Nightmare: A Story of Unrequited Love

NIGHTMARE: A Story of Unrequited Love

How many times have you found yourself wondering just what exactly are succubae and incubi? And what the heck do they do, anyway? Well, if you’re like me, quite often, that’s for sure.

So, dear Readers, with a bit of time on my hands (ha!) over here on the Dark Side of the Garden, I’ve taken it upon myself to do some research into the matter. It appears different theories exist regarding the creation of these infamous, highly-sexed creatures of the, uh, bedroom. Yet, according to the esteemed Sanctum #11: Inquisition, which I’m sure you are all familiar with, “the leading theory was that a warlock or warlocks were trying to create more of their kind the old-fashioned way: by breeding them.” The incubi and the succubae of medieval European folklore visited men and women during the dead of the night to engage in sex, ultimately to produce doers of great evil or powerful warlocks. It was believed that “the most famous child of such a union” was Merlin the Magician. Wow!

Now here’s the unrequited love story part. No HEA here…
A few years before he painted The Nightmare (1791), Johan Heinrich Fussli had fallen passionately in love with a woman named Anna Landholdt in Zürich, the niece of his friend, Johann Kaspar Lavater. Fuseli wrote of his fantasies to Lavater:

Last night I had her in bed with me—tossed my bedclothes hugger-mugger—wound my hot and tight-clasped hands about her—fused her body and soul together with my own—poured into her my spirit, breath and strength. Anyone who touches her now commits adultery and incest! She is mine, and I am hers. And have her I will….

Fussli's marriage proposal didn’t meet with Dad’s approval and lovely Anna married a family friend soon after. It’s said that The Nightmare, (see art below) then, can be seen as a personal portrayal of the erotic aspects of love lost.

Well, if Johan is portraying himself crouching on the beautiful Anna’s midsection, no wonder Daddy didn’t approve!

Joelle Walker
Editor, The Black Rose Line

It's October! With that comes...

Indian Summer, Octoberfest, firey autumn colors but most important Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, Samhain!

WELCOME TO PARANORMAL MONTH AT THE WILD ROSE PRESS:)

I am Callie Lynn Wolfe, Senior Editor of the Black Rose Imprint here at TWRP. I have been with TWRP from almost the beginning. I have been fortunate enough to watch this company grow and thrive under the tender cultivating efforts of RJ and Rhonda. I have also watched the Black Rose line grow and it still is. I absolutely love the darker side of the garden and my mission is to see it thrive.

That said, I wanted to tell you a bit about the line, our new blog and what we've got up our sleeves this year to celebrate Paranormal Month.

As you all know, we ran the Got Wolf? contest last year. This year we are celebrating the winners as well as the release of the two Anthologies. I am excited about both books and the collection of stories they hold. We will start October off at the Black Rose blog with the various authors of Got Wolf, so please don't miss any of that. Then we will slide into discussions about the many different aspects of Halloween/Samhain legend, history, tradition and all the creatures that make up the term Paranormal. The darker side, that is

For the next week or so the Black Rose editors will drop in and talk to you about themselves and the upcoming events.

For more information on submission requirements for Black Rose, please visit our guidelines page.

Below is a brief description of what we look for in our stories:

The Black Rose Line at The Wild Rose Press is actively open for spicy to very hot story submissions.

The darker side of the garden seeks steamy, Alpha male or female weres, to die for vamps, or any other delicious mystical creature you have locked up in your wildest imaginations. These stories should include vampires, werewolves, shape shifters, and mystical creatures of all types. The stories are darker, but must have a strong romance theme as the central story thread. We are open to a wide range of stories, and because these creatures tend to be sensual in nature, Black Rose accepts manuscripts that fit the Sensual, Spicy, and Hot ratings parameters, but sex should not be used as the main story thread.

Black Rose is open for submissions as we speak, so if you have a dark tale to tell we're your line.

I want to mention some other great perks this month for Paranormal month. All paranormal books will be on sale all month! So please do hop over and check them out. We have a wonderful selection to choose from.

One other thing I'd like to say. Keep an eye on the The Black Rose Blog daily because you never know when someone will be offering a prize or giving away free stuff and books. This is our month, and we're up to no good or should I say lot's of ghoulish fun:) Don't miss a trick or treat.

We look forward to haunting you all month long. Welcome to the darker side. Step on in and feel the chill. No worries though. I'm sure one of our HOT heroes or heroines will be along shortly to warm you up.

Callie Lynn
callielynnwrp@aol.com

Happy Birthday TWRP from Faery Rose

A world of fantasy where romance includes mystical and mythical creatures of all realms.

Evening everyone, I’m Amanda Barnett—Senior Editor for the Faery Rose line. I love my work, our editors on this line and at TWRP and all of our authors! On this third year anniversary, I just want to say a quick thank you to all of our staff and author family!

Now, let me tell you what I want to see as prospective manuscripts for Faery. I want and if you will take a peek at the new line blurb on the main faery rose page, you will know what I’m talking about. I would love to see characters that leap off the pages, emotional conflict and sensuality that make me laugh and cry and want to just step inside the book.

Now, I would love to introduce you to our editors, I will go in alphabetical order so I don’t show any favoritism…lol. Yeah, they all know I love them. Claudia Fallon, Sarah Hansen, Corrine MacGregor, who has left to go to another line now, Kelly Schaub, Frances Sevilla and Zanoni Rose who is our on and off again editor. We have lost a few to other lines but a big shout out to everyone who helps us here at Faery. That includes you Jamie and your team at Hummingbirds!

I know my illustrious staff have their own ideas of what they want to see, so please take a peek and fire away with your questions.

And always write from the heart!

Amanda

There are a number of things that appeal to me in any type of story. For paranormal romance or any genre, I like to see humor and sub-plotting—not necessarily related topics, but things that appeal to me. I find stories that take themselves too seriously melodramatic and stuffy. Add some human fallacy and situational or sarcastic humor and I am much more likely to read on. While you’re at it, add some twists and some plot depth. I would rather not know exactly what is going to happen next, but I want to be on my toes the entire ride there. Surprise me, please!

Sarah Hansen

What we look for in Faery can be difficult to describe in such a broad category as “light paranormal.” My contracts are all over the map, so one is not representative of all. If you have a space epic or a ghost story, I’m your gal. Demons/angels/witches—I like those too. Situational humor makes my day. I’m primarily a scifi/fantasy reader. I have been critting/learning/working with romance writers since 2003, so I get the genre and the requirements for a TWRP book. I like smart, snarky heroines and strong heroes who can give as good as they get.

Kelly Schaub

Happy Birthday Wild Rose Press...

Q: What do you enjoy reading, personally?

A: I like emotionally compelling stories, whether they’re fantastic or reality based, and I like them spicy. I’m not saying graphic, necessarily. Although I don’t mind being drawn a picture, sexual tension is key. If I can read about a tortured hero or heroine who’s redeemed and saved by their soul mate, I don’t care if they’re from down the street, another world, or other plane of existence. Add action and a quick pace, and you’ve got me hooked.

Frances Sevilla

What I like to see, is a properly done & well-written manuscript and I agree with what the feely other editors wrote. I'm really pretty easy as far as actual stories go. Interesting characters & plot. A spin on an old idea would be cool.

Claudia Fallon

I like just about anything as long as the plot is compelling and the characters have depth. I'd like to see a new spin on an old idea. Give the characters some human flaws and failings, and get them working hard at overcoming them. Skip the clichés and fictional "trapdoor" escapes of plotting, no deus ex machina please! And you just might win me over if you throw in suspense, mystery and humor in your story too! Make me stay up late to read your submission!