Sarah Ballance's Blog, page 51

Thankful for Books Blog Hop Nov. 8-13th ($10 GC INT)

‘Tis the season to be thankful, and to let you all know how very grateful I am for your readership I’m offering a $10 gift card up for one lucky entry. But first I’d like to thank I am a Reader Not a Writer and Tristi Pinkston for cohosting the hop – please swing by and give them a visit, where you’ll find over 150 other awesome giveaways.

Easy Entry – International Giveaway

I’m giving away a $10 gift card to either  Amazon or Barnes & Noble, winner’s choice. To enter, please comment with your email address and you’ll be included in the random.org drawing at the close of the hop. I’d also greatly appreciate it if you’d like my Facebook page, which you can do so in the sidebar on the left or by clicking here. 

The Fine Print

Void where prohibited. Open to everyone who can legally participate. No purchase necessary to win.  Again, VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. For more information about giveaways, click here.

For more fabulous giveaways

Please click here to return to the full list of participating giveaways!

New 99c Holiday Release: “A Promise for her Love” by Elaina Lee

If you read TO URN HER LOVE, you’ll want to catch this follow up to the rather amusing beginning of Rick and Caylie’s relationship. If you didn’t read URN, no worries.  A PROMISE FOR HER LOVE stands alone, and it’s only 99 cents!

A Promise for her Love

Christmas is supposed to be the most joyful time of year. Instead, Caylie Abrahams finds herself consumed by doubts and misgivings as her wedding date to Rick Marshall approaches. From two different walks of life, Caylie fears Rick’s family, and his money, will be too much to handle. Matters don’t improve much when Rick is forced to give her a prenuptial agreement.

Knowing the marriage contract may be the last straw for Caylie, Rick has to find a way to show his bride-to-be the agreement doesn’t mean their marriage is doomed. Not only does he need to make sure her worries are addressed, but the pressure of keeping his hands to himself until their wedding night is proving more difficult than he anticipated.

Find it @ Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Maria Hammarblad: “Undercover” with a G!veaway

[image error]Please welcome Maria Hammarblad, author of UNDERCOVER, with a guest blog visit today.

Thank you for welcoming me to the blog, Sarah. It’s a pleasure to be here!

For me as a writer, one of the biggest challenges is figuring out what category my books belong to. It might sound like a joke, but there are so many to choose from, and the one you want usually doesn’t exist. Is it important? Yes, kind of. If people search for books in a certain category, and stumble over something they don’t expect, they’ll be disappointed.

My novel Kidnapped is an excellent example. It’s a romantic science fiction story. Amazon doesn’t have a category for science fiction romance for Kindle books, so my publisher categorized it as romance and science fiction. Seems reasonable, right? Lots of people bought it, some wrote reviews, and seem pretty happy.

One person e-mailed me the other day and said, “I really don’t like your book. It’s nothing like Isaac Asimov at all.”

I stared at the screen, I laughed, and I stared some more. Kidnapped is a romance novel.

Personally, I don’t like Asimov’s books all that much (blasphemy, I know), but I respect him. I have no intention of even trying to emulate him. If I ever write about robots, they’ll go crazy and kill people without regard to any robotic laws, because that’s the way my mind works.

I couldn’t figure out a way to answer without sounding snarky, so I wrote, “I’m sorry you didn’t like my book. Try reading something by Chris J. Randolph. His works might be more to your liking.”

Later the same day I stumbled over a review giving the book two stars, saying, “It’s nowhere even close to Douglas Adams.” I chuckled and thought, “Well, Douglas Adams didn’t write romance now, did he?”

While I realize people are different and expect different things, comments like these send me into fits of laughter. I’m sorry if I’m hurting someone’s feelings with saying that, but… I wouldn’t read a book by a romance novelist and say, “I don’t like this, because it’s nothing like Stephen King.”

I thought it would be easier with Undercover. It’s my first novel that’s not science fiction. Contemporary romance, how hard can it be? It’s a big category containing many, many, many books, but it’s pretty clear. Reader reviews have been positive.

RT Book Reviews reviewed it as a thriller and said, “It’s a bit boring.” I bet: it’s not a thriller. It had some both sexy and violent parts with murders and suspense, but they all fell under the scissors in editing. It’s pretty clean now, and readers expecting a thriller will surely be disappointed.

Undercover

When Jenny Moore meets Alexei Roshenko, it’s love at first sight. The tall, dark and handsome stranger appears to be the answer to every romantic fantasy any woman ever had. There is however more to him than meets the eye, and a dark and violent past is catching up with him. When Jenny decides to follow him back to Russia, she gets entangled in a web of deceit and secrets beyond her wildest imagination.

Find it @ Amazon | Watch the trailer on YouTube

Giveaway

For a chance to win a Kindle, PDF, or epub copy of UNDERCOVER, please leave a comment with your email address and preferred format. And, while it will not affect your odds of winning, it would be awesome of you to show Maria some love! Want to learn more about the story? Here’s a tantalizing excerpt.

Excerpt

When the wheels finally touched American soil, Jenny was both relieved and nervous. She was so happy to be home she could cry, at the same time as she fretted over his papers. They looked good but could hardly be real. Alex didn’t seem worried at all; he was the epitome of calm as they stood in the long line to the passport checkpoint.

Her own passport had been unused before this trip, and she opened it to look at the stamps. Alex bent over to kiss her on the cheek. He knew her well enough already to know what was on her mind. “Don’t worry, I do this all the time.”

The comment distracted her, and she thought he probably did it on purpose. She wanted to ask a million or so questions, but didn’t even lift an eyebrow. “I can’t wait to be home.”

Once they reached the counter, the woman sitting there hardly even looked at the photos. She threw one glance at their documents, gave them back, and yelled, “Next!”

They waited for the luggage for an eternity, and Jenny was nervous all the way through customs. She relaxed a little once they were well into the large airport, surrounded by Americans hurrying in all directions. The protection of being in the country was more imagined than real, but she was still happier. They walked slowly hand in hand with the suitcases rolling behind them like obedient dogs, and just seeing the crowds made her heart lighter.

She wondered if her lover would miss seeing and hearing his own language, and if he would miss his own people. He was stranded in a foreign country and culture with nothing but her, with an axe hovering over his head, and all this after knowing her for just a couple of months. Thinking about it made her feel incredibly guilty, and telling herself she couldn’t have done anything about it didn’t help at all.

Eventually, Alex stopped and pulled their bags up next to a wall. “Are you up for the drive home, or do you want to stay in a hotel tonight?”

She kept going because he did, but now when he said it, she was very tired. “I don’t know. It would be good to be home, but it seems so far away. What do you think?”

“Oh, I want to go somewhere and take all your clothes off, but what I want is not important. Your wish is my command, my sweet.”

It made her laugh. “So, a hotel it is.”

When they walked towards the exit, past one of the cafés, she saw a familiar face turn towards them. A smile played on the man’s lips. She had seen him not all that long ago, on the other side of the world, in Alex’s apartment. He met her eyes, and she said, “Ignore him.”

They walked right past the old man. “They’ve been with us all the way. One would think people would have something better to do.”

She hadn’t seen anyone else, but if he said they had been there, they were there.

Maria Hammarblad

Born in Sweden in the early 1970′s, Maria showed a large interest for books at an early age. Even before she was able to read or write, she made her mom staple papers together into booklets she filled with drawings of suns and planets. She proudly declared them, “The Sun Book.” They were all about the sun. She also claimed, to her mother’s horror, that her being on Earth was a big mistake and that her alien family would come and bring her home at any moment. This never happened, but both the interest in space and the passion for bookmaking stayed with her.

As an adult Maria’s creativity got an outlet through playing bass in a number of rock bands, and through writing technical manuals and making web pages for various companies and organizations. She did write drafts for a few novels, but the storytelling muse was mostly satisfied through role playing online on Myspace. It was here, while writing stories together with people from around the globe, she stumbled onto Mike. They started talking out of character, and she moved over to Florida to him late 2008. Today the two are married and live in the Tampa Bay area with three rescue dogs.

Besides writing and playing bass, Maria enjoys driving off-road, archery, and Tameshigiri.

Upcoming releases

Flashback, to be released by Desert Breeze Publishing June 2013
Operation Earth, to be released by Desert Breeze Publishing August 2013
Borealis XII, to be released by Desert Breeze Publishing November 2013

Fun Facts

Favorite color:             Blue
Favorite food:              Chicken with cashew nuts
Doesn’t eat:                  Mammals
Favorite TV Show:       Star Trek TNG and Leverage
Favorite animal:           Border Collie
Quotes:                        “Full Speed Ahead” and “Caffeine is good for you”

Find Maria on the web

Website:                       http://www.hammarblad.com
Facebook:                    https://www.facebook.com/mariahammarblad
Blog:                            http://www.scifiromance.info
Twitter:                        @mariahammarblad
Goodreads:                  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4114780.Maria_Hammarblad
Publisher’s website:      http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com

11.04.2012 #SixSunday with Last Call

       Coming soon to FTMP!

A familiar name has just popped up in Nick and Rhys’s investigation into her shooting. This is from Rhys’s POV as she considers the connection.

A pretty, polished picture for the public, Vincent Siegal was thickly rumored to have ties in illegal operations. Problem was no amount of digging uncovered anything more incriminating than an overdue library book. Even then, the bastard had paid his ten cent fine and followed with a two-thousand dollar donation. The man was as beloved as he was crooked. But at some point, the circumstantial evidence had to amount to something. Everyone who dared butt heads with him ended up dead, and that was enough to sway her opinion, if not provide proof.

LAST CALL is now on GoodReads! Click here to add it to your TBR list.

Enjoy your Sunday six sentences at a time!  To see other participating authors, click here.

Vanessa Morgan: GPS with Benefits ($25 GC Giveaway)

Please welcome Vanessa Morgan with a guest blog for today!

GPS WITH BENEFITS

Thank you for having me on your blog today. I’m truly honored to be here with all of you!

How many people do you know that make jokes about their GPS device or even talk to it?

Nearly everyone, right?

GPS devices know where you are and how fast you are driving. Who says that, in the near future, they won’t be able to know you look at and what you say.

These thoughts form the basis of my new release, GPS WITH BENEFITS, in which a womanizer purchases a new GPS device, not knowing that it has a mind of ‘her’ own.

“The inspiration for GPS WITH BENEFITS came to me when I was in the car with a friend,” Vanessa says. “We made jokes about the GPS device and imagined what it would be like if the GPS was actually aware of what the driver was thinking. I immediately knew that these ideas could be turned into a hilarious story.”

I won’t reveal more, but GPS WITH BENEFITS has some twists and turns that you won’t see coming and that will have you laughing out loud.

Giveaway

Your turn… What’s the weirdest or funniest thing a GPS has ever done to you?

By the way, if you leave a comment on this post, you’ll automatically be entered to win an Amazon Gift Card of $25.

About the author

Vanessa Morgan is known as the ‘female version of Stephen King’. Her screenplays, A GOOD MAN and GPS WITH BENEFITS, are currently being turned into movies. She is also the author of the books DROWNED SORROW and THE STRANGERS OUTSIDE. If she’s not working on her latest supernatural thriller, you can find her reading, watching horror movies, blogging, digging through flea markets or indulging in her unhealthy obsession to her cat. She writes in English, Dutch and French.

About her latest release, GPS WITH BENEFITS

In GPS WITH BENEFTIS, a womanizer purchases a new GPS device, not knowing it’s one with a mind of ‘her’ own.

GPS WITH BENEFITS is available NOW at:

Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Places you can cyberstalk Vanessa Morgan:

Official blog | Amazon

I Decorate Cakes. Wanna See?

At over 12″ long and standing more than 9″ high, this is one of my favorites. Click image to see more.

I grew up watching my grandmother decorate cakes, and some of my favorite memories are of leafing through her Wilton Cake Decorating Yearbooks. They smelled of homemade icing and were just full of amazing, glorious cakes. The last time I looked through her books with her was the day my husband-to-be and I found our wedding cake, which–at about five feet tall with five layers with a fountain beneath–was the last cake she made before she retired.

My own “career” in cakes started with my firstborn’s first birthday. I’ve never been taught, trained, or otherwise schooled. My cakes won’t ever make the front page–I refuse to use fondant, nor will I take the time to make every speck of icing perfect–but over the last thirteen years I’ve literally made hundreds. I still have about three years worth of cakes to find–after baby number six was born, I failed to update my photo collection–but if you head on over to the link below, you’ll find many of my favorites.

Enjoy … it’s a calorie-free indulgence!

http://secondpieceofcake.blogspot.com/

Happy Hawthorne … er, Halloween: A Brand New Excerpt

Happy Halloween!

The kids and I are having an all-day party packed with ghoulishly delicious homemade appetizers. Deviled eyeballs, Bacon-wrapped Cajun Jalapenos, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Spicy Jalapeno Dip, lots of meats and cheeses, and spiderweb cupcakes are just some of the menu items. Unfortunately I can’t invite you in to my home, the inside of which is entirely draped in spiderwebs (some aren’t real, mind you, lol), but I can offer a new excerpt from HAWTHORNE. Still haven’t read this one? It’s only $1.99 … if you dare.

HAWTHORNE | excerpt

[Noah] made a move to kill the light, but before he touched it a flicker on the outskirts of his forty-­‐‑watt island caught his eye. He tipped his head to examine the bulb, wondering if it had somehow moved, but his fingers had yet to find purchase on the pull. He tried to study his surroundings, but a cursory examination of the area proved difficult thanks to the spots marking his vision, leading him to the rather predictable conclusion that staring at a light bulb had not been in his best interest. But whatever compelled him to look past the merger of light and shadow into the dark corner was stronger than his fear—stronger, even, than common sense—so he eased into the darkness.

And saw her face.

Indefinable pain exploded through his skull and wracked his body, nearly bringing him to his knees. Through the power of tunnel vision, he was rocketed back ten years in time. There he stood in a nervous sweat, seventeen years of courage all gathered and reserved for the moment he’ʹd ask her for the world. Weeks of planning had come down to a single act: the caretaker’ʹs son palming a dime store ring intended for an heiress.

Emma Grace was his.

He was close enough to reach for her—to revel in the flirtatious, come‐‑hither grin she wore as she backed away from him on the roof, her hair blazing under the kind of moonlight that set the world on fire. He’ʹd stolen a single kiss, and the weight of a decade had yet to fade the light pressure of her hand stroking his cheek as she fell into his arms. They’ʹd shared their last kiss; it was a reality he never saw coming, and yet he wouldn’ʹt change a thing if he had known. Things were like that with them—always perfect.

Until the moment she’ʹd caught his lip between her teeth in a playful nibble that still drew an intimate surge through him when he thought of it. Then she’ʹd run the length of the walkway, hair flying, bare feet slapping on the wood. Two wooden rails stood between them and nothing, and the world was theirs.

Then he blinked.

In the infinitesimal moment of darkness Emma Grace screamed, and Noah watched from a helpless distance with unbelieving eyes as the form of an old woman appeared between them. The leering, decaying figure carried the scent of skunk—a horrific stench on a gentle breeze—and pressed relentlessly closer to Emma Grace. She’ʹd scrambled, running backward, and before he could say stop, before the word forced itself from his brain to his mouth, she’ʹd taken one step too far and plummeted over the railing. The sound of her sliding—screaming—echoed through every why and what if he’ʹd collected over the years, as if any amount of wishing could change a thing.

Before the echo of Emma Grace’ʹs cries had died in his ears, the woman twisted and sneered—a lurid, heartless upturn of her face. It was the last thing Noah remembered before he blew right through her, running in terror to the edge which had taken Emma Grace, as if he could somehow catch her and make things right.

Then he was on his knees, begging for none of it to be real.

And that was it.

The attic grew cold, the brittle air sucking Noah from his past. He blinked, his unfocused eyes settling on a murky disturbance of air. Had he seen the woman at all? Glancing around, he was startled to find himself kneeling on the plank flooring in a deep recess of the attic, far from the relative safety of the light. Then confusion gave way to the cold. Terror crept into his bones, and was left with one simple thought.

He had to get to Emma Grace.

Find it @ GOODREADS | ASTRAEA PRESS | AMAZON KINDLE | B&N NOOK | iTunes

“Hawthorne”…and the Mysterious Disappearance of My Books

On this All Hallow’s Eve … er, Eve, I’d like to offer a glimpse at my ghostly-mystery-romance HAWTHORNE, but before we go there, we have a greater mystery to explore.

My missing books.

New releases, to be more specific. I was supposed to have about four out by now, but alas, not one. What happened, you ask? What could possibly happen to FOUR new releases? Ah, but truth is stranger than fiction.

I have edits for LAST CALL and I’ve decided to rework a couple of sections I’m just not happy with. This will take time, and it’ll be worth it to have something I love, and not something going out for the sake of having a release.
DEAD RISE SHORE was delayed a bit as I fiddled with LAST CALL. I will turn it in to my editor pretty soon and it will probably release before LC. I do have to warn you all – DRS takes a dark, twisted turn and I love it *so* much!
SAYING NO TO A HAMILTON is finished and waiting on someone else. That’s as much as I can say, LOL.
RUBY HILL … oh, RUBY HILL. This one has some very good news attached but I can’t tell you just yet. Muahahahahaaa! An announcement should be coming soon, but don’t look for the book itself until next fall.

Now that you’ve been properly updated, I want to wish all of those in the path of Sandy / Frankenmonster the very best. Stay safe! I’ll leave you with a look at an early scene of HAWTHORNE, which is just perfect for this Halloween Eve. The book is only $1.99 and available from all of your favorite places, including Amazon, B&N, and iTunes.

HAWTHORNE | excerpt

Something brushed the car, rocking it. Swallowing panic, Emma tried to tear her focus from Hawthorne Manor, but fear kept her from looking anywhere else. Time and distance hadn’ʹt done her any favors; she was a fool for coming anywhere near this place, much less with the ragtop down.

The car rocked harder. The something refused to be ignored.

Fighting the grip of panic tightening her throat—fighting the ghosts of her past—Emma forced herself to look away from the house, toward the intrusion over her left shoulder.

The first thing she saw was an aged set of gnarled fingers resting on the door, blue automotive paint showing through an ugly translucence.

The second was the face—withered, centurion, and expressionless. Haunting.

Familiar.

Her.

Emma screamed.

Find it @ GOODREADS | ASTRAEA PRESS | AMAZON KINDLE | B&N NOOK | iTunes

Paul H. Landes with “Wings of Redemption”

Today we welcome Paul H. Landes, who is here with a brand new romantic suspense release, WINGS to REDEMPTION. My regulars know this happens to be my favorite genre, and I’ve got to tell you all, this one looks SO good. I hope you’ll join me in making Paul’s visit one he won’t soon forget.

Welcome, Paul! Your bio and your book share some fascinating parallels. Can you share with our readers the real life experiences you bring to the pages of WINGS to REDEMPTION?

This is one of my favorite stories to tell. The original creation of this novel is how I met Kristen, my wife, and how I became an author. Within weeks after we first met we asked each other the question, “What would you like to accomplish that you have not yet accomplished?” It turned out that we both had a secret desire to write a novel so, we began. For four months we conspired, dreamed and wrote together and throughout this process we fell in love. The book idea was eventually shelved, but we got married.  Oh, and that was seventeen years ago almost to this day when we started the book… a pretty happy ending.

What an awesome story! And seventeen years ago? When did you pick things back up and finally finish your novel?

I think I only picked it up twice during all that time and I wasn’t sure if I could finish it by myself or if I would have the time to devote to it. In August of last year, I pulled the manuscript out of a box and read it in its entirety. It seemed to tug at me and it reeled me back in. I dusted it off, found a way to transfer things from an old floppy disc and I’ve spent the last 12 months writing, polishing, writing and polishing and have now fallen completely in love with the whole process of writing.

I remember those old discs, LOL. I’m glad the story was rescued. Let’s dig into the plot. Tell us about the book!

One of the things I purposely haven’t done in my promotional material is reveal the true identity of the main character, Alex Boudreau. I like the way the early chapters introduce this person, so I’ve left Alex’s identity blank.  I’m betting most of the readers will have a sheepish smile when they find out. Ah… yes, the plot. We have two people who meet in a predator-prey type situation and although they’ve led polar opposite lives, they have parallel psychological scars which they’ve dealt with very differently over the years. It makes for an interesting push – pull type of relationship.  So, here is the way I summarize the story -

Alex has been trained to win…at any cost. Lured by a sacred trust back into a life of stealth and undercover thievery, Alex confronts a tormented past laced with guilt, self-proclaimed failure and deception. Faced with gripping, split-second decisions that would forever shape the future, Alex plunges, once again, into the world of corporate intrigue, greed and deceit.  After stealing a top-secret genetically engineered drug, Alex discovers the stolen information contains the specs to create a viral weapon – a weapon designed to threaten the world.  Now the target of cold, calculating men with unlimited resources, nerves and wits are the only weapons available to unearth the identity of these men who are determined to kill not only Alex, but millions of others.

There is a strong element of romance in the story, but I chose not to reveal this in the overall synopsis. I felt that would take away from a hidden element in the first couple of chapters.

You’ve certainly done the job of intriguing your readers. I’d love to drop everything and read right now, LOL! (Only I’m not kidding.) What might readers be surprised to learn about the plot or characters of WINGS to REDEMPTION?

Well the ending’s pretty damn good—I think the readers will be surprised when they get there. Even I didn’t see that coming until one of my later re-writes. I know I’ve worked the cast of characters over pretty well and you get a sense of who they are and what they feel. You can feel their empathy, feel their eerie shivers and you leap off your seat the moment they come to certain realizations. Tons of fun to work on character development.

I LOVE a surprise ending, and the build up sounds so well thought out. I love the consideration you’ve given these elements. Let’s have some fun with WINGS to REDEMPTION. What’s the first sentence?

Ah sorry, I can’t reveal anything about the early chapters, remember? Alex’s true identity is a secret. But, if anyone really wants to know, they can go to the “Look Inside” segment on my Amazon site and read about it themselves.

Sneaky, sneaky! (Much more so than I, clearly. LOL!) What’s your favorite line in the book?

Wow, there are a lot of lines in the book… but when I think about it I’d probably go to a scene that took place in a San Francisco restaurant when a light bulb went off in the head of one of the characters. This is the moment when he finally realized things weren’t at all like he thought. Here it is:

Benjamin’s head was now lodged in the soft spot between his thumb and index finger.  His eyes were half shut and his brows were furrowed as his mind played out the course of events in reverse. Fragments of conversations, taken one-by-one, began to reveal a pattern as intricate and orderly as a spider web—a web that was cast over his own blind eyes.  Stunned and now staring aimlessly out across the open dining area, his fingers drum rolled across the tablecloth…maybe you aren’t who you say you are! I am such a fool, he thought.

That’s a well scripted moment, Paul. I love it! How about an excerpt … three sentences long! Yep, that’s it. Three!

As I’ve mentioned, I had a lot of fun with character development; trying to bring these people to life in their own unique way. My editor is a real pro at this and she pushed me to a level that has made this story and the characters infinitely better. So let me share a piece that I really like. These are two very close friends and now its crunch time when decisions need to be made—right now

Phil stood up, walked over to Benjamin and placed a hand on his shoulder. Benjamin’s grief and distress shot through him like static electricity. He had never witnessed Benjamin in such a state of emotional upheaval before. The man he knew and admired had always stood ten feet tall with an aura of confidence and invincibility.  He was now lost at sea caught in the conflicting currents of love and emptiness. This gal really had an effect on him, Phil thought. He needs to find her and be with her one way or another so he can sort this out. 

Wow — she much be some woman! I’d love a glimpse of the dynamics going on there, but alas, I’ll have to read the book. ;c) Which scene of WINGS to REDEMPTION was most difficult for you to write? Why?

There are several sub-plots going on involving computer hacking and a weapons-grade genetic virus. I don’t mind telling you that I knew absolutely nothing about either of these areas—nothing. I spent way too much time researching both of these topics and I thought I was making great progress and coming up with some good ideas. I was talking to a friend about what I was doing and he said, “Why don’t you talk to Murray about all this?” Duh, why didn’t I come up with that idea?  Murray is a friend and a Professor Emeritus at the University of California whose credentials defy credibility. He’s done some amazing things in his career, so I worked with Murray and several others to come up with what is really cutting-edge stuff. They helped me understand what I was writing so I was able to present it in a somewhat technical way, but even the neophytes like me would be able to understand it. All that was tough, but very rewarding.

I SO need a Murray! LOL. As an author and a reader I can really appreciate the consideration you’ve put into those elements. It takes a lot of hard work to make it look easy! Back to the story, which scene would you most like to experience for yourself? From whose POV?

I don’t think I’d like to play a personal part in any of the scenes. No…strike that. I would jump at the opportunity to be a part of the scene where two of the main characters make love for the first time. Yep, you could put me in that scene, but that may be the only one.

Well, that’s it folks. That answer has officially crossed the gender line, LOL! (Most of my guests are woman, Paul, and the vast majority offer the same answer so you’re in great company.) What inspired the title of WINGS to REDEMPTION?

Oh, the title—the dreaded title. That was impossible and I spent months trying to come up with just the right word, phrase or whatever would work. I had written down pages of ideas, but nothing stuck with me for more than a day or so. One weekend, Kristen and I holed up in a house on the coast and threw around ideas the whole weekend. It wasn’t until we were driving home that Wings to Redemption hit me and struck a cord. I waited a few days and it still held. It really fits the whole story. It’s perfect.

It feels so good when the right one sticks, and that’s a great one! Can you tell us about the rest of the Alex Boudreau Adventure series?

This is the first of three books involving Alex Boudreau. The second book will be out in 2013. I have a good part of it outlined and now that my debut novel is up and running I can start to do what I want—write. The first book takes place in the San Francisco bay area and Paris with side excursions to Brazil, Australia, Morocco, Washington DC and a few other places. The next story will continue with the international intrigue and we’ll be visiting some new locations. There maybe some need for some serious research on this issue.

Wow — I love the international intrigue. Sounds like a field trip might be in order . . . in the name of research, of course. ;c) If you had just ten seconds to convince someone to read WINGS to REDEMPTION, what would you say?

If your spirit is teeming with romance, if you’re hypnotized by international intrigue, if you love to figure out “who-done-it” thrillers, then this story will captivate your heart and mind and keep you sitting on the edge of your seat. Guaranteed!!

There, I think I still have 5 seconds left.

Wings to Redemption

Alex Boudreau has been trained to win…at any cost. Lured by a sacred trust back into a life of stealth and undercover thievery, Alex confronts a tormented past laced with guilt, self-proclaimed failure and deception. Faced with gripping, split-second decisions that would forever shape the future, Alex plunges, once again, into the world of corporate intrigue, greed and deceit.  After stealing a top-secret genetically engineered drug, Alex discovers the stolen information contains the specs to create a viral weapon – a weapon designed to threaten the world.  Now the target of cold, calculating men with unlimited resources, nerves and wits are the only weapons available to unearth the identity of these men who are determined to kill not only Alex, but millions of others.​​

Find it @ Amazon US Paperback | Amazon US Kindle | Amazon UK Paperback

Paul H. Landes

​My whole professional career was spent in the corporate world. I did encounter some successes and some failures, but all-in-all, I’ve gained life experiences that serve me well today. Kristen and I, plus our three dogs, spend as much time as we can on the coast in Northern California where we dive for abalone, forage for mushrooms, hike through the redwoods, cook for friends and of course, this has become my sanctuary where my writing can be the most productive. I swim daily and whenever I’m near a river or lake I don’t miss the chance to take a long swim. In fact, one of my proudest moments was last summer when I completed a solo crossing of Lake Tahoe. But I have to tell you, when that first box of books arrived at my door I knew at that moment that I had become a published author—that is by far the coolest moment in my life.

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Thank You

Thanks to everyone for joining us today! I hope you’ll take a look at WINGS to REDEMPTION and take a moment to give Paul a warm welcome. Paul, thanks so very much for spending part of your day with us today. I hope your book resonates with readers in all the right ways — congratulations on your debut release!

 

10.28.2012 #SixSunday with Last Call

       Coming soon to FTMP!

We have an unwanted house guest this weekend — her name is Sandy — and if she keeps me off the computer I will catch up with your blogs and comments as soon as I am able. Here’s to electricity and internet, LOL!

Last week, we saw former detective Rhys escape an attack — one that only fueled Nick’s suspicions there’s something she’s not telling him. Remember, Nick and Rhys have a combative relationship. Also of note, her “death” the day before had been reported on the local news, which explains his initial response in the six.

Immediately prior to this six, he asks if she’s on a case. Her response is that she is NOT, after which he says this:

“Fair assumption, considering your untimely demise. Technicalities aside . . .”

Rhys wanted to keep her cards close, but somehow they’d been set up. She didn’t yet know how her being shot tied into Nick’s arrival in town, but the timing was suspect, at best. Someone forced her hand, and with any luck, together she and Nick could figure out who and why.

They didn’t have to like it.

LAST CALL is now on GoodReads! Click here to add it to your TBR list.

Enjoy your Sunday six sentences at a time!  To see other participating authors, click here.