All the days of

Book Tour: How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back by Sophie Barnes

2012-02-02T06:03:00.000+02:00

Today, we meet Sophie, author of How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back. I just love getting a glimpse into an authors life, don’t you. So over to Sophie!

A day in the life of a historical novelist

First of all I’d like to thank Chrizette for hosting me here today – I’m a big fan of her blog and am absolutely thrilled to be here!

Becoming a recognized romance writer has been such a whirlwind experience for me that I still can’t quite believe it is happening. How great is it to be able to do what you love day in and day out, not just as a hobby, but because people actually have a genuine interest in your work?

Having only recently begun to share the details of my writing career with people, I’ve been met with an astounding amount of support and congratulations, usually followed by tons of questions about the genre and my plots in particular. I think a lot of people are under the assumption that my days must be truly extraordinary to inspire such stories. Well … occasionally, but most days are not.

My life revolves around my family – my wonderful husband and incredible boys whom I love with all my heart and soul. The stories I write are mostly fiction, meant to entertain and explore human behavior – our flaws, our fears and our desires. They are the product of many hours of hard work – work that can only be done by patiently placing your butt in a seat and staying there until your ideas for the day have finished pouring from your head onto the paper (or onto the shiny pixels of your word processor, to be more precise :o) )

So here’s a play by play of a day of my life…not as exciting as the stories I write perhaps, but perfect in every way that matters.

7:00 am – I awake, just in time to get the kids ready for school – we have 1 ½ hour to get dressed, pack their lunch and have breakfast together before getting out the door.

9:00 am – Drop the kids off at school and do a quick bit of grocery shopping on the way home.

10:00 am – Having poured myself a hot cup of tea, I start going over my e-mails, checking my social network pages and responding as best I can to my friends and fans If it happens to be Friday, I post my weekly romance recommendation…wink wink (shameless bit of self promoting :o) ).

10:30 am – I turn to my manuscript and cringe, wondering how the heck I’m going to manage getting my work done before picking up the kids again. I have a general plan, but usually let the characters lead the way. After staring at the screen for a few minutes, hoping for an epiphany to get me started, I just begin writing … something…anything… to get things going… and then suddenly the story comes back to life and I can’t seem to stop again.

1:00 pm – Break for lunch – something quick that I can eat while I check my e-mails, answer a few tweets and FB messages .

1:30 pm – Write, write, write.

3:15 pm – Jump in the car to go pick up the kids.

4:00 pm – Afternoon tea with my husband and the kids. Once that’s over and the kids run off to play, I start writing again.

5:00 pm – Prepare dinner – anything from steak and vegetables, to pasta, to grilled chicken…whatever it is it usually takes me under 1 hour.

6:00 pm – Everyone flocks together at the table for dinner, but since the kids are usually done in under 10 minutes, my husband and I have a few quiet moments to ourselves…bliss. Unless of course the kids need either one of us to help them load a new computer game, or get to the next level of yesterday’s game. :o)

6:30 pm - I have just a bit more time to write before getting the kids ready for bed at 7:00 pm. Ideas are always popping into my head…all I need is a little more time to…oh well, it’s 7:00 pm =)

7:00 pm – Get kids into PJ’s, brush teeth, read story, sing song and cuddle – love it!

My kids are normally asleep around 8:30 pm, after which my husband and I usually manage a little more quality time either talking or sharing a couple of hours in front of the TV. We follow a lot of series and have a DVR so there’s always something good on (Big Bang Theory, Revenge, House, Dr. Who, Supernatural, Whitney…to name only a few). If I have a deadline, I drop the shows and write some more at this point, but right now I’m just moving forward at my own pace, so all I need is to fill my self-imposed daily quota – roughly four - five hours of constant writing required.

Finally, I cozy up in bed with the latest book I happen to be reading, until I eventually dose off around midnight – lights out by 12:30 if I’m not asleep, so I’m not a complete zombie the next day.

Less exciting than you imagined perhaps, but peppered with the simple pleasures that life has to offer, a bit of time with my loving family and doing what I love. Not sure I’d change any of it for all the adventures in the world. ;o)

Thank you so much for stopping by. I’ll be popping in throughout the day to chat with you and to answer any questions you might have. So feel free to leave a comment or two for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card =)

If you’d like to share the last day of my tour with me, please stop by http://romancingrakes.blogspot.com/ tomorrow. Hope to see you again soon =)

To find out more about me, How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back or my upcoming releases, please visit my website at: www.sophiebarnes.com

To see the book trailer for How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1u7IYNSU6Y

Emily Rutherford is having a very bad day. Of course, having the man you’ve loved forever, announce his engagement to your (now very former) best friend will do that.

Blurb:
Emily is sure nothing good could possibly come out of this horrid situation. But she lets her sisters and Adrian’s cousin, Francis Riley, the delectable but brooding Earl of Dunhurst, convince her a season in London will be just the thing.

Now Emily has a choice: sulk in a corner while her sisters enjoy the glitter of the ton. Or become the belle of the ball, dazzling everyone on an earl’s arm. But as Francis helps Emily get back on her feet, she quickly realizes that a childhood crush is nothing compared to the power of true love.

Author Bio:
Born in Denmark, Sophie has spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She’s lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish and Romanian.

She has studied design in Paris and New York and has a bachelor’s degree from Parson’s School of design, but most impressive of all – she’s been married to the same man three times, in three different countries and in three different dresses.

While living in Africa, Sophie turned to her lifelong passion – writing.

When she’s not busy, dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading. She currently lives on the East Coast.

http://www.sophiebarnes.com/

Thank you, Sophie!

Book Tour: Vala Agendas by J.F. Jenkins

2012-01-30T06:28:00.000+02:00

Vala Agendas by J.F Jenkins

Blurb:
Cheyenne Loveless was just a boring sixteen-year-old girl. Then Denver Collins bit her and everything changed. Her plants start talking to her, she finds out she’s a Nymph, and a witch and the angel of death show up at her doorstep to take her away to the prestigious Vala School and Seminary. Oh, and she has no choice in the matter.

All she wants to do is blend in and return to being invisible, but the more time that passes, the harder that becomes. Plus she’s a daughter of the Divine, an exclusive secret society which rules the world of myth, and discovers she is a key ingredient to an ancient covenant created before she was born. A covenant that will reshape the order of the world.

Adjusting to a new school is difficult enough, but adding on everyone else’s hidden agendas is the icing on the cake. Cheyenne must learn to see through the lies in order to find her place — and possibly even love — in this new world.

Links:

Amazon Barnes and Noble Astraea Press

Excerpt:

“Can I help you?” she asked, shielding herself protectively
with her arms.

“Sorry, you smell good,” he murmured, practically purring
in her ear as he pulled away. He still maintained his close
proximity.

“I smell...” She frowned and was about to sniff at her arm, but she stopped herself. “…good?”

“You smell good. Kind of like lilies of the valley, actually.

Let me guess—you use that for your scented body wash?”

“I just use Dial.” Her entire body tensed more as he moved in again, his face dangerously close to her neck. “I don’t mean to be rude, and while I’m flattered you’re so fascinated with my body, you’re also making me uncomfortable. If you’re just trying to butter me up so I’ll go home with you, you should stop now, because that’s not going to happen. Back off before I make you.”

He moved away once more with a smug smirk. “I thought I smelled fire, too.” He extended his hand to her for a polite and friendly handshake. “My name is Denver. Yes, like the city in Colorado. Last name is Collins, and I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I don’t usually meet someone with that kind of scent. It’s strong. I knew there was a reason I noticed you.”

Is this guy high or something? “Apology accepted. I'ʹm Cheyenne. I'ʹve seen you around school these past few weeks, but I don'ʹt think we'ʹve ever been formally introduced until now. You'ʹre new, right?” Cheyenne shook his hand nervously. He had a strong and confident shake. He seemed to be a genuinely nice person, outside of his odd behaviors. If anything, it made her look good in front of her classmates to be talking to the new cool kid, and a young, attractive male. She felt a little less like a freak.

“I'ʹm temporary. I haven'ʹt been formally introduced to anyone. You'ʹre the first, and it'ʹs only because you smell so nice I can'ʹt stay away.”

“Do you use that line on everyone? It’s unique. A little creepy, but unique.”

“No.” He sat back and proceeded to grab a napkin off the bar and fold it in front of him multiple times. He didn'ʹt have much of an attention span, apparently. “I actually don’t pick up women often. I just made an exception for the blue--‐ eyed beauty in front of me.”

Cheyenne’s face flushed again. “I wasn’t aware you knew the color of my eyes, seeing as how you’ve been staring at my breasts the entire time.” It came out a lot harsher than she intended.

In fact, she wasn’t meaning to say it at all. “Sorry, I—” “You’re right. I was, but I remember you from earlier. I noticed your eyes when you were looking across the school yard at me.”

“You do remember that.” She shrank in her chair a little, officially wanting to hide under a rock.

“It’s a little hard not to when you’re so cute.” He moved closer to her, not quite as close as before, but enough to cause butterflies in her stomach. “You don’t like it here. I don’t like it here. And since we both don’t like it here, maybe we should head out and find something else to do. Maybe we can go someplace we both like.”

AUTHOR BIO:

J.F. Jenkins lives in Minneapolis Minnesota with her husband, son, and two cats. She graduated from Bethel University in 2006 with a degree in Media Communication with minors in both writing and film. When she is not busy writing, she spends her free time playing games, reading, and spending time with her family.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jfjenkinsauthor

Twitter: @jfjenkinstweets

Book Tour: Desperate Betrayal by Hildie McQueen

2012-01-27T06:29:00.000+02:00

Desperate Betrayal
By Hildie McQueen

Cynden Frasier (Cyn) is a member of a group of immortal warriors, the Protectors, assigned to protect humans in Atlanta, Georgia, the epicenter of a major uprising in demon activity. When Cyn is approached by a beautiful woman in a dirty alley, he is intrigued by the fact that she can see him for what he is, a terrifying demon slayer, and still dares to approach him.

Emma Blake, a half-demon, has to convince Cyn to help rescue her sister from powerful demons. Terrified that the Protector will kill her if he realizes what she is, she still goes against every instinct and approaches Cyn for help. Despite knowing that she is leading them both into territory so wrought with treachery, neither of them may survive.

Can Cyn and Emma overcome betrayal, the ancient rules that prevent Protectors from taking a wife, unless she is his one true mate? And if they do, will it even matter?

Available now at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:
CHAPTER ONE
Shadows.

Emma Blake always felt at home in the shadows. It was where she lived, always concealing the truth from those around her.

Now as she hid in the doorway of an abandoned building, she couldn’t help but compare the current situation to her life. The dampness of the brick wall behind her seeped through to her skin, as she pushed further into the dark to avoid being noticed. The putrid smell of trash and urine barely registered, as she was mesmerized by the scene unfolding before her.

The scene invoked images of the endless battle forces of dark and light had been waging since the dawn of time.

Although beautiful to behold, the warrior who fought before her wasn’t exactly an angel, but he was as close to one as she would ever get. In desperate need of his help, she took a big chance sticking around; because once he caught her there were only two possibilities for her.

He’d either help her or he would kill her.

The air blew chilly on this damp, drizzly day in Atlanta, a city that for some unknown reason, in the last few years, had become a hotbed for demons. With such an influx of demons, human assaults were on the rise.

Emma continued to watch from the shelter of the doorway, as the Protector fought his aggressors. Ten huge low-level demons armed with medieval-type swords.

She tensed, but didn’t flinch as a demon’s severed arm flew past her and hit the ground next to her foot with a sickening thud.

Emma had no doubt as to whom the victor would be in the end. The fluidity of the Protector’s movements and the speed of the fight enthralled her. Her gaze locked on his biceps. Muscles bulged on his right arm, as he swung his sword in a way that seemed almost effortless. Impressive, for the weapon he wielded had to weigh at least twenty pounds.

He dodged a blow and struck out with his sword to slash through one demon’s chest. A dagger flew from his left hand and found its target in another’s heart.

About the Author:
Hildie McQueen is a whirlwind who refuses to wear anything but jeans and heels.

She grew up on the San Diego/Mexico border, joined the military at seventeen and never returned. After living in Germany, Texas and Hawaii, she finally settled in the beautiful southern town of Augusta, Georgia.

Biracial, half Mexican and half African-American, Hildie’s native language is Spanish, but English is her favorite way of communicating now.

Her mission in life is to make as many people as possible to feel normal. It’s an easy thing to do, for others to feel normal around her, because she’s anything but.

www.hildiemcqueen.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HildieMcQueen

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/HildieMcQueen

Blog: http://www.hildiemcqueen.com/

Another challenge! NetGalley Reading Challenge

2012-01-19T07:34:00.001+02:00

I know I said I am only going to be doing a few challenges this year but I am going to be reading loads of NetGalley Books anyway, why not join the NetGalley Reading challenge hosted by Emily at Red House Books? I decided to pace myself as it is already the 19th and I am still reading my first book (my life just keeps getting more and more chaotic! I wasn’t this busy when I was working! What happened?) I decided to start at the entry level.

Blue Star (1 – 10 books) which I will be listing here and linking to Emily’s bookblog every month.

If you love NetGalley (like we do!) and read a lot of their galleys, come and join us!

Book Tour: Fallenwood by Leslie D. Soule

2012-01-18T04:27:00.000+02:00

Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 23-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders. She must destroy the Great Crystal—the catalyst for all the land’s magic. As the kingdoms prepare for war, Ash must look inside to find the power to save the world, and herself.

Leslie Soule lives in Sacramento, California. Fallenwood is her first fantasy novel. She has received her B.A. in English from Sacramento State University and is currently working on her Master’s degree in English at National University.

Website: www.lesliesoule.com

Leslie, when did you start writing?
I’ve been writing since I was little. I used to write stories to go along with the things I drew. Then when I was older, I had a word processor that I just loved – sort of the in-between of a typewriter and a computer.

Does your family support you in your writing?
Definitely. My family has always been very supportive of my endeavours.

What would be able to distract you from your writing?
Chocolate, hot blond guys, one of my martial arts buddies wanting to practice…a lot of things, really.

What inspired you to write this book?
When my stepfather passed away, I didn’t know how to deal with the emotions and thoughts that I experienced. Writing became a kind of therapy for me, and Ash’s journey became my own.

What kind of research did you have to do?
I tried writing with a quill and ink on parchment. It was fun. :)

I LOVE the cover - who designed it?
Dara England. She’s amazing!

What is your next project?
I’m currently working on Fallenwood’s sequel and on a biography of my stepfather.

If you could meet any of your characters, who would it be and why?
I would want to meet Will, because it would be fascinating to meet a sorcerer and figure out the details of what living with magic is really like.

A typical day in your life would be . . .
I wake up, go to work for the State, then go and work out at the martial arts studio, stay up for a bit writing or doing things online, and then sleep. Nothing too crazy.

What is the hardest thing about being an author?
Dealing with criticism and rejection is the hardest part, I’d say. You put your heart into the things you work on, and it’s hard to deal with the idea that someone else may not like it or see it the way you do.

Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?
I’ve gotten excellent feedback from my readers, about what worked and didn’t work with Fallenwood, and I think it’s really helped. With the sequel, I hope to correct a lot of the errors I made in writing the original.

Who are some of the authors that inspire you?
Maureen O. Betita, Robert C. Roman, Deena Remiel, whom I’ve met and have helped me along.

What is in your own TBR pile?
For the past year and a half, I’ve been working toward my master’s degree, so my TBR pile is absolutely gargantuan.

price: $4.99
number of pages: 194
genre: fantasy
publisher: Decadent Publishing
release date: March 2011

buy links: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=26&products_id=226

Expert from Fallenwood:
Tears blinded her. She couldn’t stop and even the rough winds couldn’t scatter the wild thoughts that swirled in her mind—memories of her stepfather, words that people had said at his service, images of her mother and that stupid grin she wore—all she could do was run. Ashley was deeply wounded but was powerless to heal this kind of pain. She’d looked into the face of evil. Her feet hit the gravel, and the wind whipped at her face as she tried to outrun her anguish. She closed her eyes for a split second, and the wind stilled, and she stopped. Ashley looked around her. It had suddenly become night, and she was now in an unfamiliar part of the woods.

Book Tour Schedule:
January 16: Marianne Arkins
January 17: Judge Not By The Covers
January 18: All the Days Of
January 19: Where Fantasy and Love Take Flight
January 20: We Fancy Books
January 23: Reader Girls
January 24: Traditional Romance for Modern Women
January 25: The Character Connection
January 26: The Muse
January 27: Dawn's Reading Nook
January 30: Romance That's 'Out Of This World'
January 31: The Plot Thickens
February 1: Kacey's Kreations
February 2: Good Family Reads
February 3: Where Being Different Is Celebrated
Feburary 6: It's Raining Books
February 7: Book Briefs
February 8: My Odd Little World
February 9: Mother/Gamer/Writer
February 10: All Things Books

I love Audio books

2012-01-16T06:41:00.000+02:00

I used to listen to tons of audio books. I had a long commute to work and it made the time go past so quickly. Sometimes I had to drive around the block an extra time to finish a chapter!

But since I have been home, I have not listened to one book. I have been a quarter through ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis for maybe four months now. I can’t really put my finger on the reason but it must be just that I don’t like having earphones on during my day.

So this weekend (in a wild online shopping spree – don’t tell my hubby) while browsing online, I found this little gadget.

It is a little iPod speaker. LoL

Now I can plug in my iPod and listen to my books :) I can’t wait for it to arrive!

So now I need recommendations for your favourite audio books. Let me know, so I can begin stocking up for when my little angel arrives :)

In my Mailbox (33)

2012-01-15T11:26:00.001+02:00

The holidays are over and hopefully things will now return to normal here on my blog from this week on. 2012 will be a full year and I am looking forward to reading lots of new books and authors. Let’s start with a look at IN MY MAILBOX.

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren every Sunday. It is a weekly meme that lets everyone see what books you have received in the mail or bought that week.

The following books are free on Amazon Kindle at the moment (please check before you click as it could change hourly – lol) It is quite a varied selection – a mystery, a zombie book (yay) and the Holocaust.

NetGalley has been so kind to me again this week. I was approved for the following.

What is in your mailbox this week?

Adding to my Wish List: Partials by Dan Wells

2012-01-09T05:43:00.000+02:00

Partials by Dan Wells
Release date: 28 February 2012

Another dystopian release just around the corner and what a beautiful cover.

Goodreads blurb:
The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.
Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic in training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws threaten to launch what’s left of humanity into civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will discover that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.
Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question—one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.

In My Mailbox (32)

2012-01-01T10:37:00.001+02:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren every Sunday. It is a weekly meme that lets everyone see what books you have received in the mail or bought that week.

I got this one from NetGalley – it sounds llike a fun read :)

I also got a review copy from an author – this one sounds just as much fun!

So two holiday reads for me this week – what is in your mailbox?

Paranormal Romance Challenge 2012

2012-01-01T08:56:00.001+02:00

Here is where I will be reading 20 books that is anything but normal :)
http://www.bittenbyparanormalromance.com/2012/01/2012-paranormal-romance-reading.html

1.

2.

3.

Just For Fun Reading Challenge 2012

2012-01-01T08:49:00.000+02:00

I have joined this challenge where I am planning to read one book every month that is just for myself – no review requests – books read just for me :)

Here is the link to the my official challenge page, although I will also list here :)

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/715956-chrizette-all-the-days-of

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000+02:00

Happy New Year everyone!

May the year ahead be all that we wish for!

Book Tour and Giveaway: Hellsbane by Paige Cuccaro

2011-12-30T04:32:00.000+02:00

Title: Hellsbane (Hellsbane, #1)
Author: Paige Cuccaro
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Length: Novel
Release Date: December 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-64-0
Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-65-7
Books 2 and 3 coming May 2012 and January 2013!

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/hellsbane/

A HELLSBANE BOOK - Book One - by Paige Cuccaro

Emma Jane Hellsbane just found out she’s not human—or, at least, not only human. She’s half angel, too, and now Heaven’s got a job for her: round up all the Fallen angels and their red-skinned, horned devil-demon minions and boot their butts back into the abyss. Only problem? The demons and their Fallen masters fight back…and they don’t fight fair.

Luckily for Emma, she can put a stop to the constant threat of having her head hacked off if she figures out which Fallen angel is her father—and then kill him before he kills her. Of course, in the meantime, she’ll have to avoid accidentally seducing her angelic mentor, help an old friend conquer his own Fallen sperm donor, and basically save the world from a cataclysmic divine smack down.

No one said being Heaven’s bounty hunter would be easy. But with a name like Hellsbane, Emma Jane was born for the job.

Author Bio:
Writing was never a foregone conclusion for Paige Cuccaro. She once had dreams of being a psychologist, a paediatrician, a school teacher, a photojournalist, a bartender, and/or an EMT. And then she met her husband and her world came into focus. Being wife and mother are her highest priorities and greatest joy. But escaping to the fanciful, sexy worlds twirling through her mind is an absolute necessity. Putting those worlds, and the cornucopia of characters that people them, on paper is just plain fun.

Paige lives in Ohio, with her husband, three daughters, three dogs, three cats, a parakeet and a bearded dragon named Rexy, in an ever shrinking house. When she’s not writing she can be found doing the mom thing with a book in one hand and a notepad and pen in the other. Ideas come without warning and the best way to stimulate your imagination is to enjoy the imagination of someone else.

Excerpt from Hellsbane:
So you’ve been doing this, hunting demons, since high school?”

“Demons and the fallen angels who called them up to do their bidding.” He exhaled, as though suddenly feeling the weight of the past eight years. “I tried to forget. Tried to pretend it didn’t happen. But they wouldn’t let me. They kept hounding me, bugging me to fight.”

“Demons?”

“No. Angels,” he said. “The ones that will talk to us...incessantly. They’re called magisters. They wanted me to train. To pick up the fight where Coach Clark left off. I didn’t want to. I didn’t know what it meant. So I ran. It was six years before I saw my parents again. They’d thought I was dead. Wanted me to move back home. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t expose them to the kind of life I had.”

“They don’t know?”

He shook his head. “They’d never believe me if I tried to explain anyway. They’re safer this way.”

“Must be nice.” He couldn’t have given me the same protection?

Tommy looked away. “If there’d been anywhere else safe I could’ve gone today, I swear...”

He looked at me, and I could see in his eyes he meant it. He hated what he’d gotten me mixed up in. Trouble was, I still wasn’t sure exactly what that was.

“What do they want, the demons? Why are they trying to kill you?”

“Us.” He winced, hugging his arm around his belly, holding his side. “They’ll be after you now, too. And they want us dead. They want to kill us before we kill them and send their fallen masters to the abyss.”

I laughed. Not because I thought anything was particularly funny, but because my brain had finally reached its capacity to accept the unacceptable, and no other reaction occurred to me. “You know how insane this all sounds, right? This can’t be for real. It can’t be. I mean, I don’t even believe in this God and angel junk.”

“Yeah?” He sucked in a sharp breath and used the doorjamb to leverage himself up to his feet, holding his side. After a second or two, he straightened. “Well, you’re about to become a believer, real quick.”

“You can’t make me.” Geez, I sounded like an eight-year-old.

“That’s what I thought. And then the demons came, and came, and came. And Eli kept dogging me, saying I had to train.” He stepped around me on his way to the door, limping, moving slower than he had when he’d come in. “The demons can find you anywhere, Emma Jane. They feel you the way you and I can feel each other when we first come together. You know, the way your stomach rolls?”

“The rollercoaster thing? You feel that too?”

He smiled his star-jock smile. “Yeah. I feel it, too. That’s how I knew you were nephilim in high school. I felt it. Felt it around Coach Clark, too. ’Course, I didn’t know what it was until Eli explained it. Before that it was kind of...confusing.”

“That explains a lot,” I said. “Who’s Eli?”

He turned and opened the door. “Eli will keep you alive. Unfortunately, if I don’t get to some holy water soon, I won’t survive to introduce you.”

I have one eBook copy of Hellsbane to giveaway. If you would like the opportunity to win this eBook copy, all you have to do is leave a comment below. I will draw a winner on 06 January 2012. Good luck!!

Adding to my Wish List: Living Violet by Jaimee Reed

2011-12-28T07:38:00.001+02:00

Goodreads blurb:
He's persuasive, charming, and way too mysterious. And for Samara Marshall, her co-worker is everything she wants most--and everything she most fears. . .
Samara Marshall is determined to make the summer before her senior year the best ever. Her plan: enjoy downtime with friends and work to save up cash for her dream car. Summer romance is not on her to-do list, but uncovering the truth about her flirtatious co-worker, Caleb Baker, is. From the peculiar glow to his eyes to the unfortunate events that befall the girls who pine after him, Samara is the only one to sense danger behind his smile.
But Caleb's secrets are drawing Samara into a world where the laws of attraction are a means of survival. And as a sinister power closes in on those she loves, Samara must take a risk that will change her life forever. . .or consume it.

Release date: 27 December 2011

A Very Merry Christmas to you

2011-12-25T09:23:00.001+02:00

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone has a wonderful day and that it is just what you wish for . . . . a peaceful day or a loud and totally higgledy-piggledy day!

To my friends that do not celebrate Christmas – Happy Holidays! Who doesn’t enjoy a few days away from all the hussle and bussle of everyday life! Enjoy the public holidays!!

Book Tour and Giveaway: The Last Awakening by Rachel Firasek

2011-12-23T04:51:00.000+02:00

CURSE OF THE PHOENIX - Book Two

Title: The Last Awakening
(Curse of the Phoenix, #2)
Author: Rachel Firasek
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: December 2011
ISBN: 978-1-937044-44-1
Book 3 coming January 2012!

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-last-awakening/

Amazon Kindle

Book Description:
For three hundred years, Arabella’s life has been one meaningless death after another. In a cruel twist of fate, Osiris–god of the Underworld–gifts the phoenix her mortality and returns her voodoo magic. If she fails to harness her wayward magic and save a man worthy of a second chance, she’ll forfeit her power and her soul–forever.

Ex-soldier Greyson Meadows desperately wants to be freed from the nightmares and guilt that haunt him after the tragedy that brought him and Ari together. Confronted by the waif of a woman who forces him to face his worst fears, he resists, fighting the need to keep his personal demons hidden instead of setting them free.

When Ari becomes the target of her own magical blunder, it’s not just her life in danger, but now the one of the man she loves.

The Last Awakening Excerpt

Grey propped himself against the inside of the door. He’d given her a few minutes alone after work while he grabbed his bag from his car. In fact, he’d spent at least a good ten convincing himself he could do this. Now, he wasn’t so sure, but he would still fix her door before he left. Damn woman hadn’t even locked it. He’d knocked twice and stepped inside when she didn’t respond.

“Arabella?”

No answer.

He’d wait. Through the paper-thin wall he listened to the shower and then the light patter of dainty feet running across her room. This really was the worst apartment he’d ever seen. Worse than some of the military tents he’d lived in.

He sat his bag beside him and tapped his fingers along the door. Any day now. Her bedroom door flew open, and she rushed out. He’d imagined her in silk pajamas with beaded nipples teasing him and begging for his taste—not the sweatshirt or the flannel bottoms. They weren’t bad either and actually may have added to her

appeal—there was something highly erotic about wondering what was beneath.

She sagged a little and dropped a hand across her chest. The smile she’d met him with slipped. “What?”

“You’re beautiful.” Damn, if he didn’t stop putting his foot in his mouth.

She blushed, painting her cheeks with the prettiest shade of pink before she ducked away from him. “What’s in the bag?”

“You need more protection.” He pulled out his wallet and fumbled through the slots for a business card. She leaned in closer and stood on tiptoe, watching his every move. “Nosy?”

When he handed her the card, she frowned.

“What did you think this was?” he asked.

She didn’t answer, but her pink cheeks shouted it loud and clear.

“Did you think I was going for a condom?”

She turned away, sank down onto her sofa, and pouted.

Surely she didn’t think…nah, no way could she want…He burst into a fit of laughter. Christ, how long had it been since he’d laughed? Really laughed? She was feisty as hell. He wanted more than anything to snatch her up and carry her to her creaky bed and let Mike—and whoever else wanted to—listen through her walls as he connected with her in the basest of ways. But first, they had things to get out in the open.

“Don’t laugh at me.”

He chuckled harder and moved closer to her. “I’m sorry to disappoint you. I brought some locks over. Before I leave, I’ll install them.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to.”

She sputtered. Her eyes sparked for a moment, and when she blinked a soft cloud covered the amber. Shit. Smoke floated across her eyes like something straight out of a B movie. He shook his head and pinched the tender skin above his brow. Damn hallucinations. He thought he was past them. “Are you okay?”

“You laugh at me and then want to know if I’m okay? Really?”

“Your eyes. I thought I…never mind.” Shut up, man, before you show her what a fucking freak you are.

Ari spun away from him. She gathered deep breaths, stretching the muscles in her back tight. “I’ll be in my room while you do whatever it is you’re going to do. Come get me when you’re done and can remember your manners, s’il vous plait.”

“Ari?”

She didn’t stop for him. Damn, he’d been an ass. Exactly what he said he wasn’t going to do. His plan had been to fix her door. Maybe have a beer with her. Find out how she was dealing with what happened, and possibly share some of his sorrow. But he’d think twice about the drink if he was going to start seeing shit. He’d had all the flashbacks he wanted in a lifetime, but to actually start hallucinating was too much. The alcohol was screwing with his head. Might be time to cut back.

He installed the new deadbolts and loaded his tools. The bedroom door remained shut, but the light peeked from beneath it. He crossed to knock softly on the thin wood. “Ari?”

No answer.

“I’m done. I’ll let myself out…come lock up after me.”

Yeah, he’d screwed up and he’d be lucky if the one person he could connect with, who’d understand, ever talked to him again.

CURSE OF THE PHOENIX - Book One

Title: The Last Rising
Author: Rachel Firasek
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: September 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-28-2
Mobi ISBN: 978-1-937044-29-9

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-last-rising/

Amazon Kindle

Book Description:

After paying two millennia’s penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough. Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn’t how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last. But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great…or that she’ll end up back in his life for her next assignment.

Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she’s the one—but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.

About the Author:

Rachel Firasek grew up in the south and despite the gentle pace, she harassed life at full steam. Her curiosity about mythology, human nature, and the chemical imbalance we call love led her to writing. Her stories began with macabre war poems and shifted to enchanted fairytales, before she settled on a blending of the two.

Today you’ll find her tucked on a small parcel of land, surrounded by bleating sheep and barking dogs, with her husband and children. She entertains them all with her wacky sense of humor or animated reenactments of bad 80’s dance moves.

She’s intrigued by anything unexplained and seeks the answers to this crazy thing we call life. You can find her where the heart twists the soul and lights the shadows… or at www.rachelfirasek.com .

I have one eBook copy of The Last Awakening to giveaway today. If you want to get your name thrown in the hat, just leave a comment below and I will draw a winner on 30 December 2011. Good Luck!

Mid-Winter’s Eve Blog Hop

2011-12-21T04:15:00.000+02:00

I am so excited to be part of this Blog Hop! It is not something I usually take part in, so it is going to be soooooo much fun for me (and I hope for you).

I am going to make this as easy as I possibly can – it is holiday after all. So I will be giving away one book (up to the value of $15) from the Book Depository – please make sure that they deliver to your country for free. If not, you will unfortunately not be eligible.

Please leave a comment with three possible wishes and I will choose one if you are the giveaway winner – I love surprises, don’t you!

Okay, let’s get to it!

Giveaway Details:
1 (one) Book up to the value of $15
Open to all that receives free delivery from the Book Depository
Giveaway starts on 21 December 2011
Ends 27 December 2011
You must be a GFC follower
To Enter Fill out the Rafflecopter Form and leave a comment.
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Book Tour and Giveaway: Immortalis Series by Katie Salidas

2011-12-20T05:08:00.000+02:00

Let’s talk about being a pantser!

Now, I know you’re asking… What the heck is a pantser?

Hi, hello, that’s me! Okay, okay, I can’t take credit for being the only pantser out there. There are many, many, many of us. We’re the types who “fly by the seats of our pants.”

There is no one single “right” way to write a novel. Some people are plotters and some, like me are pantsers. At first, I didn’t realize this. I thought you had to do everything a certain way.

That made writing look like such a daunting task. When I think of outlining, plot structure, and word counts it makes me balk. “I can’t write 80k words! No. I just can’t do it!”

The thing is, you can do it. I did. Several times in fact.

Writing doesn’t have to be hard. The biggest lesson I had to learn was to relax and not focus on the end result. That’s the thing that stops a new writer from finishing a story. When you’re on word 1 and you have 79,999 more to go to reach your goal, you feel like you’ll never make it. And that’s just the writing it down part. Beyond that you have characters to invent. Those characters need backstories and lives of their own. They need names and jobs and families. Trying to plan that all out and get it all down on paper is enough to make you go insane.

Back when I started writing Immortalis Carpe Noctem, (Book one in my Immortalis series) I let that kind of stuff haunt me. I felt I had to plot everything out. I worried if my chapters would be long enough and if I could really ever hit that magical word count to qualify as a novel.

It took me 5 years to finish Immortalis. I kept forcing myself into the little box of plotting out everything down to the smallest detail and then hating where the story went. My characters wouldn’t talk to me, and all because it was in my outline, I kept trying to make them do things that didn’t feel right. Then when a chapter would end before my scheduled word count, I would try to force a chapter past its point. I ended up adding in too much unnecessary detail, because I felt each chapter needed to be a specific length.

Eventually, I set the manuscript aside, frustrated with it.

While I let that one settle, I allowed myself to “free write,” not caring if the story made sense or if it was ever going to be read by anyone.

You know what I found out?

My muse doesn’t like to be boxed in. I could write thousands upon thousands of words when I removed the limitations of a formal outline and dropped my word count goals.

Some authors need that structure and that is great for them. Me, I needed freedom. And I bet a lot of others need it too.

Once I realized that, I went back and rewrote Immortalis Carpe Noctem in a short time. After that, I wrote the sequel, Hunters & Prey, and then the third book, Pandora’s Box (scheduled for release July 12, 2011)

It was that “relaxing” and allowing my muse to speak without worry that helped me to finish my story.

So now, whenever I see a new writer saying, “Oh, I can’t write. It’s too hard.” I tell them the same thing. Just relax. Don’t worry about the end result. Get your story on paper the way you want it. After that, you can worry about “fixing” things. If you can’t get past the initial draft, you will never finish it and make yourself frustrated.

Thanks for reading, and if you want to check out my work, you can find me at

http://www.katiesalidas.com

Immortalis Series, Book 1
Primary Genre: Urban Fantasy
Secondary Genre: Paranormal Romance
Adult Content: Some strong language. No sexual content.
Page Count: 323
Word Count: 85,000
Publisher: Rising Sign Books, LLC.
Print Publishing Date: March 2, 2010
Author: Katie Salidas

Synopsis:
Bleeding to death after brutal mugging on the campus of UNLV, Twenty-five year old Alyssa, is rescued by the cold and aloof, vampire, Lysander. Taking pity on her, he shares the gift-and curse-of immortality. She awakens as a vampire and is soon devastated by harsh realities of her new way of life: the loss of her friends, her independence, and her humanity.

As if having her humanity stripped away was not enough to make life interesting, Alyssa finds out her “turning”, did not go unnoticed by the rest of undead society. Old enemies; an ancient sect of vampire hunters, known as the Acta Sanctorum, as well as a powerful Vampire mistress, each set plans in motion to destroy both Alyssa and Lysander.

Only by accepting her newfound immortality, seizing the night, will Alyssa hope to survive. She and Lysander must fight together against two sets of enemies bent on destroying them both.

Immortalis Series, Book 2
Primary Genre: Urban Fantasy
Secondary Genre: Paranormal Romance
Adult Content: Some strong language. No sexual content.
Page Count: 263
Word Count: 75,000
Publisher: Rising Sign Books, LLC.
Print Publishing Date: December 10, 2010
Author: Katie Salidas

Synopsis:
Becoming a vampire saved Alyssa from death, but the price was high: the loss of everything and everyone attached to her mortal life. She’s still learning to cope when a surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum’s most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the friend she’s missed more than anything.

Alyssa breaks vampire law by revealing her new, true self to her old friend, a fact which causes strong division in the group that should support her most: her clan.

Worse yet, her revelation entangles Fallon in the struggle between vampires and hunters and The Acta Sanctorum is ready to attack again, with a new army of hybrid creations: the Frenzy Soldiers.

If Alyssa hopes to survive and keep her mortal friend safe, she’ll have to be willing to make a deal with the enemy, and regain her clan’s support. It will take everyone working together in a precarious truce to fight against the Acta Sanctorum’s new threat.

Immortalis Series, Book 3
Primary Genre: Urban Fantasy
Secondary Genre: Paranormal Romance
Adult Content: Some strong language.
Page Count: 238
Word Count: 65,000
Publisher: Rising Sign Books, LLC.
Print Publishing Date: July 12^th 2011
Author: Katie Salidas

Synopsis:
After a few months as a vampire, Alyssa thought she’d learned all she needed to know about the supernatural world. But her confidence is shattered by the delivery of a mysterious package – a Pandora’s Box.

Seemingly innocuous, the box is in reality an ancient prison, generated by a magic more powerful than anyone in her clan has ever known. But what manner of evil could need such force to contain it?

When the box is opened, the sinister creature within is released, and only supernatural blood will satiate its thirst. The clan soon learns how it feels when the hunter becomes the hunted.

Apparently powerless against the ancient evil, the clan flees Las Vegas for Boston, with only a slim hope for salvation. Could Lysander’s old journals hold the key? And what if they don’t?

And how welcome will they be in a city run by a whole different kind of supernatural being?

Werewolves…

About the Author

Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.

And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…

Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.

http://www.katiesalidas.com/

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Salidas-Author/214780936916

LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=58814031&trk=tab_pro

Twitter
http://twitter.com/QuixoticKatie

I have one eBook copy of the winner’s choice of one of the three books in the Immortalis Series. Just leave a comment below and I will draw a winner on 27 December 2011.

There is also an international tour wide giveaway of a Grand Prize of a signed set of all 3 books in the Immortalis Series with book swag. Just fill in the form below:

Winner will be chose on 01 January 2012 by Bewitching Book Tours.

In my Mailbox (31)

2011-12-18T06:10:00.000+02:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren every Sunday. It is a weekly meme that lets everyone see what books you have received in the mail or bought that week.

Let’s start with a book that was a free download.

I got this book, Dark Earth, the first in the series by Jason Halstead free on Amazon Kindle. It sounds like a crazy mix of paranormal sci-fi to me. I am going to try to squeeze it in somewhere!

I went a little overboard with NetGalley again. I got a HUGE virtual stack of books!

What is in your mailbox this week?

Okay, you knew it had to come sometime, right??

2011-12-17T14:41:00.001+02:00

Countdown Creator Progreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Book Tour: Under the Moon by Natalie J. Damschroder

2011-12-16T06:55:00.000+02:00

Title: Under the Moon : Goddesses Rising Book 1
Author: Natalie J. Damschroder
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: Novel
Ebook Release Date: November 15, 2011
Print Book Release Date: December 6, 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-54-1
Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-55-8

GODDESSES RISING - Book One - by Natalie J. Damschroder

Their power gives them strength…and makes them targets.

Quinn Caldwell is the epitome of a modern goddess. Her power source is the moon, her abilities restricted only by physical resources and lunar phase. She runs a consulting business and her father’s bar, serves on the board of the ancient Society for Goddess Education and Defense, and yearns for Nick Jarrett, professional goddess protector and the soul mate she can never have.

But someone has developed the rare and difficult ability to drain a goddess of her powers, and Quinn is a target. With the world thinking Nick has gone rogue (whatever that means) and that Quinn is influenced by “family ties” she didn’t know she had, keeping themselves safe while working to find the enemy proves harder each day.

But not as hard as denying their hearts…

Available at Amazon Paperback, Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble

Excerpt

Chapter One

Society views goddesses the same way they view psychics—most people don’t believe in us, and since there are only about a hundred goddesses in the United States, skeptics rarely have occasion to be proven wrong. Some people have open minds but still no reason to seek to use a goddess’s talents. If you choose a public career as a goddess, you join in the responsibility for image maintenance. Help us keep public opinion positive.

—The Society for Goddess Education and Defense, Public Relations Handbook

When Quinn Caldwell’s cell phone rang, she assumed one of her clients needed an appointment or a Society member had a question about next week’s annual meeting. It took her a second to pull her attention from the paperwork on her desk, another three to register

the name on the screen.

Nick Jarrett.

Her spark of joy at seeing his name quickly changed to concern. He wouldn’t be calling for anything good. Quinn plugged her ear against the noise from the bar outside her office door, held her breath, and flipped open the phone. “Nick?”

“Quinn.” The rumble of his vintage Charger’s engine harmonized with Nick’s voice. “Service isn’t good out here so just listen.”

She knew it. “What’s wrong?”

“We have a problem. I’m coming early. I’ll explain when I get there. I won’t have a very good cell signal most of the time. I’m at least a day away, so stay close to Sam, and don’t…” His voice cut in and out before disappearing altogether.

Quinn’s skin prickled. She closed the phone, frowning. Nick never came until at least the week before new moon, when she was most vulnerable. In the fifteen years of their relationship, he’d never come a whole week early.

Something big had to be happening.

Quinn was the only goddess whose power source was the full moon, which meant she was only fully able to use her abilities for the seven days around it. As the month waned, she grew more “normal” until the new-moon period, when she had no ability to tap the power.

That was when Nick appeared. Never now.

“Who was that?” Sam’s solid, warm hand landed on her shoulder, and he dropped a pile of papers on the desk in front of her. Quinn blinked at the shift from the surreal nature of the phone call to the mundane clutter of her narrow office at the back of Under the Moon, the central-Ohio bar she’d inherited from her father. It was her main business, a connection to the parents who died within months of each other twelve years ago, leaving her without any real family.

It also kept her connected to the public between power cycles. The goddesses who made a living with their abilities mostly relied on word of mouth to find clients, and Quinn’s bar, centrally located for locals and travelers, had enough people channeling through it to give her customers for both businesses.

“Nobody,” she said, still lost in thought. She shook off the fog. “I mean, Nick.”

Sam’s eyebrows disappeared under his dark, shaggy bangs. He crossed to his smaller but far more organized desk near the office door. His chair squeaked when he dropped into it. “Nick called you?”

“Yeah. He’s coming early.”

“Great.” Sam glowered and mumbled something under his breath. “Why? The moon is barely waning gibbous.”

“I don’t know. The signal dropped.” She worried her lower lip. Stay close to Sam. Why? The order was protective—and after all, Nick was her protector, so that was his default mode—but what did she need protection from? She rubbed her right forearm, the phantom ache a reminder of the first time Nick had been assigned to her, that “goddess” wasn’t a synonym for “invincible.”

Sam sighed. “When is he getting here?”

“I don’t know that, either.” She rested her head on her hand, her elbow on a pile of folders on her worn oak desktop. The full moon would completely wane by tomorrow, taking most of her power with it, so she’d worked steadily for the last week, using mostly telekinesis and her healing ability to help her clients. She hadn’t slept enough to balance the depletion of her normal energy, and her sluggish brain resisted the apprehension buzzing in her now.

“We’ll have to wait until he shows up, I guess.” She shook off the mental fuzzies and focused on Sam. He watched her, longing mixing with concern in his light brown eyes.

“How long did you sleep?” he asked.

She stifled a yawn. “Seven hours, six minutes.”

He shook his head. “That’s not enough.”

“Gonna have to be. It sounds like we have a full house tonight.”

“It’s busy for a Tuesday,” he acknowledged. Murmurs and laughter mixed with the jukebox music filtering in from the main room. It was still early, too.

“Bets and Katie are both sick, so they probably need us out there.” She stood and stretched, closing her eyes briefly and arching with her arms high. He didn’t answer. “Sam?” She caught him staring at the stretch of skin bared by her sweatshirt and tugged it over the waistband of her jeans. Heat seeped through her, dragging tingles in its wake. Did he notice her skin flush?

He gave himself a little shake and pulled his gaze away. “Yeah.

Yeah, I guess.” But he scowled.

Quinn propped her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He sat up and shifted papers on his desk, but she knew it wasn’t “nothing.”

“Sam.”

He sighed. “We need to talk. You’ve put me off all week, and now we’ve got Nick…”

Shit. She had hoped Nick coming early would put an end to this debate. She dragged her cotton apron off the back of her chair and busied herself tying it. “I’d better get to work.”

But Sam didn’t get up. His voice was low and deep when he said, “Why didn’t you come to me?”

Her hands stilled, and she avoided his steady gaze by checking for her order pad and pen. “You know why.”

“I’m still here.” He stood and came around the desk, and she couldn’t help but look at him now. He dwarfed her, filling her vision, his scent flooding her senses, feeding the grinding need she’d battled for weeks. She kept her lids shuttered so he couldn’t see the inevitable dilation of her pupils and take the reaction the wrong way. Her moon lust knew what Sam could give her, her body giving a Pavlovian response to his nearness.

Tapping her power source had a price. As energy flowed through her, it depleted her resources like exercise depleted an athlete. Instead of needing water and vitamins to balance her body, Quinn needed sex. She’d never understood why, but her body had always been recharged by that primal connection to another human being. She hadn’t had that for three months now, and the longer she resisted, the more difficult it got.

So Sam’s long legs, ridged stomach, and broad chest all called to her. Quinn’s hands flexed, anticipating the silk of his shaggy hair bunched in them. Only a few minutes, a voice whispered in her head. That’s all it will take. For balance. A moment of thought, of remembering the heat between them, was enough to make her crave it again. Her mouth watered as she watched Sam’s long-fingered hand track up his chest and around the back of his neck, a move she knew

was calculated.

That didn’t matter. She took a step toward him, then forced herself to stop. She’d told Sam three months ago that she wouldn’t use him anymore and had held fast to the decision no matter how willing he was. It had been six years since she’d first had sex with him, and she’d only recently understood the damage they were doing to each other. Sam didn’t believe she could stop, but she had fought the moon lust for nearly twelve weeks. Tomorrow would end this full-moon

cycle; she’d have it completely under control, and it would get easier next month. It had to. Yeah, because it’s been a cakewalk so far. But she didn’t have to convince herself—she had to convince Sam.

“I’ve told you. What we’re doing isn’t fair. You’ve stopped dating, stopped even looking for—” She hesitated, uncertain how to phrase it.

“I don’t need to look for it.” His tone was hard with conviction, and Quinn closed her eyes, despairing.

“That’s my point,” she said. “I’m tying you up, and you deserve better.”

“That’s a matter of debate, and you don’t have to suffer because of it.”

Her laugh didn’t need to be forced. “Not having sex isn’t suffering.”

“For you it is.”

He’d closed the distance between them, and though Quinn knew she didn’t move, her body seemed to surge toward him in agreement.

She breathed in the remains of the aftershave he’d used this morning and wavered. He smelled so good.

A shout came from the other side of the paneled door, jerking Quinn out of her trance and replacing it with guilt. She couldn’t give in. Sam cared too much. And so did she, but not in the way he wanted.

“We’ll talk about this later,” she said as the racket outside the door escalated.

“You bet we will.” He set his jaw and opened the door, striding out ahead of her.

Quinn followed, her heart and body aching. She immersed herself in taking drink and snack orders from the bikers crowding around four-tops and stroking cues around the two pool tables, but being busy didn’t distract her mind. When she wasn’t detouring every trip around the room to peer out the front door to see if Nick had arrived, she was fretting over Sam.

He was her best friend and more. The son of a goddess, he’d been fresh out of college when he came to her six years ago looking for a job. He’d designed his education around becoming his mother’s assistant, but she’d died soon after graduation. Sam believed she’d put too much wear and tear on her body using her power to help others.

Since he couldn’t save her, he’d found Quinn.

She poured a pitcher of light beer for a group of Tuesday regulars and watched Sam help Katie deliver a full tray to a celebrating bowling team. He’d become indispensable within three months of her hiring him. He did research for the full-moon jobs on topics as wide-ranging as agriculture, medicine, geometry, and psychology. He also managed the bar and her schedule—managed her so she didn’t deplete her resources too fast or take on jobs she shouldn’t.

He caught her watching as he carried the tray back behind the bar and flashed a dimple. She couldn’t help smiling back, but then quickly bent to wipe down an empty table.

When she needed to recharge during the full moon, he volunteered. He joked that it was the best perk of the job, but they never discussed a long-term plan, assuming they’d take things as they

came. Like Sam would meet someone he wanted to be with, and they’d stop.

But it hadn’t happened. Quinn realized that Sam didn’t flirt with any of the women who came through the bar, and he kept his relations with her staff professional. He never pushed her when it wasn’t full moon. There was only one reason a guy would settle for that, and she couldn’t give him what he needed.

She considered and discarded a dozen speeches as she drew ale, poured whiskey, and brushed up against Sam whenever she had to get to the register. She was acutely aware of the tightness of her nipples, the sensitivity between her legs that grew whenever their bodies were near. As the moon rose, even as weak as it was, it tugged on her like the tides. Desire surged and ebbed, but it took concentration on her lingering guilt to force the latter.

The bikers, transients who’d been well behaved and heavy tippers, waved as they left at twelve thirty. To Quinn’s relief, the place was empty of customers within fifteen minutes. For a moment, she watched the waitresses and busboy wiping down tables and flipping chairs while Sam counted cash at the old-fashioned register.

Resigned to the coming confrontation and wanting to get it over with, she said, “Why don’t you guys go home? We can handle the rest of this.” No one argued. As they filed out, chorusing their good nights, Quinn braced herself for Sam’s first salvo.

“Did you talk to Nick again?” he asked, surprising her.

“No.” She ducked under the bar pass-through and crossed to the door to lock it, peering out the small pane of glass onto the gravel lot for the millionth time. “I tried to call, but I still can’t get through.”

“He’s never come this early before.” Sam flipped one of the heavy oak chairs up onto a hewn and polished tabletop. “What do you think is going on?”

“There’s no point speculating.” She went to the other side of the room to help him. “Let’s not start listing all the possible reasons. That’s too stressful.” She didn’t want to tell Sam that Nick had told her to stay close to him. That would increase his worry and maybe keep him from going home. She desperately needed some space to get through the next few hours without giving in to the moon lust.

“Okay. So we’ll talk about us.” Sam pulled down a chair and sat in front of her.

“Can I say no?”

He just looked at her.

“Fine.” She sighed and half sat on a nearby table. Sam waited, his eyebrows raised, his mouth cocked, as if he already knew what she was going to say and found it absurd. “You’re twenty-eight, Sam.”

“I know how old I am.”

Quinn folded her arms. “I’m ten years older than you.”

“I know how old you are, too.”

“I don’t want to keep you from fulfilling your destiny.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “And what’s my destiny?”

“It doesn’t matter.” She steeled herself, ignoring the slow roll of need in her gut. “It’s not me.”

He sobered. “Quinn…”

“No, Sam.” She made an effort to keep her voice steady. “You deserve a chance to find someone right for you. But that’s not the main issue.” She sighed. “It’s time.”

She didn’t want to talk about the way he’d been watching her. She recognized something in him that she’d buried deep inside herself, didn’t even acknowledge anymore. The belief that there was nothing else out there that could give him what he was missing. She’d tried to fill a hole in herself with Sam, using the moon lust as an excuse, not realizing it or seeing that she was creating a matching hole in him.

And now she couldn’t believe she’d been so blind and selfish.

“I don’t get it.” He spread his arms wide. “I’m not looking for someone else!”

“That’s the problem!” she shot back. “I’m holding you back from finding something real and lasting. A relationship with a woman who won’t relegate you to one week every month, for one thing.”

A muscle in his jaw twitched. “You need me.”

He meant it in a general sense, but it resonated physically. Need of the more carnal variety pulsed in half a dozen places. Quinn clenched her thighs, shifted her folded arms, and fought the impulse to reassure him. She’d told him the first week he worked for her that she would never lie to him. If she said she didn’t need him, he’d recognize the deception, and that would hurt him more than not being needed would.

“I’m not going to die if I don’t have sex,” she said instead. “I’ve managed three months already.”

“Yeah, and it took its toll. You had to work harder to do the same things this month, didn’t you?”

“No.” That wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t completely true, either. When Sam raised his eyebrows, she said, “I got tired faster. But I need more sleep, that’s all. I should be able to manage this another way.”

Frustrated, she pulled the bar towel off her shoulder and slapped it on the tabletop behind her.

“You’ve tried,” Sam said. “You told me so, back when you first hired me. It never worked, and the need grew. So why do you think it will be different now?”

“Because I’m older.”

“And more powerful. Wouldn’t that make the need worse?”

Damn him, he had an answer for everything. “I’ll find someone else.” Her gut twisted. The consequence of her heritage would be much easier to deal with if she didn’t care whom she slept with, but she always had. As much as it balanced her physically, sex with strangers or acquaintances left her more emotionally bereft, especially after her parents died.

Then came Sam. He’d filled so many holes in her life. Business manager, friend, family. Quinn knew that if she let him, he’d take that even further, marry her and raise children with her, and as blissful as the fantasy was, it would never be as perfect as he wanted it to be. She couldn’t love him the way he deserved to be loved.

“Who else?” He spread his hands and looked around. “Where are you going to find a guy like me? Available whenever you need him, able to take what you give—and give what you demand—and be safe? Not in here, I’ll tell you that much.”

Quinn didn’t respond. He was right. She’d tried before. She’d figured one-night stands were every guy’s dream, so it would be easy.

But too much got in the way. Locals wanted her to do it on their schedule. Basic standards, like avoiding disease and not having sex with attached men, were impossible if she targeted travelers. Most of all, though, was the compulsion that grew as she got older and used more power. The sexual need for mental and physical balance wasn’t something she could rein in once unleashed. Sam was the only man who had managed to withstand the intensity long-term. The only one

who hadn’t called her a freak.

Sam sprawled in his chair in front of her, his long legs so close, the frayed cuff of his jeans brushed her ankle. To keep from moving away, she gripped the edge of the table until her knuckles cracked. Retreat would be an admission that she couldn’t handle it. “I’ve managed fine

so far.”

“Have you?” He held out a hand, a knowing in his eyes that she couldn’t refute. The moon had risen hours ago, close enough to last quarter that she could do only the smallest tasks, but it fed her passion.

I have. The words caught in her throat. Her palms itched, wanting her to reach out and touch him. Take in the smoothness of his hot skin, get her close enough to breathe him in again. She’d climb onto his lap with the friction of denim on denim, his hard thighs between her legs, the rails of the chair digging into her knees. For an instant, the image was so real she thought she’d done it, given in. She blinked and found herself still standing, the involuntary ache almost unbearable. She curled her fists harder around the table edge until her knuckles ached, determined not to make the hallucination reality. She finally managed a nod to answer his question.

“Really.” He pushed out of the chair and slowly unfolded his body to stand inches away, deliberately testing her. She held herself still, hoping he couldn’t see the pounding of her heart beneath her white button-down shirt. She closed her eyes as he gathered her in to him, his arms loose around her back.

Her hands rose to rest against his chest. Her fingertips dug in to the resistant muscle, and her breath came out almost as a groan. Tension eased out of him as her body gave in, relief sending tingles head to toe as it curved toward him. “Dammit, Sam.” Her thoughts blurred under the intensity of Sam’s body heat. She couldn’t fight it anymore. Fight him.

“Tell me what you want, Quinn.” His voice rumbled through the swishing, thumping pulse in her ears. She dragged her focus back from the soft fabric beneath her palms, the delicious pressure of his hardness against her belly.

“What?” she managed to gasp.

“I’ll do what you want. Whatever you want.” His lips brushed her ear. Tingles erupted and danced across her skin, but what he’d said, what he was doing, penetrated. The offer wasn’t just for wild sex. Though he could take advantage of the lust raging through her, he respected her decision. Which brought home all the reasons he didn’t deserve the wrong choice.

She leaned back, unable to look at him, her arms trembling with the effort of denying them both. The guilt almost overwhelmed the need. “I’m sorry, Sam.”

He eased away, his hands sliding from her back to her upper arms, making sure she was steady, and then dropping when he’d put a foot of space between their bodies. “You’re sure.” Not a question.

Quinn nodded and finally met his eyes, regretting the sorrow she’d put there. “I have to do this. Please, please understand.”

He sighed and twisted to replace his chair on the tabletop. He stood with his back to her for a long moment, one hand still on the leg of the chair, before facing her again. “I won’t push anymore. Just…promise me you won’t…” He waved a hand. “You know. Get yourself into trouble.”

Her voice squeezed past the burning thickness in her throat. “I promise.”

They worked in silence to finish closing, their usual easy tandem punctuating the finality of her decision.

When they were done, Sam nodded and looked around, hands on his hips, clearly at a loss. “Okay. I guess I’m going home, then. You’re all right?”

Nick had told her to stick close to Sam, but there was no way she could ask him to stay now. She wished she knew how much longer Nick would be.

“I’m fine,” she lied. “Thanks.” She nudged him toward the door, turning him away from her so he couldn’t see the tears filling her eyes.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Lock up after I leave.”

She closed the door hard behind him and twisted the lock so he’d hear it, then pulled down the blind. Sobs pushed upward from deep within her and she sank to the floor, covering her mouth to keep the sound from reaching Sam, whose presence she still felt on the other side of the wood. Finally, his boots crunched on the gravel, growing fainter with each step. When the familiar hum of his Camaro faded, she allowed herself to break down.

…

Quinn slept late the next morning. Her night had been full of erotic dreams, interrupted by abrupt waking to check the clock and try to call Nick, to no avail. Hoping some combination of rest, nutrition, and physical exertion would purge her system of the moon lust, she followed a workout with oatmeal and a shower. She was relieved, when she was done, to find herself less hungry. It wasn’t gone, but she could distract herself with work and by this time next week, maybe she’d be back to normal.

She took a deep breath before heading down the rickety staircase hugging the side of the building. Sam’s schedule had him there by ten or eleven most mornings, but she wasn’t sure what to expect after last night. Maybe he’d call in sick, or have cleaned out his things and left

a letter of resignation on her desk. Maybe, in trying to preserve the most valuable thing in her life, she’d destroyed it.

Bracing one hand on the rough wood planks of the outer wall, Quinn yanked on the warped back door, taking a moment to prop it wide and let in the sunlight and crisp October breeze. Not stalling.

Just…setting up.

She paused on the threshold to let her eyes adjust to the dim office. Her desk was how she’d left it the night before, with piles of invoices and orders to approve, checks to sign, and client files to

review. Dust floated in the beam of sunlight that hit the floor in front of her feet. Quinn forced herself to look deeper into the room to Sam’s desk, usually as full as hers, if more neatly organized. She held her breath as her vision sharpened, and movement turned into Sam’s

hand making sharp notations on a printed spreadsheet. He flipped open a file and tapped a few keys on his keyboard without looking up at her.

“How long did you sleep?” he asked.

Breathing was suddenly easier than anything she’d done so far today. Sam asked her that every damned morning. “Eight hours, thirty-three minutes.” Her perfect internal clock had amused and

delighted him at first, then became nagging when he used it to manage her, whether over how long she’d slept, gone without eating, or focused on a client. But that was what he was paid for, after all, and she welcomed the symbol of normalcy. He nodded his approval and kept working. Quinn went to her desk and booted up her computer.

Sam said, “You hear from Nick?”

“No.” The ongoing lack of contact after the urgency of his call scared her. “Sam, I—”

He shoved to his feet and headed out front. “We’re low on vodka. I’ll pull some up.”

Quinn sighed and slumped. So much for normalcy.

It didn’t get better. Sam worked out front while she stayed in the office. When she went into the bar, he retreated to the back. She stopped trying to talk to him, hoping the space would be a buffer both for their personal and professional relationships, and for her fading

moon lust.

There was still no word from Nick.

Finally, Quinn settled herself in a corner of the bar with her laptop to handle stuff that had piled up over the week, hoping her full e-mail in-box and the routine work, the easy decisions, would keep her eyes off the clock. Requests for appointments and vendor info she forwarded to Sam. Most of the rest was related to the Society. Quinn served as the board’s secretary, and many of her personal e-mails were about the annual Society meeting next week. Those she moved into a folder to address later. The official Society list e-mail was full of political posts, with elections coming up in November, but she skimmed and deleted most of them.

She’d gotten into such a rhythm that when Nick’s name appeared, it was a moment before her reaction caught up. The words were innocuous at first, so she didn’t understand the fear filling her until it merged with her ongoing low-level anxiety over last night’s phone call.

I plan to ask Quinn to put this on the agenda for the meeting, but I

thought you should all know ahead of time, so you can be careful.

Nick Jarrett’s gone rogue.

Quinn pulled her cell phone out of her pocket to try to reach Nick yet again. This had to be why he was coming here—but what the hell did it mean and what did it have to do with her?

A crash on the other side of the room redirected her alarm. She was on her feet before she’d even spotted the source of the disruption.

“I’ll goddamn keep drinking if I wanna keep drinking!” An old man, greasy gray hair hanging below a dingy trucker cap, wobbled in front of his overturned chair, arms flailing. Despite his obvious intoxication, his aim was good enough to hit Katie’s tray and send glasses flying. Quinn stormed across the room, glaring at anyone who looked like they might want to join the fight. None of her regulars moved. Most had seen her in action, and they didn’t want to get involved. A few strangers half rose but subsided when they saw her striding to the rescue. Not that Katie needed rescuing. Nearly as tall as Quinn’s five feet ten, the young woman had honed her manner and strength in New York City. By the time Quinn reached them, Katie was quietly telling

the drunk how he was expected to behave in Under the Moon.

Quinn’s heart rate and footsteps slowed, ready to back up her waitress but also willing to let her handle it. Then the drunk fumbled a switchblade out of his pocket and flicked it open.

Shit. She lurched forward, but she was still too far away to do anything, and Katie hadn’t noticed the knife. Reacting on instinct rather than thought, Quinn snapped her fingers and opened her hand as the knife soared to it. Relief flooded her. Concentrate. This isn’t over yet. She squeezed the handle of the knife so no one could see her shaking.

The drunk waved his hand, then frowned when he realized it was empty. “What the—” He looked up and blinked at Quinn. “How’d you do that?”

Quinn signaled a white-faced Katie to step away. She glanced around to be sure everyone was out of reach and then faced the drunk.

“You want to leave my establishment,” she told him with forced calm.

He scowled. “T’hell I do. I ordered a beer! And I’m not leavin’ till I get it!”

“Yes you are.” She jerked back as the man lunged at her, flicking her fingers at him. He slammed into an invisible wall but only grew angrier. Quinn swallowed hard. She didn’t have the power for more than this, and she couldn’t risk her staff getting hurt. Summoning the knife and stopping the drunk’s movement required only a little access to the waning moon. But because it had already passed the zenith of its arc, even this drained her.

She had enough for one more act. Please let it be enough. She thought heat and pointed at the sleeve of the man’s denim jacket. A second later it caught fire. He yelled and slapped at it, extinguishing the flame almost immediately, but it had done its job.

His eyes wide, he tried to back away. The overturned chair tripped him up and he stopped. “What are you?” His voice quavered.

Electric awareness alerted Quinn to the presence of the man two feet behind her before she heard his voice, a slight Texas drawl mellowing the deep rumble that always made her think of his

perfectly tuned muscle car. “She’s a goddess.”

“Goddess,” the drunk scoffed. “Them’s just a myth.”

Nick Jarrett stepped past Quinn, standing between her and the drunk without making it look like he was getting in her way. The hunger that had been easing all day flared, but because she’d never recharged with Nick, she was able to stamp it down more easily than she had last night.

“You don’t believe your own eyes?” Nick said to the drunk.

The drunk scowled at them, then at the tiny wisp of smoke rising from his sleeve. He blinked blearily and stumbled toward the door, grumbling under his breath.

“That’s what I thought.” Nick swung around to look at her, a hint of a smile on his full lips and welcome in his green eyes. “Nice parlor tricks.”

Quinn snorted, covering how happy and relieved she was to see him, and turned to her busboy. “Catch that guy and call Charlie to pick him up in his cab, will you?”

“Sure.” He pulled out his cell phone and hit speed dial on his way out. Everyone else dispersed, leaving Quinn relatively alone with Nick. Adrenaline drained out of her, and she would have sat, if showing weakness in front of him wasn’t so unappealing.

“So what’s going on?” She tucked her fingertips into her jeans pockets. The anxiety buzzing in her all day disappeared, allowing the alarm triggered by the e-mail to resurge. “You’re never early.”

“We’ve got a problem.”

Quinn watched him scan the room, cataloging her customers and staff, lingering on her computer in the far corner and the closed door to her office. His face tightened, and he moved a step closer.

“I know we do,” she said.

He whipped his head around, his eyes sharp. “You do?”

“I just found out. Come here.” She led him to the table where her computer slept, its screen dark. “I read this e-mail not five minutes ago.” They sat down, and she tapped a key to wake the computer while Nick signaled for a beer.

They waited for the wireless connection to reestablish. “You getting a lot of trouble like that guy?” he asked.

“No more than usual.” She glanced at him. “Why? Is someone else?”

“Nah.” He stood to pull off his battered, hip-length brown leather coat and hang it over the back of the chair, then rolled the sleeves of his flannel shirt up strong forearms. A waitress sashayed over to set an amber bottle on their table. She looked at Quinn, who shook her head, but Nick made a face and dropped the money on her tray.

“Don’t listen to her.”

Quinn didn’t bother to argue. They had the same argument every time he came. Sometimes she won, sometimes he did. It balanced in the end.

Nick sat back down and took a pull of the beer, his strong throat working with the swallow. Light from a nearby candle picked up glints of gold in his short-cropped, dark blond hair. “Where’s Sam?”

Quinn cleared her throat. “In the office.” She diverted her eyes to the computer screen but heard his small snort of derision. “I had it under control, Nick.”

“The moon’s waning, Quinn. I don’t care how powerful you are at peak, you’re tapped out by this time—”

“Not completely. And protecting me isn’t Sam’s job.” She winced, realizing too late it might sound like criticism of Nick, and she hadn’t meant it to be.

He froze, the bottle halfway to his mouth, then set it down. “I told you to stick close. He should be out here. Or you shouldn’t. And I’m not listening to you argue with me. What have you got?” He turned the computer toward him, ignoring her exasperation.

She twisted to read the e-mail with him, now more confused by the words on the screen than anything else. “Well?”

Seconds passed while his eyes tracked over the words. “Fuck me,” he said softly. “That’s not the problem I was talking about at all.”

About the Author:

Natalie J. Damschroder came to writing the hard way—by avoiding it. Though she wrote her first book at age six (My Very Own Reading Book) and received accolades for her academic writing (Ruth Davies Award for Excellence in Writing for a paper on deforestation her senior year in college), she hated doing it. Colonial food and the habits of the European Starling just weren’t her thing.

She found her niche—romantic fiction—shortly after college graduation. After an internship with the National Geographic Society, customer service for a phone company just wasn’t that exciting. So she began learning how to write the books she’d loved to read all her life. Now she struggles to balance her frenetic writing life with her family, the most supportive husband in the world and two beautiful, intelligent, stubborn, independent daughters (the oldest of whom has become a writer). She somehow also fits in a day job and various volunteer positions in and out of the writing industry.

Learn more about her at her website, www.nataliedamschroder.com, follow her on Twitter @NJDamschroder, or friend her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nataliedamschroder

I am currently reading WORLD WAR Z . . .

2011-12-15T12:12:00.001+02:00

I started reading World War Z last week. I am really enjoying it.

I love zombie and dystopian books. Must be my dark side. LoL While browsing on YouTube, I saw that they are making a movie of this book and wanted to share . . . looks good.

Book Tour: Bloodlines and Torment by Lindsay Anne Kendal

2011-12-14T06:09:00.000+02:00

Blurb:
Keira Jameson used to lead a normal life, she just had a gift, passed down through the generations of her family.

Now, after hearing voices, having strange dreams of others calling out to her, and her grandfather's last words haunting her, she sets out to find other families like hers. Along with her best friend Lily, the only person outside her family to know about her gift, Keira begins a hunt for her ancestors. A chance meeting with a young man, Lucian Turner, sets them on the right track, but their discoveries change the way Keira will see herself for ever more.

Fear, superstition and heritage are shaping Keira's future and she must face her enemies, even if this could mean losing her life.

Through loss and love her destiny becomes inescapable.

Blurb:
Keira has been through Hell, literally..... But now she’s back, and stronger than ever!

In this second gripping instalment of the Bloodlines trilogy Keira and her friends – Lily, Lucian, Tyler, Jake and Danny – continue to try and understand their elemental powers, and protect themselves from their enemies, whose ultimate goal is to destroy them.

This time, the stakes are higher – what seems to be a demon rebellion has broken out in hell and the Earth is plunged into chaos. Their problem is, no one – not even Lucifer himself – knows who the rebel leader is. It seems only Keira, her frightened but determined friends, and a new ally – a demon named Eligos - can find out who this person or thing is, why they are suddenly causing so much bloodshed, pain and upset for everyone, and destroy them.

Bloody awesome battles, amazing feats of magic, and a stronger-than-death passion, make for an intoxicating, unforgettable read in this powerfully imagined fantasy...

Lets get to know Lindsay a bit better.

When did you start writing, Lindsay?
I was poorly when I was 21 experiencing panic attacks and anxiety. I went from being a social butterfly to agoraphobic pretty much over night. I spent months indoors. I would just sit in my room listening to my music or watching a film. In the end I got so fed up, I needed something to do. I was battling my nerves and need something to help calm me down. I put my laptop on my knee and started writing silly little stories, none of which made any sense, but it entertained me for a few hours.

In the end I started writing Bloodlines. This story just seemed to come to me from nowhere, so I thought, why not write it down. I never told anyone I was writing, I thought it was just a silly pastime and to be honest I was embarrassed. Then one day, my mum came in my room and saw all this writing on my screen. She thought at first it was my diary, but realised she didn’t recognise any of the names. She asked me about it and I confessed all. She read it and came in my room, the look on her face was brilliant. She simply said “you must finish this.” So I did. The story grew bigger and bigger and I knew I would have to write it in a few parts. She encouraged me to contact a publisher, and within a month, I was in contract with a publisher in the UK. Later, I cancelled my contract with them as we no longer agreed on things, and I was published in the USA and contracted for the trilogy.

Does your family support you in your writing?
My family are amazing and I love them very much. They have supported me every step of the way, especially my mum. She is an amazing person and wants nothing more than to see me do well in life. She’s my mum, my sister and my best friend all wrapped up in one.

What would be able to distract you from your writing?
At one time, nothing could distract me at all. Someone could come the room where I was writing and start talking to me and I honestly wouldn’t hear a word they said. They would have to shake to me snap me out of my story world. Recently though I have been getting distracted easily, although I have just had some upset in my personal life and I think once the upset has passed, my concentration will come back.

What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to write something a little bit different to what’s out there at the moment. I also wanted a kick-ass heroine, instead of the insecure, needy ones we seem to be surrounded by currently. I’ve always been interested in magic and anything to do with the occult and demonology, so I put everything I wanted and everything I loved together and Bloodlines was born.

What kind of research did you have to do?
My books are set in Salem and touches slightly on the Salem Witch Hunts, so I had to really read into what happened to help tell certain parts of the story. I also had to do a lot of research into specific demons, learn their abilities and where they originated from. I wanted to keep some of the classic myth and lore, but I also wanted to add my own twist to things.

Who designed covers?
All the covers were picked by myself and I tweaked them a little. For example, the cover model for Bloodlines is actually a red haired, green eyed girl, and I had to change her to look more like my protagonist.

What is your next project?
I just putting the finishing touches to Revelations, the third of my Trilogy, then I have to work on the second part of my new two part series, Leticia. I also have a secret project I’m about to start working on. It’s still within the fantasy genre, but this is most definitely going to be for adults. I can’t say anymore about that though I’m afraid.

If you could meet any of your characters, who would it be and why?
It would have to be Keira. She’s like the double of me, she has my outlook on things, me personality, everything, so I would like to see if we got along or if we would clash.

A typical day in your life would be . . .
Wake up, go to work, come home and write, speak to friends and family, write some more and then back to bed lol.

What is the hardest thing about being an author?
I would say, making sure your characters and storyline are interesting enough to keep the readers attention. I want my readers to be able to connect with the characters and feel everything the characters feel. I want them to come home from a hard days work, then be able to relax and escape into a world of fantasy that I have created.

Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?
I’ve spoken to a lot of my readers, and a lot of people have added me as a friend on Goodreads and Facebook. It’s always lovely to hear from them, whether they really enjoyed the books or if they had gripes. I take on board everything that people say to me, I think this will help my writing improve in future novels.

What is in your own TBR pile?
Mind Games Trilogy – Carolyn Crane (I’m waiting for the third to be released before I read any of them.)

Bound – Lee Taylor

A lot of other paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels. There are so many that I couldn’t possibly list them all.

Thank you for talking to us today, Lindsay!

Author Bio:
I have lived in Droylsden, Manchester, all my life. I live with my parents and my younger sister, Cheryl. I never knew what I wanted to do with my life until I began writing. This is my dream.

I get most of my inspiration from music, I’ll sit there listening to it and suddenly I’m no longer in the room. My stories play like videos in my mind, then I go and write them down.

I’m a very dark person, I love anything spooky, supernatural, or unexplainable, and so that’s the genre I want to write in for the rest of my life. I love watching scary films, although I find it very hard to find one these days that actually frighten me.

Website / Facebook / Goodreads

Are you joining any challenges in 2012?

2011-12-13T06:51:00.001+02:00

2011 was a very bad challenge-year for me. Life just got in the way . . . at first I just couldn’t find the time to read and then when I had the time, I was so easily distracted that I didn’t finish a lot of books. Definitely lost my reading mojo for a bit there!

But I am determined that 2012 will be different. I have not joined many book challenges and I am able to share my reads between challenges, so I am all set.

Here are the ones I am definitely joining so far:

Just for Fun reading challenge – 12 Books

Read 1, yes, just 1 book for fun each month. No books received for review, just a book you want to read for you.

All book formats are allowed, printed, audio, e-book.

These books can be counted in your total books read for the year challenge and to one other challenge but try not to cross them over to many other challenges as they really are to be read JUST FOR FUN!

Want to join us? You can sign up here: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/58472.JUST_FOR_FUN_Reading_Challenge_2012

Paranormal Romance Challenge – 20 Books

This challenge is hosted by Bitten by Paranormal Romance.

You have to read 20 adult paranormal romance novels and add a small review or long if you like LOL. Books are to be read during the Jan –Dec of 2012. Paranormal for this challenges will be anything not normal, so it can be any, witch, warlock, time travel, vampire, shape shifters, steampunk, Sci-fi etc..

Want to join this one? Here is the post with all the details: http://www.bittenbyparanormalromance.com/2011/11/2012-paranormal-romance-reading.html

2011 Reading Challenge

Chrizette has read 26 books toward her goal of 100 books.

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26 of 100 (26%)

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I am sure Goodreads will have a “Books read in 2012” challenge which I will join too.

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Also my South African Reading Group has a few challenges which I have joined but our year has already started - Nov 2011/Oct 2012 :)

So tell me about the challenges you are going to join in 2012?

Would love to hear about all the options available!

And good luck with all your challenges in 2012!!

Perfect People by Peter James

2011-12-12T05:47:00.000+02:00

Pan MacMillan South Africa is releasing Perfect People by Peter James. This book sounds amazing – I can’t wait to read it. Just read this blurb.

Blurb:
I CAN ERADICATE ALL DISEASES . . .
John and Naomi Klaesson are devastated after the death of their child
from a rare genetic disorder. More than anything they want another, but
the chances of their next child being born with the same defect are high.
I CAN GIVE YOU THE CHILD YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED . . .
Then they hear about Doctor Leo Dettore. He has methods that can
spare them the heartache of ever losing another child to any disease,
and so begins their journey.
I CAN MAKE PERFECT PEOPLE . . .
They should have known something was wrong when they saw the list.
Choose the eye colour, hair, great sporting ability. They can design their
child. Now it’s too late to turn back. Naomi is pregnant, and already
something is wrong…

Author Bio:
Peter James was educated at Charterhouse then at film school. He
lived in North America for a number of years, working as a screenwriter
and film producer before returning to England. His novels, many
of which have been Sunday Times Top 10 bestsellers, have been
translated into thirty languages and three have been filmed. He divides
his time between London and Sussex.

The Unlucky Lottery by Hakan Nesser

2011-12-11T14:48:00.001+02:00

Just got this press release from Pan MacMillan South Africa. Doesn’t this sound like an awesome book!

Four pensioners celebrate the fact that they have won 20,000
kronor in the lottery. Just hours later, one of them – Waldemar
Leverkuhn – is found in his home, stabbed to death. With Chief
Inspector Van Veeteren on sabbatical, working in a second
hand bookshop, the case is assigned to Inspector Münster. But
when another member of the lottery group disappears, as well
as Leverkuhn’s neighbour, Münster appeals to Van Veeteren
for assistance. Soon Münster will find himself interviewing the
Leverkuhn family, including the eldest – Irene – a resident of a
psychiatric clinic. And as he delves deeper into the family’s history,
he will discover dark secrets and startling twists, which not
only threaten the clarity of the case – but also his life...

Håkan Nesser is one of Sweden’s most popular crime writers,
receiving numerous awards for his novels featuring Inspector
Van Veeteren, including the European Crime Fiction Star Award
(Ripper Award) 2010/11, the Swedish Crime Writers’ Academy
Prize (three times) and Scandinavia’s Glass Key Award. The Van
Veeteren series is published in over 25 countries and has sold
over 5 million copies worldwide. Håkan Nesser lives in Uppsala
with his wife and two sons, and spends part of each year in the UK.

Book Tour and Giveaway for King of Paine by Larry Kahn

2011-12-08T05:53:00.000+02:00

Larry has the floor today – here is what he prepared for us!

Crafting Intricate Plots: My Writing Process
I’m not one of those writers who can sit at the keyboard and let his characters take over completely–not that there’s anything wrong with that. Many people enjoy a fast, light-weight story, but I prefer to read more intricate plots, so that's what I write.

The premise for my first novel, The Jinx, had been brewing in my mind for years: could a conspiracy theory explain the "20-year jinx"--the phenomenon that saw U.S. presidents elected every 20 years from 1840 to 1980 either die in office or survive an assassination attempt? From that spark, I began brainstorming how such a plan could be perpetuated across generations, how it could avoid detection. What could have motivated such a passionate hatred?

At the same time I was hatching this nutty scheme, I searched for a protagonist who could unearth it in a natural manner, without relying on coincidence, yet still a rare enough occurrence to explain why nobody else had ever stumbled upon it. I came up with a raw Trust & Estates lawyer, Benjamin Franklin Kravner, who discovers a clue among a dead client's sealed papers when he makes a rookie mistake.

This brought me to a critical decision, one that could end in a disastrous false start if I failed to think through the key twists before writing. Would the clue Ben found turn out to be merely a mad conspiracy theorist's ramblings or a road map for a real assassination attempt? I won't tell you the route I chose, but The Jinx would have been a vastly different novel had I gone the other way.

Once my path was set, I began to outline the main plot, focusing on critical twists and then imagining the scenes that connected them. For each scene, my outline listed the setting, players, character developments, plot advancements, and a placeholder for later thoughts on incorporating themes. The outline took the form of a calendar--anchoring the story against a timeline helped me create the urgency that propels a thriller forward.

While still outlining, I figured Ben needed a high-placed source to help him confound the real or imagined conspiracy, so I created another character who also gives the reader an inside look at the presidential campaign. Her subplot introduces high-powered suspects whose political wrangling may or may not be indicative of a conspiracy that would place the life of her candidate, the sitting Vice President, in danger.

When I began to weave the subplots together, layering in connective details and themes, my ruminations about the passionate hatred necessary to motivate the conspiracy bore fruit. I saw a parallel between the way racism is passed down from generation to generation, one father to each son, and the way the conspiracy could have been perpetuated. The goal of the plot became grander--a second civil war--and a third point-of-view character, a pugnacious female reporter, was born to carry a subplot about growing hostilities between the white supremacy movement and a nascent black resistance.

So what started out as a somewhat whimsical tale about a bumbling lawyer chasing a conspiracy theory emerged as three intricately-crafted subplots woven together by a serious theme. While The Jinx still requires some suspension of disbelief, careful research, the credibility of the characters and their motivations, and the forethought that went into linking the plot lines earned the book excellent reviews and endorsements from civil rights leaders.

I developed the plot for King of Paine in a similar fashion. My brainstorming once again started with the underlying crime and the perpetrator's motivation. The story follows two seemingly unrelated investigations, FBI agent Frank Paine's pursuit of a stalker committing a series of kinky Internet crimes and a reporter, Roger Martin, tracking the disappearance of wealthy senior citizens across the nation. But as the perp's unseen narrative is exposed, the two stories connect, with both men driven toward the same mysterious place. A series of twists leads up to a finale in which the main characters' lives hang on resolution of a seemingly irresolvable dilemma.

It would have been impossible to craft this story without an outline because much of the mystery is created by the complex relationships among the characters and the precise timing with which pivotal facts are revealed. The two stories needed to unfold together at exactly the right pace over a two-week period, which I tracked using a timeline displaying daily advancements in character, plot, and themes.

But crafting an intricate plot is more than simply animating a detailed outline. As the characters and story come to life on the pages, opportunities are revealed for layering in subplots (the erotic cat-and-mouse game between Frank Paine and an old flame), themes (personal accountability of the terminally ill), and the little puzzles that sustain suspense even during lulls in the action.

I'll close with an example of how a subtle thread woven into King of Paine's fabric helps hold it together. In chapter one, a victim utters an odd phrase as a cry of distress. Over the course of the story it's revealed that the phrase is a line of poetry that has entered common usage, a main character authored the poem, and another significant character took life-changing actions because of its influence--actions that go to the heart of the story's mystery. That simple, five-word phrase adds another layer of complexity that helps give the novel a polished, integrated feel.

Thanks for tuning in, folks. Join me tomorrow at The Top Shelf where Misty will try to catch me off balance in a hard-hitting author interview you won't want to miss. And it's not too late to gain an advantage in the King of Paine Kindle Giveaway Contest--there are several ways to increase your chances of winning a new Kindle Touch 3G before the holidays!

King of Paine Synopsis:
King of Paine is a sexy, fast-paced suspense novel filled with characters who grapple with a range of intriguing end-of-life issues while everything they care about is at stake.

A desperate patient. A rumored cure. How far would you go to find the fountain of youth?

The story follows two investigations, Special Agent Frank Paine's pursuit of a stalker committing a series of kinky Internet crimes and a reporter tracking the disappearance of wealthy senior citizens across the nation. Both paths lead to a hidden enclave where a brilliant biochemist harbors a deadly secret. Somebody is going to die there, and it may be Frank Paine's soulmate. Or him.

Author Bio: Larry Kahn, the author of The Jinx and King of Paine, successfully negotiated the fast-paced world of domestic and international mergers and acquisitions for twenty years, first at a major New York law firm and then at an Atlanta Fortune 500 company. He penned The Jinx while on sabbatical in 1999 and is now devoted to writing fiction full time. Many of his more cynical legal clients and associates have accused him of writing fiction full time for many years. He resides in Atlanta with his family.

Larry developed a keen interest in social issues while attending Yale Law School, an idealistic spirit that continues to spice his novels. The vision of a colorblind America in his political thriller The Jinx led to endorsements by leaders of the ACLU, National Urban League and Artists Against Racism. And as the Baby Boomer generation scatters about the country, King of Paine envisions a renewed emphasis on family and tradition in which Americans create for their venerable elders, and ultimately themselves, a peaceful place to die.

Website and blog: http://www.larrykahn.com
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Larry-Kahn/135241939892196
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/743265.Larry_Kahn
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LarryKahnWriter

Larry has been so generous to offer us one one autographed trade paperback copy of KING OF PAINE to giveaway – and it is international! I also have two eBook copies for two additional winners. :) Just leave a comment for Larry below. Giveaway ends on 21 December 2011 and I will draw a winner on the 22nd of December 2011.

Tour schedule:
12/1 What Book Is That?: Review & Snowed in with Indie Authors December Giveaway Festival
12/2 From the TBR File: Book Giveaway & Review
12/3 Live To Read: Guest Post "Researching An FBI Story"
12/4 The Write To Make A Living: Review, Book Giveaway & Guest Post "Writing Thought-Provoking Suspense: Social Themes"
12/5 Thoughts In Progress: Guest Post "Who Are You Chatting With? The Dangers of Anonymous Internet Communications"
12/6 Boekie's Book Reviews: Review & Author Interview
Owl Tell You About It: Review
12/7 Owl Tell You About It: Guest Post "Researching the Psychology of BDSM"
12/8 All the days of: Book Giveaway & Guest Post "Crafting Intricate Plots: My Writing Process"
12/9 The Top Shelf: Review & Author Interview
12/10 Darlene's Book Nook: Book Giveaway & Guest Post "Rooting for a Flawed Protagonist"
12/11 Larry Kahn: Interview with Frank Paine, "Getting Inside The Mind Of A Madman"
12/12 Full Moon Bites: Book Giveaway & Author of the Week Interview
12/13 The Book Diva's Reads: Review & Guest Post "Buried Treasures: Treats for the Watchful Reader"
12/14 Alive On The Shelves: Guest Post "When Eye Candy Fights Back: Adding Depth To a Love Interest"
12/15 The Enchanted Book: Review & Guest Post "What Can You Expect From A 99-Cent E-Book? "
12/16 Opinions of a Wolf: Book Giveaway & Review
12/17 Black Diamond's Book Reviews: Book Giveaway & Review
12/18 Thoughts In Progress: Review
12/19 CMash Loves to Read: Book Giveaway & Guest Post "My Inspiration For King of Paine"
12/20 Goodreads: Live Q&A With Larry Kahn
12/21 Purple Jelly Bean Chair Reviews: Review, Author Interview & Book Giveaway

Book review: Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson

2011-12-07T05:27:00.000+02:00

Title: Fools Rush In
Series: Weddings by Bella
Author: Janice Thompson
Genre: Chick-lit
Publication date: 01 September 2009
Author’s website: http://janiceathompson.com/
Source: Free eCopy from Amazon

Goodreads blurb:
Ever wonder how Italian sounds with a Southern drawl?

Bella Rossi's life is just starting to get interesting. When her Italian-turned-Texan parents hand over the family wedding-planning business, Bella quickly books a Boot-Scootin' wedding that would make any Texan proud. There's only one catch--she doesn't know a thing about country music. Where will she find a deejay on such short notice who knows his Alan Jackson from his George Strait? And will Bella ever get to plan her own wedding?

Fun, fresh, and full of surprises, this flavorful combination of Italian and Tex-Mex highlights the hilarity that ensues when cultures clash.

My thoughts:
Chick-lit is one genre that I have always tried to avoid, so I don’t know what made me download this book from Amazon. But I am so glad that I did. I was laughing all the way through. What a quick, fun read.

When an old traditional extended Italian family meets a true-blue cowboy family, everyone is blown away including our heroine.

The book opens with Bella determined to plan an old country and western wedding for her first clients at her Wedding Service Business she has taken over from her parents. The problem is that Bella doesn’t know anything about country music. She overhears an conversation and assumes that DJ is in fact the deejay she has been looking for. You will giggle your way through their first meeting. And the giggling will not stop for a long time! Bella’s crazy family and friends keep the hilarious situations coming and although most seem a little far fetched, it was the perfect remedy for my reading depression.

This is a fluffy, bubblegum read with lots of Christian undertones but it is perfect for a lazy afternoon to just draw you away from the world.

Wish List (26): 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz

2011-12-06T07:52:00.001+02:00

When I was younger, it didn’t matter what Dean Koontz wrote, I wanted to read it. Unfortunately over the years, I have drifted away from horror books but this blurb is pulling me back. I want to read this book! Sounds like a horror story out of my youth . . . it is definitely on my wish list!!

Goodreads blurb:
I am the One, the all and the only. I live in the Pendleton as surely as I live everywhere. I am the Pendleton's history and its destiny. The building is my place of conception, my monument, my killing ground. . . .

The Pendleton stands on the summit of Shadow Hill at the highest point of an old heartland city, a Gilded Age palace built in the late 1800s as a tycoon’s dream home. Almost from the beginning, its grandeur has been scarred by episodes of madness, suicide, mass murder, and whispers of things far worse. But since its rechristening in the 1970s as a luxury apartment building, the Pendleton has been at peace. For its fortunate residents—among them a successful songwriter and her young son, a disgraced ex-senator, a widowed attorney, and a driven money manager—the Pendleton’s magnificent quarters are a sanctuary, its dark past all but forgotten.
But now inexplicable shadows caper across walls, security cameras relay impossible images, phantom voices mutter in strange tongues, not-quite-human figures lurk in the basement, elevators plunge into unknown depths. With each passing hour, a terrifying certainty grows: Whatever drove the Pendleton’s past occupants to their unspeakable fates is at work again. Soon, all those within its boundaries will be engulfed by a dark tide from which few have escaped.
Dean Koontz transcends all expectations as he takes readers on a gripping journey to a place where nightmare visions become real—and where a group of singular individuals hold the key to humanity’s destiny. Welcome to 77 Shadow Street.

Beside Still Waters by Jacqueline Lynch

2011-12-05T05:34:00.000+02:00

Jacqueline is joining us for a chat today – she has this to say:

I write plays. Several have been published and produced all over the US, Canada, and Europe. That I am also a novelist I see as no great conflict. Most writers are one or the other, but many dabble in different formats, partly for the fun of it, and partly for the writing discipline. Think of it as cross training, the way athletes do to challenge their bodies.

Writing a novel, especially the first draft, is like a stroll on the beach. You meander, let your mind wander, discovering small worlds in a tidal pool or driftwood on the dune. It’s leisurely. Writing a play is like a Marine hitting a beachhead. You have no time to wander. You hit the ground running, characters in place, setting in place, dialogue focused and to the point. You have two hours to get in and get out. You’re on a mission.

I should mention that writing a play is often less dangerous than being a Marine. Depending on how nice your producer is.

Keeping the rhythm of playwriting in mind when writing a novel can sharpen dialogue and make scenes tightly focused. Unfortunately, you cannot likewise carry over the “workshop” atmosphere of a play production to novel writing. Even the most astute beta reader can’t compare with a group of actors, a director, and most especially, live audience reaction, to help the writer realize what worked and what didn’t.

Curiously, if you’re a writer used to working in different forms, you sometimes realize that a story fits one format better than another. Years ago I wrote a short story about a father-daughter reunion at a Civil War re-enactor’s event. It didn’t really gel, and it took me a while to figure out that most of story was confrontational and would suit a one-act play better than a short story.

It is now published, and has been produced as a one-act play called “Union Blues”.

For those writers who complain of writer’s block or being stuck on a piece, I would suggest playing around with a different format to prime the pump. A challenge will ignite your imagination -- which is your most important tool as a writer.

About Jacqueline Lynch

Jacqueline T. Lynch’s novels are available as ebooks from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Several of her plays have been published and produced around the U.S., Canada, and one of which was translated into Dutch and performed several times in the Netherlands. Her ONE GOOD TURN premiered as a winner of the 2011 Northern Kentucky University Y.E.S. Festival. Her one-act play IN MEMORY OF TRIXIE GAZELLE was chosen as a winner in the 2010 Nor’Eastern Playwright’s Showcase of the Vermont Actors’ Repertory Theatre in Rutland, Vermont.

She has published articles and short fiction in regional and national publications, including the anthology “60 Seconds to Shine: 161 Monologues from Literature” (Smith & Kraus, 2007), North & South, Civil War Magazine, History Magazine, and writes Another Old Movie Blog and New England Travels blog.

Beside the Still Waters is her sixth book.

For more information, please visit her website at www.JacquelineTLynch.com

About Beside the Still Waters

Four towns, gone. Dismantled slowly while their inhabitants grieve for a history and heritage that has been voted away from them. The present threatens; the future belongs to the fearless.

“Beside the Still Waters” is a family saga based on an actual event which displaced four entire towns in central Massachusetts for the construction of a reservoir. Today, the Quabbin Reservoir provides water for millions of citizens, primarily in the greater Boston area.

Families are divided between those who protest the construction project, those who give up and leave, and those who help to build it. The central character is Jenny, a girl who comes of age facing the extinction of her community, who becomes the guardian of her family’s heritage, and ultimately, the one to decide what happens to them.

A rift between two brothers, Eli and John Vaughn, at the turn of the 20th Century continues through to the next generation as John tries to use Jenny, Eli’s daughter, in a plot to regain the family farm from Alonzo, who now runs it, who is Jenny’s love. John is broke and eager to sell the farm to the state, which is buying up area property for the coming reservoir. Both Alonzo and Eli refuse to sell their properties, and protest removal by eminent domain. Torn between loyalty to her family and heritage, and the allure of a future beyond the valley, Jenny refuses to remain powerless like the men she loves, but looks for a way to take control. A disastrous decision may prove fatal in a race against time.

Book Tour: Amongst the Ruins by Saewod Tice

2011-11-30T05:41:00.000+02:00

Today we are having a bit of fun with author, Saewod Tice.

DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A WRITER?

There is always the one question interviewers ask: “Did you always know you wanted to write?”
Most responses I’ve seen from authors is always that they knew they would be a writer someday. To be honest, for me, it wasn’t something I knew I would do someday or even attempt to succeed. Had I always written short stories, poems, journal upon journal of thoughts and feelings? Yes. I’ve always had a desire, even a need, to do something creative as a part of my life.

But not all writers knew they would be writers, let alone find themselves able to submit their work to an agent or publisher. I only found my confident enough to take the leap after my husband pushed for me to do it. The rejections were disheartening, but then I got some great advice and a way to look at the rejection as an improvement tool. (Yes, it was/is much easier to say than it is to do – even still.)

So, for fun, let’s take the Clarke Patented "Am I Really a Writer?" multiple-choice test below and find out once and for all if you've got what it takes!

THE CLARKE PATENTED "AM I REALLY A WRITER?" TEST
(Borrowed from www.caroclarke.com)

A. I think I'm a writer because:
1. I enjoy writing
2. I enjoy reading
3. I enjoy typing
4. I enjoy knowing that I am a creative being

B. I tend to get my ideas from:
1. the world around me
2. the fantasies within me
3. the TV in front of me
4. the concept of "idea" is so, you know, anal retentive

C. I try to write:
1. one sustained period a day
2. one sustained period whenever inspiration strikes me
3. you mean I actually have to write something all the time?
4. only when it won't violate my imaginative flow

D. I believe that adjectives and adverbs:
1. should be used sparingly
2. should be used vigorously, fulsomely, and without stint
3. are what, exactly?
4. are pathetic attempts to limit my creative energy

E. I structure my novel-in-progress by:
1. writing to a prepared plot outline
2. writing according to how the story seems to be telling itself
3. writing whatever comes into my head from moment to moment
4. how mundane actually to have a "novel-in-progress"; I have a concept

F. I achieve the self-discipline to write by:
1. forcing myself to work whether I'm in the mood or not
2. letting guilt finally force me to do something, anything
3. jotting down half a page now and again and rewarding myself with ice cream
4. self-discipline is the enemy of creativity

G. I deal with difficult, blocked or 'dry' periods by:
1. working on something else to retain good writing habits
2. panicking and bingeing
3. wondering if I shouldn't take up decoy carving instead
4. only real writers are really blocked

H. I strive to make my work:
1. as good as it can be by rewriting and polishing
2. as good as that first true inspiration will allow it to be
3. as unembarrassing as I can before going to my writing group – they're really mean
4. as unintrusive in my creative life as possible

I. I approach the task of finding an agent or publisher by:
1. researching the market thoroughly and learning how to make a professional
submission
2. sending my manuscript and a very nice letter to my writing tutor's publisher
3. sending my manuscript to the publishers of the latest best-seller
4. they'll be knocking on my door begging me for my manuscript

J. I accept rejection slips:
1. with a pang, then move to the next submission
2. with a little sigh: I secretly knew it was no good
3. with a howl of unbelieving rage: ignorant jackasses, don't they know true talent when they see it...
4. I'm too sensitive to put myself through such a negative experience

K. I see myself in the future:
1. finding satisfaction in writing novels my readers enjoy
2. becoming a rich and famous best-seller and appearing on TV
3. winning the Pulitzer, the Booker, and the Nobel Prize for Literature
4. being the most famous person on the planet. Hey, in the universe!

L. I want to write because:
1. I have characters and stories bursting to come to life
2. I like the idea of having a book published
3. I like the idea of being a writer
4. I didn't say I wanted to write, just that I know I'm a writer,
and this is a dumb test, anyway

How to score this test:

Count up the numbers of the answers you have selected.

If you have a total of:
12-16: You seem to have what it takes. I'll see you in print one day.
17-25: Time to get serious. Take one giant step towards a professional attitude.
26-35: What a dweeb. Quit dreaming and get a life.
36-48: Jerk extraordinaire! Out of my sight, thou posturing ninny!

Having taken the Clarke's Patented "Am I Really a Writer?" Test, you now know if you are a real writer or not. If you are, congratulations! If you aren't, contact me for some useful websites on needlework, photography or windsurfing.

The above is just for fun. If you want to know if you are a real writer, Write. If you write, you’re a writer. If you don’t, then you aren’t. Is it really that simple? Yes, it is. Being a published author does not define you as a writer. Remember that as you make those keystrokes on your computer or your pen strokes to notebook.
I’ve been extremely fortunate to be welcomed by multiple publishers into their family of writers, but I still feel the sharp sting of rejections. It’s taking me awhile to truly say it out loud or in an official manner, but regardless, my name is Saewod and I’m a writer.

Saewod Tice
Author of Amongst the Ruins

Available on:
Amazon - www.amazon.com/Amongst-Ruins-Chronicles-2020-ebook/dp/B005OZIIVE/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_3
&
Noble Young Adult - www.nobleyoungadult.com/Books/329

Visit below to check out upcoming releases:
www.saewod.webs.com
www.thechroniclesof2020.webs.com

Blurb: In the year 2220, only about 15% of Earth's population have survived and thrived after the Nuclear Disaster of 2020.

With the collapse of modern society, the population has regressed into eight clans.

Amongst these clans, an unusual girl grows from child to adult.

Raised on the run and in hiding, Shilo wants to be free of the expectations of women. But in a ruined world where anyone could be an enemy, only the radiation-twisted mutants are clearly identifiable. A fertile female is a precious treasure, and any lapse in caution can mean a loss of the freedom she longs for.

Training as hard as a soldier would, in order to free herself from social constraints, she finds herself faced with an offer from a new clan--an offer that provides her with what she desires. But her recently found independence brings discovery, and discovery brings two very different men from her past—and each of them is determined to claim her.

One is obsessed with owning her, the other desires her as the only person who can make him love again.

Bio: Saewod Tice lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband and two children. A self-proclaimed foul mouthed, book nerd who loves reading genres ranging from Young Adult to Horror to Erotica.

To escape the structured, methodical confines of her day job, she delves into her overzealous imagination producing dystopian worlds and romances. When not writing or spending time with her family, she embraces her Computer Geekdom through the internet. Including being a member of Writing.com, TextNovel writing forums, and RWC group.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Coming attraction by one of my favourite authors

2011-11-29T08:10:00.001+02:00

I can’t wait! In March 2012 one of my favourite authors is bringing out her next book – Bear Meets Girl. Mmmmm . . . love the cover, don’t you? Except for the blurb, she also has an excerpt on her website which I will include so that you can drool with me :)

Blurb:
Lou Crushek is a reasonable, mellow, easygoing kind of guy—especially for a shapeshifting bear. But once someone starts killing the scumbags he works so hard to bust, that really gets under his fur. Especially when that someone is a curvy she -- tiger who's bringing his passion out of hibernation...

Marcella Malone is a member of an elite feline protection unit, and Crush is proving one major pain in her gorgeous tail. The only reason she's joined forces with him is to track down the wealthy human who's got her entire species in his ruthless sights. But there's no denying that beneath that big, burly exterior is a man who knows how to rub her in all the right ways...

Except:
(Unedited/Unproofed)

While the two females found reasons to laugh, Crush finished putting away his groceries and put down food for Lola. That was around the time the laughter stopped.

"You have a dog?"

"I'm fostering for a friend." He whistled and Lola came out of the hiding place she always went to whenever his idiot brothers broke into his home. It used to be his apartment, now it was his house.

Lola trotted into the kitchen but commenced to barking as soon as she saw Malone and Dr. Davis.

The two women looked at him and he shrugged. "She's not a cat-friendly dog."

"You foster this dog?"

He didn't know why Malone sounded so disbelieving. Bears had pet dogs all the time.

"Yeah. You have a problem with that?"

Lola continued to bark so Crush said, "Cut it." She did and trotted over to him, turning and sitting down on his foot while facing the two felines.

Malone and the other woman exchanged another glance and Malone said, "This is your dog."

"She's a foster. That's all."

"Uh-huh. How long have you fostered her?"

"Three years."

The felines began laughing again and Lola snarled at them. That was his girl.

"What?" he asked.

"She's your dog. Your dog. No one fosters a dog for three years."

"It's hard to place her."

"A purebred English bulldog?" the woman with Malone kindly asked. Unlike the She-tiger, this woman had basic manners.

"I don't have papers or anything and she's been fixed."

"No one has shown interest in it?"

" 'It' is a her," he snapped at Malone. "And there have been a few interested people but they weren't the right family for her."

"For three years?"

"Why are you here?" he barked, fed up with this line of questioning.

"I need a boyfriend or my aunts are bringing in a matchmaker so they can possibly hook me up with a distant relative."

With a snort, Crush picked up Lola and put her in front of her food bowl.

"What's that mean?" Malone asked.

"It means you're insane. I thought you just acted crazy for the crowd. But no" -- he faced Malone, briefly studied her pretty face -- "you're really crazy."

"Crazy's relative," the woman with Malone remarked. When Crush only stared at her she smiled and added, "I should introduce myself. I'm Jai Davis."

Crush tipped his head to the side and studied her. "Jai Davis? Head of the medical team for the Carnivores?"

"You know the head of our medical team?"

He shrugged at Malone's question. "They mention her at the beginning of every game."

"Wow," Malone said, eyes wide. "You really are a fan."

"Why are you here?" he barked again, annoyed with having strangers in his house. "In my space?"

"I'll tell ya what ya can do with your space -- "

"Cella."

Hearing her friend's voice, Malone took a deep breath and said, "I need a favor."

"From me?"

"Yes. From you."

Crush sized the feline up before answering, "No."

"No? What do you mean no?"

"I mean no."

"But I haven't even told you what it is yet."

"I know. But I don't deal with crazy in my private life."

Malone crossed her arms in front of her chest, gold eyes locked on him until she snapped at her friend, "And you can stop laughing."

Her hand over her mouth, Dr. Davis choked, and mumbled, "Excuse me," before quickly walking out of the kitchen.

"Thank you very much, cop, for embarrassing me!"

Crush gawked down at the feline, mouth open.

"What are you looking at me like that for?"

"I embarrassed you? Is that what you just said to me?"

"Your point?"

"You've been embarrassing me since I met you. It's like your goal or something."

"My goal is to get you to loosen up. You're so uptight."

"Why do you care if I'm uptight or not?"

"Because I'm a caring and giving person."

Imitating her stance, Crush crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at her.

Finally, after a couple of minutes, she finally admitted, "All right, fine. In truth I just like how your face gets all red when I embarrass you."

"Honesty. How nice of you to finally use some."

"If it makes you feel any better, I only torment those I actually like."

"Why would that bit of information make me feel better? That's like saying ‘I only set fire to the ones I love.'"

"It's nothing like that. I just think you take yourself too seriously. Although after meeting your brothers, I can see why you're more tense than most polar bears."

"Tenser."

"What?"

"It's not ‘more tense,' it's tenser."

"Really? You're correcting my grammar?"

Frustrated again -- because she was kind of right -- Crush snapped, "It's not like I invited you over here to abuse you about your grammar. You came over uninvited."

"Because I need your help."

"In some wacky scheme?"

"Of course it's not wacky. I just need you to pretend to be my boyfriend so my aunts don't bring in a matchmaker in the hopes of getting me married off to my cousin."

As the feline stated her purpose in coming to his house, Dr. Davis walked back into the kitchen. But she took one look at Crush's flabbergasted expression, covered her mouth, turned, and ran out again, her laughter floating in from his dining room.

Isn’t that fun! I can’t wait!!

Book Tour: Another Chance by Michelle Beattie

2011-11-28T05:51:00.000+02:00

Another Chance

By Michelle Beatti

Being a veterinarian in the late 1800’s is difficult enough, but for Jillian Matthews it’s impossible. Not allowed in the vet schools, she trained at her father’s side until she had the skills needed to move west. Jillian accepts an advertisement for a position in Montana, using only her initials which happen to be same as her father’s. Convinced that in the untamed west, her skills will be valued and appreciated, regardless of her gender, she’s quickly proved wrong.

Wade Parker is sure the pretty redhead claiming to be the vet he sent for is one of his ranch hands’ practical jokes but the fiery woman very quickly puts him in his place and proves him wrong. His impression, however, turns south when the animal she operated on later dies. With a ranch on the verge of bankruptcy, losing an animal was the last thing he could afford and he can’t help thinking the old vet, the male doctor, wouldn’t have let his animal die.

With Wade’s initial reaction guiding them, the town is quick to want Jillian out. But the more Wade gets to know Jillian, the more he sees her grit and compassion, the harder he falls for her. When Wade realizes he was too hasty in his judgment and urges the town to give Jillian another chance, he makes more than few enemies. Enemies that would do almost anything to get her out, and to make sure Wade doesn’t take her side again.

Soon threats turn to violence and both Wade and Jillian must make a stand. The problem is, at what cost?

Excerpt Chapter One

Montana Territory, May 1879

"They're not going to get here in time."

Wade Parker ran a frustrated hand under his Stetson. What was taking so long? he wondered. He'd sent for the veterinarian almost an hour ago. Once he'd realized he'd had no other choice.

"They'll be here soon, son. But the way the rain's coming down, it'll slow down old Doc and Scott." James rested a calloused hand on Wade's shoulder. "Go check on the cow again, and I'll have a look outside."

Wade had been taught from a very young age that no matter how bad things ever got, there was always something to be thankful for. And right now, he was thankful for two things. One, for James. Not only had James been foreman of the Triple P for as long as Wade could remember, he was also a friend. A friend who, at times like these, was the rock Wade needed.

The other thing Wade was damn glad for was that Doc Fletcher's replacement hadn't arrived yet from Pennsylvania. Not that Wade hadn't helped chose his replacement and not that he wasn't satisfied of the new doc's qualifications, but with the lives of his animals at stake, he needed a familiar face tonight. One that he trusted. One that would get him through this latest crisis.

Because that was all Wade’s life had been since losing first his wife, then his father, a series of crises. He couldn’t afford, in the very real sense of the word, another.

Feeling much older than his twenty-eight years, Wade made his way to the stall. Behind him James' boots squished on the wet barn floor. Wade shook his head, disgusted not only with the decrepit state of his barn, but with the decrepit state of the whole ranch. If only his pa hadn't run them so far into debt. Wade braced his forearms on the stall and wished, not for the first time, that things could be different.

The animal's eyes were glazed with pain; her mooing was now raspy where a few short hours ago it had been loud and strong. Though she struggled to get up, she wasn't able to do more than lift her head. He cursed again, feeling an iron band of tension wrap around his shoulders.

Already in debt until he was practically drowning in it, he needed these animals to live. He'd already sold off a piece of his herd but he couldn't afford to sell them all. He needed enough to keep breeding, enough to keep selling. And if nothing else happened, maybe, just maybe, he'd start thinking about starting that horse ranch.

"They're here!" James yelled.

Relief poured through Wade. "Hang in there, girl. Help's on the way."

Wade ran to the door.

"Well," James said, pushing his hat further up his forehead. "This sure is an unexpected surprise."

"What's the problem?" Wade asked, stepping around James.

He stopped dead, felt his jaw slacken.

What greeted him in the yellow glow of the barn was not even remotely close to old Doc Fletcher, or the J. Matthews they'd hired to replace him. This wasn't the short, plump vet Wade had expected. Neither was he the tall, strapping man that Wade had pictured crossing a country to replace Doc Fletcher. Instead there stood a woman barely tall enough to reach Wade's shoulder.

She held her horse's reins in one gloved hand and saddle bags in the other. Though she didn't seem to notice, water streamed over the brim of her hat in a continuous flow. Her eyes never left his and the directness of that gaze stopped him momentarily. Wade turned to Scott. Scott Taylor, the only ranch hand Wade could afford besides James, shrugged.

"She was at Doc's place. Told me she could help," he explained.

"Doc's place?" Wade shook his head. That made no sense. If Doc wasn't at his place, then it should have been Dr. Matthews, as was the agreement made when they hired the new vet. He turned back to the woman.

Green eyes, a heart-shaped face. She was pretty, no question, but it wasn't pretty he needed at the moment. He glared at Scott then James. "This isn't the time for one of your practical jokes. We need a doctor now, dammit!"

He stepped out into the rain hoping, praying, Doc Fletcher was waiting around the corner with his bag in hand. Darkness and sheets of rain greeted Wade, but no Doc Fletcher.

The woman's voice cut through the rain like lightning. "Could you see that my horse is looked after?"

Wade spun round. She handed the reins to Scott then skirted past James, who stood wide eyed, and strode purposefully into the barn, saddle bags in hand.

"Wait just a minute!" Wade said as he loped behind her.

"What?" she asked, never once breaking stride.

"Where's Doc Fletcher?"

"He left town."

"Since when? He was still here last I heard."

"Apparently he didn't feel you needed to be apprised of his comings and goings," she said, slipping into the stall. She tossed her hat and dripping slicker onto the clean straw. A thick braid of auburn hair fell down her back.

Stunned, Wade could only watch as she opened her saddle bags, set a pristine white cloth onto the straw, and began placing shiny medical tools onto it.

None of what he was seeing made a lick of sense. "What are you doing?"

Her hands stilled, and her fiery green eyes snapped. "What I was sent for." She took her stethoscope, placed the hearing buds in her ears.

His gaze snapped right back. "I didn't fetch you, I fetched Doc Fletcher."

"No, you fetched the veterinarian."

"Exactly! So who the hell are you?"

Her braid had fallen over her shoulder and she tossed it over in frustration. "We don't have time for questions. Do you, or do not want your animal looked after?"

Not waiting for an answer, she shifted to her knees, skimmed her hands over the distended belly of the animal. He couldn't help it, his eyes roved over the woman. Her black belt cinched a tiny waist. Leaning over the way she was, it was only natural that he noticed the way her skirt draped over her trim backside.

He had no idea who she was. Her shoulders didn't look broad enough, nor did her hands appear strong enough to do what needed to be done. Why was she at Doc's? Why had she told Scott she could help? Granted, it did appear she knew what she was doing, yet his mind was telling him it was impossible. But, as she said, they didn't have the luxury of time. If Doc wasn't coming, she was his only hope.

His belly hitched. The band around his shoulders tightened threefold. Just when he thought things couldn't possibly get worse.

She placed the stethoscope to the cow's brown hide. The barn was silent as she worked, except for the constant patter of rain, both inside and outside.

"Is this her first time?" she asked when the cow tried once again to raise her head, then gave up with a low moan.

"It is," Wade answered.

"Calf must be too big for her." She fixed those green eyes on his again. "I'll need clean towels, warm water and all of you to help hold this cow down while I do the surgery."

Wade took a breath, nodded. Whether she knew what she was doing or not, she was here and she was all they had. He'd just have to trust that she could get his animal through this crisis alive.

"I'll get what you need," he answered, refusing to dwell on what ifs. He turned to James, who'd joined him at the stall. "Stay here in case she needs anything else."

Wade strode down the aisle, his pace increasing when the cow moaned again.

Scott, who was in the last stall tending the woman's horse, looked up as Wade approached. "You need me?"

"We will, just as soon as I get back."

"I'll be ready," Scott answered.

Wade ran for the house. His mother came running the moment he stepped inside. Worry filled her eyes.

"Did you lose them?"

"Not yet." Though with this unexpected turn of events, the possibility seemed more likely than ever.

Eileen Parker's shoulders fell. "Well, that's a blessing I'll take." Her hand shot up as he moved. "Don't you step off that rug with those muddy boots!"

"Ma, I'm in a hurry," Wade grumbled, though he placed his foot back onto the rug. "We need hot water and as many old rags or towels you can spare."

"I figured you might and I've had pots simmering on the stove. The rags are right there at your feet, I'll get the water from the kitchen."

About the Author:

Michelle Beattie has been writing for 16 years. Her first pirate novel was released in December 2008 under the title, What a Pirate Desires. Since then she added two more to her series, Romancing the Pirate and A Pirate's Possession.

Changing gears a bit, Michelle has decided to follow the growing trend of published authors independently publishing their own books. She released her first independent title, a contemporary light paranormal, Love By Accident, in October and is following it up with a historical western, Another Chance.

Her pirate books have received wonderful praise from publisher's weekly, Romantic Times and several on-line review sites as well as have been published in several languages. Love By Accident hit #14 in ghosts on Amazon's site on its release day.

Michelle lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband, two daughters and a rabbit.

twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/M_Beattie

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Beattie-Romance-Author/100613946697175

website: http://www.michellebeattie.com

In my mailbox (30)

2011-11-27T11:53:00.001+02:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren every Sunday. It is a weekly meme that lets everyone see what books you have received in the mail or bought that week.

This week I only received one eBook which I won in a giveaway on Lu’s blog A Muggle’s Magical Book Blog.

Thank you to Lu and the author, Nuayma!

What is in your mailbox this week?

Book Tour: Diamonds and Toads by K.E. Saxon

2011-11-25T05:46:00.000+02:00

Diamonds and Toads: A Modern Fairy Tale

By K.E. Saxon

Blurb:

Once upon a time, there were two sisters, one blessed,and one cursed by fairy magic...

So each sister's story begins.

Delilah Perrault is blessed with riches beyond her wildest dreams and the man she's had her eye on for ages--even though he secretly has designs on her newfound wealth instead. Delilah's half-sister, Isadora, is cursed with having her every utterance come out as an obscene and humiliating quip, just when the gorgeous hunk she dumped years before under pressure from mama swaggers back into her life.
If you like Bewitched, Sex and the City and Gossip Girl, try out this modern girl's fairy tale.

Get it Amazon for the Kindle or on Smashwords and at BN for the Nook

Excerpt

CHAPTER ONE

Chas Regan slammed the phone down. Fuck! What the hell was he supposed to do now? He leaned back in his executive chair, allowing the front rollers to lift off the floor, and dug the base of his palms into his eyelids. His heart still raced so fast that it caused a shot of stomach bile to blast into his throat.

The company was lost. Gone. No more. His entire family’s empire, a glimmering speck of its former glory lost in the vast abyss of others that had gone before it.

He could have saved it, too, he knew, if only he’d been able to come up with that measly five million in time. But he hadn’t been able to liquidate enough capital before tonight’s deadline. If only that blasted prospective buyer would loosen her grip on her cash, he’d have had his two-year-old thoroughbred sold a month ago and his problems would be solved.

He needed more time. More money and time.

The intercom on his phone buzzed, followed by his assistant’s voice saying, “Chas, Delilah Perrault is here to see you. Should I show her in?”

His churning stomach sank to his toes, but he couldn’t see a way out of meeting with her right now. He sprang into an upright position and did a quick finger-comb through his hair. “Yes. That’s fine, Sharon.”

* * *

Delilah walked into the office with a big grin on her face. She couldn’t wait to tell Chas all that had happened this morning. He’d been a sage advisor these past few months since they’d begun working on the charity together and she hoped he wouldn’t mind giving her a little more now.

After the strange encounter with the beggar woman two days ago—and the ‘found’ diamond—Delilah had called Chas and canceled their lunch. To tell the truth, if it weren’t for the diamond that rested in the bottom of her coin purse, she’d have tossed the whole thing off as a lucid dream.

She hadn’t told a soul about the encounter, either, and she was pretty sure she wasn’t going to.

“Hi,” she said, noticing immediately the sexy contrast between his slightly rumpled blond hair and his crisp, tailor-made suit. Her already jangled nerves started to tap dance across their endings the closer she came to him. Breathe in, breathe out. Thankfully, she’d managed to keep her deeper feelings for him to herself, thus far. She could just imagine how awkward their friendship would become if he ever realized what she felt. He probably wouldn’t want to work with her anymore.

It wasn’t until she’d taken a seat on his leather couch that she picked up on the tension lines around his eyes and mouth. “Is this a bad time? Am I interrupting something?” She shot to her feet. “I’ll just leave now. I-I shouldn’t have come without calling first. But I have got some exciting news to tell you, so maybe—could we meet for dinner?” She took a step toward the door.

Chas jumped up and waved her back to her seat. “No, no, no. Sit. Tell me the good news.”

She hesitated and then shrugged. “Well, if you’re sure?” She sat down and beamed at him. “Guess what?” She was so excited and proud of herself, she wanted to do a jig. Instead, she clasped her hands in her lap and said, “I’m a multi-millionairess as of ten-thirty-two this morning.”

“No shit?”

“No shit.”

“How many? Two? Three?”

“More.” She sat forward. “It’s like all my years of training as a gemologist have finally paid off.” She bit her lip to keep from grinning like a buffoon and glanced down. Lifting her gaze to his, she said, “A couple of days ago, I got it in my head to put some of my savings in diamond stocks—not a lot—just enough to get my feet wet.”

Chas’s brows shot into his hairline. “A couple of days ago?”

“I know. Amazing. Anyway, today I made—I made a hundred million! Dollars.”

Chas jackknifed forward in his chair. “A hundred million? That’s—that’s near to impossible.”

She laughed. “Exactly! I feel like crowing! You were the first person I thought to tell because you’re so—so good with money. Will you help me to invest it?”

A strange look flashed in his baby blues as he studied her for a moment. It unnerved her. Maybe she’d overstepped their friendship with the request? She was about to apologize to him and tell him she’d find someone else to help her when he laughed and the look changed. Brightened. Became recognizable. Comfortable. Compelling. For the first time since she’d entered his office, his face relaxed into the boyish grin that had become so familiar to her since they’d started working together on the charity event months ago. “Well, I guess I can’t propose to you now. You’ll think I’m only doing it for your money.”

Her heart tripped, then hammered against her ribcage. It took every ounce of her willpower not to let on with her eyes, her hands, or any other part of her body that he’d just spoken her deepest wish, made it a joke. She hoped the grin she gave him was less hungry than friendly. “Hey, women do it all the time—why not a guy?” She linked the fingers of her hands together and did a little stretch. Did her voice sound as out of breath, wobbly, to him as it did to her? “Besides, I could use a financial wizard for a husband, now that I’m worth loads of dough.”

Chas’s expression grew serious. He swiveled around and pulled something from his desk drawer then rose to his feet and came toward her. Instead of sitting next to her, as she expected, he knelt down in front of her.

“What’s this?” A nervous chuckle escaped her throat. “What are you doing?” Against her will, his close proximity brought on a fiery blush.

He lifted both of her hands. When her fingers twitched over the velvet box in his palm, her breath caught in her lungs. “I know you think I wasn’t serious,” he said. “But I was. I’d been planning to ask you to be my wife on Valentine’s Day, but if I wait any longer, you’ll be suspicious of my motives.”

He released her hands and opened the box. Resting inside was a brilliant cut solitaire in a platinum setting. “Will you marry me, Delilah?”

A rush of euphoria made her head spin, but somehow she managed to say, “YES!”

* * *

Delilah was so high with happiness, she felt as if she floated across the parking garage toward her car. She sighed. They’d finally kissed. She lifted her fingers to her lips. They still tingled from the warm contact. It had been as wonderful as she’d dreamed it would be. He’d tasted so masculine, felt so strong. It’d made her feel feminine, sexy even.

She shook her head and grinned. She was going to marry Chas Regan. Amazing. All this time she’d been pining away for the guy and—who knew?—he’d been doing the same thing for her!

Since he’d returned to the family business a year ago, moved back to Houston from Boston, they had formed a companionable friendship. Based mostly on their shared interest in charity work. He was very much involved in funding for cancer research—his mother had died of a rare form of it a little less than two years ago—and that was one of Delilah’s pet charities as well.

Once they’d met up again at a charity benefit, become reacquainted, they’d started sharing meals together several times a week, sometimes twice in the same day. He’d even begun confiding in her about his devastation at his mother’s sudden illness and death, a thing, she was sure, he didn’t speak of with others. And the more she learned about him, the man he’d grown up to be, the more she’d fallen in love with him.

Of course, she, being the fat one in her family, never thought for a second that he could ever think of her in any romantic way.

She stopped walking and thrust her hand out in front of her. The ring sparkled, even in the dim light, and the fit was perfect. He must have done some sleuthing to get it just right. The thought of him planning for weeks such a romantic proposal gave her a giddy feeling in her chest. He loved her! Oh, he hadn’t said the words—he wasn’t the sort, she knew. So many men weren’t. At least that’s what she’d read in loads of women’s magazines. But she hoped that one day, somehow, she’d finally get him to say them aloud.

She started to walk again, and then it became a jog, and then a full-out run, which wasn’t easy in her floral print slim lined dress. She couldn’t wait to tell her stepmother and half-sister! Wouldn’t their jaws drop to the floor! Not only had she managed to pull their family back into the financial realm they’d been in before her father’s imprisonment, but, she, Delilah Perrault, had snagged the one perfect prospect her stepmother had pegged to be her skinny, beautiful half-sister’s future husband.

* * *

Chas hung up the phone. Relief washed over him. The creditors were going to give him until a week from this coming Monday to wire them the money now that he had access to some funds.

He sat back and gnawed on a piece of dead skin next to his fingernail. Okay, asking Delilah to marry him hadn’t been the noblest way to deal with his dilemma. But he’d been desperate. He’d briefly thought of simply asking her for the money, but he’d quickly nixed it. He needed this all kept under wraps, and keeping her in the dark about it while he ‘borrowed’ some of her money—just long enough to swing things back in his favor—seemed the best plan of action.

His already burning stomach twisted into a knot and he popped several antacids into his mouth. Okay. He admitted it. He’d taken advantage of a sweet girl who had a crush on him so that he could keep the hounds at bay a little longer—and get hold of those funds he needed.

He’d pay her back. With interest. And heck, he just might go through with the marriage, too. If she really wanted him. He liked her a lot. She was a good friend. And easy to talk to. Most times, made him feel calm and settled inside. His stomach hardly ever gave him grief when he was with her. That was something, wasn’t it?

She was pretty, too. Electric blue eyes, dark silky hair, long limbs, but soft and curvy. At five-eight, she was just right for his own six-three height.

And, dear God, that kiss they’d shared! It had sent shock waves all the way through him. No, it wouldn’t be such a bad match. Not such a bad match at all.

Except, he needed her to be on his arm over the next few months while he proved to his creditors that he was a responsible sort—they could trust him with their money. So, he’d best spend a little less time at the office and spend some real time with her. Not in bed, of course. He wouldn’t be that much of a bastard. Once he’d paid back the money, then yes. After that kiss—hell yes. But not until then.

His gaze dropped to the ring box on his desk. Good thing his last fiancée—the fourth to be exact—had over-nighted that ring to his office eight months ago. It had come in handy.

* * *

Author Bio:

K.E. Saxon is a third-generation Texan and has been a lover of romance fiction since her first (sneaked) read of her older sister's copy of "The Flame and the Flower" by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. She is a member of the West Houston Chapter of Romance Writer's of America and is a devoted subscriber to the Romance Divas online forum. She has two cats, a 24-year-old cockatiel, a funny, supportive husband, and a garden that's been fried by the recent drought. When she isn't in her writer's cave writing, you can find her puttering in her organic vegetable garden or in her kitchen trying out a new recipe. An animal (and bug) lover since before she could speak, she made pets of all kinds of critters when she was a kid growing up. Her mother even swears that she made a pet of a cockroach one time (but K.E. doesn't believe her). She likes to write funny, sexy romances.

Website: http://www.kesaxon.com

Blog: http://www.kesaxon.com/blog.html

Twitter: @KESaxonAuthor

FB: http://on.fb.me/nqScVw

Interview and giveaway with Lexus Luke

2011-11-24T06:38:00.000+02:00

Today we meet Lexus Luke, author of Manitou The Sky People Saga.

Let’s jump right in.

Lexus, when did you start writing? Writing has been a constant in my life. I’ve done it since elementary school and made a career of it as a TV writer-producer and now writer-editor for a magazine.

How long does it usually take you to write a book? Since I have a day job, it can take any where from three to
six months to write a first draft, then another month or two for editing and finally getting and incorporating beta reader feedback. By the way, I’m always looking for beta readers, so if any of your readers are interested please have them contact me.

What inspired you to write this book? Manitou The Sky People Saga was inspired by Manitou Springs and Garden of the Gods – two landmarks near my home that just invite one’s creativity to run amok. My imagination went crazy inventing lure and legends as well as incorporating true facts. Much of the details about Ute Indians, for example, are true.

What kind of research did you have to do? Since I live nearby, it was pretty easy to hop in the car and be on site within minutes. And I did that often for inspiration. Research on Ute Indians was done online and with history books purchased locally.

Who designed cover? I designed the cover that incorporates art by Sabrina C. Kleis, an artist I found on deviantART

What is your next project? Theoi, book two in the Sky People Saga, and I can’t wait to share it with readers – many of whom have emailed me asking when the next book will be out.

A typical day in your life would look like . . . I typically get up at 4:30 a.m. to write before work. My day job begins at 7:30 a.m. There is a library upstairs from my office, so I try to take my lunch hours there as often as possible for some quiet writing. After work, my brain is usually fried and good creative writing isn’t possible then. That’s when I do a little marketing – like contacting book bloggers :) and surfing social media. The last hour before bed, I like to read or knit.

What is the hardest thing about being an author? Having to have a day job is the hardest part for me right now. Not that I don’t like my day job. If I have to have a day job – and I do, it’s a great one to have. It’s just frustrating when I want to work on my fiction and can’t.

Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say? I do. My readers have been especially communicative – which I love. It’s tremendously satisfying when readers get you and your work. When they talk about your characters as though they’re real people, that is an even more amazing experience.

Who are some of the authors that inspire you? I love, love, love a genre I’ve dubbed science fantasy. I adore classics by C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle, J.R.R. Tolkien, etc. and also contemporary writers like J.K. Rowling and Suzanne Collins.

What is in your own TBR pile? I’ve got a stack of indie books right now. I’ve already read The Trylle Triology by Amanda Hocking. Next on my to-read list are:
Big Dragons Don’t Cry by C.M. Barrett
Megan’s Way by Melissa Foster
The Venom of Vipers by K.C. May
The Practice Date by Victorine Lieske
If You Go Into The Woods by David Gaughran.

All those have to wait, of course, because I don’t like to read fiction when I’m knee deep in writing a novel myself.

Blurb: When her adoptive parents were murdered a year ago, fifteen-year-old Wray Sky moved home to Manitou Springs, Colorado to live with her Ute Indian great-grandmother. Wray’s faith in all that is logical gets rocked to the core by bones that never die, her sudden mind bending abilities and the realization that her parents' murder may not have been as random as everyone thought.
With support from sweetheart, Kanaan, and best friend, Amaya, Wray faces danger from unknown sources and ultimately discovers that she isn’t who, or what, she thinks she is.

Bio:
Born in a U.S. Army hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, Lexus Luke grew up a military brat.
After graduating first in her class from the School of Journalism at the University of Colorado in in Boulder, she worked as a producer at TV stations in Omaha, Denver and Colorado Springs.
Penning an award-winning screenplay was her first foray into the world of fiction. Her debut novel, Manitou The Sky People Saga, is a young adult fantasy garnering positive reviews from readers.
A cat lover, and avid knitter and crocheter, she lives, with her husband, in beautiful, story-inspiring Colorado.
Links: If you have them, please feel free to use your Amazon and BN.com affiliate links to the book. Otherwise:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/pTq6L5

BN.com: http://bit.ly/oWNcem

www.lexusluke.com

http://twitter.com/#!/LexusLuke

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lexus-Luke/160471924010777

I am so happy that Lexus have offered a free eCopy of her book. Leave a comment saying hi to Lexus and don’t forget to leave you contact details.
The winner will be notified when the giveaway closes on 01 December 2011.

Author interview and giveaway with Kate Bowyer

2011-11-22T06:34:00.000+02:00

Kate is the author of Isolation, the first in The Lost Angel series.

Here is what the blurb says:

Goodreads blurb: When Christian's grandmother begs a demon to take away her suffering and let her die, she unknowingly puts the life of her grandson in danger.
Soon after her death, terrible accidents start to happen around Christian and the unexplained bumps in the night now happen in the full glare of the day with real consequences. These paranormal activities send his father to the local tavern every night and his mother to the mental ward.
Things outside of home are just as bad, for at school he's known as the freak with all the kids and teachers afraid of him. Christian's only companions are his Guardian Angel and a demon, but they're after just one thing.........his soul.
As he gets older his only thought is to escape these two powerful beings and to lead a normal life, but he can't do it alone. Then at one of his lowest points, Ariel walks into his life and gives him hope for the future.
The demon, not willing to give up the boys soul, plays out his final act leading Christian into a no win situation with someone he should have been able to trust the most.

Sounds like a must read!

Let’s get to know Kate a little better.

Kate, when did you start writing? Technically my first book was done in second grade. My book was about a dog, I did all of the drawings, and it was horrible. My mother got my older sister to “help me” and I remember that she went through and put a bunch of “he said” and “she said” into my masterpiece, which I thought made the story terrible. I didn't start writing again until college.

What inspired you to write this book? I knew two things right away, I was looking to write a scary story and I wanted to write one with a Guardian Angel in it. But I also had this thought sitting in my head, why do bad things happen to good people? With those three things I came up with Isolation.

Did you listen to any music while writing your book? Most days I needed just good old fashioned quiet to write, but there were a few times that I went into Pandora and put on Gregorian Chants. If you read the book I bet you'll get a hankering for them also.

What kind of research did you have to do? I did a lot of research into both angels and demons; what people's beliefs are in them, and what their stories were in the bible. I also researched names for the main characters and some things about the Catholic church.

What is your next project? I'm currently writing book 2 in The Lost Angel Trilogy. After this series I already have plans for a dystopian book that I'll be diving into. I've actually had that idea for much longer than my current project.

What is the hardest thing about being an author? For me it's wanting to please everyone. I want every reader to enjoy themselves with my book. I'm a big reader and I know the sinking feeling I get when a book I'm reading just doesn't deliver like I want it to.

Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say? I've heard from some readers and it's very exciting for me. The most common things I hear is that they really liked the story, they thought the characters were strong, and they loved all the twists in it, especially how shocking the ending is.

What is in your own TBR pile? And do you read very much? My Goodreads TBR list is fairly large, but a few of the titles are, “The Maze Runner” by James Dashner, “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger and “The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb” by Melanie Benjamin.
I've been a big reader since 4^th grade. I remember how magical it felt to go to the school's library and pick out a book that would whisk me far away. I even had an imaginary place where I'd always read. It was inspired by the “Secret Garden” and it was a cabin in the woods where all day long it drizzled outside while I'm inside next to a fire just reading and reading.

Where do you like to hang out when your on the web? That's easy I love twitter, there are just so many interesting people on it and I love the instant connections. I also love to hang out on Goodreads, I mean a place where people can chat about books all day long is just for me.

Author Bio: KATE BOWYER is a wife and mother who has written and published short stories, with Isolation: A Cursed Soul being her first full length novel. She lives with her family and two dogs in Idaho where she takes her inspiration from the haunted house she calls home, classic old time Hollywood horror movies and the attic that she sits and writes in.

Links
My website: http://katebowyer.com
Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Isolation-Cursed-Angel-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B005HG6BGO/
Barnes&Noble Page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/isolation-kate-bowyer/1104896843
International Sales: http://phibblebooks.com/isolation-a-cursed-soul-kate-bowyer.html

Kate is giveaway an eCopy of Isolation: A Cursed Soul to a lucky commenter.

Just leave a message for Kate and I will draw a name on 29 November 2011.

Thank you so much for joining us today, Kate. We wish you much success for the future.

Book Tour: THE DEMON SIDE by Heaven Liegh Eldeen

2011-11-21T05:45:00.000+02:00

Guest post by Heaven Liegh Eldeen: Women in Fiction
With the recent release of my novella, The Demon Side, I decided to do a little research into who is today’s reader. Spending hours upon hours speaking with friends, random folk at the library, and reading article after article pertaining to studies online, only one conclusion is clear. More women read than men, especially when it comes to the Fiction genre.

Now, I am sure we can think of a million and one reasons why this is; everything from the obvious differences of gender, to the theory men’s brains are more drawn to mathematical and scientific studies, whereas women tend to be the more literature and creative driven sex. No matter the reasoning, it doesn’t change the facts that women rule the book world.

With this new found knowledge, one question keeps popping up in my head…where are the real heroines at? And, no, I don’t mean bat girl. I mean really, what woman would waste three hours a night squeezing into that outfit before she’s off to fight the crime of Gotham City? I don’t believe for one minute any woman can do a round house kick in a pleather cat suit without pulling her groin. Trust me, I’ve tried. But that’s a story for a different day.

My personal opinion is, too many novels focus either on a five-foot-nine, hundred-thirty pound, overly attractive, mindless twit of a woman being the helpless damsel in distress, trusting the first guy she meets with her life, then she suddenly falls in love with her hero, or you find an unrealistic, six foot, hundred-twenty pound, ass kicking broad with an I.Q. far beyond that of Albert Einstein’s, who happens to have an arsenal of top secret military equipment in her underwear drawer next to her four hundred dollar Nancy Meyer thongs.

I’m not complaining, mind you. I love those novels. I am a sucker for super-secret feminist agents and the girl next door survivalist. But, where is the five-foot-five, hundred-sixty-nine pound housewife with three kids, who can swing a broom better than Babe Ruth or Reggie Jackson can swing a bat and knows that running up the stairs to get away from an ax murderer equals eminent death?

Where is the relatable, everyday woman we pass each day in the aisles of Wal-Mart? Why can’t she save the world with a blue light special shotgun and her knowledge of household chemicals? Would it be so bad if the first time she nabs herself a hottie, she forgot to shave and yet he still can’t help but to rub her legs up and down until he finally…well, you get the idea.

Truth be told, the reason we don’t find our super heroes and ultimate victims at the local thrift store is because too often, they remind us of our own realities. What woman wants to spend her hard earned money and few precious moments of free time reading about what may be herself? I definitely do not. I’m reminded enough of this when I walk past my kitchen and see the line of tourists waiting to catch a glimpse of my leaning tower of dishes in the sink.

We buy into these women because they offer us an alternate world, far from the daily charade of keeping up with our responsibilities. Throughout the chapters, we can choose who we wish to be, depending how the story unfolds. No longer are we the everyday woman rushing the kids off to school, racing to work, arguing about who is picking up Timmy from soccer practice and wondering why our underwear drawer is filled with chocolate and granny-panties instead of a laser sighted mini-gun.

One paragraph may beckon us to be the woman suffocating her perfect body in a under sized cat suit, when the paragraph after, demands we allow the true hero to take our hand and lead us into the burning building of unavoidable doom. And all it costs is a little of our time, faith in our imagination and a small cover charge.

The Demon Side: Every kid has problems. Every kid has even more problems when they move to a new home. But when a kid with problems moves to a new home that has a Demon living inside it—look out!

Etta’s world is about to spin out of control when she encounters her new roommate—and Rahovart, that ancient trickster, is in for a few surprises too. So don’t mind all the crashing and rumbling; that’s just the normal noise Angels and Demons make when they’re fighting an epic war in the attic.

One thing’s for sure: Etta and Rahovart will have to go through Hell to Heaven and back again before that old Victorian home in Quantico Town finally quiets down…

A little bit about Heaven:
Heaven started her writing career two years ago after being challenged by a relative to write something different than the barrage of vampire novels on the market. With her ‘Oh, Yes I can!’ attitude, determination and support from her family, she completed her first novel The Demon Side, releasing this October. When she’s not kissing owies, climbing Mount Dishmore, or obsessing over her Facebook book page, you can find her at the computer revising or editing one of her five works in progress. Having lived in many states, she has now settled down in California with her husband, her son and a beta fish named Barry.

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Myspace / Publisher

Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

2011-11-19T16:53:00.001+02:00

We went to the midnight screening of Breaking Dawn Part I on Tuesday night (thank you Nella!). Loved the movie – I think it is the best of the movies so far . . . and Breaking Dawn is my favourite of the series too. I think the second part is going to be awesome! Cannot wait for the year to pass. :)

Watching the movie has put me in a Twilight-mood, so I am planning to re-read the series in ~~December~~ (I am thinking that it should be sooner!) and wondered if anyone would like to join me? I just want to recapture the Twilight feeling a bit. So any takers?

You can email me, or just leave a comment below.

Adding to my Wish List: Unison Spark by Andy Marino

2011-11-19T05:17:00.000+02:00

This book is a bit of science fiction that has drawn me in. I can’t wait till it is released . . . or when I can get my hands on a copy :)

Goodreads blurb:
Everyone is obsessed with Unison, the social network that knows you better than you know yourself. Everyone who can afford it, that is. Living beneath the vast ceiling that separates Eastern Seaboard City into rich topside and poor sub-canopy zones, fifteen-year-old Mistletoe can only dream of logging in and has to make do with technological hand-me-downs.
Worlds collide when Ambrose Truax, the privileged heir to the Unison empire, wanders into the dangerous sub-canopy streets and Mistletoe saves him from suspicious, uniformed men. They soon discover that they share eerily similar dreams, hinting at a significant past.
Together, Ambrose and Mistletoe begin to unravel the mystery of their identities and learn that they’re pawns in a bigger game: the Unison 3.0 upgrade, a whole new kind of Friendship.

Author interview with Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc

2011-11-18T06:58:00.000+02:00

Andrea is our guest author today. She is the creator of Dante’s Diary.
Here is the Goodreads blurb: Ivana Morriander has lived life to its fullest. She has seen and done things that most people could only imagine doing. To the unsuspecting person she is beautiful, smart and taking each day by the hand to enjoy all it has to offer.
But, "life," when describing Ivana, is an interesting oxymoron; Ivana is not alive and hasn't been for a very long time. A woman with everything, she freely mingles with humans - as one of them - and enjoys their company, preferring to leave what she is and the baleful tale of how she came to be, within the pages of her beloved diary.
One of the few humans to know what Ivana actually is, Dante Compegna, her best friend, chronicles this amazing woman's journey through life, in the form of matching diary entries, based on Ivana's own records. It is within those pages that he learns the true secret of his friend's existence ... and the real story of the oftentimes sad and lonely tragedy of what it means to be one of the living dead ... But it is within those same pages that he is suddenly privy to a mind-numbing discovery and the shocking truth about himself and his family when he realizes that meeting Ivana may not have simply been coincidence ... after all!

Andrea, tell us a little about yourself. When did you start writing?
I have been crafting stories since I was a small child. In my little world, I travelled to lands far and away and everywhere in between.
Being a storyteller is just natural to me. I guess becoming an author was simply the next logical step.

Does your family support you in your writing?
Oh yes, although I make suggestions to my parents of what and what not to read. Ha ha.
My husband wasn’t always so sure I’d have an audience (how many women write some of the twisted and sadistically sick things I have?) but he’s proud of me.

How long does it usually take you to write a book?
It used to take me up to two years and I’d work on three books at a time. Now I can hammer out a book in about a month.

What would be able to distract you from your goal?
Moving to the Cotswolds and into my dream cottage. Nothing short of that. ;)

What inspired you to write this book?
Nothing inspires me to write. It’s just natural for me.
Now…some of my short stories, weird things inspire me at times…but not my novels. I write just because that’s what I do.

What kind of research did you have to do?
I’ve had to do loads of research over the years. Many of my novels have a historical base to them, so I have to make sure of locales (what they were named 8 or 900 years ago) and even more specific research for locales, what kind of clothes people used to wear during a certain era, what they were made of, etc.
This is especially prevalent in my pirate series, The Grounds of Nachmasheeghan. I had to do a LOAD of research for that book because it starts in 1756 Scotland.

Who designed cover?
I do most of my own covers. You gotta love istockphoto.com, but for my Dante’s Diary Vampire series, being as I have newly signed with Helm Publishing, Dianne is going to handle the new cover design for Dante’s Diary and the next two books in the series, The Lost Memories of Ivana Morriander – Vampire and The Estate of Barren Hill – Pennings By Ivana Morriander – Vampire.
There are other “diaries” in negotiations, as well, so just subscribe – by e-mail – to my blog on my website so you don’t miss news.

What is your next project?
Well, I just finished up book 3 of the Dante’s Diary Vampire series and my writing partner, Yvonne Mason and I have just finished up the only comedy series I’ve ever written, book 2 of When Fates Collide – Mardi Gras Bound.
Just awaiting the proof and once we have it, it’ll be on the market in no time, joining book 1, When Fates Collide – A Morgan and Harrington Mystery.

A typical day in your life would be . . .
Writing, working full time, juggling submissions for my VERY busy magazine, running my topsite and working with my publicist.

What is the hardest thing about being an author?Networking and being recognized as a professional. The world of writing is awash with people who think they can write (when they really can’t) and those who think everything should be handed to them with no work on their part.
It’s a monumental task for the pros in the business who are looking to network, to weed through all the slackers to reach the fellow pros.
Just myself, I constantly run into people who have no clue what it means to seriously network and that really gets infuriating.

Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?
I hear from them all the time and I get everything from, “You’re the best author on the planet, why aren’t you in the news like the others and have all the fame they do?” to, “You’re a sick freak and should be locked up.”
Ha ha!

Wow, that is a harsh commenter!! LoL

Who are some of the authors that inspire you?
No authors inspire me. I can’t stand the thought of my work being compared to anyone else’s and prefer stand on my own…though the comparisons have happened…especially when I first blazed onto the scene six years ago and took it by storm.
It’s not that I don’t like the authors I have been compared to, it’s not that – at all – but there is too much of the same thing already drowning the market…the same story, just different names and locations, etc and I want to offer something different.

What is in your own TBR pile?
Nothing now. I’m caught up…finally! Whew!!!

Wow, you are the first person that could say that – I don’t think I will EVER catch up with my TBR pile.

Author bio:
Critically Acclaimed Best Selling Horror Sinisteria Author of "The Two"...Winner of the 2005 Preditors and Editors Horror Novel of The Year For "A Man of Two Worlds"...2006 Second Place Finisher in the E Readers Poll for "Michael"...2007 3rd Place Finisher E Polls Author of The Year Owner of Twisted Dreams and Worlds Within Worlds Beyond Magazines.

Thank you for visiting with us today, Andrea. Good luck for your future writings!

Book Tour: Dreams and Curses by Jacqueline Paige

2011-11-17T05:26:00.000+02:00

More than just a cover (Guest post by Jacqueline)
I love book covers, it’s one of my favorite steps to seeing one of my books published.

For me it all becomes real when the artist takes the picture out of my head, makes it better and turns it into a cover.

It was like that with the covers for Dreams and Curses. For the first one I saw these pictures that I thought would be great to blend together for the cover of Dreams – of course my skill level in that area is somewhere in the negatives :) so I sent them to Jared over at Off The Wall Creations (who also happens to be my son … I did not get my covers for free! *sigh*) and he was able to take those pictures and make a beautiful cover, way beyond what I had pictured in my head.

When it came to the cover for Curses, it was more than just a book cover. The photo (which I’ll send along) on the back cover was taken by my hubby on one of our few three day escapes up north to hide in a cabin by a lake.

The second story in Curses – This Ring actually stemmed from this photo on one of our trips last year.

The pictures from this trip were breathtaking and I just knew I had to do something to share the way he was able to catch that mist rolling out on the lake in the early morning – so I sent about ten of them to my son and the cover he came up with is way, way beyond anything I could have thought of.

I guess you could say Curses is a family project. The words inside are mine, the photo’s are my hubby’s and my son was able to blend them all together with a breathtaking cover.

You can bet I give my husband the camera every time we go anywhere now!

Blurb IN OUR DREAM:
Jennah Best left the adrenaline packed life of being a cop on the edge for a more peaceful place. She escaped a marriage that almost destroyed her and now lives her life working for a small police station in the town of Ridge. At her age, she’s accepted that it’s too late and too much work to start all over again, until she meets a man in a dream...

While young, Dominic Palmer has always proven he can get the job done. Or at least, that was the case before he accepted a job and agreed to go undercover as an inmate. When months go by and there’s no word from his outside contact he wonders if he’s been left on the inside for good. He’s fighting to stay alive and keep his sanity, but finds himself completely distracted by a mysterious woman he met in a dream...

Blurb for Behind the Mask

In a fit of temper, Gracelyn’s only sister curses her so she’s forgotten the moment anyone turns away from her. Only one thing, at an exact moment, can break the curse. After years of failed attempts, she is forced to accept living her life completely alone. Her world becomes calm and predictable —until one Halloween night … one costume party … and one masquerading man change everything.

About the Author:

Jacqueline Paige is a world class multi-tasker being a mother to five adventurous and unpredictable children, a cafe manager and having a colossal imagination that allows her to step outside of reality into a world of paranormal romance —with just a touch of suspense.

Jacqueline lives in Ontario, Canada and avoids the ever changing weather of the region she lives in by creating other worlds to fall into in her stories of all things paranormal.

Her first book was published in 2009 and since then has published ten. She is always writing and currently has more than a dozen stories in one stage or another of the writing process.

You can find all of Jacqueline’s books at: www.jacqpaige.webs.com

Jacqueline is giving away 1 signed copy (winner’s choice Dreams or Curses) from whole tour and one pdf per week (winner’s choice) from all stops.

To enter please fill out the form – click on the link below.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFNEYVl3bGNEOE1SZ0dPalcxZFVNdmc6MQ

Receive a bonus entry for leaving a comment on the post where you entered.

Adding to my Wish List (24): Reasons to be Happy by Katrina Kittle

2011-11-16T05:53:00.000+02:00

I saw this in a giveaway on Book Hounds blog and it sounded so cute that I knew I wanted to read it!

Goodreads says:
REASONS TO BE HAPPY
21. Cat purr vibrating through your skin
22. Jumping on a trampoline in the rain
23. Raw cookie dough
24. Getting yourself all freaked out after a scary movie
25. Dancing like an idiot when no one is watching

What happened to the girl who wrote those things? I miss that girl. She used to be bold and fun. Now she's a big chicken loser.

How could so much change so fast?

Let's see, you could be the plain Jane daughter of two gorgeous famous people, move to a new school, have no real friends, and your mom could get sick, and, oh yeah, you could have the most embarrassing secret in the world.

Yep, that about does it.

So, the real question is, how do I get that girl back?

Hannah's parents are glamorous Hollywood royalty, and sometimes she feels like the ugly duckling in a family of swans. After her mother's tragic death, Hannah's grief is compounded by her desperate need to live up to her mother's image. She tries to control her weight through Bulimia, and her devastated father is too distracted to notice. The secret of her eating disorder weighs heavily on Hannah, but the new eighth grade Beverly Hills clique she's befriended only reinforces her desire to be beautiful. The only one who seems to notice, or care, that something is wrong is Jasper, the quirky mistfit.

Book Tour: FORGED IN FIRE by Trish McCallan

2011-11-14T05:31:00.000+02:00

I am so excited to be part of this book tour (and just look that this book cover!) Go ahead, read the blurb below – I know you will be hooked too :)

Forged in Fire

By Trish McCallan
Genre: paranormal romantic suspense

Beth Brown doesn’t believe in premonitions until she dreams a sexy stranger is gunned down during the brutal hijacking of a commercial airliner. When events in her dream start coming true, she heads to the flight’s departure gate. To her shock, she recognizes the man she’d watched die the night before.

Lieutenant Commander Zane Winters comes from a bloodline of elite warriors with psychic abilities. When Zane and two of his platoon buddies arrive at Sea-Tac Airport, he has a vision of his teammates’ corpses. Then she arrives—a leggy blonde who sets off a different kind of alarm.

As Beth teams up with Zane, they discover the hijacking is the first step in a secret cartel’s deadly global agenda and that key personnel within the FBI are compromised. To survive the forces mobilizing against them, Beth will need to open herself to a psychic connection with the sexy SEAL who claims to be her soul mate.

"Forged In Fire is a smoking hot adventure with an irresistible alpha hero. Danger, action, suspense, and a steamy romance make a story that's impossible to put down!" ~Patti O'Shea, National Bestselling Author of Through a Crimson Veil

Available at Amazon B&N Smashwords

Trish has agreed to answer a few of my questions – so let’s get started!

When did you start writing? I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. As a kid back in the second and third grades I used to write little picture books and illustrate the pictures with crayons. As I got older my writing evolved and I wrote short novellas usually following the trials and tribulations of some animal. I wrote short stories and poetry through high school and then switched to novels again in college. I wrote my first romance my second year in college, but never revised it. Then I got busy with life, and jobs and writing took a backseat. I talked about writing constantly, but never actually wrote. Then in early 2000 I decided enough was enough and started pursuing it much more seriously. I joined RWA, various writers groups and started writing every day. I haven’t looked back since.

Does your family support you in your writing? My family has always supported my writing. Back when I was a kid, my dad would take me to the library, find a list of publishing houses and help me send my books in for submission. I actually received several personal rejections from those kind people at the publishing houses. (My mom and dad swore they didn’t send the letters. LOL) We lost my mother three years ago to breast cancer. But I know she would have been thrilled with how well Forged in Fire is doing. My Dad, Grandmother and brothers and sister are constantly asking me how many books I’ve sold now. Lol

What would be able to distract you from your writing? Television and reading are my two big distractions. I’ve learned not to read a book until the weekend. I get the bulk of my writing in early in the morning before my day job. I try to be sitting down at the computer ready to work by 4 am so I can get a solid three hours in before I have to get ready for work. But if I start a book at night, I’m incapable of putting it down in time to go to bed early enough to get up at my scheduled time. The same thing happens if I sit down to watch a sitcom or movie. So I’ve learned to DVR any show I’m interested in and watch it over the weekend—after my daily writing is done.

What inspired you to write this book? This book was actually inspired by a dream. I dreamed the opening sequence (although at the time the opening was the second scene where Beth shows up at the departure gate and sees the three heroes, I added the current opening during revisions) But the dream was inspired by a Black Dagger Brotherhood reading glut. I’d just finished the series, and the heroes of the BDB were constantly on my mind when I had the dream and my focus shifted to these dream heroes.

What kind of research did you have to do? I did a ton of research on Navy SEALs. I spent weeks reading article after article on everything from their training to their weapons to the structure of the teams. I also found two legitimate forums that current and retired Navy SEALs posted on and I lurked for a year. I still lurk. I soaked up everything they said, how they interacted with each other, the terms and phrases they used. If I didn’t understand a term they were using, I researched it. I spent hours and hours and hours lurking, but I didn’t post once. After the book was finished I had a lot of questions, but I didn’t want to post them to the forums. Those guys have no patience for writers. But I needed my questions answers. Through my crime scene loop, I was put in contact with retired EOD diver who had actually worked with ST7. This contact has been an absolute Godsend and has helped me retain as much of the authenticity of the series as possible without affecting creativity or plot. I also did a lot of research both online and through contacting a couple of active FBI agents about the FBI elements in the plot.

Who designed cover? Laura Morrigan created the sexy cover for Forged in Fire

What is your next project? I’m revising Yesterday’s Child, the book I had written prior to Forged in Fire. I’m hoping to have this book up for sale sometime around the first of the year. As soon as revisions and edits are finished on Yesterday’s Child, I’ll start on Forged in Ice, the second book in my Forged Series. I keep getting emails from readers asking me to “write faster.” I assure everybody, I’m writing as fast as I can. LOL

If you could meet any of your characters, who would it be and why? I would want to meet all the guys in my Forged Series, because I think they are incredibly Sexy. *bg

A typical day in your life. My life is incredibly boring, which is probably why I am drawn to thrillers and romantic suspense. My day starts at 3:00 am. I get coffee going, shower, read email, answer email, and then head into the office at 4:00 am. I write until 7:00 am. Feed dogs, get ready for work. Work from 8 to 5, come home, walk dogs- read email and answer email, eat, do some housework and then go to bed. Yeah, such an exciting life I lead. lol

What is the hardest thing about being an author? The hardest thing is transferring my vision of the characters and story down onto the page. I really hate the first draft, because it never comes close to the vision I have of the story in my head. It’s only during the revision process that I can get the scene to read the way I want. I spend ten times the amount of time on revisions as I do on the first draft. I’ve trained myself to just slam out that first draft as fast as I can without agonizing over it, that way I have a blueprint to work with. Then I agonize over the revisions, rewriting until the scene on the page, matches what’s in my mind.

Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say? It’s been incredible how many readers have been emailing me to say how much they loved the book, and asking me to write faster. LOL. I get about an email a day either through the email I have listed in the back of the book, or through the contact page on my website. It’s been incredibly uplifting and motivating. Keep them coming! *bg

Who are some of the authors that inspire you? JR Ward, and Linda Howard for their sexy, alpha heroes and their ability to write men who think and talk like men. Guy Gavriel Kay for his ability to craft such real, rich character I become invested in their lives and hurt when they hurt.

What is in your own TBR pile? All of Ward’s Fallen Angels series, a book called The Power of The Moon-although I forget the author’s name, Caris Roane’s Guardian’s of Ascension, Christy Reece’s Sweet Revenge, and Pamela Clare’s latest romantic suspense.

About the Author:

Trish McCallan has been writing for as long as she can remember.

In grade school she wrote children’s stories, illustrating them with crayons and binding the sheets together with pencil-punched holes and red yarn. She used to sell these masterpieces at her lemonade stand for a nickel a book. Surprisingly, people actually bought them. Like, all of them. Every night she would have to write a new batch for her basket.

As she got older her interest changed to boys and horses. The focus of her literary masterpieces followed this shift. Her first full length novel was written in seventh grade by pencil in a notebook and featured a girl, a horse and a boy. At the end of the book the teenage heroine rode off into the sunset . . . with the horse.

These days she sticks to romantic suspense with hot alpha heroes and roller-coaster plots. Since she is a fan of all things bizarre, paranormal elements always seem to find a way into her fiction. Her current release, Forged in Fire, was the result of a Black Dagger Brotherhood reading binge, a cold, a bottle of NyQuil and a vivid dream.

Find Trish Online:

www.trishmccallan.com

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100001292925346

http://twitter.com/#!/TrishMcCallan

November 2011 Reading goal

2011-11-13T18:21:00.000+02:00

I have decided to give myself a reading goal of 5 books to read each month. These are 5 books that I HAVE to read, any others read will just be gravy . . . :) (I just love all these crazy expressions!)
The reason I am starting with such a low number (and making it a public goal) is just to motivate myself to get reading again - the whole week has passed without a sentence being read! (the horror!!)

So here is my first five books . . . any of them on your TBR piles?

Ghost music by Graham Masterson

Goodreads blurb: The dead cant seek justice can they? - Gideon Lake, a successful composer, is immediately smitten by Kate Solway, who lives below him. They begin a passionate affair, and Kate invites him to Europe so that they can be together without her husband finding out. But when Gideon witnesses all kinds of strange and terrifying events, he soon realizes that nothing in Kates world is what it seems. Gideon must work out who, and what, Kate really is, and what she wants from him . . .

Received from NetGalley

Somewhere the Bells Ring by Beth Trissel

Goodreads blurb: Caught with pot in her dorm room, Bailey Randolph is exiled to a relative's ancestral home in Virginia to straighten herself out. Banishment to Maple Hill is dismal, until a ghost appears requesting her help. Bailey is frightened but intrigued. Then her girlhood crush, Eric Burke, arrives and suddenly Maple Hill isn't so bad.
To Eric, wounded in Vietnam, his military career shattered, this homecoming feels no less like exile. But when he finds Bailey at Maple Hill, her fairy-like beauty gives him reason to hope--until she tells him about the ghost haunting the house. Then he wonders if her one experiment with pot has made her crazy.
As Bailey and Eric draw closer, he agrees to help her find a long-forgotten Christmas gift the ghost wants. But will the magic of Christmas be enough to make Eric believe--in Bailey and the ghost--before the Christmas bells ring?

Received from The Romance Reviews

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

Goodreads blurb: Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares—with the help of the group facilitator, Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains. . . . What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?

Patrick Carman's Dark Eden is a provocative exploration of fear, betrayal, memory, and— ultimately—immortality.

My own copy

Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

Goodreads blurb: A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares.

Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her.

My own copy

White Dawn: Book One by Susan Edwards

Goodreads blurb:

Missouri River, 1810

Broken-hearted and abandoned in the wilds of America's untamed West, sixteen-year-old Emily Ambrose is rescued from certain death by solitary trapper John Cartier. Though she's learned the hard way not to trust any man, she can't help but feel safe with the kind stranger.

John can't imagine anyone willingly letting Emily go. Her strength and beauty call to him, but it is clear her wounded heart needs time to heal, and he won't settle for just her body. He vows to return Emily to civilization—and to resist the desire growing between them, unless she turns to him out of love.

Emily is drawn to her rugged but gentle rescuer, and begins to feel the passion that a woman can feel for a man. But she can't embrace a future with John as long as she's haunted by secrets of the past...

My own copy

In my Mailbox (29)

2011-11-13T05:31:00.000+02:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren every Sunday. It is a weekly meme that lets everyone see what books you have received in the mail or bought that week.

I received two books in the mail this week that I was lucky enough to be a giveaway winner of.

Thank you to Books from Mars and Book Lovers Inc. Thank you guys!!

Laura from PAN MACMILLAN SOUTH AFRICA sent me an ARC of Switched by Amanda Hocking for review. Isn’t this cover just gorgeous!!

It came wrapped in wrapping paper with little butterflies – soooooo cute! Thank you so much, Laura!!

What is in your mailbox?

Adding to my Wish List (23): Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

2011-11-11T15:22:00.000+02:00

I just cannot resist a beautiful cover!

Goodreads blurb:
The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

New York City, 1882. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing...

Jonathan Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed body commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums. He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul.

Poet interview with Pietros Maneos

2011-11-11T05:54:00.000+02:00

I don’t usually feature poetry on my blog, so I thought it would be fun to have a poet to educate us a bit :)

Let’s meet Pietros – welcome!

There are many niches and sub-niches within the world of Modern Poetry. The element that distinguishes my work from many others is a longing for The Beautiful, which I find to be extremely rare in the 20th and 21st centuries. The Mediterranean, specifically Italy and Greece, is also a pervasive motif in my Poetry, which is consonant with the fact that I am of Italian and Grecian descent. In fact, much of my poetic sensibility was formed during my Grand Tour of Italy at the turn of the century. I've often heard the comment, 'I generally don't read or enjoy much Modern Poetry, but I love your Poetry.' And I think this sentiment springs from the above statement regarding my desire for Beauty coupled with the nascent revival of Romanticism in the modern world, in general. I definitely appreciate you taking the time to showcase my work, and encourage all of your readers to visit my recently launched website, http://www.PietrosManeos.com to read more of my Poetry.

The Immortal Greek Spirit
“From now on we shouldn’t say that the Greeks fight like heroes but the heroes fight like the Greeks.” – Winston Churchill

Until the blood from my pen runs dry, I shall worship the Greek body, the Greek mind and the Greek soul.
Until my tears land upon Greek soil, I shall forever live in exile.
In the Thracian hills, my Greek spirit shall rise.

My strong soul shall spear the Persian hordes.

They shall feel the wrath of the Greek soul – Yes, that immortal soul.
Under Thermopylae’s hot gates, Spartan valor will reign supreme.

Unified Greek blood shall form rivers of freedom – Rivers that satiate a man’s spirit.

In Aegina, I shall sleep in beds of olives,
And on the silver beaches of Naxos, I will dance until dawn with noble peasants.

In the Corinthian countryside, the moon’s fire shall awaken my Greek spirit.
In Paros, my bold blood shall be replaced with rich wine,
And in Sifnos, my carnal lips shall be the playthings of Greek goddesses – we shall worship Dionysus in the dark lustful hills.

From the peaks of Mount Olympus, I shall hoist old rocks until I am proclaimed a pagan God,
And in Athens, poetry shall be the only language.

Until the blood from my pen runs dry, I shall worship the Greek body, the Greek mind and the Greek soul.

Until my tears land upon Greek soil, I shall forever live in exile.

About:
Pietros Maneos was born in 1979 in the Philadelphia area to a Greek father and an Italian mother. His Grecian side hails from the very village of Sappho – Mytilene, Lesbos – while his Italian side is descended from Magna Grecia, specifically Fragneto Monforte, a town just outside of Napoli.
During his sophomore year of university he took a semester off to travel throughout Italy, a trip that fired his poetic imagination. ‘Without a doubt, it was Italy, and the city of Rome, that nourished my poetic sensibility,’ he notes. Upon his return to America, Maneos received word that his poetry had so impressed an entrepreneurial Roman who was just in the midst of forming a publishing company, that he wished to publish Maneos’ collection, titled – The Soul of A Young Man. Maneos triumphantly returned to Rome in order to finalize the publication. In December of 2001, at the tender age of 21, after just receiving the first copy of his collection, he exclaimed to a friend, ‘My delusions of Grandeur are steadily becoming a reality of Grandeur.’
Pietros obediently adhered to his renunciation until 2005 when he was involved in a torrid love-affair with a betrothed Brasilian beauty. His furious compositions consumed him during the Spring and Summer of 2005, finally finishing in August of 2005. He planned to present the collection – Poems of Blood and Passion – as a present to his now estranged nymph on her birthday in the early part of September. ‘I did not have the requisite time to play the dreaded publishing game of sending the collection to a literary mandarin, awaiting upon their approbation or disapprobation of the work, so I opted for self-publishing, an act that will perhaps permanently scar my Literary Legacy, but so be it, as it was done out of the exigency of Love, and any act performed from Love should surely be forgiven.’

Thank you for being with us today, Pietros and we wish you much success in future!

Excerpt of The Wewelsburg Covenant by John Braun (and a giveaway)

2011-11-10T06:02:00.000+02:00

Today, I want you to meet one of the nicest South African authors, I have met in a long time. John Braun is the author of The Wewelsburg Covenant, described as Spy thriller fiction with a strong historical interest, a touch of romance and fast-paced action.

About the book

1944 …

As the Allies gain ground against Nazi Germany in Europe, a devious plan is hatched to set up the Fourth Reich. At Wewelsburg Castle, twelve of Heinrich Himmler’s highest knights undertake a covenant to continue the Nazi cause. Thousands of Nazis escape to Argentina, where a front company, Trevellian Enterprises, is set up with smuggled war loot, and the Fourth Reich, unknown to the world, grows in strength from an underground base.

2012 …

James Trevellian, leader of the Fourth Reich and CEO of Trevellian Enterprises, is about to travel to Russia. Ben Hariri, Director of Operations of Israel’s secret service, has long been watching his moves. He knows that Trevellian is on the hunt for an ancient object of vast occult power.

Special agents Anna Leonova and Fox are sent in to capture Trevellian alive, and a daring race unfolds between Moscow, the southern Urals, Dubai, Iran, the Maldives, Bangladesh and an ancient mystical kingdom in Nepal. But when alluring agent Anna manages to infiltrate the Nazi organisation, there are unexpected consequences.

Trevellian has inconceivably fallen in love. As the Fourth Reich is on the brink of resurrection, with massive armies, nuclear weapons and a powerful fleet of submarines, he learns an earth-shattering family secret. He will be forced to choose between destruction and love, a decision that will ultimately decide the fate of the world …

What happens when one of the world’s most powerful men falls in love the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, only to find out that she is his ideological enemy?

Extract from the book:

Burj al Arab Hotel, Dubai

Anna closed her eyes as the popping bubbles tickled her skin. It was a rare treat, a luxurious bath. She couldn’t recall when last she’d had one. She knew that she should be trying to enjoy it more. But her mind worked overtime as she reprogrammed herself as the blonde Englishwoman, Liz Codwell.

Anna tried on Liz’s accent: ‘My daddy is Lord Clive Codwell. Yes, that’s right, the ex-car manufacturer, one of Trevellian’s most generous benefactors. He’s supported the cause since before the War. Huge fan of Adolf, of course.’

Freshly returned from Russia, Anna had barely set foot in her homeland before she’d been whisked away by private chartered airplane to Dubai, and given a new identity. The time she had to try on the new persona was dangerously short. It was far from ideal, and Mossad would never have operated under such conditions were the situation not so desperate.

‘Hi, I’m Liz. Liz Codwell … Yes, I’ve also heard so much about you, herr Führer. No it’s not herr, it’s mein, mein Führer,’ she corrected.

The Panorama Suite of the Burj al Arab was immaculate. The hotel was, if the brochure was to be believed, the world’s only seven-star hotel. The Panorama Suite had two floors. On the lower level, a gigantic living area sprawled out towards floor-to-ceiling windows that eyed the Arabian Gulf, a tan strip of beach clinging to an azure sea in the distance.

She got out of the tub and dried herself with a heated towel. She stood in front of the mirror and pulled her dyed-blonde hair to one side, dabbing at it. She allowed her eyes to dance over her body, imagining how someone else might see it if they were looking at her for the first time.

Her breasts were modest, but shapely, perking up to small brown tips. Spindly brown legs stalked to neat round buttocks and silky cheeks. Anna slipped into a bathrobe and made her way down a spiral staircase to the lower level. The sun was setting over the Gulf. Sailing ships and ocean liners docked close to the shore. She sat at a breakfast nook table beside the enormous windows and poured out a cup of aromatic Turkish coffee. The phone rang.

‘Hello?’

‘Hi Anna.’

‘Dr Cee, is that you?’

‘Yes, Anna, just checking in. A “hello, how are you” really.’

Dr Cee was a Mossad psychologist.

‘Did Ben put you up to calling?’

‘Well, I would be lying if I said no. But I was thinking about you, if that’s any consolation. My favourite agent.’

‘Ah, but I know you say that to them all. Associate F told me you say the same things to him.’

Dr Cee laughed. ‘Okay, you’ve got me. This is a full time job. So how are you?’

‘May I talk specifics?’

‘Yes, the line is secure.’

‘Well …’

Anna opened a briefcase beside the table as she talked, pulled out a file and placed it on the table in front of her. Across its front was written, ‘James Trevellian, Russia, Priority’. She began to flick through the pages.

‘It was pretty short.’

‘Badly planned?’

‘Terrible.’

‘Was it a success, in your opinion?’

‘We failed in one way, but succeeded in others.’

‘In what ways?’

‘Well, first, the establishment of contact with the Nazi, for one. Plus, a major way: he’s still alive, wasn’t assassinated by F. And, of course, if we hadn’t gone, I wouldn’t be here in Dubai waiting to fraternise with Nazis at their “launch” across the strait in a few hours.’

‘How do you feel about going in?’

Anna’s pulse quickened as she looked at a picture of James Trevellian on the next page.

‘Mixed. I’ve being asked to do anything necessary.’

‘And you’re worried about what that might entail?’

‘Yes. How are you supposed to feel when your country indirectly asks you to sleep with your arch enemy?’

‘A difficult question that, if you don’t mind, I’ll let you answer for yourself. All I can say is: don’t do anything that you really don’t want to do, and don’t get in too deep. You always get in too deep, Anna.’

‘Trust me, I won’t.’

‘Good. Listen, I have to go. I’m glad to hear you’re okay, and Anna, I look forward to having breakfast with you when you get back.’

‘Thanks doc, take care.’

Anna hung up and sipped her coffee. She flipped the pages to look at James, a mixture of paparazzi-style photos taken of him as he, she presumed, left or arrived at meetings with clients; warlords and military top brass. As she stared at the pictures, she felt betrayal stirring in her groin. Anna folded one leg over another, and stared at the rugged features, thick black hair and the still-muscular frame. What was it about him? Her mind raced to the woods. Why had he not killed her then?

Because he had saved her, she realised, there was something to him. Now, as she stared into a blow-up picture of his face, she could see a flicker of … what? What could she see in his eyes? Compassion? Or perhaps, Anna thought, she was projecting. She felt a tingling sensation. Her cheeks warmed.

‘What would Dr D say? Ah,’ Anna said to herself, ‘She would say that the reason my body is betraying me is that Trevellian represents the biggest challenge I could ever sink my teeth into. She would say that I like fixing people, and he’s the biggest mess I’ve encountered in my life. She would say, be mindful of your own desires. Don’t get in too deep.’

Regaling herself, Anna snapped the file shut, rose quickly, carried the file to the electric fireplace and threw it in the grate, turned the knob and watched evil blue flames spring to life and devour the pages, nibbling at the red-coal edges. Orange flames took over to finish the job.

Wiping her hands on the bathrobe, Anna turned and ascended the stairs to the bathroom and bed level. She left the bathrobe in a puddle of creased silk on the floor as she slipped into a crushed velvet dress, the kind Liz Codwell would wear, and fastened the hook of a white pearl necklace behind her neck. Next were the diamond earrings, make-up applied more carefully than usual; stark black lines around her eyes to create a nostalgic 60s look. She dabbed perfume on her wrists, and behind her ears, styled her hair to create a curling wave of blonde above her right eye. Liz Codwell had quite a retro feel, Anna thought, as she rushed over to the bed, slipped vintage black Louis Vuitton shoes on, before shuffling down the stairs into the hallway, catching a departing glance at herself in the mirror as she leaned down to smooth out a crease in a shoe strap. A strange, gorgeous woman stared back at her. The sight momentarily caught her off guard before she pressed out her dress, left the room and made her way to the heliport where she would meet a Mossad agent who would fly her across the Strait of Hormuz and land in Bandar Abbas, near the naval base. She didn’t know quite what to expect.

About the Author:

I am 49 years old, have been married for 25 years and have a daughter of 13 years of age. I am an engineer with a Masters Degree in Structural Engineering and an Honours Degree in Commerce.

The Wewelsburg Covenant started as a dream I quit my job for. It was a chance I was willing to take, and when I submitted my book for The Citizen book prize in 2009, I was confident that it was a story that would entertain people, and fortunately, I was right in the sense that hundreds of people voted in favour of my book’s synopsis, and The Wewelsburg Covenant took home the honours of winner of The Citizen book prize in 2009.

It has been a while in the making. The detailed research and writing took just under a year, and it has been a long journey, but finally the day has arrived to push the big red ‘print’ button, and The Wewelsburg Covenant is now available on the Kindle platform, for all devices, including PC, iPhone, iPad, Kindle of course, and Android devices (see a full list here). The print book (a beautiful physical object!) is also available on Amazon for international shipping.

For more information about John Braun or The Wewelsburg Covenant, visit the author’s blog at www.wewelsburgcovenant.blogspot.com or find him on Twitter or Facebook.

Five eBooks (Kindle format) and one hard copy (for domestic South African shipping only) of The Wewelsburg Covenant are up for grabs. All you have to do is post a question for the author John Braun to answer below. Your question could be about the process of self-publishing, writing, or about the book itself. The first five to post their questions will receive an eBook voucher by email from John Braun. Share this promo quick!

I want to thank John for joining us today and I wish you only success on the road ahead!

Guest post with James Mace

2011-11-09T20:20:00.001+02:00

James Mace, author of Soldier of Rome: The Sacrovir Revolt joins us today and he tell us a little more background on his book.

The easiest way to examine the life of a Roman soldier is to look at the potential career of a legionary from day one.

In order to enlist in the legions, one had to be male, at least seventeen years of age, and a Roman citizen. Non-citizens could still serve, but they would serve in the auxiliary forces, which were less trained and equipped, often suffering far higher casualties as a result. However, an auxiliary who completed twenty-five years of service would be granted Roman citizenship upon his discharge and retirement.

Potential recruits were medically screened before being sent off to their units. A period of basic training would follow, which was very similar to what modern day Army soldiers and Marines are put through. Upon completion, the recruits would become legionaries and join their brethren in the ranks. Unlike modern armies where soldiers can elect to sign up for just a few years, when one joined the Roman Army, it was for twenty years.

Adrian Goldsworthy's The Complete Roman Army gives an in depth look into daily life of a Roman soldier. He has part of a duty roster for a unit stationed in Egypt. Soldiers would find their names on the roster and see what duties they had to perform throughout the month. This included simple tasks like guard duty, to less than enviable like having to clean out the backlogged sewage pipes. A legionary could get out of these types of duties if he possessed a specific skill that was in high demand, like blacksmithing or leather working. These soldiers would be placed on what was called immune status, and would work in their specialty while also drawing incentive pay.

The epic battles that made Rome famous only made up a miniscule portion of a legionary's career, if they came at all. It was not unheard of for a soldier to serve out his entire tenure without ever having to draw his sword in anger. When battles did happen, the legionary's discipline, ability to work as a cohesive team, and their vastly superior weapons and armor kept casualties very low. During most major battles, total casualty rates for a Roman Army were around two percent, of who maybe one in five were killed.

There were many advantages to joining the legions. Foremost, it was a steady profession with guaranteed pay. Soldiers' rations were also provided, as were the barracks they lived in. Constant training kept the legionary at a high state of physical fitness. The Romans were also obsessive about personal cleanliness, and a legionary was expected to bathe daily as well as maintain proper dental hygiene. The combination of steady pay, proper nutrition, high physical fitness, and sound personal hygiene gave the Roman soldier a much higher quality of life, as well as life expectancy, than many of their civilian counterparts.

Author BIO:
Since I can remember I have always had a passion for history. My love of Roman history started when I first watched the series “I, Claudius”. I then proceeded to read every Roman book I could get my hands on.

I got my start writing bodybuilding and physical fitness articles for Bodybuilding.com, as well as a lesser-know magazine, HardCore Muscle. I turned to writing historical novels when I was in Iraq. My intent was to write the stories that I wanted to read, but could not find. While we may hear stories about the Emperors and Generals of antiquity, we almost never hear the stories of the men who did the actual fighting under them. Sadly, most historical data is lost, the individual soldiers being long since forgotten by history. My attempt with The Artorian Chronicles is to tell the story of a common legionary and what could have happened throughout his career.

More recently I have turned to other periods in history and have started work on a pair of historical novels about the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. The working title for the first book is “Brutal Valour”. I’m tentatively planning for it to be released sometime in 2012, along with the fifth book in The Artorian Chronicles, “Soldier of Rome: Judea”.

You can visit James at http://legionarybooks.net

About Soldier of Rome: The Sacrovir Revolt
It has been three years since the wars against Arminius and the Cherusci. Gaius Silius, Legate of the Twentieth Legion, is concerned that the barbarians-though shattered by the war-may be stirring once again. He also seeks to confirm the rumors regarding Arminius’ death. What Silius does not realize is that there is a new threat to the Empire, but it does not come from beyond the frontier; it is coming from within the Empire’s borders in Gaul. Legionary Artorius has greatly matured during his five years in the legions. He has become stronger in mind; his body growing even more powerful. Like the rest of the Legion, he is unaware of the shadow growing well within the Empire’s borders, where a disaffected nobleman is stirring rebellion to betray the Emperor Tiberius. A shadow looms; one that looks to envelope the province of Gaul as well as the Rhine legions. The year is 20 A.D.

Book Review: Eve by Anna Carey

2011-11-09T09:03:00.000+02:00

Title: Eve
Series: Eve #1
Author: Anna Carey
Genre: Dystopian YA
Publication date: 04 October 2011
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Goodreads blurb:
The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

My thoughts:
Let me begin by saying that I absolutely love dystopian/apocalyptic books and this book did not disappoint. It is a fast paced rollercoaster ride from beginning to end.

Eve and the girls of her school has been sheltered most all their lives. They have been drilled that all men are evil and dangerous. Their king is their only hope and the only respectable man left in the world. They dream of the day that they will graduate and move to the building across the lake, to begin their new lives, learning the trade of their choice.

Our story begins when a little seed of doubt about her elders is placed in Eve’s ear. Soon this doubt grows and she decides to investigate. She finds the horror of the real world just outside the gates of the school in the very building she has been dreaming about entering. And this horror will be her fate in only a few hours’ time. A sympathetic teacher helps Eve escape the school and then her new life begins.

Eve is a girl that has to grow up fast. All that she has been told for as long as she can remember, has been a lie. There is no one to trust, no one to turn to, no one to help her. Only a vague hope of a safe haven across the country.

Eve struggles alone in this rough world until she finds Arden, the girl from school that started Eve’s doubting of her world. Arden fled the school a few hours before her and is much more prepared for the wilderness than Eve. And she wants nothing to do with Eve – Arden is the typical bad girl, tough and strong. Eve was a straight A student but out in the real world, it is Arden that keeps her alive.

Caleb comes to the girls’ rescue when soldiers starts looking for Eve. He is the sensitive knight in shining armour and I loved him. He escaped his own horror boys-only camp and now risks everything for Eve. Their love is sweet and romantic although peppered with misunderstanding.

I thought the world Eve and Caleb lived in was very believable. Not much detail is given of where the plague came from but I loved the little touches from our time that crept into the story now and again. The characters of Eve and Caleb were very likeable and the secondary characters were strong. All the elements came together for me to make this a great read but once again, this book lost one star because of the ending . . . I don’t want to spoil the book for you, so I will leave it there. If you have read my reviews before, you will be able to guess the reason . . . :) My only hope is that things will be resolved in the second book.

I recommend this book for all dystopian lovers out there.

Making lists . . .

2011-11-08T12:56:00.001+02:00

I need advice. I am feeling a little unprepared.

Do you keep a list of the books you want/need to review? Do you keep it in order of review dates/publication dates or dates received?

My list is just broken into categories – received from authors, received from publishers, NetGalley and my own copies.

I need to rework my list . . . how does your list look?

Adding to my Wish List (22): Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith

2011-11-08T05:59:00.000+02:00

This books sounds reallllllly creepy! Just the way we like it!

Goodreads blurb:
Furnace Penitentiary: the world’s most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth’s surface. Convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, sentenced to life without parole, “new fish” Alex Sawyer knows he has two choices: find a way out, or resign himself to a death behind bars, in the darkness at the bottom of the world. Except in Furnace, death is the least of his worries. Soon Alex discovers that the prison is a place of pure evil, where inhuman creatures in gas masks stalk the corridors at night, where giants in black suits drag screaming inmates into the shadows, where deformed beasts can be heard howling from the blood-drenched tunnels below. And behind everything is the mysterious, all-powerful warden, a man as cruel and dangerous as the devil himself, whose unthinkable acts have consequences that stretch far beyond the walls of the prison.

Together with a bunch of inmates—some innocent kids who have been framed, others cold-blooded killers—Alex plans an escape. But as he starts to uncover the truth about Furnace’s deeper, darker purpose, Alex’s actions grow ever more dangerous, and he must risk everything to expose this nightmare that’s hidden from the eyes of the world.

Author Interview and Giveaway with Marissa Farrar

2011-11-07T05:54:00.000+02:00

Marissa Farrar is my guest today. Marissa writes paranormal and horror novels – here is what Amazon says about Alone.

Amazon blurb: Caught in a violent and abusive relationship, Serenity thinks there is no escape. Upon meeting a dark and intriguing stranger, Sebastian, she is shown the possibility of a different future.
Only Sebastian has a secret; he is a vampire.
As Serenity's life takes a terrifying turn, she finds herself drawn into a world she never knew existed; one of murder, love and immortality. She is forced to confront her own weaknesses to save her own life and that of the vampire she has come to love. But in the end all that matters is; can she find the strength to be 'Alone'?

Marissa, when did you start writing? I've been writing my whole life, literally since I've been able to put pen to paper. My mother still has some stories I wrote as a child and there is video footage of me at about ten years old babbling about the book I was writing at the time and how I was going to get it published!

Does your family support you in your writing? Completely. My husband must be the most patient man on earth to put up with the number of hours I spend at the computer while the house works lies uncompleted around me. My mother reads everything I write and will tell me when something sucks. She's the person I write for most.

You are lucky to have someone that loves you be that honest to tell you when something doesn’t work!

How long does it usually take you to write a book? The first draft normally takes me about three months. I write a thousand words a day to produce a 90K novel. I find that is a manageable amount. I'm never in the position where I don't want to switch on the computer cause I'm worried I won't make my target. I think people give themselves too high a word count to hit and that stops them writing at all. After that, rewrites and editing can take me a heck of a lot longer! I'll often write a novel and then leave it for quite a substantial amount of time (up to as much as a year) before I even look at it again.

What would be able to distract you from your goal? Absolutely nothing long term. Sometimes life can get in the way -- moving house, a new baby -- but it's taken me ten years to get where I am now. I think if I were ever going to give up, I would have done it by now. My goal is to be the next Amanda Hocking or John Locke. I've got another five titles which are already written that I plan to release by next Easter. Four are full length novels and the fifth is a short story collection. I've got the books, I'm just learning the promo side of things. Once I've got that nailed, there'll be no stopping me!

What inspired you to write this book? When I started 'Alone' I wanted to write a vampire book with a difference. I hated all the nicey-nice vampires around at the moment and the typical kick-ass heroine who is just dying to have sex with a hot guy. I wanted both my characters to be troubled, but to grow and develop during the story. My main character Serenity, is an abused woman trapped in a violent marriage. It's only when she meets Sebastian, who also happens to be a vampire, that she finds the strength to do something about her situation.

Who designed cover? Rebecca Treadway at RT designs. She's very talented and always manages to produce exactly what I picture in my head.

And your next project? I'm currently working on getting the sequel to 'Alone' out, which is entitled, 'Buried'. I'm in the final stages of editing and hope to have the book out by mid October. I also have a third novel, 'The Dark Road', which is currently with a different editor. That novel will be released before the holidays.

A typical day in your life would be . . . The first thing I do in the morning (after I've fed the kids and made myself a cup of tea) is check my sales. During the rest of the day I tend to work on editing projects, blogging, and social networking. The evening is my time for actual writing, preferably when the rest of the family have gone to bed.

What is the hardest thing about being an author? Getting bad reviews. They don't happen too often, thank God, but when I see that someone didn't like one of my books, it always feels like a kick in the guts. A good review will make my day. A bad review will ruin my week! Despite this I think I'm making peace with it. Not everyone will like what you do, and frankly, if everyone does then the book probably isn't different enough to make an impact. People pick up 'Alone' expected something along the lines of 'Twilight' but they couldn't be more wrong. 'Alone' is dark and violent but I hope by the end it will leave people feeling inspired.

Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say? I do hear from readers and they tend to be the ones who have loved 'Alone'. I had one reader thank me for sharing my talent (which was really sweet) and more enquiring when 'Buried' was due out as they 'couldn't wait!'

Who are some of the authors that inspire you? I come from a horror background and grew up reading Stephen King, James Herbert, Richard Laymon and Dean Koontz. But my tastes have changed and, while I still love my horror, I also read a lot of Jodi Picoult and Emily Barr. I think the result is my own style of dark, paranormal women's fiction.

What is in your own TBR pile? I've recently been given a Kindle for my birthday and it's been loaded with books by my author friends; Danielle Gavan's 'Arduer', C.J. Ellisson's 'The Hunt' and Peter Labrow's 'The Well' are all on my TBR list and I can't wait to get stuck in!

A little about Marissa: Marissa Farrar is a multi-published horror and paranormal author. She was born in Devon, England, loves to travel and has lived in both Australia and Spain. She now resides in Devon with her husband, two children, a crazy Spanish rescue dog and four hens. She has a degree in Zoology, but her true love has always been writing.
Her dark take on a vampire romance, Alone, was first published in 2009 and has now been re-launched by Red Hot Publishing. The sequel to Alone is scheduled for an October 2011 release.
Her short stories have been accepted for a number of anthologies including, Their Dark Masters, Red Skies Press, Masters of Horror: Damned If You Don't, Triskaideka Books; and 2013: The Aftermath, Pill Hill Press. Her own collection of paranormal short stories, Where the Dead Live, is also available.

If you want to know more about Marissa, then please visit her website at www.marissa-farrar.blogspot.com.

You can also find her at her facebook page, www.facebook.com/marissa.farrar.author
or follow her on twitter @marissafarrar.

She loves to hear from readers and can be emailed at marissafarrar@hotmail.co.uk.

I am so happy today as Marissa is giving one lucky commenter the opportunity to win a eCopy of Alone.

Yay.

Leave a comment for her and I will draw the lucky number on 14 November 2011.

Thank you so much, Marissa. It was wonderful talking to you and we wish you lots of success on the road ahead!

Adding to my Wish List (21) Unveiled by Trisha Wolfe

2011-11-06T16:06:00.000+02:00

More eye candy today!

Goodreads blurb:
Amongst the wasteland lies the gleaming city of Karm. A Camelot-esque utopia built from the ashes of a dying world.

Seventeen-year-old Fallon is no daughter of Karm.

She's its assassin.

Raised by a secret society of rebels, she's bent on bringing down the king's sham of an existence. But her first mark, one of the king's top knights of the Force, makes her question everything. Even her heart.

Warehouse SALE

2011-11-05T12:17:00.001+02:00

I went to the Exclusive Books Warehouse sale this morning after I specifically told myself that I would not go. And this is the reason I should not have gone . . .

. . . R 700 later . . .

Author Interview with Charmaine Pauls

2011-11-04T06:03:00.000+02:00

Today we meet another South African writer. Yay!

Charmaine lives in Chile at the moment but her heart belongs to South Africa.
You guys know how much I love beautiful covers and just look at this one . . . wow! Amazing . . . can you feel the romance just jumping off the page?

Goodreads blurb:In a sunny seventeenth-century chateau in the South of France, the elegant rooms conceal a host of secrets. When Marlien Marais comes to the picturesque village of Castries to claim her family estate, she slowly uncovers a web of deception that lifts the veil on her past and changes her future forever. Shimmering with romance, intrigue, and the elegance that only the French can fashion, Charmaine Pauls’ dazzling Between Yesterday and Tomorrow creates a tale of resplendent love—with a thoroughly French twist. A graphic designer who was raised by her father on a farm in South Africa, Marlien leaves home to survey her inheritance, the sumptuous estate that was luxuriously appointed by her English grandmother, May de la Croix, who had married her French grandfather. Prompted by word of May’s passing and a will bequeathing her the chateau, she soon finds herself enmeshed in a community whose deep-seeded connections hark back to days well before her birth. Moreover, Marlien arrives in search of understanding of her long absent mother and estranged maternal family, who vanished from her life in a veil of mystery. From the moment she arrives at the lavish Le Bon Soleil, Marlien meets a cast of characters who alternately confound, cajole, and coax her into a new French life. Yves, her grandmother’s second husband, strives to buy her part of the property, and see her out of town. Jean-Christophe Fontaine, an alluring young veterinarian, is intent on capturing her heart, which is grieving from the mysterious loss of her fiancé, Paul van Wyk. At the chateau, the manager Vincent Leclerc and his son David, who possesses supernatural gifts, extend a familial embrace. Marie-Hélène, the taciturn family caretaker, dangles innuendo on the family past, but leaves Marlien hopelessly in the dark. Soon, curious events compel Marlien to come to terms with the guilt and longing that she has so deeply buried eight years earlier after the tragic disappearance of Paul. Her awakening feelings for Jean-Christophe Fontaine conflicts with the loyalty that she had sworn to the only man she thought she could ever love. Amidst it all, the annual summer festival in Arles places her in the midst of the bull run, to be miraculously saved from the crushing hooves by a French gypsy musician, Laurent Regard. Marlien is not faced with choosing between two men, she is faced with choosing between the man in her present and the man of her past. In her epic journey of self-discovery, Marlien must face the past, in order to make way for the future. Worldly, sophisticated, and deep in mystery, Between Yesterday and Tomorrow weaves an elegant, old-world tapestry that is rich in metaphor and emotional power. It’s certain to satisfy anyone seeking a transporting story of beauty and heart.

And here is a little bit about Charmaine:

South African born Charmaine Pauls followed a career in all the facets of her communications degree, including public relations, journalism, advertising and brand marketing. She currently resides in Chile with her husband and two children.
Having worn many different hats in the professional world, including public relations for the National Association for the Deaf and the previous Orange Free State State Theatre, advertising manager for an international vegetable seed company, photographer, graphic design artist, communication manager and finally brand manager for an international pet food manufacturing company, Charmaine is currently focusing on her professional writing career.
A lot of Charmaine's inspiration comes from her travels. Passionate about exploring the world, she has travelled to most countries in Europe, in South America, as well as to a selected few in Africa and Asia. The author previously lived in Montpellier, France, hence the inspiration for the setting of Between Yesterday and Tomorrow.

I have a few questions for Charmaine – let’s hear what she says.

When did you start writing, Charmaine? I have always loved writing. It started in primary school when I wrote some award winning essays and poems. My first prize ever was R3.00 for a silly little story writing competition, but it meant the world to me. In high school my teachers had some of my critical evaluations of prescribed literature published in teachers’ guides. After finishing my studies (a 4-year degree in Communications at the University of Potchefstroom), I have always been writing in the capacity of my profession. My creative writing took second place for fifteen years, while I built my career in the business world. When I married my (French) husband and we moved to France, I started thinking about writing a novel seriously. I had some ideas mauling around in my head for more than two years, and only when we moved to Santiago, Chile, and our two toddlers were old enough to attend school in the mornings, did I finally sit down and typed it all up.

Does your family support you in your writing?
My mother has always supported me in my daydreaming and my imaginary characters. She even set a place for my favourite character at the dinner table. I am lucky that my father has always believed in me, and urged me to follow my true dream, regardless of the consequences. And my husband has given me the best gift of all: the gift of time to realize my dream.

How long does it usually take you to write a book?
It took me a year to write the first one, and another six months for all the editing. The second one took less than a year, but I am yet to start the reworking. I have only finished the rough, creative stage. So I think a good average will be one year per book.

What/Who would be able to distract you from your goal?
My close family. They remain the most important in my life.

What inspired you to write this book?
The amazingly old, romantic, culture rich south of France. I was inspired by the wild, white Camargue horses, the gypsy musicians, the fairy tale castles, the ancient cobble stone roads, the bull runs, the festivals, centuries of mystery and history, and the sexiest accent in all of the world. It was the perfect setting for a love story. And of course, the story had to make a turn in South Africa.

What kind of research did you have to do?
It is an epic love story of a woman’s struggle to let go of her past in order to embrace her future. I could draw on my personal experience of the French way of life to place the heroine in picturesque Castries, near Montpellier. I didn’t have to do much research on the French hero, a veterinarian with a pet food manufacturing plant, because I worked for years as a brand manager for such a French company.

I adore the cover – it is beautiful. Who designed the it?
The graphic design team of my publisher, Create Space Amazon.

What is your next project?
My genre is definitely romance. I’m currently working on a romance that plays off between the Atacama dessert and the Patagonian glaciers in Chile.

A typical day in your life would be?
I am typically always battling to find enough time for everything. I try to do at least two hours of writing in the morning, and spend one hour doing marketing and publicity, and attending to all my communications. I am lucky if a get a good four hour uninterrupted stretch, before I have to cook lunch, rush to two different schools to pick up my toddlers, and in the afternoon I am dedicated to my children and their activities. I spend another two hours writing in the evening, mostly when the kids are in bed and the house is once more quiet, and only a precious hour reading. When everyone else is lying on the beach for the summer holiday, or skiing down the slopes of the Andes in winter, I’m typing away at my keyboard to make up for lost time. Weekends are my special reading time, when the children let me!

What is the hardest thing about being an author?
I have heard some authors say that it is the loneliest job in the world. That is exactly what I love about it. I like to work on my own, and to have long stretches of quiet time. I need a lot of space to feel calm, and a lot of alone time to function properly. The hardest thing for me is the never-ending interruptions. Just when I am on a creative high, the doorbell rings. Since I work from home, few people respect my morning working hours. I always have someone dropping in; the postman ringing my bell; the neighbour who comes to complain about the dog next door; the list is never ending. Most people don’t take your job seriously when you say that you are working from home, writing.

Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?
I mostly find that if you are open to answering queries and to connecting with readers, they are very keen on giving you their comments. I have had feedback from some readers. One woman said that she cried a lot toward the end of the book, and another said that she got into the story straight away. This is the kind of feedback that I appreciate, because at least I know that my story is evoking some kind of emotion.

Who are some of the authors that inspire you?Some of my favourite authors include Robert Goolrick (A Reliable Wife), PG du Plessis (Fees van die Ongenooides), Abraham Verghese (Cutting for Stone), and Lora Leigh (romance).

What is in your TBR pile?
I have always enjoyed great classics like Dracula and Frankenstein, but have never really given modern fantasy a go. I bought all the books in the George RR Martin series, A Song of Ice and Fire, as well as A Dance with Dragons. And the new author of the month that I’m supporting is Bill Loehfelm with his latest release, The Devil She Knows.

Links: http://www.charmainepauls.com/

Thank you so much for joining us today, Charmaine. We wish you much success with Between Yesterday and Tomorrow.

Antique Charming giveaway

2011-11-03T08:32:00.001+02:00

Have you read the excerpt of Antique Charming below? Can’t wait to read more? Well you have the chance of winning a eBook copy. Yay!!

Antique Charming Tour Giveaway

Three lucky readers will win a PDF version of Antique Charming as well as a limited edition Antique Charming solid perfume created by Dark Beauty Boutique especially for the release of Antique Charming.

Just click on this link and enter today!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFFrcDBoTHV4VFBUbGh5SXk3bU5pNFE6MQ