, and he knows he'll break her heart the moment she finds out he's been lying to her all along.

When it all falls apart, will Darcy be able to find the strength to forgive Malcolm so they can build a life together and the courage to bring justice to the man she loved and lost?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: anal play/intercourse, BDSM theme and elements, spanking.

Read an excerpt on Loose Id's website or at www.michele.zurlo.com/rebound.htm

Gonna Make You Sweat

A few mornings ago, I went to put on a pair of pants in which I used to look damn good, and they didn't fit. It wasn't like I was unaware of those five extra pounds that crept in with all the tasty holiday food. I just didn't realize how much of a difference they would make. Subconsciously, I think I avoided those pants for the early part of this year...

In the past seven months, I revised and edited the heck out of three novellas and a full length novel whose length exceeds the three novellas. And I wrote a 50K manuscript. And I worked (teaching) full time, a new prep I haven't taught in 14 years. I bought two workout DVDs. (And found out just purchasing them doesn't actually impact anything but how full my DVD shelf is.) While I've accomplished a bunch of stuff, my workout routine turned out to be the casualty. A year ago, when I had to be to work an hour earlier, I managed to get to the pool and swim laps 3-4 mornings each week. I'd go to work drenched in the lingering scent of chlorine. Now I sit in the parent section two nights each week and watch my kids swim.

I ran a Just Dance marathon as a reward for my team (who knocked out the rest of the school in can drive donations) last December. Apparently, I had an old version, so I was given the newer version. I'm not one for video games (I'd borrowed the original) but this week, I've kicked it into high gear. I stole two 'hi-score' titles from my kids. Not for my dancing ability. I look like a monkey being electrocuted when I dance. I'm just willing to dance to the R&B songs like Forget You and Promiscuous. My kids avoid those songs. Not sure why. They have a consistent beat. Anyway, my insane primate style gets me more sweat points, and that's the whole point. Here's hoping it works!

Re/Bound Excerpt Posted

It won't be available until April 3rd, but you can catch a preview of Chapter One on my website. Here's the link: http://www.michelezurlo.com/rebound.htm

Two years ago, Letting Go, my very first published novel, came out. I remember when I read that first email from Siren asking me to rewrite it in third person. (You thought I was going to say it was an acceptance letter. Ha! It wasn't a rejection letter, and that was all that mattered.) It had originally been written in first person from Sabrina's point of view. They wanted me to add some scenes from Jonas's point of view. I remember staring at the screen, thinking, "It's her story. Should I make the changes?"

It didn't take very long for that thought to morph into "How hard could that be?" The request was phrased in a very positive and encouraging way. They loved the story, but their house style demanded some changes. I thought about it for about a day, and then I sat down and began rewriting my story from the beginning. You might think all I had to do was change the pronouns, and you'd be wrong. I learned a lot about how point of view affects the kinds and tenses of verbs you can use and the kinds of observations a character can make. Sabrina was originally one intuitive woman. I tried to bring that out in the rewrite.  In the end, I thought it was a strong story. Personally, I still prefer it in first person, even though I do like the addition of the scenes from Jonas's viewpoint. When the rights revert to me, I plan to make some changes, expand the ending, but I'm on the fence about changing it back to the first person point of view.

I sent it back within three weeks -- did I mention that I'm a workaholic? -- and I had an offer for publication within two weeks. Ironically, I got the offer from Siren the same day I got a rejection from another publisher.  I was told to expect an April 2010 publication date. They sent my first round of edits in late December. I whizzed through them, only banging my head against the wall a few times, and Siren asked if I wanted to move my date up to February 2010. I wasn't going to refuse!

I was so excited. The day they sent my cover, I couldn't stop staring at my computer. It's one of Jinger Heaston's best.

Amazon Buy Link       BookStrand Buy Link

Readers have said some really nice things about this book, both in the reader reviews (see Amazon and My Earnest Reviews at BookStrand) and in letters they've written to me. At first I thought they were being nice, but then I realized that people who review don't pull their punches. Some of my other books weren't as well-received, so that underscores how much people liked this one.

What did I learn from this experience? Many things. I'll share a few:

1.  Siren is about the best place for a new author to start out. They are so supportive, and the author's group is just bursting with experienced authors who answer questions and cheer for you. I've made some strong connections and some good friends.

2. Promotions is a difficult undertaking because there's no proven or effective way to do it. I stopped wasting my time doing promotions. Now I just write. I may appear at another blog or do a radio show, but that's more for personal enjoyment. Plus, I got to talk to Tymber Dalton on the phone. How cool is that? Even my mother is a fan. (BTW- my mother's favorite book of mine is Irrepressible Force.)

3. People really, really, really connect with Sabrina. That makes me happy because she's a lot like me, and I like to be liked. (Who doesn't?) Almost all the letters I get are about Letting Go. Some people tell me they enjoyed it. Others share personal stories. Many ask me to write a sequel.

During the spring of 2011, I didn't have any works in progress. I sat back and took stock of the ten novels I'd published. Some things I'm proud of. Some, not so much.  I promised myself that I would only put out stories I loved from that point forward. I wrote a lot over that summer -- 3 novellas and a full-length novel -- and I loved each of them. Yes, Justin and By My Side have already been released. Out of My League will come out Feb 21st, and Re/Bound is scheduled for spring. Loose Id tells me it'll be part of the Men of Mystery Special Collection. I've always wanted to be part of a collection.

When I first put down my reflections on Letting Go, I tried to say that I couldn't write a 5th Awakenings novel because each attempt I made fell flat, so I let it go. It wasn't meant to be. However, since then, I've begun the 5th Awakenings book. I have about 24% written, and I have so many of the rest of the scenes playing through my head, begging to be written down. Part of what made it easier is embracing my decisions to focus on BDSM and to not force a story.  This one is titled Ana's Choice. Anastasia Morozov (sister of Lex and Stef from Two Masters) is home for good, and she's set her sights on exploring her submissive side. Who better to guide her in that life path than Stephen Galen, the object of her teenage crush?

Ana's Choice marks a new direction in the series, and I now have vague ideas for a 6th and 7th novel. These won't come out as close together as the first four because I'm also continuing the Oasis series, and I'm working on a companion novel for my BDSM romantic suspense novel, Re/Bound. 

Questions for you:

1.  What was your favorite Awakenings moment?

2.  Who would you like to see get the next Awakenings novel?

Hi Everybody!

As I do mundane things like dishes or laundry, I kick around writing ideas.  Last spring, I considered the concept that everyone has fantasies. Depending on your situation, those fantasies can have little to no chance of becoming reality. Perhaps you want to be tied up, but your significant other isn't into it. Maybe there's someone who makes you sigh with longing, but you don't have the courage to approach him or her. Then I decided it would be cool if there was a service whose sole (or soul) objective is to make those fantasies come true.

That's the birth story of the Safe Word: Oasis series.

So far, I have three novellas written and contracted to Loose Id. I'm working on the fourth, and I have an outline for the fifth. Because the series is founded on fantasy wishes, it's completely free of restrictions as far as characters and settings. Yes, Justin is set in rural Michigan. By My Side is set in California. Out of My League is set in the UP, rural Michigan, and a Caribbean island. Of course, there are some commonalities. For example, everyone's safe word is "oasis." 

Oasis works like this:( Customers submit their wish. During the selection process, they fill out mountains of paperwork the detail their preferences and limits. Once everything is in order, Oasis arranges for the wish to come true. Of course, there's always a twist. Oasis might advertise short-term fantasy fulfillment, but they're really a bait-and-switch operation. They will fulfill the wish in a way that gives the wishers what they need for long-term happiness.

The term oasis invokes a safe little bubble where you can feel free to explore those deep, dark urges you keep hidden from the rest of the world. It opens the door for honest communication and interaction. It forces you to come to terms with what you want and what you're willing to do to get it.

In Yes, Justin, Trish just wants to go back to the point in her life where she was the focus of a man's time and attention. She married that man, but life changes got in the way. Work and kids conspire to keep them apart most of the time. Then she takes a chance and asks Oasis to send a dom to kidnap her and whisk her away to a cabin in the middle of nowhere to live out her BDSM fantasy.

Click HERE to read an excerpt where Trish discovers the identity of her kidnapper. It can't help but lead to an extra interesting weekend! It's only offered through Loose Id for the first few months, so if you're not willing to wait for it to hit other distributors (Amazon, Barnes and Noble) here's the direct link to Yes, Justin at Loose Id.

In reflecting on the characters of Trish and Justin, I think they're my favorite couple since Sabrina and Jonas of Letting Go. I really feel like I'm returning to my roots with this series, and I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

I've been interviewed by Desmond Haas at The Romance Radio Network.  I'm very pleased to announce that I didn't come off sounding like Minnie Mouse.  Here's the link:

The Romance Radio Network episode location:

http://romanceradio.net/2011/04/11/rrn-michele-zurlo-author-interview-show-028/

Let me know what you think!

Michele Z.