Cardeno C.'s Blog, page 15

Character Building

Good morning! It is a great day for hot coffee. Today, we'll be talking about characters and character creation, which is a popular topic for narrators, authors, and self help books everywhere.  One of the first questions people ask when they find out I narrate audio-books is "Do you do all the characters and everything?" I'm not sure what they mean by "everything," but character is kind of the point. 

Even the dryest informational narration creates an authoritative and knowledgeable character to convey information. The best characters, though, are the ones developed beyond this information exchange, the ones who tell their own story, the ones who make us feel something. 


Mark Twain is quoted as saying. with his usual wit and insight, "A man's character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation."  I love this quote, because it works on so many levels.


Of first importance to my topic; this is exactly how we develop voices to use in narration. Adjectives! Simple, right? It's exactly how writers develop the characters with their words and exactly how readers and listeners relate to the books they enjoy.  Thank you, authors, for describing your characters' voices!  This is the narrator's chance to match your intent and the reader's imagination wrapped up in a few of those choice adjectives.  

Of course, what Twain meant, was that you could tell a lot about people you met by the language that they used. Specifically, I imagine, if the adjectives used were of the more "colorful" variety.  Don't judge! We like colorful 'round here!  We can also tell a lot about characters in books by the language they use.

Fascinatingly, recent science is showing that the language that we use can actually effect the molecular structure of water! Positive language directed at water was shown to create beautiful and complex crystals when the water was frozen, while water molecules subjected to hateful language broke down upon freezing. When we consider how much of our world, and even our bodies is composed of water, this sounds like language can build character on a global scale! 

So, writers, please keep writing, readers, keep reading. We've got characters to build!  All you beautiful people, have a fantastic day. As always, thanks for reading, and happy listening!

Find Falcon Sound Company on Facebook, or at www.falconsoundcompany.com

Crashing Upwards New Release By S.C. Wynne

New release temporarily on sale for $2.99!


Blurb:

Harper Jones is a professional bike courier, and in his business if you don’t ride fast, you don’t make money. His apartment has mice, he’s barely able to scrape up the rent, but at least he’s living life on his terms and doesn’t depend on anyone.


Sam Foster is the gay son of a wealthy conservative senator. He’s noticed Harper before when he’s dropped off packages at his dad’s company, but he’s never had the nerve to speak to his secret crush.
When Sam accidentally hits Harper with his car, Harper’s bike is destroyed and he’s injured seriously enough that he won’t be delivering packages for a while. Sam decides Harper needs rescuing, and he moves in with Harper to take care of him.
Unfortunately, Sam’s politician dad is convinced Harper’s a con-artist and he’ll do whatever it takes to get him away from his son.

Excerpt:
Chapter One
HarperThe unmistakable tang of blood filled my mouth. My brain was fuzzy as I tried to open my eyes, but it was like they were superglued shut. My shoulder throbbed as if jammed in a wood chipper, and I couldn’t seem to move, no matter how much I wanted to.
“Can you hear me?” a gentle voice asked. Fingers gripped my wrist, and I groaned. “I’m so, so, so sorry.” A definite loss of control wobbled thorough that same male voice. “Please be okay.”Someone smoothed the hair off my forehead. It felt kind of nice. The hands were soft, and they touched me like I was fragile. Valuable.
I’m neither.
Sirens, blaring horns, and raised voices surrounded me in a swirl of confusion, and still I found it impossible to move.
“I saw the whole thing,” a nasally voice announced. “He rode right in front of you. There was no way you could have stopped in time.”
“That isn’t really the point right now, is it?” the gentle voice snapped back.
A loud, raw groan erupted from my tight throat. My bones and flesh ached so horribly I thought I might even cry. Oh, God. How embarrassing. I wasn’t a crier. But then I’d never been in the kind of pain I was in at the moment either.
“It’s okay. It’s going to be all right,” the soft voice reassured me. “I’ll take care of you. I promise.”
People grabbed under my arms and lifted me. That’s when the real torture started. I wanted to yell for them to put me back down. Leave me where I was. But I couldn’t seem to form the words needed to beg them to stop. But then none of that mattered because everything went black.****When I opened my eyes, the light above me was so white and harsh I slammed my lids shut again. I wasn’t out on the street anymore. I was in a room, and the only sound was a high-pitched beep off to the side of my bed. Instinctively I knew better than to try and move. My body still ached, but there was a warm layer of something blurring the pain. It was like someone had inserted a barrier of cotton between my nerve endings and my injuries.
My injuries.
I popped my eyes open again and scoped the room as best I could without moving my head. There was someone sitting near me. I couldn’t make out who it was because I was terrified of actually engaging my muscles enough to look properly. The memory of my earlier pain was still very much etched in my brain, and I really didn’t want it to return.
“You’re awake.” I recognized that gentle voice from the street, and a chair creaked as someone stood and came closer. A guy about my age appeared above me. He had jet-black hair and moss-colored eyes. I’d never seen eyes so green. Who was he, and why did he look so guilty?
I licked my dry lips, noticing that my lower lip felt swollen. “Where?” I attempted to speak. My throat was bone-dry, and I sounded like I was in Citizen Kane about to share the name of my childhood sled.
“You’re at Dallas County Hospital. I don’t want you to worry about a thing. My dad’s paying for everything, absolutely everything, and you really, really don’t need to be concerned.” He swallowed and his Adam’s apple bobbed in his slender throat.
Paying for what exactly? I still wasn’t sure what had happened.
I guess he could see the question in my eyes because he said, “I hit you with my car.” He winced and then held up his hands quickly. “Nothing’s broken. Well, on you. Your bike is toast.”
Now it was coming back: the screech of tires, the slamming onto the pavement. I frowned and even that hurt. “Who are you?” I did another husky Rosebud impersonation.
“I’m Sam. Sam Foster.” He started to hold out his hand and then shoved it in his jeans pocket. 
“I saw from your license your name is Harper.”
I just stared because I wasn’t really able to do much more than that very well.
“My dad will buy you a new bike. I don’t want you to worry about a thing.” He grimaced. “I know that’s easy for me to say, when you’re the one lying in a hospital bed. But I mean it. It was all my fault, and I’m going to see to it that you’re taken care of.”
“Right.” I was too tired to argue, and I still felt disconnected from reality. Was this actually happening? Judging by how banged up my body felt, it was. But it was hard to believe I’d have been that careless. I’d been riding for years and no one had ever hit me. Sure I’d had some close calls. The streets were packed with cars at rush hour, but I was careful. No way I’d let someone plow into me. I was quick. I was professional. I was fucked.
He approached the bed and leaned over to gently squeeze my arm. I wasn’t accustomed to people I didn’t know touching me, but a pleasant shiver rolled through me and I sighed. There was something about his touch that made me feel better. I remembered that from earlier. His smile was warm, and my chest tightened as his sincere gaze held mine. Nobody smiled at me that way usually. Nobody wasted time trying to charm me. As thrashed as I felt, the heat of his smile wiggled through me. Why was he being so nice? Was he afraid I’d sue him? I wouldn’t be surprised if that was his motivation. If there was one thing I was certain of, it was that most people were self-serving.
He shared another beguiling smile. “Like I said, no bones are broken. But your shoulder was dislocated, and your leg was sliced open and bruised pretty badly. They gave you like twenty stitches. You’re going to have to stay off your bike for a few weeks.”
I widened my eyes in horror, and he flinched.
“What’s wrong?”
I did something very stupid: I attempted to sit up. The screech I let loose didn’t sound like me. He cowered briefly, and I fell back against the bed as agonizing pain radiated through my shoulder and shot down my arm. I gasped for breath and tried to stay perfectly still as the excruciating, stabbing pains in my shoulder and arm slowly began to fade.
“You shouldn’t get up.” He sounded almost angry. “What are you doing?”
I licked my lips again and gritted out, “My job. I’ll lose my job.”
He shook his head. “No.” His voice was sharp. “I’ll make arrangements. I’ll figure something out. You will most definitely not lose your job.”
I gave a short, bitter laugh, making sure not to jolt my shoulder. I worked as a bicycle courier. There were no desk jobs at my place of employment. My boss, Jack, already didn’t love me, and he didn’t tolerate fuckups of any kind. Not being able to ride for weeks would definitely qualify as a fireable offence. What the hell was I going to do? I could barely make rent as it was on my one-bedroom apartment. I wasn’t soft or weak, but I didn’t know that I could survive being homeless. The very thought of that made me feel sick. Hopeless.
Sam still hovered. His eyes were bright, and his mouth drooped. “I didn’t see you, and by the time I did it was too late.” He paled. “I feel horrible.”
I knew he wanted me to forgive him. I wasn’t sure I had it in me at the moment.
I cleared my throat. “Water?”
He straightened and grabbed a plastic pitcher on a tray nearby. Then he poured some water into a little pink cup with a bendy straw. He held the cup near my lips, and I sipped from the straw. I was embarrassed when some of the cool water dribbled down my chin. He surprised me when he wiped the drops away with his thumb, as if it was no big deal to wipe away a stranger’s drool.
“Is there someone I can call for you? Maybe your parents? Your cell was smashed.” He swallowed hard. “I’ll replace that too.”
My throat felt much better now that I’d had some water. “No. I don’t have anyone to call.”
He frowned as if he couldn’t imagine that would be true. “No one?”
I thought about some of the riders at my company. Maybe I could have reached out to them if I were a reaching-out type of guy. We were a tight-knit group while on the clock, and we’d occasionally drink together after work. But we didn’t spend holidays together or hang out at each other’s houses. Besides, my fellow employees were already riding their asses off trying to make a living. They couldn’t cover for me without blowing out their legs. There was no way they could risk that just to help me.
I closed my eyes and tried to keep back the tsunami of fear that hurtled toward me. I didn’t know what to do. I usually had a plan, but I couldn’t think my way out of this at the moment. I’d known the possibility existed that I might get hurt one day, but I’d never really believed it would happen.
“You can probably claim disability insurance.”
“My boss doesn’t exactly do things legally,” I whispered. “I’m not sure what I can claim.”
A line appeared between his perfect brows. “Oh. Well, either way you’ll be okay. My family will take care of things.”
He sounded so self-assured. He obviously had great faith in his family’s willingness to help me. I didn’t have any such faith. Not in his father and not in anyone. I’d been on my own since I was sixteen, and depending on someone else to save me wasn’t in my DNA.
An older man with a fluffy salt-and-pepper mustache strode into the room. He looked vaguely familiar, and his wide shoulders and palpable self-importance shrunk the room immediately. Instinctively I wilted from his aggressive energy, pressing back against the soft pillows.
“Dad, what are you doing here?” Sam’s surprise was evident. “I told you I could handle this.”
The older man approached the bed and observed me with steely gray eyes. “You’re far too trusting. I wanted to meet your new buddy Harper myself.”
I was taken aback that he knew my name, and I stared at him wordlessly.
Mr. Foster tilted his head studying me as if I was an amoeba on a glass slide. “The nurse at the desk said nothing’s broken, so that’s good.” He rubbed his chin.
“Why are you here?” Sam repeated. “Don’t you think I can do anything on my own?”
“It’s my money. Am I not allowed to assess the situation?” The older man sounded patient when he spoke to his son. His tone changed when he addressed me. “Sam believes in the goodness of others.” His tone implied he thought his son was nuts. “I, on the other hand, don’t.”
We actually had that in common.
“This is really annoying. You’re treating me like a child,” grumbled Sam.
“The world is filled with shysters, son. Things aren’t always what they seem.”
Sam’s face was pinched and his mouth tight. “I hit him with my car, Dad. That really happened.”
“I’m sure you did, son. But there are ways to fake an accident. Believe it or not, Dallas has a lot of con artists who throw themselves in front of cars and pretend to be hurt.”
Heat flooded my swollen cheeks. Even if he thought I was some sort of scumbag, he shouldn’t have had this conversation in front of me. I’d have loved to take a swing at that arrogant asshole, but I knew that would hurt me more than him. Instead I put all my energy into glaring at him.
“Jesus, Dad, just look at him. He’s not faking his injuries,” Sam exclaimed. He looked uncomfortable, and I got the feeling he wanted to defend me but wasn’t sure how.
Mr. Foster grabbed my chart off the foot of my bed and studied it glumly. “My son’s a very responsible driver. I find it hard to believe he just didn’t see you, Harper.”
“There was a ton of traffic, and it happened really fast.” Sam crossed his arms. “I told you all of this on the phone.”
“Still, one can’t be too careful.” Mr. Foster eyed me suspiciously. “Don’t you agree, Harper?”
I found it annoying that he kept using my name. We weren’t friends. Far from it, in fact. He was scowling at me as if I was trying to steal his wallet. Who did this blowhard think he was; accusing me of trying to scam his precious son? Every inch of my body throbbed with pain, and I had no idea what would happen to me now. Did this middle-aged bastard actually think I’d wanted to be hit by a car? He could kiss my ass. I narrowed my eyes and managed to hiss, “Fuck off. I don’t want your damn money.”
Sam looked shocked at what I’d said, but he didn’t speak.
Mr. Foster raised his brows. “Come again?”
At that exact moment, a nurse wandered into the room wearing a pink smock with kittens on it. She stopped short when she saw Mr. Foster and Sam. “Visiting hours are long over, boys.” She grabbed the clipboard from Mr. Foster and shook her head. “He’ll probably be discharged tomorrow, so you can catch up on all the gossip then.”
“So soon?” Sam looked surprised.
She nodded, studying my chart. “Looks like there are no broken bones. We need every bed we can get right now. Anybody who isn’t on death’s door gets the boot.” She gave me a sympathetic glance. “Sorry.”
I wasn’t sure if I was relieved to be leaving the hospital so soon, or terrified. I was hopeful my wallet was somewhere nearby so I could call a cab to take me home. God, how much would a cab ride be from here to my place? I rarely had much cash on me, and my cards were maxed out. Maybe I could catch an Uber or something. That would be cheaper. But would I even be able to walk from the car to my apartment? I was still too scared of the pain and hadn’t had the nerve to try and move my leg yet. Jesus, would I have to crawl up the walkway? That wouldn’t be humiliating at all.
“It seems like he should stay longer.” Sam bit his lip as he studied me.
Mr. Foster puffed out his chest. “Let the experts handle things, son. If the hospital thinks Harper is well enough to go home tomorrow, who are we to argue?”
Sam gave his father a surly glance, and then he addressed the nurse. “What time will he be released?”
“Oh, I’m guessing around two in the afternoon.” The nurse tinkered with an IV bag hanging near my bed. She winked at me. “This is morphine. You should feel awesome in about five minutes.”
It didn’t even take that long before my body felt flushed and my lids heavy. The last memory I had, before my eyes slammed shut, was of Mr. Foster dragging a very disgruntled-looking Sam out of the room.
S.C.
BUY LINKS:AMAZON   KOBO   BARNES & NOBLE   APPLE


www.scwynne.com

Before Man Up by Felice Stevens

Hello and Happy Friday!

It was a bittersweet week for me as I released the final book in my Man Up series, James, Uncontrollable. You may have heard that the idea for this series started out with another of my author friends and was to be MF. We were each going to write a chapter about a different character of the strip club and it was to be a little bit of a romantic suspense. The club featured both male and female strippers.
My guy was named Eric. He had come to the club for his fraternity brother's bachelor party, but was hiding a big secret. See, Eric had all along pretended he was wealthy when in fact he was poor and his father was a drunk. They cut off ties when Eric left to go to college, as his father thought he should stay home and work. Now, Eric was in debt and had to make money to pay back his loans but he couldn't find a job. At the party he drowned his sorrows in liquor and got so drunk, he went up on stage with the strippers and the owner liked what he saw and offered him a job. There was a female stripper who needed help hiding from an abusive boyfriend and Eric falls for her and so on. 
That's about as far as I got before we shelved the idea. 
Writing Man Up was a challenge for me. At five books it was my longest series. And it was written in first person, dual POV. I never thought I'd like writing in first person but discovered I do. I love it in fact. 
Finishing the Man Up series is James—Uncontrollable. By far James was the hardest book I've ever written and in Malcolm and James I might have found my favorite couple of mine. From the moment Mal popped up on page I loved him—his snarky wit, his compassion and his love for life. James was a bit harder because he hid, even from me.
Pesky characters.
I hope you enjoyed reading the series as much as I enjoyed writing these men. It truly was a labor of love.
you can find James at the special release price of $3.99 or you can borrow it on Kindle Unlimited for 90 days.
Here is the link:
http://bit.ly/JamesManUp

Happy reading!!

Healthy Voices

It's a beautiful day in our neighborhood. I hope you're having a beautiful day as well. This week has begun to feel like Fall, with that first sliver of chill occasionally slicing through the air.  Although I love the season, the accompanying change in the weather stresses the vocal cords, and makes managing your voice more challenging. No one enjoys sore throats or croaking like a frog, but as narrators we tend to obsess about this topic. Obsessively. So, here is a recipe we've discovered and enjoy for flavor, and general health benefits as well as keeping a healthy voice. Here's to your health!

This tea is delicious and soothing to the throat served warm, but can also be served over ice.  Hydration is one of the best strategies to support vocal health.

4 cups water3/4 cup brown sugar1/4 cup grated ginger root 3 tea bags2 lemons, juiced3 tablespoons honey



In a saucepan, bring water, brown sugar, and grated ginger root to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer for 20 minutes. 
Remove saucepan from heat. If a stronger tea is desired add tea bags of your choice; steep tea to desired strength, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags.
Stir in lemon juice and add honey to taste. Strain the tea into a pitcher to remove ginger bits.

Heart Untouched - Andrew Grey

The third story in the Hearts Entwined series, Heart Untouched releases October 9.  I'm very excited about this story and I'm thrilled that it releases during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  The fact that this happened is a coincidence because I wasn't aware of this until a friend brought it to my attention.  And to add to the coincidences, part of the story in Heart Untouched deals with a man who is trying to rebuild a life and career going forward after a debilitating accident.  This story really does fit in the month that its being released.  So please take a minute to learn a little more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  

https://www.awarenessdays.com/awarene...

I do hope you enjoy it as much as I loved writing it.





A Hearts Entwined Novel
An accident crushed Duncan’s Olympic dreams and landed him in a chair, but he knows it’s time to get his life back on track—and he has a plan in mind. Working with his friend Todd, an Olympic skeleton racer, on a promotional campaign will not only help Duncan regain some direction, but it’ll give Todd the financial boost he desperately needs. The sport Todd loves is draining his resources—so much so that he’s thinking of giving up racing just to make ends meet.
As the two men work together, their friendship blossoms into much more, and suddenly the future is looking brighter than it has in a long time. But just when love, happiness, and success seem within their grasp, the USOC steps in with plans to stop their campaign. That’ll mean an end not just to Duncan’s business, but to Todd’s dreams… and Duncan isn’t about to let that happen to the man who means everything to him.


Book Links
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
DreamSpinner Press

Excerpt 1
Duncan sighed. “Great. You’re taking me to church.” He closed the laptop and set it aside. “Wonderful. Maybe Henrietta Blodgett will be there, and she can tell everyone again what a shame it is that I got hurt and how you got stuck caring for me.” The old lady had been running her mouth in the community center kitchen when Duncan had gone out there to use the restroom because it was bigger and easier for him to get into.
His mother whirled around, her hands coming to her hips. “First thing, that woman is a menace and an old battle-ax. She can go to church all she wants, but her gossiping is going to send her straight to hell. And no matter what happens, you can’t let people like her get to you. There will always be folks who talk and give you the ‘poor little thing’ face. You think I haven’t seen it a million times since your father died?” She plated the eggs, set them in front of him, sat down, and patted his hand. “No matter what, you have to go on.”
Duncan took a bite and set his fork down. “If we aren’t going to church, then what are we doing?” It was Wednesday, and his mom usually had her ladies circle prayer group at lunch. She’d gone for years.
“Just finish your breakfast and clean up. Shave too. You’re all scruffy, and that isn’t a good look for you.”
She went about straightening up the kitchen as Duncan ate slowly. His appetite had been hit-or-miss for weeks, and it looked like today was one of those days where nothing seemed to taste very good. Not that he said anything to his mom. The eggs she made were good usually, but just not right now, not to him. Still, he finished them and put his plate on his lap to carry it over to the sink.
“Thanks, Mom.” He rolled out of the room and back to the bathroom. In the mirror, he saw he did look awful, his spotty red beard only adding to the disappointment in his eyes and demonstrating the fact that he didn’t really care about anything.
Ten minutes later, after washing up and brushing his teeth, he wheeled himself to his room and went about the daunting task of getting dressed. He was determined to do it on his own, dammit, and he did it. Granted, it was only sweatpants and a T-shirt, but they were on correctly. Duncan even managed shoes and socks, though that took a little more doing. Finally ready to go, he glided back into the living room, where his mother was dusting. “Let’s get this over with.”
His mom ignored the comment and picked up her purse.
Duncan left the house, rolling down the ramp and out to the car. He would have liked to be able to get a van that was equipped with a lift so he could get in the car and drive it himself, but that was way outside their budget. His mom had put in for one, but it was taking a lot of time to get approved. There were grants and things that would help with the cost, but they hadn’t come through yet.
He got into the passenger seat with help from his mom, and she put the chair in the back. Then she climbed in and pulled away from their small ranch-style house in the Milwaukee suburb of Brown Deer, heading out toward the main road.
“Mom, what’s the big secret?” he asked, turning toward her.
“No secret. I thought you could use some time to visit some friends.” She slowed as they approached a light and then turned into the drive of an auto repair garage.
Todd stepped out of one of the bays, smiling brightly.
As soon as she came to a stop, he hurried to his side of the car and pulled open the door. Todd leaned right in, hugging Duncan tightly even with the odd angles. “I came to see you after you were hurt, but they wouldn’t let me in. And then I had to go out on tour and to competitions and….”
Duncan returned the embrace, inhaling deeply as Todd’s rich scent, tinged with work and a touch of grease, filled his nose. Heat washed through him, and Duncan’s breath hitched for a second. He almost didn’t know what to make of his reaction. They stayed that way for longer than was necessary before Todd pulled back.
“I know. But you called, and that meant a lot.”
His mom, who had already opened her door and gotten out, came around the car and pulled Duncan’s chair out.
“What’s the deal?” Duncan asked.
“You remember when you and I used to work together on those old cars I brought home in high school? Well, I still work on them, you know that, and I was hoping you’d help me.”


Author Information

Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing)  He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.











Author Links
Amazon Author Page
Barnes and Noble Page
Dreamspinner Press
Facebook
Facebook GroupAll the Way with Andrew Grey
Goodreads
Twitter @andrewgreybooks
Website

People Don't Seem To Talk About Books Anymore By S.C. Wynne

Good Morning!

I was talking with a writer friend the other day, and we'd both noticed that readers don't seem to dissect, or talk about books like they used to. Goodreads groups used to buzz with lively discussions about the latest books they'd read, but now it seems no one is doing that as much.

I don't think that this new development is because readers don't care about books. My guess is it has more to do with the fact that people read so fast now. Kindle Unlimited has been instrumental in encouraging binge reading. I've seen some readers say they read as many as twenty books a week. I don't know that I've read twenty books this year. Granted, I'm on the low end of the scale because I'm busy writing books. I'm not condemning anyone who does read that fast or that many books, but I am saying it probably impacts how well one can immerse themselves in the story. It must affect how deeply they think about the book once they're done reading because they're on to the next book right away.

I remember a time when readers would pick apart every detail of a book, and talk for hours about their feelings about the story. Readers would savor the books and comb through the pages. On one hand, it was probably unsettling for those authors of yesterday that anyone would pay that much attention to all the little details. But it must also have been flattering and energizing knowing all the details you bothered to put in were indeed being noticed by enthusiastic fans.

Perhaps the lack of book dissecting is because a lot of readers aren't only reading for pleasure anymore. Many readers are on numerous ARC teams, and the pressure to read and then write reviews is relentless. If Amazon would stop including reviews in the algorithms, which affects authors ability to appear on lists, many authors wouldn't care if anyone ever reviewed. Maybe that's just me. Although, come to think of it, I actually do love feedback on my books. But I don't enjoy having to hound readers for reviews. In fact, I hate it. I wrote a blog post not long ago about how authors AND readers are both suffering from burn out. I still stand behind that.

One also can't ignore the fact that there are way more books to read now than ever before. The explosion of self-publishing has made it so literally anyone can publish a book. There are so many stories to read now, it must mess with how people read. When there were only a hundred or so new books a month in MM romance, I'm sure readers remembered the characters and experienced the stories so much more powerfully. To truly immerse yourself in a book, you need time.

I still enjoy talking about the books I love, and I'm looking forward to doing that at GRL. What about you? Do you feel like you have to rush through books and it sometimes feels like a chore? Or do you still discuss and dissect the books you love?

S.C.
www.scwynne.com

Fall in love with a new audiobook!

Happy first Thursday in Autumn! Goodness, we have had a busy summer! Here are some of our newest releases to help keep you warm as everything else starts to get chillier. We even brought some pumpkin spice to feature in the Cafe today. Happy Fall, and happy listening!
Perfect for Fall! Drew Bacca narrates Susi Hawke's "Pumpkin Spiced Omega." Yummy!
I will always love you, both in this life and the next. I vow to love you, honor you, and stay by your side through haunted houses, dead relatives, and random appearances of red croquet balls.
Rafe can't explain the odd happenings in his new home or the strangely sweet little old lady who comes and goes, even when the doors are locked. Is he being gas-lighted, or is there more going on? Rafe and Milo could be perfect for each other, if they can first overcome the red croquet balls that life keeps throwing at them.

"Crocus" is new from Nick J Russo, Amy Lane, and Dreamspinner Press!

Saying “I love you” doesn’t guarantee peace or a happy ending. High school principal “Larx” Larkin was pretty sure he’d hit the jackpot when Deputy Sheriff Aaron George moved in with him, merging their two families as seamlessly as the chaos around them could possibly allow. But when Larx’s pregnant daughter comes home unexpectedly and two of Larx’s students are put in danger, their tentative beginning comes crashing down around their ears.
When their worst fears are almost realized, it puts their hearts and their lives to the test. Larx and Aaron have never wanted anything as badly as they want a life together. Will they be able to make it work when the world is working hard to keep them apart?

The newest narration from Colin Darcy is "Taken," by Susi Hawke and Crista Crown! Cody Evans has spent six years hidden from the world. Held by a shifter trafficking ring, he’s been forced to serve any man who paid the right price for a submissive omega. Now, Cody is pregnant. Desperate to save the life inside him but with only a hint of help, he sneaks a phone and places a call to the number he’d held in his head in case he ever got near a phone.
From the moment Levi Thurman scented the pregnant, emotionally broken omega, he had no doubt: Cody was his mate. He knows the young man will need time to uncover the dark secrets of his past so he can heal, but they’re both shocked when Levi’s secret is revealed: his soft, lacy, satin covered secret.
This is the second book in this exciting series, but can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel.


New from narrator John Solo, and author Susi Hawke! "Found in Beaumont:" two broken omegas and one hard-edged alpha…three men who are stronger than they think...especially when they trust each other enough to be vulnerable.
A pair of omegas who are everything to each other. In all the years that they’ve been on the streets, they’ve had one end goal: to find an alpha strong enough to love them both equally.
Since his return to civilian life, Beaumont has yet to reconnect with society. Instead, he spends his nights running from nightmares and memories of war.
Three broken men who can heal each other’s wounds...
Before they realize it's happening, life as they know it changes to become something new and precious.

New from Kenneth Obi and authors Crista Crown and Harper B. Cole, is this foxy tale of fiery romance!
It was only supposed to be a one night stand. Dallas was following an arsonist's trail, and Nick was the hot bartender who kept him company while he waited. But then Nick is pregnant, and Dallas is gone.
Dallas's bear won't let him forget the omega fox that is so mischievous and so submissive, completing him in ways he hadn't known was possible.
When Dallas finds out about the baby, he's determined to do right by Nick, but the arsonist strikes again, putting their relationship into danger before it has a chance to truly begin.
"Acceptance For His Omega" is a novella featuring a gentle bear with a core of fire and a mischievous fox who can't wait to submit to him. It is the second book in the Outcast Chronicles.


Check out this newest narration from Dorian Bane. B.A.Tortuga's "Cowboy in the Crosshairs," also from Dreamspinner Press. Once upon a time, a prince lived in a magical kingdom called Turquoise, New Mexico.Well, really, TJ is a small-town police chief. Every Friday, he holds court in the diner with the local holy roller, the art colonists, and the horsey people. But the Benes, who own the rodeo company, keep to themselves. TJ knows because he was once hot and heavy with the oldest Bene son.When Wacey Bene gets trampled by a remuda and comes home to heal, he’s none too happy to run into TJ or his two little boys and their momma. The story might end there - if it wasn’t for some pesky bastard trying to kill Wacey. The law steps in, and the townsfolk are cross about somebody messing with one of their own.But once the bad guy is put away, can TJ and Wacey make their place in this wild and eccentric town a permanent one?

BA and Julia, Kiernan and Sean will be back next week

BA and Julia's Sadie basset crossed the Rainbow Bridge Monday, and they just couldn't...

Much love y'all

The Tuesday crew

Heart Untouched - Coming Soon from Andrew Grey

Heart Untouched, the third story in the Hearts Entwined series releases October 9 and I'm really excited about this story.  We get to see some of my favorite characters, James and Trevor, Brent and Scott, as well as other favorites including Lee and Dean.  (Yes, I promise that Dean is going to get his story.  His will be next.)    Each of these stories deal with loss in some way... and how we cope with it.  I'm not ashamed to say that the writing process has helped me cope with some of my own more recent loss and that's been very healing for me.  


A Hearts Entwined NovelAn accident crushed Duncan’s Olympic dreams and landed him in a chair, but he knows it’s time to get his life back on track—and he has a plan in mind. Working with his friend Todd, an Olympic skeleton racer, on a promotional campaign will not only help Duncan regain some direction, but it’ll give Todd the financial boost he desperately needs. The sport Todd loves is draining his resources—so much so that he’s thinking of giving up racing just to make ends meet.As the two men work together, their friendship blossoms into much more, and suddenly the future is looking brighter than it has in a long time. But just when love, happiness, and success seem within their grasp, the USOC steps in with plans to stop their campaign. That’ll mean an end not just to Duncan’s business, but to Todd’s dreams… and Duncan isn’t about to let that happen to the man who means everything to him.
Book Links AmazonBarnes and Noble DreamSpinner Press

Excerpt  Duncan sighed. “Great. You’re taking me to church.” He closed the laptop and set it aside. “Wonderful. Maybe Henrietta Blodgett will be there, and she can tell everyone again what a shame it is that I got hurt and how you got stuck caring for me.” The old lady had been running her mouth in the community center kitchen when Duncan had gone out there to use the restroom because it was bigger and easier for him to get into.His mother whirled around, her hands coming to her hips. “First thing, that woman is a menace and an old battle-ax. She can go to church all she wants, but her gossiping is going to send her straight to hell. And no matter what happens, you can’t let people like her get to you. There will always be folks who talk and give you the ‘poor little thing’ face. You think I haven’t seen it a million times since your father died?” She plated the eggs, set them in front of him, sat down, and patted his hand. “No matter what, you have to go on.”Duncan took a bite and set his fork down. “If we aren’t going to church, then what are we doing?” It was Wednesday, and his mom usually had her ladies circle prayer group at lunch. She’d gone for years.“Just finish your breakfast and clean up. Shave too. You’re all scruffy, and that isn’t a good look for you.”She went about straightening up the kitchen as Duncan ate slowly. His appetite had been hit-or-miss for weeks, and it looked like today was one of those days where nothing seemed to taste very good. Not that he said anything to his mom. The eggs she made were good usually, but just not right now, not to him. Still, he finished them and put his plate on his lap to carry it over to the sink.“Thanks, Mom.” He rolled out of the room and back to the bathroom. In the mirror, he saw he did look awful, his spotty red beard only adding to the disappointment in his eyes and demonstrating the fact that he didn’t really care about anything.Ten minutes later, after washing up and brushing his teeth, he wheeled himself to his room and went about the daunting task of getting dressed. He was determined to do it on his own, dammit, and he did it. Granted, it was only sweatpants and a T-shirt, but they were on correctly. Duncan even managed shoes and socks, though that took a little more doing. Finally ready to go, he glided back into the living room, where his mother was dusting. “Let’s get this over with.”His mom ignored the comment and picked up her purse.Duncan left the house, rolling down the ramp and out to the car. He would have liked to be able to get a van that was equipped with a lift so he could get in the car and drive it himself, but that was way outside their budget. His mom had put in for one, but it was taking a lot of time to get approved. There were grants and things that would help with the cost, but they hadn’t come through yet.He got into the passenger seat with help from his mom, and she put the chair in the back. Then she climbed in and pulled away from their small ranch-style house in the Milwaukee suburb of Brown Deer, heading out toward the main road.“Mom, what’s the big secret?” he asked, turning toward her.“No secret. I thought you could use some time to visit some friends.” She slowed as they approached a light and then turned into the drive of an auto repair garage. Todd stepped out of one of the bays, smiling brightly.As soon as she came to a stop, he hurried to his side of the car and pulled open the door. Todd leaned right in, hugging Duncan tightly even with the odd angles. “I came to see you after you were hurt, but they wouldn’t let me in. And then I had to go out on tour and to competitions and….”Duncan returned the embrace, inhaling deeply as Todd’s rich scent, tinged with work and a touch of grease, filled his nose. Heat washed through him, and Duncan’s breath hitched for a second. He almost didn’t know what to make of his reaction. They stayed that way for longer than was necessary before Todd pulled back.“I know. But you called, and that meant a lot.”His mom, who had already opened her door and gotten out, came around the car and pulled Duncan’s chair out.“What’s the deal?” Duncan asked.“You remember when you and I used to work together on those old cars I brought home in high school? Well, I still work on them, you know that, and I was hoping you’d help me.”

Fall Q & A with BA, Julia, Kiernan and Sean

Today we have some fun with a little Fall themed Q&A:


What’s the best thing about fall?
What’s the worst thing about fall?
Pumpkin spice flavoring, yes or no?
Is there a fall movie release you’re looking forward to this year?
Have you got a book coming out this fall?


BA
Best thing:  Balloons! Halloween!
Worst thing: Allergies.
I LOVE pumpkin spice lattes. Don't judge.
There are fall movies?
Long Black Cadillac

Julia
Best thing about Fall: cooler weather, halloween
Worst thing: raking leaves. Especially since we have no big trees and it's the neighbor's leaves
PSL? Heck yeah
movies. Uh. I'm sure there's a horror something
Fangs for the Memories


Kiernan
What’s the best thing about fall? Halloween! It's my favorite holiday!
What’s the worst thing about fall? I live in Florida and miss the crispness and colors of autumn.
Pumpkin spice flavoring, yes or no? I'm not a fan. No, sireebob.
Is there a fall movie release you’re looking forward to this year? The new reboot of Halloween with Jamie Lee Curtis.
Have you got a book coming out this fall? I'm re-releasing several of my order out-of-print novels. First up is the second book in my shifter series, In Their Own Skin: Mark of Cain.


Sean
Best thing about fall is the cooler weather and Halloween!
Worst thing about fall is allergies
I like pumpkin spice flavoring in pumpkin pies, pumpkin cookies, etc. I do not like it as a flavoring in other places, most especially not in drinks.
Fall movie release - I'm looking forward to a number of upcoming movies - first up - the house with a clock in it's walls - isn't that an amazing title?
I have the second book in the Supers series coming this fall: The Librarian's Ghost


Visit our websites:Sean's is http://www.seanmichaelwrites.comJulia’s is http://www.juliatalbot.comBA’s is http://www.batortuga.comKiernan's is www.KiernanKelly.com
Facebook:Sean -- https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWritesJulia -- https://www.facebook.com/juliatalbotauthorBA -- https://www.facebook.com/batortugaKiernan -- https://www.facebook.com/kiernan.kelly
Seansmut fixes everything