Sunday, November 16, 2014

Who is your book boyfriend this holiday? And do you want a new Kindle Touch to read him?

A lot of books are releasing and on sale this week, and many more planned through the holidays. Among them *cough* Jack and Marissa's hot and steamy Eye of the Storms that just went live! I'm so excited about this release that I wanted to do something special.

Along with Eye of the Storm release will be a giveaway of the new Kindle Touch!

I've never done a giveaway with a book release. I push the publish button, the book goes live, and the enthusiasm shown for Jack, Marissa, and Tristan always makes me teary and giddy. I want to give back, and wanted to do it in a big way. And at the same time, I want to introduce more readers to the Storm family.

 If you're a subscriber to Lisa Gillis Email That Rocks, you've already been entered, but you can earn more entries.
If you haven't subscribed to Rock Your Read, Email that Rocks, just enter your info to enter the contest. I promise, no spam. In fact, sometimes months go by with no emails in between book releases. Come rock with us!

Laura Taylor who is well known for her military, and romantic suspense novels, and Kristine Cayne who is well known for military, romantic suspense, and the hottest fire fighter novels you'll ever read have joined the giveaway. Their works have been on bestseller lists and have won awards. I want to introduce you because I'm pretty positive you will love their fictional worlds if you love mine.

Check 'em out 



On Sale now from Kristine Cayne

A Celebrity Stalking Story
$0.99 until Thursday

On Sale now from Laura Taylor

New Boxed Set Romantic Suspense
$1.99 until the 30th 

Just Released from Lisa Gillis

Rock Star Romance
$0.99 Today
International Link

Keep up with the best Fictional Boyfriends


Kindle Touch Giveaway







Thursday, November 13, 2014

A Little Déjà vu and A Lot More Fun



So you've heard this somewhere before? 

Sure
Read it in a book? 
Yes. But you've never read it like this. 

Eye of the Storms is the same Jack and Marissa story, but with expanded steamier scenes, all new scenes, and a whole new point of view.

We now read from Marissa's point of view instead of a narrative--Eye being the keyword equated to I. Jack also jumps in with several chapters of is own.

Ever wonder Jack's thoughts that fateful festival day? It's in the Eyes book.




Remember the fateful phone call? 


           The seconds ticked by, and only background sounds filtered through: the light pound of music, the whip of wind on the phone mic, the rumble of traffic. She didn’t know whether to imagine him in his car or standing on a porch at his home. Then he spoke, and both images dropped away.


           “Not mine, you’re not. You are not looking at my kid.” The denial was firm, and she wondered if he was willing it to be true, or if he actually believed it so. ~Excerpt From Jack Who?

Ever wonder what was happening on Jack's side of the phone that day?


          With each unreturned text and that last ignored voicemail I’d told myself I was ignoring her because I wanted to call her on my terms. Not because after five fucking years she decided she wanted some of Jack Storm again and hit me up...

         ...I closed my eyes against the sun, the sway of the trees, and the cottony clouds. I closed out my pool and the three smokin’ hot babes who drifted on floats—completely nude.

          
          “Not mine, you’re not. You’re not looking at my kid.”~Excerpt From Eyes of the Storms


    If you've read Jack and Marissa before, no doubt, you'll experience a lot of déjà vu. But fear not, you'll also be treated to the book in a whole new way. 


"Jack and Marriss were pretty great the first time around, but they are simply exquisite now. A bit sexier, a bit more rounded out, and simply fantastic."~GoodReads review from a reader of both books



Coming to Kindle November 17, 2014




Eye of the Storms

Friday, October 31, 2014

Rock and Roll Halloween 70's Style

The D-Strings Trilogy Rising Sun, Half Moon, Rock Stars covers a decade of rock and roll scenarios involving members of the book's fictional band Cawaba beginning in the early 70's.

Today with Halloween on my mind, I realized these novels make mention of the black cat holiday more than once. So here they are, pieces of the scenes. Don't worry, spoilers are cut out for anyone who still hasn't met Matt and Jules.

If you've read the book, vote your favorite Halloween scene in the comments and your name will go into a monthly drawing for winner's choice swag pack!

Halloween Scene One: “You scared the shit out of me!”


With the house to herself, she left the bedroom door open while dressing. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she noticed her lone audience. Matt was standing in the hallway just outside the threshold, and the flame in his eyes singed her in every way. Emotionally. Physically.

      “You fuck head,” she cursed, as her heart picked up its pace. “You scared the shit out of me!”

      She had just pulled a tee shirt over her head, and her jeans were in her hand.

      “Don’t bother?” He phrased the two words as a question, but his body against hers was not an interrogative.

      The jeans dropped to the floor.

      There was something delightfully decadent about falling with him onto her own bed—the bed of so many Matt fantasies.

      “Guess where the Halloween gig is!”

      His weight balanced equally on her and one of his knees, and the words spoken into her neck made guessing difficult, but she threw a few club names out.

      Doing an imitation of a game show fail buzzer, he never paused in their play. “Guess!” he prompted again, but she could only gasp.

      With strength born of determination, she shifted their positions, and when she heard his gasp, she demanded, “Tell me!”

      His laughter rumbled pleasantly into her ears and against her body. “No. You guess…”

      “Tell me…”

      “Guess…”

      They played until the game ended with a wildcard guess from her and his acknowledgment. Pushing herself up, she resounded, “No way!”

      “Way.” And he pulled her back down.

Halloween Scene Two: “How come you smell so good?"


         
They played a private Halloween party on the weekend before the Hallows Eve and then on the actual night of Halloween, they played the infamous club whose name she had guessed.

      Jules smoked a cigarette as they mingled, post show, in the back lot of the club with a group that included some of the kids from school..

      Because her attention was diverted, she didn’t see Matt move. Yet, oddly enough, she knew it was him when she felt the presence behind her and the hands on her waist.

      They settled with the ease of hands that had pulled her waist to his many times before, whether jeans to jeans, or skin to skin. A surge of desire rippled through her nerves, but she made light of his nearness. Removing a lighter from the hip pocket of her ripped jeans, she lightly joked, “Is this what you’re after?”

      Matt seized it and stepped around to her side as he murmured, “Among other things.”

      Raising her brows in warning, she pierced him with her eyes while shooting him a smile for the benefit of the others. “Cigarette, too?”

      Matt beseeched a sardonic, “Pleeease?”

      From her other pocket, she slid her slim gold cigarette case, handing it off to him. After lighting his cigarette, he slipped the lighter and the case back into their respective pockets, lingering a second or two more than necessary with his hands. Fingers curved unseen to caress her thighs through the thin cotton pocket. With a counteractive yank to her hair, he milled back toward the girls...

      (and then the best part of this scene is what happens at the end of the night ;)

      In perfect unison, Matt turned on his black lights; Jules locked the bedroom door. Matt pulled at the bedspread; Jules switched on the FM radio. It was not the first time this had been their private get away. A few times, when curfew had not been an issue, they had driven the extra miles here to Santa Monica and this bed.

      Matt encircled her from behind, as she stood lost in that particular memory.

      “You smell good…,” he whispered against her neck. “How come you smell so good, huh?”

      “Cos I’m not the drummer…”

      “Liar…liar. Pants on fire…” The teasing lilt in his quiet words was beguiling. Fingers hooked into the waist of freshly laundered jeans—not her studded show jeans. Fingers making her crazy on the silk under the jeans… “You snuck a shower in…”

Halloween Scene Three: Cotton Candy


  
Halloween came. In the matter of costumes, the band had finally decided to use a ballpoint pen and permanent marker on their skin.

     Under the bright dressing room lights, they dissolved into hysterical fits as they took turns doing pushups, or whatever it took to get the blood flowing, the veins bulging. They helped each other paint over the actual veins that showed through their skin. From there, they improvised for effect, covering in this way any skin not concealed by their clothes.

     The effect was dramatic, like some sort of alien beings.

     The Halloween show was part of a state fair, and afterward, they all walked around, eating like crazy and playing the games on the midway as the other band took the stage....

      Over and over, they were stopped for pictures and autographs with fans.

      Most of the people asking for autographs did not have a THING to sign, and Jules hid her possessive feelings with an amused smile as Matt and Dan signed the fifth or sixth breast. One girl’s boyfriend literally glowered as the girl flushed and flirted....

      Word of them wandering the fair seemed to spread like wildfire, and it got crazier and crazier. While it was fun at first, eventually, they couldn’t go five minutes without being stopped and drawing bigger crowds with each stop.

      Unanimously, they decided to sprint for the bus...

      Matt twisted on the shower, and she lingered at the sink, moping at her spidery vein face in the mirror. “I really, really wanted to ride some rides.”

      Matt retorted with a totally male comment about a ride waiting for her. But when he saw how serious and disappointed she was at not being able to fully experience the fair, he made it his mission to take her back.

      In the shower, they scrubbed at the black ink on their necks, faces, hands, and arms. As they dressed, Matt offered the advice that her ripped jeans were a dead giveaway, so she drew a rarely worn short black skirt and matching satin shirt from her luggage...

(And they go to the fair, ride some rides, and I'm still kicking myself for not expanding on that cotton candy scene once they got back to the hotel)

Have a rocking Halloween!

And you can vote your favorite in the G+ comments, or on twitter @LiGillis, or on the facebook page post www.fb.com/lisgthedramaqueen





Thursday, October 30, 2014

So You Wanna Rock? Looking for bloggers to rock release day! ARC's on request

Eye of the Storms by Lisa Gillis

 Release Date November 17, ARC's available on request


Friday, October 24, 2014

The Unusual Story Behind Lisa Gillis' Upcoming Release Eyes of the Storms

Eyes of the Storms by Lisa Gillis 

is a Rock Romance with an interesting story behind it. Jack Who? and Weathering Jack Storm enjoyed a successful debut a year ago. However, the released version of the books varies greatly from the original which were written and enjoyed by over a million readers on Wattpad.

When Wattpad friends and readers said I should publish, I edited out the steamier parts, switched the POV view from 1st to 3rd, and shopped the manuscript around to a few agents. I'm not a patient person and the 90 to 120 day waiting response period wasn't working for me. It was an easy decision to self publish. When I made the announcement, my Wattpad readers, who are a great support group, said I should publish the Wattpad version. Did I mention I am impatient? I didn't want to go through months with another editing, so instead I published the 3rd POV, non-steamy version that was already ready.

Although the readers who first loved Jack, Marissa, and Tristan thew their full support behind the project, many of them mentioned the published version lacked a spark the original Wattpad version had. So now in the anniversary era of Jack Who? and Weathering, I'm happy to present Eyes of the Storms (I's of the Storms-get it? :) for my rock star readers who first loved the Storms.

Steamy scenes are back and even hotter. The POV is restored to first. Extra scenes have been written in because we needed more Jack :)

Excerpt


Our kiss became separated as he pushed at his jeans, and I took that opportunity to rid my feet of socks and shoes. Straightening, I found his eyes skimming over me, and I was glad I’d listened to Olivia and worn the lingerie from the back corner of my drawer. Standing before him, wearing only a pair of red G-string underwear, I’d never felt sexier.

And that was good. Because I’d never seen any man as sexy as Jack. He was just stepping from his jeans, and with a little kick, he sent them to the side. My breath came in short pants as I took in once more all that had spellbound me since first laying eyes on him. The shiny, shaggy hair falling over broad shoulders, inked triceps, biceps, forearms—when had I ever thought a man’s forearms were sexy? Yet Jack’s were. Long fingers. Abs tapering into a now bare waist, lean strong hipbones, and between them…

Holy fuckin' shit

I could feel the short hitches of my breath as I admired, and at the same time, craved every inch. Could I take every inch? That remained to be seen, but I’d die a happy woman trying. Briefly, my eyes touched over tan muscular legs, and long sexy feet, before they greedily came back up to those many thick inches… is this why Olivia was rock star crazed? Is this why groupies acted demented? Were all rock stars this blessed anatomically?
Eye of the Storms


Bloggers Welcome

All blogs welcome and much appreciated. If you're a blogger who can host a Release Blitz or a stop on a tour, links to signup forms below. ARC's are being offered a few weeks before the release date of November 17, 2014.
Blog Tour November 24-December 3 Signup

Contact Lisa or Find the Six Silver Strings Series








Wednesday, August 27, 2014

They depart one week later, leaving no trace...Burning Man

Once a year, thousands of participants gather in Nevada's Black Rock Desert to create Black Rock City, a place dedicated to art, self-expression, and self-reliance. They depart one week later, leaving no trace.

Cleanup is done by the campers bka 'burners.' Anything brought in is taken out--even remnants of firepits. The desert is inspected for MOOP (Matter Out Of Place) for months afterward by restoration experts or "earth guardians" to ensure that sand is the only thing left on The Playa.

Black Rock City is a place dedicated to art, self-expression, and self-reliance. Ending the week and the year's Burn is the torching of 'The Man,' a huge wooden structure erected in the days prior, and the Burning of the "Temple" the next night.

What's the purpose of this ginormous bonfire? Should I bring marshmallows?

Burning Man has no one purpose. It's an act of self-expression that differs to each person who attends or watches the burn. The first burning man during a campout decades ago was done on the anniversary of a lost love affair. Definitely no marshmallows. It's anything but a bonfire, it's a very personal and meaningful time for those who attend. The Temple is christened and themed differently each year, but one constant are the soulful scrawlings adorning the structure that will go up in flames along with it. 

Sands of Time 


The history of this event goes back to 1986 when a few campers built an 8 foot plywood man, burned it, and it became a summer ritual. Now it has become a festivity that is capped at 50,000 people, and a 50,000 foot burning man. Initially camping was free, now tickets are almost $400. Burning Man is non profit. All money goes into  financing the festival: paying for land-use fees, fuel, artists’ grants, medical services, infrastructure, insurance, wages for a full-time staff of 37, along with eight part-time employees and several hundred seasonal workers. 

In most recent years, in addition to regular attendees who come year to mingle and soul seek, Burning Man has become a draw to entrepreneur power giants. This has caused some controversy. Since burning man is non-monetary, the lavish RV camps--some camps which are rumored to be accessible for 25k--are drawing frowns from some veteran burners, and hyping up this year's media coverage.

Truth be told, many of these power giants have been burners for decades. As for flying in fancy foods, living lavishly in the desert while others pup tent around them? This has been going on since the beginning of burns too. Burning Man has always had a sense of to each his own. And that guy in the tent over there? Don't be surprised if his burn budget included a cooler of gourmet food to randomly gift away, or tanks of liquid nitrogen for an impromptu ice cream party.

Almost nothing can be bought or sold inside Black Rock City's gates. 


The few exceptions are Center Camp Cafe, which has a few refreshments. Ice is sold, benefits going to the local school system, and a few other services beneficial to the clean and environmentally safe operations of the area, such as RV dump and gray water disposal. Before leaving the Playa, you must buy a re-entry band. And there is a shuttle service fee. Any other exchange of goods or services are gifted away.

Mutant Vehicles


Only approved vehicles, and a limited amount of these are allowed inside the area. Vehicles must go through a pre-inspection that will authorize them as a mutant vehicle and a pass will be issued for a fee. The exception to mutant vehicles is a few service vehicles. What is a mutant vehicle? Exactly that. An artistically mutated vehicle also known as Art Car. Vehicles only decorated, still recognizable as what they once were, are not considered mutated. The mutant vehicles, especially at night, are one of the aesthetic sights of the playa.

Theme Camps


An integral part of the burning man festivities include theme camps. A theme camp’s plans and mission must be submitted months prior to the burn and registered. They must be interactive and must include activities, events, or services that benefit the atmosphere. Creating a place to chillax and listen to music is not enough to get a permit. These are becoming more lavish every year. Sometimes the theme camps are a core for a larger event later. Many of these camps come return year after year. As with everything else on the Playa, they are cleaned up without a trace, sometimes burned. Pictures following are of a dance contest in a theme camp, areal plans of a camp, and a camp at night.

Follow Author Lisa Gillis's board Burning Man on Pinterest.


Wondering why you don't see more pictures floating around the internet?

Black Rock City regulations require all devices capable of capturing moving video to be registered, this includes cell phones, and a personal use agreement signed. Unless given approval, all pictures and video streams can only be shared between friends and family. They cannot even go up on a public blog. A copyright is assumed on such media, and any violation of it is not tolerated. Any press coverage of Burning Man is assisted by 'The Media Mecca.'

Sound like fun?


Burning man is not only an experience, but something better experienced with experience. Experience clearly the keyword! “The endless amount of tribal knowledge at Burning Man takes years to amass; trial and error are a way of life at Burning Man.”  Worthwhile to know include the simplest but vital things like how many gallons of water to bring for each day, wear a bandanna around your neck in case of a sudden dust storm, bring a bicycle for getting around the huge area, how to secure your tent from frequent gusty winds, extreme temps of the desert, the list goes on. Veteran burners are happy to give advice during the planning and packing stage, as well as when you get to Black Rock City. The website and blogspot burningman.comhttp://survival.burningman.com/ is a wealth of information, and don't over look the YouTube channel for tips as well as amazing videos of past burns. Connect on Facebook.com/BurningMan or @burningman to meet burners. Another great connection is http://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/.

I talked to a 10 year burner and I want to go, but...

You Might Die

It's a warning that varies from year to year, but is always on the back of each and every ticket. You might die, and if you do, it's your responsibility, you understood that when showing up. Black Rock City has numerous law enforcement officials. They blend in with the culture of the city, but are on hand to ensure the rules and regulations are followed. In spite of that, tragic things happen, and have happened.

Group or solo camping? Both have benefits and advice varies.

“ My first year I went solo...if you feel like taking off at 2am on a hunt for Japanese tea camps you can just do it”

“Doesn't have to be a theme camp, but you should absolutely find a camp. It can be a lonely place out there”

“… if you don't want to wash dishes every other night while others are out having fun, then you might be best off on your own.”

Tent or RV? That's also been a lively debate for years.

“an RV kind of takes away from the experience in my opinion. You can make a shade structure and have a home camp in the matter of 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. And you'll enjoy it more…”

"RV campers vary just as much as tent campers, and some of our most awesome neighbors had a HUGE RV that they built a giant public communal shade off of."

Theme camp or not?

'Only join theme camps that you are actually interested in helping out their art mission.'

In any case:
'no one is expecting you to do very much your first year other than not being a burden to everyone else.'

Want to watch a live stream of 2014 burning man going on now?



Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

Cited:
http://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/1tx8qr/to_theme_camp_or_not_to_theme_campburning_man_2014/
http://www.johnclarkemills.com/2011/07/25/building-a-burning-man-theme-camp/
http://www.burningman.com/

http://mashable.com/2014/08/22/burning-man-2014/

Hi Rock Stars! Your Rock and Roll Drama Queen Here 

Burning Man has intrigued me since my first burn, an envy burn, and a future rock star novel centered around the event is in the planning stages. Labor Day weekend also means Jack and Marissa's publishing anniversary! To celebrate, Jack Who and the D-Strings Set is on sale this weekend for $0.99 AND the first ever physical book Jack Who? is now available!  Checkout www.RockStarReads.com for details!



Friday, July 18, 2014

Laurel Canyon's Ghost Carriage Makes a Fictional Appearance #rock #romance #asmsg

A Fictional Rock Reality



Matt, still charged from the show, began kissing her before he even changed seats.

“The window…” Jules reminded, as he swung a leg over her way, and he obligingly leaned back long enough to twist it up.

“That’s not going to stop Bigfoot from reaching in the top and dragging you out by your hair,” he teased.

“Shut up…” she retorted and shot a wary glance to the open T-tops.

She had never told Matt that it was a human monster she feared. Matt knew the ghost stories of this area—the creepiest of them being the horse drawn carriage. Some said this apparition manifested for as long as a minute, causing panicked drivers and wrecks. But she could never bring herself to talk about her real fear, which was greater than a ghost carriage.

Settling in his lap, she returned his hungry kisses as he let the seat back as far as it would go. Matt took the rubber band from his own hair and twisted it into hers, a sure sign that he was crazy horny and wanted nothing in the way for now.




Rising Sun, Half Moon, Rock Stars, D-String Set in the Six Silver Strings Series, is a fictional rock romance rooted in reality. The realities of this book are found in the historical events and actual bands intertwined into the story of a 70’s rock band Cawaba and the rocky romance of two bandmates Matt Loren and Jules Breaux.

A few months ago, I mentioned the Laurel Canyon area, which is one of the main backdrops of this story, and the history and legends of the area. One huge paranormal legend lies at the intersection of  Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Lookout Mountain Road.

Numerous reports tell of a black carriage drawn by white horses, silently racing across the road during a two second glimpse before vanishing. The sighting has even caused wrecks when drivers try to avoid it. The most recent sightings are recorded only months ago.

Is this in Rising Sun, Half Moon, Rock Stars? You betcha! Along with the Rock and Roll Treehouse, mention of the Manson Murders, and legendary figures from the 70s crucial to Laurel Canyon’s history. But back to the white horses…

Here are 2 more excerpts from the trilogy.


When she and Star parted, Jules began the drive home and realized within two minutes that she shouldn’t be behind the wheel. She wanted to call Matt to come get her. She wanted to go home to him. To his home, which should be their home. To the couch, or the bed, or whatever Matt had tonight. The payphone was even in her hand with a dime in its slot when she remembered their last conversation about her drinking, and she replaced the receiver. Buying a coffee, she iced it, despite the store clerk’s revolted stare. Carrying it to the car, she chugged it in her usual manner before twisting the key.

Driving down The Boulevard of Broken Dreams, she took care, watching the lights and the light flow of traffic. She made the right from Sunset onto Laurel Canyon. With her foot barely depressing the gas, she glued her eyes to her headlights as they illuminated the steep road, curve after curve.

Coasting to a stop before turning onto Lookout Mountain, she noted the empty bus stop, and debated on lighting another cigarette. It was in that moment, when she glanced from the bus stop, back to the road ahead, that it happened.

The mythical horse and carriage apparition. In her imagination, the horses, and the carriage had always both been white, wispy, ghostly. But tonight, the horses were a majestic white, and the carriage black. Seeming to come out of nowhere, it lumbered across the road, and if she had blinked her eyes, in that time it was gone. But she was sure she hadn't blinked.

The blare of a car horn from behind jerked her from her state of shock, and she lifted her head from the steering wheel… wait, when had she dropped her head to the wheel? And when had a car pulled up behind her?

Forcing calming breaths into her lungs, she moved her foot from the break to the gas.

At last, she unclenched her knuckles from the steering wheel long enough to punch the code into the gate before pulling into her driveway in relief…

…Stumbled out of the car…

…Stumbled up steps and stairs… through the dark night… down the dark hallway…

…Tripped on more than one stair…

…A fearful eye stayed on the third story stairwell, which led to the master bedroom and her sleeping mother. Finally, she was easing her bedroom door closed.





“And forget you owed me a call due to common courtesy. WHY wouldn’t you WANT to call?” Distortion again. And that vulnerable inflection from Matt tore at her heart. “So I’m asking again, what’s going on? What’s been going on?” When she stayed quiet, unable to answer, he asked, “Can’t you just say it?”

“No. ” Her voice felt small, as if she were projecting it through a huge arena with a dead mic.

“You never can, can you?” A soft click and then seconds later the dial tone.

Trying unsuccessfully to process that statement, she smoked another cigarette before going up to her room and falling into her bed for more sleep.

The white horses ran through her memories as she dozed, and it was then that she came to the horrifying conclusion that she had dozed at the intersection last night.




From You Tube: Ghosts Wanted: The Phantom Carriage of Lookout Mountain




Book Video Trailer


http://www.rockstarreads.com/ #NEW #Rock #Romance by #LisaGil... on Twitpic


Jack Storm was more than a tour bus bang. He is a secret Marissa must keep at all costs--except one...

www.rockstarreads.com/ twitter.com/lisagdramaqueen www.facebook.com/lisathedramaqueen www.facebook.com/JackWho www.goodreads.com Lisa_Gillis www.pinterest.com/readsthatrock/ google.com LisaGillisAuthor lisathedramaqueen.blogspot.com/ amazon.com author lisa gillis