C. Margery Kempe's Blog: Lady Smut, page 146

The Reacher Influence

I’m clearly addicted.  I blame my sister.  She has always loved the Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child and so when one came my way, I tried it.  Didn’t like it at all, I said, not confessing that I read it in one sitting.

Give me a chance, sis.

Then I saw another free Jack Reacher novel at the gym.  (Did I mention that I belong to the most perfect gym ever? They give away free books there.) The second book I read was ONE SHOT — That’s the novel that the recent Jack Reacher movie is based on–the one with Tom Cruise.  The movie my sister refuses to see because Tom Cruise is 5′ 6″.

Reacher is 6′ 5″.  Reacher starts off around two-hundred pounds or so, but after enough books he’s up to two hundred and fifty pounds of killing muscle.  Reacher grinds men’s bones to make his bread.  He also lives off diner food.

Then there are the women.  They are slender, they are pretty.  They  tend to loan Reacher their cars on sight.  Then they sleep with him.  They are either incredibly competent or they have small, yet adorable children and someone has been incredibly cruel to them.

Reacher never ever owns any possessions until after a long time he compromises and begins to carry  a travel toothbrush.

Reacher was made for the reader–male or female–who has a lotta kids, a lotta mortgage, a lotta burdens and obligations. Reacher was made for the reader who leaves a strip mall on Saturdays with a car full of stuff feeling empty and weird.

The brilliance of Lee Child is that he knows how to keep you turning those pages. Child sacrifices plausibility for the sake of action, lots of action, coming at you fast, fast, fast. ”Character is king”– and Reacher is nothing if not a character.   Reacher walks with total confidence, he analyses crimes with total confidence.  He matches his arrogance against the arrogance of the bad guys and he comes out on top by playing dirty as much as he possibly can.

Reacher is a funny one.  Reacher’s peferred method of starting a fight is to give a sudden, unexpected crushing head butt.

Ever get frustrated with good guys pansy-footing around? Are you thinking as you read Don’t tie the bad guy up–he’s just going to get away? Do you ever want to chant Just kill him–just kill him! to the good guys?  Reacher is your kinda guy.  Reacher does not tie up bad guys.  He does not hand them over to the cops.  Why bother? The bad guys are very dead by the time Reacher is through.  Reacher does not aim for truth or justice, he aims to maim and kill.

Yet he’s not like Dexter–he’s not a serial killer full of self-loathing.  Reacher likes himself just fine.

Character is King

Is it any wonder, then, that being in a profession which loves alpha heroes that I’ve noticed my own hero is suddenly displaying some alarming Reacher-like qualities? My hero is suddenly a lot less apologetic in chapter three.  He is more preoccupied with business.

Scarier still, he’s perfectly willing to revel in the lust of a super sexy moment with my heroine, but afterwards he’s no longer immediately sucked into a deep pool of emotional commitment.  Pre-Reacher my hero was denying the bond.  Now he isn’t denying it–he doesn’t feel it. He is perfectly happy in the moment they have together and with her and how it all went. His thoughts don’t go one tiny bit beyond that.

As Reacher once said, “Feelings? What are those?”

It made me shiver when I read that. I also wanted to laugh, because he’s being honest.

So readers, what should I do? Impose a No Lee Child Reading ban while I’m finishing up my novel?

On the other hand, isn’t it good when characters come alive and have a will of their own?  Maybe the Reacher voice is a reality check against my man-loving “isn’t every man at heart really a good guy and a feminist if he’s being rational and not scared or something” mind set.  I mean, I want my guys to be good guys–sure.  But I want them to be guys.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Weekly Paranormal-Scope & Special Comet Report

This week’s Paranormal-Scope will be followed by a Special Comet Report.  While I’m not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked with the paranormal in the world.  In many ways, so are you.

The week ahead for:

Aries

Song swans have swooped into your area bringing new opportunities.  Listen and take notes.

Taurus

Dragons love to bounce about.  An increase of energy will give you the chance to do more fun things.

Gemini

Hell hounds come scratching at your door.  Prepare for unexpected guests.

Cancer

Mermaids know to swim in a group is a benefit to all.  Find new benefits to the groups you’re in.  If you’re not in a group of kindred spirits, it’s time to find them.

Leo

Hobbits have been cooking up a storm.  You will need to shop and try out new recipes.

Virgo

Gnomes know that good outcomes inspire success.  Put that extra energy into your projects.

Libra

Elves study the details.  Review what you’ve learned and highlight new things to consider.

Scorpio

Fairies aren’t all about looks, but their fashion sense comes into play this week.  Choose a great accessory.  Fashion can earn you respect.

Sagittarius

Pixies love to plan for events.  New ideas will make your planning more fun.

Capricorn

Werewolves sense when there’s a bond. Humans take a bit longer.  Give yourself a chance to really know a new friend.

Aquarius

Yetis can really party.  Watch your words and actions as important people will be there.

Pieces

Shapeshifters change their world enjoying new hobbies.  So should you.

Now for the Special Comet Report

The comet PANSTARRS started yesterday being at its best visibility in the Northern Hemisphere.  For more exact information, please visit:  http://io9.com/5989710/nasas-guide-to-viewing-the-comet-panstarrs-this-month   That is NASA’s guide for viewing the comet.  You will not need any special equipment, just a clear sky and your eyes, but because it is challenging to find and see, a pair of binnoculars could help.  Start looking for the comet near the sliver of a moon as it rises after sunset.

“There is a catch to viewing comet PANSTARRS,” said [principal investigator of NASA's NEOWISE mission Amy] Mainzer. “This one is not that bright and is going to be low on the western horizon, so you’ll need a relatively unobstructed view to the southwest at twilight and, of course, some good comet-watching weather.”

“Look too early and the sky will be too bright,” said Rachel Stevenson, a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at JPL. “Look too late, the comet will be too low and obstructed by the horizon. This comet has a relatively small window.”

I guess even though we could have seen it on March 10, the sun’s glare obstructed the view, being that it’s not very bright as comets go.   March 12 should be prime time to view the comet, weather allowing.



Here is the comet as it was viewed in Australia.  Look closely in the top third of the photo.

Happy Comet Hunting!  Photos courtesy of NASA.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: comet PANSTARRS, sky watching, Stargazing, Susan Hanniford Crowley, Weekly Paranormal-Scope

Welcome to Nights of Passion’s Sunday Blogger Melanie Meadors

Hi!

I’m Melanie Meadors, and it looks like I’m going to be the Sunday blogger here at Nights of Passion.  When I heard that NOP needed someone, I was overjoyed. Not only would I be in the company of such a great group of people, but I would be writing for a blog that I have enjoyed reading for a couple years now.

So, who am I, and what will you be seeing from me?

I’m a historical romance writer (who also writes speculative fiction in another personality).  I’ve been writing since I can remember, starting with silly things like a whale with the hiccups in the second grade.  In high school, my history teacher would catch me daydreaming, but never could punish me for it because my average in the class was an A+.  If only he knew the adventures I was having in my mind–crossing the Alps with Hannibal, helping Cicero write one of his speeches, saying goodbye to my true love as he got onto a train to go fight in the Great War.  I’ve had several short stories published, and am working toward seeing one of my novels in print.  I love to help fellow writers, and was so happy to be elected vice president of my local RWA chapter (CTRWA).

What do I do when I’m not writing?  I homeschool my son, which is an adventure all unto itself.  I also live in a 100 year old house (full of history, of course) that needs constant attention.  I rescue rabbits and guinea pigs, and rose bushes line every path and fence in my yard.

I can’t wait to share my posts with you, and I look forward to reading everyone’s comments!

 –
Visit my blog at http://melaniermeadors.wordpress.com/ and see what I’ve been up to!


Filed under: historical romance, Melanie Meadors, romance, RWA

Sexy Saturday Round-Up

Photo by Dollen

Hello sexy! It’s Sat-ur-day! We’ve got a quite a crop of interesting blog posts for you this week. Where else can you get such a vast array of a round-up? This week we have everything from warrior chicks to nine facts about the penis. Also there’s some great writing-related posts on how to grow your Twitter account and how to plan your books. I’m so excited this has become a group effort. The more, the merrier, I always say. Me-ow.

From Liz:

Here’s first for the round-up.  A 15-minute video. Mary Roach on 10 things you never knew about orgasms.

From a man’s POV: Warrior Chicks.

Planning your books from Tamara Hogan.

From Madeline:

9 facts about the penis that you probably don’t need to know.

Start by using THIS lipstick and you won’t need to add blusher.

Step one: get naked. What’s wrong with this popular fundraising plan?

For the woman who doesn’t like the look of her hoo-haa…Ladies, I present you to…The Vagina Panty.

Writing sex scenes from your imagination–please don’t try this at home.

From Elizabeth:

Why banning the porn industry might not be great for women.

Celebrate International Women’s Day by taking a quiz on female authors.

A 30-second smile: check out this adorable, polite kitty who just wants to be left alone.

Go highbrow while looking at hot naked guys.

From Margery:

Jane Freidman on how she grew her 6-figure Twitter following, and why it doesn’t matter.

Are you making the best of Goodreads?

Stay Hungry,

Liz

A Snowstorm but Far Away Thoughts of Egypt

If you live in the New England states, that you’ve been experiencing harsh weather.  I’ve had to shovel out twice today.  The first time I took pictures.  The 2nd time I was too tired.

   That’s Bella sitting on the top of my desk looking at the snow.  I was graced by her presence on waking this morning.  She gave me a look as if to say, “You’ve got to see this.”   You can always depend on cats to be up on things.

The snowplow went through and barely a dent.  We went out and shovelled and three hours later, everything was filled in again.

I don’t know about you but when things get like this, there are only a few choices after shoveling and snowblowing out.  I continued to work on the 2nd edits of my book.  I also did a little research.

One place that never ceases to fascinate  me is Alexandria, Egypt.   Here was the first great library.  Here was the palace of Cleopatra.  A few years ago, I was sitting in the doctor’s office and reading his copy of Archaeology.  Cleopatra’s palace had been discovered underwater, where part of the city sunk into the bay a long time ago.  The photos of the artifacts are wonderful.  These come from those wonderful folks at Pinterest.  I’m just learning so much there and who knows what those ancient waters will yield in my imagination.

 
Underwater Attractions: Pharos Lighthouse and Cleopatra’s Palace, Alexandria, Egypt




Cleopatra’s Palace, Alexandria, Egypt – lost for 1,600 years, granite statues, jewelry, and gold coins were discovered by French underwater archeologist, Frank Goddio.

Alexandria, Egypt underwater

Perhaps this is why sailors in the Meditteranean Sea think they see mermaids.   I can’t wait until it’s all revealed.  I’d love to see Cleopatra’s palace rebuilt.  Something to dream on.  The sea and its mysteries.  The things we don’t know about the last queen of Egypt.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: research, romance, romance novels, Romantic Places, Susan Hanniford Crowley, What A Writer Needs

Friday Fun: Fops

Fops in Blackadder

In that strange serendipity that comes around from time to time, I’ve been talking about fops in unexpected places with the most unexpected people. Fops, you say, what’s that?

If you know your 17th and 18th century history, you may be familiar with these young men of fashion of whom Lord Chesterfield was heard to say,

“The difference between a man of sense and a fop is that the fop values himself upon his dress; and the man of sense laughs at it, at the same time he knows he must not neglect it.”

The true fop could be recognised not just by his fancy breeches, lace sleeves and flowing cravat but by his makeup, too. The song ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ refers to a young man sticking a feather in his cap and calling it ‘macaroni’ — which doubtless confused other kids like me. It didn’t refer to pasta however, but was another term for a fop.

They first flowered in the heady period of the Restoration. After the cheerless years of the Puritan rule, people went a little wild. Not only did theatre, music and various frivolities return, but ostentatious dress did too. The restored king himself was a bit of a fop and hung out with many more, including the infamous Lord Rochester, John Wilmot. Most people know him today if they do because of Johnny Depp’s portrayal of him in The Libertine (Depp seems to have a love of foppish attire that he’s indulged in the Pirates of the Caribbean films). By the 18th century the fop had become a figure of fun, displaced by Beau Brummels and his followers. Fashion changes.

The feminised appearance meant the Scarlet Pimpernel could hide his derring do behind the most unlikely of façades; sink me! Who would expect a fop to be tough? It’s a bit unfair that assumption, but these gender binaries still plague us. In the midst of the all the shiny, hairless hard-body covers in romance, I find myself longing for a little variety. Music used to offer some variety: there was glam rock in the 70s that gave rise to folks like David Bowie and Roxy Music. Then after the punk revolution the New Romantics brought back the lace cuffs and elaborate styles of the fop with groups from Adam & the Ants to Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet.

What do you think? Can you get hot for a fop?

H/t nerdbastards

Please welcome Kim Cresswell by Marian Lanouette

Today I’d like to welcome romantic suspense author Kim Cresswell. Kim’s debut book Reflection was an awesome read. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it and all the characters. The subject matters has stayed wtih me.

Welcome Kim, let’s get started.

What inspired your latest book?

REFLECTION is my debut romantic suspense and was inspired by headline news. The story evolved after Clonaid (a company founded by the religious sect called the Raelians which views cloning as the first step in achieving immortality) announced the birth of Eve, the “first human clone” in 2002 using the similar technique to clone, Dolly the Sheep. About 160 nations in the world have yet to outlaw the birth of human clones and others are allowing the creation of human clones as long as they are not put into a woman’s womb (how do we know they aren’t implanted?), add a kick-ass heroine, a sexy FBI agent and a villain you love to hate, thus, REFLECTION was born.

How much time do you spend promoting your books?

What works best for you? At this point, I’m promoting about 6 hours a day since REFLECTION is my debut release. I’m hoping to slow down a bit and finish my next book, a thriller, Lethal Journey.  I need to find some balance with writing and promoting.  I haven’t found that perfect balance…quite yet. Where do you get the ideas for your stories? My ideas come from many different places such as movies, conversations and experiences to name a few. Occasionally, an idea smacks me in the side of the head. Such is the case with a book I’m working on, a supernatural mystery. The idea came from a terrifying dream—the perfect scenario for the story’s villain, a serial killer. I watch the news, read the paper, and search the Internet looking for interesting stories that make me ask the question, “What if?”

Do you have critique partners?

I do. I work with a couple fantastic critique partners I’ve had since 2001. These gals are talented multi-published authors. I value their opinions–good or bad.

What is your favorite dessert/food?

Oh, God! I love food! I am such a foodie! Cheesecake, chocolate, and seafood are on the top of my list…and French fries and…stop me please!

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?

Pretty darn likely…especially people I don’t like. Seriously, if the person is interesting, bits and pieces of their personality are blended into my characters.

Was your road to publication fraught with peril or a walk in the park?

Fraught with perils…well sort of.  With REFLECTION, I was blessed to work with two fantastic agents. The first being an agent in Toronto who ended up closing her agency. From there I signed with Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Jill was wonderful and supportive. I recommend her highly.  Publishing is all about timing, so I learned. Even the best agent was unable to sell my book when the economy went into a recession in 2010. Every rejection letter basically said the same…”great book..loved it..but we can’t take the chance on a new author in this economy.” More recently, I was asked to rewrite REFLECTION to a category romance by a well-known and popular publishing house. I declined because I am not a category romance author. I simply have too much to say. So I decided to go with a smaller publishing house, MuseItUp Publishing, because I knew I would be allowed to publish my story the way I wanted to..as a single title mainstream romantic suspense.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

Okay, here you go…A reporter’s determination to expose an illegal human cloning project places an innocent child in the crosshairs of a master criminal. What genres are you drawn to as a reader? I love suspense, thrillers, mystery, action and paranormal genres.

Do you prefer to read in the same genres you write in or do you avoid reading that genre? Why?

Actually, I love to read in the same genre because I’m always learning..studying other authors.

Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors? 3 tips.

Don’t ever give up. Rejection is nothing more than one person’s opinion. And write…write and write more. Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.

Florida investigative reporter, Whitney Steel, has lived in the shadow of her legendary father long enough. To prove herself she needs to find the “Big” story. She found it. Now it may kill her. After Whitney receives a lead pointing to the world’s first cloned human, now a small child, she vows to unravel the truth. However, sifting through the facts proves to have dangerous results, including death threats and murder. When Whitney is nearly killed, but is saved by undercover FBI Special Agent, Blake Neely, he refuses to let her get in the way of his own objective—at least not right away. Caught in a lethal game between a billionaire obsessed with genetic perfection, his hit man’s thirst for retribution, and a Colombian drug lord fresh out of prison determined to make Blake pay for his twin brother’s death over a decade ago… Can they save an innocent child before it’s too late? Faced with tough choices, with deadly consequences for many—Whitney soon realizes that sometimes a story becomes more than just a story.

Excerpt:

Mason Bailey gulped down his third Glenlivet. “I didn’t kill her.”

How many times had Whitney Steel heard those words? Dozens. But never from the mouth of a United States senator. For all she cared, the man could drink himself to Mars, but not until she got what she’d come for. An exclusive.

Under the awning shading the Pink Flamingo Club’s patio, she took a sip of her lime daiquiri, and couldn’t help notice the way the mid-afternoon sunlight brutally magnified every line on Mason’s tanned face.

“Of all the reporters in Panama City, let alone Florida, why me? We cut our ties years ago.” And our losses, she wanted to say, but didn’t.

“I know I can trust you.” His gaze darted across the street then back to her. “Besides, we were married once. That should count for something.”

Whitney straightened. Anger coiled in the pit of her stomach. “Give me a break. For a year and a half, I thought we were married. Too bad your girlfriends didn’t know about our little legal arrangement.” Especially, your twenty something assistant.

“Damn it, Whitney. I didn’t ask you here to rehash our past.” He yanked a monogrammed handkerchief from his jacket pocket and dabbed the sweat from his forehead. “I need your help. I know why Carmen Lacey was murdered.”

Her eyes widened. Now they were getting somewhere. “You have my full attention. Are we on the record?”

Mason shoved his empty glass aside. “Yes.”

Her heart thumped with anticipation. This story would be the topic du jour for months. Her ratings at WBNN-TV would soar, and finally her colleagues would take notice and treat her with the professional respect she deserved.

For the past twelve years, her colleagues said she’d had a free ride because of her father, an award winning war correspondent, and her ex-husband’s political connections. This time she’d prove them wrong.

She rummaged through her leather bag, placed her digital voice recorder on the table and gave the record button a firm push. “For the record, Senator Bailey, did you kill Carmen Lacey?”

“No.” He leaned back in the chair and loosened his pinstriped tie. “It’s true. I was the last person to see her alive. But there’s more to this than you think.”

Brown eyes that once set her heart hammering now conveyed a chilling,hollow look. Was it guilt? Desperation?

No. Fear.

Uneasiness slid down her spine. She stopped the recorder. “Mason, you’re scaring me. What the hell is going on? It’s been over three years since we last spoke. Then, out of the blue, you beg me to meet with you today. I know the police don’t believe you killed that woman.”

“But do you, Whitney? Do you believe I killed her? I need to know. It’s important.”

Stunned by the urgency in his voice, she answered carefully. “Of course not. You’re many things, but you’re not a killer.”

“Thank you. That means a lot to me.” He reached for his empty glass and tapped his chunky gold ring against the side.

Whitney turned the recorder on again.

“Carmen was a scientist working for a biotech company in Nevada. ShawBioGen. Heard of it?”

“Who hasn’t? They were one of the first to clone animals in the eighties. Caused quite a stir. But I don’t understand. What does that have to do with Carmen’s death?”

He opened his mouth to answer.

The large window behind them dividing the patio from the main restaurant exploded…

Watch the Trailer Buy Links

MuseItUp Publishing:  http://tinyurl.com/ctwm5cp Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Reflection-ebook/dp/B00B5HRBZE Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/289845

Now available in paperback! Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Reflection-Kim-Cresswell/dp/1482059355 Createaspace:  https://www.createspace.com/4144264

Bio Trained as a legal assistant, Kim Cresswell has been a story-teller all her life but took many detours including; working for a private investigator, running a graphic design business, and teaching computer classes at a local business school. After becoming disabled with Fibromyalgia and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome, Kim returned to her first love, writing. For her, writing suspense fiction is an incredible adventure and she’s surprised where the journey takes her. She’s also an avid reader who enjoys playing computer games, ghost hunting and loves anything paranormal. Kim has a few new books in the works including the sequel to REFLECTION which will be released in late 2013. http://www.kimcresswell.ca/ Facebook Fan Page Goodreads Twitter

Filed under: romance

Seducing The Princess: Q&A with Mary Hart Perry

Mary Hart Perry, author of THE WILD PRINCESS is here today to discuss her second book in the series: SEDUCING THE PRINCESS.  (What a delicious title, btw!) This book focuses on Queen Victoria’s painfully shy youngest daughter Princess Beatrice. Here’s a short blurb:

Convinced she is unattractive and unloved, the dutiful Princess Beatrice finally accepts that she will never marry and vows to devote herself to the queen in Victoria’s waning years. In fact, her mother secretly discouraged suitors for Beatrice’s hand. Then Beatrice meets Henry Battenberg, a dashing nobleman from the Continent who risks his life and liberty to woo Bea.

But Henry isn’t the only man interested in being welcomed into Beatrice’s bed. The timid princess has become the target of a cruel plot.  Enemies of England have sent a ruthless agent, a charming Scot, to seduce the naive princess and spy on the queen. Will Beatrice discover which of the two men pursuing her she can trust, before it’s too late? 

Princess Beatrice as a young woman.

MADELINE IVA: Your heroine is faced with a choice between a dashing nobleman-good guy and a bad boy Scot. (Yum!)  Which are you more drawn to when writing fiction? The good boy or the bad?

MARY HART PERRY: I think I’m initially torn between the man who’s safe and protective…and the one who’s sexy and dangerous. The good guy wins out for me though, because he’s strong and sexy in his own way, and he acts on the heroine’s behalf rather than plotting against her, for his own selfish reasons.

MADELINE IVA: I myself like the sound of the Scot, especially because he’s a spy. Knowing that sometimes people drawing from history have to massage the facts to make the fiction compelling can you tell us if these two men were actually vying for Beatrice?

MARY HART PERRY: The “real” suitor was Henry of Battenberg. According to all accounts, he was quite a handsome man and persistent at winning both Beatrice and the Queen’s approval. He and Beatrice really did fall in love and bring about the match against the Queen’s early objections. So that much is true. It’s also true that Henry’s older brother was foiled by the queen when he made an attempt to catch Beatrice’s interest when she was much younger. Victoria didn’t want Bea to marry at all. The fiction comes in the form of the Scot. After all, we need an antagonist who is a strong match for Henry.

MADELINE IVA: So glad you made him up, then. :> Queen Victoria was a bit of a long distance micro-manager with her daughters.  Were you surprised by the lengths she went to in keeping them under her thumb?

[image error]

Even as a grown woman, Beatrice’s nickname was “Baby.”

MARY HART PERRY: Oh, yes, you’re so right. Micro-managing–she was formidable. As far as Beatrice was concerned, the queen came right out and said Bea would never marry. She was to stay at her mother’s side, as her companion, until the queen was in her grave. And when the young woman showed any interest in breaking this rule, her mother punished her by refusing to speak to her. She reduced their communicating to passing her notes, instructing her how to spend her day, or giving her jobs about the palace.

MADELINE IVA: Sheesh! Meanwhile, how steamy is your novel in terms of love scenes? Do we get to see that bad boy Scot undressed?

MARY HART PERRY: I knew you’d ask-heh, heh!  It gets steamy in a few places, mostly because Bea is so innocent so the least bit of touching really shakes her up. The Scot as partially undressed in the climactic scene.

MADELINE IVA: Partially undressed sounds excellent. And talking about stripping down–Queen Victoria seems ready to undergo some revisionist work by feminists.  How are our ideas about her changing now that we’re taking a fresh look at her as a leader, a mother, and a historical figure?

It’s called patriarchy, b****es!

MARY HART PERRY: The thing is…everything I’ve read, accounts of her life and her letters, she really didn’t like the idea of women working or even having the vote. She believed, and said, that women should stay at home and let the men in their family take care of them. The problem was, not all men saw that as their duty, so there were literally thousands of women left homeless with no way of supporting themselves. If you weren’t married or didn’t have a father or brother who was able to shelter and feed you, you were in a bad way during most of the 19th century.

VIcky looks ready for some wicked adventure.

MADELINE IVA: Patriarchy at it’s best. Bleah! So Mary, you’ve written about  a wild princess and now a shy princess.  What’s next in the series?

MARY HART PERRY: The book I’m working on now focuses on a few months of horror that completely paralyzed London. I’m pitting Vickie, the Crown Princess against the famous (but never revealed) serial killer, Jack the Ripper, who roamed the streets for victims. Should be fun!

MADELINE IVA: Yes she does. After doing all this research, which child of Victoria and Albert is your favorite?

MARY HART PERRY: How can I choose? They’re all so amazing in different ways. I will always hold a warm spot in my heart for Beatrice. She had to struggle so hard to get out from under her mother’s thumb. She did it, and deserves credit for making a life of her own. Louise the heroine of the first book, The Wild Princess loved art and was determined to get the education she needed, the same as a boy or man would have expected to receive, so that she could be a professional artist. She persisted, bucking not only her mother but Victorian society, and became a talented sculptress. I think that’s just so wonderful. We all should be that brave–focussing on what we want in life, then going after it with a vengeance. Right?

Princess Louise–the ‘beauty’ of the family.

MADELINE IVA:  Right! I wish I was Louise–an ideal heroine.  Vicky’s got a bit of a wicked look in her eye that beckons to me as well. Meanwhile, I just love the idea of innocent, shy Beatrice having these two forceful men bent on winning her over at the same time.  So delicious! Thanks so much for talking with us today–and good luck on your new release.

MARY HART PERRY: Thanks for the lovely visit. I’ve enjoyed our chat!

Hey readers–today we’re having a giveaway of SEDUCING THE PRINCESS in e-pub kindle format.  Leave a comment below and you just might get lucky. 

Legend, According to Gerri

NOP: Today we have a guest, but it’s someone you all already know. We’re talking to our very own Gerri Brousseau about her new release, According to Legend. Welcome, Gerri.

Gerri: Thank you so much, Susan.

NOP: Please tell us a bit about your new book.

Gerri: According to Legend is actually the first book I ever wrote, and it’s a time-travel romance. Legend has it that when the spirit of the tribal princess is born again and she holds the enchanted stone in her hands, the lovers will be reunited … even through time.

NOP: That sounds interesting. Please tell us more.

Gerri:  My heroine, Pam Hastings, comes into the possession of a dream catcher which through her dreams draws her back in time and into the arms of the Warrior Chief. This book has a mystical dream catcher, a prophecy, a quest, a love triangle, and a wolf.

NOP: How did you come up with the idea for this book?

Gerri: One night, I had a very vivid dream and the rest is … Legend.

NOP: Would you give us a little sneak peek?

Gerri: Sure … here is an excerpt:

Smiling, I gazed at the reflection of the man beside me. His features were stark, raw, and powerful. His long dark hair hung past his shoulders. Thick lashes framed dark eyes in his deeply tanned face. A face so striking it appeared as if he were chiseled from stone. His well-muscled chest glistened as light reflected off the water. Around his neck, he wore a piece of leather with an engraved stone identical to the one that hung around the neck of the maiden.

“You have come back to me, Takshawee,” he said.

NOP: Where can we get this book?

Gerri: According to Legend is available for half-price through Kindle Select over at Amazon. Here’s the link: 

 http://www.amazon.com/According-to-Legend-ebook/dp/B00BP7HL1S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1362581559&sr=8-3&keywords=According+to+Legend

NOP:  What’s next for you?

Gerri:  Over the summer I will be releasing my third novel, an intrigue romance entitled, To Kill a Monarch, also through Soul Mate Publishing. Here is a small blurp about it.

Whispers in dark allies say Napoleon’s best assassin, The Falcon, has been sent to London to kill the Monarch. The problem – The Falcon’s identity is known only to the French Emperor. Sir Walter Tinsdale’s new partner, Philip Hamilton, arrives to discover their mission is to find the elusive bird of prey before he strikes. But their nemesis is like a phantom and always one step ahead of them. Enter the lovely Miss Charlotte Winston, the object of Sir Tinsdale’s affections, as well as those of Philip Hamilton. Unlikely alliances, deception, murder, and suicide will keep you turning the pages until the identity of The Falcon is finally revealed. With all the seduction and action of a James Bond movie, To Kill a Monarch is 007 in 1811.

Gerri: Thanks so much for hosting me here today, Susan. I really appreciate it and I hope the readers enjoy According to Legend.

Filed under: romance

Chicks Being Catty

Shortly after the Academy Awards show was on a week and a half ago, I started seeing all kinds of stuff in the blogosphere and Twittersphere about people bashing Anne Hathaway. And I mean serious bashing, as in tons of articles about people who claim to hate – yes, hate – her. Call me clueless, but I don’t get it. What’s the problem with Anne? She’s a great actress, she’s beautiful, she’s happily married. Honestly, I’ve got no beef with her. But many people, for reasons I don’t understand, take issue with Anne. And, I have to say, many of those Anne bashers are women.

When I was a teenager I worked at a fast food restaurant. I actually stuck it out for, I think, three years, and I got pretty comfortable there. I knew the job and I knew the people, many of whom became friends for a time. But I remember toward the end of my burger-slinging tenure a girl was hired who I hated immediately. Oh, I knew nothing about her, of course. Nothing about where she came from, or what her interests were, or who she hung out with. I just knew that I despised the sight of her. And, to be fair, our animosity toward each other was mutual. If pressed, I could cite reasons for my snub. But see, the thing is, those “reasons” were completely made up. It’s not like we had some kind of incident where things went terribly wrong and thus caused our dislike toward one another. No, on the contrary, I just knew by looking at her that I couldn’t stand her.

Several months later we found ourselves at the same party and I, probably fueled with alcohol-courage, decided to talk to her. And guess what? She was totally cool! We chatted for awhile and decided we’d gotten off on the wrong foot. Now, it’s not like we became BFFs or anything. But we repaired the weird damage that had been part of our relationship and tossed away the previous animosity we’d had.

This whole Anne Hathaway bashing and my teenage incident makes me wonder what it is about women who are catty toward other women. If you look at it from a distance, it makes no sense. We women have to survive and thrive in a world that’s often ruled and run by the guys. And we do a damn fine job of it. There are so many wonderful, creative, smart, powerful women out there for us to admire. We all need to bond in sisterhood and support each other. And, in many ways, we do. I have wonderful friends for whom I’d do anything and they feel the same toward me. But then sometimes, for whatever reason, we come across a certain woman who just rubs us completely the wrong way and the claws come out. Rather than supporting that female in a bond of sisterhood, we’d much prefer to scratch her eyes out.

So what gives? Is it jealousy? Envy? And why is it only certain females? We can admire someone who we feel is prettier, smarter, thinner, richer than we are and be fine with her, but then we meet someone else and despise her at once.  Sometimes I honestly wonder if there’s physiology involved. Maybe we unknowingly give off territorial pheremones to certain women because . . . well, just because. Because we don’t want her around us, we don’t want her knowing us, we don’t want her stealing our man. We look at her and think, “that bitch isn’t all that. And, P.S., she looks fat in that outfit.”

It all seems rather unnecessary, but I am curious as to what you all think of this? Why do some chicks just rub you the wrong way and others are friends for life?