Maddy Barone's Blog, page 46
December 27, 2012
Naughty New Year with Sky
My current series is a futuristic paranormal with werewolves, but there are no cool futuristic weapons or technology. Nuclear war decimated the population and sent people back to living like it’s the American frontier all over again, and the only government is run by strong, ruthless men.
I decided to give you a teaser about Sky and Quill, two minor characters in a previous book who leave the werewolf den to live in Omaha since their chosen mates have been denied to them.
Good luck in the prize drawings. I will be drawing a name from those who leave a comment on my blog for a $10 gift card to Amazon. That is in addition to the drawings for ebooks by the Just Romance Me folks. So, Enjoy and good luck!
The new year was only fifteen minutes away when the mayor of Omaha was admitted to Ms. Julia’s House of Joy. As host, Sky went to the entry to greet the latecomer to the New Year’s Eve party.
“Welcome,” he said with a cordial smile. Did McGrath have any idea Sky considered him his greatest enemy? Mayor McGrath handed his luxuriously warm overcoat to a fifteen-year-old girl who, until a month ago, had been picking up johns on the icy streets of Omaha. Mayor McGrath gave her a patronizing smile and a pinch on the ass as she took his coat. Though his wolf yearned to tear out the mayor’s throat, Sky maintained his friendly expression through years of practice.
“Tim, I’m glad you could stop in.” Sky shook the mayor’s hand and drew him into the reception room. “I’m sure you have several stops to make tonight.”
The mayor accepted a glass of champagne from a server. “I wouldn’t miss your party. Where better to ring in the New Year than at one of the fasting growing businesses in town? You’ve done a lot with the place in the past few years.”
Sky smoothed his sapphire blue silk tie with a self-satisfied smirk. At least, he hoped it looked self-satisfied. “Thanks, Tim. We’re managing to turn a nice profit, as I’m sure you’ve noticed by our taxes.”
“Yes.”
Tim McGrath’s tone was distracted. His gaze was fixed on LaToya, the newest lady in the house. He waved her eagerly over. LaToya shot a pleading look at Sky. He nodded at her and she came over, reluctance showing in her stiff steps. Sky looped an arm over her shoulders and pulled her close to his side.
“This is LaToya James,” he said. “LaToya, say hello to Mayor McGrath.”
“H-h-hello,” she whispered.
“Hello, young lady. Aren’t you a pretty little thing. I want you to join me after midnight.”
Sky produced a smile intended to convey regret. “LaToya is new. She just turned eighteen on Christmas Eve. I’m not ready to share her yet.” Without giving the mayor a chance to respond, he brushed his lips over LaToya’s hair. “Help Patricia in the kitchen, baby, and send Aimee over to us.”
The mayor chuckled while he watched LaToya hurry away. “One of the perks of being the owner of a whorehouse is sampling the employees?”
Sky shrugged enigmatically.
“I heard you’re engaged to a girl back home.” McGrath sipped his champagne with a raised brow.
And you’ve been married to a good woman for nearly thirty years, Sky inwardly sneered. Doesn’t stop you from abusing any girl you can get your hands on. He nodded at Aimee as she joined them. She was beautiful and young enough to interest McGrath, and fully aware what she could expect from the mayor. “Tim, this is Aimee Chambord. I don’t think you’ve met her before?”
The mayor smiled widely at Aimee’s gaping décolletage. “Why no, I don’t believe I’ve met Ms. Chambord. Can I get you a glass of champagne, my dear? Will you excuse us, Sky?”
Sky waved them off with hidden relief. He circulated through the large set of reception rooms, checking to see that the bouncers were alert and none of his ladies was being mistreated. He was an Alpha wolf, and the men and women who worked in this house were his Pack, to protect and provide for. And —his eyes went cold as found McGrath— kill for.
He glanced at his reflection as he passed a mirror on the landing of the main staircase. His black hair was neatly cut, his black suit was elegant, his tie the same vivid blue as his eyes. A wave of weary disgust passed over him. No one in the Clan would recognize him. Even he didn’t recognize himself some days. There were times he doubted his wolf approved of him.
Quill, his cousin and beta, joined him, handing him a glass of champagne. Ms. Julia, their savior and benefactor, came with him and stood between them. The three of them looked down over the dozens of people coming together to watch the clock count down the last few minutes of the year 2069.
“I’m leaving in the spring,” Quill said quietly.
Sky knew the day was coming when Quill wouldn’t be able to bear the vice and intrigue of Omaha, but he flinched anyway. “I’m going to miss you, but I understand.”
“Come with me,” Quill urged.
Sky watched McGrath, sipping champagne from Aimee’s cleavage. “I can’t. I have to finish what I’ve started.”
Ms. Julia, aging but not stupid, patted his arm. “What about your fiancée, honey? You let everyone think the wrong thing, but you can’t fool me. You love that girl. Go get her and bring her home.”
Rose. The mate his wolf had chosen for him five years ago. Longing so deep and sharp it was painful cramped Sky’s belly. He wrapped one hand over the bannister. He could almost feel her blond hair under his fingers, the trembling warmth of her mouth under his. “I can‘t bring her here.”
Ms. Julia pursed her lips. “No girl is going to wait forever, you know, not even for a handsome young devil like you.”
“She’ll wait.” Grim certainly rang in Sky’s voice. Taye would see to it. But, oh, God, how he wanted to see her.
Quill met his eyes over the top of Ms. Julia’s silvering head and Sky knew that Quill understood. The two of them, deprived of their mates for over five years, understood each other’s pain all too well.
“Five!” shouted the crowd. “Four! Three! Two! ONE! Happy New Year!”
Sky lifted his glass. “To Rose,” he whispered, and drank.
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December 24, 2012
Merry Christmas! A Deleted Scene from Eddie’s Prize
My Tuesday Teaser this week is from Eddie’s Prize, but since it didn’t move Eddie and Lisa’s story forward, it has been removed from the manuscript. That made it the perfect Christmas present for my readers. Let me give you a little set up here. It is early November and Lisa is at the den to visit Carla. Eddie dropped her off there on his way north to visit a friend. The two women are sitting in the room that connects to Carla and Taye’s bedroom. Taye set it aside for Carla’s sole use. As they are sitting and talking about what their married lives are like, Sky comes to the den with Rose, whom he rescued from Two Bears.
Carla cocked her head to listen to a distant howl. “Is that Taye? Already?” She glanced at her watch. “It’s only half past four. Maybe he finished hunting early.”
But it wasn’t Taye. Agitated voices sounded in the hall, getting closer to the listening women, and a peremptory knock sounded before the door was flung open to admit a tangle of bodies. They poured in like cats dumped out of a sack, all bristling fur, claws and yowls.
Lisa felt bombarded by the invasion, staring at the people flooding into the room without comprehension at first glance of who they were or even how many there were. To settle herself, Lisa counted them. There was a man a little older than she was, tall and muscular, and barely dressed in cut offs, with black hair loose to his waist. He stood to one side of the door with arms folded over his chest and a grim scowl on his face. Snake hovered beside him, but he looked wide-eyed and anxious rather than grim. A third man wore leather clothes like an Indian in a cowboy movie and his black hair was in two braids. His nose might have had a proud Roman arch at one time, but was grossly bruised and swollen now. He seemed to be under the angry guard of two men who must be wolves who’d recently changed back to man form, because they were naked. Lisa would have liked to examine their fine physiques at her leisure, but, remembering Eddie’s little lecture, she forced her eyes to the couple who seemed to be the center of this ruckus.
The man of the pair wasn’t actually a man, but a teen-aged boy dressed only in a dark blue wool breechcloth and leather moccasins. His nicely developed body said he was full grown, but his handsome face held a soft boyishness that said high school. His arm was around a young woman, his body leaning toward her as if to shelter her. In contrast to the long black hair that streamed over the young man’s brown-skinned back, the woman’s hair was short and blond, and her skin was the pale sort that probably burned lobster-red after only minutes in the sun. He was tall and slimly muscular, and moved with protective grace. She was of middle height, and her long limbs reminded Lisa of Alexander the colt’s gawky stick legs. Lisa guessed neither of them was over eighteen. The boy pulled the girl further into the room, toward the couch where she and Carla sat.
Keep Reading
Merry Christmas!
December 17, 2012
Good Bye, Magic Cat
My Tuesday Truth today is: Black Magic Cat has fallen asleep, never to wake again.
I found Magic at the local Humane Society and fell in love with her. I brought her home on December 18, 2004. For eight years she was my writing companion. She was the friendliest cat I’ve ever known. She never met a person or a bowl of food she didn’t like. When I adopted her, I was told she was about 5 or 6 years old. She had health problems from the start, and about two months ago she had a stroke. The vet said then that it was only a matter of time before she died. Yesterday she seemed to lose control of her bodily functions. Today I brought her into the vet, and Dr. Tammy said Magic would never improve. It was my choice, but she said I had to consider Magic’s quality of life. It was hard, but I decided to have Magic put to sleep. I held her and petted her while she fell peacefully asleep. I will miss her. I had already decided that Rose will have a cat in Wolf’s Princess. Don’t be surprised if the cat is named Magic.
December 12, 2012
Tuesday Teaser 12/9/12: Wolf’s Prize
Oops! Really late again! Here’s a snip from Quill and Ellie’s book.
Paint nodded with satisfaction and patted Ellie’s arm. “Good girl.”
Rage roared through Quill. “Don’t touch my mate,” he snarled through clenched teeth.
Paint raised his hands. “Fine. Geez, you’re as bad as Snake.”
Ellie watched Paint retreat before lifting wide eyes to Quill. “Am I?” she asked quietly.
Quill took deep breaths to control his wolf. “Are you what?”
“Your mate?”
“Yeah.” That came out too roughly. Quill cleared his throat and gentled his voice. “Yes, you are.”
Tuesday Teaser: Wolf’s Prize
Oops! Really late again! Here’s a snip from Quill and Ellie’s book.
Paint nodded with satisfaction and patted Ellie’s arm. “Good girl.”
Rage roared through Quill. “Don’t touch my mate,” he snarled through clenched teeth.
Paint raised his hands. “Fine. Geez, you’re as bad as Snake.”
Ellie watched Paint retreat before lifting wide eyes to Quill. “Am I?” she asked quietly.
Quill took deep breaths to control his wolf. “Are you what?”
“Your mate?”
“Yeah.” That came out too roughly. Quill cleared his throat and gentled his voice. “Yes, you are.”
December 8, 2012
Eddie’s Prize News
I filled out and returned the Cover Art Request Form last night for Eddie’s Prize. It will be several weeks to a couple of months before I get anything back. I’m looking forward to what my artist will come up with! I’m also working on polishing the blurb. Sometimes I think writing a blurb is harder than writing the book! Here is what I have so far:
Lisa Anton was a world-famous fashion model before her plane crashed in a post-apocalyptic future where women are precious and rare, and technology is only a memory. She’s offered as a prize in a Bride Fight for the best fighter to take home. As the wife of a man she barely knows, one as handsome as any model she ever worked with in the past, Lisa believes she may have a chance at true love. Not only gorgeous and passionate in bed, her new husband also seems to care for her.
From the moment he saw the blond beauty, Eddie Madison was determined to make her his wife. Beating a dozen other men in the Bride Fight was child’s play for him. Learning to be a husband is a bit trickier. She wants his complete trust, but Eddie has spent his entire life guarding a secret that could destroy their happiness. Is protecting his secret more important than winning his bride’s love?
This morning when I woke up I had an email from the Managing Editor at LSB letting me know that Eddie’s Prize was scheduled for release on March 18, 2013. That’s only a little over 3 months away!
I am working away on Wolf’s Prize. It seems Quill has lost his shyness and most of his sweetness. Living in Sin City for 5 years will do that to a guy, I guess. And though Ellie is still quiet, she is a tigress where her son’s safety is concerned. Quill’s wolf adores her. I’m having fun writing this one. Stay tuned for more news.
December 3, 2012
Tuesday Truth: Spinning is Cheap Therapy
When I say spinning I mean wool. Or silk. Or any other fiber. Not cycles. For me, cycling is an asthma attack waiting to happen. I’ll stick to my leisurely strolls on the treadmill.
No, I mean spinning fluffy fleece into beautiful thread and yarn. After a crappy day it helps me relax. There’s a certain rhythm to treadling to turn the wheel and feeding the roving through the oriface onto the bobbin. It’s soothing. It’s also a great time for me to plot out a story or a scene, and talk to my characters. Quill insists that living for five years in a house full of working girls has almost completely cured him of his shyness. Ellie needs a strong man to defend her now, and he, by golly, is that man. Ellie thinks he needs to back off a little. Yes, she needs him and the other wolves to help her get her son back, but she knows how to cook a meal over a fire, and doesn’t need his help to do it, thank you. If a spark leaps out and leaves a small burn on her hand she can handle it. Well … maybe he could kiss it better if he insists.
Here is a pic of my wheel. It is a castle style wheel from Kromski. her name is Zoya. I have commissioned a handmade saxony style wheel from a lovely gentleman in Wisconsin and I hope to have it by the end of February. He says it will get done when it gets done. Here is what I am currently spinning, a beautiful sparkly wool/silk blend in teals.
December 1, 2012
Saturday Crafting
I finished knitting a hat this morning. It’s a cute cloche but it turned out too big. I tried to felt it down to a smaller size. I was semi-successful. At least my cheeks and the back of my neck should be protected from the cold wind when I walk to work, right?
I’ve also been knitting a lacy little shoulder shawl, possibly as a giveaway during the Naughty New Year’s blog hop coming up the last week in December. It would be pretty light, more decorative than warm. I call it chocolate cherry, because the colors are light brown, chocolate brown, cheery pink and soft pink.
This is what it looks like now. Here is another one I made from the same pattern.
Right now it looks like a snarled mess. But that’s okay. Lace usually looks like a snarled mess until it’s blocked. What do you think? Would people like to win a lacy little shawl? Or should I concentrate on giving books away?
November 26, 2012
Tuesday Teaser: Eddie’s Prize
Here you go: a little snippet from Eddie’s Prize. This is a scene that takes place the night before the Bride Fights.
It was after midnight when Eddie crept on bare feet to the room Lisa and Carla had been given. His parents were finally in bed. They had stayed up late discussing the applicants for the Bride Fight, deciding who would be allowed to enter, but had banned him from joining the conversation.
The furious whispers coming from the women’s room fell silent when he tapped softly. After a moment, Carla voice said, “Who is it?”
“It’s me. Eddie. Can I come in? I want to talk to you.”
After a moment the door opened and Carla stepped back to let him in. She was dressed for bed, her still-damp brown hair in a braid down her back. Eddie looked past her to where Lisa sat hunched on the side of the bed, her blond hair glorious in the dim glow of the lamp, her pale face miserable. Her fingers pleated a corner of the sheet with jerky movements. Eddie wanted to hug her and tell her everything would be okay. Instead he put his hands in his jeans’ pockets and tried to smile.
“What do you want?” Carla asked rudely.
“Sh! Not so loud,” Eddie whispered. “Let’s not wake up my parents.”
“Are you supposed to be here?” Carla asked.
That made Eddie smile. “Of course not. I’m going to be fighting tomorrow. If the other men knew I was here they’d think I was taking unfair advantage.”
Carla’s glare could have parted his hair. “You’re fighting tomorrow? In this stupid Bride Fight thing?”
“Sh!” said Eddie again. “Yes, for Lisa.” Did that sound rude? “You’re very pretty too,” Eddie hurried to say. “But—”
Carla cut him off with the first real smile he’d seen from her. “That’s okay. I hope no one shows up to fight for me.”
Eddie remembered the dozens of men who had passed through his father’s office that evening, especially Taye Wolfe, who had stood with arms folded grimly over his chest for the entire visiting hour, glaring at each and every admiring comment made about Carla.
Eddie didn’t say anything. He looked over at Lisa. She had crumpled the sheet in one fist and was gazing at him pitifully. She reminded him of a half-drowned kitten. The prettiest, sweetest half-drowned kitten he could imagine.
