Isabel Roman's Blog, page 55
March 5, 2011
Saturday Excerpt
Today's excerpt at Slip into Something Victorian is by Susan Macatee. Vampires, Civil War, what more is there? :)
Check it out!
And stay tuned for an upcoming giveaway bonanza.
Check it out!
And stay tuned for an upcoming giveaway bonanza.
March 4, 2011
Friday Guest: Robyn Bachar
Welome, Robyn! And congrats on the publication of Blood, Smoke and Mirrors! How does it feel?
I'm still happy dancing about getting Blood, Smoke and Mirrors published. When I received the email from my editor offering me a contract, I was at my previous day job, and it was about 5 minutes before closing time. I stared at the email in shock, and then walked over to my best friend, Diana's, cubicle. Our office had a no-talking
policy, so I very quietly demanded that she hug me because I'd sold the book. We did a silent victory dance. Diana and I had already made plans to meet my husband Jeff and go out for dinner that evening, so I drove home to pick him up. Jeff was waiting for me in the parking lot, and I leaped out of the car and threw my arms around him and started babbling about how I'd been offered a contract. He had no idea what I was talking about, but he was very proud once I calmed down enough to speak clearly.
I love talking about Blood, Smoke and Mirrors, but promoting it is scary. It's hard to sum it up in a few words, and when I'm put on the spot I usually blurt something about how it's got action, romance, and vampires and it's awesome. Marketing is not my strong point. But I am learning, and I'll be attending the Lori Foster Reader & Author Get Together in June. I'm really looking forward to it.
I'm a signed book addict, and I've met many of my favorite authors on tour. Sherrilyn Kenyon hugged me (and I still smile at the memory, she's so cool!). I sat in the front row of a Jim Butcher book signing, and that was really fun. He's a great guy. I'd love to meet Nora Roberts, because she is my absolute favorite author. I hope to attend the RWA national conference one day and stalk her...er, I mean meet her. Oh, and there is an epic story on my blog about how I lost my fangirl mind while meeting Sarah Wendell from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books at a conference. I also hope to meet her again, and this time try not to loom over her and babble like a romance writing Wookiee.
Haha, we've all had those moments when we meet a favorite author. It's one of those Oh, wow! moments you gotta love!
Blurb:
Even a bad witch deserves a second chance.
Wrongly accused of using her magic to harm, the closest Catherine Baker comes to helping others is serving their coffee. Life as an outcast is nothing new, thanks to her father's reputation, but the injustice stings. Especially since the man she loved turned her in.
Now the man has the gall to show up and suggest she become the next Titania? She'd rather wipe that charming grin off his face with a pot of hot java to the groin.
Alexander Duquesne has never faltered in his duties as a guardian—until now. The lingering guilt over Cat's exile and the recent death of his best friend have shaken his dedication. With the murder of the old Titania, the faerie realm teeters on the brink of chaos. His new orders: keep Cat alive at all costs.
Hunted by a powerful stranger intent on drawing her into an evil web, Cat reluctantly accepts Lex's protection and the resurrected desire that comes along with it. Lex faces the fight of his life to keep her safe…and win her back. If they both survive.
Warning: This book contains one tough and snarky witch, one gorgeous guardian, explicit blood drinking, magician sex, gratuitous violence against vampires and troublemaking Shakespearean faeries.
Excerpt:
"Now, Merrideth, I just told you that this young lady is under my protection, so if you and your people don't turn around and walk away,
we're going to have a problem." Lex slipped his hands into his duster, reaching for whatever weapons he had concealed beneath it and sending a clear message to the crowd that he meant business.
"Maybe I should kill one, Duquesne, just to set an example," Tybalt suggested.
"Don't even think about it, Silverleaf. Just cut 'em off at the knees, that's always fun."
Apparently they took offense to that idea, and without another word they attacked, moving in a dark blur that was hard to see. As the vampires swarmed him Lex drew his weapons in a quick flash of bright metal, swinging a short sword in each hand. Guess that answered the question of why wear a long black coat in June, because swords were a tad hard to conceal without it. The guardian moved with inhuman speed as the fight boiled into the street. I couldn't spot how he was wounding them, but I smelled the stale scent of vampire blood in the humid night air.
Tybalt's rapier appeared in his hand and his clever human disguise vanished as he abandoned all pretense of hiding his true nature. The vampires around him hissed in surprise, and he launched himself at them, moving in a dark blue blur I couldn't follow. I felt pretty useless inside of my safe little bubble, but there wasn't anything I could do to help. I wasn't trained as a fighter, and thanks to my witch upbringing I didn't know any offensive spells. Best I could do was hurl harsh language.
A vampire fell away from the fray in the street, stumbling and then scrambling about searching for something on the ground. After a moment I realized it was looking for the rest of the severed arm that had rolled under a parked car. My stomach heaved and I swallowed hard, looking down at my feet and trying to shove that image out of my brain.
"C'mon now, that had to hurt," Lex teased the armless vamp. "Why don't you just take your hand and go home?"
"Only a flesh wound," the vampire growled as it stretched to reach beneath the car.
Like the worst part of a horror film, it was morbidly fascinating, and I couldn't help but watch. They were stronger, faster and outnumbered him, but somehow Lex held his own. While the vampires were slashed and bleeding, the guardian didn't have a scratch on him. Yet.
"Come out and play, little Cat," a new voice crooned. Turning my attention away from the fight, I found four strangers pacing around the edge of my shields. Necromancers, from the awful smell of them. They circled me like hungry sharks, searching for a weak spot in my shields. Yeah, good luck there. It'd take a lot more than four necromancers to get through my shields, as long as I stood still and concentrated. Unfortunately I couldn't stand there all night, and it'd be a real long walk to my apartment with them trying to sabotage me the entire way. Not a happy thought.
"No thanks, I like it here."
"What's wrong? Afraid?"
Oh, please. Like that was going to tempt me into throwing a temper tantrum and let them jump me. I wasn't falling for that lame trick. I put my hands on my hips and smiled again, more confident this time as I glanced over the speaker. Another sad fashion disaster dressed in black from head to toe, the necromancer reminded me of one of the many reasons why I hate the goth trend: it was created and nurtured by vampires. The woman wore a ridiculous getup of black lace and vinyl complete with spider-web hose and a corset top, doing her best to look dark and mysterious. She'd make a fabulous vampire stereotype when they killed her.
"I'm real scared of that outfit. Was there a sale at Hot Topic?"
Apparently I hit a nerve and she snarled at me. I opened my mouth to toss another witty insult at her, but was interrupted by a distinctly male sound of pain cutting through the tumultuous noise of the fight, too deep to be a faerie's voice. My panic level rose as I smelled the scent of strong magical blood. Lex had fallen to one knee.
Charging into the fray, I rushed to Lex's side. My shields bent perilously inward for a heartbeat before rebounding and hurling vampires out of the way like undead bowling pins. When I reached him my shield stretched and enveloped Lex. My brain paused for a heartbeat to wonder about that bizarre detail, because really it should've bounced him out of the way as well since I hadn't had the good sense to drop them before reaching his side. Deciding to ponder that later, I focused on the set of claw marks slashed across his midsection as I hauled him to his feet.
"This qualifies as distracting me," he growled in annoyance.
"What? You're hurt, you need help."
"Barely a scratch. Ol' no thumbs there, now he needs a medic." He nodded at a nearby vampire who was indeed missing his thumbs and most of his fingers, which were scattered around his feet like fat, pale worms.
My stomach bolted up near the back of my throat and I realized we were in trouble, because I was sure I couldn't shield and retch at the same time. "I think we should let him set an example." I nodded at the faerie-sized blur darting in and out of the mob.
"No, we're not, and I was doin' fine on my own."
"We need a new plan." Poking at his wound, I tried to gauge how severe the damage was, accidentally coating my fingers with his blood in the process.
"Had to call a guardian and your pixie buddy, eh witch? Not strong enough to defend yourself," another new voice commented. I spun around to watch in morbid fascination as the limb-impaired vamp reattached his severed arm.
"And you? Needed a hand?" Lex drawled. "Now you, stay here," he ordered as he glared at me. He lunged toward the vampire, and the two circled each other in a frenzied dance. "You tired yet? You'll run outta blood 'fore I even break a sweat," he taunted the vampire.
"Kitty!" Tybalt called out to me as a vamp landed with a thud at the faerie's feet.
"What?"
"Better idea. Conjure sunlight!"
"What?"
"Just do it. Invoke Apollo, trust me," the faerie ordered.
I shrugged, not sure where Tybalt was going with his request, considering sunlight doesn't hurt vampires like it does in movies. Instead of burning them into a pile of ash it gives them severe sunburn, but hey, I didn't have much else to do while inside my shields, so I decided to run with it. Grabbing my lighter, I held it tight in my right hand, and after sorting through the collection of symbols hung around my neck, I found my sun medallion and clutched it in my left. Holding the button down on my lighter, I turned the flame up to its highest level and held it aloft.
"Great Apollo, drive your chariot hence,
Burning bright for our defense.
Life from light, push back the night,
Chase the darkness from our sight."
Honestly, I wasn't quite expecting the result I got. I figured the spell would give me a little bit of sun like the one that had illuminated the room beneath the faerie mound. Instead a small supernova formed from the fire in my hand, a bright white light that blinded me for a moment with its pure intensity. I squeezed my eyes shut as piercing inhuman howls split the summer night. The awful scent of burnt flesh and toasted vinyl filled my nostrils, and I flinched at the heat building up in my grasp. My brain warned me that it would be a smart idea to drop the lighter a split second before it exploded.
I'm still happy dancing about getting Blood, Smoke and Mirrors published. When I received the email from my editor offering me a contract, I was at my previous day job, and it was about 5 minutes before closing time. I stared at the email in shock, and then walked over to my best friend, Diana's, cubicle. Our office had a no-talking
policy, so I very quietly demanded that she hug me because I'd sold the book. We did a silent victory dance. Diana and I had already made plans to meet my husband Jeff and go out for dinner that evening, so I drove home to pick him up. Jeff was waiting for me in the parking lot, and I leaped out of the car and threw my arms around him and started babbling about how I'd been offered a contract. He had no idea what I was talking about, but he was very proud once I calmed down enough to speak clearly.I love talking about Blood, Smoke and Mirrors, but promoting it is scary. It's hard to sum it up in a few words, and when I'm put on the spot I usually blurt something about how it's got action, romance, and vampires and it's awesome. Marketing is not my strong point. But I am learning, and I'll be attending the Lori Foster Reader & Author Get Together in June. I'm really looking forward to it.
I'm a signed book addict, and I've met many of my favorite authors on tour. Sherrilyn Kenyon hugged me (and I still smile at the memory, she's so cool!). I sat in the front row of a Jim Butcher book signing, and that was really fun. He's a great guy. I'd love to meet Nora Roberts, because she is my absolute favorite author. I hope to attend the RWA national conference one day and stalk her...er, I mean meet her. Oh, and there is an epic story on my blog about how I lost my fangirl mind while meeting Sarah Wendell from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books at a conference. I also hope to meet her again, and this time try not to loom over her and babble like a romance writing Wookiee.
Haha, we've all had those moments when we meet a favorite author. It's one of those Oh, wow! moments you gotta love!
Blurb:
Even a bad witch deserves a second chance.
Wrongly accused of using her magic to harm, the closest Catherine Baker comes to helping others is serving their coffee. Life as an outcast is nothing new, thanks to her father's reputation, but the injustice stings. Especially since the man she loved turned her in.
Now the man has the gall to show up and suggest she become the next Titania? She'd rather wipe that charming grin off his face with a pot of hot java to the groin.
Alexander Duquesne has never faltered in his duties as a guardian—until now. The lingering guilt over Cat's exile and the recent death of his best friend have shaken his dedication. With the murder of the old Titania, the faerie realm teeters on the brink of chaos. His new orders: keep Cat alive at all costs.
Hunted by a powerful stranger intent on drawing her into an evil web, Cat reluctantly accepts Lex's protection and the resurrected desire that comes along with it. Lex faces the fight of his life to keep her safe…and win her back. If they both survive.
Warning: This book contains one tough and snarky witch, one gorgeous guardian, explicit blood drinking, magician sex, gratuitous violence against vampires and troublemaking Shakespearean faeries.
Excerpt:
"Now, Merrideth, I just told you that this young lady is under my protection, so if you and your people don't turn around and walk away,
we're going to have a problem." Lex slipped his hands into his duster, reaching for whatever weapons he had concealed beneath it and sending a clear message to the crowd that he meant business."Maybe I should kill one, Duquesne, just to set an example," Tybalt suggested.
"Don't even think about it, Silverleaf. Just cut 'em off at the knees, that's always fun."
Apparently they took offense to that idea, and without another word they attacked, moving in a dark blur that was hard to see. As the vampires swarmed him Lex drew his weapons in a quick flash of bright metal, swinging a short sword in each hand. Guess that answered the question of why wear a long black coat in June, because swords were a tad hard to conceal without it. The guardian moved with inhuman speed as the fight boiled into the street. I couldn't spot how he was wounding them, but I smelled the stale scent of vampire blood in the humid night air.
Tybalt's rapier appeared in his hand and his clever human disguise vanished as he abandoned all pretense of hiding his true nature. The vampires around him hissed in surprise, and he launched himself at them, moving in a dark blue blur I couldn't follow. I felt pretty useless inside of my safe little bubble, but there wasn't anything I could do to help. I wasn't trained as a fighter, and thanks to my witch upbringing I didn't know any offensive spells. Best I could do was hurl harsh language.
A vampire fell away from the fray in the street, stumbling and then scrambling about searching for something on the ground. After a moment I realized it was looking for the rest of the severed arm that had rolled under a parked car. My stomach heaved and I swallowed hard, looking down at my feet and trying to shove that image out of my brain.
"C'mon now, that had to hurt," Lex teased the armless vamp. "Why don't you just take your hand and go home?"
"Only a flesh wound," the vampire growled as it stretched to reach beneath the car.
Like the worst part of a horror film, it was morbidly fascinating, and I couldn't help but watch. They were stronger, faster and outnumbered him, but somehow Lex held his own. While the vampires were slashed and bleeding, the guardian didn't have a scratch on him. Yet.
"Come out and play, little Cat," a new voice crooned. Turning my attention away from the fight, I found four strangers pacing around the edge of my shields. Necromancers, from the awful smell of them. They circled me like hungry sharks, searching for a weak spot in my shields. Yeah, good luck there. It'd take a lot more than four necromancers to get through my shields, as long as I stood still and concentrated. Unfortunately I couldn't stand there all night, and it'd be a real long walk to my apartment with them trying to sabotage me the entire way. Not a happy thought.
"No thanks, I like it here."
"What's wrong? Afraid?"
Oh, please. Like that was going to tempt me into throwing a temper tantrum and let them jump me. I wasn't falling for that lame trick. I put my hands on my hips and smiled again, more confident this time as I glanced over the speaker. Another sad fashion disaster dressed in black from head to toe, the necromancer reminded me of one of the many reasons why I hate the goth trend: it was created and nurtured by vampires. The woman wore a ridiculous getup of black lace and vinyl complete with spider-web hose and a corset top, doing her best to look dark and mysterious. She'd make a fabulous vampire stereotype when they killed her.
"I'm real scared of that outfit. Was there a sale at Hot Topic?"
Apparently I hit a nerve and she snarled at me. I opened my mouth to toss another witty insult at her, but was interrupted by a distinctly male sound of pain cutting through the tumultuous noise of the fight, too deep to be a faerie's voice. My panic level rose as I smelled the scent of strong magical blood. Lex had fallen to one knee.
Charging into the fray, I rushed to Lex's side. My shields bent perilously inward for a heartbeat before rebounding and hurling vampires out of the way like undead bowling pins. When I reached him my shield stretched and enveloped Lex. My brain paused for a heartbeat to wonder about that bizarre detail, because really it should've bounced him out of the way as well since I hadn't had the good sense to drop them before reaching his side. Deciding to ponder that later, I focused on the set of claw marks slashed across his midsection as I hauled him to his feet.
"This qualifies as distracting me," he growled in annoyance.
"What? You're hurt, you need help."
"Barely a scratch. Ol' no thumbs there, now he needs a medic." He nodded at a nearby vampire who was indeed missing his thumbs and most of his fingers, which were scattered around his feet like fat, pale worms.
My stomach bolted up near the back of my throat and I realized we were in trouble, because I was sure I couldn't shield and retch at the same time. "I think we should let him set an example." I nodded at the faerie-sized blur darting in and out of the mob.
"No, we're not, and I was doin' fine on my own."
"We need a new plan." Poking at his wound, I tried to gauge how severe the damage was, accidentally coating my fingers with his blood in the process.
"Had to call a guardian and your pixie buddy, eh witch? Not strong enough to defend yourself," another new voice commented. I spun around to watch in morbid fascination as the limb-impaired vamp reattached his severed arm.
"And you? Needed a hand?" Lex drawled. "Now you, stay here," he ordered as he glared at me. He lunged toward the vampire, and the two circled each other in a frenzied dance. "You tired yet? You'll run outta blood 'fore I even break a sweat," he taunted the vampire.
"Kitty!" Tybalt called out to me as a vamp landed with a thud at the faerie's feet.
"What?"
"Better idea. Conjure sunlight!"
"What?"
"Just do it. Invoke Apollo, trust me," the faerie ordered.
I shrugged, not sure where Tybalt was going with his request, considering sunlight doesn't hurt vampires like it does in movies. Instead of burning them into a pile of ash it gives them severe sunburn, but hey, I didn't have much else to do while inside my shields, so I decided to run with it. Grabbing my lighter, I held it tight in my right hand, and after sorting through the collection of symbols hung around my neck, I found my sun medallion and clutched it in my left. Holding the button down on my lighter, I turned the flame up to its highest level and held it aloft.
"Great Apollo, drive your chariot hence,
Burning bright for our defense.
Life from light, push back the night,
Chase the darkness from our sight."
Honestly, I wasn't quite expecting the result I got. I figured the spell would give me a little bit of sun like the one that had illuminated the room beneath the faerie mound. Instead a small supernova formed from the fire in my hand, a bright white light that blinded me for a moment with its pure intensity. I squeezed my eyes shut as piercing inhuman howls split the summer night. The awful scent of burnt flesh and toasted vinyl filled my nostrils, and I flinched at the heat building up in my grasp. My brain warned me that it would be a smart idea to drop the lighter a split second before it exploded.
March 3, 2011
Favorite unusual historical books
So what are your favorite unusual historical books? Where do they take place? Who is the author and was it just one, a series, or what the author
normally writes?
Inquiring minds want to know. Please share. Besides, I'm always looking for a good book!
Unusual Historical: Russia, during the Crimean War: Kiss of Scandal
This week's Friday guest is Robyn Bachar. She'll talk about the thrill of publication & the stress of marketing. Blood, Smoke and Mirrors available from Amazon, B&N, and Samhain Publishing.
normally writes?Inquiring minds want to know. Please share. Besides, I'm always looking for a good book!
Unusual Historical: Russia, during the Crimean War: Kiss of Scandal
This week's Friday guest is Robyn Bachar. She'll talk about the thrill of publication & the stress of marketing. Blood, Smoke and Mirrors available from Amazon, B&N, and Samhain Publishing.
March 2, 2011
Favorite different settings
Assuming England and America are typical settings, what are some of your favorite atypical settings?
*Canada during the American Civil War? ( The Colonial and the Cottontail )
*India during the Regency era? (I swear I read a Jane Feather book set there, and within the last 5 years, but can't remember the name or find the title!)
*America during the War of 1812 ( Bright Captivity by Eugenia Price)
*Russia ( Kiss of Scandal to toot my own horn)
*The Balkans (haven't been able to find one or read one, not romance at least, but would be willing to! However, Spies of the Balkans by Alan Furst was excellent.)
*Spain (Have not read one that takes place in Spain but a quick B&N search tells me there are lots of them.)
Where else would you like to see a story set, and in which time period?
This week's Friday guest is Robyn Bachar. She'll talk about the thrill of publication & the stress of marketing. Blood, Smoke and Mirrors available from Amazon, B&N, and Samhain Publishing.
*Canada during the American Civil War? ( The Colonial and the Cottontail )
*India during the Regency era? (I swear I read a Jane Feather book set there, and within the last 5 years, but can't remember the name or find the title!)
*America during the War of 1812 ( Bright Captivity by Eugenia Price)
*Russia ( Kiss of Scandal to toot my own horn)
*The Balkans (haven't been able to find one or read one, not romance at least, but would be willing to! However, Spies of the Balkans by Alan Furst was excellent.)
*Spain (Have not read one that takes place in Spain but a quick B&N search tells me there are lots of them.)
Where else would you like to see a story set, and in which time period?
This week's Friday guest is Robyn Bachar. She'll talk about the thrill of publication & the stress of marketing. Blood, Smoke and Mirrors available from Amazon, B&N, and Samhain Publishing.
March 1, 2011
Different is good
All this week I'm blogging about writing differently. By that I don't mean your writing is different but that your setting, locale, and/or characters are different.
Just recently I had a conversation about The Inn of the Sixth Happiness and Curt Jurgens. (OK, I admit I mixed him up with Yul Brenner who is way sexier.) Jurgens plays a half-Chinese half-Dutch Chinese officer with whom Ingrid Bergman, as tenacious Gladys Aylward, falls in love. Hollywood historical inaccuracies aside, let's look at the different-ness of it all.
*Half-Chinese is a lot different than the normal half-American Indian normally portrayed in romances. Is it too much? Or have we, as a romance-reading people, come to accept that? We accept interracial couples, so why not this?
*China before and during the Japanese invasion of the Second Sino-Japanese War. War is always a great setting, let's face it. Not so different except for (again) the locale. How many of you know about the Second Sino-Japanese War? Or the first for that matter?
*Missionary? Other than it isn't what I write, or what I'd ever write, but putting that aside, all I see that type of book being is inspirational. Not bad if you're into that but not my cup of tea.
Whatt does all this mean? Not 100% sure, but it's all to the good. Different is better. Or at least different.
This week's Friday guest is Robyn Bachar. She'll talk about the thrill of publication & the stress of marketing. Blood, Smoke and Mirrors available from Amazon, B&N, and Samhain Publishing.
Just recently I had a conversation about The Inn of the Sixth Happiness and Curt Jurgens. (OK, I admit I mixed him up with Yul Brenner who is way sexier.) Jurgens plays a half-Chinese half-Dutch Chinese officer with whom Ingrid Bergman, as tenacious Gladys Aylward, falls in love. Hollywood historical inaccuracies aside, let's look at the different-ness of it all.
*Half-Chinese is a lot different than the normal half-American Indian normally portrayed in romances. Is it too much? Or have we, as a romance-reading people, come to accept that? We accept interracial couples, so why not this?
*China before and during the Japanese invasion of the Second Sino-Japanese War. War is always a great setting, let's face it. Not so different except for (again) the locale. How many of you know about the Second Sino-Japanese War? Or the first for that matter?
*Missionary? Other than it isn't what I write, or what I'd ever write, but putting that aside, all I see that type of book being is inspirational. Not bad if you're into that but not my cup of tea.
Whatt does all this mean? Not 100% sure, but it's all to the good. Different is better. Or at least different.
This week's Friday guest is Robyn Bachar. She'll talk about the thrill of publication & the stress of marketing. Blood, Smoke and Mirrors available from Amazon, B&N, and Samhain Publishing.
February 28, 2011
Excerpt Monday: Kiss of Scandal
The last day of February already? Didn't I just say this about January? Sheesh. This week I'll be talking about unusual settings for romances. We talk about that over on the
Unusual Historicals
site, which is a fantastic gathering for different romantic settings. You should check it out. :)
Tsarist Russia: the cold winters, the scathing heat of palace gossip. It's a wonderful setting for a romance.
Kiss of Scandal
excerpt:
"Who else knows of this?" she asked her brother. "What did Father tell you?"
"The papers found with Peter indicated he may have been involved in sensitive financial matters within the Turkish borders. As far as I know," Constantine admitted, "that information is staying between Father, me, Lazarenko, Terenov, and now you two."
Frowning, Katria moved closer to Nikolai. "Financial matters? They could have been in place before the war. What exactly do they indicate?"
"I haven't seen the papers myself," Constantine admitted, and Nikolai dreaded what came next. "However, they may associate Peter with. . .questionable dealings."
"Questionable?" Katria snorted in relief. "Constantine, there are few things in Russia that aren't questionable. Politics are our life, we're raised on intrigue. Every courtier in this Palace has something questionable about him."
"On the surface, Father said, the papers aren't proof of treason but they do raise questions." Constantine approached him. "Peter's dead. I've convinced Father that it makes no further difference. I agree with you; Peter was no traitor. But the best course of action now is to conceal it and all else you may find associated with these matters."
Numb, Nikolai nodded. In his darkest nightmares, he hadn't thought something this destructive could happen. The Orlovs had a pristine reputation with the Tsar. Katria's voice brought him back to the matter at hand.
"Constantine," he heard her say, "can you give us a moment?"
The door closed, and they were once again alone. Focusing, Nikolai saw her standing before him. Her warm hand cupped his cheek. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
He took her hand, holding it for a heartbeat. In a move too swift to give her time to protest, he pulled her into his arms. Laying his cheek against the top of her head, he tried to think. His chest tightened with grief, but he ruthlessly tamped it down. Anger overrode grief, and he embraced it.
"Treason—it's a lie against Peter."
She matched his gaze. "I know."
Katria's utter acceptance snapped something in Nikolai. Crushing her to him, he sought her lips. She eagerly kissed him back, meeting his grief-fueled passion. With a growl, he picked her up, walking until her back hit the wall.
Looking down at her bright eyes, he retook her lips, needing to feel something—her—needing to claim her. Part of his life was ripped away with Peter's death. She wanted to fill the void with her. He didn't want to let her go, wanted to take her home. It was too soon.
Restraining himself, Nikolai managed, "I'm sorry."
"It's all right," she said. Then, before he could walk away, she wrapped her arms around him and held him close.
Read Kiss of Scandal reviews
This week's Friday guest is Robyn Bachar. She'll talk about the thrill of publication & the stress of marketing. Blood, Smoke and Mirrors available from Amazon, B&N, and Samhain Publishing.
Tsarist Russia: the cold winters, the scathing heat of palace gossip. It's a wonderful setting for a romance.
Kiss of Scandal
excerpt:"Who else knows of this?" she asked her brother. "What did Father tell you?"
"The papers found with Peter indicated he may have been involved in sensitive financial matters within the Turkish borders. As far as I know," Constantine admitted, "that information is staying between Father, me, Lazarenko, Terenov, and now you two."
Frowning, Katria moved closer to Nikolai. "Financial matters? They could have been in place before the war. What exactly do they indicate?"
"I haven't seen the papers myself," Constantine admitted, and Nikolai dreaded what came next. "However, they may associate Peter with. . .questionable dealings."
"Questionable?" Katria snorted in relief. "Constantine, there are few things in Russia that aren't questionable. Politics are our life, we're raised on intrigue. Every courtier in this Palace has something questionable about him."
"On the surface, Father said, the papers aren't proof of treason but they do raise questions." Constantine approached him. "Peter's dead. I've convinced Father that it makes no further difference. I agree with you; Peter was no traitor. But the best course of action now is to conceal it and all else you may find associated with these matters."
Numb, Nikolai nodded. In his darkest nightmares, he hadn't thought something this destructive could happen. The Orlovs had a pristine reputation with the Tsar. Katria's voice brought him back to the matter at hand.
"Constantine," he heard her say, "can you give us a moment?"
The door closed, and they were once again alone. Focusing, Nikolai saw her standing before him. Her warm hand cupped his cheek. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
He took her hand, holding it for a heartbeat. In a move too swift to give her time to protest, he pulled her into his arms. Laying his cheek against the top of her head, he tried to think. His chest tightened with grief, but he ruthlessly tamped it down. Anger overrode grief, and he embraced it.
"Treason—it's a lie against Peter."
She matched his gaze. "I know."
Katria's utter acceptance snapped something in Nikolai. Crushing her to him, he sought her lips. She eagerly kissed him back, meeting his grief-fueled passion. With a growl, he picked her up, walking until her back hit the wall.
Looking down at her bright eyes, he retook her lips, needing to feel something—her—needing to claim her. Part of his life was ripped away with Peter's death. She wanted to fill the void with her. He didn't want to let her go, wanted to take her home. It was too soon.
Restraining himself, Nikolai managed, "I'm sorry."
"It's all right," she said. Then, before he could walk away, she wrapped her arms around him and held him close.
Read Kiss of Scandal reviews
This week's Friday guest is Robyn Bachar. She'll talk about the thrill of publication & the stress of marketing. Blood, Smoke and Mirrors available from Amazon, B&N, and Samhain Publishing.
February 26, 2011
Saturday Excerpt
This week's Saturday excerpt is by Caroline Clemmons as she talks her Civil
War story,
Long Way Home
. Nominated for the EPPI awards, the anthology Northern Roses and Southern Belles covers a different locale and time during the war.
In a country torn asunder--from the Canadian border to Texas, from Maryland to Arkansas, from the battlefield of Antietam to the Red River Campaign--brave men and loyal women see their lives turned upside down.
Peril lurks behind every tree and near every homestead, but the hard-fought love of a man and a woman surpasses all.
Six talented writers provide stories of romance and danger centering on Union and Confederate soldiers, spies, blockade runners, renegades, and battlefield nurses during a period of corsets, hoopskirts, and gentlemen callers.
In e-book and paperback! (Also available from Amazon and B&N)
War story,
Long Way Home
. Nominated for the EPPI awards, the anthology Northern Roses and Southern Belles covers a different locale and time during the war.In a country torn asunder--from the Canadian border to Texas, from Maryland to Arkansas, from the battlefield of Antietam to the Red River Campaign--brave men and loyal women see their lives turned upside down.
Peril lurks behind every tree and near every homestead, but the hard-fought love of a man and a woman surpasses all.
Six talented writers provide stories of romance and danger centering on Union and Confederate soldiers, spies, blockade runners, renegades, and battlefield nurses during a period of corsets, hoopskirts, and gentlemen callers.
In e-book and paperback! (Also available from Amazon and B&N)
February 25, 2011
Friday Guests: Wendi Zwaduk
Act Naturally
I wanted to thank Isabel for having me here today. I love stopping by the blog and seeing the cool things you're talking about. So the question you've posed to me is, what television show I'd guest on. Whew...what a tough question. First thing that came to mind was that old Beatles song "Act Naturally".
I know there were others that put the song out and I know the Beatles weren't the first, but that's the version I know. And yes, I think if I were on a Hollywood set, they'd say something like "the biggest fool to ever hit the big time and all I've gotta do is act naturally". They just might be right.
So now I'm thinking, there are a lot of shows I'd love to be on if given the chance. I'll list my top three and why.
1. I'd love to be on Ghost Adventures because they do go to some really cool places to gather evidence of the paranormal. It would be a lot of fun and scary as heck to go walking or wandering through an abandoned prison. Not sure I'd have the gumption to go through with it, but, hey, I'd love to collect my own proof ghosts and spirits really exist.
2. I'm a huge fan of the CSI franchise, CSI: Miami in particular. First of all, I'm in the land of snow and ice right now. Anywhere that's a little warmer would be good for me. Second of all, I'm smitten with Jon Togo a.k.a. CSI Wolfe. The guy has some issues—gambling, temper, and his style is odd (I love Converse, but on a cop? While on duty?) I'm not sure what kind of part I'd like, but hey, it's warm and there are hot bods around. A girl can't ask for much more.
3. Criminal Minds is another can't miss show. I'd love to be able to write characters as complex as the criminals they profile. Maybe one day. I also love that they show the story from both angles – the criminals and the profilers. In some ways, it's like the head-hopping we're all told not to do, but I still like it. I like knowing what both sides are thinking.
It's kind of funny. The types of shows I'd pick to guest on are somewhat in line with the books I write and yet they aren't. I love the paranormal, but I think a real vampire would scare me witless. I know people very close to me who have some proof of ghosts—did you know ghosts swear? I didn't until I heard the recordings. Also, I have a thing for cops apparently, and I've written them in more than one book, but I'm still working on the level of complexity of those characters.
I'm glad I got to think about the shows. It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun. So I ask the readers, what show would you be on?
Thanks, Isabel! Can't wait to come back.
He's her kinkiest desire, if she's willing to open her heart and believe in him.
Blurb:
The dead don't always rest in peace. Some stick around to make the lives of the living hell on Earth. Ryan Black knows the frustration of dealing with the dead. He's a Ghost Explorer. He's conquered houses filled with apparitions, abandoned school buildings that house angry vermin, and managed to woo the female population of Snake Falls, Ohio. But he's about to face his toughest challenge, convincing sceptical Samara Jacobs she not only shares his gift, but holds his heart.
Women fall at Ryan Black's feet and Samara's determined not to be one of the many—that is until she's forced to work with him. He's certain ghosts exist and willing to prove it. The more she gets to know the man behind the television persona, she decides the handsome klutz who chases things that go bump in the night isn't so silly after all. But is he worthy of her love?
Excerpt (PG):
"Look around at the scenery. Ohio girls are the stuff of legend. For example, Meredith has those legs a man fantasizes having wrapped around his waist."
"Engaged."
"Well, then there's Caren. She's got a nice rack and she's single."
"Implants."
"Pick nits." Eddie snorted and shook his head. "You'll shoot down all my ideas just to be right." He scoped the cafeteria room once more. "What about Samara? She's cute in a girl-next-door kinda way. All peaches and cream. I've caught her checking you out once or twice—a day for the last year." He pointed to Ryan. "She'd make a perfect forever girl."
"I had my forever girl. But I could be wrong." Samara checked him out? Hmm... Kinda nice to know the attraction wasn't a figment of his undersexed imagination. He'd spent many a night fantasizing about her, holding her, making love to her, waking up in the morning and seeing her smile.
At her table across the room, Samara curled up in her chair, paperback book propped in one hand and concentration written on her face. From his position, he couldn't read the title, but he'd passed her desk enough times to know she liked romance novels. In the two years he'd worked in the same building with her, he'd heard her speak a total of three times but he knew her voice like his own.
"Ryan?"
"What? I'm checking out the scenery. It's—" he drew a breath, feeling more than the oxygen stirring something within his body. His sex drive? He shifted in his seat. Yeah, there was a definite tingle below the belt. "It's intriguing."
I wanted to thank Isabel for having me here today. I love stopping by the blog and seeing the cool things you're talking about. So the question you've posed to me is, what television show I'd guest on. Whew...what a tough question. First thing that came to mind was that old Beatles song "Act Naturally". I know there were others that put the song out and I know the Beatles weren't the first, but that's the version I know. And yes, I think if I were on a Hollywood set, they'd say something like "the biggest fool to ever hit the big time and all I've gotta do is act naturally". They just might be right.
So now I'm thinking, there are a lot of shows I'd love to be on if given the chance. I'll list my top three and why.
1. I'd love to be on Ghost Adventures because they do go to some really cool places to gather evidence of the paranormal. It would be a lot of fun and scary as heck to go walking or wandering through an abandoned prison. Not sure I'd have the gumption to go through with it, but, hey, I'd love to collect my own proof ghosts and spirits really exist.
2. I'm a huge fan of the CSI franchise, CSI: Miami in particular. First of all, I'm in the land of snow and ice right now. Anywhere that's a little warmer would be good for me. Second of all, I'm smitten with Jon Togo a.k.a. CSI Wolfe. The guy has some issues—gambling, temper, and his style is odd (I love Converse, but on a cop? While on duty?) I'm not sure what kind of part I'd like, but hey, it's warm and there are hot bods around. A girl can't ask for much more.
3. Criminal Minds is another can't miss show. I'd love to be able to write characters as complex as the criminals they profile. Maybe one day. I also love that they show the story from both angles – the criminals and the profilers. In some ways, it's like the head-hopping we're all told not to do, but I still like it. I like knowing what both sides are thinking.
It's kind of funny. The types of shows I'd pick to guest on are somewhat in line with the books I write and yet they aren't. I love the paranormal, but I think a real vampire would scare me witless. I know people very close to me who have some proof of ghosts—did you know ghosts swear? I didn't until I heard the recordings. Also, I have a thing for cops apparently, and I've written them in more than one book, but I'm still working on the level of complexity of those characters.
I'm glad I got to think about the shows. It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun. So I ask the readers, what show would you be on?
Thanks, Isabel! Can't wait to come back.
He's her kinkiest desire, if she's willing to open her heart and believe in him.
Blurb:
The dead don't always rest in peace. Some stick around to make the lives of the living hell on Earth. Ryan Black knows the frustration of dealing with the dead. He's a Ghost Explorer. He's conquered houses filled with apparitions, abandoned school buildings that house angry vermin, and managed to woo the female population of Snake Falls, Ohio. But he's about to face his toughest challenge, convincing sceptical Samara Jacobs she not only shares his gift, but holds his heart.
Women fall at Ryan Black's feet and Samara's determined not to be one of the many—that is until she's forced to work with him. He's certain ghosts exist and willing to prove it. The more she gets to know the man behind the television persona, she decides the handsome klutz who chases things that go bump in the night isn't so silly after all. But is he worthy of her love?
Excerpt (PG):
"Look around at the scenery. Ohio girls are the stuff of legend. For example, Meredith has those legs a man fantasizes having wrapped around his waist."
"Engaged."
"Well, then there's Caren. She's got a nice rack and she's single."
"Implants."
"Pick nits." Eddie snorted and shook his head. "You'll shoot down all my ideas just to be right." He scoped the cafeteria room once more. "What about Samara? She's cute in a girl-next-door kinda way. All peaches and cream. I've caught her checking you out once or twice—a day for the last year." He pointed to Ryan. "She'd make a perfect forever girl."
"I had my forever girl. But I could be wrong." Samara checked him out? Hmm... Kinda nice to know the attraction wasn't a figment of his undersexed imagination. He'd spent many a night fantasizing about her, holding her, making love to her, waking up in the morning and seeing her smile.
At her table across the room, Samara curled up in her chair, paperback book propped in one hand and concentration written on her face. From his position, he couldn't read the title, but he'd passed her desk enough times to know she liked romance novels. In the two years he'd worked in the same building with her, he'd heard her speak a total of three times but he knew her voice like his own.
"Ryan?"
"What? I'm checking out the scenery. It's—" he drew a breath, feeling more than the oxygen stirring something within his body. His sex drive? He shifted in his seat. Yeah, there was a definite tingle below the belt. "It's intriguing."
February 24, 2011
Thursday Progress
Some days writing is harder than others. Those days it's better to walk away than continually bang your head against the keyboard.
Lately, life has not been that way. OK, to clarify, WRITING has not been that way. Writing has been flowing rather smoothly. Dark Inheritance is going along very well, I adore the plot and the characters, but mostly right at this moment I'm loving the way it's all flowing! Not just meshing together, not just the way it's all coming out, but the pace of it. These are the days I love writing, the ones I brag about, the ones I'll look fondly back on in another couple of months and wonder what happened.
And this Friday, my guest will be Wendi Zwaduk who's talking about how to act naturally and her new release, Careless Whisper.
February 23, 2011
Wednesday Review: In the Shadow of Freedom
I'm not big on biographies. I don't care about other people's lives, who slept with whom, why X became a chef and Y became an actor, or how Z didn't let alcoholism affect the rest of his/her life. I am not fascinated with the minutia
of everyday celebrity living, nor do I care beyond the head-shaking headlines of the latest politician to disgrace him/herself.
In the Shadow of Freedom first came to my attention through Twitter; I follow Tchicaya Missamou's agent and when it was first released, she (naturally and as a good agent) announced it.
My internal debate raged. But I was in a non-fiction mood, first with The Tiger: a True story of Vengeance and Survival then the thinly veiled fictionalized version of Every Man Dies Alone .
Read the blurb, a couple reviews on Amazon and B&N, and decided why not? Not normally my kind of read, but Tchicaya's story (no idea how to properly pronounce his name) not only tells of his country, the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and its tragic story of war, but his own involvement in it from a VERY young age.
A child soldier who knew what he was doing but did it anyway to a young man who changed his ways and eventually made it to America. Here he lived in poverty and joined the Marine Corp where he rose in the ranks.
Tchicaya's story is a true American Dream story. I loved it.
And this Friday, my guest will be Wendi Zwaduk who's talking about how to act naturally and her new release, Careless Whisper.
of everyday celebrity living, nor do I care beyond the head-shaking headlines of the latest politician to disgrace him/herself.In the Shadow of Freedom first came to my attention through Twitter; I follow Tchicaya Missamou's agent and when it was first released, she (naturally and as a good agent) announced it.
My internal debate raged. But I was in a non-fiction mood, first with The Tiger: a True story of Vengeance and Survival then the thinly veiled fictionalized version of Every Man Dies Alone .
Read the blurb, a couple reviews on Amazon and B&N, and decided why not? Not normally my kind of read, but Tchicaya's story (no idea how to properly pronounce his name) not only tells of his country, the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and its tragic story of war, but his own involvement in it from a VERY young age.
A child soldier who knew what he was doing but did it anyway to a young man who changed his ways and eventually made it to America. Here he lived in poverty and joined the Marine Corp where he rose in the ranks.
Tchicaya's story is a true American Dream story. I loved it.
And this Friday, my guest will be Wendi Zwaduk who's talking about how to act naturally and her new release, Careless Whisper.
