Julie Kenner's Blog, page 76
September 13, 2013
It’s All about the Guys by Natalie J. Damschroder
Please welcome Natalie J. Damschroder to the blog!
Before LOST came on the air, I watched hardly any TV at all. Since then, however, I’ve become a true couch potato. And while I’ve loved (and devoured) female-driven shows like Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, and Revenge, when a show grabs me—really grabs me, so that I’m thinking about it at random times and can’t wait for it to come back on TV—it’s almost always about the guys.
The most recent example that prompted me to consider this as a blog topic is Tom on Falling Skies. This show on TNT is about a band of survivors fighting off aliens who have tried to take over the planet. Tom is a former history professor who rises through the military ranks and turns into a powerful leader. He’s not a studly soldier type, though. Not muscly-hot and rugged. He’s a dad driven by emotion more than cold strategy. That made him hard to forget.
But he was far from the first. I really fell for Michael and Lincoln in Prison Break. The things Michael was willing to do to save his brother—rob a bank to go to jail and then break him out—made for incredibly compelling TV. Wentworth Miller played him with deep emotion, and Dominic Purcell matched him despite the very different kind of character he played.
I guess I have to admit brothers are big grabbers for me. Sam and Dean on Supernatural have that same willingness to die for each other. You can’t find a more masculine guy on TV than Dean Winchester, but every decision he makes is out of love.
*sigh*
Oh! How can I write about this topic without mentioning Auggie Anderson on Covert Affairs? I mean, the guy is a spy and a soldier and a tech whiz and he’s blind. Christopher Gorham plays him with such tough vulnerability, it’s heartbreaking.
This is common with books, too. Mention Roarke, Joe-and-Ranger, Reyes, Ash, or a dozen others and you’ll get swoons and sighs all over the Internet.
So who has captured your attention this way?
Book 2 in the Goddesses Rising Trilogy
by Natalie J. Damschroder
Paranormal Romantic Adventure
Entangled Publishing, August 27, 2013
ISBN 13: 978-1622668908
The world is not what Riley Kordek imagined. On the run from those who’ve targeted her, all Riley wants is a chance to figure out her new ability to bend metal’s energy. When a hot guy who knows more than he should helps her escape her attackers, she thinks she might’ve found someone who can lead her to the answers she needs.
Three years ago, Sam Remington walked away from his employer and the woman he loved, and now, all he’s looking to do is fill the gaping hole left behind. Except, when Sam takes Riley to the Society for Goddess Education and Defense, the stakes rise beyond what either of them could have imagined.
After being alone for so long, falling for Sam would be far too easy—and far too painful, once his old flame calls needing his help. Worse, Riley uncovers a plot with disastrous ramifications not only for herself, but for Sam and the people he loves—and potentially every goddess in the country.
Preorder:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Powell’s Books
iTunes/iBookstore
About the Author
Natalie J. Damschroder is an award-winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance—Love with a Shot of Adrenaline. She sold her first book in 1999, and 2013 will see the publication of her 14th novel. She grew up in Massachusetts and loves the New England Patriots more than anything. (Except her family. And writing and reading. And popcorn.) When she’s not writing, revising, proofreading, or promoting her work, she does freelance editing and works part time as a chiropractic assistant. She and her husband have two daughters she’s dubbed “the anti-teenagers,” one of whom is also a novelist. (The other one prefers math. Smart kid. Practical.) You can learn more about her and her books at www.nataliedamschroder.com.
Thank you Natalie for guest blogging!
So — which guys capture your attention on TV? Share your examples below!
J.K. here: Want to chat with me about the Stark Trilogy, demons, or anything at all? Leave on message or hang around for conversations at our brand new forum/message board! You'll find it all right here: KennerForum.com
P.S. - Did you hear the news? Complete Me debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and #3 on the USA Today list! More important, it's not the end! I'm writing an epilogue novella due out December 3. I'll post a pre-order link for Take Me as soon as I have one!
P.P.S - Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a thing -- and so that you're in on the monthly contests we're starting! (And if you leave a snail mail address, you'll receive goodies, too! What a deal, right?)
P.P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
September 12, 2013
Feast your eyes on the cover for Heated by J. Kenner – It’s #MostWantedMonday on Thursday!
Ah yes … in case you missed RT’s exclusive cover reveal on Monday, here is the totally awesome cover of Heated by J. Kenner (A Most Wanted Novel). It’ll be out in May, and is book two following Wanted, which comes out January 7!
Want to get (more) of a peek at Tyler Sharp? I included a fun scene and a story blurb in this past Monday’s blog post!
Want Wanted? You can pre-order right now!
Amazon print
Amazon Kindle
Random House
Amazon UK print
Amazon UK Kindle
Barnes & Noble/Nook
more retailers coming soon!
And pre-order buttons for Heated: A Most Wanted Novel are starting to pop up!
Amazon print
More retailers coming soon!
Did you miss the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Stark Trilogy? Click here to learn all about it! And for Stark fans, a Stark novella is coming! Take Me will be available December 3, and you’ll even get to meet Evan Black in the story! (No pre-order button yet, but I’ll shout out when it’s up!)
And, in honor of Take Me, I’ll be starting #StarkOnSaturday again soon, too!
That’s all for now!
XXOO
J.K.
J.K. here: Want to chat with me about the Stark Trilogy, demons, or anything at all? Leave on message or hang around for conversations at our brand new forum/message board! You'll find it all right here: KennerForum.com
P.S. - Did you hear the news? Complete Me debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and #3 on the USA Today list! More important, it's not the end! I'm writing an epilogue novella due out December 3. I'll post a pre-order link for Take Me as soon as I have one!
P.P.S - Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a thing -- and so that you're in on the monthly contests we're starting! (And if you leave a snail mail address, you'll receive goodies, too! What a deal, right?)
P.P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
September 11, 2013
Hump Day Books from Loucinda McGary, Allison Brennan & Laura Griffin, Darlene Gardner, Christina A. Burke, Becky Barker, Kathryn Shay, Elizabeth Charles, and Shelley Munro!
Check out these fabulous Hump Day books!
New Year’s Endeavor (Adventure Cruise Line 3)
Sometimes love happens when you least expect it.
Find out more at Loucinda McGary’s Facebook page!
Crash and Burn (Moreno & Hart Mysteries)
New digital mystery series featuring the Southern California detective duo, Moreno & Hart!
For more see the websites of Allison Brennan and Laura Griffin!
The beginning of a haunting New Adult serial where the employees of a beachside carnival aren’t who they seem.
For more visit Darlene Gardner’s website!
Top-Rated Cozy Mystery!
Don’t forget to visit Christina A. Burke’s website!
Just released! The audio version of Becky Barker’s contemporary western romance!
See more at Becky Barker’s website!
Chasing the Fire (Backdraft, Fully Involved, Flashover) (Hidden Cove Series)
New Contemporary Romance! Three firefighters must deal with the past before they can be happy in the present.
Find out more at Kathryn Shay’s website!
Amazon bestselling historical based on a true story!
Don’t forget to visit Elizabeth Charles’ website!
Past Regrets (Love and Friendship)
New release! Never look back…unless that’s where your heart belongs.
Connect with Shelley Munro at her website!
J.K. here: Want to chat with me about the Stark Trilogy, demons, or anything at all? Leave on message or hang around for conversations at our brand new forum/message board! You'll find it all right here: KennerForum.com
P.S. - Did you hear the news? Complete Me debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and #3 on the USA Today list! More important, it's not the end! I'm writing an epilogue novella due out December 3. I'll post a pre-order link for Take Me as soon as I have one!
P.P.S - Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a thing -- and so that you're in on the monthly contests we're starting! (And if you leave a snail mail address, you'll receive goodies, too! What a deal, right?)
P.P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
September 10, 2013
Finding Inspiration and Pyramids in Belize by Loucinda McGary (and a free book giveaway!)
Please welcome Loucinda McGary to the blog!
Where do you get your ideas? This is a question I’m asked quite often, and I always answer honestly, “Everywhere.” In truth, I never know what might turn into a story idea. I might be inspired by a piece of music, a picture, a scrap of conversation, just about anything. My latest release, New Year’s Endeavor was inspired by a pyramid.
In September, 2011 my hubby and I went on a seven day cruise out of New Orleans to Belize, Roatan, Honduras and Cozumel, Mexico. I’d never been to that part of the world before and I was anxious to see Mayan ruins ‘up close and personal.’
We booked an all-day excursion from Belize City to the ruins at Altun Ha. This site was occupied by the Mayans from 900 BC until about 1000 AD and at its peak, had a population of 10,000 inhabitants. Of course, the most impressive things about the site are the three enormous step-pyramids with a fourth still being excavated.
Threatening clouds and ominous thunder greeted us when we arrived. After a short hike through the trees, we emerged in a wide, grassy field ringed by these amazing stone pyramids, the tallest over fifty feet from top to bottom. The guides tried to hurry our group along before the storm hit, but we were all so awe-struck that we had a hard time tearing ourselves away. Fat rain drops forced my hubby and me to run for our tour bus, and we arrived moments before the real downpour started.
As often happens, I found myself looking at those fantastic sights and thinking how much I’d love to include them in a story someday. Unfortunately, I always have many more ideas than I have time to write. However, when I sat down to write the third installment of my Adventure Cruise Line series, I knew the time was right for me to include the Mayan pyramids at Altun Ha.
I tried to include everything, even the torrential rain, so that my readers can experience this amazing place right along with my characters. Here’s a brief excerpt to pique your interest:
Josh and Mason caught up with the rest of the group as they left the marker and walked through a gate. Falling in step beside Tammy, they stopped short along with the rest of their group when the jungle opened into a football field sized clearing flanked by two enormous step pyramids. Mason gasped, and Josh could see that even Dillon looked awestruck. Their female tour guide gave a brief account of the Mayan culture and everything they knew about this particular site. A huge clap of thunder interrupted her explanation of the archeological activities still happening at another partially excavated pyramid on the far side of the larger of the other two. Tammy jumped at the unexpected loud noise, and the blonde twins squealed.
“I better let you explore the pyramids before it starts raining again.” The guide made a sweeping gesture. “Please don’t climb very high and be careful. The stones are wet and slippery….”
“C’mon, Dill!” Mason shouted as he dashed off in the opposite direction.
Josh saw his mother with her sketch pad and pencil, drawing like crazy and flipping pages…
New Year’s Endeavor is a novella and the third story in the Adventure Cruise Line series. A contemporary romance, it is currently available in ebook format on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. For more information please visit me on Facebook!
What are some awe-inspiring places you’ve visited? Are there any you’d like to read about?
Thanks so much for inviting me to blog with you today! I’ll give away a free download of New Year’s Endeavor to one randomly chosen commenter.
Thank you Loucinda!
Don’t forget to answer Loucinda’s question: “What are some awe-inspiring places you’ve visited? Are there any you’d like to read about?” One lucky commenter will get a free download of New Year’s Endeavor!
J.K. here: Want to chat with me about the Stark Trilogy, demons, or anything at all? Leave on message or hang around for conversations at our brand new forum/message board! You'll find it all right here: KennerForum.com
P.S. - Did you hear the news? Complete Me debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and #3 on the USA Today list! More important, it's not the end! I'm writing an epilogue novella due out December 3. I'll post a pre-order link for Take Me as soon as I have one!
P.P.S - Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a thing -- and so that you're in on the monthly contests we're starting! (And if you leave a snail mail address, you'll receive goodies, too! What a deal, right?)
P.P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
September 9, 2013
Wow! Cover Reveal for Heated by J. Kenner – a Most Wanted Novel
Just in time for #MostWantedMonday — head on over to RT and check out today’s exclusive cover reveal for Heated by J. Kenner (a Most Wanted Novel), coming May 13!
Want more? You can pre-order Wanted right now!
Amazon print
Amazon Kindle
Random House
Amazon UK print
Amazon UK Kindle
Barnes & Noble/Nook
more retailers coming soon!
And pre-order buttons for Heated: A Most Wanted Novel are starting to pop up!
Amazon print
More retailers coming soon!
Did you miss the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Stark Trilogy? Click here to learn all about it! And for Stark fans, a Stark novella is coming! Take Me will be available December 3, and you’ll even get to meet Evan Black in the story! (No pre-order button yet, but I’ll shout out when it’s up!)
And, in honor of Take Me, I’ll be starting #StarkOnSaturday again soon, too!
That’s all for now!
XXOO
J.K.
J.K. here: Want to chat with me about the Stark Trilogy, demons, or anything at all? Leave on message or hang around for conversations at our brand new forum/message board! You'll find it all right here: KennerForum.com
P.S. - Did you hear the news? Complete Me debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and #3 on the USA Today list! More important, it's not the end! I'm writing an epilogue novella due out December 3. I'll post a pre-order link for Take Me as soon as I have one!
P.P.S - Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a thing -- and so that you're in on the monthly contests we're starting! (And if you leave a snail mail address, you'll receive goodies, too! What a deal, right?)
P.P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
Most Wanted Monday – A peek at Heated by J. Kenner
UPDATE: THE COVER REVEAL IS UP!!! Click the image or click here for RT’s exclusive cover reveal!
Welcome to an all new #MostWantedMonday as we countdown to the January 7 release of Wanted, book one in the Most Wanted series of erotic romances that wilI be followed by Heated by J. Kenner in May and Ignited in September!
OMG, you guys are going to flip over the cover for Heated. This one features Tyler Sharp, and he is HOT.
Yeah, yeah, I’m teasing you…the cover reveal is coming SOON!!!! In the meantime, if you want to know more about the story in Heated and get another peek into Wanted? Read on!
Sloane Watson is an undercover cop who is more than capable of standing on her own two feet. So when notorious bad boy and swindler Tyler Sharp becomes the focus of her investigation, she’s determined to do anything it takes to get to the bottom of whatever covert schemes he’s running–even if that means posing as an exotic dancer at Destiny, the club Tyler co-owns with partners Cole August and Evan Black.
But going head-to-head with Tyler proves to be more distracting than Sloane could have imagined, and as much as she tries to resist him, he has a knack for crashing through her defenses and taking her, both physically and emotionally, to places she’s never been. She’s playing a dangerous game–and it’s not just her profession that’s on the line, but her heart.
And just to give you a taste, here’s short excerpt from Wanted that includes a quick description of Tyler:
I sighed, Cole’s scent reminding me of Uncle Jahn, a musky male scent that probably came in a bottle but seemed to me to be part and parcel of those men I adored. “I’m glad you’re here. I thought you were out of town.”
“We came back, of course.” By we, I knew he meant himself and Tyler Sharp. “We had to be here for Jahn,” Cole added. He pressed a chaste kiss to my forehead. “And for you.”
“Is Tyler hiding in the crowd somewhere?” I didn’t mention that I’d already honed in on Evan.
“He was right behind me. But he was was snagged by a limber blonde thing who looked like she wanted to wrap herself around him.”
I had to laugh. Even at a funeral, Tyler was a girl-magnet.
Cole grinned. “Yeah, well, don’t hold it against her. I get the feeling she’s been self-medicating her grief for hours.”
“I know how she feels.”
He looked hard at me, the humor all but erased from his face. “You need anything, you ask.”
I nodded, but stayed silent. The only thing I needed was to let myself go a little wild. To shake off the weight of my grief, cut loose, and get lost in an adrenalin haze. It would work—I knew damn well that was the best way to take the edge off the pain and loss I was feeling. But no matter what, I wasn’t going to go there.
Beside me, Cole called out a greeting to Tyler. I inched away from Cole and watched as the third of Jahn’s knights approached. Where Cole was burly, Tyler was lean and athletic. He had the kind of good looks that could sneak up on a person, and the kind of charm that could make people do whatever Tyler wanted, and be absolutely certain it was their own idea all along.
Want more Wanted? You can pre-order right now!
Amazon print
Amazon Kindle
Random House
Amazon UK print
Amazon UK Kindle
Barnes & Noble/Nook
more retailers coming soon!
And pre-order buttons for Heated: A Most Wanted Novel are starting to pop up!
Amazon print
More retailers coming soon!
Did you miss the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Stark Trilogy? Click here to learn all about it! And for Stark fans, a Stark novella is coming! Take Me will be available December 3, and you’ll even get to meet Evan Black in the story! (No pre-order button yet, but I’ll shout out when it’s up!)
And, in honor of Take Me, I’ll be starting #StarkOnSaturday again soon, too!
That’s all for now!
XXOO
J.K.
J.K. here: Want to chat with me about the Stark Trilogy, demons, or anything at all? Leave on message or hang around for conversations at our brand new forum/message board! You'll find it all right here: KennerForum.com
P.S. - Did you hear the news? Complete Me debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and #3 on the USA Today list! More important, it's not the end! I'm writing an epilogue novella due out December 3. I'll post a pre-order link for Take Me as soon as I have one!
P.P.S - Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a thing -- and so that you're in on the monthly contests we're starting! (And if you leave a snail mail address, you'll receive goodies, too! What a deal, right?)
P.P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
September 8, 2013
Demons in the butter dish? It’s Demon Hunting Soccer Mom Sunday
Welcome to #SoccerMomSunday!When I first started writing the Demon Hunting Soccer Mom books, I was a very, very, very new mom. I can remember sitting at my humongous Salvation Army desk with my computer on one side and my now-eleven year old daughter’s bouncy seat on the other as I banged away at the synopsis and first three chapters that, a few months later, sold to a publisher and was optioned by Warner Brothers and 1492 Pictures.
Because the books were coming out once a year, by the time book three, Demons Are Forever, rolled around, my daughter had aged accordingly (though the characters, for whom time moves much less swiftly, had not). For some reason that I can’t recall, she’d started calling margarine, which we used to butter her toast, “butter cheese.”
Since that was just too stinking adorable, I used it in my Demon Hunting Soccer Mom books, and then, as the years passed and she started calling butter “butter” and margarine “margarine” and cheese “cheese”, forgot about it.
Now that I have the rights back to the books, I’ve been proofing them before uploading the digital versions. So there I was, reading along in Demons Are Forever and there it was–a reference to “butter cheese.” I immediately called my husband into my office, and then we had to–HAD TO–go into Eldest Daughter’s room and remind her of this, in full on parental embarrassment style.
And can I just say, that I was also prescient about the teenage years? Because though I didn’t have a teen at the time, the bits of hormonal moodiness that I wrote into Allie have definitely arrived in the Kenner household.
That’s okay, though. Just so long as the demons don’t show up, too!
And here’s the scene I was talking about. Enjoy!
“I flying, Mommy!” he squealed. “I’m Super Timmy!”
I caught him midleap. “Hey there, Super Dude. Even superheroes need breakfast. Are you hungry?”
“Toast with butter cheese,” he demanded as I pulled off his pajama bottoms and helped him into a dry Pull-Ups.
“Fine and dandy,” I said. For reasons I don’t actually remember, Timmy started calling margarine “butter cheese” about the time he learned to talk. Since it’s so damn cute, we haven’t bothered to correct him. So long as he gets it right before college, I figure we’re okay.
I got him dressed, then led him to Allie’s room. I tapped once, heard nothing, then tapped again. Vague sounds of life drifted to me through the closed door. I considered that a good sign and pounded once again.
“What?”
“Time to get up. First day back to school. Pencils. Teachers. Books.”
No response.
“Cheerleading. Boys.”
That did it. “I’m up, already.”
“Twenty minutes, Allie,” I said. “I want you downstairs in twenty.”
“I said okay!”
Want more? You can snag the whole series at a variety of retailers, with more coming very soon:
Carpe Demon: Kindle | Amazon UK | Nook | Kobo | iTunes
California Demon: Kindle | Amazon UK | Nook | iTunes
Demons Are Forever: Kindle | Amazon UK | Nook | iTunes
The Demon You Know (short story): Kindle | Amazon UK | Nook | iTunes
Deja Demon: Kindle | Amazon UK | Nook | Kobo | iTunes
Demon Ex Machina: Coming late September
Pax Demonica: Coming just in time for Halloween!
Happy reading!
XXOO
JK
J.K. here: Want to chat with me about the Stark Trilogy, demons, or anything at all? Leave on message or hang around for conversations at our brand new forum/message board! You'll find it all right here: KennerForum.com
P.S. - Did you hear the news? Complete Me debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and #3 on the USA Today list! More important, it's not the end! I'm writing an epilogue novella due out December 3. I'll post a pre-order link for Take Me as soon as I have one!
P.P.S - Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a thing -- and so that you're in on the monthly contests we're starting! (And if you leave a snail mail address, you'll receive goodies, too! What a deal, right?)
P.P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
September 6, 2013
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: “How to Survive a Curse . . . Or not.” One lucky commenter wins a novella!
Please welcome LindaThomas-Sundstrom to the blog!
Hello there. I’m Linda, and I’m joining you today to see what you know about shedding a curse, or avoiding one.
No, not the four-letter-swearword kind of cursing, as in “what the frig?” The real kind. Evil eye, whispered words with evil intent, being the recipient of voodoo doll pins in all the wrong places, being trapped within a stone form for 364 days a year on the roof of a cathedral. To name a few.
Curse: Also called a jinx or hex, a curse is any expressed wish that some form of misfortune will befall another entity, be it a person, a place, or an object. It can be inflicted by any supernatural powers such as spell, prayer, magic, witchcraft, God, a natural force, or a spirit.
Cursed: (Webster’s Dictionary definition): Blighted, doomed, confounded, condemned, damned.
Whoa.
I remember a movie with Cher in the starring role about a woman who feared being cursed
with the Evil Eye of a little Italian woman who didn’t like something she’d done. In a best-selling author’s funny mystery series, the lead character fears her boyfriend’s relative because of Evil Eye rumors. But those are comedic versions of something that can be a stunningly more serious. Still, do we tend to believe any of that, for real? Maybe just a little?
What if the “spell” was as serious as it gets, and involved the rest of your life?
What if you happened to be the middle-man in a battle between the forces of Light and Dark, and need to find a way out of the spell binding you?
Okay. I know those are heavy questions. *wink* But not all curses and spells are the Bewitched TV show kind. Nor are all spell-singers witches with big lack caldrons.
Some spells can linger forever, I suppose . . . if you can’t find a way out.
Bummer. Right?
So, can there be a way out? A way to avoid a curse, or at least manipulate one?
Rules of reversing or eliminating a curse is called a “removal” or “breaking,” and usually requires elaborate rituals or prayers (so says Wikipedia). Yes, you could duck quickly when a spell comes your way, if you knew it was coming. You might wear a rubber suit, so that spell bounces off without sticking. Or you could enlist the help of a curse-breaking professional.
Another movie comes to mind here. The title was “Bell, Book, and Candle” starring Kim
Novak and James Stewart. Great movie about a witch putting a love spell on a guy, that the guy eventually finds out about. He then does whatever it takes to shed the spell – in a specific ritual for love spells that includes drinking a vat of terrible smelling stuff.
But what if removing the spell could be manipulated, but not broken, in a loophole that allowed the spell to be passed along to someone else? And that other person was someone you loved?
I had to think hard about all of this when writing my new novella “Trapped In Stone,” out this month. The genre is urban fantasy, with a hefty dose of romantic emotion weaved in.
The idea for this hit me when I climbed to the top of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, to the Gallery of Chimeras on the rooftop… and saw all those really spooky stone gargoyles and chimeras that overlook the city. I just knew there was more to those stone creatures than met the eye, and I was right. Inside one of the chimeras, trapped in stone, was a man waiting for the one night per year he would be set free, in order to find a replacement for himself on that gallery. He had manipulated the curse on that rooftop by taking the place of a woman trapped there before him. He had volunteered to set that woman free, and now has to curse someone else in order to free himself.
But can he commit some other poor soul to this kind of purgatory? Invite them to share this stone state of limbo, surrounded by other creatures that also will be freed on that same night with the purpose of stopping him from manipulating the curse further?
If the forces of Dark and Light are involved, drinking something nasty to remove the curse would be a joke. And this is no joke for Tristan, or the woman he once set free who remains by his side, waiting for the one night when he returns, so that she can again feel his flesh against hers.
Spells. Curses. Hexes. Gargoyles. Drama. High above Paris, the city of lights and love.
It has been one wild ride to the surprising finish.
I hope you’ll read “Trapped In Stone” and find out if such a curse can be broken, in the end, and if true love can prevail over danger and sacrifice. That info might come in handy some day, especially if you climb the stairs to that very real and disturbing gallery.
And well. I’m here to chat today about magic, books, or whatever. Need a love spell? A recipe for calming family feuds? Age-old advice for getting rid of a sore throat that I found in Wales?
Connecting is what this writing gig is all about, so please leave a comment or a wave. I have my magic wand ready… (LOL) and am giving away a novella from my backlist to one lucky commenter.
Glad to be here. Cheers for now –
Linda
Get Linda Thomas Sundstrom’s Trapped in Stone today!
Linda Thomas-Sundstrom is an award-winning author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy for Kensington Brava, Dorchester, Amazon Montlake, and Harlequin Nocturne. Linda lives in the West, is a teacher by day and a writer by night, and swears she has “paranormal” in her genes. Her new novella is “Trapped in Stone,” available September 1. “Hot Holiday” follows in November. Visit Linda at her website or chat on Facebook.
Thank you, Linda for guest blogging today!
Be sure to answer Linda’s question: what kind of spell would you cast if you could? Linda is giving away a novella to one lucky commenter!
P.S. - Did you hear the news? Complete Me debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and #3 on the USA Today list--and it's still on the USA Today list! Color me excited!
P.P.S - Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a thing -- and so that you're in on the monthly contests we're starting! (And if you leave a snail mail address, you'll receive goodies, too! What a deal, right?)
P.P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
September 4, 2013
Hump Day books from Celia Juliano, Gabe Berman, Sherrill Bodine & Patricia Rosemoor, Katy Madison, Cate Rowan, Chris Marie Green, Shelby Rebecca, and Any Jarecki!
Don’t miss these great Hump Day titles?
Always (Everyday Angels Book 1)
New sexy contemporary romance novella in a series you’ll love!
Find out more at Celia Juliano’s website!
If you have a loved one who has suffered from cancer or other illness, this once-in-a-lifetime book will help illuminate the darkness you feel in your heart.
Find out more at Gabe Berman’s website!
Written in the Stars (Entangled Ignite)
One lifetime was not enough…
See more at Patricia Rosemoor’s website!
A new Romantic Comedy about marriage, medals, and misunderstandings!
Don’t forget to visit Katy Madison’s website!
Kismet’s Kiss: A Fantasy Romance (Alaia Chronicles)
Two-time Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® Finalist
And don’t forget to visit Cate Rowan’s website!
The She Code (New Adult Single Girl)
A New Adult Single Girl novel with sketches and comic panels!
See more at Chris Marie Green’s website!
New Contemporary Romance set in West Virginia!
Visit Shelby Rebecca’s website for more information!
Widowed with two teenagaed kids and a business to run, Rebecca would rather mow through five-hundred poodle cuts than think about dating.
And there is much more to see at Amy Jarecki’s website!
P.S. - Did you hear the news? Complete Me debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and #3 on the USA Today list--and it's still on the USA Today list! Color me excited!
P.P.S - Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a thing -- and so that you're in on the monthly contests we're starting! (And if you leave a snail mail address, you'll receive goodies, too! What a deal, right?)
P.P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
September 3, 2013
Christy Hayes on Choosing Real Careers for Your Fictional Characters
Please welcome Christy Hayes to the blog!
Have you ever wondered how authors write with authority about so many occupations when they’re…writers? If you’ve ever read Nora Roberts (I’m a huge fan), you’re probably as amazed as I am that she knows so much about dog training, security systems, fire fighting, animal conservation, and hundreds of other professions.
My Golden Rule Outfitters series features characters that are a fly fisherman, a rafting guide, and the owner of a ski shop. I’ve fished, rafted, and skied, but to say I know enough to write a book would be stretching the truth. When I sat down to start the series, I got online and ordered some books.
My research for Book 1, Mending the Line, started with The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Fly Fishing by Michael D. Shook. Once I’d read the first few chapters, I hit the river for a one-on-one lesson with my fly fishing husband. I’ve never taken instruction well from the man I promised to love, honor, and cherish, so after I wrestled the rod from his hands, I realized success would require more than the hour I was willing to commit. Even though I didn’t catch a fish, I understood the skills and patience required for the job and that was enough to get my fingers moving on the keyboard.
For book 2, Guiding the Fall, I ordered The Complete Whitewater Rafter by Jeff Bennett. I’ll confess I only skimmed this book because my family and I had rafted enough times for me to fudge my way through the lingo. We even fell into the water on one trip, so I know first hand how the cold water can steal your breath! I’d also written a story a few years before about a rafting guide, so I felt qualified enough to write about rafting.
Book 3, Taming the Moguls, takes place at the very beginning of Colorado’s ski season and my characters are too busy fighting a proposed commercial development and handling their romantic entanglements to worry about the ski shop. My husband and I have both torn our ACL’s while skiing, so we’re familiar with the process of fitting skies and the equipment that’s available for sale in a ski shop.
One thing I’ve learned about writing various professions is that I enjoy picking careers I want to understand. I’ve written about architects, green builders, ranchers, photographers, piano teachers, museum workers and lawyers—all professions that somewhat interest me. I don’t need to know how to perform the jobs I write about, but I need to know enough to make it sound like I do. Research is key and when researching a topic I’m interested in, research can be fun.
My next series features college students with diverse majors and I’ve had fun researching degrees, some of which I never knew existed. I love my job because I get to learn about and sometimes experience a variety of professions. If you were writing about a fictional character and could decide their career, what would you pick?
Christy Hayes is the author of ten romance and romantic women’s fiction titles. She lives outside Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, two children and two dogs. You can connect with Christy at her website, on twitter, her Facebook page, and her blog, Women Unplugged.
A big thanks to Christy for guest blogging! So what careers would you pick for a fictional character? Let us know in the comments section!
P.S. - Did you hear the news? Complete Me debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list and #3 on the USA Today list--and it's still on the USA Today list! Color me excited!
P.P.S - Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a thing -- and so that you're in on the monthly contests we're starting! (And if you leave a snail mail address, you'll receive goodies, too! What a deal, right?)
P.P.P.S. And why not scroll down and share the post? After all, sharing is sexy!
XXOO
--J.K.
