Nancy Gideon's Blog, page 5

WeWriWa – Build on What You Know . . . AND Love!!

If you’ve already read my Paranormal Romantics post (which also debuted today!), you’ll know I’m earlobe deep in unpublished books. Whether they were submitted and turned down by a publisher for any number of reasons (or sometimes no reason!), never submitted due to end of a series or change in direction in the publishing industry, or the publishing house closed, I’ve got a wealth of queries, proposals and completes that have been hiding under my desk or on my hard drive going back to the ‘80s (yes, I’m a proud ‘80s lady!). Instead of continuing to submit, I chose to jump to a new project (now totaling around 80 published titles for this ‘80s gal. And NO, I am not 80-years of age!). But lately I’ve been thinking about that bird in the hand – not because I have no new ideas, but I hate to waste a story that might be just what some reader is looking for. What’s an author to do?
Not give up!
As far as finished manuscripts related to previous series, I have three PNRs, one historical, and one romantic suspense. As far as new series, I’ve got three PNRs, eight(!) contemporary, and four YA projects. I know I can self-pub them, and will do so with some, but if I can get someone else to do the leg work (AND get some cash upfront!), why not try that first? Or should I try something brand new, like this contemporary PNR I called SMOKE AND MIRRORS. Here’s a taste:

 The Excerpt 

Jasper Wilde was D.O.A.

The driver of a Grand Canyon tour bus had discovered his overturned car in the desert at daybreak. He’d been alive then, with just a whisper of a pulse and amazingly, still conscious after spending a long, cold night pinned under the wreckage of his convertible. It took the EMTs and a towing crew twenty-five minutes to separate his broken body from the twisted steel, and through it all, his eyes had been open, frantically pleading with them to save him. For a while, they thought maybe they could.

They lost him twice on the way in, his heart seizing up like a worn-out engine run dry within the crushed cage of his chest, but each time they managed to coax back a fragile beat. They got his name off the Ohio driver’s license in his blood-soaked jacket, where it was tucked in with a rubber-banded roll of cash that counted out to forty-two thousand seven hundred fifty-three dollars. And they had to wonder if that wad of money was what had him leaving Las Vegas in such a hurry in the middle of the night.

(and a bit more . . .)

Despite efforts that were heroic but ultimately futile, Jasper Wilde flat-lined four blocks from the hospital. They did what they could but there was no flicker of life to call back for that third charmed time. He was pronounced at 6:37 a.m.  Lights and siren stilled just like that heartbeat, and it was all over but the paperwork by the time they pulled up at the ER.

So, imagine their surprise when Jasper Wilde’s eyes opened, and that ruined chest expanded with a sudden robust breath.

I was stunned when my publisher passed on my editor’s interest in this book. I’d been SO excited to work on it, buuuuut go figure.
What do you think? Would you read more?
Well, I know I want to read more of what you’ve been working on!

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.
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WeWriWa: A Series of Fortunate Events . . . Backlist Bonanza!

I’ve been organizing my office closet. Ordinarily onerous, this chore has become one of surprising encouragement at this point in my career. It’s kicked my flagging imagination back into gear . . . with possibilities. Besides taking up an incredible amount of space, the 80-plus titles housed there in longhand, manuscript and paperback form have opened a portal from past to future. I’ve got a goldmine in backlist titles just waiting to be reissued! Sounds like a jackpot where I’d just have to sit back and rake in the dough. Ummmm, not quite. Backlist comes with its own back pain, mainly digging out the original contracts to read ALL of the fine print regarding reversion of rights. Now, I’m glad I’m such a hoarder. Then again, in many cases we’re talking from 10-15 years ago! Time to go treasure hunting in my desk cupboards and file drawers . . .
In the meantime, I’ve been reading some of those older titles and am surprised(!) by how quickly I’m pulled into the story as if for the first time . . . by any other name, as I wrote under three pseudonyms as well as my own name. It’s only fitting that I begin with where I started . . . Regency romance as Lauren Giddings in 1987 with my first book, SWEET TEMPEST. Here’s a taste:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo BooksPublished: July 12, 2015Length: 262 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
A crafty scheme that doesn't exactly go as planned . . .
A Thief of hearts . . .A female of Tempest Swift's brains and beauty should be fending off suitors, not hiding in the shadows boldly robbing coaches. But lean times leave her with a family to provide for . . . until shot from her horse while making her escape. Waking as the pampered prisoner of a sinfully handsome gentleman has her pulse pounding for all the wrong reasons. His suggestion she be his mistress is shocking enough, but he has more on his clever mind . . .
A Desperate noble . . .Cut from a longed for inheritance due to hell-bent living, a foiled robbery provides Connor Amberson with an daring solution, passing off a ragamuffin thief as his long-lost cousin to win back his grandfather's favor. But producing the supposed sole survivor of a tragic accident stirs dangerous troubles, both from those hungry to inherit and within Connor's jaded heart, as his true reward becomes something he never expected . . . until about to lose it. The Excerpt 

The carriage had been a fancy one, pulled by a sleek pair. In the blackness, Eddie's teeth flashed white in a hopeful smile before masked by a rough cotton square. She’d known his thoughts: Let it be a rich take.

The fine garb of the coach's passengers seemed to bear that out, and her heart had begun an excited race as a wealth of coin was offered up. So much, she’d almost moaned gratefully. It would go far toward meeting the dangerous debt.

 She’d made a silent pact with her conscience never to look upon the faces of those she robbed, to concentrate instead on the goods that weighed down the sack. This night, she’d glanced up unwittingly and had known the folly of it as her pulse gave an odd jump at the cool stare bearing down into her own. It had been too dark to discern more than a shadowy outline, but an odd play of light from the coach's lanterns had glinted off that piercing stare like sunlight on cold, bared steel. Shivering uncontrollably, she’d run back to where Eddie nervously waited.

As their ancient nag bore them away with its bone-rattling gait, she’d caught another silvery flash. Then the world exploded into vivid spots of color, flaring to engulf her senses. Then only blackness. 

A reprint with another publisher has this oldie but goody title still available to whisk the reader away on a spirited jaunt from a roadside robbery to an elegant Regency household and rough-and-tumble London backstreets as the heart races to find and hold onto what it really wants.
Until next week . . . Happy writing!

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.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...

WeWriWa: Just a Taste . . . MIDNIGHT KISS on S*A*L*E through Aug. 15 – Just $0.99!

Just a taste is all it takes . . . at least in this tale of otherworldly love as liberal-thinking Arabella Howland, daughter of a renown London physician in Regency London, is strangely fascinated by her father’s late-night patient. Sinfully handsome and tragically afflicted by a strange blood malady, Louis Radman is a dangerous temptation to her untested passions . . . and to her very soul, if her father’s warnings can be believed. Sometimes, it takes seeing . . . and feeling to believe. Here’s a nibble . . .Midnight Kiss (Touched by Midnight - Book 1)Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: July 12, 2015Length: 262 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.
A DARK CURSE Miss Arabella Howland is content to forgo the London marriage mill to assist her father in his research, especially when it comes to his intriguing patient, Louis Radman. But it's not long before Bella's curiosity alerts her to the danger of her father's work . . . and to the fact that Louis is not who or what he seems.
A BRIGHT PROMISE After centuries struggling with his vile existence, Louis Radman will soon be free of his affliction, thanks to his very capable physician. Unfortunately, his heart is less secure around the man's tempting daughter. His yearning to walk in the light once more is complicated by his desire for the delightful Bella, who is as intelligent as she is fearless. But if history has taught him anything, it's not to tempt fate.
AN UNFORGIVING PAST Still, happiness has a price and Louis is soon reminded that mortality comes with unfortunate limitations. To protect his new bride, he must face the demons from his past who wish to pull him back into their vampiric fold.
Yet, if he's forced to return to his midnight world, will he lose his beloved Bella forever?
"Dark and compelling, Gideon's novel will appeal to those who enjoy the vampire novels of Anne Rice." --Library Journal
"A colorful and hauntingly beautiful tale of otherworldly love . . . destined to become a classic!"--Affaire de Coeur
"Incredible, spellbinding reading!" --Rendezvous The Excerpt 

“I’m reverting, aren’t I, Doctor?” 

Howland’s silence said it all. 

“No! So close. There must be something we can do. I can’t go back to what I was.” Louis lay limply, sucking in shallow breaths, trying not to give in to total despair as he moaned, “Where’s Bella?”

“I’m taking her home with me.”

Louis started to sit up but, lacking the strength, vowed, “I haven’t harmed her.”

“Haven’t yet, you mean. Until you are stabilized, it’s much too dangerous.”

“She will not leave me.”

“Then I’ll tell her what you are.”

“She still will not leave.”

Fearing that was true, Stuart sighed. “The serum seems to retard the degeneration process. I’ll keep you on steady doses . . . until we can find a donor and try another transfusion. Perhaps the effects are only temporary or some other agent in your body destroys healthy cells. We’re only guessing.” A pause. “When are you going to tell Arabella?”

Looking up at his father-in-law through red eyes, the vampire said softly, “When I have to.”

MIDNIGHT KISS was the book you just have to write. Once I started the first sentence (in long-hand sitting in a lawn chair in the backyard!), I was chapters deep before I even considered if there would be a market for it. At that time, in the early 1990s, there was just romance, historicals, and horror . . . until Zebra Books took a chance and signed me along with two other authors for their experimental paranormal line. And after that, I couldn’t write (or read!) PNR books fast enough . . . nine of them, in this series alone.
If you’re looking to try something . . . different . . . take a bite at Midnight.
Now, off to see what you’ve been up to, my WeWriWa pals . . .

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.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...

IWSG: Is It Real or Is It AI?

Our question for August 7th is one that’s on many readers’ (and writers’) minds: Do you use AI in your writing and if so how? Do you use it for your posts? Incorporate it into your stories? Use it for research? Audio?

Is what they’re reading created by a REAL author or by Artificial Intelligence? I define REAL as living, breathing, independently thinking human writer making (or trying to) a living from the stories in their own heads with hands on keys or voice in mic. The ideas, the words, the characters, the dialog, the situations, the HEART of the story is REAL author work NOT the product of a question asked of a writing program to create a scenario from a series of prompts. This is NOT to be confused with proofing programs that search out typos or poor sentence structuring. That’s corrective editing, not creative work. I, for one, could never ask AI to “create” from prompts because I’d always wonder if it came up with unique responses or the same dang paragraphs it piecemealed for a hundred other writers. The only way a writer can guarantee original work is to do the work (which, to me, is the BEST part of our job!) and then leave the “Clean up on paragraph five!” to artificial tidying.
As for research, research is research. You’re gathering facts/information upon which to hang your creative situations. I suppose that would include asking AI to provide examples of a particular point of view or plot device from other work. We do the same thing every time we read a book of fact or fiction. We’re filing away situational information to support or inspire our own. Perhaps as my creative imagination starts to fade in my geriatric years, I might ask AI to find me examples of a particular trope, not to utilize but to inspire my imagination. Imagination is NOT artificial. It’s the fuel for fiction.
Can’t wait to discover YOUR take on this cutting edge question!

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. The awesome co-hosts for the August 7th posting of the IWSG will be are Feather Stone, Kim Lajevardi, Diedre Knight, C. Lee McKenzie, and Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
 Click Here → 
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
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WeWriWa: Allow Me to Tempt You . . . with a S*A*L*E! MIDNIGHT TEMPTATION – Just $0.99!

I know this is getting posted late but better late than never when it comes to the final seven days of a great SALE . . . leading, next month, into another . . . in strangely reversed series order.
My MIDNIGHT vampire romance series was such an exciting project for me. Begun with the sale of MIDNIGHT KISS as the first in a series of three paranormal books (back when series were the extremely rare exception to the rule! Watch for MK’s SALE next month!) I just fell in love with its over-arcing hero, Louis Radman (by many other names!) who’d stalked through centuries due to a jealous curse from a witch. His greatest joy is his remarkable daughter, Nicole, a conception thought impossible between him and his human wife. That mixed heritage has Nicole walking the line between day and night, uncertain of who or what she is . . . until her search for the truth brings an exciting love along with shocking answers. Here’s a sample . . .
Midnight Temptation (Touched by Midnight - Book 2)Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: August 14, 2015Length: 256 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→ The Excerpt 

And then her gaze settled far back in the shadows, upon the figure of a man in stark silhouette. She saw him jerk as if with some shock of recognition, then he took one gliding step forward to the edge of lamplight.

Reflection played an eerie game upon his face, highlighting skin so fair it seemed translucent and hollows so sharp and deep they were like caverns; a face so startling, so unnaturally beautiful she came close to stumbling in her study. Beneath an arch of black brows, eyes of an icy, luminous blue entranced her. And even as she jerked her head away, she caught the impression of his smile; serene and sinister all at once.

Nicole had never seen the Devil, but on this night, she was sure he walked abroad. And she was just as certain that he followed safely back amongst the shadows. She could feel him, an essence so powerful, it frightened her. But the moment they crossed the bridge, the sensations faded, and she knew he was gone. But the fear lingered, lending a quickness to her heartbeats and an anxious panic to her mind.

And we thought puberty was difficult! Imagine finding out your parents had hidden THAT big a secret from you along with access to the world she longed to explore.

I confess, seeing a traveling production of Les Miz on stage was a huge incentive for the setting (though I don’t remember it as featuring vampires!). Dawn of the Revolution France created the prefect background for upheaval and confusion between classes . . . and, in this case, species. Grab up a copy on the cheap and cue up the soundtrack for Les Mis for an dangerously enjoyable escape.

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.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group

IWSG: Tools of the Trade

I LOVE things that make my life easier. Microwaves, packaged meals, the TV viewer . . . anything that I can depend upon to get the job done without a lot of fuss and supervision. But I’m also very set in my ways. As far as writing, I thought my excitement had peaked with the discovery of the electric typewriter and erasable bond paper! Silly me. Now, there’s no end to the “helpers” out there designed to make our author life simpler . . . or cumbersome and cluttered. Which leads me to our monthly question:
The IWSG July 3rd question: What are your favorite writing processing (e.g. Word, Scrivener, yWriter, Dabble), writing apps, software, and tools? Why do you recommend them? And which one is your all-time favorite that you cannot live without and use daily or at least whenever you write?
I don’t go for gimmicks or the app of the week. I like to find something I can trust to do the job I want it to do. And once I find it, I’ll use it until it goes the way of the dinosaur. Probably why I wrote my first dozen or so books long hand, typed them up, then took them to a copy store to make packets to go out in the mail to publishers/reviewers. (Yes, I’m that old!). I have a wonderful Virtual Assistant who now does many of the tasks that took up my creative time. She understands how I work and maneuvers around my OCD/ADD eccentricities. I have the luxury of leaving the formatting and many of the initial PR tasks in her capable hands, though I am an ogre about approving everything that goes out with my name on it.
The nitty gritty: I use Word and the basic helpful goodies that come with it to clean up my writing. I even tried the read aloud app but its verbal errors (not to mention its want to change things without letting you know!) distracted me from the actual editing. As with Scrivener, I know you can “train” programs but that takes up time I’d rather spend doing actual edits.
The other joy I take in my profession is doing my own PR graphics and creating covers with technical help from my VA. I LOVE doing promo – picking excerpts, finding stock photos, pulling quotes, using Canva or Deposit Photo to create visuals or lead-ins for blogs/articles (though searching through ‘bare male torso’ pix for hours at a time can dull the appreciation somewhat!) and I always have a folder dedicated to each book/series for continuity. Since I do self-pub as well as publishing house, there are different demands for each, but I always try to sneak in as much of my own input as possible.
I can’t wait to start fussing with MIDNIGHT TEMPTATION, from my 90’s vampire romance series reissue that’s on SALE for only $0.99 from July 16-31.
Can’t wait to find out how YOU handle these tasks.
Happy Summertime!!

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. The awesome co-hosts for the July 3rd posting of the IWSG will be are JS Pailly, Rebecca Douglass, Pat Garcia, Louise-Fundy Blue, and Natalie Aguirre!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
 Click Here → 
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group
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WeWriWa: Last Chance to Surrender to a Great Read . . . on S*A*L*E!

If you haven’t picked up your copy of MIDNIGHT SURRENDER for only $0.99, the clock is ticking down fast on this final day. In case you need one last push, consider this gentle shove . . .Midnight Surrender (Touched by Midnight - Book 3)Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: October 1, 2015Length: 236 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.
A Reckless Quest . . . A savage killer stalks the dark streets of turn-of-the-century New York. To keep her father’s newspaper afloat, publisher Cassie Alexander chases the story. But what she catches is a madman’s attention.
A Dark Deception . . . When her reclusive neighbor Louis Radcliffe rescues her from an attack, Cassie finds her vow of independence shaken by the strong attraction between them. It’s an attraction Louis denies, even as the invalid grandmother he cares for pushes to bring them together—for reasons that will break both their hearts.
An Inevitable Sacrifice . . . . Determined to hide his secrets from her, Louis soon becomes the cornerstone of Cassie’s investigation. He can’t allow her stubbornness to place her life—and his immortal soul—in danger. But as much as he tries to keep her safe in his arms, it soon becomes evident that Cassie’s become a target. And Louis has no choice but to find out if their love is strong enough to withstand the truth . . . .
“Gripping! Readers are pulled into a whirlwind while surrendering their souls!”— Gothic Journal
“Darkly sensual and suspenseful Midnight Surrender is nothing short of special! Lovers of vampire romances take notice!”—The Literary Times
“Gideon mesmerizes with this chilling tale. You’ll read it and read it again. Superb!”— Rendezvous The Excerpt 

Cassie regarded the group in her parlor, trying to shake off the odd sense of uneasiness.  Something was not . . . right about them.  Perhaps it was the way they moved, a weightless drifting that carried them about the room as noiselessly as shadows, or the hypnotic stillness that settled when they stopped. The four of them—Louis included—seemed out of place and time in her mother's cluttered decorating scheme, like restless fireflies brought into the house.  

Or was it the way they were all so aware of her, following her with unblinking gazes until a shiver of gooseflesh rose upon her arms.  It wasn't hostility or even curiosity she sensed, but something else, something basic and dark . . . something dangerous.

"Might I fix you some refreshment?" she asked, nervous in her role of hostess.

"What a generous offer," the youngest woman purred in a way that was both mocking and intimidating.

"Rica!" Marchand admonished softly, then he smiled at Cassie to assure, "You need not go to any trouble for us."

"Some tea might be nice," Louis interjected, “to cut the chill. If it's no bother."

"No, no bother," she insisted, eager to exit the room.

( . . . and  tempting taste more . . . )

"This mortal woman, who is she?" Frederica wanted to know.  What is she to you? was her unspoken question.

"As I said, she was a friend of Bella's who has offered me shelter for the time being."

"Voluntarily?"

"Rica, your manners!" Marchand scolded.  "Forgive her rudeness, Louis.  She has had too indulgent an upbringing."

"Does she know what we are, Father?"

"No, Nicole, and I would prefer she remain ignorant of it.  She is nothing, so there is no reason for her to know.”

But watching his expression, Nicole knew that protest to be entirely false.  She just wasn't sure what she thought of her father's interest in another woman . . . a mortal woman, so close to her mother's burial.  Before she could ask more questions, Marchand came up behind her to offer the support of his strong embrace.  He kissed her temple, but the censure was there in his unvoiced warning. Do not pry, cher.  And so she would not.  At least, not yet.

One of the things I adored about this series were the family dynamics – even within a family as . . . unusual as this one. If I hadn’t already brought the series to a satisfying close, I’d be tempted to revisit those shadowed streets. But wait . . . it will be back! With another sale in mid-July – taking a step back – way baaack to post-Revolution Paris with the prior book featuring Fredrica’s parents. Time to pull out my bootlegged copy of Les Miserables to get in the mood.
Happy Summer!!
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.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...

WeWriWa: Happy HOT Spring Weather . . . and Book SALE!

Sorry I’ve been MIA the last few weeks. Mostly, it’s been family stuff, but also a sad gathering of my writers’ group at a memorial for the husband of one of them whom we all adored. Though he struggled with Parkinson’s, he still wrote, performed and produced cool jazz CDs under WaldinoMusic and was the ultimate host. RIP Walter!
While I haven’t been whipping out new chapters on my Western WIP, I’ve been going through my backlist, especially the historical and paranormal series that I’ve gotten my rights back to, to get them ready to reissue – an exciting but exhausting process. Thank goodness for my VA who always makes me look good. Can’t wait to start playing with new covers! Still . . . I can’t ignore those titles that are popping up on sale so I’m hyping one of my favorites from my Touched by Midnight vampire series – MIDNIGHT SURRENDER – on SALE for only $0.99 through the end of the month. It’s a favorite because it features my continuing hero/anti-hero vampires Louis and Gerard in Turn-of-the-Century New York City, and a heroine who is in the newspaper business. Just the thing to get lost in while enjoying air conditioning! Here’s a tease ... featuring delicious villain, Gerardo Pasquale ...Midnight Surrender (Touched by Midnight - Book 3)Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: October 1, 2015Length: 236 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.
A Reckless Quest . . . A savage killer stalks the dark streets of turn-of-the-century New York. To keep her father’s newspaper afloat, publisher Cassie Alexander chases the story. But what she catches is a madman’s attention.
A Dark Deception . . . When her reclusive neighbor Louis Radcliffe rescues her from an attack, Cassie finds her vow of independence shaken by the strong attraction between them. It’s an attraction Louis denies, even as the invalid grandmother he cares for pushes to bring them together—for reasons that will break both their hearts.
An Inevitable Sacrifice . . . . Determined to hide his secrets from her, Louis soon becomes the cornerstone of Cassie’s investigation. He can’t allow her stubbornness to place her life—and his immortal soul—in danger. But as much as he tries to keep her safe in his arms, it soon becomes evident that Cassie’s become a target. And Louis has no choice but to find out if their love is strong enough to withstand the truth . . . .
“Gripping! Readers are pulled into a whirlwind while surrendering their souls!”— Gothic Journal
“Darkly sensual and suspenseful Midnight Surrender is nothing short of special! Lovers of vampire romances take notice!”—The Literary Times
“Gideon mesmerizes with this chilling tale. You’ll read it and read it again. Superb!”— Rendezvous The Excerpt 

“Buena sera, cara mia.”

With that familiar croon, he advanced into the room, graceful, sleek and deadly. Blackness surrendered him into the light by slow, almost reluctant degrees: A portion of one smooth, white cheek, the momentary dazzle of pale eyes, a twist of his bland smile, and then he was standing like a dark angel at the foot of her bed, Gerardo Pasquale, her husband’s once dear and unquestionably oldest friend . . . and without a doubt, one of the most unpredictably dangerous beings she’d ever encountered. One didn’t summon him without the feeling of having conjured a demon.

Louis had killed him in the early fifteen hundreds in a sword duel over a treacherous woman . . . only Gerardo hadn’t stayed buried. He hunted the world of the living, feeding off it with an amoral abandon at the side of the beautiful ghoul who had stolen both his and his young friend, Luigino Rodmini’s souls. He had no care for humankind and treated them with the indifferent contempt of one far superior, suffering from none of the guilt that tortured Louis. He killed with a careless pleasure, toying with his victims with the ruthlessness of a cat without a tug of remorse or a moment of regret. Nor did he harbor a sense of affinity for any other creature . . . with the exception of her, Louis, and their daughter, Nicole. Toward them, his heart could never completely harden, and though Arabella was rightly cautious, she had no real fear of her visitor.

After all, a demon was exactly what she needed.

Oooooh. I just got a chill (In this almost 90-degree heat, it felt darn good!).
The only problem with MIDNIGHT SURRENDER was reminding myself that Louis was the hero! I do LOVE a sleek and sexy (even if undead!) villain. Which is why Louis and Gerard are recurring characters in the series, with Gerard getting his own shot at being the (dark) star in a later title.
Happy Reading and Happy Summer!!
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.
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IWSG: Are You Being Served? What’s in it for Me?

With so many groups and services and platforms and fellow writers as well as jobs and families nibbling away at our creative time, we often forget that part of being a professional is remembering that we ARE one. Writing isn’t just our hobby or passion, it’s our job, and as such, we owe it to ourselves to pause and ask ourselves – What’s in it for me? What can I give back? And that brings up our June 5th question:  In this constantly evolving industry, what kind of offering/service do you think the IWSG should consider offering to members?
Our time has value. We often forget that because we love to give other writers a hand up (I know I do!) when they come to us for advice. And that is the essence of our Insecure Writers Support Group. We’re a fertile environment of experience, of successes and failures, fears and accomplishments. One couldn’t ask for a better database when it comes to our occupation. That’s why I joined IWSG shortly after it opened its doors. That’s why I participate in our monthly questions. There’s always something more to learn —often things we didn’t even know we needed to know! We come from vastly different backgrounds, across an expansive field of writing endeavors. Our talents are legendary (and NOT just in our own minds!). And our needs are both individual and collective.
So, what does IWSG offer us? A creative hive mind! With its varied monthly questions, it sparks soul-searching into our own needs while giving us an opportunity to boost our fellow professionals. Every month, it reminds us of who we are, what we love, and why we share with others. Often, it provides that kick in the creative pants to get us back to the keyboard along with that perfect sounding board from which we can draw encouragement, information, and most importantly, fellowship.
As for what I’ve been doing—I’m finishing up a western historical romance w/a Dana Ransom and am getting ready to pull up my promotional pants to hype a sale for one of my other aliases/genres – this one using my own name while sneaking about in historical turn-of-the-century paranormal shadows.
Midnight Surrender (Touched by Midnight - Book 3)Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: October 1, 2015Length: 236 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.
A Reckless Quest . . . A savage killer stalks the dark streets of turn-of-the-century New York. To keep her father’s newspaper afloat, publisher Cassie Alexander chases the story. But what she catches is a madman’s attention.
A Dark Deception . . . When her reclusive neighbor Louis Radcliffe rescues her from an attack, Cassie finds her vow of independence shaken by the strong attraction between them. It’s an attraction Louis denies, even as the invalid grandmother he cares for pushes to bring them together—for reasons that will break both their hearts.
An Inevitable Sacrifice . . . . Determined to hide his secrets from her, Louis soon becomes the cornerstone of Cassie’s investigation. He can’t allow her stubbornness to place her life—and his immortal soul—in danger. But as much as he tries to keep her safe in his arms, it soon becomes evident that Cassie’s become a target. And Louis has no choice but to find out if their love is strong enough to withstand the truth . . . .
“Gripping! Readers are pulled into a whirlwind while surrendering their souls!”— Gothic Journal
“Darkly sensual and suspenseful Midnight Surrender is nothing short of special! Lovers of vampire romances take notice!”—The Literary Times
“Gideon mesmerizes with this chilling tale. You’ll read it and read it again. Superb!”— Rendezvous
Hello. My name is Nancy (aka Dana and Rosalyn), and I’m an Insecure Writer/Avid Reader. Thank you for your support of both my work and my insatiable reading habit!

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. The awesome co-hosts for the June 5th posting of the IWSG will be are Liza at Middle Passages, Shannon Lawrence, Melissa Maygrove, and Olga Godim!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
 Click Here → 
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
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WeWriWa: As Luck Would Have It / Love’s Own Reward $0.99 S*A*L*E!

Talk about a busy holiday weekend – this one has it all going on! Both a Paranormal Romantics AND Weekend Writing Warrior post due (this one is doing double duty!!), a book sale to promote, our holiday snack feast to prepare AND time, amongst all those things, to get a year older! And no, I’m not giving any particular number away. I’d be sitting in a rocking chair, but I have too much to do. Maybe I’ll rest next year.
Since “Luck” is our word of the weekend (and the idea of “luck” can be paranormal-ish, can’t it?), I’m hyping a sale for one of my “Lucky In Love” contemporary romances. LOVE’S OWN REWARD—the first in a four-book contract for my alter ego, Dana Ransom—is just $0.99 for you e-readers (a buck and change!) through the end of the month (with an extra day thrown in as May has 31 days!).
Preview Book
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo BooksPublished: May 27, 2014Length: 190 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
Her act of courage destroys everything . . . Charlene “Charley” Carter risked her life to rescue a child from a burning car. Suddenly, the quiet research assistant becomes a media darling—and a half-million dollars richer, thanks to the boy’s grateful grandparents. But big money brings big moochers and bigger betrayals. Charley retreats, wounded and suspicious about the motives of even those dearest to her.
He doesn’t trust that she’s for real . . . Jess McMasters exposes frauds for a living, and if it means using his charms as well as his tough skills as a journalist, no problem. What’s Charlene Carter trying to gain by refusing to be interviewed by the press? Is she angling for more money—or is she hiding secrets that prove she’s nobody’s hero?
Jess goes undercover to get close to her, but the closer he gets, the less he understands. Except this: the cost for his deception could be his own heart.
 The Excerpt 

Confronting her was the nicest denim-molded backside she’d ever seen. Whoever was rummaging about in the vegetable crisper of her refrigerator, it definitely wasn’t Alan Peters!

Charley must have made some noise, for the forager called back cheerfully, “Good morning. Over easy or scrambled?” With one look at her stunned features, he nodded to himself. “Scrambled.”

( . . . and a bit more . . .)

Charley’s mouth opened and closed several times in soundless wonder. Who on earth was this absolutely gorgeous man taking control of her kitchen with more natural ease than she’d ever managed? She just stared—she couldn’t help it. With his untidy brown hair finger-combed back from a moody brow and startlingly gray eyes, an overnight stubble darkening his firm jaw to make his mouth appear disarmingly soft in contrast, white cotton sweatshirt clinging to broad shoulders and exposing very masculine forearms, bare feet beneath the hem of the blue jeans she’d already noticed in far too much detail, “ruggedly bed-rumpled” was the only way to describe him. And that evoked a more alarming question.

Where had he spent the night?

My plan, around preparing all those snacks(!), is to binge the entire 10-episode BAND OF BROTHERS series, privately cheering, sighing, and weeping in our basement family room (as I did last year!). What a fantastic epic. My dad was in the Pacific theater and was at home on leave when news of Pearl Harbor pulled him back into the thick of it in the medical corps – something he never talked about unless it was a funny story. My books feature fictional heroes, but in my heart and mind, my dad was the real deal!

This Memorial weekend, take time out to remember the reason. Go to a parade. Thank a veteran. Say a prayer. And fly your flag!

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.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group