Sky Purington's Blog, page 51

Where Ghosts Come to Play. Who came out on top?

I'd like to thank everyone who has popped in over the past several days to enjoy excerpts from my recently released, The Victorian Lure. Remember, if you want to continue following the sexy ghost hunters from this trilogy, be sure to swing over and join us at Paranormal/Syfy Romance- Deep, Dark and Delicious blogspot .

At last, it's finally time to announce a contest winner. A huge congratulations to BJ! You won an Ecopy of The Victorian Lure! Be sure to contact me at SkyPurington@live.com to collect your prize.

Wishing everyone a fabulous Tuesday.

~Sky

Where Ghosts Come to Play. Sexy Paranormal Excerpts. 3 of 3.

The weekend's almost over, but there's still spooky fun to be had at A Writer's Mind. Over the past few days I've shared excerpts from my recent release, The Victorian Lure. To wrap things up, I thought I'd turn up the 'sexy' a notch.
WARNING: This excerpt is intended for a mature audience. Some of the language and actions may be considered offensive.
Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a free Ecopy of The Victorian Lure. Okay, here we go. Some of the far naughtier things that can happen during a paranormal investigation…

Leathan followed Dakota into the kitchen where she started to pull the cabinets open.

"You doing okay?" He leaned against the counter; unable to miss the way her perky breasts lifted even higher when she grabbed a pan from a taller shelf.

With a light clank, she placed the pan beneath the faucet and shrugged. "Yeah, as good as to be expected. Thanks."

Beating around the bush had never been his style. "What did you think about what happened outside?"

A small smile curved her lips and a becoming stain of pink dusted her cheekbones. "Honestly? Though it was unnerving…I enjoyed it."

"You worried about that white-robed guy?"

"Not so much." She gave a soft smile. "He feels…different. Safe."

He agreed. She turned and his eyes fell to her heart-shaped ass. Mmm. He remembered exactly how it'd felt in his hands. Smooth, taut…perfect. One foot in front of the other, close the distance. That's all it would take. Then he could hold and kiss her. He wanted to so bad, Leathan wasn't surprised when blood rushed to his groin. Heavy and underused, his instant arousal pressed uncomfortably against his too tight jeans.

"Be back." He turned and headed for the cellar door. The last thing Dakota needed to see right now was the blatant lust she'd see in his eyes…and his obvious erection. Maybe it was the age difference, but Dakota made him feel like a teenage boy again. He opened the door, flipped the switch to turn on the power and headed down into the dank recesses below.

Cobwebs dusted his face as he descended. Thankfully, the camera they'd set up down here still sat, facing toward the main center area. As many houses of this period, the stone cellar split into various rooms, some used for storing canned goods. He walked into the first room and clicked on his flashlight as many of these smaller rooms weren't lit. With a grin, Leathan eyed the rows upon rows of canned goods. At the very least, for now, they had extra food.

Continuing into the next room, he found random things scattered about. There was little of value since cellars became too moist. They would need to explore the attic soon. He suspected that would be where they might find more clues to the original owner and possibly the builder of this place.

After passing through the center area, he entered a larger room and sighed with relief. Stacked high, against two walls, was chopped wood. About to pull a piece free he stopped. Had he heard a giggle? Pushing the wood back, he spun the flashlight toward the entrance. Nothing. Bound to have an over active imagination down here. After all, this replicated the spooky cellars from the best horror movies. Light on, he clipped the flashlight to his hip pocket and grabbed the piece of wood again.

Three pieces of wood in hand, Leathan shivered. Brrr. Prepared, he held the wood in one arm, reached into his pocket, pulled his digital temperature gage and held it in the light. As hairs rose on the back of his neck, he watched the reading drop from thirty-five degrees to thirty-two, then thirty-one. He started counting. Within seconds it dropped to twenty-five. Ready to pull a recorder from his other pocket, Leathan froze when a black figure caught the corner of his vision from deeper insidethe room. Carefully, he set the wood aside.

His flashlight dimmed then snapped off without him touching it. Those in the paranormal world speculated spirits drew energy from their surroundings to manifest. He waited and watched.
"Leath─"

He snatched Dakota from the doorway, brought her between him and the wood and brought a finger to her lips. "Quiet," he whispered close to her ear.

"Heard you the first time," she whispered back.

What?

No time to wonder what she meant. Somethingwas happening in the corner. With a protective arm around Dakota, he peered into the dark recesses of the room. Someone whispered. She trembled. He peered closer. Nothing. The temperature rose, returned to normal. Leathan stroked her shoulder reassuringly. Whatever it had been hadn't stuck around long. While he wanted to explore the area more the feel of her long body against his drove all logical thought from his mind. Her heart pounded against his. Breath rushed from their lungs. They were caught in a heady mix of adrenaline combined with lust.

At last she spoke. "Did you see anything?"

What scent was she wearing? It smelled sweet and inviting. "Nay." He continued stroking her shoulder, then the side of her neck. "You okay? Frightened?"

"At first," she admitted, her body relaxed and pliant between his and the wood stack.

Without consciously realizing it, he had her sandwiched; his front nestled against hers, his renewed arousal pressed against her with interest. Spirit activity, no matter how slight, usually had him interested. Right now, nothing but the feel of her lithe body flattened against his mattered.

Leathan pressed closer, gently kissed the side of her neck, said very softly, "Does this frighten you?"

"What do you think?"

Hungry, eager, he found her mouth. Willing, her lips opened beneath his and as before, her hands came around his neck. Wedging a knee between her legs, he found her backside and lifted until he held her locked and secure, inescapably lodged between him and the woodpile. Her firm backside filled his palms perfectly. Her slender athletic thighs straddled his leg. Heat emanated from her core, and he nearly groaned. Tilting his head further, he explored her mouth, their tongues and lips in perfect unison. He could kiss her forever and never get bored.
Grinding his thigh against her, he protected her backside with his hands. The ache rose sharp and hard when he felt the heat increase between her legs, when a small whimper left her lips. All he could imagine was the moist clinging heat within her. What would she taste like? Feel like?

Sky here. Hope you enjoyed! Not ready for the party to be over? Check out The Victorian's Lure book trailer. Speakers up. Kevin McLeod's dark and delicious music gets ya in the mood. *Evil grin*

Where Ghosts Come to Play. Sexy Paranormal Excerpts. 2 of 3. Chance to Win!

Welcome! If you popped in Friday you know that I'm sharing excerpts from my latest release, The Victorian Lure (Calum's Curse: Ardetha Vampyre). For those of you just joining me, grab a cup of whatever makes you happiest, sit back and enjoy what's to come. Yesterday, I talked about the roots behind the writing of The Victorian Lure. After you read this post, be sure to click HERE to read more about not only Calum but how Dakota's victorian came to need a paranormal investigation.

CONTEST: Leave a comment on any posts between Friday and Sunday for a chance to win an Ecopy of The Victorian Lure.

Today, I'm continuing where I left off yesterday. The first moment the Worldwide Paranormal Society enters Dakota's Victorian and the first moment Dakota meets lead investigator, Leathan Stewart…

Leathan Stewart frowned and gazed up at the house. Why had she lied to him? It wasn't in good condition. As far as he could tell, the oversized Victorian should be condemned by the local building inspector, bound up with yellow tape, and labeled, "Don't breath on me. I might fall down." She'd actually purchased this thing recently?
He waved his team on and walked through a thick layer of brown crinkly leaves. "Look at this mess. The shutters are drooping. The paint's peeling. And─" He shook his head. "What's that smell?" Halfway up the crooked, creaky steps, the front door opened.

"Hello?" he said. No one responded. What the hell?

The door opened further. Inch by inch, it revealed a foyer that looked far different than the exterior. Leathan stepped inside and expected to see the woman who contacted him. Instead, he found an empty foyer with gleaming dark hardwood floors.
A low whistle. "Based on the outside, I would have thought whoever bought this house was thick in the head. Look at this foyer. It's really nice!"
Leathan silenced his fellow paranormal investigator, Devin, with a sharp shake of his head. The others followed them inside, all silent.

"She's here somewhere." He started to climb the stairs. "Devin, search the first floor, Seth, the second, Andrea, the third. I'm going to the top, where she said she might be."

As he walked he paid attention to details. To the common eye everything looked pristine and new. But he had a talent…he could look closer, see it as it had been, sort of a psychic ability. At first, he saw faded areas in the paint where paintings had hung before, holes in the hardwood that must have tacked a run rug. He looked up. The ceiling was starting to peel; small water stains marred the corners on the second floor and the odor of mildew faint but there.

When he looked closer at the walls, he envisioned the paintings that had once hung there, unknown faces from the nineteen fifties based on their clothing. The stair runner had been red, then faded, then removed. The stains on the ceiling, a problem never fixed because the former family couldn't afford it.

Using his gift, he stopped looking, started feeling. A tear slid down his cheek. Not his but that of the woman who had removed the paintings because they were moving. Her husband wanted a divorce. Aggravation when she spilled warm milk on the carpet runner when rushing to get it to her child on the second floor. Would she be able to get the stain out? The day she moved, two children in tow and glared one last time at that water stain on the ceiling. Why did her husband blame her for that too?

An uncomfortable shiver rippled through him.

There was more to this house, much more, much deeper and something didn't want him here…or did it? Well worth investigating. Climbing the last stair to the third floor, he looked around. Energy pulsed here, stronger than anywhere else. Usually he could see it, darkness at the corner of everything. This time he couldn't. But he could feel it. Like a dull throb at the base of his skull.

Leathan opened the door to the fourth floor. Cool, rosewood-scented air poured over his face. He climbed stairs covered with a thin tan carpet until he reached the top.

Then he saw her.

He almost stumbled back. It felt like a freight train drove through him. Leathan blinked twice. He had expected her to look a thousand different ways but nothing like she did. Maybe five-eight, with a slender build, she was beautiful, exotic.

When she stepped beneath one of the three lights, he took an involuntary step back and sucked in a breath. Damned hot! Surreal with pale, silky smooth skin, her rich blue-black hair was cut in a stylish bob fashioned longer in the front, shorter in the back. The light cast her face into a striking combination of cheekbones carved high and wide, lips full and pouty. Her chin line delicately chiseled from a hard square into oval slopes made to fit a man's hands. Startling green eyes appraised him.

Nodding, she turned away and walked to the state of the art computer system tucked in the far corner of the room. "I'm glad you came. This whole house is screwed, and it all started here, Mr.Stewart."

"Leathan." He lowered his bag from his shoulder and surveyed the room. The door to a small bathroom stood ajar from a small make-shift kitchenette in the corner of the room. A two person table with what looked to be a left-over microwavable soup bowl and spoon had been placed next to a tiny built-in counter with a microwave on it, a mid-sized refrigerator beneath. A mattress without a box-spring cuddled in another corner.

"Good thing I had a bathroom and some food up here or I might not have made it," she said softly.

Honestly, after a week, he fully expected to find her cowering and completely mad. But no, she appeared composed, totally unafraid, which made him wonder.

"I came as soon as I could." Leathan headed for the computer. "Good to meet you…Dakota, I'm assuming?"

"Yeah, Dakota, sorry." She paced away from the computer.

Was this a hoax? Dakota didn't act as though she feared for her life. If anything, she struck him as rude, almost careless in her attitude.

"I'm completely trapped on this floor," she continued.

"Yeah, you said as much in your email," he replied and sat in the swivel chair in front of her computer. "Your claim seemed interesting enough to warrant investigation."
Dakota's brows furrowed. "I must have been persuasive for you to come so far."

Truth told she hadn't been convincing at all. However, something about her email struck him. At core, he sensed desperation. Almost as if he could read between her words─vague as they were─and see what she meant to write. What if he had ignored her, as everyone else probably would have, and her story was true?
And, despite himself, he was a fan of her site.

Leaning back in his chair, he watched her pace. "I assume you believe in the paranormal, Dakota."

Her gaze flickered his way. "Now I do."

Didn't expect that response. "So you were strictly a non-believer before? I find that hard to believe."
"I didn't say that." Dakota shrugged. "What does it really matter?"

Leathan didn't reply right away. His silence forced her to stop pacing.

She narrowed her eyes. "Are you trying to figure out if I'm prone to fantasies…if I made all this up based on my networking site?"
"Sorry," he said. "This is part of what I do. Try to understand the homeowner as well as what is haunting them."

Aggravation shifted her green eyes to a sultry moss-like shade. "You want to understand me? Get me the hell off this floor, and I'll tell you everything you want!"
Leathan kept his eyes locked with hers for a few moments. She should be crazy, out of her mind if what she said was true. Why wasn't she afraid?

The dull throb at the base of his head had subsided when he came to this floor. Could there be paranormal activity on this level? Sure, but unlikely. However, his job first and foremost, was to disprove a haunting. Best to start here he supposed. They'd deal with downstairs later.
Swiveling around, he hit the on button. "Based on what you told me I think we should address what you saw on the computer first."
Thump. He looked over his shoulder. Dakota had walked back against the wall, eyes round.
Leathan stood and followed her.

Dakota's gaze stayed on him. "Shut it off."

Within a foot he stopped. "No."

"Get me off this floor first then explore it all you want."

Ah, fear. "Are you that afraid of it?" He angled his body so she had a clear shot of the computer.

"I've been stuck on this floor for one week after seeing─" Her words trailed off. He knew she worked hard to keep her eyes on him and not turn away from everything.

"Please," she whispered.

Leathan contemplated her for several moments. Dakota was stubborn. She was also petrified. He could see how she struggled to keep herself together.

"All right, let's get you off this floor."

Relief shrunk her pupils. Her shoulders fell a quarter of an inch. "Thank you."

"There is a condition though," he said.

"I didn't realize ghost hunters came with conditions."

"If I get you off this floor, I want to know everything. All the things you aren't telling me now," he countered.

"Aren't you curious why I'm not telling you everything right away?"

"No." He took her hand. "Fear does funny things to people. Obviously, being trapped here is your greatest fear amongst many. I only ask that you tell all once I help you face this one."

Dakota pulled her hand away. "I asked you to come. You did. I'm grateful. Of course I'll tell you everything once you get me the hell off this floor, out of this house."

Leathan went to the nearest window and wedged it open. Snowflakes curled in on an icy wind and caught on his five o'clock shadow. He held up a hand. "Come."

"What's the point?"

"I would think that's obvious." He wiggled his forefinger. "Come. I need to see if you can stick out your hand."

Dakota nodded. "I can."

He narrowed his eyes. Understanding dawned. She didn't like heights. So he challenged her pride. "What don't you fear?"

Just as he figured, fire flared in her emerald eyes. She threw back her shoulders and came to him.

"I'm starting to think contacting you was a mistake."

"I'm sure."

Before she pulled more excuses out of her rabbit's hat, Leathan grabbed her hand and pulled it out the window. Nothing stopped it. Not even a sluggish otherworldly cloud of resistance. Still, her hand gripped his. The muscles in her slender forearm clenched. Placing his free arm over her arm, he stiffened when he felt what he could only describe as intense static electricity shoot through him.

She made a low sound of shock─possibly pain─and he loosened his hold. Had she felt it too? Dakota's eyes met his. Her finely arched brows drew down. "Let go."

He did. She rubbed her hand before tucking it away in her sweatshirt pocket.

"So what, should I have scaled four stories to the ground with sheets tied together?" Dakota spun away and walked to the top of the stairs. "I suppose many would have tried."

Leathan rubbed his fingers together, recovered from the aftershocks of touching her. "You don't have enough sheets to have made it."

A small smile graced her face then vanished. "I'll tell you one thing now."

"What's that?"

"Despite my doubts you were meant to be here."

He tried not to ask her a thousand questions, knew she needed time, needed to escape from what she considered the most imminent danger. "Let's get you out of here."

Dakota's chest heaved. She nodded. "That'd be great."

For a split second, he wished she didn't wear such a baggy sweatshirt. That he could see her chesta little more clearly. Where had that thought come from? Shaking his head, he walked down the stairs and stopped, feet on the door jam. Looking back, he raised his hand and gave a come hither motion.

"Every time I try to cross that threshold the pain is unbearable."

"Take three steps down. Prove to me you're willing to try. I'll talk you through the rest."
Dakota's nostrils flared. "Talk me through the rest, eh?"

"Just do it."

Staring at him, she battled within until she came to a conclusion and quickly descended three steps.

"See, was that so bad?" he said. "But what about that?"

He pointed behind her. She looked.

Fast─before she knew his intentions─he climbed the stairs and scooped her up. Dakota yelped and wrapped her arms around his neck. Leathan left the fourth floor and flew down the stairs.

"Out of the house, please," she urged in his ear.

Not a problem. Passing through the foyer, he opened the front door, transcended the stairs, and stopped. Bottle cap snowflakes drifted in thick sheets. Wind whipped and stung the side of his face.

Dakota gripped his neck tighter, nails dug into his skin. "I'm out. I'm out."

She repeated those words over and over. Carefully, he set her down. When her feet hit the ground, she pulled away, turned, and started to run.

Damn woman.

By the time he caught up she was halfway to the ocean. He grabbed her arm. She yanked and twirled away. Leathan growled and pursued. Fast little thing! When he once more caught up, she was ankle deep in the water. From behind he wrapped his arms around her chest and pulled her close.

"Are you mad? Or just suicidal," he roared.

Dakota said nothing at first. Her body shook. Her head rocked back and forth. When she spoke her voice sounded hoarse, desperate. "Let me go."

Frowning, he pulled her closer. "No. You're out of the house. I got you here. You owe me an explanation, lass."

Leathan spun her, grabbed her arms, and forced Dakota to look at him. "You owe me."

Bleary eyed, she peered at him through the veil of falling snow. "It should have ended here to begin with. This wouldn't be happening now, the past damn week, had I only possessed the courage."

Sudden comprehension made his mouth drop. Every fiber of his being wanted to shove her into the water, say "good riddance, be done with it you coward above all cowards"…but he couldn't. How was it that a woman like this wanted to end her life? What on God's green Earth had brought her to such a point?

Then he thought better. Those who wanted such deserved it. He released her abruptly. Dakota stumbled before she landed with a splash into the water.

Leathan turned away, disgusted. Old wounds threatened to bubble to the surface. He'd dealt with suicide before. Damned if he would again. Human life was a gift.

"Screw you!"

Screw him? Furious, he spun to witness Dakota stumbling out of the sea with a finger pointed at him. "Go back." Walking backward, he nodded toward the black ocean beyond. "I won't stop you from that. Not the sort of service you sought me out for. Sorry."

Dakota stopped, legs akimbo, arms shaking. "We have a bigger problem."

"What bigger problem could there be?" He walked her way. "A haunted house or its suicidal

owner?"

"I'm thinking the haunted house has us all beat." Dakota stared past him, eyes wide.

When was the last time he'd got so aggravated with a woman? Especially one he'd just met. Had she really been trapped on the fourth floor or had that been some sort of a suicidal cry for help? Who cared if he'd sensed the house was a little spooked. Leathan would leave this case for another investigative crew. "My team and I will leave in the morn. It's obvious you sought me for whatever twisted reasons your mind told you to."

Dakota's gaze fell from the horizon. Her eyes narrowed. "You are a complete jackass."

"And you have some serious issues to tackle."

"Do I?"

"I'm convinced."

"Turn around and tell me if you still feel the same."

For no other reason than to make his way back to his team, Leathan turned.

He stopped short.

Holy shit!

Sky here. Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win an Ecopy of The Victorian Lure. Interested in checking out the character blog for the paranormal investigators from Calum's Curse? Head over to Paranormal/Syfy Romance- Deep, Dark & Delicious.

Purchase The Victorian Lure through The Wild Rose Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Join me again tomorrow as I share a super sexy hot expert from The Victorian Lure.

Sky

Where Ghosts Come to Play. Sexy Paranormal Excerpts. 1 of 3. Chance to Win!

It's finally that time! 11.11.11 has arrived.
In this case, the date means the release of my long awaited novel, The Victorian Lure (Calum's Curse: Ardetha Vampyre). I started writing this book a few years ago. At birth, it was an entirely different story. In fact, it was originally drafted to be the follow-up to Highland Muse which was part of The Song of the Muses Anthology at The Wild Rose Press. Regrettably, that never happened.
But I didn't let that get me down.

Instead, I gave the story a complete overhaul which included expanding it from a novella into a full novel. Gone were the Greek gods. In their place, ghosts and yes, even a nasty nemesis of a vampire. I was pretty shocked by the whole turn of events and how eventually this book became the first in a trilogy about three haunted houses which imprison creatures of the night. Three creatures bent on destroying descendants of Calum himself.
Who is Calum?

As it turns out, Calum had what I like to call a 'there but not there' part in my recently re-launched MacLomain Series. In Fate's Monolith (Book 1) he was the babe in Marie's belly. In Sylvan Mist (Book 3) he was the brother overseas studying in France. Yet these were novels that took place in the colonial period. The Victorian Lure takes place in present day. So there you have it, Calum is a ghost that though it seems he haunts the house, he's really haunting his descendants to not only protect them but help them solve the mystery of the creatures sent to destroy them.

So who are these doomed descendants?

Three cousins, all born in different parts of the world, who run the Worldwide Paranormal Society. One is Scottish, one Irish and the third, American. In The Victorian Lure, you'll meet Leathan Stewart, head paranormal investigator and journey with the team through the turbulent whirlwind of the Victorian and its role in Calum's curse. Interested in 'meeting' the team? Before you leave A Writer's Mind today, be sure to head over to their new character blog, Paranormal/Syfy Romance- Deep, Dark and Delicious.

The fun part of the Calum's Curse trilogy?

Besides Calum, other characters from The MacLomain Series make an appearance throughout the Calum's Curse Trilogy. If you've read the series you're familiar with the Adlin, head shaman and meddlesome cupid. He's back in The Victorian Lure as a ghost and moral compass for the ghost hunters. Enjoyed Destiny's Denial? Well, Caitlin and Ferchar, join the paranormal crew in a most unexpected way!

I decided to celebrate the launch of the series with excerpts from The Victorian Lure shared throughout the weekend. Yes, Halloween may have come and gone elsewhere but here at A Writer's Mind, ghostly encounters have only just begun. As an added bonus, I'd like to host a contest. Once lucky winner will be drawn from all comments left on posts between now and Sunday. The prize? A free Ecopy of The Victorian Lure! Before we begin, a bit about the book...

Is it true love or is the magnetic pull just another part of the Victorian's lure?

Dakota Allerton depends on no one but herself, but then she's never needed a ghost hunter. When her dream home becomes a house of horrors that is holding her hostage, her only hope is a Scotsman who investigates the paranormal.

The supernatural is nothing Leathan Stewart can't handle. However, trapped in Dakota's cursed Victorian home, he finds himself falling back in time. Only those who persevere can survive the dark domination.

Fear has a way of drawing two people together but so does the need to be loved. Dakota and Leathan must fight against unknown enemies, discover the secrets of Calum's Curse and defeat a vampire bent on finishing the legacy it began.

So why not start out right with the bone-chilling scene that caused Dakota to seek help to begin with? (Please note: this dialogue is intended for a mature audience)

Chapter One

Rye Beach, New Hampshire

Present Day

Walk in. Never look back. Leave it all behind. The icy ocean swirled around her ankles. The steady ebb and flow of waves an undeniable invitation.

"Don't do it."

"What?" Dakota spun. Nobody stood there. Only the Queen Anne Victorian mansion gazed down from its perch across the dark, desolate road. Her new home seemed more sinister than the fate she'd contemplated moments ago. She ran a shaky hand through her short locks and shivered. What was she thinking? With a deep breath, she sucked in the salty autumn air and frowned. Why, after all this time, did she suddenly turn coward?

"Shake it off, stay strong," Dad had always said.

And, to this day, she had.

Imagine if he could see her now. Dakota headed for the house. Pins and needles stung her wet feet when she crossed grainy sand and frozen asphalt. As she climbed the stairs to the front door, light flooded the foyer. Thank God the power was on. It was about time. The thought of spending the night huddled in front of the fireplace drinking bottled water hadn't appealed to her in the least. Locating the thermostat, she cranked the heat.

An eerie chill slithered up her spine. Alert, she studied every corner. Was someone watching her? Impossible. Had to be her imagination.

Ten minutes later, Dakota plunked down in front of the one thing worth living for, her top of the line computer. Snuggling deeper into her oversized sweatshirt, she defrosted her toes in fuzzy slippers and logged on. With a couple of clicks of her mouse, she had surfed through her competitor's sites, looking for functionality and/or upgrades. She knew damned well they were doing the same thing.

Screw them.

Give it a month or two, and she'd leave most of them in the dust. After all, the social networking site she created was different than most. It had two options for customers to choose from. One section brought fans of anything paranormal together. Like vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, creatures of the night? It included a feature that allowed people to create their own unique page and befriend whoever they liked on the site. The other─and far more lucrative option─was the dating section. Looking for a fellow reaper devotee, maybe a sexy hunk with fangs in his closet? Don't go any further! In addition, her site had superior security that was implemented and designed differently than any other site online.

So far, jackpot.

2.4 million dollars later, she was still undecided whether to sell to one of the top search engines. Dakota took a sip from a teeming glass of merlot and admired her site's splash page. Twisting in from a murky pool of black and gray it ended on a small red dot. Click, click on the dot. A werewolf sprang forward, fangs dripping blood, eyes eager. Click, click again and enter the main site. She grinned. It wasn't always a werewolf. She'd created over ten different ferocious monsters and coded them to randomly display on her splash page.

She clicked on the words, Welcome, madness. Name your space.

Enter name. She typed, "Last Girl Standing."

Enter password. She typed, "betyourass."

Once the page loaded, Dakota sifted through comments, mail, invites. Why the hell had she created a page here? Morbid curiosity she supposed. Or just shitty memories. Then again, she'd made a few good friends. One in particular had caught her attention. He called himself "Ghost of a Chance." Like her, he was a software engineer, specializing in web development, so they'd had numerous conversations about graphics, animation, advertising, and other related topics. Besides that, she knew little about him personally.

A previously left instant message popped up from him. "Looks like I missed you. Hope to chat soon!"

Dakota smiled and closed the message. She didn't even know what he looked like, where he came from, but she wanted to know more. Much more.

A sizzling fire erupted in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Someone was trying to contact her via instant message. Hell, she thought that'd been set to invisible. Eyes narrowed, she clicked on the inquiring name "I Remember You." Whoever they were had typed, "Wanna have some fun?"

Um, no.

Just about to sign off chat, she stopped when they typed, "Awe, c'mon Miss England!"

Dakota froze. She flexed her fingers and typed, "Who is this?"

Only a site "friend" could instant message her.

No response.

They must've got the wrong person.

About to sign off another message appeared. "Has it been so long that you've forgotten me?"

She typed, "Think you got the wrong person."

"Hmmm, doubt it."

Knees tapping beneath the desk, fingers shaking slightly, Dakota shook her head.

"Getting nervous, Miss England?"

So not gonna take this. Dakota logged out of the site and closed the browser. Strangely enough, the splash page popped up again. She frowned. Click, click. The browser wouldn't close. Dakota hit the "off" button on the computer.

Still no change.

The splash page had loaded. The red point wanted to be clicked. Hell if she would! She took her hand off the mouse. It clicked on its own! Eyes wide, she rolled back. Instead of a creature screaming forward, a globe of the Earth did. Long-fingered masculine hands formed around the globe. Even the wide, half-mooned nail beds could be seen.

Dakota blinked. "I've gotta be seeing things," she whispered.

The hands began to decay, the cuticles peeled back, the knuckles crawled with vermin. Someone whispered, "Are you sure?"

Dakota covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head again.

A teeth-grinding laugh blared through her speakers. The hands twirled the planet, faster and faster. She pinched the bridge of her nose and narrowed her eyes. Think. Think. She leaned over and pulled the computer cord from the wall. Still, the hands decayed faster while they whirled the globe quicker. At that exact moment, the miniature portrayal of the Earth flew out of the computer screen and sailed over her head.

Dakota swiveled her chair and gripped the armrests. Her wine glass hit the floor and shattered. This can't be happening. But no, the eighteen inch portrayal of the Earth hit the far wall. It slammed to the floor, rolled and stopped at her feet. Red wine swirled around the planet. She peered down. It looked like something. But what? Holy crap. Was it? Could it be? It appeared Earth was drowning in blood.

Blinking, Dakota tried to clear her vision. This had to be a joke. What if it wasn't? Should she run? Get the heck out of there. She didn't know what to do so. Foolish or brave, she leaned over and studied the very real globe smoking at her feet. She touched the surface and yanked her hand back. Ouch! Hot! Cocking her head, she looked closer. A burn clearly marked the country of Scotland.

Slowly, carefully, Dakota rolled her chair away. The globe must have been there all along. This was a figment of her imagination. The computer whirred. She swung back to the screen. Blood boiled beneath her cheeks. Fear made her limbs freeze. Hell had a name.

And it had found her at last.

Sky here. Be sure to join me again tomorrow as I continue this excerpt right where I'm leaving off. Tomorrow the Worldwide Paranormal Society enters Dakota's victorian for the first time. And Dakota meets lead investigator Leathan Stewart.

Purchase The Victorian Lure through The Wild Rose Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Veteran's Day. 11.11.11. Thank You.

I could never find the right words or enough words to express how thankful I am to my countries veteran's. I would not be able to enjoy the freedom I have today had you not put your lives on the line.
This morning on the news I heard a story about Grace Darling Seibold, a woman who started a group called American Gold Star Mothers. It's not only a support group for moms of fallen soldiers but a support network in itself that travels across the country spending time with and thanking all of our veterans. If you're a mom who has lost a child to war or know someone who has, you might want to check out American Gold Star Mothers.
Wishing every branch of the United States Military a very Happy Veteran's Day.

Best Always,

Sky

Hywela Lyn's Contest Winners Plus Some F.Y.I.'s.

What a great time last week! It was a pleasure having romance author, Hywela Lyn and her wonderful characters over to visit. As you know there was a contest running and two winners were drawn.

A huge round of congrat's goes out to Sheila Deeth and Francine Howarth. Lyn will be in touch with your prizes. If you didn't receive her email please contact me at SkyPurington@live.com.

I thought while I had you I'd share the latest and greatest badge Tamra Westberry whipped up for me. Love it!

The countdown is officially on. Seventeen days until my What Every Woman Wants Beneath Her Christmas Tree Blog Event launches. *Wide smile*

Also, stay tuned. I have a release this Friday. The Victorian Lure (Calum's Curse: Ardetha Vampyre), the first in my upcoming paranormal trilogy. You don't want to miss meeting these sexy-as-heck paranormal investigators turned warlock! I'll fill you in more later in the week. Until then... be good.

Book Trailer Breather. Time to kick back and watch Hywela Lyn's trailers. Last chance to win!

It's the weekend at last! Time to wind down at A Writer's Mind. How so? By enjoying a Book Trailer Breather! If you've been popping in throughout the week you know that I've been featuring romance author Hywela Lyn and her fabulous characters from Dancing with Fate. Well, today I'll be sharing the book trailer for that title as well as a few others.

CONTEST ~ Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win an Ecopy of Dancing with Fate. Two winners drawn.

What Lyn had to say about Dancing with Fate's trailer…

"This was fun to make, and although trailers are quite time consuming, didn't take as long as the first one I made. Since this edition is a re-publication of the story originally published with The Wild Rose Press, I wanted it to be different, but to still have similar elements of legend and mystique. I was able to use several of the original pictures, but also incorporated one or two new ones. I tried to put as much movement in as possible, by incorporating a video of clouds and one of flames and a fireball. The clouds were also used in my futuristic novel 'Children Of The Mist' but I tinted it different colours and used it in a later frame.

The music was the most time consuming part. I went back to Kevin Mcleod's great site http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/ and spent a happy hour or so searching for the right piece. (It's easy to get sidetracked there, because he has so much great music for all genres and moods.) I really liked the piece I had for the original trailer, but of course didn't want to use that again. I found a piece of Celtic music which I like but unfortunately each time I tried to download it for some reason it only downloaded a short section which was not long enough for the trailer. I hope you like the one I finally came up with – another Celtic piece – Skye Cuillin (I've been to the Cuillin hills, they're on the Isle of Skye and quite spectacular, cutting across the whole of the island. Although the Cuillins are Scottish and my story takes place in 5th Century Wales, I felt it had the right 'feel' for the story, and I could imagine Terpsichore dancing languorously to it."

DANCING WITH FATE. Purchase now through Smashwords.



STARQUEST



CHILDREN OF THE MIST



Learn more about Hywela Lyn, her books and everything she's up to at her Website.

Lyn is also one of the owners of Author Roast & Toast Blogspot. Swing over to meet tons of top-notch authors every week!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Sky

Character Blowout. Day #2. Like Greek Mythology? Hero Myrddin is Interviewed. Two Chances to Win!

Welcome to the second day of A Writer's Mind's END OF WEEK CHARACTER BLOWOUT. This blog event gives you a more in-depth look into the characters from some of your favorite romance tales. Sort of like The Newlywed Game done blog style.

This week it's my pleasure to interview Terpsichore (Muse of Dance) and Myrddin ab Morfryn. I got to know these characters a few years ago when Lyn and I were part of The Song of the Muses Anthology. I can't tell you what a truly wonderful story this is and I don't just say that because Lyn is a dear friend, but because this story will 'wow' you. I never expected this tale to go where it did and by the end I had chills running through my body. The good kind! Lyn's imagination ties in so well with folklore, it's downright awe-inspiring.

CONTEST ~ Comment on any of Hywela Lyn's posts this week and be entered for a chance to win an Ecopy of Dancing with Fate. Two winners will be drawn!

Okay, ready to relax? It's time to grab a hot cup of tea (or whatever your device) and enjoy a superb interview with the hero from Dancing with Fate. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of interviewing Terpsichore. As you'll see I added snippets from her interview alongside Myrddin's.

SKY: Tell us a little bit about yourself, Myrddin.

MYRDDIN: I was born in Carmarthen, Wales, in the 5th Century AD. I had a fairly unconventional childhood and I always felt a little different. It wasn't until I met Terpsichore and her half brother Apollo, however, that I realized what an amazing destiny was in store.
(Terpsichore's response… I'm one of the nine daughters of Zeus. I inspire people to dance - I'm sure you've heard of me and my eight sisters. After all, we're with you all at various times in your life even though you may not realize it.)

SKY: Ah, a Welshman. *Sky fans herself and tries not to swoon.* Remembering the moment you first laid eyes on Terpsichore, what thoughts come to mind?

MYRDDIN: She was the most beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on. I thought for a moment I was imagining this perfect woman who stepped out from the waterfall and began dancing like I'd never seen anyone dance before.

(Terpsichore's response… I was dancing at the time - and I'd been bathing in the falls so I wasn't actually wearing any clothes. I wondered how long he'd been watching me. It wasn't that I minded, but my instructions were not to draw attention to myself, and he was staring!)

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?

MYRDDIN: Apart from her sense of humour, her sweetness, her perfect figure and beautiful face, her hair fascinates me. It reaches her feet and is as soft as a Welsh mist caressing the tips of the mountains.

She always gazes into my eyes as if she can see eternity in them – perhaps she can, all I know is we can spend hours just holding hands and gazing into each others' eyes.

(Terpsichore's response… I love his humility - and his gentleness. He didn't seem to realize the power he had within him at the time - and even if he did he didn't make a song and (if you'll exuse the pun) dance about it. I think what he likes most about me is that I make him laugh - that and my looks I suppose, after all the daughters of Zeus are goddesses and as such very beautiful)

SKY: So romantic! 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?

MYRDDIN: She is so impulsive. I wish she'd be a little more cautious, it gets her into trouble sometimes, but I have to admit she keeps things interesting!

(Terpsichore's response… He's pretty near perfect in my eyes – but he can be a bit over protective at times, even now. )

SKY: Love is in the air. What is the single most romantic thing you've done for her?

MYRDDIN: I'd like to turn that around if I may. The single most romantic thing she's ever done for me was to sacrifice her beautiful long hair when she thought it would save my life. She was so proud of her hair, thank the gods it grew again, even thicker and longer than before. In return I do my best to ensure every single moment is magical and full of romance for her.

(Terpsichore's response… He was nearly killed trying to protect me, can't get more romantic than that!)

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.

MYRDDIN: Funnily enough she gazes at my eyes more than any other part of me. (Well most of the time, anyway.)

(Terpsichore's response… My eyes are always drawn to his eyes. They are the most subtle shade of blue, like Aegean sea beneath the softest summer sky – oh and his voice, it still sends shivers of delight through me, so rich and mellow. For him, I suppose it's my hair, it's really long, you see, down to my feet and he loves to run his hands through it.)

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

MYRDDIN: Oh, it's difficult to choose just one. There are so many things we enjoy doing together. Making love in the moonlight has to be tops, followed by long gallops through the woods - and she's taught me some of her dances, although of course I'll never dance the way she does, but any excuse to hold her in my arms, the thrill never wears off!

(Terpsichore's response… *Giggle* You mean besides the obvious? Well, dancing together of course, I've taught him steps he'd never even heard of before. Apart from that we love riding the horses, Sal and Harri, and racing each other across the Elyssian fields, and afterwards bathing in the Spring of Hippocrene together before – well you get the picture!)

SKY: You and Terpsichore don't see eye to eye on what issue?

MYRDDIN: She loves water – well the muses are water nymphs so I suppose it's only natural – but I wish she'd cover up after bathing when there are other Olympians around. I know they believe clothing is superfluous, but she has such a lovely body and I admit it – I get jealous and want it to be for my eyes only!

(Terpsichore's response… There aren't many things we don't agree on, although I don't think he really approves of me bathing naked in the falls if there's anyone else around. He doesn't mind if it's just him of course, but he's never really got used to the fact that we Greeks are proud of our bodies and enjoy showing them off!)

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

MYRDDIN: She told me "I would stay with you as a mortal myself, and not count it a sacrifice." How amazing that she would was willing to give up her immortal life for me!

(Terpsichore's response… He told me: "I love you, with all my heart and soul, more than life itself." What woman or goddess wouldn't want to hear those words?)
What an utterly romantic interview! Thank you so much for joining me today, Myrddin.

If you haven't read this wondrous story yet, pick up your copy now at Smashwords and Amazon.

Visit Lyn's Website ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Myspace

Don't forget to comment for a chance to win! Contest ends Sunday, November 6th at 12 AM, EST.

Be sure to return tomorrow to feast your eyes on some of Lyn's spectacular book trailers!

~Sky

Character Blowout. Terpsichore, Muse of Dance, has been Interviewed. Two Chances to Win!

Happy Thursday everyone! As many of you know, the end of the week at A Writer's Mind often means it's time for my Character Blowout. This fun event is all about seeing how well the characters from some of your favorite romance tales know one another.

Back in July, I welcomed over Hywela Lyn to chat about the re-release of Dancing with Fate. Regrettably, there was a death in my family and I had to cancel all remaining blog posts. Well, I'm thrilled to be able to finally share Terpsichore and Myrddin with you. These characters are absolutely delightful and I guarantee that you'll fall in love with them as much as I did!

CONTEST ~ Be sure to comment over the next few days. Two lucky commenters will be picked to win an Ecopy of Dancing with Fate. Contest ends Sunday, November 6th 12 AM, EST.

Today, I'm welcoming over Terpsichore, Muse of Dance. Before we begin interview this intriguing muse, let's learn a bit more about the story…

When Terpsichore, the Greek Muse of Dance, is assigned to revisit 5th Century Wales, and help the people regain their love of dancing, her task seems simple enough. She is unaware there is a hidden agenda. Before she can return to Olympus her path crosses that of the mysterious Myrddin, and her heart is lost.

But Myrddin is promised to another. His mind is set on the dangerous task that lies before him, and the woman he has sworn to save. Nevertheless, he cannot deny the growing attraction between him and the beautiful stranger he meets along the way.

Terpsichore and Myrddin face a deadly force that threatens to part them forever. Is she destined to lose the only man she has ever truly loved? Is there nothing she can do to save him? Finally, when all seems lost, in desperation she finds herself DANCING WITH FATE.

Interview time!

SKY: Tell us a little bit about yourself, Terpsichore.

[image error] TERPISCHORE: Thank you for having us and for giving us the opportunity to talk about each other – what fun!
I'm one of the nine daughters of Zeus. I inspire people to dance - I'm sure you've heard of me and my eight sisters. After all, we're with you all at various times in your life even though you may not realize it. I was perfectly content with my life on Olympus, inspiring individuals, playing the lyre and dancing for Apollo our leader and my half brother, until he and my father decided to send me on a mission to 5th Century Wales. I little knew then what lay in store for me.

SKY: Ohhhh, Wales… sounds fabulous! Remembering the moment you first laid eyes on Myrddin what thoughts come to mind?

TERPSICHORE: I was dancing at the time - and I'd been bathing in the falls so I wasn't actually wearing any clothes. I wondered how long he'd been watching me. It wasn't that I minded, but my instructions were not to draw attention to myself, and he was staring! I also have to admit I thought he was one of the most striking and interesting mortals I'd ever seen - there was definitely something rather special about him.

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.

TERPSICHORE: I love his humility - and his gentleness. He didn't seem to realize the power he had within him at the time - and even if he did he didn't make a song and (if you'll exuse the pun) dance about it.

I think what he likes most about me is that I make him laugh - that and my looks I suppose, after all the daughters of Zeus are goddesses and as such very beautiful, and in all modesty, I know he couldn't take his eyes of me when he first he saw me. (Of course I was naked at the time which might have had something to do with it, *Grin*.)

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!
TERPSHICHORE: He's pretty near perfect in my eyes – but he can be a bit over protective at times, even now. He's not exactly bossy but he does try to stop me from doing things on the spur of the moment, not that I take much notice of course, I'm a muse!

[image error] SKY: Ah, love is in the air. What is the single most romantic thing he's done for you?
TERPSHICORE: He was nearly killed trying to protect me, can't get more romantic 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!

TERPSICHORE: My eyes are always drawn to his eyes. They are the most subtle shade of blue, like Aegean sea beneath the softest summer sky – oh and his voice, it still sends shivers of delight through me, so rich and mellow. For him, I suppose it's my hair, it's really long, you see, down to my feet and he loves to run his hands through it.

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

TERPSHICHORE: *Giggle* You mean besides the obvious? Well, dancing together of course, I've taught him steps he'd never even heard of before. Apart from that we love riding the horses, Sal and Harri, and racing each other across the Elyssian fields, and afterwards bathing in the Spring of Hippocrene together before – well you get the picture!

SKY: You and Myrddin just don't see eye to eye on what issue?

TERPSICHORE: There aren't many things we don't agree on, although I don't think he really approves of me bathing naked in the falls if there's anyone else around. He doesn't mind if it's just him of course, but he's never really got used to the fact that we Greeks are proud of our bodies and enjoy showing them off!

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

TERPSICHORE: He told me: "I love you, with all my heart and soul, more than life itself." What woman or goddess wouldn't want to hear those words?

What a fabulous interview! I can't wait to hear what Myrddin has to say tomorrow!

Can't wait? Purchase Dancing with Fate HERE.

Visit Lyn's Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Myspace

Best Always

~Sky

MIDWEEK MEET & GREET. Interview with Hywela Lyn. Contest. TWO winners will be drawn!

Welcome! This is a much delayed post due to the fact when I last featured Lyn, a family emergency came up and I had to cancel all blog posts. I thought, however, to put this up now as I have Lyn's wonderful characters visiting over the next several days. 
Lyn is also hosting a fantastic contest. Two lucky commenters will be chosen at week's end to win an Ecopy of DANCING WITH FATE. So comment on any of Lyn's posts the remainder of this week and you're automatically entered for a chance to win!

So let's get to know Lyn a bit better…

SKY: Welcome! Tell us a little bit about yourself. Did you always want to be an author? When did you first start writing? What have you published?

HYWELA LYN: Hello Sky. Thanks so much for this opportunity and for having me as your guest.

I think I started writing as soon as I could read. I used to like to embellish stories I'd read and then a friend suggested I write a 'proper story' when I was about fourteen, so that's when I got serious. It took a while for me to realize that being a 'writer' was actually something attainable and not something that only 'famous' people did.

To start with, I wrote short stories which I had published in various magazines, including 'The Lady'. Then I had the idea for a full length Western Historical, which I submitted to various British publishers without success (hardly surprising really, I hadn't the vaguest idea of structure or point of view, besides which the UK wasn't publishing many Westerns.) Several years later, I started reading Science Fiction and Fantasy and it wasn't long before I decided if I couldn't get a Western published, I'd try writing Science Fiction.

[image error] 'Starquest' started out as a short story, but I got fond of my heroine and the short story became a full length novel. I began to realize that everything I wrote turned into a romance, so when I started looking for a publisher, and came across The Wild Rose Press, this seemed the obvious place to submit, even if it was in the US. The Wild Rose Press accepts email queries; the internet makes everything so much easier (and cheaper.) I was lucky enough to have 'Starquest' accepted, and this was followed by a sequel 'Children of the Mist.' Between the publications of these two books, I was invited to join eight other others to write a story in an anthology about the nine muses. I chose Terpsichore, muse of dance, and her story became 'Dancing With Fate.' I have now regained my rights to this story and published it as a 'stand alone' novella with Smashwords. 
It will also soon be available in print from Createspace

SKY: I like to write at night. Inspires me. Where and when do you like to write? Why?

HYWELA LYN: I love to write at night too. I'm a 'nightowl' and don't really wake up until midday. Unfortunately, my husband is a 'Lark'. I've tried getting up early to write, but my brain just doesn't function at that time of day, so we've reached a compromise, and go to bed around 1 a m. Too late for him really, and still a bit too early for me - but sometimes in marriage compromises have to be made and it's probably not a good thing for me to sit up into the early hours, night after night, which I would do if left to my own devices! :)

SKY: You know you'll always pen a particular genre. What is that? You might also dabble in other genres. Care to share what those are and why?

HYWELA LYN: Well, as I mentioned above, my first love was the historical 'Western.' I've always loved the stars though, and wondered what it would be like to travel to other planets, so it was natural that I should gravitate towards Science Fiction /Futuristic. The way I look at it, space exploration is very similar in its concept to opening up the West all those years ago. Only instead of horses there are starships, and alien civilizations instead of Indian villages, but the stories are still about courageous men and women exploring unknown territories and dangers. As for Fantasy, I just love mixing myths and legends in my imagination and coming up with something new. And we all love to have a little 'magic' in our lives, don't we.

SKY: Oh yes, I'm all about magic! We writers are often urged to write what we know. Have you? Perhaps implemented a scene from your life or somewhere you've traveled. Tell, tell!

HYWELA LYN: Although my romantic 'sub-genre' is Fantasy and Science Fiction, which means research and imagination rather than actual 'knowledge' I draw on the beautiful landscape of rural Wales, which I do know very well, for the settings in many of my stories. This is especially true of 'Dancing With Fate' which is actually set in 5th Century Wales. Of course when it comes to other planets, I exaggerate and distort these landscapes a little, but I feel the mist sweeping over the mountains is just as beautiful whether it's in the Welsh countryside on Earth, or a distant planet 'far, far away.'

I also frequently use my love and knowledge of horses and most of my stories have a horse (or unicorn) somewhere in their pages.

SKY: Let's get down and dirty. Writers typically love to read. You especially enjoy certain authors for a good reason. What are they? Their use of prose, voice, characterization, etc. You've got pet peeves as well. What are they?

HYWELA LYN: I have a very eclectic range of reading – everything from Tolkein to Daphne du Maurier and Anne McCaffrey to Zane Grey. All these authors have the gift of writing characters that one cares about and can identify with, as well as weaving intriguing and interesting plots. For me the story is hugely important, and I love to be surprised by the twists and turns – but the characters have to be people I can empathize with and really care about. Even villains can have a certain 'charisma' which makes you want to read on while hoping for their demise! Although none of the above writers could be considered 'romance writers' per se, they all have a strong love interest running through most of their stories. (Arwen and Aragorn, Max de Winter and his nameless wife, Lessa and F'lar, Jane Withersteen and Lassiter, for instance.)

Peeves? Not too many, but while, like most of us, I don't want to read about a weak, sniveling heroine, I don't like the opposite extreme either, where the 'kickass' heroine is so strong and independent, you wonder that she even feels the need for a love interest, and 'femininity' seems to be a word she's never heard of. I dislike heroines who are so strong and self sufficient, they're really little more than 'men with curves' if you know what I mean!

SKY: I so hear ya, Lyn! You're writing or have written the book that will always hold a special place in your heart. What is it and why?

HYWELA LYN: Oh definitely the first book I had accepted for publication, although I did enjoy writing the others. 'Starquest' really is that old cliché 'the book of my heart' though. While I was writing it I lived and breathed as my heroine, Jess, and acted out scenes in my head while I walked my dog or rode my horses, and at night before I went to sleep. Forget counting sheep – working out an exciting scene, or working on the romantic scenes was guaranteed to have me 'out like a light' just as I got to the crucial bit! My heroine still talks to me, as do some of the other characters – and two of them demanded their own stories. One has since been published and one is the book I'm currently working on.

SKY: We're all guilty. Though we like variety, we tend to adore a certain type of hero and heroine. What does your perfect hero look like? Tell us about his personality. Same goes for the heroine.

HYWELA LYN: For some reason which I'm not sure of, I've always liked dark haired heroes although the hero of 'Dancing With Fate' is blond. I also like them tall, perhaps because I'm so short myself, I'm not sure, LOL. Anyway, another thing I like my hero to have is nice eyes, the kind that look straight at you, and have a warmth and a depth to them. Of course he should be strong and brave, but I also want my perfect hero to be gentle and considerate, and not to be afraid to show his feelings, especially when it comes to the heroine! I like my heroines to be spunky and pretty. Long, red hair for preference (I have a 'thing' about 'flame coloured' hair) but again, several of my heroines are dark haired, including Terpsichore in 'Dancing with Fate'. I want her to be have an inne strength and courage, but to retain her femininity and sensitivity - sweet and sassy and every inch a woman!

SKY: What's next for you? What are you currently writing?

HYWELA LYN: I'm currently working on the third in the 'Starquest' series. I need to give one of the characters from he first book his own H.E.A. He keeps nagging at me and won't leave me alone until I do! After that – well I might just dust off that old 'historical western' and give it a complete new revamp!

SKY: Where do you see yourself five years from now? Ten?

HYWELA LYN: Oh I believe in living in the 'here and now' and not thinking too much about the future (unless it's in one of my stories, of course. I've had the rug pulled out from under my feet too many times to be confident in making plans, besides, I like surprises (if they're nice ones) and being spontaneous. I would love to have a best seller though (LOL, wouldn't we all!) and to have written a few more books - and hopefully be living back in my beloved homeland of Wales.

SKY: There's no doubt in mind that you'll right a best seller, Lyn. You've such a talent with words! Here goes. The grand finale. Share with us one thing you think readers would be surprised to know about you.

HYWELA LYN: Apart from books and horses, I'm also crazy about steam engines. I love these huge workhorses of another age. There is something really romantic about a steam roller or train, something that modern machinery just doesn't have. I think perhaps I should write 'steam punk'. I might have a go at it one of these days.

SKY: I never knew that about you, Lyn! I love steam engines too and *Sky hangs head* I never knew what the sub-genre 'steam punk' was until now! I thought it was some 80's punk sort of genre. LOL! Great interview, Lyn. Thanks so much for sharing!

HYWELA LYN: Thank YOU Sky, my dear friend. You ask the best questions!

SKY: Thank you! They come out sounding even better when I have a great interviewee to question. *winks*

What reviewers are saying about some of Lyn's titles…

STARQUEST

"The lovely, lovely descriptions never slow the action, but manage still to convey emotion and carry the narration forward. This is an incredibly original tale, and for all the science fiction trappings is truly a classic quest for love, and the romance, which at first seems very much at the periphery, will become not only a primary motivation, but the chief joy of the tale. Adventure may be the main motif, but the heartwarming side will be a surprising bonus."

'Snapdragon'

LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS

Read full review HERE

Children Of The Mist:

"This book is wonderful! There are few books that hold my interest to the point where I can't bear to put it down, but Children of the Mist is most certainly at the top of this list."

Reviewed by Orchid, The Long and Short Of It Reviews (Five Star Plus Best Book Review)

Read full review HERE.

Hywela Lyn's Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Myspace

Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win an Ecopy of Dancing With Fate. TWO chances to win! Contest ends Sunday, November 6th, 12 AM, EST.
 
Be sure to swing in again tomorrow as the heroine from DANCING WITH FATE joins us here for A Writer's Mind, End of Week Character Blowout!
 
Best Always,
~Sky