Need Available For Pre-Order

I know you all are super excited for the release of Need: Finding Anna Book 2. We are just over a month away and I can't wait.

The last few months I've been working with my editor to tweak and make Need the best it possibly can be for all the readers out there who can't wait to see what's in store next for Stephan and Brianna. It's been a lot of hard work but hopefully you will agree it was worth it.

We just put the finishing touches on the cover this week, and am excited to share with you.   What do you think?

For all of you who read Slave, you know Stephan and Brianna were left at a critical moments in their lives. What will she choose? Will she stay?  Will she go?

Need will answer some burning questions from readers, and hopefully it will leave you with several more.  I've been asked how many books will be in this series.  Right now the plan is for four books, one to be released each year . I know that seems like a long time to many of you but hopefully you'll agree that it will be worth the wait to see where life and love takes these two.

 Today,  Need ,  Finding Anna Book 2, is available for for pre-order on the TWCS website. This is for paperback only. E-books will be available for download on the day of release, July 26, 2012.
http://ph.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/books/detail/60

Upcoming Events

For those of you following me on Facebook, you know I've been really busy lately working on the edits for my upcoming novel Need. This is the next installment in my Finding Anna series. I just finished the final batch of edits last night, so it's now off to the readers and formaters for polishing. July 26th will be here before we know it! :)

In the meantime, I'm working on the next Daniels brother novel. For those of you who've read Behind Closed Doors, you know that Chris has three brothers: Paul, Trent, and Gage. The story I'm working on now, Red Zone, is Gage's story. I'm almost half way through, and so far my betas are loving it.

I'm also going to be making some appearances over the next two months. If you are in the Ohio area, I hope you can stop by one of these events and say hi.

May 10, 2012

Ladies Night at Elchrist Winery

http://www.eldchrist.com/

I'll be there from 6pm to 9pm.

May 12, 2012

Ohioana Book Festival

I will be participating in a round table panel discussion, Fiction by Women, from 10:45am - 11:30am in room 130.

http://www.ohioanabookfestival.org/

June 1 and 2, 2012

Lori Foster Reader and Author Event

http://www.lorifoster.com/community/readergettogether.php

The Art of Negotiation

Over the last few months, I've seen a lot of discussion on negotiation in BDSM relationships. This process seems to be fascinating to some, like it's a new concept, but isn't this what happens in any relationship? Or maybe I should say, isn't this what should happen in any relationship?

Whenever I research a topic, I like to go back to the basics. So what does negotiation mean exactly? According to the dictionary, negotiation is: mutual discussion and arrangement of the terms of a transaction or agreement.

Seems pretty simple, right? Both parties talk and find common ground.

In vanilla (non BDSM) relationships, this process is often lumped in the 'getting to know you' category. But should it be?

Negotiation is one concept where I feel those that practice BDSM tend to get it right more than those in more conventional relationships. Because of the exaggerated dynamics that can usually be found in BDSM relationships, expectations are clearly laid out and discussed in most cases. What does each party want out of the relationship? Do they desire something long term or short term? What are eaches hard limits (things they are not willing to do). What do they want to try, experience?

In vanilla relationships this can be anything from getting married to children to career goals for each partner. These same things are often on the negotiating table of a BDSM relationship as well, but it goes a step farther than that. Not many vanilla couples I know talk about their expectations of each other in the bedroom. Many times, sex is allowed to develop 'naturally'. The problem with this, however, is that the partners can't read each other's minds.

So what does negotiation mean in a relationship, BDSM or otherwise? It can actually mean a great many things. There are some couples out there that write everything down. In BDSM, this is known as a contract. Others take a less clinical approach and discuss things on a regular bases with open communication. If one partner is interested in trying something new, they bring it up to the other partner, maybe do some research, and then decide as a couple if it's something they want to persue.

How about you? How do you and your partner address new facets to your relationship? Do you have a specific time and place for discussion? Do you have a contract that lays everything out?

Need Update And...

All of you have been chomping at the bit for Need's release on July 26th. I am too!

I am so excited for the release of the second book in my Finding Anna series. It was wonderful going back and spending time again with Stephan and Brianna.

Currently, I am working on the edits for Need. We are over halfway through the process, and so far everything is going smoothly. After reading Need, one of my editors commented that although she'd really liked Stephan in Slave, she fell in love with him in Need. Hopefully you all will feel the same way.

My publisher, The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House, will be releasing their summer catalogue later this week, which will list Need: Finding Anna Book 2 as an upcoming title. Before that information is released to the general public, I wanted to share the cover and summary for my upcoming book with my readers. Thank you all for your support, and here is a little treat for you. :)

As Brianna comes to terms with the realization that she is no longer a slave, she must figure out what she wants for her life. Forgetting her past isn’t an option. It is an integral part of who she is now, and it will forever shape her view of life. The one thing she knows is that she cannot imagine her life without the man who saved her, but can she be what he needs?

Stephan never imagined falling in love with the woman he rescued, but the thought of her no longer being part of his life is physically painful. The scars from her past continue to haunt her, and he is helpless to stop them. All he can do is try to help her work through the traumas of her past. Can he be everything she needs and help her move on?

The two must figure out how to navigate not only their relationship with each other, but also the outside world. A friend from Brianna’s past shows up where she least expects them, and Uncle Richard continues to enforce his well-meaning agenda to get Brianna more traditional help. As forces, both friend and foe, threaten to tear them apart, Stephan and Brianna have to navigate the turbulent waters and find what they need in each other.  

Book Signing - April 7th

I will be at Lovejoy's Market on April 7, 2012 between 11am and 2pm. If you are in central Ohio, stop by and see me. I'll have copies of all three of my books with me to sell and sign.

900 Village Boulevard

Plain City, OH 43064

Teaser

I was tagged over on Facebook by a fellow author to provide a little teaser of my current WIP. Since Red Zone isn't at the requested page 77, I'm giving you a little taste of Need. This is unedited, but I'm thinking you probably won't mind. ;)

~

I only made it as far as the living room before his arms came around my waist halting my progress. But what had been a surge of energy only a moment ago, died in my limbs, and the tears once again began to flow as I went limp.

Stephan bent down, scooping me up into his arms. He carried me over to the couch, but kept me on his lap all the while whispering calming words in my ear.

Eventually, the tears ebbed and I stiffened. “Please,” I begged.

His thumbs rubbed the tears from my cheeks and then held there.

Need - Official Release Date

I know a lot of you have been waiting with baited breath for the next installment of Stephan and Brianna's story. We are currently in the middle of edits. Everything is going well, so I was given the okay to officially announce the release date for Need: Finding Anna Book 2.

Need will be available to download through my publisher The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House starting July 26, 2012. They usually open up pre-orders for paperbacks about a month in advance. I will post here when pre-orders are available.

To get the latest information on my books, signings, and appearances, like me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sherri-Hayes/122511444477280 or follow me on Twitter @Sherri_Hayes.