Terry Spear's Blog, page 426
September 29, 2011
New Versions of Old Stories...
You've seen "updated" versions of old stories and I usually like the older versions because something is often lost in the updated story. Sometimes it's because the characterization has been set aside for the special effects. Sometimes it's just the higher technology that we have now doesn't equate to a simpler time.
I often wonder why we can't have just new stories. There are tons of them out there. Why do producers have to take a story that's been done to death and make a newer version of it?
But it can be the same with books. I loved Goodnight Moon, the original book, and read it over and over to my kids when they were little. There was something about the rhyming and simplicity that was just lovely and helped my kids go to sleep at night.
The other day when I was checking in books, I found a "new" Goodnight Moon book. It didn't have the rhyming simplicity of the earlier book. And I'm not sure what the creature was that was the main character, but it was all about monsters and goo and stuff. Huh?
A bedtime story? Give me the old Goodnight Moon version. The monsters can have the other book. :)
I was thrilled to see that Mrs. Pappillion gave a lovely review of Heart of the Highland Wolf at the Book Worm!
And I was just sent this!
Well, I'm off to work a little before work. I fell watering some potted plants...raised concrete where the silver maple that doesn't live in this area has pushed the sidewalk up, and so I was tugging the hose and kind of walking backwards and fell.
Concrete is unforgiving.
Have a terrific Thursday! Mine is going to be sore to start off, I'm afraid!
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
I often wonder why we can't have just new stories. There are tons of them out there. Why do producers have to take a story that's been done to death and make a newer version of it?
But it can be the same with books. I loved Goodnight Moon, the original book, and read it over and over to my kids when they were little. There was something about the rhyming and simplicity that was just lovely and helped my kids go to sleep at night.
The other day when I was checking in books, I found a "new" Goodnight Moon book. It didn't have the rhyming simplicity of the earlier book. And I'm not sure what the creature was that was the main character, but it was all about monsters and goo and stuff. Huh?
A bedtime story? Give me the old Goodnight Moon version. The monsters can have the other book. :)
I was thrilled to see that Mrs. Pappillion gave a lovely review of Heart of the Highland Wolf at the Book Worm!
And I was just sent this!
[image error]
Title: Dreaming of the Wolf
Digital List Price: $7.99
Category: Romance
Print ISBN-13: 9781402245558
Print ISBN-10: 1402245556
PDF ISBN: 9781402245565
EPUB ISBN: 9781402245572
Release Date: 12/1/11
The next installment in the hugely popular and acclaimed paranormal series featuring sexy werewolves
· One of our most enthusiastically reviewed authors, with a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year and a ParaNormalRomance Top Pick
· Realistic portrayal of how wolves behave in nature is unique in the category
· Terry Spear's six paranormal romances have sold through over 67,000 copies
PROMOTION: Legend of the White Wolf $1.99 (11/15/2011 – 12/5/2011)
· Legend of the White Wolf (Print ISBN-13: 9781402219054; ISBN-10: 1402219059; PDF: 9781402227967; EPUB: 9781402227974)Well, I'm off to work a little before work. I fell watering some potted plants...raised concrete where the silver maple that doesn't live in this area has pushed the sidewalk up, and so I was tugging the hose and kind of walking backwards and fell.
Concrete is unforgiving.
Have a terrific Thursday! Mine is going to be sore to start off, I'm afraid!
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
September 28, 2011
Highlanders up at Barnes and Noble!
Hmmm, all that muscle and kilts, and yummm...
And now they're up at Barnes and Noble!
Countess Anice vows to flee the amorous advances of King Henry I, and return to her home in the Highlands, where she hopes to find a laird to wed. Highlander Laird Malcolm MacNeill, seeking an English bride, becomes entangled with the Scottish lass while trying to find out why her staff has vanished. But he could lose his head if he loses his heart of the woman that intrigues him at every turn.
Lady Eilis Dunbarton's life undergoes a drastic change with the death of her cousin, Agnes. Now she's faced with the disagreeable prospect of marrying the man who was to be her cousin's husband. Not by a change of contract, though. Instead, by deceit—pretending to be her cousin. But if her husband-to-be discovers she's not really Agnes, her life is forfeit. So what choice does Eilis have but to flee? When Laird James MacNeill's clan rescues a half-drowned lass from the sea, there is speculation she is of the enemy clan, especially since she doesn't remember her own name.
James is immediately enticed with the lady, but his focus must remain on finding the proper bride. For if he does not wed soon, he must give up his holdings to one of his younger brothers. Focus slips away with each day Eilis is close, and James finds himself contemplating the thought of taking her to wife without knowing her true identity. But how dangerous would the end result be? And what will happen if Eilis's husband-to-be comes looking for her only to find her in the arms of another man?
***
But not only that, my editor at Sourcebooks said they're thinking of SAVAGE HUNGER for the title of the first jaguar book in the series. I love it!
What does everyone else think???
I shipped off some books yesterday for orders for A GHOST OF A CHANCE AT LOVE. So they should be arriving soon!
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
And now they're up at Barnes and Noble!
Countess Anice vows to flee the amorous advances of King Henry I, and return to her home in the Highlands, where she hopes to find a laird to wed. Highlander Laird Malcolm MacNeill, seeking an English bride, becomes entangled with the Scottish lass while trying to find out why her staff has vanished. But he could lose his head if he loses his heart of the woman that intrigues him at every turn.
Lady Eilis Dunbarton's life undergoes a drastic change with the death of her cousin, Agnes. Now she's faced with the disagreeable prospect of marrying the man who was to be her cousin's husband. Not by a change of contract, though. Instead, by deceit—pretending to be her cousin. But if her husband-to-be discovers she's not really Agnes, her life is forfeit. So what choice does Eilis have but to flee? When Laird James MacNeill's clan rescues a half-drowned lass from the sea, there is speculation she is of the enemy clan, especially since she doesn't remember her own name.
James is immediately enticed with the lady, but his focus must remain on finding the proper bride. For if he does not wed soon, he must give up his holdings to one of his younger brothers. Focus slips away with each day Eilis is close, and James finds himself contemplating the thought of taking her to wife without knowing her true identity. But how dangerous would the end result be? And what will happen if Eilis's husband-to-be comes looking for her only to find her in the arms of another man?
***
But not only that, my editor at Sourcebooks said they're thinking of SAVAGE HUNGER for the title of the first jaguar book in the series. I love it!
What does everyone else think???
I shipped off some books yesterday for orders for A GHOST OF A CHANCE AT LOVE. So they should be arriving soon!
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
September 27, 2011
No Chemistry--Unless it's the Sexy Kind!
I'm much more interested in the earth, not chemical equations and that sort of thing. I avoided the sciences that had to do with physics or chemistry when I was in college. Since I was a business major, I could take any sciences I wanted.
So I took geology and biology and botany.
I loved them because they were more hands on and felt real. Maybe because I'm more of the earth--loving the creatures that exist and coexist with nature.
I especially loved geology and the way the earth was molded, how the various layers were created, what caused their upheavals. When I lived in Oregon, anytime we drove on a highway where you could see the earth cut away to make room for the road, I loved studying the layers and the way the earth was uplifted or had been sliced in two by a fault, and then trying to decide which forced which half to yield?
But also I loved discovering seashells and the like in places where seashells shouldn't have been. How did they get there? Had a lake or other body of water once existed in this dry region? In the picture where the young boy is holding the seashells, we found those a half mile from the lake on our hike. Had the lake at one time been that high? Most likely.
In botany, I loved identifying leaves and trees and which were suitable for which climates. Why we have certain plants that live in certain areas. I have a HUGE silver maple growing in my backyard that don't grow here. They don't. They're not native, they don't do well.
Did I mention it's HUGE?
Sometimes plants that aren't supposed to do well, do well.
The only kind of chemistry I like is the kind that develops between two loving beings. Hmm-hmm.
I also loved anthropology, though it was considered more of a social science. I just saw a book come through the library that showed a mummified woman found in a bog--an ancient woman with bright red hair. Bright red hair. Yes. She had a FULL head of hair. And when I say ancient, I mean ancient. It's amazing how well preserved some people can be.
I remember reading about a couple of Celtic redheads being found in Mongolia. Which proved they tended to get around. Even way back then.
So fess up! Did you ever like a particular science in school? Or maybe the boy who sat next to you in science instead???
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
September 26, 2011
Not so Blurry!
Hey, the other I did on purpose! Imagine the lake beyond the trees...
I have a garden book that talks about creating a garden that has mystery, that hints at something beyond what you see. That's what I've done here.
If only this was my backyard! :)
I'm really, really running late this morning. *sigh*
It's a Monday!
Have a super great day!
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
September 25, 2011
It's Blurry!
Okay, but the tree in front, that you barely see, and the wicked branches hanging down from up above are very clear. I meant to do that!
I did!
Really!
In photography, I was reading a book on it, yes, BEFORE I took this photo, and the author was saying that you need to take a picture of something at an unusual angle that will make a big difference in the outcome.
So just think of this in this way...
It was 104 degrees that day when we reached the point where we could see the lake. The heat was so intense, truly, that it radiated from the ground in a shimmering wave of, well...heat!
I know I'm not supposed to use the same word twice in a sentence. *sigh*
But I've got guest blogs to do and a newsletter to get out, so I can think of only heat.
Now, back to the story. What I wanted to show (besides that the heat is shimmering upward from the ground) is that the lake was extemely low. Which if you look really hard through the shimmering heat, you can see the exposed ground and dead tree trunks where the water usually is.
And you can see (through all that shimmering hotness) browned out grass. The green part are weeds. Have to be. They always seem to survive anything!
And the tree that I really was concentrating on...the one in the foreground that is very, very clear, note it has no leaves.
That was what I meant to show.
How the drought continues to plague us.
Now...here's another scenario.
Hey, I'm a writer. This is what I do. Think of it like a road that splits into several different paths and we have to choose the right one.
So here is really the reason for the blurry-looking picture.
It's not blurred. It's fae travel.
:)
Have a great Sunday! The newsletter is off...momentarily. Think of it blurring through space...as it makes its way to your mailbox. :)
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
September 24, 2011
Creating a Cover
I hadn't realized I'd already changed this cover 3 times!!! But, when I first uploaded a cover, I used a picture of the stormy fields. I thought it was cool. Looked ominous.
But then I thought it ought to have a teen in the picture...to show it's a YA. So I had this one professionally made. It's blah though. I still like the teen, but the picture itself just doesn't say much of anything.
Later, I began to figure out how to work Photoshop more and so I found a cool red sky, like that which is in the demon world, and a girl that would be more suitable for the lead character. She has attitude. Crossed arms indicates a defensiveness, which suits her well.
My critique partners say the cover for the second book is too similar. Girl too old. Etc, etc. So I found another picture of a girl that is perfect. Can't wait to make the cover! Now...I need to write the story! THEN make the cover!
Amazon
B&N
ARe
It's fun taking a break while creating a book cover. But the bottom line is that I need a story to go with it. LOL
All right, so I'm off to write for the day!
Do you ever get the cart before the horse???
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
But then I thought it ought to have a teen in the picture...to show it's a YA. So I had this one professionally made. It's blah though. I still like the teen, but the picture itself just doesn't say much of anything.
Later, I began to figure out how to work Photoshop more and so I found a cool red sky, like that which is in the demon world, and a girl that would be more suitable for the lead character. She has attitude. Crossed arms indicates a defensiveness, which suits her well.
My critique partners say the cover for the second book is too similar. Girl too old. Etc, etc. So I found another picture of a girl that is perfect. Can't wait to make the cover! Now...I need to write the story! THEN make the cover!
Amazon
B&N
ARe
It's fun taking a break while creating a book cover. But the bottom line is that I need a story to go with it. LOL
All right, so I'm off to write for the day!
Do you ever get the cart before the horse???
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
September 23, 2011
Dreaming of the Wolf ARCs In!
I've only received 3 before and those were requested, but I'm excited to say that I received some Advance Reading Copies for reviewers.
So if you have a review site and Sourcebooks isn't already sending you a book to review, let me know! :)
And if anyone is interested in an autographed copy of A GHOST OF A CHANCE AT LOVE, I do have them now. No free ones though!!! I had to pay for them.
But just email me!
I'm running late, but it's Friday, so that's okay!!!
Last weekend I didn't get the newsletter off because of storms, no Internet, then no electricity, so this time I'm hoping to have the newsletter done and out!
Not sure about the story this week. I'll have to look in my files for something fun to read. Envision this file cabinet ten stories high, full of wonderfully captivating stories that I can pluck out and upload.
And then envision that I write fantasy and that the above is a fantastical story. Truly!!! Even though my critique partners would say that it isn't a fantasy at all. :)
So have a super wonderful, terrific, great Friday! Any big plans for you?
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
So if you have a review site and Sourcebooks isn't already sending you a book to review, let me know! :)
And if anyone is interested in an autographed copy of A GHOST OF A CHANCE AT LOVE, I do have them now. No free ones though!!! I had to pay for them.
But just email me!
I'm running late, but it's Friday, so that's okay!!!
Last weekend I didn't get the newsletter off because of storms, no Internet, then no electricity, so this time I'm hoping to have the newsletter done and out!
Not sure about the story this week. I'll have to look in my files for something fun to read. Envision this file cabinet ten stories high, full of wonderfully captivating stories that I can pluck out and upload.
And then envision that I write fantasy and that the above is a fantastical story. Truly!!! Even though my critique partners would say that it isn't a fantasy at all. :)
So have a super wonderful, terrific, great Friday! Any big plans for you?
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
September 22, 2011
Final, Final Cover of Dreaming of the Wolf!
Don't you love it!! This is the first time I've figured out how to save a pdf file as jpeg without it getting really wonky, so hope you can see the larger version after I save and post this.
But I LOVE how the Sourcebooks art department includes both the wolf and the hunk, in this case Jake Silver, on the binding...so you get to see double of him. Course since he's a triplet, who's to say that's not Tom on the binding??? Or...Darien!
:)
I'm trying to enter the Rita contest, never win, but really won't win if you don't make the effort. But when I tried to fill out the form in Internet Explorer, can't do. It won't let me type on the form.
So I go to Firefox. Same thing. So I'm off to download Google Chrome and try it with that.
I love when the Internet works! But when it doesn't???
It's time to write! Go to a world where the Internet just isn't important!!!
But also, I just sent the information on Duncan's story for the cover for that book. So hmm, we have 3 covers coming!!!
A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing!
A Jaguar!
Highland Wolf in Paradise!
All those hunks. My editor is combing through the male models, along with all her other jobs, but who all volunteers to help her make a selection? My hand is up!!!
:)
Have a super Thursday!!!
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
September 20, 2011
Highland Wolf in Paradise
It's coming out in the Fall 2012!
Woohoo, yes!!! I'm sure they'll come up with another title, but here's the blurb:
Okay, so you see, Duncan is a warrior type, right? Dark hero, not prone to being distracted. Particularly when it's really important that he get the money back from the crook so that his pack can keep their ancestral castle in the Highlands.
But you know when a female wolf shows up on the scene...a lone female wolf, things are bound to get interesting. For one, an alpha male wolf can't let a female, who looks as hot as she does, run around the island on her own.
At least that's what he tells himself.
Anyway, it's hump day! Aren't you glad???
Have a wonderful Wednesday!!!
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
Woohoo, yes!!! I'm sure they'll come up with another title, but here's the blurb:
Duncan MacNeill is a Highlander at heart with a mission—find gray wolf and former stockbroker, Silverman who has stolen the family fortune and is purported to be living in the Grand Cayman Islands. As a Highland wolf, Duncan rarely leaves his native homeland and taking a trip to an island paradise doesn't appeal. But keeping the MacNeill's ancestral castle depends on making Silverman pay. What Duncan doesn't plan for is the American botanist who distracts him from his mission and makes him realize what an island paradise really means.
Shelley Campbell is teaching botany at a Florida college, when she receives an email from an old girlfriend, who's renting a villa on the island and wants her to come to stay with her. Figuring she can study the old growth forest while she's there, and lecture about it when she returns home, she has no idea the secrets she might uncover. When her girlfriend's a no-show, a Highlander turns up instead, and she has a choice—share the villa, or send him away and pay full price for the accommodations—which on her teacher's salary is stretching things pretty thin. Since he promises to be no trouble at all, she lets him stay. And that's when the trouble really begins!
Okay, so you see, Duncan is a warrior type, right? Dark hero, not prone to being distracted. Particularly when it's really important that he get the money back from the crook so that his pack can keep their ancestral castle in the Highlands.
But you know when a female wolf shows up on the scene...a lone female wolf, things are bound to get interesting. For one, an alpha male wolf can't let a female, who looks as hot as she does, run around the island on her own.
At least that's what he tells himself.
Anyway, it's hump day! Aren't you glad???
Have a wonderful Wednesday!!!
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
September 19, 2011
At B&N! A GHOST OF A CHANCE AT LOVE!
Amazon print version now available! And in stock! Coming soon to B&N!
Amazon kindle version
B&N!!!
Nook
Paperback
Did I mention that the 2nd Highland wolf book won't be coming out until Feb 2013? I can't remember. But that's the schedule! The 1st jaguar book will come out in the fall 2012.
I'm off to write. Have a super Tuesday!!!
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
