Want to see something gorgeous?

The Comet's Tail (Swithin Chronicles 2) is due out October 9th (though don't hold me to that) so I guess it's about time I unwrapped this delightful... um... package.

Enjoy!

Shaz x

Win the Heart of an Angel! (Contest)

I tend to run a contest to celebrate a special event, and the release of a book is certainly that! Sorry I'm a little late on this but I needed to wait until my holiday was over so I could be here.

To celebrate the release of Angel Heart I'm giving away a small heart that I hope the winner will enjoy for years to come. It's a white heart, small enough to sit in the palm of your hand and made from white luminous stone, VERY translucent. I almost don't want to part with it, so hurry up and enter! It's very pretty and a lovely keepsake.

I'll announce the winner in a couple of weeks around the 5th of October. Write to me and tell me who the angel in your life is and why, though a name (even a nickname) to announce the winner is appreciated. I'll only reprint what you write with your permission.

You can contact me by filling in my online form at my main site (link to site is in the sidebar and form is on the links page). If you're on myspace you can also contact me there. Just entitle your entry Angel Heart. Good luck!

Fancy A Slow Fuzzy Screw?

Okay, I'm sorry! I know you're fed up with all the announcements. What can I do? I didn't plan it this way! If you're tired, imagine how I feel. I've also had line edits for Comet 2 this week. LOL. Oh... and I've just had a flash of the cover but I'm keeping it under wraps for a few days. You don't need too many things all at once, although I have a contest to announce this weekend and then I may collapse into a puddle on the floor...

My m/m paranormal has released! So here's a reminder and an excerpt:

Shayne's disillusioned with relationships so he's not looking for anything serious when he visits Del Fantasma bar, just something out of the ordinary. He certainly finds it, in the 'shape' of a man called Leon.
***

Leon lifted and carried Shayne to the bed before he could cry out in either surprise or horror. The man moved with catlike stealth when he wanted to and Shayne no sooner stepped out of the last of his clothes than muscle surrounded him. He expected Leon to fling him onto the bed but, instead, the big man laid him down with surprising gentleness. He lay back, silent, waiting for whatever other strange things would unfold this night.

"You are beautiful," Leon said, though he made the statement sound more quizzical than complimentary.

Those large fingers fiddled with Shayne's dark curls, petting, patting, as though Shayne were some kept creature. "Your scent is sweet even when your fear eases."

"I didn't think fear would have a sweet scent."

"It doesn't. Not exactly. It's sour, but to a predator what it means is sweet."

"And what does it mean?" Shayne became aware of his pulse jumping in his neck. The fear eased back but the anxiety never left him completely, as though it couldn't.

"It means that you are victim to my desires."

Shayne knew Leon was about to dip his head and kiss that jumping pulse even before the man leaned in towards him. Leon did more than he expected though. He took the flesh there in his teeth, and licked the skin. Shayne cried out, his spine bowing, his hands rising instinctively to push Leon away and encountered...solid muscle. He pushed and nothing happened except that tongue licked again. Leon feasted, and Shayne, aware that this man could rip out his throat, writhed under him as the feeling edged into pain. The pain never quite became unbearable. The pain became something other, something he didn't know how to endure yet he wasn't entirely sure he wanted the sensation to stop. He wanted something to change because Shayne knew now, even if Leon hadn't decided, that he would get his wish. Whatever the morning brought with it, tonight Shayne was going to get laid. If the man kept biting him like this though, he would bruise.

Again, his conflicting emotions assaulted him. On the one hand, he loved this, but he'd loved things such as this before and look where they led him?always to the wrong type of pain.

When Leon drew back, the man uttered one word, "Delicious."

Available now from Aspen Mountain Press
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com

Sharon Maria Bidwell
aonia - where the muses live
http://uk.geocities.com/theviewoveraonia
http://www.myspace.com/aonia
http://www.loose-id.net/searchresult.aspx?CategoryID=237
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com

Ready for a kiss?

This is one of those strange weeks where I have a lot to report. I'm pleased to announce that my short story 'Effigy in Garnet' is in the latest issue of Aoife's Kiss, available from Sam's Dot Publishing (you can also check out their myspace page).

Effigy in Garnet is... Well, this is what the editor had to say when he took it:

Well, my goodness. A literary vampire tale that does not have the word "vampire" in it. It's a love story, of course, not a vampire story. Still, how could I possibly refuse this one...?
Tyree Campbell
Managing Editor
Sam's Dot Publishing
ps. This is a really good story.


He tasted like rubies. No. Rubies were more commonly pink, insipid. This taste was darker, richer. It would be more accurate to say that he tasted like garnets: deep red, with orange flashes of light in the depths. Even with her eyes tightly shut, these flashes were brilliant, blinding!

For those who like an alternative read...

For those of you who may like to know what other things I write besides romance I've uploaded a pdf file containing a free short story to the yahoo group 'An Alternative Read'.

It's called Degrees of Sickness and was published earlier this year in a UK magazine called Midnight Street. The rights have reverted to me and if or until I decide to look for a market to publish it elsewhere I've given it to Sassy (who runs the Alternative Read group and website) for distribution only through this group.

You can access it through the free stories in the files section but you do need to join the group to do so. It's free, and you can always leave so no obligations involved. Actually Sassy informs me that anyone joining should receive this and another free story automatically.

How to describe it? It's darker than most know me for, somewhat surreal, fits the genre most widely known as Slipstream, and I wrote it specifically for the magazine so was delighted when they accepted it. Alas, I fully understood it would be stuck in a backlog and so it took some time to see print. These things happen but I couldn't be more delighted that it finally has a readership. I hope you enjoy, although that might not be quite the word I'm looking for on this occasion. There's a reason I call my work diverse.

Angel review(s)

Woo. Get home and find this for Snow Angel:

The dynamic relationship between Dean and Jay is constantly changing and Ms. Bidwell had me laughing, crying and yelling through them all! There are some very (and I do mean very) hot and steamy scenes and if not careful, you could be scorched! -- Rainbow Reviews

A quick flashback to older reviews, I seem to have hit the mark with this one:

Sharon Maria Bidwell has penned an exceptional tale in Snow Angel, one that resonated with me long after I finished it. At times the emotions were so intense, so painful, that it was hard for me to read, but then I would turn the page and find something incredible to keep me going. -- Joyfully Reviewed

This is a relationship that seems based on desperation. They cling to each other and enjoy the passion they share but there is so much pain in both of them that the reader hurts with them. -- The Romance Studio

As much as I originally riled against the two main characters ... I also came to admire them for their brutal honesty and willingness to take a chance. This story is an emotional roller coaster, and more for the reader than the characters themselves. I'm still not sure whether I like this story more than I dislike it. However, I do know that it inspires me to debate with others who've also read it, and will remember SNOW ANGEL long after I've forgotten most other stories. And that is a mark of true originality. -- (RRT)

Ms Bidwell has done a wonderful job in developing her charming characters as well as executing a strong plot. Readers will find the story well defined and easy to follow, making this a sexy and captivating read. -- Literary Nymphs Reviews

In a word? Unique. Undoubtedly a word you have heard before, but let me tell you this word fits Snow Angel to a T. Going in, I didn't know what to expect, but I can say this: I wasn't expecting what I got. These characters are very strongly developed, Dean being the most dominant - both in development and in personality. He really stands out. At times, I guarantee you will hate this character, but in turns be fascinated, intrigued and inclined towards him. -- JERR

I'm equally pleased to say that my first review for Angel Heart, the novella sequel, is as good:

Passion, love and the trials of life share in the emotional journey Ms. Bidwell pens for her men. Angel Heart is a sweet romance with sizzling love scenes that readers are sure to enjoy. -- Literary Nymphs Reviews