Suzanne G. Rogers's Blog, page 58

The Magical Misperception of Meridian at Kelly Moran's Blogspot

A beautiful commoner and a stammering prince form a magical friendship that can survive almost anything—except the queen's disapproval.  Fresh fairytale.  Timeless romance.

Amazon Reviews:

"Not only is Meridian a magical place, with lovely details in this book that will please early teens through YA (and adults who love the Harry Potter and Ursula LeGuin style fantasy realms), the Magical Misperception of Meridian has a wonderful heroine in Jona and a vulnerable hero in Lee." – Blue Crab Books

"I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into Meridian and Jona is my kind of heroine! This great escape from hum-drum reality brought to mind Disney's "Princess Diaries". The Magical Misperception of Meridian is a delightful new fairy tale that I'll read again just so I can return to Jona's world." – Avid Reader

"I just finished reading, THE MAGICAL MISPERCEPTION OF MERIDIAN, and can't stop smiling! I loved this story! It has everything: excellent characters, lots of action, rich details, conflict, friendship, romance, and a sprinkling of magic!" – Jan

A copy of The Magical Misperception of Meridian (any e-reader format) is up for grabs today only at Kelly Moran's blogspot HERE.  Just leave a comment to win!  ~ S.G. Rogers

Cutting Off My Stories To Spite My Face

In this information-saturated society, the advent of e-readers has presented more opportunities for writers than ever before.  Not only is it easier for an author to publish his or her work, but also the demand exists for works of all lengths. Who is the target market for e-reader shorts?  Commuters, workers on break, younger readers with shorter attention spans, and those people who want to sample an author's work without committing themselves to a pricier longer-length novel?

So where's the rub?

Around the water cooler, I've been hearing authors bemoan lackluster reviews for their shorts stories, novelettes and novellas.  "I would have rated this story higher, but it was too short," or "I wanted more," seems to be the most frequent reaction.

Is what we have here "a failure to communicate" (to paraphrase "Cool Hand Luke") between reader and author? If the reader's reaction is disappointment (even though the work is clearly labeled for page number, and priced accordingly) should authors be writing these shorts at all?

Okay.  Time to assess.

Some authors release free prequels to longer-length works as a successful sales technique, but I'm not certain if this is exactly the same thing.  Are these prequels 'samples' or completed stories?  Does it matter? Is free the critical factor?

When I write a fantasy short, I try to establish the characters quickly and effectively and thereafter focus on one caper or adventure.  The pace is quicker, but there still must be a character arc and a satisfying ending.  I can write these shorts in a relatively short period, but I take all the time I need to create a work of which I can be proud.

I'd love to hear YOUR opinion on shorts.  Do you think shorts are worth writing?  Do you buy shorts or would you only purchase one if it were free?  When you finish agreat short do you react with a sigh of satisfaction or do you have the urge to throw your e-reader across the room in frustration?

My inquiring mind wants to know.

~ S.G. Rogers

 

Wynn Westerfield, Dragon Jockey Superstar

Before the racing accident that cost him his career, Wynn Westerfield was an exceptionally handsome and dashing dragon jockey.

Dragon jockey? 

Racing dragons is a lot like racing horses…except bigger.  Much bigger.  A thoroughbred champion is built for speed, so the jockey that rides him to victory must be light.  With dragons, however, agility wins the day.  Dragon jockeys are big, with strapping frames capable of controlling animals the size of a barn.  A dragon racetrack is correspondingly large, and far more complicated than the flat ovals in the "Sport of Kings."  Akin to oversized luge tracks, such courses extend for miles.  The excitement is incredible, and the stakes are high.  Naturally, dragon jockeys are superstars…until something goes wrong.

In Minna & The Valentine, Wynn's daughter Minna travels to another reality to retrieve a dangerous magical artifact.  What she discovers about her father, however, threatens to derail her mission.

Excerpt:

"Why I—" Minna broke off as the color commentator announced the next incoming team. Her face grew pale, and her head whipped toward the small vidscreen. Wynn Westerfield had entered the stadium and was flying toward the central platform on My Girl. The crowd was stamping their feet.

Evan struggled to keep up as Minna darted through the short tunnel into the stands to join the throng of onlookers at the railing. To the delight of everyone in the stadium, Wynn Westerfield put My Girl through several fancy aerial maneuvers before he brought the exquisite golden dragon in for a landing. Minna's knuckles showed white as she gripped the top of the metal fence, unable to tear her eyes away. Evan put his arm around her shoulders.

"Are you all right, Minna?"

"My father is still racing," she said, shaking her head in amazement. "The accident never happened here."

She spun around and rushed through the crowds once more. Evan grabbed her by the elbow. "Where are you going?"

"My father will be in his dressing room until race time. I have to see him."

Evan's expression reflected dismay. "This Wynn Westerfield isn't your father, Minna."

She pulled away. "I don't care, Evan," she said vehemently. "I'm going to see him whole again, up close. You can come with me—or you can wait here."

Will Minna be able to put her personal issues aside to save the universe?  Shh…that would be telling.  But I promise you, the journey is a magical thrill ride. ~ S.G. Rogers

To buy Minna & The Valentine ($1.99) in all e-formats, go here:

Amazon

BN.com

Astraea Press

Author Joanne Troppello Inspires with Bella Lucia

I turn my blog over to author Joanne Troppello today, on the occasion of her new release Bella Lucia! Please feel free to leave a comment for Joanne as she talks about her writer's journey and ends with the question…do you read or e-read? ~ S.G. Rogers

 

Is Reading Really Fundamental to Growing as a Writer?

I have always loved to read ever since I was a little girl when I first discovered books.  Reading fueled my appetite to learn to write and the rest is history—well, almost.  For a while I was focusing so much on writing my current WIP's that I didn't read any new books for over six months.  Of course, that's not beneficial to my writing and I finally realized that.

I recently started doing some book reviews and that has whet my appetite again to reading and why I love it so much.  It's also reminded me how much (as a writer) I need to read other books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Reading how other authors write is beneficial to sharpening your own writing skills.  If you're looking closely enough, you'll see what works for other authors and what doesn't.  Your skills will be honed.  That's the point, right—we should always want to do what is necessary to sharpen our skillset and write better novels.  At least that's my goal.

I know with my first book, I did not know what I was doing other than basic grammar skills and that I really, really wanted to be an author.  However, wanting to be a real author and truly being one—two totally different stories.  Being a successful author takes hard work and determination and you always need to take the good with the bad.  Are you able to handle constructive criticism from editors, publishers, book reviewers and even readers…without getting offended?  It takes me time to process the criticism, but usually I can get a handle on it and use that to make my writing better.

Now that my third novel has been published and I'm working on my fourth, I'm excited that I'm still learning more on how to write better and get a truly polished novel that readers are waiting with bated breath to read.  Starting to read other books again has truly assisted in that journey.

There are different levels of writing and I want to strive to make it to the highest level that I can write.  Reading more books can open your mind to those different levels of writing skills and you can compare that to your own set of skills and figure out where you need to improve.  Obviously, your end goal is not to copy another author's work.  That would be plagiarism and wrong!  My point is that reading good, quality work can inspire you to see where your writing skills are lacking and open up your eyes to see where you can improve.

I recently received a Kindle and let's just say that I LOVE it!!  I never thought I would enjoy reading on an eReader since I was an advocate for print books, but after my mom got one (and she was more against the eReader than I was)…she convinced me that I would love it.  I've only had the Kindle for a month and I've fallen in love—I've been kindle-fied!

Currently, I'm enjoying the release of my newest book, Bella Lucia, and I'm busy making the rounds in my blog tour. I'm just curious what other people think on the subject of eBooks vs. print books.  Do you think print books will become obsolete?  If you have an eReader, which kind and what do you like about it? ~ Joanne Troppello

Book Blurb for Bella Lucia:

After being married for six years, Gwen and Lucas DeStefano are dealing with the pain of a childless marriage and trying to trust God for their future.  On a weekend getaway to the Poconos, they attempt to relax and renew their marriage, but witness an event that turns their lives upside down.  They see a body dump in the woods while they are on a hike and their lives become entangled in a web of suspense and God's ultimate blessing in the form of a little baby girl, named Bella Lucia. Will Gwen learn to trust God with childlike faith and wholeheartedly accept His plan?

Det. Marc Abrams is assigned to the murder investigation of Sabrina Reysen and he will do whatever it takes to find her killer. He has his suspicions and is pleasantly surprised when he meets Samantha "Sam" Collins, the attractive US Marshall assigned to protect one of the witnesses in this case. Will Det. Abrams find the killer before it's too late and is the attraction between him and Sam strong enough to survive?

Buy Bella Lucia at Astraea Press HERE.

Joanne Troppello is an author of romantic suspense novels.  She has published three books: Shadowed Remembrances, Mr. Shipley's Governess and Bella Lucia. Currently, she is working on her new writing project, The Paradise Redeemed Series. Joanne is married and loves spending time with her husband and family. She enjoys interacting with readers at The Mustard Seed Blog.

Author Contact Links:

Joanne's Blog: The Mustard Seed

Find Joanne on Facebook

Find Joanne on Twitter

The Druid is Coming Soon

An adventurous woman meets a romantic hero from the pages of a book, bigger than life and twice as Elvish.

Blurb:

Dani Avery is an ordinary girl wishing for adventure. She never expected to be kidnapped by mythological creatures and taken to a place she thought only existed within the pages of a book.  Abandoned in Asgard, Dani must find her way home. Along the way, she meets the handsome Prince Rein. Sadly, the elf is not-so-charming and has issues of his own, leaving Dani disappointed and vulnerable.  With nowhere left to turn Dani looks for help among the powerful Immortals, but gets caught in a trap that may leave her stranded and alone in Asgard forever.

Excerpt:

Outside, a flickering light in the adjacent parking area cast a moody pall. Even though the lot was deserted, Dani quickened her pace. Suddenly, out of nowhere, two towering figures with indistinct forms and features pinned her from either side. One of them spoke in a voice that was neither male nor female—or human.

"Druid, we have you at last."

She was too shocked to react for a moment. But when something like clammy tendrils of rubber cement began to curl around her wrists and upper arms, Dani was galvanized into action. Although she tried to beat the ectoplasm out of her assailants, the tendrils continued to form until she was nearly immobile. Then, the shadowy figures dragged her into another plane of existence.

No longer in the Avery Dry Cleaners parking lot, Dani and her kidnappers had materialized in a field of electric-blue grass laced with broad swaths of green four-leaf clover. The sunlit sky was unlike any Dani had ever seen. The color was a kaleidoscope of intense periwinkle, purples, and pinks, with an occasional silvery wisp floating past. Reminiscent of the aurora borealis, the effect was dazzling, but Dani could scarcely enjoy the view in her current predicament.

She was lying in the grass, trussed up like a turkey, and utterly helpless. Unable to speak because of the rubbery tendrils across her mouth, Dani could only glare at Ninn and Ginn. Moments ago, the creatures had appeared spectral, but now they were vividly clear. They were humanoid, but the facial features under their hooded capes were strangely avian. Ninn prodded Dani's thigh with the toe of his black boot. "It's a female," he chirped.

"I hate to admit it, but this definitely ain't the Druid." Ginn massaged his beakish nose, swollen even larger from close contact with Dani's knuckles. "A shieldmaiden, I'm guessing, from her combat skills," he said. "What should we do with her?"

"Send her back to Midgard?"

"Can't.  She'll warn the Druid we're looking for him."

"Let's dump her in Helheim."

"Ah, that would be too cruel," Ginn said. He gave a diabolical chuckle. "But I like it."

Release date: April 20, 2012, from Musa Publishing

To return to the Sweet Saturday Sample List go HERE

The Road to The Heart Gem by Isabella Macotte

On the heels of her new release The Heart Gem, author Isabella Macotte stops by Child of Yden to let us in on her path to sucess.  Enjoy! ~ S.G. Rogers

After spending years enjoying wonderful books written by fabulous authors, I wanted in.

I figured writing a book should take just slightly longer than reading one. As a speedy reader able to wolf down a story in an evening or two, writing a manuscript should take a couple of weeks. Not one to place undue pressure on myself, I generously allowed a month. Tops.

GMC? What the heck is that? I never thought about a goal for my heroine besides living happily ever after. Motivation? Well, getting to live happily ever after with a hunky hero is pretty motivating, right? Conflict? Ha! I'll give her a few impediments, I suppose, but who likes stress? Point of view?  Readers are smart. They'll figure out the scene's perspective.

So wrong and naïve.

What is it they say about best-laid plans? For me, as in most ventures, nothing ever comes easy. Drafting a manuscript entailed learning everything from the ground up. Thankfully I had a group of wonderful writers and readers who nudged, poked, pulled, kicked, and instructed me along the way.

Once my feet were planted on the right road, the process of putting together the manuscript for my newly published book, The Heart Gem, involved more time learning, reading, listening, and working than I could have ever imagined.

Was it worth it? Absolutely. Receiving an email from the editor at The Wild Rose Press offering a contract for my romance novel, The Heart Gem, was one of the most thrilling moments of my life.

~ Isabella Macotte

BLURB:

In 1885, a proper Victorian woman's place was in the home. Convention never appealed to Hallie Pinefoy.

But plans for financial independence through a successful doll-making venture have one impediment. She's inherited a curiosity shop and a handsome business partner who's proving to be a delicious distraction.

When Bremen Tyler inherits a shop in coastal England, he breaks from the mystical Ancestral clan to live a normal life. The only way to guarantee a permanent break is to marry his Heart Match, a perfect soul mate. Bremen recognizes the captivating Hallie as his true love, but she isn't cooperating with his courtship.

If he can retrieve the stolen Heart Gem, an Artifact of Love, he can use it to prove their match. The surface of the Gem reflects the essence of a couple's future life, but the risks are great. More importantly, will Hallie realize true love doesn't need proof?

MODIFIED EXCERPT (PG VERSION) 

Hallie stepped over to the small desk. "Please wait. I'll get the monies owed from the payment made at the Dockhouse."

"No." Bremen answered.

"No?"

"Partake of a glass of wine with me instead."

Surprised, she looked to the man's face and paused. Those dark eyes seemed almost hypnotic, and a sudden vision came to mind of looking into those eyes right before his lips moved in closer and closer, toward her mouth. She forced herself to look away.

He held out a hand. "Just a glass of wine? Perhaps we can pretend to have just been introduced under less dramatic circumstances?"

"I think not. However I'm grateful for your assistance." She held out the coin.

"I never accept money from a lady."

"Do you make a lady feel obligated then? That's your preference?"

"I'd hope the lady would forgive me for my churlish behavior by allowing a contrite man to make amends."

Was he mocking her?

"One glass of wine. Please." He seemed to notice the hesitation. "On the Wrightsville Inn's front porch in full view of all." His face softened. "With a repentant gentleman." He held out a hand. "I'm Bremen Tyler. The apologetic Bremen Tyler who wishes to make restitution to a lady offended with loutish behavior."

"Again, I must decline the offer."

He paused for a moment. "Are you afraid?"

"Afraid? Of you? I most certainly am not."

"Sit with me then. You can berate me for my temper, comment on my lack of good manners, and insult me for my lack of wholesome attributes. I put myself in your hands for as long as you wish to partake of my poor company."

Being the one in control was intriguing. After having spent the past hour feeling foolish and taking directions, she found these pleas for forgiveness and companionship quite appealing.

Buy links: Amazon (ebook) (paperback), The Wild Rose Press (ebook) (paperback), and coming soon to BN.com and wherever online books are sold.

Biography

Isabella Macotte grew up in Chicago and now lives in the Midwest. Ever since she can remember, she was reading. Not just fiction but everything she could get her hands on. Science, romance, history and paranormal. Especially paranormal…anything scary, creepy, or gory, she loves it. From light paranormal elements to terrifying monsters, she'll make up a story to amaze or scare you.

Isabella Macotte writes the kind of romance she loves to read: a story with delicious dialogue, seductive encounters, a dash of the paranormal, and an irresistible hero you will never forget.

Passionate about books, Isabella keeps busy reading, writing and working in a library. But if a few moments remain at the end of the day, she spends them with a wonderful family and sweet bichon pup named Daisy.

Maeve Greyson asks Are We Really the Only One?

I'm honored to have the lovely Maeve Greyson back to Child of Yden, talking about her upcoming release Eternity's Mark!  Enjoy her guest post.  ~ S.G. Rogers

Are we really the only one?

Universe –that is. Are we really the only world, the only reality, the only "level" of existence? I've always been fascinated…or maybe the better word is "teased" by the idea that this isn't the only plane of reality. Might there be other "worlds" on different planes? Worlds that we just can't see? If pondered too long, Quantum physics, multi-verse or multi-world theories can throw you into a brain cramp. But it all boils down to a simple theory: why wouldn't it be possible that there are perhaps infinite numbers of universes, and everything that could possibly have happened in our past, but didn't happen to us, has occurred in the past of some other universe or world?

Hannah MacPherson, my heroine from Eternity's Mark is either blessed or cursed—depending on how you look at it—with a destiny linking her to another world accessed by mystical portals.

The hero Taggart's alternate universe mimics quite a few traits of our own but also holds a few surprises. The following blurb sums it up.

Eternity's Mark – March 27, 2012 from Kensington Brava

A sexy Scot. A mystical inheritance. What could go wrong?

Veterinarian Hannah MacPherson knows better than to believe in love at first—or any—sight.

True, being swept away by Taggart de Gaelson to the vast Scottish castle she's mysteriously inherited is uber-romantic. The legacy is totally legitimate, and its messenger is big, broad-shouldered, and smokin' in more ways than one…

Too bad Taggart forgot to mention that Hannah's also a Guardian of magical dragons called the Draecna. And as Hannah's sworn otherworldly protector, Taggart is honor-bound not to lay a hand on her, no matter how close he gets…

But turning duty into pleasure is just too tempting. And for Hannah, mastering her powers and saving two worlds from evil will be way easier than showing one hardheaded warrior that breaking all the rules means they are eternally made for each other…

What do YOU think? Are we really the only world? I don't think we're alone…

Now I'd like to take a moment to thank the awesome Suzanne Rogers for having me back at her wonderful blog. I'm honored to be the guest of such a talented author.

And since it's "almost" release day –you guessed it! A giveaway is in order. One lucky commenter will be selected by Jasper to receive an ARC (advanced reading copy) of ETERNITY'S MARK.  I'll also include some of the promo stuff I'm taking to RT in April. Neat stuff like a cover flat of ETERNITY'S MARK, a rack card with eye candy, ink pens…you know –the kinds of goodies that make reading romance just a little more fun. And if you also go to my website (www.maevegreyson.com) and sign up to receive my newsletter, your name will be entered in the drawing twice! (Don't worry – I only send newsletters when I actually have NEWS – I promise I won't over-stuff your inbox and I will NEVER share your email.)

Maeve's other books:

Beyond A Highland Whisper – Out now from The Wild Rose Press

Can love prevail over the dark magic of a woman scorned?

The last time Latharn MacKay walked among his kinsman was in Scotland of 1410. Sensuous and charismatic, all the women wanted him, but none could capture his heart. Latharn's charm became his curse when a dark sorceress didn't take rejection well. She snared his soul into a crystal globe until the one woman destined to be his love whispered his release. Now all Latharn has to do is find her and guide her to him without speaking a word.

One of the youngest archeologists in St Louis of 2010, Nessa credits one thing for this achievement: the recurring dream of a heart-stopping Highlander since the summer she turned eighteen years old. Little does she know, he's not some fantasy cooked up by her subconscious. He's a trapped soul determined for Nessa to end his six centuries in hell.

The Highlander's Fury – March 2, 2012 from The Wild Rose Press

An average day in the life of an immortal Fury?

Flex powers. Locate evil. Administer justice.

Until Ciara's goddess mothers convince her to seduce a brooding mortal and bear the man a gifted child. All she has to do is swap places with his betrothed. A simple task−become the seductive wife, bear the man a child and train the young one in the Ways. Once the boy reaches seven years of age, they'll swap her back with the wife Faolan thinks he selected and Ciara can resume her job of rousting wickedness from the world.

Faolan MacKay's advisors plague him daily about his matrimonial duties as laird, dragging prospects from across the Highlands: plump dowries attached to each one.

Faolan's lost everyone he's ever loved. He'd rather go straight to the fiery pits of Hell than down the wedding aisle. Out of desperation, a plan takes seed. He'll select a wife he can ignore. There's just one problem with this foolproof theory. Nobody ignores Ciara.

Against his better judgment, he's enthralled with the woman and to Ciara's surprise, this strange thing called love burns hotter than her hunger for vengeance.

At the end of the seven years the ruse is up, all will return to as it was. Can the bond of love overcome the mandate of the ultimate powers?

Maeve's Bio:

Maeve Greyson writes paranormal romances with a Celtic twist from her cozy little home not too far from Kentucky Lake.  Tucked away in the middle of nowhere, Maeve listens to the wind whispering through the trees and hears the voices of her characters.

Her debut novel, BEYOND A HIGHLAND WHISPER is available now from The Wild Rose Press and other online retailers. March 2012 will see two new paranormal romances from Maeve. THE HIGHLANDER'S FURY releases from The Wild Rose Press on March 2nd and ETERNITY'S MARK releases from Kensington's Brava line on March 27th. ETERNITY'S MARK was the winner of Kensington Brava and RT Book Reviews 2011 Writing with the Stars Contest.

Maeve can also be found procrastinating in these corners of cyberspace:

Website: http://www.maevegreyson.com/

Blog:  http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/maeve.greyson  OR http://www.facebook.com/maeve.greyson#!/maeve.greyson.page

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/maevegreyson

Review Copies of The Magical Misperception of Meridian

The Magical Misperception of Meridian needs your review! This weekend, I'm giving away review copies (Kindle, .pdf, or Nook format) of this romantic story to FIVE readers who agree to post reviews on Amazon, BN.com and/or Goodreads!  Just leave a comment, below, and I'll choose the winners just before midnight EST on Sunday, March 25th.  Good luck! ~ S.G. Rogers

Back Cover Blurb:

Railing against convention in the kingdom of Meridian, Jona thinks a girl should be

able to wear trousers, fight like a boy when necessary, and marry whomever she

pleases. She happens upon the queen's nephew, Lee, who stammers and cannot speak

to girls at all…that is, until he meets Jona.

When the queen hires Jona to help her nephew acquire proper social graces, Jona experiences a blissful summer of pure enchantment. Jona and Lee learn to dance, perfect the art of polite conversation, and discover which fork to use at the dinner table. Although they become best friends, Queen Gaia considers Jona a mere servant. At summer's end, Jona's job in Meridian is done.

Lee and Jona keep in contact through a set of magical mailboxes given to Lee by the Wizard Farland. When the friends are finally reunited after nine years, their budding romance is torn asunder by an edict from the queen. Against impossible odds, Jona and Lee fight together for an uncertain future. But unspoken secrets and mysteries long in the making have yet to be revealed.

Will true love be denied…or can the differences between commoners and royalty be

shown to be just a matter of magical misperception?

Excerpt:

Jona had a plan.

She crept downstairs, making sure to avoid the squeakiest treads. Her hand was on the

doorknob when her mother pounced from out of nowhere and caught her by the suspenders.

"Jona Barbara Haever, you will not leave the house in those clothes! Queen Gaia will take

you for a boy!"

"But I'm not actually meeting the queen," Jona protested. "And I want to have fun."

"You'll be sitting in the front row with your father and me, watching the presentation. Get

that cap off your head and put on a dress, for heaven's sake. We're leaving soon," Mrs. Haever said.

"Yes, ma'am." Jona loped upstairs.

She had absolutely no intention of obeying her mother, of course. Her back-up plan involved a very serviceable drainpipe outside the window in her sister's room. When that room was hers, she'd used it quite a few times to escape. Unfortunately, the neighbors had seen her shimmy down one night and told her parents. The aftermath had been unpleasant and she'd had to change rooms with her sister. The challenge would be to reach the drainpipe before her sister sounded the alarm. If she were caught, the consequences would be swift and dire. Nevertheless, the benefits outweighed the risks on a day like today.

With an air of studied innocence, Jona sauntered into Holly's room…

Can't wait to read The Magical Misperception of Meridian? You can buy it right now at Amazon or MuseItUp Publishing (all formats)… (coming soon to BN.com)

To return to the Sweet Saturday Sample List, go HERE!

Aegean Intrigue Interview! Mystery on the Greek Island of Paros

I'm here with author Patricia Kiyono and her main character, Francine Vasileiou, of Aegean Intrigue. Patty has graciously offered to give away a digital copy of her novella, so leave a comment below for a chance to win!  The winner will be selected just before midnight, EST, on Friday, March 23rd.  Good luck! ~ S.G. Rogers

Back Cover Blurb: Someone has been stealing priceless Greek artifacts and it's Alex Leonidis' job to uncover the thief. His prime suspect is beautiful archaeological graduate student, Francie Vasileiou. His plan is to join in an archaeological dig and catch her in the act. All he has to do is keep his mind on his job, and not on the way his lovely suspect warms his heart. He's learned the hard way not to trust fragile-looking women who seem to need his help.

Francie wants to get her PhD and become an archaeologist, like her famous father. The sudden invitation to participate in a dig on the beautiful Greek island of Paros is a wonderful opportunity. She has no time for distractions like Alex, the handsome Project Director. Experience has taught her to stay clear of handsome, charismatic Greek men.

On the shores of the Aegean Sea, Alex and Francie work together, searching for treasures from Greece's past. While pursuing their goals, they discover some of the truths they had believed to be carved in stone may have been flawed.

Welcome, ladies! Thank you for coming to chat with us today. Let's talk to Francine first.  Francine, why do you think Patty choose you to represent her?

I think it's because she thinks I'm a lot like her. Her parents aren't famous, but I've traveled a lot, like she has. She's also spent a lot of her life in schools, and she doesn't have a lot of patience with people who don't put forth the effort to do a good job.

So you're a world traveler?  Tell us more!

I think I'm your average college student, really. I've always loved going on digs all over the world with my father, and in order to do that as a career I need to get my PhD in archaeology. I've spent a lot of time in Montreal with my mom's parents and in Greece with my father's family, and I went to college in LA, so I feel like I have three homes.

Wow. Tell us where you live and what draws you there?

I've lived in lots of places, but right now I'm going to school in Athens. This is where my father used to teach, and I wanted to earn my PhD here. And Professor Theo, my father's friend, was here.

Is there anything you wish Patty had kept her mouth shut about?

I suppose the whole mess about why my parents aren't a part of my life any more. That's kind of humiliating, and it makes me sad because I still love both my parents.

Tell us about Alex. What drew you to him?

He's a very dynamic personality. He's a leader, but he's also a good listener.

What really pushes your buttons?

Incompetence. Laziness. So many times I wanted to smack Yannis. Not only did he not know what he was doing, he waited around for someone else to do things, or for someone to tell him to do it.

What's your perfect day…and why?

Digging in the dirt until I find something left from an ancient civilization. Sharing it with the people around me. Being able to learn something about the world that the user of that artifact lived in.

What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear would be to give my heart to someone who will crush it again. That's already happened with my parents, and with Leandros (my college boyfriend), and I don't think I could survive it another time.

Thank you Francine!  Now, Patty, it's your turn.  Why should readers be interested in Aegean Intrigue?

I went to Greece in the spring of 2008. As part of her degree in writing, my youngest daughter did a Study Abroad program on the sunny island of Paros. Of course I HAD to visit—just to make sure she was okay, you understand. My husband is not a traveler, so I talked a good friend into going with me. I was in awe of the living history there and the way it is incorporated into every day life. The people there KNOW their history and are willing to share it with everyone.

I can't say that I've always had an interest in archaeology, but I'm a history buff, and digging for artifacts is part of that. Of course, visiting the ancient ruins on Paros as well as in Athens, I wondered about the people who do that type of work. So I bought some books while I was in Greece and checked out several online sources when I got home.

As far as why readers should be interested, I think the central message of the story focuses on the way we treat our significant others. Sometimes this is a cultural issue, but when women are treated poorly, it bothers me. This was something I noticed in Greece. My daughter commented on it, and when I got home I read more that confirmed it. Traditionally, Greek women are not encouraged to be independent. Especially on the island, local women were not seen outdoors after the supper hour. They were at home. Being a very independent woman, this bothered me. And I decided to write a story that showcased not only the beauty of the island, but the dynamics between the men and women there.

 

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No Blarney Fairytale G*i*v*e*a*w*a*y Weekend

If your Irish eyes are smiling, you just might find a pot of gold right here at Child of Yden. To win a copy of my fairytale romance The Magical Misperception of Meridian, in any digital format, please add it to your to-read list on Goodreads HERE, and leave a comment below.  I'll pick a winner Sunday night at midnight, EST (USA). Good luck! ~ S.G. Rogers

The Magical Misperception of Meridian

Back Cover Blurb:  Railing against convention in the kingdom of Meridian, Jona thinks a girl should be able to wear trousers, fight like a boy when necessary, and marry whomever she pleases. She happens upon the queen's nephew, Lee, who stammers and cannot speak to girls at all…that is, until he meets Jona.

When the queen hires Jona to help her nephew acquire proper social graces, Jona experiences a blissful summer of pure enchantment. Jona and Lee learn to dance, perfect the art of polite conversation, and discover which fork to use at the dinner table. Although they become best friends, Queen Gaia considers Jona a mere servant. At summer's end, Jona's job in Meridian is done.

Lee and Jona keep in contact through a set of magical mailboxes given to Lee by the Wizard Farland. When the friends are finally reunited after ten years, their budding romance is torn asunder by an edict from the queen. Against impossible odds, Jona and Lee will fight for an uncertain future. But unspoken secrets and mysteries long in the making have yet to be revealed.

Will true love be denied…or can the differences between commoners and royalty be shown to be just a matter of magical misperception?

Excerpt:

At their first lesson, Jona and Lee kept dissolving into laughter, leaving Mr. Rapp peevish and cross. After an hour of working with them in the castle ballroom, the dance instructor threw up his hands in disgust. "It appears I'm wasting my time," he snapped. "If you two cannot take this seriously, I shall be forced to inform the queen."

He stormed out, followed by his mousy pianist. Suddenly Jona and Lee became somber.

"If Mr. Rapp tells The Dragon we aren't learning to dance, I'll be sent home," Jona said.

"I don't want you to go. We'll just have to find a way to impress Mr. Rapp."

That night, after everyone had retired, they sneaked into the ballroom to practice. Lee turned up some of the gas lamps so they wouldn't trip over each other in the dark.

"I can hardly wait to see Mr. Rapp's face when he sees us waltz perfectly tomorrow," Lee

said. "He'll probably think it's because he's a brilliant teacher."

"Mr. Rapp is an evil sorcerer, you know," Jona said with a playful wink.

"Evil, you say? What's the man done now?"

"He transformed a beautiful princess into one of those peach trees in the garden."

"The black-hearted villain!" Lee exclaimed.

"Each time we perfect a dance, it weakens his wicked spell."

"I'm all about rescuing damsels, as you know," Lee said. "Let's get to it."

Jona frowned. "It would be easier if we had music."

"Oh, but we do. The Wizard Farland enchanted the piano in the corner. It'll play anything

we want."

Lee patted the instrument. "A waltz, if you please."

When the instrument responded with a tune played in three-quarters time, Jona clapped her hands in delight. "I do so love magic!"

Buy links: MuseItUp Publishing and Amazon.  Coming soon to BN.com.

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