Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 377
July 3, 2015
Nancy Corrigan: Mist Revealed
One of the most common questions I get is: “Where did you come up with the idea for your book?”
Well in the case of Mist Revealed, the simple answer is: from quite a few places. Mist Revealed mixes a little of Norse mythology and a dash of my imagination, but there’s also some science twined into the storyline. For me, combining them was a lot of fun.
A documentary about global warming and the rapid melting of the world’s icebergs planted the initial spark. I couldn’t help but wonder what might be uncovered when the ice melted which then reminded me of a Scooby-Doo episode I’d watched with my children. In it, a caveman who’d been frozen in ice came alive after the ice it was encased in melted. Those thoughts lingered in my mind over the following days. I couldn’t help but think it would make a basis for a great book. And when I read a science article about an ancient virus found in the Scandinavian permafrost a few days later, my imagination went wild. I became officially obsessed with melting icebergs and ancient secrets.
I turned my research to Greenland where icebergs are melting at an alarming rate and started to delve into their culture. It seemed a natural progression for me. I love mythology and building worlds from it is a lot of fun. Being that Greenland was populated by Vikings among other races, Norse mythology became my next focus, and the tale of Ragnarok, the Norse myth surrounding the end of the world, fit the current crisis of melting icebergs and global warming perfectly. From there, I selected my players and weaved a tale that grew from what I’d originally planned. I can’t give any other details away, but I will say that I’m looking forward to future stories involving ancient alphas and their “unusual and unique” human mates.
Elemental Desire, Book 1
A woman seeking answers…
Cat, a renowned scientist, embarks on a quest to uncover the source of the unknown deadly virus that claimed her sister’s life. What she finds is a man shrouded in mystery who manages the impossible—swaying her devotion from logic to passion. But Rune isn’t simply a lover. He’s a weapon, one that has the potential to save her or destroy her.
A man searching for treasure…
Rune, a child of the mist, awakens into a world hovering on the verge of destruction. Ragnarok is coming. His enemies have been released from their prison. And he’s discovered the one woman who can thaw his frozen heart. But the race to stop the final battle isn’t the time to fall in love. Or is it?
A discovery that will change everything…
Life evolves, and what was lost can be recovered. But the truth revealed isn’t the one Cat or Rune expects. The impossible has become reality. And two lovers must make a choice—adapt or die.
Author’s note: Mist Revealed was previously released as Mist Unveiled and has been reedited.
Excerpt:
Unable to resist the scent of heaven that had lured him to her in the first place, he buried his face into the fall of her raven hair. She smelled of something fruity and exotic. He couldn’t place the scent, but it compounded his craving. He wanted to devour her.
Deep breaths filled his lungs with her signature fragrance. Dizziness gripped him. He tightened his hold on her to stop himself from swaying and unleashed his will to influence her. With the few drops of his blood in her body, he wasn’t sure it would actually work, but he had to try something.
“Calm down. I’m not going to hurt you.”
He waited a moment for her to succumb completely to his order, but her tense body and rapid heartbeat didn’t lessen as they should have. More expletives whipped through him at the implications of her resistance. He took another breath to slow his racing pulse.
“You’re going to bring the authorities here. They’ll harass me, maybe toss me in jail, all for kissing you. You don’t want that.”
“Don’t I?”
Shit. He let his forehead fall to her shoulder and reined in his power. It was pointless to expend the energy if she was resistant to it. “No, you don’t. You can’t blame me for losing control when faced with temptation. You’re beautiful, Cat.”
She turned her head. He eased back and met her probing eyes. “How do you know my name?”
I lurked in the shadows and listened to your conversation with the innkeeper.
“I’ve been assigned to assist you in the investigation of the…” He considered what to call the deaths. Murders? Careless feedings of the eldjötnar? The crime he and his brethren were supposed to ensure didn’t happen. “The tragedies that occurred here.”
“Who are you? I wasn’t told of anyone helping me.”
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A little about Nancy…
A true romantic at heart, Nancy Corrigan is convinced there’s a knight in shining armor for every woman (or man), but you won’t find damsels in distress in her stories. She adores pairing alpha heroes with women strong enough to match them and bring them to their knees. She also enjoys flipping the traditional roles in romances because her motto is—love and people should never be forced to conform to anyone’s norm.
She holds a degree in chemistry and has worked in research but now focuses on ensuring quality. She considers it the perfect outlet for her as she’s the first to admit she has some OCD tendencies. It carries over into her writing life too. While engrossed in a novel, she has a habit of forgetting to eat and sleep. Fortunately, she’s married to her own knight in shining armor who understands her oddities and loves her anyway. They reside in Pennsylvania with their three children, dog, snake and guinea pigs. Her other interests include tattoos, animals, classic cars and all things spooky and sexy.
July 2, 2015
Jessica Lee: A Sucker for an Antihero (Contest)
I admit it. I’m a complete sucker for an antihero.
What is an antihero, you ask? Well, the online Urban Dictionary defines an antihero as: a flawed hero, and therefore much more interesting than the more traditional hero. They can be working on the side of good, but with a tragic flaw, or a horrible past, or for reasons that are selfish and not entirely “pure”.
Sounds like my kind of guy.
In Undying Hunger, Markus Santini is the Enclave’s antihero. He possesses a horrible past, and as the above definition states, for reasons that are selfish, and or not entirely “pure”, he makes certain decisions throughout the span of the series that aren’t popular with the rest of the Enclave’s warriors.
But my love of the antihero didn’t begin with Markus. In fact, there are a few others that, along with Markus, make up my top five.
Vin Diesel as Riddick. (Pitch Black, The Chronicles of Riddick, and Riddick) I do believe he kindled my fire for the antihero with those shimmering eyes and deliciously deep voice of his.
Zarek (Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon) How could one not fall for such a scarred and tragic hero. A fan favorite of the Dark Hunter Novels that I’ve never forgotten.
Alexander Skargard as Eric Northman (TrueBlood) A bad boy in every sense of the word. A centuries old Viking turned vampire, yet he’s hot as blazes. Yes, I cheered for him and Sookie to be together. He was so ruthless, but with her and for her…he was tender and compassionate. Sigh. Precisely what I love about an antihero.
Simon Cross (Death Angel by Linda Howard) Assassin turned hero. A pure antihero who has no regrets for who he is or what he’s done in his past. Cold and calculating with everyone and everything in his world. But when his heroine steps into his life, she awakens his heart and makes him feel. And he’ll do anything to protect her. Yes! I love it when that happens.
Do you have any favorite antiheroes from book or film? Please share! I’d love to add them to my TBR shelf or To Be Viewed list. Leave a comment, and I’ll choose one lucky winner to receive a $5 Amazon Gift Card, plus their choice of a PDF copy of either book one, two, or three from the Enclave series.
Undying Hunger
All she can remember is hunger…for him.
Enclave #4
“A delicious vampire world, filled with danger, passion, and immortal warriors. You’re going to love the Enclave!” – Lisa Kessler author of the award-winning Moon Series
A year ago, Alexandria Stevens strode through the doors of Wicked Ways and into the arms of a man—a monster, really—who stole everything from her. Her memory. Her life. Now she’s a creature of darkness with only hazy images in her mind of that night and a confusing jumble of emotions. A fierce hate…and an even fiercer desire for Markus Santini.
Markus has walked through this world for more than a hundred years, knowing exactly who and what he was, until Alexandria undid it all. Undid him. When a former vampire colleague threatens one of the Enclave’s own, Markus is needed—but only as the dark, powerful creature he once was. And in order to become that, he must find redemption…in the arms of a woman.
Undying Hunger Buy Links:
Amazon– http://amzn.to/1SS5jgu
Amazon UK– http://amzn.to/1AKet8P
Amazon CA– http://amzn.to/1Il1sm7
Barnes and Noble– http://bit.ly/1FnpKrl
iTunes– http://apple.co/1FZBN2L
Kobo– http://bit.ly/1FnqeOh
ARe– http://bit.ly/1JowGu8
Add to Your Goodreads List– http://bit.ly/1GZxpl2
*~*~*~*
Jessica Lee is an EPIC eBook Award winner and international bestselling author of paranormal romance. She lives in the southeastern United States with her husband and son. In her former life, Jessica was a science geek and spent over twenty-five years as a nurse. But after the birth of her son, she left her medical career behind. During that transition, she discovered her passion for writing romance and has never looked back. Jessica Lee is currently published with Entangled Publishing and Resplendence Publishing. Plus she has several self-published titles available.
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-Website: http://www.jessicaleenovels.com/
-Newsletter: http://jessicaleenovels.com/contact.html#newsletter
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-Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Lee/e/B002ZTXRCC/
-Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3013591.Jessica_Lee
July 1, 2015
Julia Talbot: Book of Love
Hey y’all!
Thanks so much to Delilah for letting me take over her blog today! I need to chat about my new book. NEED to. It’s my first release with my newest publisher, Samhain. It’s a MMF menage where everyone touches. It’s about small town Colorado, a porny old book, and three hot people who get even hotter for each other.
Here’s the official blurb.
Dark magic draws them together, but they’re generating sparks all on their own.
Culper, Colorado, is a one-everything town. One stoplight. One post office-slash-pawn shop-slash-bakery. And one bookstore, which Shiloh volunteers to watch while the owner is on vacation. It’s a nice change of pace to her lonely life.
While perusing the shelves, Shiloh finds a book that contains some shockingly naughty illustrations. When all sorts of mystical disasters start happening, Shiloh is sure they’re somehow connected to the book. But by then it’s too late to simply put it back on the shelf.
Liam and Elijah’s response to the town’s call for help is a first. Their first paranormal case, and their first in-person meeting. They’re longtime online friends with a common interest in the unexplainable, but they’re shocked by the sparks that fly, not only between the two of them, but between them and Shiloh.
Somehow the book’s dark magic is not only the catalyst, but is also feeding off their sexual attraction. They must work together to figure out how to put the escaped entity back where it belongs—before it closes the book on their budding relationship.
***
I’d love to share a wee excerpt with you, too!
Here we go!
As soon as Bella left, she Shiloh went to put out the incense.
Last thing she needed was to have a vision and burn the bookstore down.
That would make Bella grumpy.
She giggled, then clapped her hand over her mouth when the sound echoed. Looked as if it might be a long day.
The notes behind the register were incredibly clear, written in Bella’s perfectly legible blocky print. Every possible problem for the next few days had been explained, answers carefully outlined. She grinned. No, Wilhelmina was not allowed to put up any posters. Yes, Aramina Gersham, the sweet eight-year-old whose mom made llama hats, could come in and sit with Peanut Butter in the afternoons. It went on and on.
Shiloh grabbed a book randomly from the shelf. Oh, erotic divination. Delicious. Just think of all the crusty old dudes that had pawed over this one. She put it back gingerly, immediately wanting to run for the hand sanitizer.
The shelf was filled with esoteric tomes mixed with the Babe on a Broomstick titles. Crazy. She’d seen enough weirdness to not be a bitch about it, but her mother, college and living in Dallas for a bit had instilled a strong streak of skepticism.
She chuckled at the book simply labeled, Summoning in an old-fashioned Goth-y font. Summoning what?
It was dirty and smelled in that amazing way of old books—dust and history, ink and something that was only books. Shiloh imagined it was probably glue and paper and solvents or something, but damn it, it was a book about magic, she could romanticize, right?
She flipped it open, grinning even wider at spells to summon genies and selkies, wizards and goats. Why the hell would anyone bring forth a goat?
Not that she had any issues with goats. Mick had some great nannies and the best goat cheese on the Western Slope, but you could just go ask him to borrow one…
Oh. She squinted at the book. That was just a guy who resembled a goat with… whoa.
Oh, that was impressive. There were a bunch of them—well-endowed men with huge racks of antlers or horns. It was…well, obscene, but a little erotic and incredibly fascinating, especially for such an old book. She could use one or two of those, especially the one on the next page.
The thought made her look around to make sure no one was peering over her shoulder.
Just her, the smoke and the animals Thank the goddess.
She did run her fingers over the hottest-looking number with a wide chest and a big, uh, sword. “I could so handle you, buddy.”
Hell, the men in Culper were either taken, old or just passing through, and Shiloh knew how the locals treated their own who dabbled with the migrants. Even a hippie-free-love town with a hot springs wasn’t really all that permissive.
Shiloh didn’t need anything long term; she didn’t need a commitment. She needed a good, hard fuck.
Snorting, she put the book aside for later, when she wouldn’t have to worry about anyone coming in.
Still her brain kept going back to those horns, that heavy, hard prick.
By the time she closed the shop, she was a little obsessed. She wanted to take the book home. No one would notice, right? She could just stare all night.
What would it possibly hurt?
Bella wouldn’t mind. Shiloh tucked the book into her bag before locking up. She would drop Peanut Butter off at Cindy Moss’s place, where he could spend the night like a puppy pasha, and then hit the Dog House for a hot dog before heading home.
The big old house stood at the edge of town, a sentinel, gothic and wonderful. It resembled the Addams’s family house, only in better repair, and it was the main reason she’d ended up in Culper as an adult.
Daddy had loved this house with a passion, had spent hours, days, years, working on it, repairing this and replacing that. The floors were buttery smooth now, the old built-in china cabinet lovingly restored to its walnut finish.
Shiloh smiled as she wandered toward the kitchen. It was a touch bittersweet still, but mostly sweet. She could feel Daddy in every inch of this house.
She sat at the table and munched her hot dogs and fries before heading to the small back parlor to light a little fire and curl up with her book. She pulled a blanket over her lap and started reading the chapter titled Invoking the Spirit of Eros.
That was what she needed. Eros. The power of the masculine and sex. A nice big cock. She giggled at herself. Right.
That was her, slut extraordinaire. Hell, she hadn’t had a relationship in five years, easy, and she’d never just had someone for a one-night stand. Her fingers traced the image of the horned man, the muscled body, the long, needy erection.
He was so compelling. She could see why people worshipped him. She mouthed the first few words of his incantation, sounding them out.
A god that chased you through the forest, someone to make you feel things you never had. To make you wild with need. Relentless in his quest for pleasure. She pressed her thighs together, the tingle between them long forgotten, thrilling.
She traced the odd looking symbols with one finger, her fingertip sliding on the page. A shiver went through her, and she glanced at the door, wondering where the draft came from.
Silly girl.
***
Thanks so much for hanging out and reading with me! You can find Book of Love here: https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5478/book-of-love
I’m Julia Talbot, and I also write as Minerva Howe. Find me at www.juliatalbot.com
XXOO
Julia
June 30, 2015
Lynn Crain: The Importance of Social Media (Contest)
1) Blogging ~ So many think that this is out of vogue, but I’m here to say it isn’t so. People love to read blogs when they have time, and while people do not have a lot to spare, it’s still worth your while to have a blog with some punch. A variety of great content is the key, and the place should be pleasing to gaze upon. Content will vary with your brand and should be maintained to bring people back again and again. I love doing the promo blog hops and various different posting days on blogs of all sorts. For me, the reason it’s on the list is that there are still a lot of people who don’t like Twitter or Facebook or any other social media for a variety of reasons. It is also another venue where readers can find you. This is the number one reason for doing social media of any kind.
2) Twitter ~ Whoever came up with the 140 character tweet is a genius. Twitter is my all-time favorite for social media. I love to tweet but don’t do it so much anymore because I used to find myself tweeting for hours and realizing at the end of the day I tweeted more than I wrote. I know that some people find it hard to track conversations and do promo, but it can be done. And all in 140 characters. This particular social media teaches one to write lean, clear and concise. What more could be better for a writer?
3) Facebook ~ As much as I hate to admit it, Facebook is one of my favorites. However, it can be a deep time sink if one does not limit themselves. It is a great gathering place for FB parties and is a great place to meet readers. It does have its drawbacks since no one knows what makes it tick. One day everything is fine and the next you have a group or two missing. They have the big brother thing down in spades, and if that bothers you, you need to move along. Personally, I try to limit my time to an hour a day unless I know of a family thing going on that I need to use the instant messaging system for. Otherwise, I read, like, share, read some more, share a lot and try to keep the promo relevant.
4) Pinterest ~ I am just getting starting in this area and for someone who is very visual, I’m amazed that I didn’t find it before now. Pinterest is the place to post pictures about your stories like who you see as your hero or heroine. Just be careful what you post as some people don’t like their pictures posted here. Many do and you’ll find boards full of movie stars and models and other celebrities. However, one does have to be careful, and I usually purchase my photos before I put anything up. Still, this is a wonderful way to give some visuals to your work. Readers love it.
5) Yahoo Groups ~ These groups have gone out of vogue slightly since they started years ago, but I have seen a resurgence in them this past year. These are the message boards of the writing world. Matter-of-fact, it was boards like this that I started being on the internet with. Here readers and writers can mingle and share snippets, have contests and just general share information with a group of like-minded individuals. To me, there are some ways this is more social than the others because you are answering individuals and not getting lost in cyberspace.
In my opinion, these are the top social media hangouts that every writer needs to do. Today, it’s not as easy to get the same online persona everywhere. When I started, I could so when you see oddlynn3 on Facebook or Twitter you know it’s me.
Getting started is easy, and the best way is to jump in feet first. Or you can do it slowly and just dip a toe in. You have to pick your main persona and try to keep as close to that one as possible. Of course, the number one thing would be to get your own name on it all. But that’s easier said than done. When I got my website years ago, I snatched up every domain name I could along with quite a few other ideas I had.
When I went to get my Twitter and Facebook set up, Lynn Crain was gone and oddlynn3 was born. I figured it fit because I do tend to write some odd things now and then.
Once you have yourself all hooked up, pick a time and stick with it. I normally do all my social media in the evening because I live in Europe and the people I connect with are in the States. So for them, it’s daytime. At your chosen time, go to that social media and see what’s up. Share other authors, read new posts and just cruise around to see what’s going on. Add your two cents when it’s relevant and always be yourself. Even though face time isn’t involved, people always know when a person isn’t being themselves or telling a tall tale.
I would love to hear your stories about social media, what your favorites are and how you as an author or reader use them. One lucky commenter will win a copy of my latest book, Night of the Blue Moon, so don’t forget to leave your email addy.
Thanks to Delilah for having me and all of you, who are reading this post!
Blue Moon Magic
One father.
Two mothers.
Four siblings.
One incredible story about that special night which changes them all. Forever.
Night of the Blue Moon
This is book 4 in the Blue Moon Magic Series.
Available now at these fine ebook retailers:
Amazon US ~ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VN4EPLM
Amazon UK ~ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Blue-Moon-Magic-Book-ebook/dp/B00VN4EPLM
Barnes and Noble ~ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/night-of-the-blue-moon-blue-moon-magic-4-lynn-crain/1017477826?ean=2940151720427&itm=1&usri=2940151720427
iBooks ~ https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id991010855
Kobo ~ https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/night-of-the-blue-moon-2
Smashwords ~ https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/539427
Inktera ~ http://www.inktera.com/store/title/c0f96623-8627-4d25-b8e1-91cfb75f2856
Scribd ~ https://www.scribd.com/book/260789242/Night-of-the-Blue-Moon-Blue-Moon-Magic-4
All his life he felt he hadn’t belonged but it wasn’t until Clarity Langford appeared did he know the truth of it. Once that truth was revealed there was no going back for Connor Angus, only forward. He discovers he is the long thought dead son of pack Elite leader, Charles Langford. And with that knowledge comes a family full of sisters, mystery and longing for things he’s not sure he has any right to obtain, and one of those things is Cordelia Sinclair.
NOTE: This is a NOVELLA with adult situations and language. It is not intended for those under 18 years of age.
Excerpt:
“It’s not going to be that easy,” he whispered close to her ear. He started to rock his now very hard cock into the gentle curve of her ass as he rained light, feathery kisses on her neck.
God, he almost had her undone. “What do you want me to do to you?” he questioned and flipped her over to stare into her face.
Reaching down, he placed his hands on either side of her head and pulled her up to meet him. Lips and tongues met forcefully, pulling and tasting and testing. Gently, he nipped at her bottom lip.
He felt so good up against her. Greedily, she put her hands under his T-shirt and felt the muscles. There was no way that she could have beat him no matter how hard she tried. Letting her hands roam up his chest, she plucked his nipples until they were hard, delighting in the sound he made.
“God, woman, you make me crazy.” Reaching for the collar of her shirt, he ripped it down the center, revealing her taut breasts.
“That’s not fair,” she whispered. “Take this off.” Cordelia tugged at his T-shirt until she pulled it over his head. He looked at her for a long moment, before leaning down to take her nipple in his mouth. She could see the bruises spreading across his cheeks and knew she must have some too. The original question of who he was floated into her mind, but at this very moment she didn’t give a damn.
Bio: Award-winning author Lynn Crain has done it all in her life. From nursing to geology, her life experiences have added to her detail-rich stories. She loves writing full time as she weaves contemporary, fantasy, futuristic and paranormal tales, tame to erotic, for various publishers. Her home is in the desert southwest though her latest adventure has taken her to Vienna, Austria with her husband of many years as he works his dream job. You can find her on the web at www.lynncrain.blogspot.com. She loves hearing from her readers at email hidden; JavaScript is required.
June 29, 2015
A. Catherine Noon: Living the Dream, Deferred
Living the life of a full time writer is a dream for many of us. There are other dreams, too – perhaps, in retirement or upon winning the lottery, we’ll travel the world; visit the grandkids regularly; go to each national park in the system; or take up underwater basket weaving. But what shall we do until we can do what we want to do full time?
We could say, well, that’s not for me and go about living our lives without incorporating parts of our dreams into our daily round. But that sort of existence lacks fire and passion. It’s far better to include pieces of our dream in the now, so that we can enjoy them and prepare for when we can fully engage with them.
Here, try this: take out a sheet of paper and write down the numbers 1 through 10 on the left side. Then, writing as quickly as you can, answer the question “If I could do it full time, and money was no object, I would…” ten times. Write as fast as you can and don’t stop to think, just answer. Would you scuba dive in the Caribbean? Take a ride-along with your local police department? Travel to Paris to have tea in the shadow of the Eifel Tower?
Now, take a look at your list. What are the common elements? Art? Travel? Pets? A new place to live? People to see more often? Whatever the commonalities, what kinds of things can you incorporate into your daily round now? If you want to write full time, why not write in the corners of your current life? You can use your lunch break at work, or get up a half hour early. If you want to visit family, why not get some cards at the dollar store today and write them a note? If Paris calls your name, do some recon and find out where to say, what to do, and subscribe to some newsletters about the Paris travel scene?
We don’t have to wait to enjoy the life of our dreams. If we want it enough, we can incorporate elements of it now, while we’re preparing for our full time reality. After all, practice makes perfect.
So tell me, Dear Reader: what’s one exciting dream from your list of ten?
—
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
– E.E. Cummings
The Persis Chronicles:
Book 1 EMERALD FIRE
**New** Book 2, EMERALD KEEP, out April 8th 2015!
SEALED BY FIRE, an All Romance eBooks Bestseller!
**Coming Soon!** Watch for Book 2, SEALED BY MAGIC, out August 4, 2015!
The Chicagoland Shifters series:
Book 1 BURNING BRIGHT
Book 2 TIGER TIGER, an All Romance eBooks Bestseller!
**Coming Soon!** Watch for Book 3, CAT’S CRADLE, out Summer 2015!
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June 28, 2015
Peggy Jaeger: Living the Dream
I recently retired from a job I’ve had for almost 20 years. You’ll notice I said a job. Yes, that’s right. It wasn’t a career, or my life’s work, or even my life’s passion. It was, simply stated, a job. One I went to everyday and got paid for. And I’ll admit – did well.
But it wasn’t what I really wanted to do with my life, how I wanted to spend my days here on earth. No, that job didn’t fulfill me.
So I retired from it. You might ask, how are you going to support yourself now that you have no income accruing every week?
Good question, but irrelevant to this conversation. Suffice it to say, I’m okay. No worries. I won’t be starving in a garret or panhandling any time soon.
What I will be doing – and am doing– is living my dream.
And by living my dream, I mean WRITING.
Instead of devoting myself 8 hours a day to patients and insurance companies, I now am a devotee of my laptop. My “dream” has always been to write without any restrictions on my time or finances.
So, I am actually living my dream. Pretty heady stuff. I often wonder what would have happened in my life if I’d been able to support my writing lifestyle when I was in my 20’s. Then, I look at the life I lead from twenty up until today and I realize I needed those extra 30 years of life experiences to be the person and writer I now am. I know in my twenties I didn’t have enough life views and occurrences I could have translated into my writing. I knew about life, but hadn’t lived enough of it yet.
In my twenties, my social circle was small; basically friends and family. Once I got into the workforce I was able to include other employees, and supervisors. And still, I don’t think the pool I could cull from was wide enough.
In my thirties I became involved in local businesses and on the fringe of local government…more people with diverse backgrounds were added to my expanding sphere. I learned more in depth knowledge about people, what makes them tick, what drives and motivates them. I also started realizing the very true fact that every person has a distinct and personalized story of their own. Stories that I was now able to incorporate into my writing banks and use for information to invent characters and situations.
In my twenties, love was all encompassing. Every breakup was a disaster emotionally and spiritually. In my thirties, that was still true, but I learned you can be more selective and discover what to chose and what definitely not to chose as far as a life partner went. Forties were the time for using all that knowledge to ensure a relationship of stability and longevity.
Now, in my fifties, I know my writing is richer, fuller, and tru-er due to all those life experiences, both personal and professional. I can write an emotional scene and know I got it right, because I’ve lived through it and come out on the other side of the emotion. Better, stronger, richer for the experience. It’s a heady feeling.
Yup. I’m living the dream… and it’s a dream come true.
Symphony pianist Moira Cleary comes home after four years of touring, exhausted, sick, and spiritually broken. Emotional and psychological abuse at the hands of someone she trusted has left her gaunt, anxious, and at a crossroads both professionally and personally.
Moira’s best friend, veterinarian Quentin Stapleton, wants nothing more than to help Moira get well. Can his natural healing skills make it possible for her to open her heart again? And can he convince her she’s meant to stay home now with the family that loves her – and with him – forever?
“Remember when your cousin Tiffany got married in the backyard here?”
Confused, Moira nodded.
Quentin rubbed her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. “When the Reverend told Cole ‘you can kiss your bride,’ and he swooped her off the ground, spun her around and kissed her silly? Remember what you said?”
“I think I said it was the most romantic thing I’d ever seen.”
He nodded. “The exact quote was, ‘I hope someone kisses me like that some day.’”
Her grin was quick at the memory. “Pat snorted and said I’d better be satisfied with licks from the horses and Rob Roy because no guy was ever gonna kiss me.”
“He wasn’t known for tact back then.” He rubbed a hand down her back as he held her. “Remember what happened later on behind the barn?”
Because she did, she couldn’t stop the heat from spreading up her face like wildfire. When she nodded again, he said, “You wanted to know what it felt like to be kissed like that and since I was your best friend, you thought I should be the one to do it, because you – quote – felt safe with me – unquote.”
“What was I? Eleven?”
“Thirteen. And I was more than willing. Almost broke my heart in two when you said afterward, ‘I don’t see what all the fuss is about.’”
“Q—”
“Hush.” He kissed her forehead. “Ever since that day, all I’ve wanted is a second chance. Now,” he pulled her body closer, wrapped both arms around her small waist, his hands resting just above the dent in her spine. “We’re both a little older, a little more mature. Some of us are much more experienced—”
“And conceited.”
“Experienced,” he said, the laugh in his voice quiet and seductive, “and things can be so much better.”
*~*~*~*~*
Author Bio
Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance author who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
Her current titles, available now, include SKATER’S WALTZ and THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, books 1 and 2 in her 6-book The MacQuire Women Series, published by The Wild Rose Press.
Tying into her love of families, her children’s book, THE KINDNESS TALES, was illustrated by her artist mother-in-law.
Peggy holds a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer’s Disease during her time running an Alzheimer’s in-patient care unit during the 1990s.
A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.
Social Media Links:
Website: http://peggyjaeger.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Jaeger-Author/825914814095072
Twitter: https://twitter.com/peggy_jaeger
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13478796.Peggy_Jaeger
Buy Links for THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1J1f3OZ
The Wild Rose Press: http://bit.ly/1GmM1Je
Barnes and Noble Nook : http://bit.ly/1JjMUG7
June 27, 2015
Afton Locke: Rebel’s Claw – First Timers
First Timers
I don’t write too many virginal characters. Back in the day, I read plenty of historicals where every heroine was an innocent. The love scenes always managed to be perfect, including mind-blowing orgasms. Huh? In Rebel’s Claw, my latest Black Hills Wolves novel, Carrie is a sheltered recluse. She’s also the fated mate of Roark. It made sense to make her a virgin. Although their first love scene was a one-night stand and Roark is a hell-raising rebel, it was fun to show his tender side. To be realistic, I did not give her a big O. But when she got them in the next love scene, the pleasure was worth the wait.
Rebel’s Claw by Afton Locke
Revenge never tasted sweeter
Release Date: 26 June 2015
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Rebels-Claw-Black-Hills-Wolves-ebook/dp/B00ZZ99B3S/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25752960-rebel-s-claw
Reviews and more: http://www.aftonlocke.com/RebelsClaw.html
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/wNy92kgcPvg
Black Hills Wolves series:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B00X9R8CAG/kindle/ref=sr_bookseriesnull_B00X9R8CAG
Roark Archer’s Lamar Canyon Pack in Yellowstone has been decimated by ranchers and hunters. Although the Tao pack in Los Lobos, South Dakota, has offered to assimilate it, he cannot give up his heritage so easily. At least not until he gets revenge against whoever killed his best friend, Jared, three years ago.
Recluse Carrie Myers lives on the Wyoming cattle ranch her late father left her. One fateful night changes her life forever, leaving her questioning her sanity. She knows what she saw…or does she? Regardless, she’ll do anything to protect the awful secret that has haunted her for the past three years.
When fate brings Roark to Carrie’s doorstep, the connection between them is undeniable. Determined to avoid commitment, they agree to give in to their unexplainable attraction for one night. Will hatred consume this hell-raising shifter, or can he learn love and forgiveness in the enemy’s arms?
Excerpt (explicit)
Rebel’s Claw – Copyright © Afton Locke, 2015
When his fingers tangled on the waistband of her panties, her legs trembled and her cleft burned with need. For the first time, she wished she owned lacy, feminine lingerie instead of boring, practical underwear.
“These are so sexy,” he whispered as if reading her mind. “So perfect on you.”
She gasped when his finger dipped under the white fabric, probing and swirling over swollen flesh. Her head thrashed on the pillow. Surely, she didn’t deserve such pleasure. With each caress, he promised even more. Completely disconnected from reality, she hovered over an abyss.
Don’t let me go.
She craved him every night, to make her forget everything causing her pain. With an instinct of their own, her hips danced as sinuously as a snake’s. His finger slipped inside, thrusting deep. If her pleasure was electricity, he’d light her up for miles.
He grabbed her hand and pressed it to the rock-hard bulge in his jeans. She shied away when he unzipped himself, but he pressed his bare cock into her palm. Lord, she’d never felt anything so hot. So alive. A trail of juice seeped from her core.
“Are you still sure you want to do this?” he whispered in her ear.
Their chests bucked and swelled against each other from their hard breathing. She felt as if she’d run the length of the ranch a hundred times.
“Y-yes, Roark.”
“Then grab my wallet off the nightstand since you’re closer to it.”
Her body tensed. He didn’t plan to pay her like a prostitute, did he? Daddy definitely wouldn’t approve. He wouldn’t look kindly on a one-night stand, either.
“There’s a condom in it,” he added.
When she twisted away from his hot skin, the contrast of the cool air caused her to shiver. Clumsier than ever, she dropped the wallet on the bed. It opened, revealing several pictures in plastic sleeves. She couldn’t resist flipping through them. Did he have a girlfriend? Hopefully not a wife. Hopping cow patties. She hadn’t even thought to ask about that.
Too late to back out now.
The people were all ages and shared a similar look to him, so she assumed they were family. She could hardly concentrate, with him stroking her back and grinding his wonderful hardness against her buttocks.
“You’re taking too damn long,” he muttered against her hair. “I’m about to take you, condom or not.”
“H-hold on a second,” she replied.
When she spotted the last picture, the heat in her body turned to ice. She blinked, hoping she’d seen it wrong, but the image only became clearer. Her mouth dropped open in horror as she stared at the face of a reddish-haired man with a beard. Nausea twisted her gut while a lone coyote howled in the distance. The remembered sensation of mud and blisters floated across her hands….
Oh, dear Lord. It was him! The face of the creature she’d killed.
Coming Soon
Deeper Than Perfect – 1970s time-travel
Author Bio
Afton Locke is a USA Today Bestselling Author who prefers romantic fantasies to everyday reality. Fantasies take her to different times, races, places, and beyond. She lives with her husband, dog, several unnamed dust bunnies, and a black cat that can be scary or cuddly, depending on the current book. When she’s not writing, Afton enjoys hiking, cooking, crafts, and reading.
Where readers can find me
Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thelovechronicle/
Web site: http://www.aftonlocke.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AftonLockeAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/aftonlocke
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Afton_Locke
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/aftonlocke
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aftonlocke/
June 26, 2015
Heather Long: Romancing the Wolf
Romancing the Wolf
Releasing June 30, 2015
Sexy and we know it! They’re on the hunt after your heart. Discover 10 brand new passionate tales of friendship, desire, wolves, survival, and redemption. Escape to another world, another place, and another romance.
On January 30th, discover love, romance, heat, and passion Romancing the Wolf with Melissa Schroeder, Heather Long, Saranna DeWylde, Rebecca Royce, Cara Carnes, Virginia Nelson, Jennifer Kacey, Brandy Walker, Desiree Holt and Gayle Donnelly.
Warning: Contains wild heroes and heroines, tempestuous passion, old secrets, new discoveries, and pack ties binding them together. Sometimes love’s greatest challenge is romancing the wolf…
Find excerpt for Heather Long’s Wolf with Benefits below title list.
Romancing the Wolf
Amazon:
http://goo.gl/MvjSdu
All Romance:
https://goo.gl/qCak0Q
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/BNRomWolf
iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesRomWolf
Kobo: http://bit.ly/KoboRomWolf
TITLES INCLUDE:
Heart of the Wolf (The Devora) by Desiree Holt
Shifter Lia Popescu is desperate to find the book Legends of the Werewolf, her only clue as to what happened to her pack. When she loses her heart to the sexy detective Riley Morgan, she wonders how he will handle knowing the truth about her.
The Ardennes Curse (Woolven Secret) by Saranna DeWylde
Victoria’s determined to free her people from the curse that forces them to become mindless, slavering terrors every full moon. Even if it means taking, Armand Rommulus, their new Alpha to mate.
Odd Mate (Odd Stuff Series, #4) by Virginia Nelson
Gretchen fell in love with Charly, a sweet, nerdy bear of a man but ran fast and hard from his side when she realized he’d hate her for a genetic twist of fate she couldn’t change. Now she’s back in town and drawn to his side. Can a wolf sworn to destroy all coyotes claim a coywolf mate or will he be forced to destroy the only girl he ever loved?
Running with the Wolf (The Cascadia Wolves) by Gayle Donnelly
Abram spends his days protecting the pack children, but he finds himself wanting more. The quiet, elusive kindergarten teacher has sparked a hunger inside him and he knows it won’t be satisfied unless he makes her his mate. When her past comes calling, he must make a choice…defy pack law and bring her into his world or let her run and lose her forever.
Redemption’s Forgiveness (The Rending, Book 2) by Cara Carnes
Marek will do anything to protect his pack and their land, including executing any Outsiders who dare enter pack lands. There’s no soft in war—until Felicity, a curvaceous wolf with more sass than sense limps into Redemption with an impossible tale of betrayal.
Under Her Spell (Keystone Predators, Book 1) by Brandy Walker
Diego wants Daphne as his mate instantly and is ready to do whatever it takes to make her his. Part wolf, and part witch, Daphne is a little more skeptical of the situation. Her wolf is telling her to go for it while her witchy side balks, knowing Diego will try to suppress her more enchanted side.
Always (Dragon Wars #3) by Rebecca Royce
Robbie Owens has fought the dragons for seventeen years, leading his group of secret, elite werewolves. Tatyana Knox is a human in a world where humans are like unicorns—they simply don’t exist. But she is real and she is Robbie’s mate. If he can trust her, they will turn the tide of the war. But the clock is ticking and Tatyana’s time with Robbie is almost up.
Violet’s Shadow (Shadow Mates #1) by Jennifer Kacey
Violet’s spent her entire life aching to belong and she finally finds it in the pack of Shadows she is destined to join. Everything she’s ever wanted in life and love is finally at her fingertips if she’s brave enough to embrace…her Shadow.
Wolf with Benefits (Wolves of Willow Bend) by Heather Long
After graduating college and spending a summer breaking the law, Shiloh Sullivan needs to make amends and accomplish something for Willow Bend. When her best friend, the wolfish and playful Matt Montgomery moves her in with him, she’s hard-pressed to refuse. But pretending a relationship with a wolf is impossible, and while Shiloh might be human, she knows the rules…
The Alpha’s Saving Grace (Lonestar Wolf Pack #1) by Melissa Schroeder
Alpha Jacob Sanderson doesn’t have time for distractions as he hunts a vicious killer attacking his pack. Sheriff Alexandra Littlefoot is his best resource and a woman he can’t seem to resist. As secrets rise to the surface, the killer’s violence escalates and threatens the pack.
*~*~*~*~*
Focus on Heather Long
Series Reading Order:
Wolf at Law (Prequel)
Book 1: Wolf Bite
Book 2: Caged Wolf
Book 3: Wolf Claim
Book 3.5: Wolf Next Door
Book 4: Rogue Wolf
Book 5: Bayou Wolf
Book 6: Untamed Wolf
About the Author:
Heather Long
National bestselling author, Heather Long, likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books. When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.
Contact Details:
Website: http://www.heatherlong.net
Email: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HeatherLongAu...
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/HVLong
Excerpt of Wolf with Benefits by Heather Long:
After sweeping a glance across the spotless kitchen, Shiloh Sullivan sacked the trash with a tie, then a twist followed by knotting the plastic gathers at the top. Dragging the bag out of the can, she palmed the recycle-only can as well.
“Take those straight out, put them in the right cans—dark green for the trash and blue for the recycling.” Her mother didn’t look away from the stove or the fish she grilled.
“I have put trash out before, Mom.” Shiloh fisted the bag. “Twenty years of experience.”
“Don’t take that tone with me.” Her mother spun and pointed her spatula in her direction. “Take it out, put it in the right cans, then get back in here. Everyone has had quite enough of you lately, and they aren’t going to be particularly friendly at the moment.”
Blowing out a deep breath, Shiloh pursed her lips. She was twenty-four, not four. She had a college degree and plenty of options. Hell, she’d spent an entire half a year coordinating the most daring gamble of the century and been instrumental in forming a new pack—an unheard of sixth pack in the United States. And they were still going…none of those words passed her lips, however, not when her mother glared daggers at her. “Is there anything I can say that won’t piss you off right now?”
Delia paused as though considering her answer, before she shook her head. “No. Do what I told you to do.”
Not rolling her eyes, she hoisted the bag and can higher to show she had the task in hand then escaped from the hall of judgment known as the Sullivan kitchen. Being a human in a wolf pack had never been a picnic, but being a daughter in the Sullivan family made dominance battles look like a walk in the park.
When she jerked the door open with more force than she intended, she winced at the bang it made hitting the wall.
“Shiloh!” Her mother could encompass so many sins within one yell of her name.
“Sorry, Mom,” had become her mantra from childhood onward. Why did she make everything so difficult? Battles with her parents were par for the course, and she never imagined, after she’d shipped out for school, that she would find herself back in Willow Bend. Worse yet, be back to living in her parents’ home.
Walking down to the curb, she deposited the trash in the cans. She’d put them out earlier, thinking she would be a step ahead of her mother’s judgmental tones. Too bad she’d forgotten her mother wanted every scrap of garbage out when the cans were picked up.
Down the street, the Drakes worked in their yard. They paused at her appearance and the weight of their regard struck her. Two houses down, the Yorks were trotting in their wolf forms toward the woods, but the two paused to glance at her. Disapproval gleamed in their gazes. Knowing better than to get in a stare off, she closed off the trash can, then emptied the recycling into the blue can.
Across the street, Mrs. Sexton walked out onto her porch and folded her arms. Disapproval radiated from her stance. The wolf owned the local grocer and made the best muffins and other sweets. Pissing her off took skill, so apparently Shiloh earned a gold medal. If looks could kill, she would be dead or at least on the ground writhing. The wolves wouldn’t lay a finger on her. She was human, and they were wolves. Mason gave her permission to return, but she was on thin ice with the Alpha. His orders wouldn’t be challenged, but it didn’t mean they planned to make her welcome.
The cold air coupled with the trash being taken care of meant she needed to go inside. “Shiloh!” her mother bellowed and Shiloh closed her eyes, tilted her head to face the sky and counted to twenty. The sooner she got her own place, the better. Living at home sucked.
Hands snaked around her waist and hit her ticklish spots even as she was lifted off the ground. A squeal of surprise burst out of her. “Matt!” She beat at his hands, but he had her, and the gentle squeezes sent laughter through her.
“Hey, gorgeous.” He pressed his cheek to hers and, thankfully, stopped setting off the racing sensation over her skin. “Long time no see?”
“Shiloh Maria Sullivan,” her mother snapped the words like fired bullets.
“Oh boy, you’re gonna get it.” The whispered chant from her best friend didn’t score her any points. Slapping his hands worked, however, and he pivoted both of them to face her mother. “Good evening, Mrs. Sullivan.” Matt’s butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth smile charmed more than one parent over the years. “Sorry about distracting Shiloh. I came over to invite her over for dinner.”
“She can’t.” Her mother’s lips compressed to a thin line. Though her hair had been pulled into a ponytail, gray wisps escaped. Gray hairs she attributed to Shiloh’s choices. “Shiloh, come inside, please.”
Matt didn’t release her. “Aww, Mrs. Sullivan. I know you’re upset, but my mom was really looking forward to seeing her.”
“I’ll call and apologize for her, then.” Delia Sullivan didn’t bend, not even for Matt’s charm. “Shiloh, go inside please.”
“Wow, Mommy Dearest is pissed.” His faint whisper had been meant for her ears.
Elbowing him, Shiloh pushed free and reclaimed the recycle bin. “You’re not helping,” she hissed.
“Call me.” He bumped her shoulder as she cut around him to jog up the path to her mom. When she didn’t respond, he raised his voice. “Call me, Shiloh. Call me. Call Me. Call me.”
Pausing, she swung around and stared at him. “I heard you the first time, Matt. I’m not deaf. I’ll call you after dinner.”
His face lit with a broad grin. “Can’t wait. I knew you missed me.”
Despite her irritation, she rolled her eyes and laughed. He was her best friend. Of course she’d missed him.
“Go away now, Matt.” Delia shooed him, then gave her a rather forceful nudge. “Get inside and stop embarrassing me.” The low-voiced utterance would carry. They’d lived around wolves long enough to respect their sharp hearing. Shiloh’s face heated. Half the street watched them…no, they watched her.
Door open, she slid inside, then held it for her mother. Her gaze collided with Matt’s and his cheerful face softened. He winked at her, then held his thumb and pinky toward his face. She nodded.
After pushing past her, Delia tugged her away and closed the door. “Look, I get that you don’t fully understand everything you did, Shiloh. You’re a grown woman, making passion-based decisions. Passion leads to foolish choices…like that sixth pack.”
“Mom…”
“Don’t Mom me. You made the choice to go against your family and the pack that shelters us. You made a crazy call, risked your life, your future, and our position…you don’t just walk back from that.” Anger cooled every word and, for a brief second, tears glimmered in her eyes. She took the recycle can from her hands, then nodded to the stairs. “So, do as I ask you to do and go wash for dinner.”
Chewing the inside of her lip and maybe some of her pride, she nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” Taking the stairs two at a time, she headed for the bathroom where she washed then ducked inside her bedroom. From there, she stole a peek from her window. Sure enough, Matt leaned against his car across the street.
He straightened, and his gaze met hers as though he’d been expecting her. In fast strides, he crossed the yard, climbed the tree and alighted on the ledge outside her window before she could even get the locks undone. “You said to call you, dumbass. If my mother catches you up here…”
“She won’t,” he said with a grin, crouching to peer inside. “Damn, with the My Little Pony Shi. You still keep that crap?”
“Ignore the girly frills since I have photos proving you played with ponies, too.” Had in fact given her several over the years for her birthday.
“Stalking them is not the same as playing.” He winked, then settled his arm as if he planned to hang out. “So, how you doing?”
“I’m doing great. Everyone is so happy to see me they can only stare. My mother can barely look at me, and I’m on probation. How much better can it get?”
Scratching his chin as though to give the matter some thought, Matt scrunched his face. “Break any mirrors lately?” At her snort, he grinned again. “What? You asked me. How much better it could get?”
Her mother yelled from downstairs, and she sighed. “I gotta go. She’s freaking out and, until she accepts that I’m not going to go rob a bank or something, she’s going to keep freaking out.”
“Okay. I’ll be around. Call me later. After they go to sleep, I’ll stage a jail break, and we can get a beer.”
“Oh man.” A drink sounded like heaven. “I don’t want to make her any madder.”
The sharp, hard syllables of her name reverberated from downstairs.
“Yeah, not thinking that’s possible.” Matt winced, the rubbed his ear. “Beer. You. Me. Let’s say midnight to make sure she’s really asleep.”
A slamming pot jerked through her. A motor down the street caught her attention. Dad was home. “You got it. Go, before they see you.”
“Later, babe.” Matt didn’t leap to the ground. Instead, he climbed higher, then over the house. Damn, he could move. Weird as it seemed, he’d gotten taller, or at least she thought so. Maybe she’d forgotten how tall he was. Retreating from her room, she made it to the first floor as her father came in from the garage.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Shiloh.” Chilly.
Damn, dinner would be fun. Maybe her brothers and sister would ignore her, too. She couldn’t wait.
June 25, 2015
Gia Dawn: Roar of Thunder (Contest)
First of all, a huge thank you to the lovely Delilah Devlin for hosting me here today. It is a privilege to guest blog on a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author’s site!! The opportunity is very much appreciated.
So my topic today is…If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
In his song, Rocky Mountain High, John Denver sings about coming home to a place he’d never been before. I recently felt that way while doing research for my Red Masks series now available through Ellora’s Cave. The series is set in Charleston South Carolina, and after doing a ton research into the city I became fascinated with the place.
Row upon row of historic houses line The Battery, a beautiful promenade that was originally built as a defensive seawall and named after an artillery battery that was set up there during the Civil War. This part of town also holds the White Point Garden that was so named because of the sun-bleached oyster shells once found along the shore.
Charleston also has its own French Quarter, which is still located within the original walled city and boasts cobblestoned streets and gas lit alleyways. This is where the inspiration came for making Manette and Thibaut Brisson the owners of the notorious Gaston Plantation and its private Red Masks Club, and giving them their French-American heritage.
There are several plantations near the city with immaculately kept gardens and moss covered trees. And I have heard there may be ghosts haunting several of the sites—war-torn lovers who wait eternally to be reunited and the spirits of slaves who haunt the grounds of their former owners in search of freedom…or revenge.
Charleston is an international travel destination that has been named one of the top cities to visit in the United States, so where better to set a series of books whose characters come from all different parts of the world? Zayne Saladar in Master of Silk hails from the Middle-East, and his belly-dancing wife—Isabella Seda—has Spanish ancestry, while both Sakura and Ian Hideo Shoji of Binding Cherry Blossoms are of Japanese descent.
After looking at picture after picture of the beautiful city and reading the descriptions of its historic districts and sultry sea breezes, I am completely enamored of the place, although I have never once set foot in the town. To remedy that, hubby and are planning a trip to Charleston in September so I can stroll down the streets I have written about and hear the water crash along the shore.
What about you? Anywhere in the world you have read, seen or heard about that makes you ready to plan your next vacation? Are you addicted to a certain place on the Travel Channel, or catch every episode of House Hunting where that particular city is featured? Stop by and let me know. I will be giving away a couple of copies of Roar of Thunder, the most recent release of my Red Masks series, along with some lovely red costume masks and pretty red mask bracelets.
Roar of Thunder
Book 5 in the Red Masks series
After a disastrous tour of duty in Afghanistan, wounded veteran Thibaut Brisson returns home as half-owner of the Red Mask BDSM club. But a severe case of PTSD leaves the Dominant surly, sleepless and sexually impotent.
After long months of nightmares, Ty finally allows himself to submit to the beautiful Domina Grace Heathcastle, hoping a session beneath her whip will allow him to release his pent-up fury. But he makes it clear he will not submit to her forever.
Once a submissive herself, Grace switched sides after a bad relationship left her injured. She knows Ty needs someone strong enough to break through his resistance, but she finds herself doubting her dominance—especially after a night of submissive pleasure in his arms.
Who will eventually win the war when Dominant and Domina battle for position?
Reader Advisory: This story has graphic sexual language and scenes—no closed bedroom doors (or other rooms) here!
A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
For buy links, excerpts, and my other books: www.GiaDawn.com
Thanks so very much!! Gia Dawn
June 24, 2015
Augustina Van Hoven: Planning
When I’m working in my office I generally have the television on. It’s a rather bad habit I started as a teenager. I’m not really watching it’s simply background noise. The other day I happened to notice The Thirteenth Warrior was on. It’s an interesting movie based on the book Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton. It stars Antonio Banderas as an Arab assisting a company of Norseman in stopping an ancient evil plaguing a Norse village. In one scene the warriors go out in search of the enemy and Banderas’ character asks “Have we anything resembling a plan?” I’d like to put that saying on my phone and computer as an audio reminder to make a daily plan.
Like most people, I have a very busy life. I have a full-time day job, a family, a large garden, pets, children, grandchildren, and writing deadlines. The only way I can keep it together and meet all my obligations is to plan.
I plan out my meals a week in advance. This way I know when to take out the frozen meat or when to do any other preparation that the meal requires. It also helps when I go to the store. I know what we are eating and I’ve checked my cupboards before I leave so I only buy what I need and don’t waste time or money.
For my garden, I begin planning in the fall. This way I know what I’m going to grow next year so I can order all my seeds ahead of time. Since I do most of my own starter plants I can set up a schedule for planting the seeds so I have seedlings ready to go into the ground as soon as the weather permits.
When I work on a story I do the same thing and start with a plan. I make character sheets for my main and secondary characters, an outline of what the story is about, and a list of any research I need to do. I find I can write much faster this way and don’t end up running off on a tangent.
Like I said, I try to plan. It doesn’t always work, but when things go wrong I have some sort of structure so the wheels don’t completely come off the wagon.
Do you try to make a plan?
Augustina Van Hoven
Proving Love is Strange
THE KISS OF A ROSE – Now available
www.augustinavanhoven.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Augustina-Van-Hoven-Author/336028986575129
Twitter: @augustinavhoven
A DISTANT PAST
In 1882, Rose Van Buren loved the wrong man and paid for it with her life. Now, more than a century later, the angel Gabriel has granted her another shot at living. In exchange, she must convince a smart, handsome, up-and-coming lawyer to set aside his lofty ambitions.
A FUTURE PRESENT
Stephen Winship is headed straight for the governor’s chair. He has a brilliant career, solid allies, and a seemingly perfect girlfriend. But night after night he finds himself dreaming of a heavenly beauty, a luminous but long-dead girl. Like some altered Ghost of Christmas Past, she shows him her own tragic tale in order to “save him.” And he’s beginning to see Rose is risking her heart as much as baring her soul. Yet falling for her will cost him everything—and open him up to a happiness he never imagined.
The second book in the series, THE THORN OF A ROSE, is coming out this fall
