Sharon Maria Bidwell's Blog, page 39

The Romantic Theme Blog Christmas Party

Marie Treanor is holding a Christmas Party on her blog!

Over two days – Thursday 13th and Friday 14th December 2012, loads loads of authors with Christmas stories – excerpts, chat, recipes, and oh…many things. Come along, because it’s going to be lots of fun!

Over thirty authors including:

B.J. McCall

Zenobia Renquist

Sean Michael

Anne Kane

Megan Slayer

Sam Cheever

Ayla Ruse

Cynthia Sax

Sharon Bidwell

Desiree Holt

Vanessa Kelly

Cheryl St.John

Linda Thomas-Sundstrom

Linda Carroll-Bradd

Shirley Hailstock

Shelley Munro

Kari Thomas

Leah Braemel

Rebecca J. Clark

KA M’Lady

Tonya Kappes

Marie Treanor

Mundus Cerialis has arrived!

My first co-authored work with Andy Frankham-Allen (first co-authored project, in fact) and a foray into Steampunk and the world of Space 1889!

The Heart, a mysterious ancient life form around which the Earth’s moon was shaped, contains the secrets of the ages. Secrets it is willing to share with humanity. Only the British Empire is telling no one, not even their allies. In a concealed base, researchers are developing a method to push the Empire beyond the limits of the Asteroid Belt. To succeed they need certain, previously unknown, minerals and metals.

To that end they have assembled a top covert team: Scientific genius, Professor Nathanial Stone; American adventuress, Miss Annabelle Somerset; and the former captain of the Royal Navy’s flagship, Jacob Folkard, who is linked telepathically to the Heart. Before the mission can begin, though, they require one more person: French mineralogist extraordinaire, Arnaud Fontaine.

Their journey takes them on a detour to Messor Base, a mining instillation on Ceres, the largest body in the Asteroid Belt. Things are not running as smoothly as they appear. People are missing, fresh meat is being served in the canteen… How far will Dylan Blayney, administrator of the base, go to keep the truth hidden?

For in the world of Ceres something has been disturbed and a great price must be paid.

Available now from Untreed Reads.

Gleams of a Remoter World — a review

Chris Mullins visits Ireland on a ‘ghost hunt’ in the hopes of winning the coveted Moondust Award. While there, he develops feelings for Paulie — a Liverpudlian who is on holiday with his gay lover to whom he as good as married where it counts in mind, body, and soul. The situation is further complicated by Chris’s bisexuality, and the fact that Chris is in a tumultuous relationship with Jo Perry, his investigative partner and live-in lover. Even more disturbing are the secrets he’s beginning to uncover regarding the ghostly apparition Chris has encountered in the old priest’s house, which if he’s not careful could be the death of him.

This is not a gay romance, although it does have romantic elements. I can see why some readers picking this up from Riptide Publishing might mistake the contents, but foremost this is a ghost detective story. I’m pleased that Riptide published this as it shows a desire and willingness to publish GLBT fiction that isn’t just romantic or erotic in nature.

Quality writing and atmospheric settings made this an easy, somewhat sedate read, with also a tone of ‘Britishness’ which I couldn’t help enjoying. Yes, the setting is Ireland but I grinned the moment I saw such terms as ‘bacon butty’. I loved the research into the settings and even places like the British Library and Trinity College.

The book features some interesting and varied characters. The protagonist is Chris, who is frustrated somewhat by his job, with what is starting to feel like a directionless future, and his relationship with Jo — the latter of which he also finds perplexing. Alas, he’s sidetracked somewhat by the investigation and misses much of what is actually going on with Jo owing to his desire to keep his editor happy, and trying to achieve his goal:  to win the award both for the prestige and so he can afford to take the time to write a novel. Equally, the ghostly influence he confronts is enough to distract anyone.

Jo is the most complex person in the book, and I found her situation rather sad. She loves Chris, more than she lets on, so that she even hides it because she doesn’t like to feel vulnerable. I don’t think she could handle his being bi and probably lied to herself in the beginning telling herself she could. I think all her anger came from angst and insecurity and frustration. She’s far more caring than Chris realises sometimes, because she purposely tries to conceal it. I felt frustrated with both of them and in that, the author wrote a perfect example of how people get their wires crossed all the time. Alas, that’s not fully explored because the story is told entirely from Chris’s pov, but Jo is not only more than she seems on the surface, but it made me wonder if things could have been different had Chris not been so distracted by everything else that is going on. He defers because of circumstances and owing to new, developing, and inappropriate feelings due to Paulie’s own situation — a situation that grows steadily worse and leads to a wrenching scene of animosity between Paulie and his lover’s family.

Much of what I came to understand by the end of this novel makes me want to set this aside as a possible title to re-read…maybe during a trip to Ireland or, failing that, on a dark night when the wind is howling and rain is falling. The author made Ireland as much a character in the story as any of the people within the pages. May not be what everyone is looking for but I enjoyed this.

Gleams of a Remoter World (Love that title!) is available from Riptide Publishing and many good outlets.

Who Wacked Roger Rabbit?

Who Wacked Roger Rabbit? Guess what? To find out you’ll have to visit Musa Publishing because they will be publishing it November 2013!

Check out the news of the deal with Gary K Wolf for the third Roger Rabbit Novel HERE.

Being Busy, the Art of Tinkering, and Screaming

A friend sent me a text last night: “I hope the writing is going well.” I had to reply that I’m not writing. I haven’t been for…well, I’m not sure. Several days, maybe three or four weeks, and it’s starting to annoy me. I’ve found a moment here and there to ‘tinker’ but not to write, although that’s not entirely true either.

I’ve ‘tinkered’ with a bit of story, but not had time to sit down and truly write ‘story’ so in that sense I’ve hardly written a word. On the other hand, I’ve written plenty. I’ve had edits. I’ve written long-overdue emails. I’ve three works out in December so have written blurbs and promo, and typed my book details everywhere I can think of, and written blog posts for places I’m hoping to show up at to pontificate about my books, or the writing process that created them, for anyone who has asked me, or cares to read them. And sometimes just to say hi — to connect with other writers and readers and thank them for their support, understanding, and lovely words and messages.

This is the other side of ‘writing’ and I’ve had lots of that to be going on with, but I’ve also spent some time out to attend to daily ‘life’. Much as I’d like to claim otherwise, we all have them, these daily lives, and maybe that’s a good thing — keeps a person grounded. I’ve a relative in the hospital, the extension roof sprung a leak, and I’ve done some shopping, some of which I can’t avoid as we head towards Christmas. I will have a Christmas run of presents to attend to, and I have parcels to pack up, post off or deliver. I have cards to write, and a yearly letter to put together for those I have and haven’t neglected equally — either way it will be a chance for them to catch up on what is happening at ‘our house’.

I’m…deep breath…busy, but in that I can’t say this time is all that different to any other time. I’m always busy, because when I’ve ticked off all the things on my current to-do list, there’ll be another one to attend to, and another one, and another after that. It doesn’t stop. It’s part of writing, living this double life, and sure, sometimes it part of any normal life too, but having all this going on occasionally that means I procrastinate and tinker a bit with something trivial because it stops me from screaming aloud, garnering strange looks and speculative whispers. And if there ever should be a time when I’m not busy… As if that’s going to happen. I’ll still be occupied because what writers do when they’re not busy is get busy writing. See how that works?

Still, I’m getting antsy and I’m longing for the moment — and it will arrive this week — when I sit down and begin work on something. It may be something that needs editing — it may be old or new, may require a complete re-write, or may be ticking over quietly in a dormant brain cell for now, but I’ve reached a point where if I don’t write ‘story’ it’s quite possible you’ll hear me screaming.

And the winner is…

Drumroll…

And the winner of my win an Ash Evans print contest to celebrate the release of Mistletoe and Whine was…Judie. She receives a print of Unicorn Whispers.

Mistletoe and Whine arrives at Changeling Press

Title: Series: Protect and Serve: Mistletoe and Whine

Number in Series: 20

Author: Sharon Maria Bidwell

BIN: 06061-01945

Word Count: 28K

Page Count: 91

Price: $4.99

Release Date: December 1, 2012

Editor: Vicki S. Burklund

Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

Genres: Erotic Romance, Novella, Paranormal; Humor

Themes: Men and Women in Uniform; MÈnage; Bisexual and More; Shapeshifters

It’s Christmas, but alas, Sam has more to whine about than plastic mistletoe.

Bobby, Chantelle, and Sam’s lives have changed. Bobby is now a rural cop while Chantelle and Sam run the Hare and Hounds Pub and Restaurant. Their new situation would be idyllic if the only blight was Health and Safety insisting they cannot decorate with real mistletoe for the holidays.

Truth is, Sam’s not doing so well — he’s suffering too much pain in the leg that was injured in a past accident. Although Sam knows he has the love of two beautiful shifters, he can’t help his frustration. He longs to run with them, to not feel so weak. If his pain weren’t bad enough, there’s danger in the surrounding woods, something Chantelle senses, fails to understand, and dismisses when Bobby distracts her with sex.

When Sam is kidnapped, he has real cause to whine. Will he live long enough to get the kiss under the mistletoe that he longs for, and will the plant have to be made of plastic?

Pick up your copy at Changeling Press.

Are you on Changeling’s Naughty list?

A Very Changeling 9th Annual Christmas Contest — Win Free Books for a year!

Nine readers will win Free Books For A Year:

One book a month (Five winners, 12 books each)

Two books a month (Two winners, 24 books each!)

Two books a week (Two winners, 104 books each!)

Are you on Changeling’s Naughty list?

New Releases

Pandamonium by Jade Buchanan $3.99

It’s every man for himself when a panda shifter meets a big, bad polar bear who plays for keeps.

Protect and Serve: Mistletoe and Whine by Sharon Maria Bidwell $4.99

It’s Christmas, but alas, Sam has more to whine about than plastic mistletoe.

Holidays Are Hell: Devil Under the Mistletoe by Sam Cheever $4.49

Perdition Guide Damian is supposed to escort sexy Amanda to Hell. But he’d much rather keep her.

Spotlight: Jingle All The Way by Judy Mays $7.99

Vampires and Santas and werewolves, oh my!

Santa’s Helpers: Zarakion’s Tip by Ayla Ruse $2.99

Delivery tips come in all shapes and sizes.

Santa’s Helpers: Wolf Run by B.J. McCall $2.99

Stella’s getting her Christmas wish, fur.

Santa’s Helpers: Mistletoe Mistakes by Jocelyn Michel $2.99

Braving a blizzard, MJ drives to her mountain cabin. But there’s a very sexy someone already there.

Santa’s Helpers: Damned Santa by Marie Treanor $2.99

Has Santa Claus really been trapped in the ruined City of the Damned?

Now Available at www.ChangelingPress.com

Christmas Past 99¢ Sale — Did you miss a Changeling Christmas Past?

All Holiday Howlz, Sugarplums, and White Hot Christmas stories now only 99¢

And the Naughty List — Twelve Days of Christmas winners will receive Changeling Gift Certificates for $5, $10, and $25 — one random winner for each Christmas title on release day!

The best part — all you have to do to get on Changeling’s Naughty List is buy any Santa’s Helpers Christmas title at www.ChangelingPress.com during the month of December and you’re automatically entered to win.

The Teacher gets a cover

And very pleased with it, I am too. Although this isn’t quite Marvis as I envisioned him, it’s not a bad likeness. Yet another well done to the Musa art department.

The Next Big Thing

Firstly, a big thank to Adera Orfanelli   for asking me to take part in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. As I didn’t have a new WIP I chose Mistletoe and Whine for my subject and decided to make this a page post as the questions may interest the readers of both Hounding the Beat, and Mistletoe and Whine.

What is the working title of your book?

This question is easy. I knew from the outset I was going to call this Mistletoe and Whine, (a play on words from the Christmas song). Sometimes I struggle with titles but not this one, although it may give the impression it’s a light-hearted story, which it isn’t. These characters are a lot of fun and are perfect for some hysterical punning. There is fun in this story, but it has a darker edge than the first book.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

It’s a sequel to Hounding the Beat, but can be enjoyed as a standalone read without picking up the first book. I wrote a follow-up because the characters remained vibrant and then I discovered a couple of my readers were equally eager to hear from them again. I’d left a loose thread dangling from the first book — partly intentionally, partly because that’s how the story worked out — that I could pick up, and it just felt natural to do so. So the basic idea already existed. The title then popped into my head, and filled in the gaps.

What genre does your book fall under?

Shape-shifting paranormal erotic menage romance, I guess, if that’s one genre all by itself. I tend to mix things up.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie?

I seldom visualise characters that distinctly, but at a push I think Amanda Righetti (Grace from The Mentalist) would be a decent match for Chantelle. Although her features aren’t quite right (as beautiful as she is) she has the right body shape, the red hair, the essential feisty spark the character would need. The most difficult to cast would be Sam. I’m thinking, Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte in True Blood) but he’s not quite right either. He’s got a similar gaze — I know that sounds strange but it’s true, and I can see my Sam’s ruffled hair. My Sam has been called ‘sour puss’ though, so whoever played him would need to portray a certain ‘moodiness’ along with a fierce sense of loyalty. And oddly enough Joe Manganiello (Alcide/True Blood) could possibly be Bobby when wearing a suit as in this PHOTO, but he’d have to be a little more clean-shaven with tidier hair because of Bobby’s profession. He’s too tall, really, at 6’5” (I don’t visualise quite that amount of height discrepancy) and I do struggle a little to picture the two of them together, but I wouldn’t refuse.

What is a one sentence synopsis of your book?

When the peace and quiet of Bobby, Chantelle, and Sam’s life is threatened they have more to whine about than plastic mistletoe.

Will your book be self published or represented by an agency?

It’s being published by Changeling Press.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I usually aim for about 2000 words a day, five days a week when writing. As Changeling only take shorts I can usually draft a story for them within two weeks. Then there are edits, of course — my own before I sub and after acceptance — but fortunately neither Hounding the Beat nor Mistletoe and Whine required much editing. The story came to me as clean copy.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre.

Obviously, Hounding the Beat. I don’t think it does compare to anything else. My stories at Changeling are all very different. I’ve written about a marooned astronaut, the fae, vampires, and a feel-good alternative history featuring a knight. I guess although this is paranormal it does have a similar feel to the contemporary stories as it has a modern setting. The only other menage I have out right now is Cosmic, available from Loose-Id, but that’s science fiction.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

I was looking to write for the Protect and Serve series at Changeling — the series created by the wonderful Lena Austin, which meant *gulp* whatever I came up with had to please Lena as well as the usual suspects. I liked the series and wanted to be part of it. I first chose police as my topic — being able to put a spin on that in the form of the British ‘Bobbie’. Then I had to choose what kind of shape-shifter to use. I’ve wanted to write shape-shifting huskies for a while, and so Bobby Pooch and Chantelle Shepherd were born (what did I say about the punning *grin*). And then there’s Sam Sanders, who’s human. Really both books are largely Sam’s story, though I didn’t even realise it at the time.

What else about your book might interest the reader?

That this one may require a box of tissues, and I mean for the odd sniffle if not outright cry. Funny how a good old sob can be cleansing, especially when one is left with a reason to smile. The best books affect readers’ emotions, after all. Not sure I always succeed in that as much as I like, but with this one I know I did. That is to say, I made those who went through the process with me have a lip tremble or two, including me and my editor.

And now I’m supposed to tag other authors so my victims…erm…volunteers are:

Fiona Glass

and

Chantal Noordeloos

Their blogs are live 5th December.