Terry Spear's Blog, page 389

Highland Rake is DONE!

Dougald MacNeill is the next to youngest MacNeill brother and he's not about to settle down, until Lady Alana Cameron is placed squarely in his lap...and then, the trouble begins.

When Dougald finds Alana roaming the heather on the MacNeill lands, he takes her in hand to see his laird brother James at Craigly Castle to determine her fate. But who has sent her there and why? Her uncle, laird of the Cameron clan, that has warred with the MacNeills for years, has made a marriage arrangement with another clan and now that is even at stake.Having witnessed her father's death, and even believing he had returned her home when all along he had been dead, Alana discovers she has the gift, or curse, of seeing the newly departed and sometimes those who should have long ago passed over. Her own deceased brother continues to plague her, the rake, and now another, who is very much of the flesh, Dougald MacNeill, has her thinking marrying a rake might just have its benefits. Dougald's sister, who is one feisty ghost, has offered to help Alana keep Dougald in line if he thinks of even straying.But who sent Alana on a fool's errand in the first place to remove her from the Cameron's lands and set her squarely in Dougald's care, and who really killed her father and her brother, and what has it all to do with Alana? Will she and Dougald learn the truth before it is too late?

I'm still waiting on critique partners to finish critiquing it, but it should be out soon.


First we had Malcolm, the second eldest of the MacNeill brothers in Winning the Highlander's Heart , searching for an English bride, and becoming intrigued with a Scottish lass trying to avoid the king's advances.



Winning the Highlander's Heart
Nook

And then came James, the eldest, who finds a pearl in the sea in The Accidental Highland Hero.


 The Accidental Highland Hero
Nook
The Accidental Highland Hero is now in audio also!
Now we'll have Dougald's story, the rake of the bunch in Highland Rake . :)


So what do I do to celebrate???

Get back to work on Tom's story! Woohoo. Silence of the Wolf has been silent for too long. Time to play with the wolves again in Silver Town, Colorado!

 Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality."
www.terryspear.com

What inspired My Brave Highlander? by Vonda Sinclair

I'm excited to have Vonda Sinclair here today with her new release, My Brave Highlander! She'll be giving away a free ebook copy of the book, so be sure and leave a comment below! Plus, besides her hunky kilted warrior cover, aren't the Scottish beach scenes beautiful?
And now, I have the honor to present to you the inspiration for My Brave Highlander by Vonda Sinclair!
Dirk, the hero of My Brave Highlander, was a secondary character in my second book, My Wild Highlander. He’s a friend of the hero in that book. Dirk was a bit different though… the strong, silent type, watchful of those around him and ever alert for danger. I knew he must have had an interesting, perhaps even traumatic background. When I watched an episode of Most Haunted filmed in the UK, inspiration struck. The cast and crew of the TV series were at a haunted castle. What happened there a few hundred years ago was that the lady of the castle, a second wife, saw an opportunity for her son to inherit her husband’s title and lands if only her stepson, her husband’s oldest son, were somehow out of the way. She either murdered him or paid someone to murder him. But her son, the younger boy, was very close to his older brother and loved him very much. He was devastated when his older brother disappeared. One day the younger son saw his older brother through the upstairs window. He was standing in the courtyard below. In his excitement to see his big brother after a long absence, he fell out the window to his death. The elder brother had not been in the courtyard. It was his ghost. Now both boys were dead thanks to the stepmother’s scheming, murderous plots. 
Using this story as inspiration, I learned that Dirk’s stepmother tried to murder him or have him murdered three times during his youth so that her son could inherit. She thought she’d succeeded the third time when she hired an infamous highwayman and contract killer to push the fifteen-year-old Dirk off a cliff into the ocean. Dirk’s family and clan thought he was dead for twelve years. But his uncle had secretly helped him escape to his mother’s clan further south where he could safely grow into a man and become a trained warrior. When he returns home to Durness on the North Coast of Scotland, his scheming stepmother is still alive. Will she try again to have him murdered so one of her sons can inherit?
I love using real history to inspire my stories whenever possible. Truth is often stranger than fiction so it can inspire interesting plot twists and turns.
 Battle-hardened warrior Dirk MacLerie isn't who everyone thinks he is. He's Dirk MacKay, heir apparent to the MacKay chiefdom and Dunnakeil Castle on the far north coast of Scotland. When he returns home after a long absence, will his clan know him and will the duplicitous enemy who tried to murder him twelve years ago kill him in truth this time?

Lady Isobel MacKenzie is a beautiful young widow betrothed to yet another Highland chief by her brother's order. But when her future brother-in-law accosts her and threatens to kill her, she is forced to flee into a Highland snowstorm. When she runs into a rugged and imposing man she thought dead, she wonders if he will turn her over to her enemy or take her to safety.

Dirk remembers the enchanting, dark-eyed Isobel from when he was a lad, but now she is bound to another man by legal contract—an important detail she would prefer to forget. She wishes to choose her own husband and has her sights set on Dirk. But he would never steal another man's bride… would he? The tantalizing lady fires up his passions, testing his willpower and honor at every turn, even as some of his own treacherous clansmen plot his downfall.

As for the setting of My Brave Highlander, I knew Dirk was from a very remote place. When my husband and I visited Durness, Scotland, last year, I knew I had my setting. It is wild and untamed. The unpredictable weather and the cold wind are ever present. It is obvious anyone who lives there must be tough. Despite the harshness of the weather, I love the Durness area. It’s so beautiful!
Amazon
Do you like knowing what inspired a book? Do you like for a book's setting to be really vivid and life-like especially if it's a setting you're unfamiliar with?
 Thanks again to everyone who dropped by to check out Vonda's delightful Highland romance! Just answer one of her questions and you'll have a chance to win her ebook!
Author Bio

Vonda Sinclair’s favorite indulgent pastime is exploring Scotland, from Edinburgh to the untamed and windblown north coast. She also enjoys creating hot, Highland heroes and spirited lasses to drive them mad. She is a past Golden Heart finalist and Laurie award winner. She lives with her amazing and supportive husband in the mountains of North Carolina where she is no doubt creating another Scottish story.
website: http://www.vondasinclair.com/facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VondaSinclair
The giveaway ends Monday, November 5, midnight CST.

Thanks, Vonda, for giving us this chance to learn more about your book and to get to drool over not only the Highlander, but the gorgeous beaches! Terry

Happy Halloween and Time for Bats!

Vampire bats, anyone? Actually, they were eating  fruit and are fruit bats. The pictures aren't really good--smudgy windows and dark in there, but you can see some detail, their ears, wings, scrawny arms, all their toes and fingers, and very knobby knees. In the top picture, lone bat eating a piece of fruit.

In the middle picture, two bats eating pieces of fruit. And the next, time to rest. There were several flying around at the same time. Notice this one's long finger as he eats an apple wedge?


Note, they are always upside down! Sleeping, eating, just hanging around.

Doesn't this make you feel sort of like Dracula is coming?

And I have to share this gorgeous sleeping jaguar. I think it might be Wade Patterson, after all.

I'm here today:  10/31 Cynthia's site!
Are You Ready for the Hobgoblins? By Terry Spear
Hope you all have a terrific hump day!!!


 I fully intended to finish Highland Rake by today. *sigh* Maybe by the weekend. 

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality."
www.terryspear.com

Off to the Zoo!

Today I'm off to the zoo! I was supposed to go when my daughter was still living here, since she was leaving like the next day. We went down to Cameron Park Zoo and discovered it was closed to a special group. :(

I have lived her for  12 years??? And never been to the zoo except to take my daughter to drop her off at a Girl Scout trip!

So one of my friends I met who was a library patron and I talked about going to the zoo and so today it is! It's cool enough that it will be comfortable and hopefully the animals will be semi-alert. :)

It's supposed to get to 79 today, so should be perfect weather, though a little chilly this morning.

I believe they have a jaguar, but no wolf. *sigh*

Today, I'm here!

10/30 RomFan Reviews & Long and Short Reviews

My mother and dad took us to tons of zoos all over the country. I love them, but she said she'd had her fill of zoos and never wanted to visit another.

When I visit my son and daughter-in-law next month, we're going to the zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. And when I see my daughter and son-in-law next year, we're going to the one in Houston. Can't wait!

Do you like zoos?

I'm in a rush to leave and needed to announce where I'll be today with guest blogs, but I just checked the news about Sandy and send my best wishes to all those affected by the storm.

I saw comments where people were saying it was only a Cat 1 hurricane, no big deal, but with 85 mph winds, no matter what it's called--straight line winds here, or circulating tornadoes, it's a big deal! Like someone said, it was only 35 mph in the beginning and with the rain soaked ground, trees and utility poles were easily uprooted.

A house full of water is a big deal. No electricity for days, or even hours, is a big deal. A tree down depending on where it lands can be a big deal.

So my heart goes out to everyone who's suffered from the storm whether it's relatively minor damage or major. It's a nightmare.

Be back in a little while to check in!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality!"
www.terryspear.com

The FULL MOON...and What that Means for YOU!

Today we have a full moon. And you know what that means?

The werewolves come out, according to old werewolf tales. But what is featured on a lot of paranormal covers? A lot of vampire covers? The full moon. Huh?

So when did the full moon become the paranormal symbol of the day?

When people do crazy stuff more often on the day of a full moon? When the crazies in the insane asylums (I know this is politically incorrect, but I'm going by the earlier terminology for demonstration as I'm thinking of Dracula and his sidekick who was eating bugs)...go even crazier?

Scientists say there is no correlation between crazy behavior and the full moon. In Full Moon by Ryan Dean, he talks about illusory correlation.

I agree. Just think if everyone is focused on a new moon, the veritable absence of a moon, and if tales were written about how everything that goes bump in the night comes out when there's NO MOON, then what?

Everyone would notice that the crazies were doing more crazy stuff on NO MOON days. Book covers would have black skies and NO MOON featured. And that would be the symbol of...spooky music inserted here...paranormal story--when the vampires and ghouls and werewolves show up.

And the human monsters, too, some of whom are way more scary and deadly than any made-up monster can be. But you know what?

The crazies and the human monsters do bad stuff any day of the year, full moon, no moon, any moon in between. It's just more noticeable on the days of the full moon. Why? Because people make a conscious note of it.

Or....is it?


I'm here today with another giveaway!!!Savage Hunger
The Qwillery

Heart of the Highland Wolf
Riverina Romantics

And if you're worried that the full moon might influence people's behavior in a crazy way, I just wanted to warn you today is a day of a full moon. Be careful. If you're a newly turned werewolf, stay home. It's best for your pack, you, and anyone that might encounter you.

Ever feel all the crazies came out during the full moon?

PS-- for all those facing the Frankenstorm, my best wishes to those living on the eastern seaboard that it's overblown and the storm isn't as devastating as they predict, despite it being a higher full moon tide. But it's always better to err on the side of caution than not, having lived in Florida and seen some of the devastation after hurricanes hit the coast. All my best to those living in the path of the storm.

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality."
www.terryspear.com

Halloween before Halloween

My daughter fixed deviled spider eggs...aren't they cute? We saw the Lincoln movie, and had goat cheese and spinach pizza and a Halloween cake...

Before that, I spent the day moving Christmas stuff that they're taking with them, picking pears for them since Stephanie made pear bread from them and my daughter makes lots of bread. And dividing one of my plants that had taken over to give them half, as a housewarming plant gift from my home to theirs. :) It's their first rental home so they're excited and I'm thrilled for them.

She's decorating it really cute from what she told me, so I'll have to take pictures of it when I visit them.

Note that the vines were wrapped around every wrought piece of furniture, and I was struggling to get everything unwound! This reminded me of the Little Shop of Horrors!

This was my daughter's plant to take home.

Mine was a little smaller but I'm sure in time it will take over again!

Off to help them pack. Have a super Sunday!!!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality!"
www.terryspear.com

Happy Halloween! Yes, a Wee Bit Early!

But I just had to share. Now, my vampires do NOT sleep in coffins. They have been changed by a plague and so have this need for blood, fangs that extend, can do some neat things, but they are not undead. They eat, breathe, all that sort of thing. But no coffins. No wearing earth in their shoes to be grounded, or sleeping under a bed of earth to heal. That's for worms. And...well, fire ants, if we're talking about things that live in the earth in Texas.

But even so, Prince Levka loves his coffin that he will show off to his other vampire bear friends when they come to visit as a fun topic of conversation. Haven't you ever had something like that for invited guests? :)

Even vampires can have a little fun on Halloween!

Which brings me to the topic of writers writing that there is only ONE way to create paranormal characters. That vampires HAVE to be a certain way or they're not vampires. That werewolves are only werewolves if they live a certain way, or otherwise they are wolf shifters. Huh?

They are FANTASTICAL creatures. And that they, unlike humans, are made up from a writer's imagination. So if a vampire has green blood, so be it. If he loves cognac with his meal, and he does eat meals, so be it. If a man shifts because of a full moon and turns into a wolf....he's a wolf shifter aka werewolf, if I say so. Because it's my world.

So, now, the truth of the matter is since my werewolves and jaguar shifters and vampires ARE real, my world is the right world, right? Well, maybe, and maybe not. You see, I could be just covering up for them. And don't want to tell the "real" story. Or not. You never know.

And to that I say--if we all made vampires and werewolves or wolf shifters or whatever goes bump in the night as carbon cutouts, where's the fun in that?

Imagination is what makes the world go around. Reading about others' versions is just as fun for me.






 

 



So there is no right way or wrong way because of what has been done in the past. There are preferred ways for individual readers, but that's it!

Okay, now, I want to know what you have that you might have displayed as a topic of conversation for your guests? Anyone hiding a coffin around the house?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality!"
www.terryspear.com

Redheaded Wizard Bear Ready for the All Wizard's Party!

 

Got to have a redheaded wizard, red bear wizard, for the all wizard's party for Halloween, right? So here is a red mohair bear, wire body, red mohair beard, and lined cloak. He's also a one of a kind bear. :) 


Today I'm at Sia's for coffee, well green tea, and fun! And another copy of Savage Hunger! Only 3 days remain next week for giveaways!
 
10/26 Sia McKye’s Thoughts Over Coffee

Kids are coming to visit, but something I was going to give my daughter for an early birthday present still had the security tag on it! I wish I had tried to wrap it up earlier and would have seen it and could have taken it in when I ran errands yesterday!! Although, I did sell the tall gold mohair wizard bear and need to ship it to South Africa, so I will have to run into town anyway.

Okay, this is another book in the Shadow Elf series. I started writing a different one, too and have the cover for it, but still haven't decided on the title. My problem is that the elves I want to write about are referred to as the High Elves, because they use High Magic, and live  in the mountains with their dragon companions. Maybe say High Magic Elves. Not sure. :)  What else could I use as a title for High Magic Elves??? I like two words if I can do it. :)
 

Have to clean and the like...wish I had some magic and could just whisk the dust away! Living in cornfields makes things ultra-dusty and the farmer has been plowing and replowing the fields for unknown reasons. :) And replowing...

Back to the issue of security tags and purchase mishaps.
 
My mother bought some beautiful shoes in Las Vegas, got home, and only one of the shoes was in the box.  I bought a sweater in one state, got it home and found the security tag still on it. I managed to finally pry it loose without it tearing anything, but in the future, I'd just take it to any store that has the security removers and see if they'd remove it because I'd be afraid of getting ink on the garment or tearing up the fabric.

So, have you ever gotten home and found out a clerk had left a security tag on your clothes? Or worse, one shoe and a box?

Happy TGIF!!!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality!"
www.terryspear.com

Hawk Fae Cover and Daisies!

What do you think of the title and the cover???  I LOVE this fae. She is soooo perfect for the series! :)

Just a taste of devilment, like the fae. :) 

This is my Dragon Wizard Panda Bear!



My yard is covered with daisies. They're purple. Aren't they cute? I was pulling them out of my flower bed because I think I put the seeds in my bed and then they were weedy looking. So I tossed the plants out in the yard. Or, they migrated, although I have a wall surrounding my courtyard, but birds or insects might have carried them over. So they might have already been in the yard.

This is a mystery. I guess what I need to do is search the other side of the yard and the backyard and see if I find any of them there. No flowers? Then??? They were the ones I planted in my garden and tossed!

They are really pretty. Don't you think? The camera blurred the ones close up and focused on the ones in the distance. Go figure. 


 This shot came out pretty good.


And I'm here today! Yes, having a jaguar shifter for a mate is definitely a guilty pleasure worth having!

10/25 Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
And here is another of my tall wizard bears. He's distressed mohair!

 
I love everything magical! :)

I'm at 90,000 on Highland Rake...getting closer to being finished. See, the truth of the matter is I don't want to let him go!! You know what they say, one Highlander in the hand is better than two in the bush. Okay, while I'm getting myself in deeper, I will be off to do what I'm supposed to be doing! Writing!

Have a super great Thursday!!! Do you believe in magic???

 Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality!"
www.terryspear.com

The Big Chill

This is Texas for you. It drops from 87 to 64 for the high and 49 for the low in a heartbeat--for the weekend. And then it's 79 all the rest of the week! Oh, I know, those of you in the frigid north are laughing. But our blood doesn't have time to acclimate. From AC to heater...no happy in between!
 


This is one of my tall wooden bodied bears with wooden boots and wire arms. He's made of gold mohair and is wearing a mohair beard. :) His lined cloak features stars and moons, which is what you would expect on a wizard bear, right?

He looks like he's ready for Halloween!!

I'm at two places today!

10/24 Reading Between the Wines & Paranormal Cravings
Back to writing!!!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality!"
www.terryspear.com