Book release (international):

RED VELVET AND ABSINTHE: PARANORMAL EROTIC ROMANCE edited by Mitzi Szereto
Publication date: September 2011
Trade paperback
256 pages
ISBN # 978-1573447164
Publisher: Cleis Press, USA

For review copies and interview requests, contact: media@mitziszereto.com

The new anthology from Mitzi Szereto, author of the controversial and much talked-about novel Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts!

Lie back and relax and listen to the wind howling outside your window as you read these stories in the flickering light of a candle, the absinthe you’re sipping warming your body like the caressing touch of a lover’s fingers…

The supernatural – it has always evoked excited shivers, both fearful and sexual. Red Velvet and Absinthe offers readers a collection of unique and original stories that conjure up the atmospheric and romantic spirit of the Gothic masters and mistresses, but takes things further by adding a generous dosage of eroticism to the brew. Full of paranormal thrills and chills, this is the ultimate erotic romance! Red Velvet and Absinthe features an international cast of writers, including a special foreword from bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

“Scintillating and suspenseful, this homage to Gothic fiction is a winner! Red Velvet and Absinthe scores with both sexy and scary thrills.” – Caridad Piñeiro, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost

“Scorching hot and deliciously sinful, Mitzi Szereto’s collection of stories of dark and preternatural hungers will have you panting for more.” – Adrian Phoenix, critically acclaimed author of The Maker’s Song series.

Visit the Red Velvet and Absinthe website: http://mitziszereto.com/redvelvetandabsinthe/

Mitzi Szereto is a bestselling author, anthology editor, blogger for “Errant Ramblings: Mitzi Szereto’s Weblog” (http://mitziszereto.com/blog), and the creator/presenter for the web channel Mitzi TV (http://mitziszereto.com/tv), which covers “quirky” London. Her other books include the recent release Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts, In Sleeping Beauty’s Bed: Erotic Fairy Tales, The New Black Lace Book of Women’s Sexual Fantasies, Getting Even: Revenge Stories, Dying For It: Tales of Sex & Death, Wicked: Sexy Tales of Legendary Lovers, the Erotic Travel Tales anthology series, The World’s Best Sex Writing 2005, and the popular M. S. Valentine erotic novels. Mitzi has pioneered the erotic writing workshop in the UK and Europe, teaching them from the prestigious Cheltenham Festival of Literature to the Greek islands. Her outspoken views on the erotic literary scene have made her a trendsetter, cult figure, and frequent interviewee, earning her a reputation as the author and editor who has put the “literature” back into erotica. Her anthology Erotic Travel Tales 2 is the first anthology of erotica to feature a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Originally from the USA, she lives in Greater London.

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written by Nicoline Ambe, PhD

In this inspirational and entertaining autobiography, Serena Williams chronicles a childhood spent living the game of tennis with her four sisters and determined parents, and the success that followed. She explains how they were conditioned for success at an early age by their parents. Faith, work ethic, and a love of tennis were paramount to the Williams children’s upbringing, qualities that saw her through several Grand Slam and WTA titles.

Philosophical quotes are scattered throughout the book for inspiration and motivation. Anyone who has watched Williams on the court would understand why she is so fierce. She uses powerful quotes to mentally position herself to win. Some of the quotes include, “You might think you’re in control, but you’re never really in control”; “It can be very isolating, very lonely, competing at a high level in an individual sport”; and “Remember, there are so many more important things. This is so small.”

Williams recalls playing tennis at the age of 3. At first, tennis lessons were held a few days a week at a run-down court near the Williams’ California home. When it became obvious that the girls had aptitude and talent, their parents increased practice sessions to once or even twice a day, every day. Such is the kind of rigor that drove Williams to win several grand slam titles.

In this book, Serena Williams also writes about racism in a sport that was once thought to be only for rich white folks. She also writes candidly about her oldest sister, whom she misses deeply. She explains what it’s like to know that your fiercest rival in the match (Venus) is also the person who went to bat for you all your life. And she writes about the game she lives, loves, and almost gave up.

“On the Line” is a delightful book filled with respect, humor and humility. The surprise here (which may not surprise major tennis fans) is the closeness that author Serena Williams feels for her biggest rival and sister, Venus. This book is a definite read for everyone and will serve as a good motivation for children.

You can get your copy of On The Line from Amazon

More about Nicoline on her website

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Written by Zuzeeko Abeng

”An innocent man is about to be executed. Only a guilty man can save him.” These are the words of John Grisham, in his book: The Confession.

Many works of fiction fail to capture my imagination, but a legal thriller, my favorite book genre, always does. This explains why books by John Grisham, a former practicing criminal lawyer, always beacon on book shelves. The Confession is the acclaimed writer’s most recent book – as of the time of writing this review.

Title: The Confession

Author: John Grisham

Publication Date: 26 October 2010 (First Edition)

ISBN: 978-0-385-52804-7

Publisher: Doubleday

The Confession, a work of fiction, tells the story of a broken legal system in a small town in East Texas, United States. It is the story of a young African-American male college football (not soccer) player arrested and convicted of murder in 1999. The  innocent man is found guilty and sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit. For his defense attorney, family and anti-death penalty groups, it is a race against time to save his life.

Three days before the execution of the innocent man, a career criminal shows up and claims responsibility for the murder.

Would the authorities welcome this new twist in this sensitive case and admit their mistake?

Would the authorities admit that they have imprisoned an innocent man for nine long years pending execution?

More importantly, would a stay of execution be ordered?

The execution is scheduled for 6pm on a Thursday and the deadline to file an appeal to stop the killing machine is at 5pm – when the doors of the office of the Chief Justice close for the day. At 4:45pm on that fateful day, the defense team, armed with a new petition and sworn affidavit, sets out for the office of the Chief Justice to file a last minute appeal. Of course, this move by the defense team showcases legal representation at its best! But would ”last minute Hail Marys” save an innocent man from a powerful state-sponsored killing machine?

After reading this thriller, I have the answers to all the above questions, but you would have to find out the answers yourself by reading the book.

I like the fact that the author clearly shows the demerits of the death penalty – a form of punishment which I’m ideologically against. The author also portrays the innocent convict’s defense lawyer as a fighter who stands shoulder to shoulder with his client till the last minute and refuses to give up hope even in the face of what appears to be an ”impossible mission.”

Some critics have argued that the story ”lacks realism.” I disagree.

The Confession captures the reality of wrongful convictions in the United States and beyond. I found myself unable to put the book down once I started reading.

Like me, you can purchase this book from Amazon.com.

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Book release
(international):

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: HIDDEN LUSTS by Mitzi Szereto
Publication date: July 2011
Trade paperback
224 pages
ISBN #978-1573446631
Publisher: Cleis Press, USA

For review copies and interview requests, contact: media@mitziszereto.com

Bestselling author and media personality Mitzi Szereto is back, and this time she’s taking no prisoners in her raunchy new version of the Jane Austen classic!

In Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts, the entire cast of  characters is here, caught with their breeches unbuttoned and their skirts raised high in this rewrite that goes all the way – and then some! Mr. Darcy has never been more devilish and the seemingly chaste Elizabeth never more turned on.
In this no-holds-barred account, men are not necessarily the only dominating sex. This time Mr. Bingley and his sister both have designs on Mr. Darcy’s manhood; Elizabeth’s dear friend Charlotte marries their family’s strange relation, discovering that her husband’s pious nature extends to worship of a different sort; and, in this telling, Lady Catherine de Bourgh takes the disciplining of those in the parish very seriously. As for the handsome Mr. Wickham, he’s wickeder than ever! And of course there’s plenty of good old-fashioned bodice ripping that shows no pride or prejudice and reveals hot hidden lusts in every scandalous page-turning chapter. This is the book Jane Austen would have written, if
only she’d had the nerve!
“Thank God for Mitzi Szereto! Now the literary purists have someone new to go after with their pitchforks. Adding zombies to Pride and Prejudice was one thing, but SEX SEX SEX? It’s sacrilege! Raunchy, hilarious, subversive sacrilege… which is the best kind, of course.” – Steve Hockensmith, author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls.
Visit the Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts website at: http://mitziszereto.com/prideandprejudicehiddenlusts/

About the author:
Mitzi Szereto is a bestselling author, anthology editor, blogger for “Errant Ramblings: Mitzi Szereto’s Weblog” (http://mitziszereto.com/blog), and the creator/presenter for the web channel Mitzi TV (http://mitziszereto.com/tv),
which covers “quirky” London. Her other books include the upcoming release Red Velvet and Absinthe: Paranormal Erotic Romance (autumn 2011), In Sleeping Beauty’s Bed: Erotic Fairy Tales, The New Black Lace Book of Women’s Sexual Fantasies, Getting Even: Revenge Stories, Dying For It: Tales of Sex & Death, Wicked: Sexy Tales of Legendary Lovers, the Erotic Travel Tales anthology series, The World’s Best Sex Writing 2005, and the popular M. S. Valentine
erotic novels. Mitzi has pioneered the erotic writing workshop in the UK and Europe, teaching them from the prestigious Cheltenham Festival of Literature to the Greek islands. Her outspoken views on the erotic literary scene have made her a trendsetter, cult figure, and frequent interviewee, earning her a reputation as the author and editor who has put the “literature” back into erotica. Her anthology Erotic Travel Tales 2 is the first anthology of erotica to feature a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Originally from the USA, she lives in Greater London.

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