Teresa J. Reasor's Blog, page 19

Getting Caught in the Act

I'm taking  a wonderful workshop called The Book Factory. Our instructor Kerri Nelson , a multi published author, is wonderful!!! I'm enjoying the class very much.

She posted a few writing prompts and I worked on one of them in fifteen minute intervals until I got it finished. It turned out so well I thought I'd post it here for everyone to read.

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style>--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">With three kids in the house, a love life is darn near impossible. The only lip action you get is when one of the kids back talks you. The one and only time our son caught my husband and I in a clinch, he gagged so hard I thought he’d swallowed his gum and was choking to death.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">All of us have different schedules. Since we have a child in each school one in elementary, one in junior high and one in high school all three kids have different activities they attend—simultaneously of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>With only two cars in the family and two responsible adults acting as cabbies and spectators, we don’t even get to have a quiet conversation in the car, unless you count cell phone calls to discuss what fast food we can pick up for dinner on the way home.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">My children are healthy, happy, well adapted teenagers and they each have a life. But Jimmy, my husband, and I have none. In fact, parenthood has pretty much become a time suck.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Now, don’t get me wrong. I love my children. If I had to throw myself between them and a moving car, I’d gladly do it. I carried them for nine months, and suffered through long, slow, painful labors to bring them into the world. I have a lot invested in these three, emotionally, physically, and financially. Certainly too much to give them away. But of late I’ve begun to wonder when this hamster wheel is going to stop so I might eventually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">get off</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Forgive the pun.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Yes, I’m talking about sex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They say it’s like riding a bicycle and that once you learn how, you never forget. But I have to tell you, the memories have grown p-r-e-t-t-y cloudy. We’re talking sand storm in the desert, a fog bank across a pacific coast bay, the ash cloud following a volcanic eruption cloudy.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">My hubby and I have become so obsessed with doing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for</i> the kids, that we’ve forgotten about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">doing</i> each other. After eight hours at work, four hours at whatever function the kids have and all the other responsibilities of a household, we both seem to tumble into bed and die. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">So, I’ve made a decision. It’s Thursday, and technically a school night, but this gal is tired of waiting her turn. A turn that never comes. Tonight the kids are going to a movie and hubby and I are going to have a romantic evening at home. Or at least two hours. End of discussion.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">***</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The kids came in about five-thirty from soccer practice, gymnastics and piano lessons. They were all able to catch rides home so I could actually cook dinner tonight. As they were stuffing their faces I asked, “How would you guys like to go to that new Hunger Games movie?”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">All three were concentrating on their food. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“Sure” Kelly, our son, said without pausing. “I’ll call Chad and see if he wants to go too.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“I meant tonight. It’s just come out and I thought you guys might want to go.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Every one paused, forks in midair for at least three seconds. “It’s a school night,” Adriana our youngest said.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Now I know we’ve become <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">extremely</i> regimented as far as the rules go. We insist on every scrape of homework being done, before the kids go out with their friends. And they very rarely do anything on a school night, outside their extra curricular activities. (who needs anything extra with ballgames of some sort three days a week.) I can’t see how they’d have time without it affecting their grades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Thus <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the rule.</i> But I was desperate for some alone time with my husband. And at this point desperation breeds, a bending of the rules.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“You guys have been doing so well in school and keeping up with things around here, so, I thought I’d treat you.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“I have a test tomorrow,” Adriana said.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Kelly and Sophie’s head snapped in her direction so fast I thought I heard bones crack. Had their eyes been laser beams, she’d have been a cinder.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“The movie will be over at nine and that will give you an hour to study before you have to hit the hay.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">A smile flitted across her features and I knew she’d mentioned the test out of pure devilment to torment her siblings. “I studied in study hall today, so I think I’ll do fine.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“Good.” I breathed a sigh of relief. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Jimmy wandered in from work. He made a quick trip to the bedroom to shake free of his suit and tie. He returned wearing jeans and a t-shirt.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“The kids are going to the movies,” I announced as he joined us at the table.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“Tonight?” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“Yes. I thought they’d been keeping their noses to the grindstone and deserved a treat. The new Hunger Games movie is on at the Cinema.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He raised his brows but didn’t say anything. My husband is good about reading between the lines and though he may not have understood why the kids were going, he knew better than to argue about it in front of them.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The kids finished up in record time and left the table to get ready to go.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“Did I miss something?” Jimmy asked as soon as they were gone. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“Yes, you did. If you’re very, very good, you might just get lucky tonight,” I announced as I rose to clear my plate from the table.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The slow grin that spread across his face almost wiped away the lines of exhaustion that marked the outer corners of his eyes and bracketed his mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>He’d been working sixty and seventy hour weeks and doing things with the kids. “What do I have to do?” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“Think positive thoughts while I shove the kids out the door and take a shower.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">He laughed and caught me about the waist. I set aside the dinnerware and bent to give him a quick kiss and a cuddle. He nuzzled my breasts and I brushed back the dark hair at his temple liberally sprinkled with gray. He looked so tired. The phone rang— and rang, and when it became apparent none of the kids were going to answer it, I tugged free and grabbed it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">It was for him. With a sigh, I passed it on to him and left him talking business while I shepherded the kids out to the car.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Kelly, having just gotten his license about a week ago, was hyped about driving to the movies. It was only three miles from the house. I gave him the required cautions and reminded him to take his time, then handed him the keys.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">As he was backing out of the drive, I wondered if I should follow them in the car just to be sure they arrived safely. I fought the urge and watched the car progress down the street and turn the corner. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Returning to the kitchen, I found Jimmy had left his meal and had gone into his office. His voice droned on in a discussion about water table studies and other things engineers understand and we lay people don’t. I cleared the table, loaded the dishwasher and left Jimmy’s meal in the microwave for him to reheat. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I jumped in the shower and washed away the stress of the day. I work as a nurse in a doctor’s office and I know I’ve seen at least a hundred and fifty patients today. I lathered my hair and washed it as well. It only took a few minutes to wrap up in my robe and blow-dry my hair. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">As I stepped out of the bedroom the luscious quietness of the house settled around me. I wandered down the hall, through the living room and pushed open the door to Jimmy’s office. He lay on the couch, a sheet of paper in his hand and soft snores emitting from his open mouth.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I almost groaned aloud in frustration, then thought about how tired he’d looked at the dinner table and hadn’t the heart to wake him. I tiptoed out and shut the door. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">After shucking the robe and putting on my usual gown, I settled at the kitchen table with a cup of tea. It wasn’t that I was hungry for—sex. It was that I felt Jimmy and I had lost track of each other because we were so busy keeping responsible track of our kids. I just wanted a few moments to feel close to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Ten minutes later the kids came in. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“What happened?” I asked. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“They sold out. You wouldn’t believe the crowd,” Sophie complained.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“Well, you can go tomorrow night.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Jimmy appeared at the office door, yawning and stretching. “Is the movie over already?”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“We never got to go. The place was packed and we couldn’t get a ticket. We’ll go tomorrow,” Kelly answered.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Jimmy’s gaze met mine. With a small deprecating smile, he shook his head. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The kids scattered, two to their rooms and Kelly to settle in front of the television in the living room. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Jimmy crooked his finger at me and I rose to follow him into the office. “Why didn’t you wake me?” he asked.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“You were tired, and besides the kids came home just a few minutes later.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">He gathered me close and I rested my cheek against his chest. He rested his chin atop my head. “I have an idea. I’ll be right back.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">He returned with his car keys.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“I’m not dressed,” I complained. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“We’re not going far.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">He led me into the garage and opened the passenger door of his car and motioned me in. Then jogged around to get in.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">He hit the garage door opener and backed the car out. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“Where are we going?”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“How long has it been since you went parking?”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I laughed. “Not since you and I went a hundred years ago when we were young and stupid.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“I’m glad to hear it. No one ever comes down to the end of the cul-de-sac.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“You hope.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Was he serious?</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">He pulled around the edge of the circular drive and pointed the headlights into the woods. But where the streetlight at the end could shine into the car enough for us to see one another. He turned off the ignition. “So tell me what’s bothering you.” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Would he think I was awful? An uncaring mom? A selfish bitch? Shit! Once I’d wrested with my guilt, it all came out in a rush. “I miss us. I miss us having time alone, and energy to make love, and just us without the constant interruption of the kids. I mean—we can’t even carry on a conversation without someone butting in to tell us some insignificant thing, or ask for permission to do that, or do this. I’m tired of middle school dance team, and soccer practice and basketball, gymnastics and piano recitals, and you name it. Our kids social lives have become ours.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“Is that all?” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“Well, yeah. Well, no. We both fall into bed so exhausted and just go to sleep. I want sex. I haven’t had sex in four weeks and three days and I want it.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">He laughed. One of those throw your head back, stomach shaking, laughs that make everyone else smile. When he’d finally regained control, he shoved open the door, then came around to my side of the car to open mine. He offered me his hand. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If he thought I was going to make love in the woods and get poison ivy or something he was insane.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Once I’d gotten out, he slipped into my seat and pulled the lever at the front to push the seat back as far as it would go. He hit the other lever and lowered the back of the seat so he was almost reclined. “As I remember from the last time we tried this, you kept hitting the steering wheel and blowing the horn.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I narrowed my eyes. “I didn’t realize you had thought about our one and only experience long enough to work out the kinks.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">He smiled as he unzipped his pants and wiggled them down. “You’re not the only one who hasn’t had sex in four weeks and three days.” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I was suddenly aware of the streetlight and the dome light inside the car being on and my husband exposed to the world. I did the only thing I could—I climbed on board and shut the door.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Maybe the memories weren’t all that cloudy after all. Because once we’d worked out a few logistical things, we seemed to do quite well. It was a good thing it was summer because the windows would have been steamed up. We’d just finished and were cuddling in a shared post coital bliss when headlights approached behind the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I scrambled into the drivers seat so fast I’m sure I bruised sensitive parts of my body on the parking break and I know I saw stars when I hit my elbow on the steering wheel. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Jimmy laughed out loud as he pull up his jeans and arrange his shirt overtop his unbuttoned fly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I turned the key to battery and rolled the window down half way expecting to see a police officer approaching the car at any moment. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">A lone voice came from the back of the car. “Dad?”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I laid my head down on the steering wheel, my shoulders shaking with laughter. You can run, but you can't  hide. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Jimmy zipped up and opened the door. He leaned out into the light. “Your mom and I will be home in ten minutes, Kelly. Hold down the fort okay?”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I heard the words important phone call from one of Jimmy’s partners.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“We’ve done this to ourselves, you know,” he said as he leaned back in the seat and closed the door. “We’ve made them into responsible people—well mostly, for now.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“If they’re so responsible then maybe we can take an evening now and then for just us,” I suggested. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">He leaned over and brushed a kiss across my cheek. “We’ll try the back seat next time.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">If you enjoyed this story— check out some of my published work on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, and ect. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PLCxWwskj8g..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PLCxWwskj8g..." width="213" /></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/An-Automated-De... AUTOMATED DEATH</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LziMz2oRS7Q..." width="209" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Timeless-ebook/... </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Throug... THROUGH </a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KmFOtIFTz7Y..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KmFOtIFTz7Y..." width="209" /></a>              </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dpJr7rICO-0..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dpJr7rICO-0..." width="208" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">                    <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Free-S... BREAKING FREE         </a><br /><br /> I've recently gotten my rights back to Highland Moonlight and Captive Hearts my two Historical Romances.  And I will be rereleasing them shortly.   Their currently getting new covers and I've done rewrites and have sent both books to an editor. Be sure to look for upcoming announcements about these books!!!<br /><br />Teresa Reasor  </div>

Excerpt for An Automated Death

An Automated Death
An Automated Death was published March 13th, 2013.  And I thought I'd post an except from the book for those who are interested. The story has two endings. One dark and one light.  I've published the story with them both. 
Here's the excerpt:
Automaton: A non-electronic machine that mimics the movements of an animal or a human.  A nineteenth century robot.
London, England, 1863 Rain clouds rolled in over London, bringing with them a gray tinged afternoon light that struggled to penetrate the shop’s plate glass windows. Alan Cartwright turned up the wick on the oil lamp and moved it closer to the mechanism he worked on. Despite the gas lamps lining the interior walls, working on the small fittings of the automaton required additional light. The wooden clock cabinets and music boxes he built gleamed in the warm glow, their brass fittings sparkling gold. The smell of freshly cut wood and machine oil hung in the air.“What comes next, Papa?” Brenton asked. Alan smiled at his eight-year-old son’s interest in the automaton. Since his mother’s death two months before, the boy had been withdrawn and shown little interest in anything but his drawings. In the hope of distracting Brenton from his grief, Alan had decided to finish the machine. They worked on it together each afternoon after school. “Next we attach the cylinders,” Alan explained. “The pins in them designate the movements for the automaton’s arm and hand.” He popped the large brass cylinder with its circular cams into place. “Why don’t you do this one?” He offered Brenton the long tube. Too short to reach into the framed box that held the automaton’s parts, Brenton stepped upon a stool, and taking the heavy cylinder in hand, laid it into the side axles. “Good,” Alan leaned over the contraption and tapped on the lock rings that secured the pieces to the gears and springs that would drive it.He glanced up to see Brenton straightening the wooden puppet’s shirt. The body of the machine, hidden by the shirt, was fashioned from thin strips of brass. Heavier brass fixtures, when attached to the cylinder in the base and to its spring-driven motor, would move the shoulder and arm and allow it to draw.Brenton’s dark brows drew together in a frown, and his lips puckered in thought. “He looks like me, Papa.”“I suppose he does a bit.” His son was the most important person in his life. Who else’s face would he have given the automaton?Brenton touched the puppet’s small wooden writing desk . “Will he draw much better than I do?” Brenton asked with a downward tilt to his lips.In truth, Brenton was a gifted child. His teacher had commented that, in her opinion, he was drawing as well as or better than some of the artists whose work she’d seen. She was in awe of his talent, as was Alan. “No. I’ve patterned what he draws from your work, Brenton. The cams I’ve created will guide his hand to copy your drawings. And he’ll only be able to draw four pictures. You’ll be able to draw hundreds.”The frown clouding Brenton’s face cleared, and he smiled. “I want to be a famous artist when I grow up.”Alan’s throat tightened. Did the resurgence of his son’s hopes for the future signal he was setting aside some of his grief? He hoped so. He laid a hand on Brenton’s frail shoulder. “Aye, so you’ve told me. If an artist is what you wish to be, and you work hard, you will be the most famous artist London has ever known.”Brenton’s expression was earnest. “I will work very hard.” Alan gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. “You already do. If you sweep up the sawdust at the back of the shop, we’ll walk down the street to Cotter’s for a hard candy when I’m finished here.”Brenton’s smile broke forth. “Excellent! I’ll do it now.”A smile lingered on Alan’s face as he made some adjustments to the position of the larger of two cylinders. He studied the brass fittings he had created for the machine. It represented some of his best work. He was certain the piece, if it worked, would sell as a novelty to a rich patron. But it would sadden him to see it go. After all the time-consuming work he’d poured into it, the temptation to keep it was strong. But the bills which had accumulated during Arietta’s brief illness, and her funeral, weighed upon his mind. He had to do what was best for Brenton, no matter the cost to himself. He rested his hand atop the automaton’s head.  The puppet’s dark hair was incised into the wood and painted with streaks of dark brown with a hint of red. The pale blue eyes stared downward at an angle, as though looking at something on the table. Alan had designed it so it would appear that the puppet was looking at the drawing it was creating. The gears inside the body would move the arm and head so it would not only look like the little boy was drawing, but would also create a reproduction of one of Brenton’s works.It had been Arietta’s idea to make the machine’s face a likeness of Brenton’s. She’d called it a tribute to their son. The sale of the piece was to fund his future. And now it would go to pay for the end of hers.A wave of grief rolled over Alan, so intense his knees threatened to buckle. Tears burned his eyes, and he squeezed his lids closed in an attempt to stave them off. At the sound of Brenton’s return, he bent over the automaton for one last check of the day’s work and to give himself time to regain his composure.“I’m finished, Papa.” With an effort, Alan beat back his grief and forced a smile as he turned to face Brenton. “Good. We must hurry and get your treat before the rain starts. Go upstairs and get your coat.” As the boy ran upstairs, Alan strode down the center aisle between the wooden tables holding clocks in need of repair, and music boxes waiting for their last layer of stain. He folded down the sleeves of his shirt and fastened the cuffs, then, lifting his coat from a peg by his desk, slipped it on. He smiled at the sound of Brenton’s pounding steps overhead. He was such an easy child to please. And so very bright.Alan locked the shop door behind them and turned to face the busy thoroughfare of Oxford Street. The wind whipped between the buildings, kicking up dirt and carrying with it the blended smells of fresh baked bread from a nearby bakery and horse manure. The wide, cobbled street was congested with buggies and coaches, steam-powered buses and phaetons conveying their passengers home before the storm. Dark gray clouds reflected in the plate glass windows of the surrounding shops, as though the storm had taken root at street level. Alan’s grasp on Brenton’s hand tightened.Cotter’s Confections waited at the end of the block. Eager to be there, Brenton skipped beside him. “I think I will get some sugarplums, Papa. I will share them with you.”“Why thank you. That would be kind of you,” Alan said with a laugh.“Out of the way!” A shout came from just behind them.Alan swiveled to look over his shoulder. The huge shape of a pale gray horse filled his vision. The animal struck him chest-to-chest, spinning him around. His head struck the sharp edge of a brick window facing. He cried out and fell to his hands and knees. The large, highly polished wheels of a buggy rolled past his face. Stunned, he lay still, his head throbbing. “Brenton?” Alan staggered to his feet and braced a hand upon the wall as the world tipped and whirled. Blackness threatened to overtake him, and he shook his head. When his vision cleared, he saw the small form that lay crumpled face-down just beside him on the sidewalk.“Brenton!” Fear chocked him, strangling his cry to a whisper. He stumbled forward and fell to his knees next to his son. Grasping his shoulder, he eased the boy onto his back. Blood colored his son’s lips with scarlet and ran in thin rivulets from his nose and ears. Alan placed his hand on the little chest and, feeling no movement, pressed an ear to his torso. The brittle thrust of broken bones jabbed against his cheek. Brenton’s heart lay still and silent. Agony poured through Alan, stealing his breath, as though the horse’s hooves had pulverized his heart to mash. “Brenton!” The cry burst from him and climbed to a high-pitched wail. He gathered his son’s body close and rocked, his pain too much to contain. The sky opened up in a torrent. And the rain blended with the tears that streamed unheeded down Alan Cartwright’s face.

Hope you enjoyed the Excerpt. You can download the story at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or Smashwords.

Read on,
Teresa Reasor 

An Automated Death: A Steampunk Short Story IT'S LIVE!!!

AN AUTOMATED DEATH
AN AUTOMATED DEATH IS LIVE!!!  IT'S AVAILABLE AT AMAZON FOR NOW AND WILL BE AVAILABLE AT BAND N SMASHWORDS APPLE AND ECT. SOON!!

MY COVER IS GORGEOUS!!! My cover art was done by
BrittanyWeigle (akaBita)  from: http://www.simplybookish.com 

Here's the blurb:
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An Automated Death: A Steampunk Short Story

I got my cover for my Steampunk Short Story AN AUTOMATED DEATH and I love it!!! it's gorgeous. My cover art was done by
BrittanyWeigle (akaBita)  from: http://www.simplybookish.com 

Here's the blurb:
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My next Navy SEAL Lieutenant JG Harold "FLash"Carney

Sometimes we writers like to have inspiration when we write. And I love to find the guys who will be on my covers and keep a picture of them on my desktop.  We'll recently I found Flash. The hero in my next SEAL TEAM Heartbreaker novel Breaking Away   And I have to tell you this guy is something special. I can't wait to see what my cover artist Tracy Stewart will do with this image. But I know she'll make it into something special for me.  Until she does, I'll keep him on my desktop and let him help me write the story.

Teresa R.


 Breaking Through
 Breaking Free

Jane Greenhill is Secretly a Teenage Alien

Jane Greenhill writes wonderful YA books about an alien named Oas.  She knows this character so well I sometimes think that Jane herself might be from Zorka Twenty-Three. 

I Was A Teenage Alien has just been released and she has two more books in the series that will be out this year. As well as other projects.


 I Was A Teenage Alien  

INTERVIEW:
<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style>  <br /><div class="MsoNormal">1. Tell us what inspired your story?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><span style="color: red;">In a small town in Canada, there was an E Coli outbreak from contaminated water, and I got the idea of an alien coming to earth and saving the town.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"> </span> <style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style></div><div class="MsoNormal">2. Describe your heroine and tell us a little about her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><span style="color: red;">Oas, is a teenage girl from Zorca-twenty-three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Some things are universal, like annoying siblings, what to wear, hair issues and a mother who she believes favours her siblings over her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"> </span> <style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">3.Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><span style="color: red;">No matter where you’re from, it’s hard to fit in, and you’ll have awkward moments, but if you try to fit in and make the effort, you’ll make friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Everyone feels out of place at some point in their lives, bullied and finding fake friends, but perseverance will enable you to find friends, boyfriends, and find yourself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"> <style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style></span> <span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;">4.What are your current projects?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: red;">Coming out shortly is the sequel to I was a Teenage ALIEN, Star-struck ALIEN, where Oas finds her brother’s former girlfriend and her mortal enemy is now a major recording star, and she must make nice to get back home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>In the summer the final in the series will be released, Jolly Olde Teenage ALIEN.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">5. Can you share a little of your current work with us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><span style="color: red;">I just finished a YA adventure called Joust in Times, where a teenage girl time travels back to medieval times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It was a lot different to write than the ALIEN series, because there was a lot more fact checking and research involved.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"> <style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">6. Who is your cover artist? <span style="color: red;">Tracy Stewart, she’s the best out there and really gets me and my ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>We’ve never met in person, but she’s a kindred spirit.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;">I WAS A TEENAGE ALIEN EXCERPT:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"> <style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style></span></div>  <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-before: always;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“You’re so lucky having your best friend live so close to you. Mine lives on another planet.”</b> Oh, stars, what did I just say? Why is it as a humanoid I can’t control my mouth?</div><div class="MsoNormal">“You’re right, Nic, she is really funny and cute, too,” Josh said.</div><div class="MsoNormal">He looked sideways at me, and I got really warm. Maybe that’s what Nic meant when she said Josh had the hots for me. He did make me warm. Funny how I could feel hot, though, when my skin looked like a chicken’s, all covered in small bumps.</div><div class="MsoNormal">He stopped in the middle of the cement and turned me around to face him. He reached forward and touched my nose. So I did what any ananoid would do, I slapped him. Not nearly as effective as when I used my antenna, but it had the same result.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Oops, I don’t think I was supposed to do that. I might have put his nose out of joint.</div><div class="MsoNormal">“What the snap was that for? I was just wiping a bit of ice cream off your nose. Man, you pack a wallop.” He bent over with his head in his hands, and his ball cap fell to the ground.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I bent down to pick it up, figuring it was the least I could do, and realized I’d made another mistake...</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"> <style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Tahoma; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Jane Greenhill:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Author of <span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Booty Call for Murder, Cobra Murders, I was a Teenage ALIEN, Vortex to the Ojibwa, Vampire Bytes (Amazon.com)</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">coming soon: Star-Struck ALIEN, Jolly Olde Teenage ALIEN, Joust in Times</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing and making jewelry</span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Check out my bracelets at:www.esty.com--writerJane</span>... class="MsoNormal">YOU CAN CONTACT JANE AT: </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"> <a href="http://janegreenhill.weebly.com/&quot... Greenhill </a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"> <span style="color: black;">Or check out her Author's Page at Amazon and see what else she has available</span>: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Greenhill/... Greenhill </a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><b>HER OTHER BOOKS:</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">If you're into Suspense she has:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Booty-Call-Murd... Call for Murder</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Cobra-Murde... Cobra Murders</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">If you like Vampire Stories this one's a hoot: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Bytes-e... Bytes</a></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><b>AND A YA SHORT STORY :</b></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vortex-to-the-O... TO THE OJIBWA </a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>AND COMING SOON!!!!</b></span></span> </span></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mKzEt42FdjI..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mKzEt42FdjI..." /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sHOaRp9JpVg..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sHOaRp9JpVg..." /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><b>THESE BOOKS ARE SO FUNNY. THEY ARE A MUST HAVE TO  ANYONE WHO READS YA !!! SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT. </b></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />  </span></span> </span></div>

Woodford County Library Event

On February 23, 2013 I will be participating with a six other romance writers on a Romance Author's panel and will be answering questions about the process of writing romance and everything else that goes into it.  The panel runs from 2:00 to 5:00.  And we'll all be there signing our books.  We'd love a good turn out!!!!

My fellow writers who will be there are Tiffany Reisz, Kathleen Brooks, Hallee Bridgeman, Donna McDonald, Maddie James, Robyn Peterman, and of course yours truly--Teresa Reasor.

Hope to see all you wonderful readers there!!!

Thanks,

Teresa Reasor 

THE KIW SAMPLER

Recently I joined forces with a wonderful bunch of ladies to create a sampler of first chapters of our published books to promote our writing. With the KIW Sampler you get a taste of different genres, of different voices, and different story lines.  

If you're interested in downloading it for free you can go to http://edinroad.com/KIWsampler1.html

It's also available at Amazon for $.99 cents. We're trying to get it price matched. If you're on Amazon please let them know you've gotten to book for free. 


 The sampler contains the first chapters of each of these authors:

Hayden Braeburn---  Hot Erotic Romance--- Fight For Me

Hallee Bridgeman--- Edgy Inspirational Romance--- Emerald Fire
 
Diane Strong--- Hitchcockian Suspense--- Out and Back
 
Amy Durham--- Twi-better Young Adult---  Once Again
 
Jesse Coffey--- Quirky Paranormal--- Salt Of The Earth
 
Katherine Lowry Logan---American Historical Timetravel--- The Ruby Brooch
 
Kallypso Masters--- Military Erotic Romance ---Nobody's Perfect
 
Teresa Reasor--- Military Romantic Suspense--- Breaking Through
 
J.M. Madden--- Wounded Warrior Erotic Romance --- The Embattled Road
 

Debi Warford was our cover artist.  She did a beautiful job!!!

Download the sampler and pick out whatever story fits your fancy. There's something for everyone. 

Read on,
Teresa J. Reasor   

What Not To Do To Self-Promote on Amazon

Recently I returned to a reader's list I was a member of on amazon some time back. I went there as a reader, not as an author.  I always enjoy trolling the lists and seeing what books readers are discussing.  There was even one list that I checked in on to make certain no one was trashing my book as they were doing several other---much better known authors. I cringe every time I think of that. But I did learn the habits writers get into that set readers off and thus learned what not to do in my own writing. I've actually laughed out loud at some of the things posted and thanked God I'd never put them in my books.

I wasn't laughing when I suddenly became the object of a reader's hostility.


Self promotion is not permitted by Amazon, except in the Meet Our Authors forum.

Link to the rules on Amazon
These are what they are.




We recommend that you do not post your phone number or e-mail address.



I wasn't attacked because I was doing any of these don'ts.  I was attacked because I was an author. And worse--- a self-published author. 

 I was a handy punching bag for her frustration and aggression.

When I pointed out that I was following the rules and not there as an author but a reader, she persisted and I turned her posts off.  She didn't care that I couldn't read her posts, but persisted.

 I later decided that this situation was not a healthy, or pleasant thing for anyone involved. Especially the other subscribers to the list and I made an announcement that I was leaving the list and moving on to another where my suggestions and questions might be better received.

I've dropped this and don't intend to contact Amazon. Should she follow me to one of the other lists and persist, I will.

The excuse my attacker gave for her behavior was that the list had dried up and people had stopped posting because of the constant spamming done by authors about their books.  And I have to say that while I was on there, three authors posted the names of their books and the info about them. Which only succeeded in increasing the reader's  hostility toward me.

But it was the hostility expressed by the reader (in my opinion) that kept traffic at a minimum.  I mean with someone patrolling the list like a pit bull, and looking up the people who posted to weed out the undesirable (namely me)--- Who would want to post? Why I ever did is beyond me. 

I can truly say that I have never participated on any list and mentioned that I was an author.
(I didn't on this one either. She looked my name up and announced to everyone on there that I was an author) Oh my God there's a Fox in the Hen House!!!!

 Readers loops are readers loops.

So when I have participated I am careful to post with my opinions as a reader.  And I have to say I have been a reader as long as I've been a writer. I have over 7000 books in my house to attest to that.

But I have been on more loops than I can tell you where two authors suddenly decided that their discussion as authors took president over the original  discussion. It is like watching a train wreck about to happen because sooner or later a reader is going to come out and say, "take it somewhere else ladies this is a reader's loop and you aren't supposed to be on here."  When that happens, it only bods badly for all of us. It reflects on us all, even though we're not the culprits.

As I found out first hand. 

Moral of the story is this:

Do not self-promote on any of the lists on Amazon but the one specifically called  Meet the Authors. 

When you insist on self-promoting on readers lists: 

1. It doesn't garner you any sells.(In fact the opposite.)

2. It only antagonizes the readers and ensures they won't buy your book, and in fact, they may blackball it with all their friends. 

3. It will ensure that the readers on any given loop may treat you as I was treated-- with persistent hostility. (Luckily this was only one reader not everyone on the list)

4. It may damage the sales of those people's books you've recommended. (That was threatened while I was on the list.)

5. It will only leave you with a bad taste in your mouth and a desire to never participate in any discussion on there.  (luckily I'm made of sterner stuff and I'm on one in particular that I've been on for nearly 6 years that I enjoy and no one gives me any shit.)But I only participate as a reader.

6. And if you are ever treated as I was on a list-- Don't lose your cool, treat them with kindness, because if your a class act, the other people on the list will remember you and perhaps buy your book. 

 If you'd like to participate in this discussion and share your experiences, I promise not to give you any shit or treat you with hostility.

Read on,

Teresa J. Reasor 

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

I was challenged by Robyn Peterman  and Jennifer Madden to participate in this blog hop. And of course I had to do it because I love to blog. Robyn's Book   How Hard Can It Be? is due out January 17, 2013. But it's already available for preorder if you'd like to check it out. And Jennifer's newest The Embattled Road just hit Amazon and other stores a couple of weeks ago.

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style>  <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Next Big Thing</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1. What is the working title of your book? </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Breaking Away. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2.Where did the idea come for the book? </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I love military guys and the idea for the series first hit me three years ago. Since my Dad was in the Marines I knew how military guys behaved and had some idea how they thought and hid how they felt. I wanted other people to understand what their families went through when they were deployed home, injured, doing training---the works. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I wrote the first book,<b> Breaking free<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></b>and started submitting it to editors while I finished another book (not a military romance).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I released <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Free-S... style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Free</b></a> in June of 2011. And the second book of the series, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Throug... style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Through</b>,</a> In September of this year 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The idea for the series has morphed into a series of six full-length novels and a short story<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. Breaking Away</b> is the third book of the series. It’s Flash’s story. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. What genre does your book fall under? </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Military Romantic Suspense.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Free --</b>Hawk-- Eric Bana, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Zoe-- Emily Blunt</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Through--</b>Brett-- Paul Walker,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Tess-- Deborah Ann Woll</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Away--</b>Flash-- Greg Vaughan, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Samantha- Emma Stone</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Out--Doc-- </b>Tom Hardy,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Veronica--Amanda Seyfried</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">,</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Hearts--Bowie-- </b>Daniel Sunjata, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Caroline --Scarlett Johansen<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Chains--Derrick -– </b>Chris Hemsworth,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Melanie--Kristen Dunst</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Ties--Green Back-- </b>Kim Rossi Stewart,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>Selena--- America<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Ferrara</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5. What is the one sentence synopsis of your book? </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What happens when a Navy SEAL, acting as an undercover operative for the FBI in an international smuggling sting, is framed for murder and while on the run finds the family he's never had?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">It will be self-published. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Through</b>took me six months to write and another month to edit. I don't really write first drafts. Each chapter has to be right before I can move on to the next one so I'm constantly editing as I go along. So once done, the professional editor has to come along and just mostly clean up any repetitive phrasing she catches or those pesky comma things I do without realizing it.  I’m hoping <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Away</b> will take less time.  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">I can’t compare them to any other books, because they’re different from the other books in the genre I’ve read. The closest I think are Suzanne Brockmann’s SEAL romances.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Free</b> is about 80 percent romance and 20 percent suspense. And had one romance in it. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Through</b>is more 70-30. And had 3 romances in it. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Away</b>will be more 80-20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>And will have 2 romances in it. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">I’ve been inspired by every book I’ve read about SEALs and their training. And I’ve read at least 50. I’m inspired by their desire to fight, no matter how hard things get, no matter how horribly they’re injured, no matter what they have to sacrifice. They’re whole life revolves around training to be the best special operator they can be. They don’t care about rank, or metals, or awards. They are there to right the wrongs, fight the bad guys, and keep America safe. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">Every book is it’s own story. There is no pattern followed as to plot and story line. Each one is completely fresh and new. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve done two months research before even starting Breaking Away because I want my story line to be the best it can be and I want every problem dealt with before I put words to paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">Each of my heroes have a distinctive personality. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Free</b> --Hawk is rock solid and a born commander. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Through</b>--Brett is a smart ass and all alpha male. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Away</b>—Flash is quieter, more introverted, and computer savy, but he too is all alpha male. He made the perfect undercover operative because he's lived on the street and has street savy. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breaking Away will be released Summer of 2013. </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-imXkcC-Fm5Y..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-imXkcC-Fm5Y..." width="208" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Free-S... Free</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7xM4TuTlP3Y..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7xM4TuTlP3Y..." width="210" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Throug... Through </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm challenging several other authors to participate in this blog hop. But I'm also very interested in paying it forward so I'm promoting several other writers, artists, and photographers. So there will be several things for you readers to check out besides just books on the sites I'm including on this post. Just click on the writers, artists, or photographers name and it will take you to their site or their books.   </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="http://julieannereeves.com/">... Reeves</a>— Her book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Razing-Kayne-Wa... Razing Kayne</a> just made the Amazon Romantic Suspense list. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><a href="http://judydawn.com/">Judy Dawn</a> — Her <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Judy-Dawn/e/B00... of Snow Series</a> is unusual, fun, and exciting. If your looking for something that's imaginative and fresh this is your deal. </div><br /><a href="http://www.devonmatthews.net/"&g... Matthews </a>— Devon writes Western Historical Romance. Her book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Angel-In-The-Ra... In The Rain </a>is excellent!!! And she's working on <a href="http://www.devonmatthews.net/siteerro... Wild Texas Rose </a>right now!! I love Western Historicals. there are just not enough of them out there. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos... Greenhill-</a>- Jane Writes a wonderful YA series about a Teenage alien and will have three books coming out this coming year.  But she has numerous other books available Vampire Bytes a comedic vampire story. Booty Call for Murder and The Cobra Murders are Suspense novels  and I was a Teenage Alien the first of her YA Series.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/minakha... Kahn</a>—Mina writes wonderful adventures about Djinns. How fantastic is it to hang out with beings who can control the elements of the earth in interesting ways.<br /><br /><a href="http://joanmaze.webs.com/">Joan Maze</a>—Joan writes the Mollie Fenwick mysteries. Mollie has a nose for trouble and is psyhic to boot so there's always something happening to her, around her, and in her visions. Joan's books are always entertaining.  She has several scheduled to release this coming year.  <br /><br />Tracy Stewart– Tracy writes several different genre's. Historical romance, Vampire regulators, and she has a wonderful story titled The Gift of the Gods about an archaeologist on the trail of a magic spear (a kind of treasure hunt with lots of danger) with the help of a couple Gods. Pretty cool. Tracy is also a <a href="http://www.allaboutthecover.com/"... artist</a>. She's actually done all my covers. You can click on Cover artist and check them out. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.candaceswordphotography.co... Sword—</a>Candace write also but she's a wonderful photographer. She has actually taken my picture. Can you believe that. And I will shortly be updating my photo on my blog, website, facebook and etc. because of her efforts. So check out her photography site. <br /><br /><br />And if you get some money for Christmas---a new Kindle, I pad, Nook or what have you, you will find an interesting book to download from any of these authors. And if you write yourself you know you'll need a head shot or a cover for your book.<br /><br />I'd appreciate it if you would pay this blog forward and spread the word about me and all these wonderful writers  I've added to my blog this week.<br /><br /><br />MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!<br />Teresa J. Reasor  <br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com...' alt='' /></div>