Cyndi Tefft's Blog, page 8

We Made It To England!

Woohoo! After spending an hour on the plane (on the ground) because of someone's misplaced luggage and then an air conditioning issue, we left Seattle Monday evening, headed toward London. We were delighted to find that our 3-seat row had an empty seat so we were able to spread out a smidge. Neither of us got much sleep (especially considering the faulty light above our row that kept blinking on and off for no reason), but the flight was uneventful, mercifully free of screaming babies. Thank you, Lord! :)

English mailbox We arrived in Heathrow and the first thing I did was get in trouble for taking the picture you see above. Don't tell anyone I took it, okay? hehe The customs guys were super sweet. One asked the reason for our trip and I drew a complete blank, settling at last on the brilliant, "I've never been to London before" as if that explained everything. I followed it up with "I love the accents" and the other guy told a story about an American teenager who was so excited to hear him speak, he thought she would pass out. She said he sounded like Harry Potter. Too cute!

We took the Heathrow Express to Paddington train station (I totally want to get an English bulldog and name him Paddington), then caught the train out to Bath, reaching speeds upwards of 100 miles an hour (impressive!). Once we got settled in to the B&B, we hit the Thermae Bath Spa to soak in the hot springs for a couple of hours. It was blisssssssssssssssssss! The third floor of the spa is a soaking pool that overlooks the city, while the second floor had four steam rooms with different scents piped into each. Definitely a good way to work out cramped muscles after a long day of travel.


After the spa, we hit a great little pub called The Grapes. My hubby ordered at the bar where he got chatted up by a couple of guys, one of whose accent was so thick, it was nearly impossible to understand him. LOL We had steak and ale pie, fish and chips, and Guinness. So so so yummy! We watched the Liverpool versus Chelsea "football" game and grinned as the other pub patrons talked to the telly, cheering on the domineering Liverpool team or encouraging Chelsea to put up some kind of showing. A wonderful start to the trip!
The next day, we slept in and then had an early lunch at the West Cornwall Pasty Co. The sandwich board outside the restaurant promised "Damn Good Coffee" but after the latte I got with my pasty, I must respectfully disagree. Coming from Seattle, perhaps I have too high of expectations in this area. Ha! 

The Bath Abbey exceeded my expectations, by far. We spent hours wandering through this church that was erected in 1499, mostly reading the tombstones and memorial plaques that lined the walls and the floors, as well as taking in the breathtaking arched ceiling. The church reminded me of St. Eustache in Paris.



There was a plate on one wall in memory of a man's wife and his three daughters, all very young who died close together. So sad! The oldest tomb marker was from the late 1500s and there were some from the mid 1900s as well. Some plaques were very poetic, but most extolled the virtues of the deceased as being of unblemished character and unmatched integrity. I wonder what the people were *actually* like. LOL

Now, on to the Roman Baths, which were fantastic. I thought there would be just the one pool, but the bath complex was sprawling with multiple wings. Audio guides explained the history of all the displays, how the area was used for more than bathing, but for healing and worship as well. While people are not allowed into the water, you can walk right up the bath's edge. A couple of people bent down to touch the water and I was sorely tempted to do so as well (just to feel the temperature), but there was a small sign that said "Do Not Touch The Water." Being compliant in nature, I decided to follow the rules and was rewarded at the end of the tour with a fountain where I could not only touch the water (which was quite warm), but also drink it! Aside from being warm water, it didn't taste bad. I expected a strong mineral/iron flavor, but it was surprisingly drinkable. One of my favorite displays was the writing instruments from early Roman times. I have never been so thankful for my laptop and Microsoft Word! Another wonderful display highlighted the coins found in the pools (some 12,500, according to the guide), which were offerings to the goddess Minerva. People also threw in small, flat pieces of tin on which they'd penned curses along the lines of "A painful death to the thief who took my cookpot. I think it was Vespurius." The ancient jacuzzi room was impressive, though it didn't have any water in it (see the ledge where they would sit?). Water came piped in under pressure, which would have created a nice hot tub where patrons with injuries or illnesses would soak and pray.
After getting our fill of the Roman baths, we hopped over to the Fashion Museum where we got to see some old and new (mostly ladies') fashions from the 1700s to today. Pictures weren't allowed except in the "dress up room" where I had the chance to slip on a dress from the Victorian period. It weighed a ton! I was more than happy to leave it behind in favor of jeans and sneakers. Guess I was born in the right century! We grabbed a bite to eat (Indian food-yumm) at The Beau Nash and tried Pimms for the first time (verdict: really good!) before wandering through town some more and taking in the Royal Crescent, which is a large curved collection of townhouses overlooking a pretty park. All in all, a lovely day in Bath! I'll be blogging throughout our trip to England and Scotland, so check back often to follow along!

Happy Birthday, Aiden!

Aiden MacRae was born on "the first of May in the year of our Lord 1699" so that makes today his 313th birthday. Wowza! And yet he looks 21. I need some of his face cream. LOL

Happy birthday, my sweet Scot, so kind and loving in spirit, yet so fierce and strong in protecting his loved ones.

*raises a glass*

*clears throat for the toast*

May yer sporrans always be fluffy
May yer quaich bowl ne'er run dry
May yer kilt still cover your bollocks
When the wind on the muirs blows high

Slainte!

Aiden's Angels love you!

*kiss*

Aiden's Birthday is Tomorrow!

It's not every day that a guy turns 313 years old, so I think Aiden MacRae deserves something special for his birthday, May 1st. I asked a few of Aiden's Angels for some ideas and here's what they said:

- The Angels could take pictures of themselves holding up letters that spell out "Happy Birthday Aiden" and any additional messages they'd like to send the hot Scot.

- The Angels could write mini stories or poems about how they feel about Aiden.

- We could do a scheduled chat with the yummy Highlander at a specified time (would have to be in the evening, Pacific time).

- We could all eat haggis. (Okay, no, I am vetoing that one. LOL)

What do you think? How can we make birthday number 313 one he'll never forget?

You did it! A Scene Just for Aiden's Angels

As part of the Aiden's Angels giveaway, I promised to write and post a scene from Aiden's point of view if the total entries reached 750. And you did it! I'm awed and humbled by the awesome group of readers who love Aiden MacRae and the Between series like I do.

So while the giveaway is going on until the end of the month, here is the scene I promised. It takes place in Between after Lindsey and Aiden return home from the ball in Versailles.


After settling Lindsey into the feather bed, I trace my thumb across her cheek to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. Her lips still bear a slight swelling from our kisses earlier at the palace where her boldness had surprised and delighted me. I’m seized by a mad urge to crawl into the bed and join her, but her sleepy eyes hold that impulse at bay. “Sweet dreams, mo chridhe. I’ll be here when you wake. I promise you that much.” After pressing a light kiss to her forehead, I tear my gaze away and cross the room to the pallet I’d cast for myself beneath the window. I’ve never minded making my bed upon the ground before, but I can feel her eyes watching me, the weight of them like warm hands upon my skin. I turn away to hide the effect her presence has on my body, and struggle for a moment over how to best retire for the night. Normally, I’d discard my kilt and strip down to my sark. The shirt comes almost to my knees—certainly long enough to maintain modesty in most circumstances. But with Lindsey mere feet away in naught but a thin shift, my desire would be far too evident were I to lie on the ground in only my sark. Still, I cannot take my rest fully clothed or she may ask about it, dissolving the restraint I’ve only barely got hold of.Instead, I remove my sporran, dirk and shoes, then lower myself to the pallet and pull the sark off over my head. The slight intake of breath from across the room that accompanies the baring of my flesh sends a spike of need through me. Aye, keeping the kilt in place was indeed the right choice. I swallow hard.With my eyes closed, I listen to her breathing as it eventually becomes slow and even. Just when I expect a gentle snore to signal the depths of her sleep, an unexpected sound floats across the room.Humming.Curious, I sit up and peer at the bed, but I’m not able to see properly, so I get to my feet. The breathy, guttural sound of Lindsey’s humming vibrates in the stillness of the moonlit room. I recognize the waltz played by the orchestra at the ball. Suddenly, her arms fling out wide to either side and she twists in the bed, sending the blankets cascading to the floor. She’s dancing in her sleep.Mesmerized, I watch her, taking shallow breaths myself lest I break her trance. Her lips curve up in a delicious smile and my heart clenches at the sight. My tongue passes silently over my own lips, longing to taste her again, to feel her mouth move against mine. “Aiden...” She breathes my name, though her eyes remain closed.I can’t help myself. I take a chance. “I’m here, love,” I reply and hold my breath, waiting.Her dreamy smile grows. “Dance with me, silly. What are you doing clear over there?” Her fingertips twitch as though she’s beckoning me across the hall into her arms. Kneeling at her bedside, I lower my hand into hers until our palms touch. Heat from her skin travels up my arm and curls around my neck. A groan escapes my lips before I can catch myself.She stills and for a moment, I fear the spell is broken, that my thoughtless sound was enough to disturb her. But then she curls into a ball on one side and tucks my hand close to her heart. The humming resumes and I breathe again, painfully aware of my fingertips nestled between her breasts.Lifetimes pass as I watch her reliving our dance at the ball in her dreams. My prayers are unceasing and repetitive, an aching plea for mercy.Sighing, she settles deeper into the mattress. “Don’t leave me, Aiden. Stay,” she says, the words a velvet blade to my soul.“I promise, my love. I promise.” A hot tear lands on my outstretched arm between us, the first of many I know will come when she is torn from me at last.

A book trailer for Hell Transporter!

Wow, Jamie Canosa has done it again! Check out the book trailer she put together for Hell Transporter:



Great job, Jamie! If you missed the book trailers that she and Tiffany Bernardo made for Between, be sure to check out the Aiden's Angels page.
I am so impressed by you guys. Seriously, I have no video skills whatsoever, so thank you for contributing your talents to the celebration of Aiden MacRae!
It won't be long now before Aiden's Angels hit 750 entries on the giveaway and earn that scene from Aiden's point of view. I'm excited to share the scene with all of you!

A book trailer for Between!

I have been wowed and amazed by the love from Aiden's Angels as the fan pics and art come pouring in for the giveaway. You guys are incredible!

*crazy massive group hug*

Here's one I am just giddy to share with you: a book trailer for Between by the fabulous Jamie Canosa. Way to go, Jamie! I think you captured the spirit of the book perfectly.

Keep those entries pouring in! We're going to hit the goal of 750 by the end of the month, I'm sure of it, and you know what that means: I'll write a scene from Aiden MacRae's point of view, just for you!



A Giveaway Just for Aiden's Angels!

Aiden's Angels are readers who love Aiden MacRae and the Between series. I love these people to distraction so I thought a special giveaway was in order to celebrate their extreme awesomeness!

One of the greatest feats of Aiden's Angels to date was in the YA Book Genre Battle. We were down by 80 votes and had less than 12 hours to rally the troops to cinch the victory. Not only did Aiden's Angels come through, but we blasted through that round with votes to spare. Sadly, the event itself was cancelled thereafter due to the blogger's personal life (which I totally understand), but I've never been more proud of Aiden's Angels than I was that night.

So here's another chance for you to share your passion for the hot Scot!

We've concocted 101 ways for you to gain entry points (okay, well, close to that) so even if you're not a blogger, you can use your social network and your creativity to work towards the prize!

And what, pray tell, is up for grabs?

TWO Angels will win a personalized paperback copy of Between or Hell Transporter . If you already have these on your bookshelf, you can gift the prize to a friend!

TWO Angels will win an item of their choice from the Aiden's Angels gift store (coffee mug, shot glass, t-shirt, etc!).

And last but not least...

If the overall entries for this giveaway reach 750, I will write a scene from Aiden's POV just for you. I haven't even written this scene yet, but I love you guys so much that I wanted to give you all something special for spreading the word about Between. And I couldn't think of anything you'd like better than more Aiden!

Many thanks to the lovely Nancy Scuri (Aiden's Angel extraordinaire) from Ink-Stained Life who volunteered to help with this event! Mwah! *kiss* It's because of her brilliance that we have our very own email address now, too!

AidensAngels atttt yahoo dawt com

If you can think of ways to earn points for spreading the love that I have not already figured into the giveaway, we want to hear about it! Send an email to the above address.

The contest runs through the end of April, so get cracking if you'd like to read that scene from Aiden's POV! Post the giveaway widget to your blog to earn extra entries!

And just for inspiration to get you started...
If the Rafflecopter giveaway does not display below, click "Read More" to pull it up.

Casting Aiden MacRae! Pick Your Hottie Scottie!

Okay, admit it, if you've read Between , you've probably wondered who might play Aiden MacRae if the book were ever made into a movie.

*pausing a moment to dream of such a glorious day*

*blissful sigh*

Okay, so just because Hollywood isn't calling me (yet), that doesn't mean we can't get things started and do some casting of our own in advance! I'm sure the future director will thank us.

I asked around and got suggestions from Aiden's Angels, and have compiled the preliminary choices for you here (in alphabetical order by first name):

Alex Pettyfer
Chris Hemsworth
Kellan Lutz
Paul Walker
Sam Worthington
Charlie Hunnam
Josh Holloway
What do you think??? Love em? Hate em? Have a better suggestion? Tell me all about it in the comments! This assumes, of course, that all of these hunky actors could pull off a Scottish accent. They could all rock a kilt, I'd wager. hehe
Oh, and if you know some big wigs in Hollywood, feel free to share your  love of Aiden MacRae with them!

Between Book Three!

Okay, so I know it's April Fool's Day and all (also known as International Don't Believe Anything You Read on the Internet Day), but I am not one to go with the masses. I like to do things my own way.

So I am going to tell you big news that is absolutely true.

There will be a third book in the Between series.

Eeeep! I know! So exciting!!

When I first started writing, I just kept going until the story was out. I wrote everything in one huge book and then ending up having to cut it into two ( Between and Hell Transporter ). I thought that was the end. I didn't have anything more in mind.

And then a couple of weeks ago, a new idea started taking shape and now I am completely hooked. I haven't quite figured out how I'm going to pull it off, but I've already started writing (three chapters down, as a matter of fact)!

I write extremely slowly, so book three won't be out for a long time, but at least now you know, I'm working on it.

Oh, and the picture (besides being all kinds of slurptastic) is a model named Duncan MacRae. Aiden's older brother was named Duncan. Just sayin'.

Yummmmmmm...

Between on Daily Cheap Reads tomorrow! Woot!

Great news! Between is going to be featured on Junior Daily Cheap Reads on Monday, March 19 (starting at 2:45pm Central). Then it's going to pop up on UK Daily Cheap Reads the next day!
Daily Cheap Reads is one of the most influential sites that drive Kindle sales of indie authors!
I'm stoked!
Big thanks to Paula at DCR for getting extra exposure for Between. Hopefully lots of new readers will get to know and love Aiden MacRae! 
Because as we all know...

P.S. If you haven't already heard, Hell Transporter is out now so grab a copy for yourself!