Sky Purington's Blog, page 34

She Reawakens His Soul. Her Fated Cowboy by Donna Michaels.

Today it’s my pleasure to interview wonderfully talented author, Donna Michaels who is celebrating her latest release, Her Fated Cowboy. 

Before we begin, let’s learn a bit more about the story…
L.A. cop, Jordan Masters Ryan has a problem. Her normal method of meeting a crisis head-on and taking it down won’t work. Not this time. Not when fate is her adversary. Having kept her from the man she thought she’d always marry, the same fickle fate took away the man she eventually did. Thrown back into the path of her first love, she finds hers is not the only heart fate has damaged.

Widower and software CEO, Cole McCall fills his days with computer codes and his free time working the family’s cattle ranch. Blaming himself for his wife’s death, he’s become hard and bitter. When his visiting former neighbor sets out to delete the firewall around his heart, he discovers there’s no protection against the Jordan virus. Though she understands his pain and reawakens his soul, will it be enough for Cole to overcome his past and embrace their fated hearts?

This is the first book in Harland County Series about 4 unruly cowboys and the women who tame them.

Interview time!
SKY:  Welcome, Donna! Always so great to have you visit.

DONNA:  Good morning, Sky. Thank you so much for having me here today. And thank you for such fun questions! I had a blast answering them.

SKY:  Awesome! Let's get to it then. How did you come up with the title?

DONNA:  Her Fated Cowboy was previously released as Fated Hearts through The Wild Rose Press. It’s been revamped with over 10k words, new scenes added, scenes deleted, new ending and heat level upped to hot.  This book is also the first in my new cowboy series and I knew I wanted the titles to have ‘cowboy’ in it so the title went from Fated Hearts to Her Fated Cowboy.

SKY:  If you could spend an hour in real life with one of your characters, who would it be and why?

DONNA:  Fabulous question. Also a toughie. Since I’m happily married I’ll stay away from the hero, especially since I modeled Cole after one of my favorite fictional characters, Duncan McCloud from the television show Highlander.  And, although I know both Kevin and Connor would be a riot to hang out with, I’m going to choose Jordan, my heroine. She’s my strongest, most willful heroine to date…and I’ve had a few. They’re my favorite kind.  But Jordan is special and I’d love to hang out with her. I know she’d get my rear in gear and help me hit my upcoming deadline. And maybe get one of those other books finished, too! :-)

SKY:  If you had to sell your book based on one run of dialogue (start quote to end quote), which would it be?

DONNA:  “Don’t try to turn this all around and put the focus on me, pal. It won’t work. I’m not one of your unsuspecting victims. But, you’re right. There is something about you I like. Your body. Or should I say Cole’s body,” she corrected, looking him up and down, really, really liking what she saw. Dammit. “It’s grown up quite nice.  But I still don’t like you.”

SKY:  Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story.

DONNA:  I LOVE my cover!  I was looking through Jimmy Thomas’ stock photos but couldn’t quite find the right one to capture my hero until I clicked his link to premade covers and there it was. Holy Cowboys was I thrilled! The cover was not only perfect for Cole, it perfectly captured one of the most important scenes of the story. In Her Fated Cowboy, Cole is dressed in jeans, white shirt and black Stetson when he and Jordan are caught in a lightning storm. I couldn’t believe my luck!

SKY:  Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details.

DONNA:  Yes, I’m actually working on four. I know. That’s insane. Fitting though, since my nickname is Mayhem. I’ve got Cowboy Daddy Squared started—the sequel to Cowboy-Sexy. Future Hero—the second book in my Time-shift Heroes series. Locke and Load—the  first book in my Dangerous Curves romantic suspense series is three quarters of the way done too, but I’ve put them all aside to concentrate on finishing the second book in my Harland County series—Her Unbridled Cowboy.

SKY:  What sort of personality does your hero have?

DONNA:  I’d have to say Cole’s personality is passionate. He runs the gamut of a few traits throughout the book but they can all add ‘passionately’ in front…passionately angry; passionately happy; passionately loving; passionately remorseful. Yes, Cole is a passionate hero. In the beginning of the story he’s mean and unfeeling, full of self loathing and guilt, which he takes out on others, wanting to keep everyone at bay. That goes to pot when the heroine arrives. lol

SKY:  What sort of personality does your heroine have?

DONNA:  Jordan is a force of nature. :-) She’s strong-willed, responsible, just, yet vulnerable. She doesn’t sit back and let others fight the fight. If someone needs help, she helps no matter the cost.

SKY:  Did you enjoy writing one scene above all the rest? If so, share.

DONNA:  Two scenes immediately jump to mind from this book and they both take place in the boardroom at McCall Enterprises. lol. The first is when Jordan crashes a meeting because Cole refuses to take her calls. Big mistake, bucko! What comes out of her mouth is priceless—enough  to make him drag her with him from the room. And the second takes place between Cole and his best friend/vice president, Kevin in the same boardroom later in the book. This time, it’s Kevin who’s a piece of work. He had me chuckling and shaking my head. Something tells me I’m going to have my hands full when I write his story.

SKY:  Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon.

DONNA:  As you already know, I have a few series’, but I’ll spare you and only talk about the Harland County Series. I know. You’re welcome. lol

The tagline is: …unruly cowboys and the women who tame them.

Fitting, considering these cowboys need taming. Her Fated Cowboy is a reunion romance were both the hero and heroine are recovering from losing their spouses. The second book is their siblings Kerri and Connor in Her Unbridled Cowboy, also a reunion story but of different proportions. More like brother and sister in their childhoods, now, eleven years later, not so much. Okay, not at all. Connor’s a cattle rancher, engaged three times to city girls. Kerri is, yes, you guessed it, a city girl, an accomplished chef and a divorcee who feels very inadequate around the virile cowboy. The third book in the series is Her Uniform Cowboy, and as you could probably guess, yes, the hero is not only a cowboy, he’s also in the military. Texas National Guard to be exact. Kade Dalton is Connor’s best friend who runs a horse ranch and has a few issues to work through while he adjusts back to civilian life and his attraction to an animal welfare agent who’s an advocate for abused horses. And finally, there’s Kevin. Did I mention he’s a bugger? Yep, Kevin Dalton (Kade’s cousin) is a lady’s man who meets his match in Her Forever Cowboy when he falls for a single mother and her little girl. It’s going to take two to tame that cowboy.

SKY:  Donna, you've got me thinkin' cowboys! Great interview. Thanks for joining me today!

Buy Her Fated Cowboy  HERE.
You can find out more about Donna and her books at www.donnamichaelsauthor.com and sign up for her newsletter, too.
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"Next time you won't be able to crawl away." Barbara Morgenroth's, Bad Apple.

Today it's my pleasure to interview Barbara Morgenroth, author of Bad Apple (Book One), a Mature Young Adult book.
Publisher: DashingBooks
ASIN:  B0045JK2XW
Word Count: 39,000
Cover Artist: Photo by Aleshyn Andrei.  Cover design by Barbara Morgenroth
Amazon      BN    Kobo
Book Description
“You tell and next time you won’t even be able to crawl away.”

Neal Marchal lived with this threat for the next eight years. When she finds her neighbor murdered, she knows who did it. The why is the secret the family has been keeping forever. The reminder to never reveal the secret is her limp.

She rebuilt her life and now Neal has everything to live for—music, performing and a growing affection for the young man who pulled her to safety.

Then Joe comes home. Neal knows Joe’s going to finish what he started 8 years ago because she told. But this time Neal vows the outcome will be different.

Interview Time!

SKY:   What inspired you to write this book?

BARBARA:   I was involved in a murder and it took me years to be able to make sense of it.  When I did it was a natural reaction to want to write about it.

SKY:   How did you come up with the title?

BARBARA:   I was standing with my neighbor watching him press apples into sweet cider.  The book was originally titled Sweet Cider.  After many rewrites, it became bad apple.  They always say one bad apple spoils everything.  I guess that could be said to be Joe.  Or maybe someone else in the book.

SKY:   Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story.

BARBARA:   The first cover I created was a photo I shot of a bad apple.  I quite liked it.  Then someone who was selling a lot of ebooks advised me to put a gun on the cover.  So I took a photo of my shotgun and used that for the cover for a brief while.  Then one day I found this current photo and I thought it expressed Truly’s caring and protection of Neal so well.  The young woman in the image seems so vulnerable, and Neal is when Truly meets her.  I think it works very well.

SKY:   Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details.

BARBARA:   I have just finished Bittersweet Farm 2—Joyful Spirit.  My next project will be Bad Apple 4—Parked.   Everyone has been very patient while I cleared my schedule to write the final book in the series.  It should resolve all the loose ends.

SKY:   What sources do you use for research?

BARBARA:   After the murder, the police gave me all the files and the confession of the murderer so that was very helpful.  I also was able to go through the house of the victim and touch everything, read his address books, the mail he had kept, the photos her treasured.  All the disparate parts finally became a whole, completed puzzle.

SKY:   How long have you been writing? How long have you been published?

BARBARA:   I sold my first book to Atheneum when I was 24.  It was published when I was 26.  So that’s quite a number of years now.  I loved making the transition to digital and am beyond happy to be my own publisher.  This is the best time in the history of the world to be a writer.

SKY:   Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon.

BARBARA:   Bad Apple is a series.  Bad Apple 1.  Burning Daylight is 2.  Rise is 3.  I love being able to have the space and time to follow characters as they live their lives. If you do a standalone book, you wind up choosing just the moments to write that impact the characters then.  With a series, you can seed the story with foreshadowing that will be used in a later book.  Many readers enjoy a series because they get as invested in the characters as the writer does.  They want to see what happens next and so do I.

SKY:   Great interview, Barbara! Thanks for joining me.


About the Author
Barbara was born in New York City and but now lives somewhere else. By now, she thinks of herself as a country girl and knows more about gardening and animals than how to ride the subway.

Starting her career by writing tweens and YA books, (and did the cover photography for her first two books published by Atheneum so continuing to do the covers to her ebooks is predictable), she was actually aiming at the small screen. Television seemed like the perfect place for her even if she had no clue how to get there. Life is funny and often presents opportunities. Advice--Grab Them! Through a neighbor, Barbara wound up getting an introduction to a lower honcho at ABC and an audition to write for them. Her hopes were more than dashed, they were disintegrated, evaporated, demolished when ABC couldn't find a place for Barbara on General Hospital. (No Luke and Laura in her future!) To ease the crushing disappointment, Barbara wrote “In Real Life I'm Just Kate” about a 17 year old girl who becomes a star on a soap opera. That became an open sesame moment and shortly thereafter Barbara became the last headwriter for NBC's daytime serial, The Doctors, where she was ordered by the network to kill Alec Baldwin, shooting him not once but twice. With two different guns. From different directions.

Ah, good times.

You can read the book that started Barbara’s television career as the Kindle YA ebook, “Just Kate”, now with a substantial tweak because living life made her smarter.

You can also read about some could-be-hers-could-be-rumors experiences gleaned during Barbara’s stint in daytime television in the Kindle romantic comedy, In Under My Head.  Barbara is a recipient of a Writers Guild of America Best Writing Award for her work on One Life To Live.

Whether you're looking for a Mature YA or a romantic comedy, Barbara has a book for you!

Visit Barbara's Website ~ Facebook ~ Amazon Author Page 

Fairytale-inspired Regency Romance. A Beastly Scandal by Shereen Vedam

Today it's my pleasure to spotlight A Beastly Scandal (Fairytale-inspired Regency romances Book 1 of 4), a Regency Romance by Shereen Vedam
Publisher: ImaJinn Books
ISBN: 978-1-61026-124-1
Number of pages:  216Word Count: 90,000
Cover Artist: Josephine Piraneo
Book Description:
A BELLE OF THE BALL…

Lady Annabelle Marchant was a belle of the ball in London until she used her psychical senses to save a man’s life.  She failed miserably, leaving him dead and her disgraced.  All she wants now is a chance to comfort his widow by cleansing the woman’s home of her husband’s restless spirit.  But the widow’s son, the beastly Lord of the Manor, accuses her of coming to the wilds of Cheshire to snag him as a husband.  Thoroughly disgusted, she is bent on proving him wrong.

…BECOMES PERSONA NON-GRATA…

Lord Rufus Marlesbury, the Earl of Terrance, is suspected of murdering his father.  He has come home to clear his name by finding the real killer before the new year or the king has promised that Rufus will be called in front of the House of Lords to answer for the crime.  He does not have time to waste fending off a marriage-minded miss who has inveigled an invitation to his home by playing on his grief-stricken mother’s worst fears.

…WHEN A MURDERER IS ON THE RAMPAGE

With an unruly manor ghost terrorizing the occupants and corpses piling up in the village, Belle must find a way to see the man beneath the beast and Rufus must learn to believe in the love of a woman who has no reason to trust him.  Only by working together can they stop a vengeful ghost before it torments the guests or before the killer strikes again.

Watch the Book Trailer HERE.

Excerpt
Lord Terrance may have forbid her from coming to his manor house, but she was determined to clear his country home of its resident ghost.

“That is a desolate looking house, is it not?” Winfield said. “I would have it torn down and rebuilt in a more flattering style, but Terrance seems fond of this monstrosity. So what brings you so far north, my lady?”

She faced the gentleman. “I have come for a visit with Lady Terrance. She is my grandfather’s friend.”

“I had heard the countess still wore dark colors.”

Before she could respond, a loud crack sounded. She sensed danger stab from above. With a shouted warning, she pulled Mr. Winfield out of harm’s way just as an icicle crashed and shattered where they had stood. She protected her face as splinters flew in all directions.

Mendal screamed. The owl fluttered its one good wing and screeched. The dog barked ferociously.

Mr. MacBride spoke first, his voice quivering and eyes wide with terror. “It is an omen, ah tell ye.”

“He is right,” Mendal said, sounding unusually timorous as she crossed herself. “We should leave. Bad luck comes from going where we are not wanted.”

The front doors opened then, and a footman descended. Immediately, the dog raced up the stairs and inside.

“Dog!” Belle called out in alarm. The animal might wreck the place. This was not how she had hoped to introduce herself to the countess.

An older woman, dressed in black, moved to the open doorway. Belle recognized her from a drawing her grandfather had shown her. This was Lady Terrance. She gave off waves of fear as she looked toward the roofline.

Belle’s worries drowned beneath the lady’s emotional assault, leaving her head pounding with a headache. Through that onslaught, Belle’s purpose became crystal clear. This is why she had come here. Lady Terrance needed her.
About the Author

Introduced to fantasy at a young age, Shereen's reality is merely a starting point to other realms.  
Her world is populated with little people with agendas, elements that talk and spells that rarely work as designed. Her heartwarming historical tales have a healthy dollop of mystery mingled with heart-melting romance, all stirred with a pinch of magic. In her brand new fairytale-inspired Regency romance series, she brings you four beloved fairytales, with a new twist.

Visit Shareen's Website ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads


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Inspire Me Like This! Who Gets YOUR Juices Flowing?

Lately it’s been all work and no play. I thought it might be nice to take a break. How do I intend to do that? Simple. Chat MEN! From the drop-dead gorgeous to the too-damned-sexy. Like you, I’m often blown over by the sheer beauty out there when it comes to actors. Have I pictured some of them when writing my books? Heck yeah! C’mon, who wouldn’t?

So this post is about mapping out some of my favorites over the years and what books they may or may not have influenced. Though my heroes were never exact replicas to these men their appearances were certainly swayed by the following hotties.

Feel free to comment after. Share what you agree with and who you feel I SO should have had on this list!

#1- Chris Hemsworth- The first time I recall seeing him was in the movie Thor. I was once more reminded why I wanted to write about Norsemen. He ended up affecting how I ‘saw’ Alexander Sinclair from Highland Persuasion (The MacLomain Series- Early Years)

About Chris… Born in Melbourne, Australia on August 11, 1983 he’s 6’3. According to Wiki He has stated, "My earliest memories were on the cattle stations up in the Outback, and then we moved back to Melbourne and then back out there and then back again. Certainly most of my childhood was in Melbourne but probably my most vivid memories were up there in Bulman with crocodiles and buffalo. Very different walks of life." Chris is best known for his roles in Thor and Snow White and The Huntsman.

#2- Henry Cavill- The minute I saw Henry’s face I saw a shadow of the men from my MacLomain Series. Yes, when I first laid eyes on him he played a Duke in The Tudors. Still, there was just something about the man that made my mouth water.

About Henry- Born in Jersey (French: Bailliage de Jersey) in the Channel Islands (Norman: Îles d'la Manche, French: Îles Anglo-Normandes or Îles de la Manche) on May 5, 1983. (Taurus like me! *silly grin*). Henry has starred in many films including Twilight playing the part of Edward Cullen and Theseus in Immortals. What I consider his best role however was in the Showtime series, The Tudors.

#3- Matt Bomer- The first time I came across Bomer was in the TV series White Collar. He might’ve played a master con-artist in that show but I instantly saw a vampire when I looked at his face. So when I started writing Darkest Memory (Forsaken Brethren Series) his was a face taken into consideration.

About Matt… Born in Spring, Texas on October 11, 1977 he headed for New York City in 2001. He’s appeared on Soaps such as All My Children and Guiding Light. Rated TV’s Sexiest Man of the Year in 2011 , he’s best known for his role in White Collar.

#4- Joe Manganiello- The first time Joe crossed my path was in the awesome series, True Blood. In fact, he inspired me to consider writing about my first werewolf. It wasn’t soon after that The Georgian Embrace (Calum’s Curse Series) was written. *smiles*

About Joe… Born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on December 28, 1976, Joe signed on with an agent in Los Angeles and launched his career in 2002 in the movie Spider-Man. He then went on to act in many movies and shows, my favorites being ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and ‘True Blood.’

#5- Eric Dane- The first time I laid eyes on Eric was in Grey’s Anatomy. He played Dr. Mark Sloan (AKA-McSteamy), the womanizing sex pot who was a cut above the rest when it came to plastic surgery. For some reason his smile, his looks, just about everything screamed Leathan Stewart from The Victorian Lure. Do they have totally different attitudes? Hell yes! But there’s just something about him that spoke to me.

About Eric- Born in San Francisco, California on November 9, 1972, Eric moved to Los Angeles in 1993 where he first appeared in a TV show called, Saved by the Bell. He went on to appear in several programs including one of my all-time favorite shows, Charmed.

So what do you think? WHO have I forgotten? Share, share!

Fly Little Bird, Fly! Super Backstory About Scraps of Paper by Kathryn Meyer Griffith.

  Today it’s my pleasure to welcome back author Kathryn Meyer Griffith who will be sharing the backstory behind her release, Scraps of Paper.
Let’s hear from Kathryn…
The Story of Scraps of PaperA murder mystery by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

I’ve been writing for over forty-one years and have gone through a lot of frustrating or downright infuriating situations with publishers and editors.  Since 1981 I’ve had eight of them. I’ve suffered 4% royalties, dreadful covers, bad editing and shoddy proof-reading, confusing statements, late royalty payments (or nonexistent ones) and other near-criminal acts committed against me by publishers and editors I’d so naively put my trust into over the years. Now days I like to look back at those occasions, write about them; smile or even laugh over them, though they weren’t so funny when they were happening. This is one of those smiling times…because the conception, writing, publishing and, finally, self-publishing of my murder mystery Scraps of Paper has had such a long vexing journey.
On January 15, 2013 I self-published it as an eBook, for the first time, on Amazon Kindle Direct, after waiting ten long years as it languished beneath a terribly unfair hardback contract with Avalon Books that had a sell-off limit of 3,500 hardcopies. Ten years where they claimed it barely sold (no joke…their asking price was ridiculously high at $26.00) and that it didn’t sell one copy in the last two years of its contract–though the book was on sale everywhere on the Internet. I never received one royalty statement and had to beg in yearly emails to be told how many copies had sold that year. Of course, since the totals never got near the 3,500, , they said, I would get no royalty statements. And I never did. Not one. Ever. Last month my book was finally mine again and I was free of that atrocious contract and now, after a revision and commissioning a new stunning cover from my cover artist Dawne Dominique, I’ve released it into the world without the publisher’s shackles to imprison it. Fly little bird, fly!

Originally I wrote it be the first of a series set in this quaint, quirky little town I tongue-in-cheek called Spookie. I mean, most of my books before were horror novels and I was basically considered a horror writer, so the town’s name was the tip-of-the-hat to my horror roots. It’d be my first venture into that genre, which I’d always loved. Sherlock Holmes. Murder She Wrote. Detective Frost. Miss Marple. I wrote it and then, quickly after, a second in the series All Things Slip Away for Avalon Books. I got a modest advance up front for each one.

It was 2002. I’d come out of a lengthy publishing dry spell. My seventh paperback novel, Zebra’s The Calling, a ghost story with an ancient Egyptian theme, had come out in 1994. Then they dumped a lot of us mid-list horror writers, me included, saying horror was dying; and for eight years I couldn’t sell another book. Well, living my life got in the way during some of that time. I’d lost my long-time good-paying graphic artist job in 1994 and had to find another one. The pay was a lot less. No good for my budget or my standard of living, which really fell. I went from one of five bad jobs to another over the next six years…each worse and lower paying than the one before.  Each more demanding. I needed to make money. No longer could I live with pie-in-the-sky literary dreams. I had to face reality. So I stopped writing for a while.

When I finally came up for breath and my head was back on straight again I decided to write something different…a mystery. I’d always loved mysteries.  I began writing Scraps of Paper. About a woman, an artist named Jenny, whose husband has been missing for two years, and who’s just learned he’s been dead all that time–a victim of a gone-wrong mugging. She begins a new life and moves to a small town full of fog, quirky townspeople and mysteries. And right away she’s drawn into one of her own when she buys, renovates, a fixer-upper house and uncovers hidden in it scraps of paper written by two young children who once lived there with their mother, and who supposedly drove away thirty years before and were never seen again. The town thought they simply went someone else; began a new life. But Jenny suspects they never left the house; suspects they’d been murdered. Then she finds three graves in the back.

Of course, with her history of a missing husband she develops the overpowering urge to find out what happened to them. The scraps of paper she continues to find makes the bond, the desire, stronger. She forms a friendship with an ex-homicide cop, Frank, and together they try to solve the mystery. Only thing is there’s someone still living in the town that just as desperately doesn’t want them to. Someone who’d kill to keep the murderer’s identity secret.

When done I was proud of it. Thought it was good. I sent it to Avalon Books in New York. They loved it and bought it. I signed the contract, though I didn’t like some of the things in it. But I was desperate. I hadn’t had a book published in so long and, as my mom always said, beggars can’t be choosers.  I sold them the second in the series, hoping it’d help sell the first. They got great reviews. But I came to regret signing both those contracts more as every year went by because I never received one penny more for either book for the next ten years. I know, it sounds impossible. But it happened to me. I’m sure it happened to a lot of their authors. Probably one of the reasons Avalon Books sold themselves lock-stock-and-barrel to Amazon Publishing in June of 2012 and, without their authors’ knowledge or permission, including mine, sold away their authors’ contracts from under them as well.  I guess you live and learn. I was just lucky Scraps of Paper’s contract had run out. I took the book back.

But, all that is in the past, and my revised Scraps of Paper-Revised Author’s Edition is now available, on sale for $3.99 (much better than $26.00), at Amazon Kindle here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B1W4A2K   And I hope people will have the chance to read it this time around and like it.

***
About Kathryn Meyer Griffith...

 Since childhood I’ve always been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. I began writing novels at 21, over forty years ago now, and have had seventeen (ten romantic horror, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance and two murder mysteries) previous novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books/Eternal Press and Amazon Kindle Direct.

I’ve been married to Russell for almost thirty-five years; have a son, James, and two grandchildren, Joshua and Caitlyn, and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois called Columbia, which is right across the JB Bridge from St. Louis, Mo. We have three quirky cats, ghost cat Sasha, live cats Cleo and Sasha (Too), and the five of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk singer in my youth with my brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.

Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s Books are available at Amazon.com

                                                                                     Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:
Evil Stalks the Night (Leisure, 1984; Damnation Books, 2012)The Heart of the Rose (Leisure, 1985; Eternal Press Author’s Revised Edition 2010) Blood Forge (Leisure, 1989; Damnation Books Author’s Revised Edition, 2012) Vampire Blood (Zebra, 1991; Damnation Books Author’s Revised Edition, 2011)The Last Vampire (Zebra, 1992; Damnation Books Author’s Revised Edition 2010) You Tube Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZU77j_q4S8Witches (Zebra, 1993; Damnation Books Author’s Revised Edition 2011)The Nameless One (short story in 1993 Zebra Anthology Dark Seductions ; Damnation Books Author’s Revised Edition, 2011) The Calling (Zebra, 1994; Damnation Books Author’s Revised Edition, 2011)All Things Slip Away (Avalon Books Murder Mystery, 2006…Amazon Kindle Direct ebook & paperback 2013)Egyptian Heart (The Wild Rose Press, 2007; Author’s Revised Edition, Eternal Press 2011) My self-madeYou Tube Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cogCNYKzPqcWinter’s Journey (The Wild Rose Press, 2008; Author’s Revised Edition, Eternal Press 2011)You Tube Book Trailer address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZYCs2DVhHgThe Ice Bridge (The Wild Rose Press, 2008; Author’s Revised Edition, Eternal Press 2011)You Tube Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28HZqu-my1g Don’t Look Back, Agnes novella & bonus short story: In This House (2008; ghostly romantic short story out; Eternal Press 2012) You Tube Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3q9rZryFMoBEFORE THE END: A Time of Demons (Damnation Books 2010) You Tube self-made Book trailer with original song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0-U9c2LwfoThe Woman in Crimson (Eternal Press 2010)You Tube Book Trailer Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcRBvDI5G4YThe Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Fiction: Volume 1 (I did the Introduction)4 Spooky Short Stories (Amazon Kindle 2012)Telling Tales of Terror (I did the chapter on Putting the Occult into your Fiction)Dinosaur Lake (from Amazon Kindle Direct 2012)Human No Longer (Amazon Kindle 2013)Scraps of Paper –Revised Author’s Edition (Avalon Books Murder Mystery, 2003; Amazon Kindle 2013)


My Websites:
http://www.myspace.com/kathrynmeyergriffith(to see all my book trailers with original music by my singer/songwriter brother JS Meyer)http://www.bebo.com/kathrynmeyerG
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1019954486
http://www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith
http://www.goodreads.com/profile/kathrynmeyergriffith
http://www.jacketflap.com/K.griffith
http://www.shoutlife.com/kathrynmeyergriffith
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Anger. Passion. Heartbreak. No Choice! It's Highland Persuasion, Sky Purington Style.

He could have said no.

A New England snow storm was brewing and I'd literally just typed the last word of Highland Defiance.  It was 10:36 PM, EST. I remember that exactly because I knew I had to be to be to bed by 12:00. I still had promo to get done. But it didn't matter. As far as Iosbail MacLomain was concerned, I had better things to do.

She was right.

I'll never forget the moment I started to write Highland Persuasion, another tale in my MacLomain Series- Early Years.

Had no choice! She wasn't letting me go.

I swear, Iosbail MacLomain grabbed my wrists and shook me. She'd always stuck me as strong willed. The woman doesn't hold back. If it's in her head it's out of her mouth. She's just that sort. So you can imagine how little surprised I was when her voice screeched out for me to start typing at 10:37.

She brought me to my knees, rhetorically, in our first scene together. While her hands dug into the frigid North Sea looking for the perfect oyster, so too did mine. When she tried to explain to her lover it just wasn't going to last, so too did I. From the get go, Iosbail knew where she stood.

She was a heart-breaker.

My eyes were wide open when she walked me through her first, 'scene' in Highland Persuasion. It wasn't something I would normally write. Quite honestly, it was sort of harsh and I didn't much like her for it.

But she wasn't letting me go. Iosbail wanted to show me something. As it turned out, I should've strapped on a seat-belt and held on tight! When Iosbail plots, she plots. The Sinclair's were her enemy and she already knew every way to bring their laird down. Nothing was going to change that.

So began the book, Highland Persuasion.

Never before has a story grabbed me like this one. Or should I say, a character. As many of you know, Iosbail MacLomain is a feisty lass who was a young woman in Highland Defiance and an old woman in the original MacLomain Series. She totally blew me away in this story. Who knew her romantic tale was so adventurous?
Through Iosbail, I met Alexander Sinclair, the first non-Maclomain hero in this series. But I instantly understood her draw to him. Noble yet humble, he's a true warrior. 
What was most fun about writing this book? (besides the characters) The research! Scotland's history is very complicated but more so when in the medieval period. Why? Because records are vague. Connecting the dots is tricky. But wow did I learn a lot. My 'travels' took me across Scotland with the help of clan Mason (Yep, they were the ancestors of the modern day Free Masons) to the Hebrides, the original seat of Clan MacLeon. 
Once in the Scottish Hebrides, I became as mesmerized by the land as Iosbail. Here's a picture...

Though I wasn't a fan, Iosbail showed me a whole new side of her. She showed me that love had a few more angles than I ever thought it did. In the end, Iosbail proved... amazing.

I had a smile on my face when I typed the very last word of Highland Persuasion. Then I teared up a bit because I didn't want to let go. Label me a sap! But it made me think of Robert Frost's saying, "No tears in the writer. No tears in the reader." How right he was!
I so hope you enjoy this latest MacLomain tale.

Blurb 
By order of King Edgar, Laird Alexander Sinclair must marry his arch enemy, Iosbail MacLomain, to strengthen the clans. But the king harbors dark thoughts. By birthright, Alexander is a threat to Edgar's throne.

Their lives on the line, Alexander and Iosbail are forced to flee only to find themselves on an unexpected journey through time. Fraught with risk, adventure and wild, unexpected desire they struggle to survive against overwhelming odds. Only on MacLomain land will justice stand a chance.

Will a true king find shelter so far from his homeland? Can a woman set out for vengeance forgive deeds done wrong?

Better yet, can enemies persuade one another to forgive and perhaps even love?

Find out in a powerful story that leaves no soul untouched... HIGHLAND PERSUASION.

This book contains strong sexual content and is intended for a mature audience. 
Purchase now through Amazon. Click HERE. Coming to Barnes & Noble and all online bookstores April 1, 2013.

I Interviewed Lucifer! Viola Ryan's, The Mark of Abel.

Welcome back to A Writer’s Mind’s, END OF WEEK CHARACTER BLOWOUT. Yesterday I interviewed Chiemi Janet O’Malley (goes by Janie), the heroine of Viola Ryan’s, The Mark of Abel. Click HERE to read it. Today I’m interviewing the hero, Lucifer (goes by Luke.)

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Interview time
SKY:  Tell us a little bit about you.

LUKE: What’s there to tell? I’m the first vampire. God hates me. Janie loves me. Isn’t that all that really matters?

SKY:   Remembering the moment you first laid eyes on Janie, what thoughts come to mind?

LUKE: I’ve been looking for the artist for nearly two millennia. Every time I find her, she is killed. It sucks. When I first started following Janie, I was convinced she couldn’t be the one, though her eyes intrigued me. They were paradoxical, showing both confusion and understanding. They eyes of a seeker.

SKY:   She has one trait you adored from the start. What is it? Hands down, she appreciates one of your traits…what do you think that is?

LUKE: I fell for her passion. She may think of herself as a teacher, but she’s really a priestess. She brings that passion to everything she does. She’d never admit it, but she loves how stubborn I am. If I weren’t, I would have given up finding her a long  time ago.

SKY:  She has one trait you’d change if you could. What is it? You figure there’s probably a trait she might want to change about you… care to share?

LUKE: She is full of self-doubt. i understand where it comes from, but she needs to move beyond it. Her parents are gone. They loved her, which is more than I can say for my father. She’s always on me about my temper, though hers is worse.

SKY:  Ah, love is in the air. What is the single most romantic thing you’ve done for her?

LUKE: Those are human terms I really don’t understand.

SKY:  She has a feature that draws your eye every time. Care to share? She can’t stare at you enough… but where is she staring? Now’s the time to gloat about your thick head of hair. *Sky sniggers* Truth! Do you think it’s your eyes? Chest? Etc.

LUKE: I love her hands. They are pale and slender. They look like they belong to a China doll and could actually break off, but nothing can break my Janie. I’m Lucifer. I’m perfect, God’s greatest creation. There isn’t just one things she looks at.  I’m the total package.

SKY:   How do you think Janie would answer the following…  Our favorite thing to do together is…?

LUKE: She likes to paint me. I love watching her work and see how she sees me.

SKY:  You and Janie don’t see eye to eye on what issue?

LUKE:  That’s easy. She’s always nagging me to help humans. Really what’s the point? I can’t protect you from yourselves. God won’t let me. What you do to each other is way worse than what the Grigori can do.

SKY:   She said one thing to you that you’ll never forget. What was it?

LUKE: “I’M NOT CRAZY.” The woman was willing to endure hell for me. Her friend told her she was crazy and Janie fought back.

SKY: Great interview! Thanks for joining me.


Viola Ryan
Blog: http://violaryanauthor.blogspot.com/Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/jeanie.ryan.9 pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/violaryan/ Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6922260.Viola_Ryan Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/violaryanTrailer: http://is.gd/LuciferVidContact address: violaryan@violaryan.com

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Man's Inhumanity is Only Escalating. Janie Shares. The Mark of Abel by Viola Ryan.

Welcome to A Writer's Mind's, END OF WEEK CHARACTER BLOWOUT. Today it’s my pleasure to interview Chiemi Janet O’Malley (goes by Janie) from Viola Ryan’s, The Mark of Abel. Be sure to pop back in tomorrow as I interview the hero, Lucifer (goes by Luke).
Before the interview, let’s learn a bit about the book…
Lucifer is fed up with humanity. He created hell to deter evil, but man’s inhumanity is only escalating. He just wants to return home to heaven, but ever since that little problem in the Garden of Eden, the Pearly Gates remain firmly shut to him. It doesn’t help that he’s the first vampire, an abomination in God’s sight.
Fortunately, two thousand years ago Lucifer’s estranged brother, Jesus, gave him a prophecy. To fulfill it, all Lucifer has to do is find the right artist, study her artwork and the path back to heaven will be revealed. The artist even bears a symbol so he knows who she is. Too bad she is murdered every time he finds her.
Janie’s a frustrated artist and college art teacher who wants two things—a guy she can show her paintings to and a night without nightmares. Each nightmare plagues her until she paints it. She doesn’t realize these paintings are key to unlocking her destiny, one that could redeem the original fallen angel.
GIVEAWAY! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.
Interview time!
SKY:  Tell us a little bit about you.
JANIE:  My parents worked for the Angel Alliance, a non-denominational relief organization. I’ve been all over the world, mainly third world nations. They passed away when a dam burst in China. They were helping farmers displaced by the dam. I’ve always wanted to be an artist. When I was a child they encouraged me, but as I got older they expected me to follow in their footsteps. That wasn’t my path. They died a decade ago, right after I left them to go to school. I teach college students how to appreciate and understand art. I love my  job. I help bring people closer to a deeper understanding of the universe and themselves. Art feeds the soul every bit as much as religion.
SKY:   Remembering the moment you first laid eyes on Lucifer, what thoughts come to mind?
JANIE: This incredibly hot student hopefully needed my help. He knocked on my office door very late. Any fear I had at this vanished as soon as I saw him. He had the disheveled look common among artists. Maybe he was another artist. I had no clue who or what he was. I thought he was Luke Shachar. Just another grad student.
SKY:   He has one trait you adored from the start. What is it? You know without doubt he appreciates one of your traits. Share what you think that is.
JANIE: He takes care of me. I totally freaked out and he just kept repeating that he wouldn’t let anything happen to me. I believed him. He listens to me. He values my opinion, not just as a teacher, but a woman.
SKY:  He has one trait you’d change if you could. What is it? Oh yeah, there’s a trait you know he’d change about you…fess up!
JANIE:  Deep down he is a very angry individual. I understand where they anger comes from, but I’d like him to let it go. He needs to move beyond it and do something with his life. Me? He’s always trying to get me to speak more. I’m just not a big talker.
SKY:  Ah, love is in the air. What is the single most romantic thing he’s done for you? 
JANIE: Does rescuing me from fallen angels count? If not, standing up to God to defend me. It doesn’t get any bigger than that.
SKY:  He has a feature that draws your eye every time. Care to share? His eye constantly roams to a particular part of your person. Tell, tell! 
JANIE: His eyes are incredible. They are both green and blue, like a field of bluebells on a verdant hill or green flowers on a sapphire ocean. I  can never determine which is the dominant color and am constantly looking at them trying to decide. For me, I have this mark on my chest. I used to dream of it all the time and finally had it tattooed above my heart. I swear he can see through my clothes. He loves to trace it.
SKY:   How do you think Luke would answer the following…  Our favorite thing to do together is…?
JANIE: I know the answer, but he would never admit to it in public. What he’ll admit to is talking about all the past lives we’ve shared together.
SKY:  You and Lucifer just don’t see eye to eye on what issue?
JANIE: He doesn’t care about humanity anymore. He has all these powers and he does nothing to help others. He created hell as a deterrent to get people to behave. He doesn’t even bother with that anymore. He lets Lilith and his twins run it.
SKY:   He said one thing to you that you’ll never forget. What was it? 
JANIE: He yelled at God.  “Is this one of your lessons? Well, guess what? You don’t need to remind me how powerful you are, but most of all, she’s not a learning experience!” He said that to God in my defense.
SKY:  Great interview! I look forward to having ‘Luke’ over tomorrow.

Viola Ryan


Blog: http://violaryanauthor.blogspot.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jeanie.ryan.9 pinterest: http://pinterest.com/violaryan/ Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6922260.Viola_Ryan Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/violaryanTrailer: http://is.gd/LuciferVidContact address: violaryan@violaryan.com


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Telepathic Clans Saga by BR Kingsolver.

   Today it's my pleasure to interview BR Kingsolver, author of The Succubus Gift, Book 1 of the Telepathic Clans Saga, a Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance (Adult/New Adult) ISBN: 9781476406077
ASIN: B007X7POWWNumber of pages: 240
Word Count: 85,000Cover Artist: Rebecca Sinz
AMAZON.COM BARNES&NOBLE.COMSMASHWORDS.COM. GOODREADS.COM  KOBOBOOKS.COM  DIESEL-EBOOKS.COM INDIGO.CA  Also available on Apple iTunes book store 
Book Description
The history of the Clans, called the Sidhe by the Irish, stretches back to antiquity. The Goddess blesses Her people with 25 Telepathic Gifts. In addition to Telepathy, the Gifts include command over Air and Fire, Telekinesis and Teleportation. In over 2,500 years, She has never bestowed more than 15 Gifts on a single person.

Brenna Morgan was orphaned at eight when her parents were killed in a plane crash. Through one foster home after another, she carried the ornate, carved wooden box her mother had left with her, keeping it always a secret. Then one night she stumbles over a man who claims her as family.

Brenna’s life isn’t the same after she discovers her unusual and mysterious heritage. In addition to being a telepath, Brenna learns she has the Succubus Gift.

That’s just the beginning of her problems. Someone is stalking her. Then there’s the tall, dangerous woman who shadows her and hints a Goddess has linked them. And what is she going to do with a handsome, charismatic, womanizing man she knows she should avoid?  Some days a girl just wants to pull the covers over her head and stay in bed -- with a willing young man of course.
 Succubus Unleashed
Book 2 of the Telepathic Clans Saga
ISBN: 9780985763800
ASIN: B008EMW4Q4Number of pages: 248
Word Count: 85,600Cover Artist: Mia DarienAMAZON   BN   SMASHWORDS     GOODREADS
  Book Description
It's not easy being a succubus.

After a crash course in learning about her genetic heritage, Brenna O'Donnell has discovered what it really means to be a succubus and has learned to embrace her strange Gift. Her major concern is whether Collin will accept her for what she is. As she adjusts to telepathic society, others in the Clan have plans that will strip the last of her freedom. Rival Clans still hunt succubi, and discovering their dark motives is paramount.

The social season is also around the corner, including events that Brenna never imagined in her wildest dreams. The succubi, representatives of the Goddess on earth, are at the center of an ancient worship. And if a girl is going to be the center of attention, then obviously she needs a new dress.

Succubus Rising
Book 3 of the Telepathic Clans SagaWord Count: 87,000
Book Description The Goddess has plans for Brenna and Rebecca, and the Goddess has a wicked sense of humor.

Rebecca Healy is a true wilder, growing up with no contact or knowledge of other telepaths. Discovered by a Clan member on the streets of San Francisco, she felt like she’d hit the jackpot. Finally, she knew what she was, or at least she thought she did.

When Brenna O’Donnell, long-lost heir of the O’Donnell Clan, and the strongest telepath in history, is returned to her family, she and Rebecca form a tight bond. Brenna has it all, looks, money, power, and men falling all over her.

Rebecca isn’t jealous, but it would be nice to find someone who would really love her and stick around in the morning. She’s intrigued by a handsome South American general, but of course, he has his sights set on Brenna. Carlos de Vargas wants more than love. His Clan has its back to the wall, and they hope for an alliance with O’Donnell. An alliance that would lead to war.

The story began in The Succubus Gift and continued in Succubus Unleashed. In Succubus Rising, questions are answered and new mysteries are revealed.
 Interview time! SKY:   What inspired you to write this book?

BR KINGSOLVER:  Succubus Rising is the third book in the Telepathic Clans Saga. It’s a continuation of the story that began with The Succubus Gift and Succubus Unleashed. The story of Brenna and Rebecca discovering their powers and looking for love and their place in the world isn’t finished yet. That will come in the next book.

SKY:  How did you come up with the title?

BR KINGSOLVER:  The original working title was “In Succubus We Trust”, and the story was meant to be more about the Clans manipulation of the government in Washington. But the story took a different turn.  “Succubus Rising” was one of the titles I tried out with several of my beta readers, and the one they all liked the most.

SKY:   If you could spend an hour in real life with one of your characters, who would it be and why?

BR KINGSOLVER:  Seamus O’Donnell, patriarch of the O’Donnell Clan. He’s 160 years old and is very wise. He admits in the book that he’s always been a bit of a nerd, and is a scholar of the Clans’ history. But he’s also living in the present. He’s recently asked his 35 year old succubus lover to marry him.

SKY:  Tell us a little bit about the conflict in your story.

BR KINGSOLVER:  The telepathic clans are divided on ideological issues between those who believe they should subjugate humans and rule them, and those who believe it’s better to stay in the shadows and quietly fit into human society. The two sides are constantly jockeying for position and trying to extend their power. When a small clan in South America approaches the O’Donnell Clan about an alliance, it threatens to upset the balance of power in the region.

SKY:  If you had to sell your book based on one run of dialogue (start quote to end quote), which would it be?

BR KINGSOLVER:  After a couple of glasses of champagne, she made her way to the ladies' room, Rebecca quietly shadowing her. On exiting, she was searching for her escort when a tall man in a formal military uniform stepped into her path.

He was very handsome, a couple of inches taller than Collin’s six feet two, with slicked-back black hair and a thin mustache. His broad chest displayed dozens of medals and ribbons. She brushed his mind and encountered telepathic shields.

"Senorita O'Donnell? I am General Carlos Martin de Vargas y Saenz. I'm delighted to meet you."

Brenna dipped her head in acknowledgement. "Good evening, General. Are you in town for the celebration or are you stationed here?"

"It is my honor to serve my country as the Military Attaché at our embassy here," he replied, probing her shields enough to irritate her.

"Then you must be very pleased that all the hard work your colleagues put into this treaty has been rewarded," she said.

"Indeed. I have heard a great deal about you, and about your work on our behalf," he replied, still probing her shields.

Suddenly, Irina appeared by her side.

“I didn't know that manners were so sorely lacking in your country, Senor. In this country, we consider probing a woman's shields as rude as groping her,” Irina said, speaking to the general in rapid-fire Spanish. Rebecca translated for Brenna on a spear thread.

The general turned bright red.

"May I introduce my friend Tinkerbelle?" Brenna said with an arched eyebrow. The general barked out a laugh and Irina giggled. "This is General Carlos Martin de Vargas y Saenz, the Ecuadorian Military Attaché."

Still in Spanish, Irina replied, "I'm so disappointed. I had heard the Vargas Clan was very sophisticated and elegant. They must have shipped you out of the country because they were ashamed of you." An observer might have considered Irina’s smile pleasant, but Brenna could see the hard edge. Her friend was angry, and letting the general know it.

His face turned even redder. He bowed to Brenna, "My apologies, Senorita. Your friend is correct. My manners are inexcusable. I hope you will forgive me."

"Oh, I'm sure I will," Brenna said airily, "as soon as you fall on your sword."

His eyes danced and a slight smile twitched the corners of his mouth. "I'm afraid I forgot to bring it this evening. Perhaps I could instead buy you dinner some evening and show you that I do know how to behave in a civilized manner."

Careful, Rebecca sent. Wasn’t it an apology that got you mixed up with Colin?

Stifling an urge to laugh, Brenna slipped a card from her clutch and handed it to him. "You may call me if you wish. You do understand that I don't have much privacy, and you would be taking my security team with us."

"Washington can be a dangerous place," he agreed, glancing at Irina, "but it seems you have a rather small team this evening."

Irina’s smile froze, and the sparkle in her eyes disappeared as her pupils dilated almost fully. Brenna had never seen Irina rise to the killing edge before, but General de Vargas had triggered her. She wondered if he knew how close he was to dying.

Evidently he did, because he took a nervous step back. Rebecca's voice behind him caused his eyes to widen.

"We can be unobtrusive. In fact, the last three men who were rude to her didn't even know I was there. They seemed quite surprised when I slipped the knife between their ribs," Rebecca said in Spanish. 

He spun around, his eyes looking down, expecting the woman behind him to be shorter than he was. Instead, he found himself looking at Rebecca's cleavage. His eyes traveled up and discovered her eyes were almost even with his.

"General de Vargas, this is the head of my security team, Rebecca Healy. Rebecca, this is General Carlos Martin de Vargas y Saenz," Brenna said.

"Protector Healy," he bowed slightly. "O'Donnell Protectors have a reputation for being well trained, but not for being so beautiful. I see that my intelligence is faulty. Tell me, were you in charge of Senorita O'Donnell's security in Paris?"

Rebecca cocked her head, studying him. "I've been with her for a long time," she answered.

"It was a remarkable accomplishment, outnumbered three to one and still you were able to take all your charges out unharmed.” The corner of his mouth quirked, “Although you did leave a lot of bodies on the street."

A small grin appeared on Rebecca's face, "The way these things grow in the telling ... it was only two to one. You probably also heard the rumor about lightning shooting out of someone's head. As to bodies on the street, we didn't choose to be ambushed, especially while on holiday in an open city."

He nodded, "A dark-haired woman shooting lightning. I had assumed that was Senorita O'Donnell."

"We had several dark-haired women with us that day," Rebecca said, probing his shields much harder than he had probed Brenna’s and making considerably more progress.

"Well, I would be curious to hear the real story."

"It's good for a man to be curious," she said with a flip of her hair. "Women need to carry an air of mystery."

"Well, I won't keep you ladies any longer." He nodded at each of them in turn, "Senorita Healy, Senorita Tinkerbelle. Senorita O'Donnell, I will call."

"I'll be breathlessly waiting," Brenna replied.

General de Vargas beat a hasty retreat, once turning to look at them from halfway across the room.

About the author
I made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master’s in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, a teacher, and somehow found a career working with computers.

I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school and I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff in Canada.

I have a very significant other, two cats and two Basset Hounds. I’m currently living in Baltimore, nine blocks from the harbor, but still own a home in New Mexico that I see too infrequently.

Twitter: @BRKINGSOLVER
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/brkingsolver
Web site: http://brkingsolver.com/
 

Witches, Curses and Timeless Love. Cursed by Lynn Ricci.

Today it’s my pleasure to interview Lynn Ricci, author of Cursed, a paranormal romance.
ISBN:     1481276034ASIN: B00AQO2ISW
Number of pages: 259Word Count: 70,000
The story takes place over the Christmas holiday… it involves a witch . . . and other surprises…
Book Description
When Sarah Carter moves to Boston to escape her past she realizes there's more than meets the eye with the landlord and her mysterious new best friend.
What happened to the owner of this brownstone and what secrets lie within its walls and continue to torment?
Witchcraft, curses and timeless love are not what Sarah expected to find, but as she learns more, she wonders is she actually running back to her past instead of from it?
Purchase at Amazon
GIVEAWAY! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win either a Kindle or print version of Cursed.
Interview time!
SKY:  How did you come up with the title?
LYNN:   Cursed is a simple, one word title that shares its name with many other books out there.  But it suited the book so well I stuck with it since the first chapter was written.  Cursed refers to not only Masons obvious affliction, but Sarah too with her loss, and both of them literally with the witch.  If I write the prequel I am thinking of, you will get to know Selena more too and realize she was cursed in her own way.
SKY:   What made you choose the main setting for your book?
LYNN:   I have lived just outside of Boston my whole life and when I was young, my parents had a restaurant in the city so I spent a lot of time near the South End where the book takes place.  The brownstones in that neighborhood are beautiful but some of the striking detail of the facades during the day, can look a little sinister at night.
SKY:   If you could spend an hour in real life with one of your characters, who would it be and why?
LYNN:   Mason Brown for sure.  He might be deformed and horrible to look at, but underneath there is a kind soul who has seen and experienced so much over time.  The depth of that experience would offer never ending stories.
SKY:   Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story.
LYNN:   The story unfolds as Sarah Carter moves into a lovely old brownstone in a fashionable Boston neighborhood.  Although it's a grand old house, there is something dark just under the surface.
Chris Harrington, a photographer in the Boston area, captured what I was looking for with the photo of the house and the gas lantern. A cover designer, For the Muse Designs, brought in the elements of the night sky, full moon and touch of magic.  I thought the cover told a good story in itself and is reflective of the base of the story - what happened at this house.  
SKY:   What sort of personality does your heroine have?
LYNN:   Sarah is a smart, hardworking young woman, with strong family ties - but seems a little lost in life.  There is no man in her life and she is struggling to start over in a new city and make friends so appears a bit lonely. So much so, that she isn't cautious enough with who she allows in as a new friend.  Over the course of the story Sarah's tender nature becomes evident as she tries to befriend the hideous and aloof landlord.  The story has been compared to a Beauty and the Beast type tale.
SKY:   Did you enjoy writing one scene above all the rest? If so, share.
LYNN:   The ending.  I knew how it would end when I was about a third of the way through writing the book.
SKY:   Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc.
LYNN:   In the summer months I have a covered deck with outside furniture and, most importantly, a plug.  I like to sit out there with my laptop.  Being from Boston, those months are short-lived so mostly I am in whatever part of the house is quietest!
SKY:   What sources do you use for research?
LYNN:  A lot of research went into Cursed but the research was done online.  A few trips into the city to scout around, but mostly I read and researched the Boston Fire Department, the Great Fire and other historical references right from my laptop.
SKY:   It’s time to promo. What is your favorite marketing tool?
LYNN:   I do a lot on social media - having a Facebook page and Twitter account.  Also I am active on Goodreads and of course have a blog and a website.  It's important to be able to have a direct conversation with readers and that is really why I write - to have people read and enjoy my stories and be able to interact.  I am happiest when I see a stranger post a review or star rating on Amazon or Goodreads or follows me on my Facebook fan page. It makes the work worthwhile.  
SKY:   What genre/genres do you prefer to write? Are there other genres you’d like to write in the future?
LYNN:   Romance.  But there are so many sub-genres under romance that I have plenty of material for the future!  My debut novel was a contemporary romance - or similar to womens lit since the story was very much about strong female friendship as well as the lost love and second chances.  I enjoyed writing Cursed as a paranormal and have a few other paranormal romance stories kicking around in my head. I also have a story geared more for young adult readers that is more fantasy that I hope to get to someday soon while my kids are still young enough to be my built in critics!
SKY:  Great interview, Lynn! I live in southern New Hampshire and spent plenty of time in Boston growing up. Such a great city! Always a pleasure to meet a 'local.' Wishing you much success in your career. :-)

Excerpt  Chapter 1
Staring out of the small dormered window, he could just see the corner of the street. Leaves on the trees lining the sidewalk were moving past their prime of orange and red and turning brown as autumn made its way through Boston. The ones still clinging to the trees blocked part of his view. Absentmindedly he pulled his pocket watch out of his pants and checked the time although he instinctively knew it was still early. Purposely, he had chosen this spot to watch the street for a sign. He didn’t want to miss a thing.
Mrs. Casey was nearly three stories below waiting on the sidewalk next to her white BMW. He gazed down at the plump woman in her camel jacket and brown plaid scarf. She had just arrived and was on her mobile phone, trusty bag over her shoulder. As he watched from above, he wondered if he might keep her for a while. She had proven to be discreet and respectful in their dealings thus far –always keeping her eyes conveniently averted. That was a big plus in his book.
The sky had been bright blue and clear all morning but now the sunlight dimmed and small gusts of wind kicked up from time to time, stirring up the brittle leaves, scratching at the sidewalk and causing drifts against the wrought iron fence. He would go out and clean up the two small patches of grass in front of the building later, when it got dark. After all these years, he was comfortable working outside after nightfall.
A flicker of yellow caught his eye as a taxi turned from Columbus Avenue onto Dunhill – a small side street in Boston’s South End, lined with fashionable brownstones. He straightened his bent frame as best he could and intently watched the cab's approach, completely absorbed in his surroundings and on high alert. Below, Mrs. Casey tucked her phone away and pulled her coat closed. Is it getting colder, he thought, touching the glass pane in front of him, the chill spreading through his fingertips.
The yellow checker taxi glided to a stop in front of the building and a young woman with ash blonde hair stepped out but held the door and leaned back in. His heart clenched as if it had been submerged in cold water and he grasped the windowsill to steady himself. From his vantage point, he could see the cabbie handing her some bills. She closed the car door and turned to Mrs. Casey, shaking hands. He wished he could hear the conversation, but knew that it would be pleasantries and then the expected basics.
Both women squinted up towards the window and he faded back as quickly as possible. He was sure he was a moment too late, but what did it really matter? He snuck another quick look and relaxed, realizing Mrs. Casey was pointing out items on the ground level – most likely the security system, or flower boxes. But as he continued to watch he finally saw it: the sign he had been waiting for.
Small gusts that had been making the crunchy, dry leaves rise and dance with their still colorful counterparts whipped up again a few buildings further along the street and came towards the women like a mounting wave. The leaves blew up waist high, swirling and twirling onto themselves until the force reached the women and spun around them in a leaf tornado. Mrs. Casey stepped back towards her BMW parked at the curb to get out of the maelstrom and the leaves continued, picking up energy and speed; surrounding the flaxen-haired woman, lifting and tossing her long hair like a Medusa at the center of the funnel. In reaction to the onslaught, the young woman covered her head with her arms and ran up the front walk toward the building to get out of its path. The wind disappeared and the leaves fell to the ground on the sidewalk as quickly as it had started. Overhead the sky was once again blue.
She’s here, he thought.
The leaves settled gently on the sidewalk. Sarah laughed, removing a few dry leaves that had snagged on her scarf and sweater.
“My goodness! It’s getting blustery!” Mrs. Casey exclaimed as she hurried across the brick sidewalk to the open gate that Sarah ran through, moments before. “Are you ok, dear?”
“I’m fine, really.” Sarah said almost to herself while smoothing her hair. “Just a little wind.”
“Well, dear, if it was any more wind it would have swept you away to Oz.” Sarah heard the deep Boston accent in the woman’s voice and felt immediately comfortable with the realtor. The cadence was almost like she was listening to her maternal grandmother, Rose. Growing up in Connecticut, her grandmother's Boston accent was fodder for jokes, but she always associated the distinctive pronunciations with happy childhood memories. Sarah waited as Mrs. Casey reached into her oversized bag and easily pulled out a business card.
“Thank you, Mrs. Casey,” Sarah said as she examined the card. “I’m so glad you were able to meet me on short notice.” Sarah stood on the bottom step and waited as Mrs. Casey dug paperwork out of her briefcase. Glancing around the small front enclosure she wasn’t sure was big enough to qualify as a yard, she noticed the black wrought iron flower boxes mounted below the bay windows, full of deep russet, red, and burnt orange mums. Mrs. Casey finished pulling out the listing sheet and noticed where Sarah was looking.
“The flowers are lovely, aren’t they? You should see this place in the summer! I don’t know how he does it. No one ever sees him working in the garden but it’s always immaculate.” She leaned over and pointed to the side of the building indicating she actually meant around the corner. “Over there are the rose bushes. This is actually one of the few brownstones that has a little side yard since the alley cuts through there.”
Sarah looked at the old-world cobblestone alley. Mrs. Casey continued her garden tour, “Not big enough to do much with, but he keeps pink roses in the summer all along those wooden trellises.”
“It’s very nice. You can tell the property is well kept; it’s wonderful that he cares so much for the landscaping.”
“Everything is kept well. This was a grand house in her day.” Mrs. Casey stressed the last sentence as she looked lovingly up to the front door. The realtor continued with a tone of letting Sarah in on a fact already well known in certain social circles, “This is one of the prime rental properties in the South End, dear.”
Mrs. Casey started to climb the front steps slowly. Sarah wondered if it was her age that slowed her down but this seemed different, almost hesitant. As if on cue, the woman turned and looked down at Sarah, two steps below. She put one hand on the railing to steady herself before speaking.
“Before we go in, I must tell you something. We will be meeting with the owner in a few minutes. He’s very particular about his renters since he lives on the first floor.”
Sarah started to say she would make a good impression but the woman laid her gloved hand on her arm to quiet her.
“There’s more.” Mrs. Casey looked down at her feet in discomfort with what she was about to say. “He had an accident . . . of some sort. I am not sure exactly what happened but he is disfigured and very, very self-conscious.” Her eyes darted back to Sarah’s and locked. “Don’t act like you pity him. Don’t ask any questions about it. And, whatever you do, don’t look straight at him.”
“Is it that bad?”
“I really don’t know the extent of it. He tries to cover as much he can and I pretend like nothing is wrong. But it’s bad. I always keep myself busy and interested in looking at something else.”
“I will avoid looking at him. Promise.”
“I’ve lost some good tenants by them being too interested in him. He’s a proud man. He has done a lot of beautiful work; everything in this home has been lovingly maintained. The whole building possesses a charm you just don’t see anymore.”
Mrs. Casey searched Sarah’s face, making sure all this had settled in.
“Ready, dear?”
“Ready.” 

About the Author

Lynn Ricci was born and raised in the Boston area. Her professional background is in financial communications and she pursues her artistic endeavors of writing and painting while enjoying an active family life with her two children and dog, Fenway. In the summer, she enjoys relaxing in Chatham on Cape Cod.
A writer of several published short stories including Daydreams which was picked up for an anthology collection through Outskirts Press, The Dating Intervention is her debut novel and Cursed, a paranormal romance, is her most recent novel released December 2012.
More information on novels available and underway can be found at Lynn's Website. 
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