Nancy Gideon's Blog, page 45

WWW: You’ve Got the Power!

With PRINCE OF HONOR , the first book in my “House of Terriot” dark paranormal shapeshifter series, just launched and barely out of the promotional blocks, I managed to FINALLY finish the second book, PRINCE OF POWER . Since it was actually the book I started first (until some pesky plot points insisted the next planned book needed to go before it), I’d previously shared some excerpts from earlier chapters. To bring you up to speed, as the strength behind the crown, Colin Terriot has come down from his family’s mountaintop fortress at Lake Tahoe to begin truce talks with the other clans in New Orleans where his involvement with a rival negotiator and an unprovoked attack that nearly takes his life has his king questioning his effectiveness . . . and his loyalty.

“If you were thinking of bringing Wes here to finish my job and send me home in shame, you might as well finish me right here, right now, because if I leave, they’ll think we’re weak and all talk. They won’t respect any of us if we’re that easily broken. I’m a Terriot: We don’t bend; we don’t break; and, we don’t run, not from anything! It’d be kinder for you to just put me down right here than to ask me not to act like a prince in our House. I’m not afraid of them, and next time, I’ll be ready to bring hell down on their doorstep. Don’t you do this to me, Cale. Don’t you sideline me while I can still stand on my own hind legs and howl . . . unless you don’t trust me to take care of things, and then that’s something else altogether.” 

The long beat of silence brought Colin’s worst fear home as he felt something from his king he’d never experienced before - doubt. 

“You’re my brother, Colin,” Cale began carefully, “and if you say you can handle it, I believe you.” 

Belief and trust weren’t quite the same thing.

You think Colin is in a tough spot . . . I’ve got a 102K manuscript I’ve got to trim down to fighting weight and am still at that point where I’m in love with every word, adjective and turn of phrase. Maybe a little distance while I stump for PRINCE OF HONOR will give me the proper perspective. If nothing else, I’ll have a heck of a lot of extra content to offer!!

While I’m pondering, here’s another look at Book 1 . . . cuz I can’t get enough of that cover, especially now that it’s been in my hot little hands in trade paperback!!


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | AllRomance Books | Goodreads
The hunter becomes the prey, a prisoner to his own desire . . .

Turow . . .

Strong, silent man of integrity content to serve his new king as a prince in the turbulent shape-shifter House of Terriot. A tracker and relentless hunter, he’s used to running trails alone until charged with returning a traitor to their mountain top home to face the unforgiving judgment of their clan. On the run with the bad girl he’s loved forever, the choice between duty and desire has never been more difficult . . . or deadly.

Could the bargain made to save their lives become reality?

Sylvia . . .

Manipulative schemer or victim caught between a mother’s ambition and a rogue prince’s lust for power? Trust is almost as foreign as the idea of love, but to save herself from certain death, she must risk both on the good man who deserves them . . . from someone worthy. Trapped by the only one who believes in her goodness, will she betray him and run for her life . . . or stay and destroy him with a long hidden truth?

Deadly, Damaged, and Delicious! Brothers too H.o.T. to Handle!

Reviews"This is how you start a series! A prince. A traitor. A blood feud. Mix them all together with healthy doses of drama, intrigue, and action, and you have the beginnings of an edge of your seat, roller-coaster of a book. Turow is everything you want in a hero and Sylvia's journey from villain to heroine is brilliantly crafted. 5-Stars" - Susan, Goodreads

"An intriguing, sexy, sometimes dark read. A tightly woven plot will have you burning through the pages. The intense, sizzlin' chemistry between Turow & Sylvia is lethal and flammable as both as both fight to maintain control of the situation - and their own heart. A Must Read! 5-Stars!." - Cross My Heart Reviews

"Gideon tears this series open with a bang . . . Max and Cee Cee ignited your appetite, but these Terriot brothers are so exclusively delicious they're not even on the menu! The fast-paced action and emotional banquet laid out here is a paranormal romance lover's feast! Better get comfortable, because you won't be leaving until you finish dessert! 5-Stars!" - Book Bling

"Excellent Book! The author did not disappoint. I fell in love with the story line. Max will always be my favorite . . . but Turow is a close second now. 5-Stars" - reader, Amazon

"The Terriot Princes....... Holy Hotness. There is so much deliciousness between all them it's hard not to drool." - Sara Kate, Goodreads
How’s the week treating the rest of you here at WeWriWa . . .


Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

WWW: NOW PLAYING - “House of Terriot” Book Video Premiere!

Don’t you love a premiere? The celebrities, the buzz, the drama. My favorite debuts – aside from an anticipated book release! – were on the newly created MTV when I was a stay-at-home mom back in those gorgeous ‘80s days of early music videos. I remember the excitement of waiting for that first stunning visual glimpse (Duran Duran, Sting, Wham! . . . sigh!) that gave a whole new and exciting depth to the songs and bands. As an author, the idea of capturing the essence of a book in that sensory style held an irresistible appeal, the chance to add a new layer to the reading experience. They’ve become something I can’t wait to put together with a new title.

With PRINCE OF HONOR newly released in e-format and about to drop in trade paper (as in any minute!), and three more books in the “House of Terriot” series on the way, there's a lot happening this weekend! To kick off the celebration that ends in a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card, allow me to present the premiere of my “House of Terriot” book video. Enjoy this tease of all the yumminess to come with my four princely brothers in the warrior shapeshifter clan, followed by my Weekend Writing Warriors 
8-10 line excerpt.

“There’s nothing I can do to change this; I wish I could.”

“I don’t want you to, Cale.”

His answer surprised them both, but once he’d put it out there, Turow realized the truth in his own heart. He had no doubts or regrets over what he’d done, and wasn’t ashamed to admit it.

“I chose her, Cale, I want her, I have since the first time I saw her and I haven’t been able to think about anyone else. I don’t want to be with anyone else.”

Cale palmed the back of Row’s head, clenching fingers in his hair to give him a hard shake. “You blind sonuvabitch, she’s going to eat your heart and crush your soul, and it’s my fault. Kendra warned me that you had feelings for her but I didn’t want to believe her.”

“I’m sorry, my king, not for how I feel, but because I’ve failed you.”

Fanning self. While we’re catching our breath, my sexy princes and I would love to invite you to a Facebook “Show It Off Saturday” event with my friends at Coffee Time Romance. Join me for tidbits and teasers and the opportunity to get to know each other better!



Also happening today, Magic of Books Promotions is hosting a PRINCE OF HONOR blog blitz and offering a chance to win that $10 Amazon gift card via the Rafflecopter below!



a Rafflecopter giveawayHelp share the excitement, support fellow bloggers and grab at a great giveaway! And of course, enjoy a drool-worthy look at PRINCE OF HONOR and the “House of Terriot.”


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | AllRomance Books | Goodreads
The hunter becomes the prey, a prisoner to his own desire . . .

Turow . . .

Strong, silent man of integrity content to serve his new king as a prince in the turbulent shape-shifter House of Terriot. A tracker and relentless hunter, he’s used to running trails alone until charged with returning a traitor to their mountain top home to face the unforgiving judgment of their clan. On the run with the bad girl he’s loved forever, the choice between duty and desire has never been more difficult . . . or deadly.

Could the bargain made to save their lives become reality?

Sylvia . . .

Manipulative schemer or victim caught between a mother’s ambition and a rogue prince’s lust for power? Trust is almost as foreign as the idea of love, but to save herself from certain death, she must risk both on the good man who deserves them . . . from someone worthy. Trapped by the only one who believes in her goodness, will she betray him and run for her life . . . or stay and destroy him with a long hidden truth?

Deadly, Damaged, and Delicious! Brothers too H.o.T. to Handle!


Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

WeWriWa: Truth or Dare?

Trust. That key that locks a relationship up tight and secure. It’s a powerful pivot point I like to use to establish tension and secure that Happily-Ever-After. Until it’s resolved, the one can’t become the other. That’s where my characters Turow and Sylvia are in this snibblet from my new release PRINCE OF HONOR. Take a look . . .

“When I asked you about James and Las Vegas, did you tell me absolutely everything?” 

The cooling of her gaze frostbit his hopes. “Oh, you mean like am I here on Jamie’s behalf to assassinate our king, is that what you want to know? Have I been playing a game with you, becoming your mate, bending under Cale’s rules just to lull you into complaisance so I could exact some terrible plan I cooked up with James?” 

It sounded even worse when she accused him out loud, because that was what Cale suspected. 

“Please, Syl . . . it’s not that I don’t believe you.” 

Very deliberately, she withdrew her hands from his to slowly and precisely go through everything again, in excruciating detail, never once looking away from his hopeful stare, until subtly, her eyes canted down. 

She was lying to him. 

He’d disappointed her, and she was hiding something from him. What couldn’t she trust him with and how could he pursue it without damaging their fragile relationship farther?

Syl, you’ve got some ‘splaining to do, but how’s poor Row going to coax it out of her now? While they work on that, let your eyes dine on this first book in my “House of Terriot” foursome.


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | AllRomance Books | Goodreads
The hunter becomes the prey, a prisoner to his own desire . . .

Turow . . .

Strong, silent man of integrity content to serve his new king as a prince in the turbulent shape-shifter House of Terriot. A tracker and relentless hunter, he’s used to running trails alone until charged with returning a traitor to their mountain top home to face the unforgiving judgment of their clan. On the run with the bad girl he’s loved forever, the choice between duty and desire has never been more difficult . . . or deadly.

Could the bargain made to save their lives become reality?

Sylvia . . .

Manipulative schemer or victim caught between a mother’s ambition and a rogue prince’s lust for power? Trust is almost as foreign as the idea of love, but to save herself from certain death, she must risk both on the good man who deserves them . . . from someone worthy. Trapped by the only one who believes in her goodness, will she betray him and run for her life . . . or stay and destroy him with a long hidden truth?

Deadly, Damaged, and Delicious! Brothers too H.o.T. to Handle!
Reviews (those things we both dread and anticipate!) are starting to come in from Amazon and Goodreads. “Fives” across the board. Whew.

"Intriguing, sexy, sizzling chemistry. A must-read!"

"A prince. A traitor. A blood feud. An edge of your seat, rollercoaster."

“The fast-paced action and emotional banquet is a paranormal romance lover’s feast you won’t be leaving until you finish dessert!”

“Excellent book! Fell in love with the storyline. The author did not disappoint.”

Diving into promotional stuff, including a H.o.T. book trailer that I’ll be premiering next weekend, but still barreling toward the end of PRINCE OF POWER , book 2. Lot’s to be thankful for this month . . . How ‘bout you?


Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

IWSG: It’s All About Getting Down and Dirty

Our monthly IWSG topic concerns our favorite aspect of being a writer. The glamour? The pay? The hours? Working in yoga pants (Okay, that one I do love!). Getting up at 4:30 a.m. while normal people are still sleeping? There are tons of things I like about writing, but the one I love is simple . . . the writing.

I love telling a story. I get so excited as the plot unfolds, I can hardly type fast enough to contain it. I love listening to the banter my characters have while I’m driving to work. I love the scenes that play out behind my eyeballs while I’m trying to sleep at night. I love the urgency that hurries me to my home office after a long day at my work office so the images and words can be captured on my hard drive before they escape me.

I love writing.

The rest is gravy.

I’d write if my words were never read by another soul (and many of them never will be!). I write without a deadline to push me or the promise of a royalty check. I write because a well-crafted phrase can be so dang sexy!

I write because I’m a writer. Period.

The rest is just business. The writing is personal.

Now, on to business. What follows the simple joy of building a book is the task of launching it. Hello World! My latest has just hit e-reader screens and will be out in trade paper soon. Here’s what I’ve been doing – on the floor in front of the TV, on Post-It notes in the car, in quickie segments during my lunch hour . . . PRINCE OF HONOR , first book in my new “By Moonlight” spinoff shapeshifter series. Welcome to the “House of Terriot.”


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | AllRomance Books | Goodreads
The hunter becomes the prey, a prisoner to his own desire . . .

Turow . . .

Strong, silent man of integrity content to serve his new king as a prince in the turbulent shape-shifter House of Terriot. A tracker and relentless hunter, he’s used to running trails alone until charged with returning a traitor to their mountain top home to face the unforgiving judgment of their clan. On the run with the bad girl he’s loved forever, the choice between duty and desire has never been more difficult . . . or deadly.

Could the bargain made to save their lives become reality?

Sylvia . . .

Manipulative schemer or victim caught between a mother’s ambition and a rogue prince’s lust for power? Trust is almost as foreign as the idea of love, but to save herself from certain death, she must risk both on the good man who deserves them . . . from someone worthy. Trapped by the only one who believes in her goodness, will she betray him and run for her life . . . or stay and destroy him with a long hidden truth?

Deadly, Damaged, and Delicious! Brothers too H.o.T. to Handle!
While I finish the leftover Halloween candy hoping the sugar will rush see me through the last few chapters of PRINCE OF POWER , Book 2, I’ll be interested in seeing what you consider the best part of this crazy thing we do.


The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Twitter hashtag is #IWSG 

IWSG awesome co-hosts for the November 2nd posting will be Joylene Nowell Butler, Jen Chandler, Mary Aalgaard, Lisa Buie Collard, Tamara Narayan, Tyrean Martinson, and Christine Rains!

WeWriWa: It’s Here! Finally!

After much angsting, trial and error, and sleeplessness, PRINCE OF HONOR is a tasty treat now ready for consumption! Still working on the trade paperback, but the first book in my “House of Terriot” series is up in all e-formats! Here’s one last peek . . .

Waking to sunlight slanting across his face and the crawly feel of someone staring at him, Turow quickly straightened, nearly falling off his chair to the cool amusement of the female eyeballing him from the edge of the bed.

She wore the same crumpled clothing from the day before, her glorious hair bound loosely back, her face scrubbed clean of any make-up, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe, until he caught the undercurrent of her temper.

“Is it your plan to starve me into submission? I haven’t had so much as a sip of water since yesterday afternoon except out of the bathroom faucet, but I’m sure the thought of me safely tucked away under lock and key never crossed your mind while kowtowing to our king. You at least owed me the courtesy of letting me know he didn’t have you murdered!”

She’d been worried about him? 

Before a silly smile could escape, she skewered him with her glare, demanding, “Am I a prisoner in this room?”

He considered it then said, “For a while it would be best for you to only go out with me.”

“And what part of that doesn’t say prisoner . . . or am I in danger?”

“Did you think you wouldn’t be?”

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | AllRomance Books | Goodreads
The hunter becomes the prey, a prisoner to his own desire . . .

Turow . . .

Strong, silent man of integrity content to serve his new king as a prince in the turbulent shape-shifter House of Terriot. A tracker and relentless hunter, he’s used to running trails alone until charged with returning a traitor to their mountain top home to face the unforgiving judgment of their clan. On the run with the bad girl he’s loved forever, the choice between duty and desire has never been more difficult . . . or deadly.

Could the bargain made to save their lives become reality?

Sylvia . . .

Manipulative schemer or victim caught between a mother’s ambition and a rogue prince’s lust for power? Trust is almost as foreign as the idea of love, but to save herself from certain death, she must risk both on the good man who deserves them . . . from someone worthy. Trapped by the only one who believes in her goodness, will she betray him and run for her life . . . or stay and destroy him with a long hidden truth?

Deadly, Damaged, and Delicious! Brothers too H.o.T. to Handle!
Ahhhh! Sounds like mated bliss to me! I’ll give them their privacy while I move on to the ending of the next book in the series. Here’s what’s in store . . .



Sorry I missed you all last week. My post was up, but I didn’t get added to the linky list in time. Scroll down to check it out. Unfortunately, the only contemporary book deal that’s still available is for my first one, FOR MERCY’S SAKE which is still on SALE at just $1.99.



For an extra TREAT, All Romance E-Books is offering a 50% rebate off my titles on the 30th and 31st! Buy the book, get something SWEET back!

I’m off to enjoy some happy haunting at a Zoo Boo with the grandguy. Wishing you a Spooktacular Halloween!



Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

WeWriWa: Tick, Tock. Counting Down to Tomorrow’s Release Day!

There’s something about running against the clock that fuels all the senses, making things crisp, clear, and alive on an adrenaline high. There’s only so much time to pack everything in before the window of opportunity is gone. That’s where I am, frantically putting all the final pieces in place before PRINCE OF HONOR goes live tomorrow. That’s where my heroine is in today’s excerpt as she spends one last night with what could have been.

Turow Terriot, who would have thought? 

For now, she happily held that secret close. For the moment, he was hers to hold and enjoy like there was no tomorrow, because for her there probably wouldn’t be. 

She’d let him rest and recover, but not for long, too aware of the clock ever ticking. She’d cushion his heavy form for now, then demand as much as she could from it throughout the hours of the night. She’d let him fill body and mind with delirious pleasures, selfishly taking everything he could give, because his strength and confidence fueled hers, and she’d need every ounce of it to get through what was to come, leaving him behind, again, as her restless life’s ambitions drove her to greet her fate without a whimper. 

She felt him stir, gradually, inexorably, forcing her from grim thoughts to heady anticipations. She accepted and returned his kiss, his touch, his hurried demands, becoming aggressive challenger and responsive lover beneath his increasingly urgent claim. Lost to what once could have been, but would never be. Except for this night.

Would I trade places with my heroine, leaving her to deal with my last minute details while I enjoyed her farewell tour? Let me think . . .

. . . Still thinking. Hmmm, that’s a tough one.

While I follow that lost train of thought, here’s another look at PRINCE OF HONOR before this first book in the House of Terriot series goes live.

Amazon
The hunter becomes the prey, a prisoner to his own desire . . .

Turow . . .

Strong, silent man of integrity content to serve his new king as a prince in the turbulent shape-shifter House of Terriot. A tracker and relentless hunter, he’s used to running trails alone until charged with returning a traitor to their mountain top home to face the unforgiving judgment of their clan. On the run with the bad girl he’s loved forever, the choice between duty and desire has never been more difficult . . . or deadly.

Could the bargain made to save their lives become reality?

Sylvia . . .

Manipulative schemer or victim caught between a mother’s ambition and a rogue prince’s lust for power? Trust is almost as foreign as the idea of love, but to save herself from certain death, she must risk both on the good man who deserves them . . . from someone worthy. Trapped by the only one who believes in her goodness, will she betray him and run for her life . . . or stay and destroy him with a long hidden truth?

Deadly, Damaged, and Delicious! Brothers too H.o.T. to Handle!
And if this wasn’t sweet enough, here are some other goodies just in time for Halloween. All my Harlequin romantic suspense titles are on SALE through 10/25 for only $1.99!! Take a look . . .
AmazonBarnes & Noble
     

     

I’m off to see what everyone else in our group is doing before doubling down on the last few promo tweaks and final pages of Book 2, PRINCE OF POWER . Happy Reading!

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

The Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween Hop

Ahhhh! My favorite time of year, when the air chills and the leaves fall and thoughts turn to things that go bump in the night. I LOVE Halloween - everything about it from decorating my home to my 9-to5 office . . .

     
. . . and all things candy corn and pumpkin spice to spooky costumes and HGTV specials. But my huge favorite is the resurrection of my favorite viewing fare- monsters! Too much of a sissy to enjoy horror films (not by choice, anyway), I do love me some werewolf, vampire and zombie action from old school "The Mummy"-type movies to anticipating the new seasons of Supernatural and The Walking Dead. Any wonder why my next week's new release involves a shape-shifter spin-off series?!
And I adore Trick-or-Treating (on either side of the candy bowl). So I was thrilled to participate again this year in ghoulish goodies giveaway (cue screams and ReeReeRee music!) The Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween Hop! Peruse the offerings below then up your chances of getting goodies by entering below.

In the spirit of Halloween, stop back next week for Treats galore as I unveil my newest dark paranormal release, PRINCE OF HONOR, and other yummies from the "House of Terriot" series which spins-off from my "By Moonlight" books. Here's a little non-caloric eye candy to help you remember the date . . . October 24th!

Now . . . on to The Attack . . .

It's that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the air is getting cooler and the nights are getting spookier. Yes, it's time for tricks and treats, goblins and ghouls, chills and thrills and huge amounts of sugary sweets. But at the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog it's also time for the 5th annual Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween Giveaway. Join Laughing Vixen Lounge and our bewitching co-hosts The Kids Did It, The Mommy Island, Herding Cats and Burning Soup, The Hopping Bloggers, Mama Smith's Reviews and Women and Their Pretties for a spooktacular Halloween event.


Enter to win a $250 Prize Pack filled with goodies from 10 wickedly fabulous shops. All shops are offering Gift Cards or your choice of item(s) so there will be something for everyone. Many of the shops have items perfect for any book lover along with lots of unique, handcrafted and custom designs to choose from.


Visit the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog daily during the giveaway for the Halloween Movie Marathon. Test your movie knowledge with the Guess the Movie Game. Then try to solve the Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt, if you dare! Each event will get you daily entries in the giveaway plus a special giveaway for the Scavenger Hunt. Find full details for these events HERE.


You can start by entering the Rafflecopter widget below. To experience all the games, movies, shop features, giveaway info and all around awesome fun make sure to stop by the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog HERE. 


The giveaway runs October 18th - November 1st and is open worldwide to anyone 18+. 1 winner will win the Prize Pack and 1 winner will win the Scavenger Hunt Prize Pack. Laughing Vixen Lounge is responsible for all giveaway details. Click HERE for full details.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WeWriWa: Ready, Set, Almost Ready to Go Live

Though I was hoping for a book launch tomorrow . . . it looks like the date will be October 24. Had no time to get any kind of promotion put in place, but refuse to delay with a push back into another month. Soooo, it looks like PRINCE OF HONOR is visiting in excerpt form only. Here’s a new tease to tempt you.

Could the bargain made to save their lives become reality?

Turow . . .

Strong, silent man of integrity content to serve his new king as a prince in the turbulent shape-shifter House of Terriot. A tracker and relentless hunter, he’s used to running trails alone until charged with returning a traitor to their mountain top home to face the unforgiving judgment of their clan. Isolated with the bad girl he’s loved forever, the choice between duty and desire has never been more difficult . . . or deadly.

Sylvia . . .

Manipulative schemer or victim caught between a mother’s ambition and a rogue prince’s lust for power? Trust is almost as foreign as the idea of love, but to save herself from certain death, she must risk both on the good man who deserves them . . . from someone worthy. Trapped by the only one who believes in her goodness, she must betray him and run for her life . . . or stay and destroy him with a long hidden truth.

Deadly, Damaged, and Delicious!
House of Terriot
Brothers too H.o.T. to Handle!

They stood toe to toe, studying one another in the rare, defenseless moment. Turow touched fingertips to her jaw, stroking gently before leaning down to lightly claim her chilled lips. They warmed quickly under such tender attention, his movements slow and infinitely gentle. 

“Forgive me for earlier,” he murmured softly. 

She was about to ask for what when he straightened and that look seeped back into his eyes. That quiet, intense feeling that curled about her soul, stirring up feelings inside her that thrilled and terrified her. 

No. 

No! 

She refused to let it be love.

Thanks for humoring me last week. I need to apologize for using this forum to vet my back cover blurb instead of posting an excerpt, which is the focus of our blog. Weary brain and lack of time prevented me from realizing it was inappropriate until too late. I did get some great feedback, and I appreciate your tolerance.

A week from finishing PRINCE OF POWER , it just dawned that I’m about to start the whole process all over again . . . And I’ve been scraping ice off my car windows all week before leaving for work! The circle of writing life. Sometimes you just want to sleep in until spring.

Happy Autumn everyone and Happy Paragraphs!  


Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

20 Questions with Amy Braun: Your New (or Existing) Favorite Author!

I'm thrilled to have Amy Braun as my guest, to grill her with my 20 Questions and also to participate in the ongoing Blog Tour for her new release AMBER SKY . I'm no stranger to AMBER SKY . She had me at the cover! I've been devouring it by 8-10 line excerpts for months as part of the Weekend Writing Warriors Sunday snippets blog, and am so excited to finally get my hands on all of it! While you get to know Amy, I'll be busy reading . . .


Getting to Know You :

1. Party dress or blue jeans?

Blue jeans. As all my friends and family will confirm, getting me into a dress is a legitimate struggle.

2. Night owl or early bird?

Early bird. I’m very routine and schedule oriented, so once I settle into everything I need to do in the morning, I usually get into a writing mood that will carry me for another ten hours, if I’m having a good writing day.

3. Five words your friends use to describe you . . .

Loyal, funny, nerdy, loud, honest.

4. Five words you use to describe yourself . . .

Productive, diligent, creative, responsible, nerdy.

5. Things that make you want to go “EEEEEEK!”

Spiders, bugs, sharks, and heights. Terrified of all of those!

6. If I had a free afternoon, I’d ______

Read all day.

7. Favorite books from childhood . . .

I loved the R. L. Stein Choose Your Own Adventure Books. Even though I always met a horrible end, they were so much fun to read and interact with.

The Written Word :

8. What type of fiction heroine would you be? Jane Eyre or Lara Croft?

Hmm, this is hard. There are so many heroines I admire and that I would want to be, but I’m not sure I would react the same way they do. Let’s go with… Megan from Julie Kagawa’s IRON FAE books. She’s a great character with a lot of heart but who’s also shoved into a world she’s just starting to get familiar with, which is how I feel about writing and publishing some days. I’m still learning so much, and looking forward to learning more!

9. Favorite genre to read?

My go to genre is urban fantasy, which is my favourite to write, but lately I’ve been reading a lot of Young Adult fantasy, which is just as spectacular as regular fantasy. I also love high fantasy, dystopia, and horror, which I always find myself lurking towards in a book shop.

10. What would you love to write that you haven’t?

Right now, I haven’t written sci-fi or cyberpunk, but those are two genres I actually have plans to write in a few years.

11. Fiction hero you would run off with . . .
Hmm… It would be three way tie between Owen Grayson from Jennifer Estep’s ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN series, Rowan from the THRONE OF GLASS series, or Rhys from the A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES books. They all powerful men and fierce warriors who would do anything for the women they love, and I couldn’t think of better companions.
12. What are you reading right now?

I’m reading EMPIRE OF STORMS by Sarah J. Maas, my new favourite author. Her writing is stellar, and I can’t remember the last time an author has captured my attention so completely.

13. Paperback or e-book?

Both. The last couple years I’ve been reading ebooks to save space and money, but now that I’m a published author with printed books, I want the feel of them in my hands. I love the feel and smell of paper, and a full bookshelf is a beautiful thing. That said, I do still have an ereader that I use. A lot of great books are ebook exclusive, and I won’t deny myself a great story just because I prefer paper to digital.

A Writer’s Life :

14. OCD plotter or free range pantser?

When it comes to planning, I’m an OCD plotter who needs every detail, but when I’m writing, I’m a panster. I find a lot of ideas come out when I just type and see what flows. I’ve built a lot of storylines just writing the first random thing that comes into my head. Though this usually means a truckload of editing later.

15. Which is easier, the synopsis or the book?

For me, it’s the book. The synopsis has to be condensed and I can never tell if I’m leaving out something interesting or crucial. It’s something I’m hoping to get better at as I learn.

16. Do you have a set writing schedule?

Yes. One of the things I learned early on is that to avoid panic, it’s important to plan things months in advance. That gives you time to think of other ways to promote yourself as an author and writer, and to be considerate of bloggers and reviewers you might reach out to.

17. First publishing rejection (and getting back on that horse) . . .

Before I started my career, I read the variations between traditional and self-publishing. What I read was that with traditional, you get a lot of rejections. It’s the way of the industry. So when I started getting them, I wasn’t totally shocked. It sucked, getting one email after the next saying “We don’t think this is right for our agency,” or “It just didn’t hold my interest,” and more, but no rejection I’ve gotten has been rude or cruel. Accepting that my book will be rejected eases the sting, because let’s face it–– agents and publishers rejected J.K. Rowling, who is now one of the most famous authors in the world. She didn’t give up, so what excuse do I have?

18. Biggest hurdle to getting words on the page and how you overcome it . . .

On busy days, I become overwhelmed with so many other projects and tasks that by the time I get to writing new words, I don’t feel as motivated as I used to, or the words aren’t as strong given how distracted I became earlier. That won’t stop me from writing, but I often won’t like what I put on the page. It will feel like a slog and I won’t be happy with it. But I know that the most important thing to writing a story is to make the journey to completing it. It doesn’t have to be pretty, it only has to be finished.

19. What’s on your desk?

My desk is organized chaos. I have souvenirs from Greece, a couple books, a candle (away from the books), my purse, and some plants. But I also have my writing tools: My laptop, hand-drawn maps for and notes for my various locations and settings, and a printed critique email that has helped me improve daily.

20. When can we get your next book and what’s it all about?

At the moment, I have a brand new release called AMBER SKY. It’s a prequel to my YA steampunk horror trilogy and centers on a side character named Nash, telling the story of how he met his captain. It’s free for all newsletter subscribers and can be read outside of the main series. In December, I’ll be releasing another novella in the same series called SMOKE SKY, told from another side character’s perspective. I had a lot of fun writing these two novellas and am excited to share them. 


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Press-ganged into servitude by a ruthless band of marauders who survived the devastating Storm, Nash has grown tired of his career– the young, undefeated champion of the Stray Dog fighting pits. All he longs for is a place to live where his family is not his enemy.

When his captain gives him an assignment to embed him deeper into the crew, Nash attempts to refuse, until the life of his friend is threatened. Determined to save her, Nash embarks on the mission to subjugate and control a supplier. But the supplier has other clients, one of which could be the son of the most feared pirate captain in all of Westraven.

And if Nash plays his cards right, the key to his deeply desired freedom, if he can live with the consequences of his choice…

Set two years before the events of CRIMSON SKY, this prequel novella tells the story of how Nash and Sawyer crossed paths– and fists. While best enjoyed before reading CRIMSON SKY, this bonus story can be read at any time or enjoyed as a standalone.

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Amy is a Canadian urban fantasy and horror author. Her work revolves around monsters, magic, mythology, and mayhem. She started writing in her early teens, and never stopped. She loves building unique worlds filled with fun characters and intense action. She is the recipient of April Moon Books Editor Award for “author voice, world-building and general bad-assery,” and the One Book Two Standout Award in 2015 for her Cursed trilogy. She has been featured on various author blogs and publishing websites, and is an active member of the Writing GIAM and Weekend Writing Warrior communities. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, watching movies, taking photos, gaming, and struggling with chocoholism and ice cream addiction. 
Her short stories published by independent houses like Mocha Memoirs Press and April Moon Books, and she has independently published a collection of standalone and series novels including Storm Born, Path of the Horseman, and the Cursed and Dark Sky series. Many of her short stories have been featured in anthologies such as Amok!, Avast, Ye Airships!, and That Hoodoo, Voodoo, That You Do, and Stomping Grounds.


More from Amy:

I’m a huge fan of novellas that take place in between or before the events of full length novels. I like reading new perspectives from characters who are fan favorites, but not necessarily key to the story or the plot. I love the Dark Sky world and wanted to tell more about it, but I didn’t want to write a story between Midnight Sky and the final Dark Sky novel, scheduled for February 2017. After the finale of Midnight Sky , I knew I couldn’t just leave readers hanging, so I decided to tell the stories of two side characters– Nash and Gemma.

In Midnight Sky , there are events that hint at Nash’s past. The more I wrote it, the more interested I became. It’s one of my favorite scenes in the full length novel, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to tell more of it in Amber Sky , the prequel novella. I worked on a simple, straightforward plot that was true to Nash’s character and expanded on his time with the ruthless Stray Dog Clan, steadily bringing Sawyer into the picture.

I have to say, that was my favorite part of writing this novella. Nash and Sawyer have a pretty easygoing relationship (as long as Sawyer isn’t feeling moody), but their banter always made me smile. Their friendship is unexpected for both of them, and forms out of a truly dark place.

As happy as I was to complete Amber Sky , there were of course steps to take to ensure it’s publication. The story was too short to send to print, so I chose to offer it as an ebook only. I like this exclusive, because it gives me a chance to offer something free to my newsletter subscribers. I had the manuscript edited by a Beta reader, who had great insights, and an editor who’s helped me with the Dark Sky series before.

After that came the absolutely stellar cover. Deranged Doctor Design always does amazing work, but this truly blew my mind. I was so happy with the end result that I approved the first draft. No nitpicking for this one!

The biggest challenge then came with promotion. I’m still learning the tricks of the independent publishing world, and tried my hand at creating my promotion without the use of a blog tour service. I’ll likely return to that for the final Dark Sky novel, but I wanted to try my own hand at it. I’m pretty impressed with the final result, and have nothing but gratitude for the reviewers and bloggers who have been kind enough to host me. Offering a free short story for newsletter subscribers is great, but I couldn’t have done this at all without the people I’ve listed above.

Writing Amber Sky has been a fun little challenge that I’m grateful I undertook. I feel it added to the experience and depth of the Dark Sky novels, and can’t wait for other readers to enjoy this new perspective. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~What are you waiting for? Get your copy of AMBER SKY! I know you'll love it as much as I do!

WeWriWa: Reveal Time for PRINCE OF HONOR!

Squeeee! I just love cover reveals! Take a gander at this slice of hotness off the graphics screen of my cover artist Patricia Lazarus. How cool is that logo!! She makes my ideas so scrumptious.

For today’s 8-10 lines, I’m presenting my back cover blurb (I spend more time working on these than ANY paragraph in the book!). Having posted bits and pieces for months, does this fulfill expectations?

Could the bargain they made to save their lives become their reality?

Turow . . .

Strong, silent man of integrity content to serve his new king as a prince in the turbulent shape-shifter House of Terriot. A tracker and relentless hunter, he’s used to running trails alone until charged with returning a traitor to their mountain top home to face the unforgiving judgment of their clan. Isolated with the bad girl he’s loved forever, the choice between duty and desire has never been more difficult . . . or deadly.

Sylvia . . .

Manipulative schemer or victim caught between a mother’s ambition and a rogue prince’s lust for power? Trust is almost as foreign as the idea of love, but to save herself from certain death, she must risk both on the good man who deserves them . . . from someone worthy. Trapped by the only one who believes in her goodness, she must betray him and run for her life . . . or stay and destroy him with a long hidden truth.

Cover, blurb, and content are now in the hands of my trusty Virtual Assistant, and I’m hoping for a Monday, October 18 release in e-format. Fingers (and eyes) crossed! Now, I’ll be scrambling to get the PR train out of the station, so if any of you are willing to let me stop in for a post or an excerpt, let me know.

MIDNIGHT CRUSADER , the last book in my Touched by Midnight series was finally released in repackaged form. Knights on a quest, a damsel in distress, Las Vegas glitz, and vampires . . . How can you go wrong!

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“ . . . another enthralling and soul-stirring vampire romance.”—BookReview.com

A love without end . . .

Having given up his mortal life to search for his lost love through the centuries, vampire Gabriel McGraw begins his final crusade to free her from an enemy’s grip against the glittery backdrop of Las Vegas. But is she the same woman he loved and lost or an equally dangerous foe who could betray all that he believes in?

Naomi Bright’s memories go back no farther than her arrival in Sin City. Does her hidden past conceal madness or a truth too terrible to be believed? Compulsion draws her toward a medieval fantasy world, and obsession to a man she instinctively knows but can’t remember.

Will finding the answers release her from her prison of fear? Or will it ensure that she loses everything - her life, her love . . . her soul?

Happy Writing and Happy Fall! I’m looking forward to the cooler temps to encourage my productive frenzy.

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.