10 years ago. It was a Tuesday, and I was sitting anxiously at my desk, hoping my phone would ring. I’d been told the previous Thursday that an editor was going to buy my book when she got back to her office. I wasn’t quite sure I believed it. I’d been writing for 7 years, always making up characers and stories in my head. I was a writing junkie. I just couldn’t stop. But I started it for me. I never imagined that anyone would pay me for making stuff up.

But at 4 the afternoon of 5/28/98, Amy Garvey of Kensington Books made me an offer for THE LADY AND THE DRAGON. It released 8 months later. And thus began my journey as a published author. This book has since been reissued by Samhain, and this is the revised cover. I’m not even sure I have a scan of the original cover.

In some ways, 10 years feels like a blip. In other ways, it seems like forever. Things have happened both quickly and slowly (it’s a weird business), so that fits.

After selling THE LADY AND THE DRAGON, which was the third story I’d penned, I sold the first book I ever wrote, SWEET ENEMY, to Amy about 2 months later. It released in May of 1999.

That followed quickly by ONE WICKED NIGHT, the book that had been a Golden Heart finalist in Romance Writer of America’s unpublished manuscript contest. This is still one of my favorite books. It’s out of print now, but I’m hoping to reissue it someday.

No sooner had Amy bought that book, then she approached me about writing a trilogy. I’d been toying with a medieval series in my head, so a week later, the Brothers In Arms series was born. HIS LADY BRIDE, HIS STOLEN BRIDE (actual cover not shown) and HIS REBEL BRIDE (in that order) tell the story of 3 unlikely friends trying to survive a tumultous period of European history and find love. I wrote these during a really tough time in my life, but they are still some of my favorites.

Shortly after that, Kensington asked me to be their Christmas release in 2001. My editor said to make the book sweet and heartwarming. I paused. “Are you reading the books I’m sending you?” I asked. She conceded the point and told me to send her a book with Christmas in it and minimal sex. I wrote A CHRISTMAS PROMISE…but vowed not to do anything like it again. I’m not the heartwarming, Hallmark card type.

In fact, while writing the Christmas book, what I really wanted to write eventually became STRICTLY SEDUCTION. That book had lived in my head for a long while. For it’s time, it was very racy. I enjoyed every minute of that. But while writing it, a character who was supposed to be a walk-on came to life. Gavin Daggett took over my psyche and demanded that I write STRICTLY FORBIDDEN. Thankfully, my editor agreed.

Then came the fork in the road.

My editor of 9 books left to have another baby and pursue her own interests. I was happy for her, but not for me. I wanted to keep writing, but I was burned out on historicals. I didn’t know what to do next. So I took some time off. Nearly 2 years. In that time, I read and read and read. Tons of different books. Spent a lot of time with my family. And pondered what genre would make me happy.

All this time, my then-agent kept asking me, “What are you working on?” I’d say, “Oh, nothing.” She knew better. Finally she made me send her the project I’d been dabbling in. She loved it immediately and sold it about 2 weeks later to Berkley. The title, BOUND AND DETERMINED, stuck. The cover, however, did it no justice. The follow up, STRIP SEARCH, with sizzling Mark, suffered the same cover fate, as you can see. These were juicy, sexy books with 1980′s Harlequin covers. I received hate mail from people expecting sweet books. I’m thrilled that Berkley will be reissuing these books in 2009 with the sexy covers they deserve!

During this time, I also lost friends. I’d spent 15 years with the same critique group and viewed them like sisters. But the energy had become so negative, and my schedule could no longer accommodate their demands. I was the only one with a small child and a traveling husband, and they just didn’t understand how difficult meeting face-to-face late in the evening was for me. In many ways, my decision to leave was for the best, but it was a difficult period in my life.

In the midst of all this, my brain was turning with really dark, sexual ideas. Things I wasn’t sure I had the courage to write. I’d been reading erotic romance for a while, and no one knew what sort of monster that would unleash! Again, my then-agent pried the pages out of me. She and Berkley jumped on them, but we all agreed that it was so much more erotic than anything I’d ever written, that I needed a pen name so I didn’t alienate my existing audience. So Shayla Black was born and was contracted to write WICKED TIES and DECADENT. Two books that are so close to my heart for the utter freedom creatively they represent and the characters, who mean so much to me.

At this point, I decided that I loved eBooks and I should publish some myself. Things started happening fast and furious. I sold a book to Samhain that eventually became NAUGHTY LITTLE SECRET. The lovely Jaci Burton and I agreed to write SNEAK PEEK together, so I penned WATCH ME, she penned SHOW ME, and they will be printed together this coming January! I also had a book in the back of my closet that was unfinished, and Samhain gave me the opportunity to complete it. A PERFECT MATCH came out earlier this month, and I’ve received some fab reader mail about it. Juliette and Mitch still make me smile, even years after I first conceived them. Ellora’s Cave also bought a book from me, which eventually became DANGEROUS BOYS AND THEIR TOY, which is out TODAY! What can I say? This book was way too much fun to write. I adore these guys! You can see a little video here.

Then the paranormal bug bit me. I should really confess that it bit me long ago. I had the first idea for the Doomsday Brethren series about a dozen years ago. But the timing was never right, and I knew at first that the series was much bigger than me, so I kept shelving it and shelving it. Finally, I figured out the tangled twist of the plots in my head and jumped all over it. When I finally got together a proposal that someone besides me could understand, I was thrilled to sell the first in the series to Pocket. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS.

This January I made more changes to my life, including changing the direction of my career. I changed agents, chose a different tactic, focused more on my goals. This paid off quickly when I sold two more titles in the Doomsday Brethren series shortly after turning in the first. SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW and POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT will be both out next fall, back to back. These are big, daunting books, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.

Whew! Tired yet? Not done…

Last Friday, Berkley and I came to terms on a new agreement for 2 new erotic romances. Delicious (Luc!) and one of Kimber’s brothers will appear in 2010. Luc and the Edgington brothers have been demanding my time for a long while, so I’m glad to finally give them their moment in the sun, so to speak.

With this, I also made another decision: after spending all this time as a published author and a full-time corporate employee, I decided to scale back. Starting in August, I’ll be writing more and working less, and I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of books a more rested brain will produce. I have more stories in me, more characters, more boundaries I want to push, things I want to try. I LOVE writing. And I’m thrilled to have readers who write me, visit my blog, buy books, chat with me, etc. I couldn’t do what I do without you!

To pay you back, every person who comments to today’s blog will get something from me: an e-excerpt, a coverflat, a book, something… But one winner will get the most signed complete backlist I’ve EVER given away. You’ll receive signed print copies of all the books released to date except THE LADY AND THE DRAGON and SWEET ENEMY. I don’t even have a copies of those for myself. Lost in a move somewhere… I’ll throw in all my ebooks and, for this one winner, the first scene of DELICIOUS (Luc’s book), which won’t see a bookshelf for at least another year. So if you want to win, start commenting. I’ll choose the winner on Saturday afternoon.

Good luck!

So many of you asked (and begged and threatened and pouted) about a book for Decadent’s Luc – and I love you for it! Well, I finally have news to share. (Drumroll, please…)

Delicious has found its home at Berkley! Today, we finalized the deal for Luc’s book and another untitled book, which will be about one of Kimber’s brothers. I don’t have release dates yet, but I’m going to tentatively say spring and fall of 2010.

I’m really excited! Come back tomorrow, and I’ll have a little something especially for Luc fans to celebrate.

It should be a terrible sin to have this much fun writing a book. Cameron and Brenna were wonderful, rich characters to work with. But bad boy bounty hunter Thorn… Let’s just say that when I got my manuscript back from the copyeditor, she said this: “The most important element of this story is character growth–especially Thorn’s. Sweet Baby Jesus, what a wonderful man. When I wasn’t having thoughts a grandma shouldn’t be having about him, I just wanted to hug him–repeatedly.” As I wrote the man, I really wasn’t sure if he needed that hug or a swift ass kicking–or both. He kept me laughing and kept me on my toes. So I wanted to give you a scene that gives you a glimpse of the caveman’s personality. (psst! Don’t worry. He grows.)

In case you missed the blurb:
Trading orgasms for information isn’t their usual way of doing business, but when a missing criminal-turned-star-witness and fifty grand are on the line, bounty hunter R. A. Thorn and Detective Cameron Martinez are prepared to put their bodies to the task and give gorgeous Brenna Sheridan everything she needs.

Soon, their “deal” is no longer about information—or sex. Emotions bind Brenna, Cam and Thorn together more tightly than they ever imagined as the men protect—and serve—the beloved woman neither can live without.

Excerpt
copyright Shelley Bradley LLC
If you are under 18 please navigate elsewhere

“Who are you?” she demanded.

He ignored her. “You know, you’re just the sort of girl Curtis likes to bring here to fuck. Is that why you’re here?”

Curtis didn’t live here? No wonder this cottage lacked all personal items or any sort of homey clutter. “No.”

“I think I’ll test, just to be sure you’re telling the truth.”

The intruder reached for her again. She had no idea what he intended to do, but if it was anything like what she’d endured earlier that day, she didn’t want to find out. “No! Please…don’t hurt me.”

The biker paused. “So you know what Curtis is into?”

“Based on the conversation I had earlier today with the detective, I guessed. I-I don’t know from experience.”

An odd smile crossed his face. “The detective told you Curtis is a sadist?”

“No, he grabbed me and squeezed my…”

Brenna had a bad feeling if she explained the interaction between she and the hot detective that this intruder would want to test her reaction for himself. God, she didn’t want to repeat that pain.

“He demonstrated,” she corrected.

“Did he? He squeezed your…what?”

“That’s not relevant. Aren’t you here about Curtis?”

“We’ll get back to him in a moment. The detective interests me too. He’s usually a good little Boy Scout. Tell me how he inflicted pain on you.”

She shook her head. “I’m not telling you so that you can do it for yourself.”

“I don’t like causing pain. I’m not a sick fuck, like Curtis.”

“Really?” Sarcasm sprayed out like a garden hose full blast. “You only like to break into a woman’s bedroom, tie her up in her sleep, then fondle and scare the hell out of her.”

“Oh, I haven’t even started to fondle you yet.”

“Don’t touch me!” The words sounded much braver than she felt.

He went on as if she hadn’t even spoken. “I’m wondering…” The intruder eased his hand back to her breast, where he cupped it with a blazing palm. Then he set that thumb back over her nipple to graze and roll it back and forth. “Did he squeeze this one?”

Yes. And even now, she could feel the stranger’s touch acutely through the remnants of the detective’s pain. She was more sensitive than usual. Way more.

“Stop it!”

“It doesn’t feel good?” he asked innocently as he thumbed the hard nub. “Did Detective Martinez squeeze this nipple?”

It felt too good. No way she was going to answer him, not when he’d take that as an invitation.

Suddenly, the bed dipped with his weight as he sat beside her. “I’ve been watching this place for a few days now. Give me some information about Curtis, and I’ll give you the orgasm you couldn’t give yourself by the pool.”

Her jaw dropped as she drew back in horror. “You saw that?”

“Live and in living color. I know exactly what you’re missing. Tell me what I want to know, and I’ll give it to you.”

“You can’t,” she blurted.

No one could. Something inside her just froze up every time she tried to come. By herself, she felt silly, the exercise pointless. With a man, she couldn’t be in the moment. She simply focused on the inevitable “goodbye” before it even happened. The relaxing and enjoying they always suggested just never materialized.

For a few years in high school and college, she’d slept with any guy rumored to be well hung or good in bed. Nothing. This intruder, a potent mixture of danger and edgy sex appeal, who hadn’t even told her his name, was even more temporary than most. He could be a cross between Valentino and a porn star and it wouldn’t matter. No way could he get her to come when every other man had failed.

“Try me,” he drawled.

5 days until release! Happy Friday!

Gang, sorry I’m remiss again. I REALLY mean to do better, but I can’t tell you how insane life is right now. I’ve got a medical issue. There are a few other distractions (American Idol, Moonlight’s cancellation, end of school year, gorgeous weather). Every member of my family (okay, Missy Meow excepting) is under the gun. I’m hoping by next week, things will even out. In the meantime, I leave you with some no-cal eye candy. Enjoy!

Um…what can I say? He’s got nice everything. Clearly. But something about those eyes say double yum to me. Hopefully, this will be a nice mid-week treat for you until I can bring my mind back to the present and post something of merit.

Dangerous Boys and Their Toy excerpt anyone?

Hi gang! I extended the contest for 1 extra day, mostly because my life is hellacious and I’m in mourning that they cancelled my fave show, Moonlight. Bastards! But less TV means more time to write, right?

Yesterday was also the release day for A PERFECT MATCH! I have a new book video fresh off the presses for it here.

This is a sweet story (read: not erotic) that was a joy to write. Here’s a blurb:

Journalist Mitch MacKinnon is giving his all to make the big time and he’s found his ticket in…but first he has to write an exposé on a local dating service and its owner, Juliette Lowell. Her unorthodox methods seem laughable…until they pair him with the sexy-as-hell Juliette. As they begin a series of dates to determine their compatibility, will Mitch have to eat his words and the story that will take him to the top in order to admit that Juliette is his perfect match?

5 Blue Ribbons! “Shelley Bradley is one of my favorite authors for a reason. Her talent is limitless and releases like A PERFECT MATCH further my admiration of this brilliant author.” ~ Romance Junkies

5 Clovers! “A PERFECT MATCH is a wonderfully realistic romance that packs plenty of heat and lots of heart!” ~ Ck2s Kwips & Kritiques

Now onto the prizes…
The previous prize winner (who I still haven’t heard from) is JULZ. Last call!
Jennifer M. – Sneak peek of Tempt Me With Darkness
Mandy, Kristen, LeeToy, KarenC, limecello, Scarlet – Sneak Peeks of Tempt Me With Darkness and Dangerous Boys and Their Toy
Robin May – Sneak Peek of Dangerous Boys and Their Toy (If I can’t give you the man in the pic, I’ll give you two fictional men. How’s that?)
Winner of all 3 sneak peeks PLUS an ebook of THE LADY AND THE DRAGON – Sandie

WINNERS, EMAIL ME! I will send you your prizes promptly. Stay tuned… There will be big contests later this month.

Happy Hump Day!

Okay, gang, I’m really pressed for time. At the end of my AFI post last Tuesday, I put a contest out there. Only a few takers? So I’m posting it again here, along with a little enticement to look in this direction.

I’ve got TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS electronic sneak peeks and cover flats to give out. One lucky winner will receive a TMWD sneak peek, A PERFECT MATCH sneak peek, a DANGEROUS BOYS AND THEIR TOY sneak peek, plus and ebook of THE LADY AND THE DRAGON.

I will post the winner tomorrow morning, so today is THE LAST DAY!

Happy Monday!

Sylvia Day’s ASK FOR IT releases in mass market today!

A DANGEROUS INTRIGUE…

As an agent to the Crown, Marcus Ashford, the Earl of Westfield, has survived many a sword fight, gun fight, and even cannon fire. Yet nothing excites him more than the primitive hunger his former fiance, Elizabeth, arouses in him. It’s been years since she’d jilted him for the Lord Hawthorne, but now the elegant widow is his to defend, and he will do so while tending to her other, more carnal needs, showing her the depth of a real man’s desire…

…AND UNDENIABLE PLEASURE

Dangerous secrets led to the murder of Lady Hawthorne’s husband, secrets she now holds in a diary many would kill to obtain. But to entrust herself to the protection of the most seductive man she’s ever known? Outrageous. Unthinkable. Irresistible. For it was Marcus’s strong passions and burning desire that frightened her into abandoning him years ago. Now, he means to be at her service, in every sense. And perhaps the only sensible course isn’t to resist temptation, but to surrender to it completely…

“Sensuality, a sexy-as-hell hero, action, danger, great dialogue and superb writing make Ask For It a must read and also makes it a recipient of The Road to Romance Reviewer’s Choice Award.”

Enter Sylvia’s AFI contest here AND comment on this blog. I’ve got TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS electronic sneak peeks and cover flats to give out. One lucky winner will receive a TMWD sneak peek, A PERFECT MATCH sneak peek, a DANGEROUS BOYS AND THEIR TOY sneak peek, plus and ebook of THE LADY AND THE DRAGON.

Because I got buried and haven’t had a chance to draw for a winner yet… The winner of the RT goodies is Julz. Contact me via the contact form on my site and I’ll get your address so I can send you prizes!

Happy May! This will be a great month for me. First, I’m off to see family tomorrow. My cousin, who was the jr. groomsman at my wedding is getting married Saturday. Yikes! Can you say feeling old? We haven’t met his bride, but hear fabulous things about her, so we’re looking forward to inducting…um, welcoming her to the family. It’s also a good excuse to see my extended family, which has scattered geographically as the generations progressed. Many of them will be here this weekend, so we’re all looking forward to the reunion.

I have 2 books releasing this month:
A PEFECT MATCH, May 13 from Samhain.

Here’s a blurb:
Compatible? Never. But the numbers don’t lie…

Sports reporter Mitch MacKinnon is stuck writing an exposé about a local dating service, and no amount of foot-dragging or complaining will get him out of it. When he gets a look at the sexy blonde owner, things start looking up. He’d love the chance to date Juliette Lowell a time or two. But he’s here to dish the dirt that’ll be his ticket to a big-time newspaper; a relationship is the furthest thing from his mind.

Juliette’s got Mitch pegged from the word go—he’s an overgrown jock who wouldn’t know a true emotion if it was wrapped in pigskin. Delicious dimples and killer brown eyes aside, the man is incredibly infuriating. All she needs is one chance to prove she can find a perfect match for anyone. Even him.

Then her “foolproof” database spits out the results. Mitch’s perfect match? Juliette. If she’s right, Mitch will have to eat his words—and the story that’ll take him to the top.

Warning: This title contains hot, sweaty couch dancing; long, slow, hot, wet kisses that last three days, and toe-curling romance.

I’ve got (count ‘em) 2 reviews so far:
5 Blue Ribbons! “Shelley Bradley is one of my favorite authors for a reason. Her talent is limitless and releases like A PERFECT MATCH further my admiration of this brilliant author.” ~ Romance Junkies

5 Klovers! “A PERFECT MATCH is a wonderfully realistic romance that packs plenty of heat and lots of heart!” ~ Ck2s Kwips & Kritiques

DANGEROUS BOYS AND THEIR TOY, May 28 from Ellora’s Cave (cover coming soon)

Trading orgasms for information isn’t their usual way of doing business, but when a missing criminal-turned-star-witness and fifty grand are on the line, bounty hunter R. A. Thorn and Detective Cameron Martinez are prepared to put their bodies to the task and give gorgeous Brenna Sheridan everything she needs.

An exchange they never anticipated becomes an experience none can forget—or walk away from. Sexual hunger sizzles the threesome, but the stakes and danger rise as a mafia bad-ass stalks Brenna.

Soon, their “deal” is no longer about information—or sex. Emotions bind Brenna, Cam and Thorn together more tightly than they ever imagined as the men protect—and serve—the beloved woman neither can live without.

I can’t wait to share this one with you!

Um…what else? WICKED TIES is a finalist in the Passionate Plume in the category of best contemporary erotic romance of 2007. It’s also a finalist in the National Reader’s Choice Awards in the category of best erotic romance of 2007. Very thrilled about that!

Berkley will be reissuing BOUND AND DETERMINED and STRIP SEARCH in 2009! All new packaging (read: much sexier). I tentatively have dates of March and summer, respectively. I’ll keep you posted if things change. I feared these books were lost to readers because the original covers simply did not fit the books. Now, I’m hoping they have a chance to finally find their audience.

TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS is available for pre-order at Barnes & Noble here. I know some people really prefer to pre-order from B&N, so I’m happy to have this to finally share.

Finally, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my first sale later this month. I’ll have a lot to say about that, along with prizes, fun, more RT news and any other trouble I can cook up!

For now, have a great weekend. I’ll be goin’ to the chapel…