Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 87

Writing for Harlequin by Rachel Brimble

MUSE MONDAY Please join me in welcoming Rachel Brimble to Muse Monday. Hi Rachel. Tell us your story!
I have been writing romance since 2005, steadily chipping away and learning my craft over the last nine years. Each book I’ve had published and each editor I’ve worked with has taught me something to take forward into the next project. I have had no formal education or tuition for my writing, but have enrolled in many online courses and made lots of invaluable friends who have helped me on my journey.All the rejections (there have been MANY!) and disappointments, frustrations and tears were all made worthwhile during 2012 when my dream of writing for Harlequin came true. I wrote Finding Justice from the heart and of course, hoped and prayed an editor would love it as much as I did. However, nobody could have prepared me for the shock of receiving an email from my agent saying Harlequin loved the book but would I consider some minor revisions?Would I?? Hot damn, yes! I set to work and made the relevant changes that I immediately understood made the book stronger. These done, I sent them back and three weeks later, I was offered a contract. Woohoo!By the time I sent FINDING JUSTICE out into the big, wide world, the setting of Templeton Cove had become very dear to me and I soon realized I wasn’t ready to let this small fictional UK seaside town belong to just one book. Would Harlequin consider more books set in the same town? There was only one way to find out. I feverishly wrote a sequel and A MAN LIKE HIM was accepted by my Harlequin editor six months later.The cast of characters continues to grow and with each book I write in the series, more and more potential stories evolve from the secondary characters that leap into my imagination. I am thrilled to say in May this year, Harlequin offered me a further three-book contract, which means Templeton Cove continues to flourish with book three, WHAT BELONGS TO HER (Mar 2014) and now book four, my latest release, CHRISTMAS AT THE COVE!I often get asked what the secret is to breaking into Harlequin – my answer? The only aspect I am one hundred percent sure of is the Harlequin brand thrives on emotion. Emotion, emotion, emotion! Make sure the reader can feel what’s going on inside every character on every page and I’m pretty confident you’ll hook an editor. Good luck!
More family for Christmas? Scott Walker doesn't have time for a relationship. The sexy mechanic has career ambitions, not to mention a mother and three sisters to take care of. The last thing he needs is Carrie Jameson, the beauty he never forgot, arriving in Templeton Cove over the holidays with some unexpected news. Scott still finds Carrie irresistible, and he's not one to shirk responsibility. Scott's issues with his own dad make the prospect of parenthood a minefield. But if he and Carrie can overcome their fears, this Christmas could bring them the best gift of all. Amazon US
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
Templeton Cove Trailer

CONQUERING MY FEAR OF HEIGHTS - by Vijaya Schartz

FEARLESS FRIDAY I am honored to have Vijaya on Fearless Friday today with a fun post. Read on:  I like to challenge myself, always did. To conquer my fears as a child, I forced myself to do whatever scared me the most. Eventually, I earned a reputation as a thrill-seeker and a daredevil. One fear I could never quite conquer, however, was my fear of heights. At a very young age, I remember clinging to the railing on the platform of the top catwalk of the jungle gym at summer camp. Despite a good balance, coordination, and athletic dispositions, I couldn't get the courage to walk it. Later, as an adult, I could not stand at the edge of a cliff without feeling the strong pull of gravity buckling my knees, dizzying my head, thwarting my balance, threatening to bring me down. The pictures of workers having lunch perched on the steel beams of a skyscraper under construction made me sick to my stomach.

Since then, I went through therapy with a hypnotherapist. She led me through past life regression. Apparently, my fear of heights is rooted in how I died in my previous life. This hypothesis resonates with me. According to what I saw and said under hypnosis, I was a Native American woman, banished from the tribe for giving birth to a child from a white man. The tribe killed the child then forced me off a cliff. I can still smell the fear, the blood, feel the rage directed at me, the anger. I remember the warriors advancing upon me, forcing me back at spear point. I remember tripping backwards, the endless fall. But most of all, I remember the pain, as my broken body lay bloody on the rocks at the bottom of the precipice, among animal carcasses. I was still alive and suffered for days, abandoned, alone, in unbearable pain, before the end came.

To confirm this new information, I researched the tribe from the images seared in my subconscious and discovered it was the "Black Feathers" a tribe of the Crow Nation. And I recognized the white cliffs with the trees hanging from the vertical walls on photographs, and images of driving buffalo to stampede off the cliffs, a hunting method favored by the Crow... in Alberta.

That ghastly death would certainly explain my fear of heights today. I did some exercises, forcing myself to look down while walking at the edge of my second story patio. My reaction to the heights faded somewhat, but when I stopped the exercises, the fear returned. It's rooted in a very deep emotional trauma.

During a white river rafting trip in the Grand Canyon, on the Colorado River, we went exploring on foot, and our guide led us to a platform at the top of a cliff. As usual, I couldn't walk to the edge or look down. But below was a deep water pond, and water is my favorite element. The game was to jump off the cliff, into the water, wearing a life jacket (as we all did on this expedition). They asked for volunteers. I decided to attack my fear of heights, like I did other fears as a child. I raised my hand.

Since I could not look down, I didn't get to the edge. I took as many steps back as the flat area allowed, then started running as fast as I could, yelling at the top of my lungs. Heart pounding, I ran off the cliff into a free fall. I was airborne. What a thrill! Landing in the water was invigorating. On the picture, my jump doesn't look that scary because of the angle, but it was about five stories high, and for me, quite a victory.

I don't know if I would do it again, but I proved to myself that I could do it, and, although I still get rubber legs when I look down from the edge of a drop, I know I can master my fear in a pinch.

In my present life, I write fearless characters. In Checkmate, the hero's teenage daughter is also afraid of heights, and she has to climb the open stairs of the Eiffel Tower in Paris to rescue her father. I could really tap into my fear of heights in that scene. One of the scariest for me to write.

I write strong heroines in science fiction romance, and medieval fantasy settings. Girls with guns or swords, daring, fearless, with human flaws and a big heart. You can find my eBooks everywhere, and my paperbacks on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Wishing you all, a Fearless Friday.
Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/vijayaschartz 
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/vijaya-schartz
FB: https://www.facebook.com/vijaya.schartz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vijayaschartz

Straw Bites and Two-Year-Old Delights

Tortuga Thursday   In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Frank and I spent some time on the farm. Tortuga has been a pretty mellow place so we've been hanging out in Tonto Basin - Frank fishing and I've been writing. But it was time to do a little work on the farm, celebrate Sadi's second birthday then dog sit while Lance, Christie and Sadi went to Disneyland and the beach for a week. We learned a few things.

I learned either there are stinging bugs I couldn't see in the straw or the straw is the culprit. My knuckles are still swollen and itchy from some sort of mishap while weeding garlic. And I was wearing gloves. My next weeding day, a couple of weeks from now, I'll be careful to not rest my fists in the straw. So weird.

That was one of the things I learned while weeding garlic. The other thing I learned when weeding 300 foot rows is to look behind...see how much was accomplished...because looking at what still stretched out ahead was very discouraging.

Sadi's birthday party at the pizza parlor was  a blast. Her cousin Eli was there. It's
amazing to watch the differences in how boys and girls play even as early as two years old.

Frank learned making repairs around the house is tedious work. Well, he always knew that but after three trips to the hardware store for the same door part, he was convinced.

Some repairs, like plumbing, are best left to experts. The mainline plugged.  Yes, it was an eventful week.

Sadi came back from California with a cold. My granddaughter has most definitely embraced the typical two year old personality. Add a cold to that. She had her stinker moments. But she's sweet as pie the rest of the time. If I'd forgotten, I relearned just how wonderful a two year old can be.

And this guy is a new addition since last we were on Tortuga Flats Farm.

Mud and Mishaps

Tortuga Thursday   In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Our road is a river
The biggest news for this Tortuga Thursday is mud and more mud. The rain and snow started in November. Since the first of the year, we've had more rain than in the last five years for this time of year. Since our road is dirt and so packed down, drainage is about non-existent.

Got a call from our great neighbor, Eunice. She said she had a eggs for us and a present for Sadi's birthday. Hard to believe she's turning two today. Eunice also mentioned she has baby goats just a few days old. I couldn't resist trying to get over to their farm with Sadi to see the babies. Sadi's excitement was worth the chance of getting stuck. And we did. I didn't even make it to the end of our property line. So, Dave and Eunice hopped on the tractor and he pulled me out. He no sooner got me high and dry when an SUV up the road was spinning his tires. Dave saved the day. I think he thoroughly enjoyed it. Sadi had to miss the baby goats but the adventure was fun, especially since Dave let her sit on his tractor.

Sadi feeding PJOur newest addition, the baby kitty, now has a name - PJ. This is for Puck Junior. Lance had a cat for years named Puck which he adopted while playing Hockey in Minnesota...hence the name. This kitty looks so much like Puck, he has been named as his Junior. He's an outside cat but has a temporary home in our messy garage because it's so cold out.

Greenhouse veggies are keeping us happy. Garlic is sprouting. Now let's hope for
Garlic  no rain until the roads dry out!





Greenhouse onions and greens Greenhouse Parsley 
Greenhouse Chard

Play Games, Discover Books, Win Prizes

MUSE MONDAY
http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php?prize=1
All month long The Romance Reviews is celebrating their anniversary. And you can score!!! Not only can you have fun playing games, but you have a chance for some great prizes. And along the way you'll get introduced to some great books and authors. You could run into authors whose books you already love and you're sure to meet some new ones.

Here's the link to start the fun: http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php?prize=1

My game is up on March 19th so be sure to log on that day. But start early and play late. You'll have fun and score big!

Finding Time When There is None by Alicia Dean

MUSE MONDAY From left to right, Krysta, Amanda, Kathy, AliciaPlease welcome my guest, Alicia Dean, to Muse Monday! I am an editor for The Wild Rose Press, a freelance editor, and an author. With a full-time, outside the home job. And, I’m involved in various groups, social media, writing groups, etc. So, finding time to write is a bit of a challenge. My goal is to arise at 5 a.m., two hours before I normally do, in order to squeeze in some writing time. Unfortunately, I don’t usually sleep well, so making myself climb out of bed instead of grabbing those extra few hours takes more will power than I possess. I try to reserve my weekends for marathon writing sessions, but of course, with family and friend obligations, I don’t always have weekends to myself. I also have an incurable condition ‘Can’tSayNoItis.’ So, anytime someone asks a favor or presents a new project to me, before I even consider my schedule and the impossibility of adding one more thing to it, I say, “Yes, of course!” (Don’t tell anyone, if word gets out, I might be swamped with requests ;)). I stumbled across a couple of sayings that I intended to take on as my mantras: ‘Yes makes less’ and ‘No is a complete sentWhat is your schedule like? Do you have tips for managing your time you would like to share?
Fortunately, I was able to find time to complete a writing project with three of my writer friends. The four of us meet each Friday at a Martini Lounge in Edmond, Oklahoma. From those get-togethers, came the idea to write stories centered around a similar establishment. We call the series Martini  Club 4. Our first offerings are set in the 1920’s, and mine is called Ruined.

Blurb:
 She vowed she’d be no man’s doxy, but fate had other plans... 

After the Earl of Goodwin attempts to force himself on her, housemaid Eliza Gilbert flees England for New York, hoping to build a better life. But the land of opportunity proves as harsh as the London docks, and she finds herself in a situation more dreadful than the one she escaped. 

When Vince Taggart ’s childhood friend disappears, he heads to New York in search of her and meets Eliza, a woman with a less than honorable reputation. Inexplicably captivated, Vince can’t force himself to stay away, especially when he learns Eliza may be the key to finding his missing friend. Excerpt:

The whole idea sickened him. What kind of pathetic excuse for a man would have to buy a woman’s company? In spite of the bad taste the situation left in his mouth, he tried to appear interested and impressed. He scanned the room. His heart gave a little bump when he spotted Eliza from Club 501. He tilted his glass toward her. “What about that one?” He hoped his voice sounded more casual than he felt. The idea of spending a night of passion with a dame like her… Nah, he needed to waylay those kinds of thoughts. He wasn’t the type to buy a prostitute. And he was here for one reason only.Oscar followed the direction he’d pointed. “Oh yes, good choice. Eliza is a quite a prize. And quite a looker. She’s new, but she’s a sweet one.”An odd sense of protectiveness rose. At the club, he’d sensed something vulnerable and innocent, even though he’d been told she was one of Oscar’s girls. She just didn’t seem the type. When their gazes met that first time, he thought some kind of current—some kind of connection had passed between them. But apparently, she was just really good at her job—enticing men.Vince nodded. “I’ll take her.”
*** Available for pre-order, and through the end of February, for only 99¢ each - Regular price will be $2.99 beginning March 1!
Amazon pre-order buy link:http://www.amazon.com/Ruined-Martini-Club-4-1920s-ebook/dp/B00RICLM2I/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421883759&sr=1-1&keywords=martini+club+4Find all four at this link:http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=martini%20club%204&sprefix=martini+club+4%2Cstripbooks

Is It Still Fearless if You Are Fearful? by Angelica French

MUSE MONDAY Please join me in welcoming Angelica French to an oh-la-la day at Discover Yourself!
I am so happy to be guest posting today for Brenda. I have admired her and her work for a long time, so this is a real treat to appear here. When she put out the call for guest posters, the “Fearless Friday” topic snagged my attention. Hmm! I have a pretty good life. Nothing to fear in it, right? And then, I realized I had taken a step that was a risk. It didn’t feel fearless when I started. After all, no one would see it or even know it existed. It was not only my guilty little pleasure, secret for a long time, but it had to be done. The pressure on me to do it kept building until I could no longer ignore the necessity. “It” was the erotic romance I wrote. Streetwalker was 180 degrees from the culinary mysteries I had been writing. From PG to X-rated. In large part, I wrote Streetwalkerbecause protagonist Carrie badgered me until I did. I’ve only written two novels in which the protagonist took control, and I felt like I was just the fingers doing the typing. This was one. The real work was done by my young protagonist who gave me her story fully developed. So, that’s not the fearless part, right? I kept it quiet (except from DH who wondered why we were doing some, er, “inventive engagements” as I “researched” sexual descriptions I was writing). And here’s a confession. I’ve never told anyone this. The sex in Streetwalker is hot and got me hot, too! I, mean, since I was channeling my protag, it makes sense, right? I was feeling what she felt. It’s a weird experience writing while in heat! That confession is not the fearless part either. (Although, I am a little fearful about your reaction.) The fearless part was taking it public. Okay, admittedly not fully public as I used a pen name. But I’ve never hidden the pen name connection with my other author name. I have three names for writing. Each was chosen with the purpose of branding not concealment. I don’t want someone who loves Sharon Arthur Moore’s cozy culinary mysteries thumbing through Streetwalker looking for the recipes. I told people I had written an erotic romance under the name Angelica French and that I was seeking publication. Nervous titters from my very conservative neighbors. Statements of disgust from my very religious friends (“I do not write smut” I said on multiple occasions). And disappointment in me from some family members and concern that I would embarrass the family. I’ve learned that few people know where erotic romance falls on the continuum of romance. I had to educate them that what I write is not erotica or porn. Erotic romance focuses on the relationship between characters and uses a lot of sex while doing so. Sex is integral but so is character development and a solid story line. Erotica and porn have much thinner, even non-existent such aspects. Coming out to people I respect was hard. Judging doesn’t feel good. I don’t know anyone who enjoys being judged, especially from scanty evidence and prejudices and not from a reading of the material. I sought publication, and after quite a number of rejections, a small press picked me up! Streetwalkerwas born on August 1, 2013. More e-books than paperbacks sell, but that’s okay. The anonymity of Kindle lets people enjoy my work who wouldn’t want to flash the sexy cover about. Fearless step one accomplished. But it was with trepidation that I took another fearless step. I gave Streetwalker to my 85-year-old mother. And, like Mikey from the old commercial, she liked it! And she liked it for the right reasons, not just because her kid wrote it. She got it that the story was about Carrie’s character arc and about the relationship with Harlan. She liked the story line very much and enjoyed the surprises along the way. My sister never read page one. Never will. That’s okay. But, from my perspective, she had no right to criticize me for offering the book to our mother. When you take risks like that, violating someone else’s sense of what’s right, you have to live with the consequences. My sister and I never mention Streetwalker. Her children don’t know I wrote it. Best to keep it as a family skeleton, eh? Sometimes when people are expressing dismay when they learn about my other line of literature, I play along. “Yeah, I’m thinking of doing an ad campaign like ‘Granny Does Smut’ or ‘Dirty Books for Dirty Minds. Get Yours Filthy’ or ‘Melt your Kindle’”. They usually mutter something about needing another drink and wander off. So, I own that I write books that many would ban if they could. I’m okay with that as long as you give it a read. Don’t make up your mind about my story based on the blurb or the cover or your definition of erotic romance. See what motivates Carrie. Find out how she comes out a winner despite incredible roadblocks. Then we can talk. Fearlessly.

Streetwalker Excerpt Streetwalker is the tale of Carrie who wants more from life than to be a street prostitute. She has convinced Harlan, the owner of an Upper East Side brothel to take her as a minority partner for a trial period. In this excerpt from Streetwalker, Harlan grooms Carrie for her introduction to his upscale brothel’s prostitutes and clients.
          “Your eyes get bluer when you’re angry,” he paused, “and when you come. Did you know that?” Harlan teased her, tugging on his shirt sleeves under his tux to pull the cuffs lower on his long arms.          Carrie blushed. “This is my dress?” There was little to it.          “I am a diaphanous kind of guy, I guess.”          Carrie stared at him. “And that means  . . .?”          “Oh. Filmy, sort of see through, but shadowed a bit, to entice them to find out what’s under all that fabric,” Harlan explained.          “But this looks like an x-rated prom dress. I mean, here are these sweet little straps holding up the bodice, but then there are only two layers of fabric for the skirt, both di . . .di . . .”          “Diaphanous. Right. I want them to want you, see but not touch. That little shadow below your abdomen--drives ‘em crazy. Plus, I am pitching you as my virgin, saving you for the right experience, you need to be trained in this work, blah blah. Put it on.”          She shrugged off her robe into Harlan’s hands, and he could smell the faint aroma of cinnamon around her. He wanted to lean into it and cover himself with her scent.          She slipped the dress over her head, and he imagined the smooth coolness drifting over her body. Harlan zipped her up, smoothed the skirt, and turned her around for adjustment in front of the tri-fold mirror. The insubstantial straps held up a thin band of bodice, so low, all but her nipples were exposed; from the bottom of the bodice, the skirt fell away in a swirl of color. The silvery fabric caught the light and the color kept changing, blue to silver to white. He stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders. She took his breath away. It was exactly the image he wanted for her to project. Innocence on the brink of discovery.          Carrie stared at herself as if in awe. “I’m beautiful. I never thought I was beautiful. Oh, Harlan, thank you.” She caught his eye in the mirror and smiled her thanks.Harlan expertly applied her mascara, the lightest blush, and sheer lip gloss. He brushed her hair into bangs (“So sweet and innocent, aren’t they?”) and tucked the rest of her blond bob behind her ears, not at all seductive. She looked as if she had left the barn to get ready for her big date with the high school football quarterback. He studied her beauty, then crooking his arm asked “Shall we?”          The room was full of the house women when they arrived, all sipping their grape juice, and chatting with one another. All of the women wore fabulous clothes. The room appeared to be regular Fifth Avenue party, not at all like the brothel waiting rooms Carrie had been in before. Still, none of the women had the fresh dewiness of her look. Carrie would be noticed tonight.          Harlan was by her side when the first clients arrived, scanning the room and spotting her. His arm lightly around her waist sent a message. She wasn’t going anywhere with anyone anytime soon.

Angelica French Bio:Angelica French is not now, nor has ever been, a prostitute and to her knowledge, she doesn't even know one. But, Carrie bedeviled her with the story until she sat down to write Streetwalker. She felt like she was just the amanuensis for this tale.
However, Angelica has always been interested in universal feminine issues of self- worth and self-actualization. The "Sex Sells" series is one of redemption, recovery, and romance.
Angelica is happily married, with children, and lives in the desert southwest where she writes with a view of her citrus trees and the snoring of her yellow lab. Links:Get your copy of Streetwalker here: http://amzn.to/12Lp95XWebsite: www.sharonamoore.comBlog: “Romance Righter”  www.angelicafrench.blogspot.comTwitter: @RomanceRighterFacebook: Angelica French

Tips: Food, Money, Fun

  Tortuga Thursday  In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love. Playing at the winery
After weeding the garlic, Frank and I headed back to Tonto Basin for a
Lance, Sadi, Christiefew days. Caught up to date last week on Tortuga Thursday, so this week is this and that.

FOOD:
Food is a favorite topic on Tortuga Flats since we grow it in addition to eating it. If you check the archives for recipes you can see some of what we cook. We believe in no chemicals or pesticides and if you can't grow it that way, then try to buy it natural and organic.
**Like our Pirate Pickles - no alum for crunch. We get the crunch from our processing instead adding a chemical that comes from a metal. Even commercial manufacturers have cut back on its use but still soak the pickles in it.
**Try it raw - I grew up thinking salad was iceberg lettuce and
tomatoes. Anything raw might go in my salad now. There are many veggies we're accustomed to cooking whose leaves are great in salad like collard greens. And I love fresh herbs like cilantro or basil to top it off.
**Alternatives - Get a little healthier and try new toppings. Cinnamon is so good for you. On toast, drizzle a small amount of honey and sprinkle cinnamon as heavy as you want. On pancakes, you can do the same or top with mashed fresh fruit.

MONEY:
**Cell phone bill - ours was ridiculous. We supposedly had a senior discount and bundle discounts. By going on a month to month plan we cut our bill in half and have more. We went with Straight Talk but shop for what works best in your area. Frank has a simple phone with limited talk and unlimited text,. I need more so I have a smart phone with unlimited everything including Internet.
**General discounts - ASK, wherever you go. At a restaurant and don't see a special, then ask. Are you over 55 or a veteran? Then always ask if they have a discount for you at all eating establishments, hotels, movie theaters, large department stores, parks, etc.
**Long time customers - I expressed the possibility of changing our TV provider and received a discount for our long time usage. Maybe there is some service you have used for years and it's time they showed their appreciation. Or they have some special going for new customers so ask them about their valued customers!

I like old cemeteriesFUN:
It's everywhere and doesn't always have to cost a month of income.
A short hike in Tonto Basin
**Memberships can save money. There's a small zoo in Prescott that has a great rate for a yearly fee. You visit three times and you've gotten your money's worth.
**Walking tours - google your area. I'll bet that there are things to see for free on foot you might not even know about. Get some exercise with your fun.
Hanging out at the winery**Special days - some museums or other attractions have special discounted days each month. Call and find out so you can time your trip.
**Go but be frugal - we have a winery near us that is beautiful. We go
Fun at the wineryand just hang out sometimes, take a picnic lunch. If we do have wine we get one glass and make it last a long time while we enjoy our surroundings.

So get out, have fun, eat well, and make your money stretch!

Chicken, Chard,and a New Baby

Tortuga Thursday  In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
GarlicIt's only February, but things are coming back to life on the farm. We can't be too sure of the garlic yet. We do have several rows with tops popping out, some rows with a few, but there are other rows with no signs of anything except some grass. Not great news. It's time to dive in and do some weeding and pulling back mulch to check. That will happen over the course of the next couple of weeks. Which means...Frank and Brenda will be spending a few more days on the farm and less days at the Lazy JR RV Park in Tonto Basin.

There are a few more edibles in the greenhouse too. Chard is hardy. Onions are about
Greenhouseready. More greens are looking good. I'm a chard lover. Although I'm not crazy about kitchen time, I made a delicious chard and chicken skillet dish. Here's the recipe which I made up:

Add chardCHICKEN THIGHS WITH CHARD
All doneChop the red stems into one inch pieces and saute with minced garlic in olive oil. After  about five minutes, add boneless chicken breasts. Season with pepper and cumin. Cook until done. Add the green part of the chard. I tore it into pieces. Cover and simmer until done. The red chard gives the chicken great color!

Lance and BabyAND Tortuga Flats has a new member of the family - Baby or Kitty - depending on what Sadi chooses to call her that day. When I arrived back at the farm, it was a Baby day. It's so much fun watching them play together. I neglected getting a picture. Maybe next time.

Of Love and Vengeance by Louise Lyndon

MUSE MONDAY
Today's guest is Louise Lyndon. Hi, Louise. Tell us a little about yourself and your latest book.

Hi Brenda. Thanks for having me on Muse Monday. I've been writing for as long as I've been able to pick up a pen! However, I didn't know that I wanted to be a novelist until I picked up a copy of Diana Gabaldon's first novel, Outlander. That's when the novelist writing bug really bit me! I've played around with many genres but have found my voice in historical romance set in Medieval England. My first release, Of Love and Vengeance, was published by The Wild Rose Press, and released on December 19. Of Love and Vengeance was previously called, The Promise, which won first prize in the Crested Butte Sandy Writing contest 2013.


BLURB:Forced to marry Lord Aymon to ensure her nephews survival, English Lady Laila vows undying hatred for the Norman she holds responsible for so many deaths. Discovering Aymon has committed an act of treason gives her the chance to seek vengeance he deserves.  But will Laila really let Aymon die once she learns the truth?
A hardened Norman warrior, Lord Aymon has lived through atrocities no man ever should. With the invasion of England over, all he wants is a quiet life and a wife who will give him heirs and obey his every command. Instead, he finds himself wed to feisty and outspoken Laila. But when she learns the truth of his treasonous act, can Aymon count on her to keep his secret?
Excerpt One:Aymon caught a flicker of movement from a window on the second story. “I think we’re about to meet the welcome party.” An arrow zoomed toward him and landed on the pommel of his saddle. A half an inch closer and he would no longer be able to sire children. As if in demonstration of his ability with the bow and arrow, the shooter fired again. This time directed toward Hugh. The second arrow too came within a half an inch of his friend’s manhood.“You missed!” Aymon called toward the shooter.  He questioned his stupidity for mocking someone with such a good aim. “You want me to show you how good an aim I really am?” a woman’s voice echoed out across the yard. “Bloody hell,” Hugh half cursed, half laughed. “Where does a woman learn to shoot like that?”Aymon was shocked and admittedly a little impressed a woman had such remarkable shooting skills. He could use such a sharp shooter on his side in battle. After all, it was better to have someone so skilled firing for you than at you. Aymon raised his black leather gloved hand in surrender. “No. I’m firmly attached to my balls, thank you very much.” “Who are you?” the shooter demanded. “And what do you want? There is nothing of value here for you to steal. Be on your way, man, and leave me in peace.” “Some would say a female is of value,” Aymon drawled sardonically. A second arrow lodged firmly on the pommel between his legs. “I do not give third chances. I’ll give you to the count of three to leave. Or else you will find an arrow straight through your heart.” Aymon’s warhorse whinnied, and he fought to control the beast whose temperament was as black as his coat. “Put down your weapon!” “One!” “We mean you no harm!” “Two!” “I am Lord Aymon, and this is Lord Hugh. I’ve come to claim what is rightfully mine.” Silence. The two men looked at one another unsure what to do. “Should we storm the building and lay claim to what is yours?” Aymon shook his head. He dismounted but never took his eyes from the door to the manor. “She will soon make her appearance.” Hugh, too, dismounted. “How can you be so sure?” Aymon looked at his friend. “We do not have arrows through our hearts.”
AUTHOR BIO:Louise grew up in Australia before moving to England, where for sixteen years she soaked up the vibrancy of London and the medieval history of England. She has since returned to Australia. In 2013 Louise won first prize in the Crested Butte Sandy Writing Contest – Historical Romance Category –for her story, The Promise, which has since been retitled as, Of Love & Vengeance. When not writing, she can be found crawling under barbed wire and hoisting herself over twelve foot walls!
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