Judith Leger's Blog, page 7

Happy 4th of July!!!

Freedom? Happiness? Joy?

I don't know about you guys but I love my country.  The good and the bad of it.  All of it.  Why? Because I believe it is the best country in the world.  Sure we may have our ups and downs but we have the freedom our fore fathers fought and died for to keep us going.

So if you are proud to be an American, shout it out!  Also a few firecrackers wouldn't hurt either! So to all my family and friends, I wish you a very blessed and joyful 4th of July!!!


I have to show my nails too.  I did it myself so don't fuss about the design, LOL!  Hey, at least it's patriotic!

Masks We Hide Behind

How many masks do you have?  One, two, three...a hundred?  We each have a face for certain occasions. How many times have you gone somewhere or met someone and your heart wasn't in it?  You still managed to smile and laugh and talk all with the mask of wanting to be a part of what was going on but on the inside, you really want to be somewhere else, doing something you want to do.  We have the wife, mother, friend, and co-worker faces.  Each one is different and means different things to each of us. We wear them for the occasions.  Almost like dressing up for a cookout or a fancy ball.  It's a necessity for us.

As writers, we also wear masks.  Today, I am a wizard or a dragonseed. Wait, I'm a teenage girl who wants more from life. I'm a gay man seeking love after being hurt so bad from a previous lover.  All of these are masks, faces, entire lives I wear each and every day.  I don't care to wear some of the masks but the characters insist so I buck up and do what they desire.

I love Johnny Depp.  Why? Because he dons his masks in such a manner that his own personality is completely cloaked and only the character is present.

So, how many masks do you wear during the day?  Me? It's a lot.  Take my word for it.  A LOT.

If you want to check out how well my characters mask me, then grab a copy of one of my books.  The links are to the right on the side bar!  Hope you guys will check them out!

Hugs and Blessings,


Judith 

Summer Solstice and Super Moon

Isn't it weird that both of these are like back to back this year?  I thought so.














I have always been intrigued by Stonehenge.  Always.  The fact that it was built thousands of years ago without the aid of modern technology amazes me.  But the people back then had a purpose behind the construction.  Their beliefs in their gods.

Magic is in the air!  Suppose to be tonight on the 21st but I've also seen the 23rd as the date too but it doesn't matter.

Sooooo, do you believe in the power 'Magic' of this time?

I suppose it's all in the eye of the beholder!

Hope everyone had a great summer Solstice and be sure and enjoy that super moon tonight!!!

P.S.  If you like magic, be sure and check out my books. Dragon Wish and Enchanted both have a ton of magic in them! Just click on the link on the right side bar.

Hugs and Blessings!

Judith

The Wind on the Balloon

Don't you wish you could be a balloon to float above the world free from worry?

The wind would gently blow you from place to place. But what happens when a storm hits?  What will the balloon do then?

Sometimes as writers, we allow our characters to float around wherever they want but what happens to the plot then?  Can you truly call it a plot?  Not really.  This is why most balloons have the ribbon attached to guide it in the proper direction it needs to go.

So how do you guide your balloons?  Gently or do you have to use more force cause they are stubborn?

Let me know!

Lost in the Vastness of the Ocean

Have you ever felt lost at sea yet still remain on dry land?  The feelings surround you and no matter which way you look there is nothing but the vastness of empty ocean around you.  You don't know which way to go.

Right now, I'm at that point.  I'm searching for the right direction yet no matter which way I look there is only the vastness of an unfriendly, empty ocean encircling me and quite honestly, I'm not sure what to do. So I'm floating in this sea, considering, speculating and hoping that I will find the strength to swim in a direction that will bring me to land, safe and sound.

Do you ever reach this point?  What do you do about it?  Please share in hopes it will help others.  Maybe even help me.

Cool Dudes / Dudettes!

Yep, everyone wants to be a Cool person.  Are we?  Nope, not all the time, still it's so awesome when we have the few and rare glowing moments of coolness.


So What Is Your Most Coolest moments???

Come on!

Spill it!

New Graphic Artist

In another couple of weeks I'm going to put out my new release, Micah's Heart. This is going to be an indie pub. The story is coming together nicely and I have gotten my new cover, which by the way, I love!


I have it in thanks to a great graphic artist, Kandie Dellie working in her new media business.  You can check out her portfolio here:  KanDel Media.

She's new and she works hard at what she does.  If you're looking for a graphic artist, be sure and check her  projects out.  You can also contact her on her website.

I'm pleased with this cover because she captured the yearning of both my main characters. It's also a very hot, sexy read so that was pretty much captured too!

Hugs and Blessings!

Judith
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New Release: A Matter of Fate Ellie Heller

Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Contemporary Fantasy Romance

Publisher: Crimson Romance 



Book Description:

Someone is setting death-spells targeting mortals and elf blood alike. With her mentor out of commission, it’s up to half-trained Warder Mona Lisa Kubrek to stop the magic. Despite being told repeatedly her job is to nullify spells and not go after the source, too many people are at risk for her to not track the spell-caster down. Even meeting a sexy half-elf shifter won’t distract her from her goal.

Except Cart Dupree is fully trained and has the team to search for the evildoer, so she’d be stupid to not use his expertise. Stupid is something she can’t afford to be, not with her enemy’s henchmen after her. Later she’ll deal with Cart and his questions about her special abilities and the non-standard training her mentor has given her. Right now, they need to unravel where the magician is, and who he is, before he builds enough power to decimate them all.

First, though, they need to stay alive.

 Excerpt:


Headlights flitting across wind-driven flurries, Mona turned the last corner of the treelined drive to find the entry of the Warder’s complex in complete darkness. The dashboard read six fifteen. Hell, given the crappy roads this morning she was lucky she’d arrived only a quarter of an hour after her scheduled lesson. She knew Smythe would be snitty about her late arrival, but turning off the lights seemed a bit extreme.

Yet another reason to wonder why she put up with his crankiness. If there were anyone besides the self important old coot who would teach her about wards and spells, she’d take them up on the offer in heartbeat.

But this, this was just wrong. Even the motion sensitive floods stayed dark when she pulled over to park next to a pile of plowed snow. One or two windows of the castle Smythe called home hung lit and disembodied in the ebony bulk of the buildings, so the power was on.

No, something was off here. As much as a pain in the ass Smythe could be, and some days she swore he made it into an art form, he wouldn’t outright ignore her. He enjoyed busting her chops too much.

In the weak winter moonlight, the blue shadowed gate and the crenellated wall around the complex looked positively gothic.

Mona blamed the thought on too little sleep. Along with the sneaking worry that Abner, Warder Smythe, might be in trouble. She shook the worry aside; the complex was literally a fortress, built of stone and embedded with spells. Besides, clandestine images apart, the place didn’t seem to show any evidence of an attack. Apart from the gated entry being dark, and the eerie picture the moonlight painted, everything seemed ... normal.

But she definitely needed to check things out, just to be sure. She was too far away to see whether the guard spells on the walls and gate had been breached. First step would be to look at them and figure things out based on what she found.

Opening the glove compartment, she pulled out her flashlight, hearing Nic’s smug “Aren’t you glad I made you put one in there?” She’d never told his overprotective self how, after the first time she’d gotten stuck in the snow heading out of Buffalo to the Warder’s to train, she’d made sure to keep one in the car. Particularly since she hadn’t informed him about her training. So not going down that road with him. He chose to deny his folk blood; she didn’t have a choice.

Mona bundled up and headed out into the lightly falling flakes. Her tire tracks were the only ones showing in the inch deep snow. Aiming the flashlight at the drive, she tried to find evidence of anyone coming by recently. Nothing obvious struck her, no lost hubcaps, no distinct furrows under the snow. Hell, she had no clue what she’d expected to find.

She cautiously moved toward the entry; last thing she wanted was to turn her ankle. A strong breeze smacked her upside the head as if to ask what the hell she thought she
was doing.

“Look, I’m just going to check the guard spells, then head back.”

Crap, had she really said that out loud?

The wind slammed into her, so strong that another step forward became impossible. She stopped and the gale force gust stopped with her.

Mona was reasonably certain wind sprites were incorruptible by evil. And this wasn’t a spell; not a trace of magic threaded the breezes.

Whoever or whatever had requested the sprites’ help didn’t want her to go any further.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

After living in several cities east of the Mississippi, but never quite out of the snow belt, I've settled down in SW Ohio with my three kids, two dogs (one of whom thinks he's a cat) and one cat (who thinks he's a dog).

I write paranormal romance and contemporary fantasy, all with a suspenseful edge. A MATTER OF FATE, a 'traditional' paranormal romance, will be available this spring from Crimson Romance. My first published short (GLBT sensual), "Ginny's Capture" is available now.

I'm also an acquisitions editor (i.e. slush reader :-) ) for Curiosity Quills Press using my full first name, Alison.

www.elliewrites2.com

@EllieWrites2

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ellie-Heller-Author/279665692092672 

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5762572.Ellie_Heller 

http://pinterest.com/ellieheller/a-matter-of-fate/

New Release: Kate Pearce and the Soul Sucker

New Release from Kate Pearce.
Check out the book on Carina's Website.


http://www.katepearce.com/books/soul-sucker/
Supernatural Branch of Law Enforcement empath Ella Walsh sucks memories from people’s heads. The job fills her mind with others’ nightmares and leaves her with little time for love, but if she doesn’t pair off with a mate of the government’s choosing soon, the psychic blowback will destroy her powers and her sanity.

The last time shapeshifting SBLE superstar Vadim Morosov worked with an empath, he got her killed and himself assigned to a desk. He worries about taking on another partner, but helping Ella track down an empath killer might be his only chance to save his career.

Naturally, the government decides to throw them together…

They resist at first, but they can’t deny the simmering heat between them. As the killer’s strikes grow closer to home, their bond gets tighter. And when the murderer finally traps Ella, her developing link with Vadim might be the only thing that can save her.

New Release: The Heart of the Dragon - SD Grady

Another new release for S.D. Grady!  The woman is a dynamo and can write some awesome romances.  If you haven't tried her yet, then definitely pick up a copy of this book.  It's great!

Available now at Purple Sword Publications:
http://purplesword.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=136&zenid=im6ku756up789os0s5igbu22p6




BLURB:

At night, he fights. In the dawn, he loves. Only with her, he lives.

Lady Yelena is sent in marriage to Prince Pietro, known as the Vellenican Dragon. Instead of her sisters' elegant beauty, she brings a dowry of swords to the warrior prince. A hard man to love, night after night the prince leaves Yelena behind as he battles against the evil Wasti in a generations long war.

Each morning he returns to her bloody and beaten. They despair of ever finding peace for their homelands. Then Yelena discovers treachery in her personal guard and she must find the strength to raise her own sword and fight for her family, her honor and her prince.



EXCERPT:

Yelena’s arms shook. Sweat trickled down her neck. Her breath came in ragged pants. He crowded her, forcing her submission. She growled and pushed forward. His advance stalled, she danced away from his reach. She laughed. “Again!”

Pietro caught his balance , brought his sword back to prime and nodded his agreement. Yelena stepped forward. Her blade swung in a short arc designed to make him block high. Their blades sang as they clashed.

She worked through the rudimentary attack, sure she did not challenge his abilities one bit. She paused, met his laughing eyes, and ducked. She rolled away and earned a grunt of surprise. She kicked out with her left foot, regained her balance on her right and rose up inside his defense. She punched his ribs. “Do you concede, my lord?”

His elbow trapped her fist. “No. You just nicked my armor and dulled your dagger.” His foot stepped between her legs and lifted.

Off balance, she dropped her sword and grasped his upper arms.

“And now, at my mercy.”

She felt the blush only a second before his lips conquered hers.

The kiss lingered, sweet and hot. When he released her, he stepped back and bowed. “Shall we go again, my lady?”

The practice yard appeared ghostly in the yellow light of the torches. She bent to retrieve her steel from the paving stones, never taking her eyes from his relaxed form. She stood, absently tugged at her leather leggings and kicked at a pebble.

“Why would you ask, my lord? Do I appear fatigued?”

He winked. “No, just flushed.”

In frustration, she raised her weapon and came at him again. He deflected her advance with ease. The truth was she was feeling a bit tired. Fighting beneath the half-moon, parrying his masterful thrusts, she had reached her limit much sooner than she had expected. But she didn’t want to stop.

For the third night, Pietro remained behind as the army marched out against the Wasti. During the hours they spent together, he made every effort to be a civilized gentleman. Laughter came easier to her—and him. She thought the tight lines that carved his mouth had eased.

Her sword went flying through the air and she found herself at the mercy of Pietro’s deadly point. Her lips pursed in vexation and she nodded to him.

“Shall we call a halt?” Still, his sword rested against her breastbone.

“I guess so.”

“You were not paying attention.”

She stepped back. Ashamed, she pulled at her gloves. “I admit to being distracted.”

He sheathed his blade. “Did Captain Sershi not teach you any better?”

Bristling at the insult, she walked toward her corner. “Of course he did.”

He followed her. “Loyalty is an admirable quality, my lady.”

Her annoyance at failing to adhere to practice yard protocol diminished. She took his compliment and savored it. “Thank you.”

He began to lift her light mail shirt over her head. “Where is the good captain? I have not seen him since supper.”

She pulled at her linen shift before reaching for a long, silk cloak. “I gave him leave to seek his own entertainment, tonight.”

Pietro crowded her against the high wall. “Feeling a little braver, my little one?”

She shivered as his rough hand held her neck. His thumb ran up and down her throat in thrilling small circles. She frowned.

The spark of humor had vanished. He watched her. Severe. Angry. Hurt?

Even as she had become more comfortable in his presence, there were still moments when she wondered what he was truly thinking.

She placed her hand over his and offered a shy smile. “Can I take a bath?”

That got him to smile again. “Can I join you?”

Her heart hammered. Was that from the sword play? Or the way his breath drew bumps from her flesh? She swallowed and nodded. “Of course, my lord.”

His other hand grasped her waist and drew her forward. Unable to escape, she squeaked when he sucked the surprise from her mouth.

He kissed her often. There had been few activities where he couldn’t find an excuse to be near her, touch her, taste her.

The heat built. Her limbs grew heavy. She sank into the seductive strength.

He stopped.

She stood, firming the muscles in her legs, and blinked.

“Before or after?” his deep voice questioned. He nipped her ear, her neck and kept moving lower.

“Before or after what?”

Strong fingers pulled at her long braid. “The bath. Shall we go to bed before or after we are clean?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



S.D. Grady is a lover of many things: men, movies, music, and fast machines. An award winning author, she shares her life with her college sweetheart and two cats. They live in the house on the hill and often vacation at NASCAR tracks in their RV.



Visit her online at: www.sdgrady.info

Like her at: https://www.facebook.com/Author.SDGrady

Follow her at: http://twitter.com/laregna