Ruth Cardello's Blog: http://ruthcardello.com/blog/, page 9

A quote from Nicole Corisi

It'san uncomfortable momentwhenyou realize that there is a crazy person in the room, andit's you.NicoleCorisi, For Love or Legacy

Chapter 1 of my Sci-fi romance: SHE

A funny question came to me one day while I was watching the science channel.  Some astrophysicist was talking about a theory that everything we know is actually layers of dimensions. He listed a bunch of other theories and how each was thought to be crazy until it debunked the previous theory.

And a thought came to me...what if we knew nothing about what the universe actually is?  What if we are merely byproducts of living organisms overlapping?

 And what would happen if one of those layers (electromagnetism) woke up and fell in love with a human?


That's how my book, SHE, was born.  It's 3/4 complete as of today and shelved until I finish book 3 of my billionaire's series.  Still, I thought you might like to see a sample of a different type of writing from me.  Of course, it's a bit over the top -- but would you expect anything different from me?

And without further explanation....here is chapter one of SHE:



This  document has been sent to your planet becausethe humans in your solar system were deemed to have evolved enough to receivethe answers to the questions that plague most evolving species.            Tounderstand where you came from and why you are here, you must first let go ofthe misconceptions of your scientists.              The"Big Bang" did, indeed, consist of four forces of nature:  electromagnetism, a weak force, a strongforce and gravity.  However, unlike whatyou may have learned in your universities, they were living beings.  These largemembranes -- or dimensions, as some of your scientists call them, floated on anocean of Dark Energy - conscious, but without the ability to communicate witheach other.  All matter existed wherethey overlapped, a place called "the area of interaction."   This document isyour only warning. The universesleeps no more and your survival depends on theirs.                          Prophesy 23 of the banished Guardian
On the heels of a sun storm, One of four will awaken to her mate. The end will begin with spreading night And beget a war of dark and light.

Chapter One
Magnetic waves of a solar flarepropelled a small cargo ship off course and opened a connection between onedimension and the area of interaction.  Electromagnetism'sconsciousness burst through and easily mingled with the gamma rays beingemitted by the sun.  My matehas come!  The newly freed entitythought.Her initial joy was quicklysquashed by the realization that he was in danger. The heat was too much for his ship's shields. In a fewseconds, they would fail and the metal would melt away.            She modified her frequency andentwined her energy with that of his vehicle, easily deflecting the radiationof the flare.  His minute craft driftedfor a moment, then under a power source of its own, began to move away.No!She took hold of the ship at a nuclear level and brought it to an abrupt stop,sending her promised one flying across the interior. "That's gonna hurt," the creaturesaid just before he impacted with the metal casing of the control panels andslipped into unconsciousness. She reached out to him, into himand immediately wished the Guardians had spoken more of organic life forms. Foralthough she had felt his birth and known that he would come for her, she hadnever been able to connect with him. Like most life forms, he had beenimperceptible in any detail until this moment.Hydrogen, carbon, oxygen andnitrogen bonded together to create this mostly water-based creature.  Here was a delicate combination of molecules;each following carefully designed encoded strands.  Beautiful.She moved on to study the networkof his internal system, searching for a way to communicate with him.  Incased in a protective bone, she found anorgan with synapses that produced electro-chemical bursts of energy she couldunderstand.  Pictures.  Smells. Languages.  Memories from all stages of hislife swirled before her like a kaleidoscope, as vivid and tangible as the dayhe'd experienced them.  She tasted thewarm sweetness of a sugared fruit pie, shared his excitement as he battled toreel in a trillin half the size of himself, and reveled in the tinglingsensations of his first kiss.  Nothing inher solitary existence had prepared her for the beauty and complexity of thiscreature. An involuntary cry of pain from himhalted her exploration.   His fragilitywas unexpected.  She'd assumed that herintended one would share her physical state. He should have been a membrane ofenergy spanning and affecting every corner of the cosmos.  Instead, he was a multi-cellular organism ofnegligible size who required a metal can to travel through space.   She continued her search, lesseningher contact with him and discovered that the beacon she had sent out since hisbirth, hoping he would follow it to her, had been interpreted by his mind intoa much different message. His memories were replete with sexual dreamsinvolving one fictional female, close to his height, with long, flowing brownhair.  Dark green eyes.  Soft curves. Mein human form.She, who had always simply been,decided to become.  Creation was a newexperience for her.  She was themaintainer, the energy that powered all matter, not the artist who shapedit.  She concentrated on his design andgathered matter from space to create his ideal woman. Her new human shell demanded oxygen to survive.  She rematerialized herself onto his ship.As her bare feet touched the coldmetal of the craft's floor, she lost a battle to maintain her balance, landedwith a thud on her backside and laughed with joy at the unexpected sensation.Since the initial separation, she'dbeen part of all that was -- pulsing through the expanding cosmos.   But, until this moment, she hadn't realizedhow absolute her isolation had been.  This body she had created filtered all but the immediate stimuli.   Her organic mind simplified the input,narrowed her vision and made sense of the chaos.  For the first time, she could see and feel.She enthusiastically inhaled therecycled, stale oxygen.   Iam alive! Free!Canthe Guardians stop me? The second thought was sobering.They would soon return to feed on her again. What would they do when they discovered her disappearance?  What could they do?Unlike her, the Guardians absorbedenergy, rather than producing it.  Theywere able to traverse the layers of dimensions, but only where theyoverlapped.  From conversations she hadoverheard while they fed, she knew that their greatest concern wassurvival.   She also knew that their understandingof her was limited.  They regarded hermuch as her mate perceived the stars, as a source of energy, but devoid ofconsciousness.  The Guardians did not seethe truth, that their universe was the beautiful product of living energymingling.      There had been a time, long ago,when she'd tried to communicate with the Guardians.  They'd confused her energy spikes with dangerand hadn't returned until her attempts had ceased. It was upon their return that she'dlearned of him, the one who lay before her. One guardian had spoken of a greatstorm that would rouse her and bring her mate to her, commencing a chain ofevents that would forever change the cosmos and end the reign of theGuardians.  They had banished theprophetic guardian to the Milky Way, but had discussed him many times over thefollowing millennium.   Some thought hisprophecies were dark and improbable. Some vowed to insure it did not happen. They would not be pleased.Would they follow her?  Could they force her to go back?  She was not certain of her ability to fightthem if they did. She cleansed space of all energy trails that could lead themto her and the action left her somewhat drained -- an entirely new experiencefor her.  The one constant in herexistence to this point had been endless, regenerating power.  Perhaps choosing to become organic hadchanged that.  What that meant to her andto the stability of the cosmos, she didn't know and didn't care to put muchspeculation into. She just needed to stay in this form long enough to bond withher mate, the universe would take care of the rest. She had faith in thegreater plan.The creature before her moaned,drawing her attention.  She stood slowlyand stepped toward her mate. His hair was much shorter than hers, but a similardark color.  His form was longer, widerand hidden from view by some sort of costume. She ran her fingertips down the brown material covering on one of hislegs and shivered at the pleasure of its coarseness. He wore two layers of material onthe upper part of his body.  She exploredboth. The thick outer material was similar in feel to his leg coverings. Thecloth he wore beneath it was smoother, softer and as she rested her hand on it,she marveled at the warmth of his body and the steady beat of an organ within.   She peeked beneath the cloth near his neck andnoted the dark hair that covered his chest. A quick glance down confirmed thattheir forms were quite different. She poked first at his upper arm and thenhers.  His muscles stood rock hard,resistant to pressure, unlike the soft flesh of hers.   Palm to palm, she compared their hands.  His were rougher, darker and nearly a thirdlarger than her own.  Wakeup! She kicked him lightly in the side. When he did not stir, she kicked again, harder. 
Daniel groaned at the sharp pain.Gods, he ached all over.  With one hand rubbing at hispounding forehead, he used the other to push himself into a sittingposition.  The solar flare must haveknocked out the engines. Hopefully it was something he knew how to fix.  "We've been through worse, Betty." He pattedthe floor of the cargo ship sympathetically. "I'll get you back online as soonas the room stops spinning." Two perfectly shaped bare feet cameinto view as he lowered his hand. He leapt to his feet, instantly wishing hehadn't when he almost succumbed to nausea as pain shot through his body.His hand instinctively flew to hisside and grasped at emptiness.  Oh, Gods,he didn't remember taking his belt off. That meant his pulser could be anywhere. He'd never expected to need itwhile so deep in space.Word must have gotten out that hewas after the red crystal.  Did thiswoman think he'd be so bowled over by her naked body that he would let her stophim?  Or worse, let her steal it out fromunder him once he got his hands on it? She had quite a let down coming."Who in all the blue moons areyou?" He enjoyed the flinch his bellow elicited, but couldn't help wondering atthe same time why she looked familiar. Her answer came within histhoughts.  Your destiny.His fists clenched. "Destiny, myass.  And did I mention that I hatetelepaths?" He checked the short range scanner, but the screen was black. Damn.Where the hell had she beamed from? He smacked a hand on the deadcontrols.  There could have been a hugeship sitting right beside him and unless he went to check a portal, he wasn'tgoing to know. Donot be frightened.  I am alone."I'm not the one who should beafraid in this situation."  There was atime when he wouldn't have questioned such a cosmic gift.  Even after his enslavement, there had oftenbeen women who'd been turned on by his notoriety. Didn't seem to matter to themthat he'd failed his people.  Theywanted, if only for a night, to be part of something that had been recorded bythe historians of every race of beings in the Cluster.  For a while, he'd found comfort intheir misplaced obsession with him. But remembering was too high a price topay, even for sex.  Better to wait andstipulate silence as part of a purchase.Which brought him back to the boldwoman in front of him.  Who the hellbeams naked onto a slave ship?Thisbody was unclothed in your mind. She answered within his thoughts again. Oh, shit, a bio-morphing telepath? Did thoseeven exist?  Somehow this alien had takenthe form of the woman he'd imagined in every lustful daydream since puberty. Could she be Thobian?  They were the only known race of telepaths.If she was, she was no groupie.  Hisgrandmother had initiated the Inter-galactic council's mandate to rid theCluster of them.  They'd been exiledsince his early childhood.No, the only reason a Thobian wouldcome to him would be if there was something in it for her people.  Were they now silent allies with the Agadyrn Empire?  It would make sense.  Sweet revenge.Time to stop gaping at her like aschoolboy lusting after his first female simulator program and figure out whatshe was really after.  "Put someclothes on.  You're wasting yourtime.  I haven't been alone in space that long."  She took a step closer to him andhe felt an involuntary response to her nearness.  The age-old method of using a man's bodilyfunctions against him was obviously still effective.  He was rock hard almost instantly.  Shit.Ifyou are uncomfortable with my lack of covering, why is this form always exposedin your thoughts? Using his favorite method ofdefense against telepaths, he filled his mind with pictures of comic simulatedcharacters and took a step toward the back room.   Whereare you going?  she asked within histhoughts.He took another sideways step, butkept his eyes on her.  Normally he wouldassume that she wasn't armed because, Gods knew, she had nowhere on her to hidethe weapon, but she looked far too confident not to have some hidden defense. Just a few more feet and he couldscan the back room.  Hopefully he'd leftthe pulser somewhere easy to reach.  Hislast one had somehow ended up in the clothing freshener. That could happen toanyone, he reassured himself, and forced his attention back on the presentissue.  He would definitely have to investin an anti-beaming shield for his next mission. That is, if there was a next mission. He couldn't let her stop him.Without the crystal, he wouldn't be able to buy his freedom from Dyrgrimr. She was in his mind, sortingthrough the random images he was projecting. "Don't Thobians follow some sacred code ofetiquette about using their powers on the unwilling? Wasn't that the argumentyour elders touted before getting banned from the galaxy?"Thobians?I don't know that word, she answered"Oh, for Gods sake, if you'reactually some slimy, scaly creature, I'll boot your ass, if you have an ass,out the cargo hatch so fast your tentacles will spin."She moved to block his advancetoward his weapon, which he could now see sitting in clear view on a pile ofdirty clothing just a few feet inside the back room.   Bad habits die hard. This whole farce wouldend quickly if he could get his hands on his weapon. All he had to do was reachout and push her aside.  Gods only knewwhat she would feel like. Despite years of interacting with creatures fromaround the Virgo Super Cluster, alien skin still made him squeamish.Even as he contemplated herpossible texture, his body responded to the image she'd crafted for him. Bloodrushed to heat the back of his neck and other, much lower, areas. Real or not, she was gorgeous.Lush, brown hair ended just above the two full breasts of his dreams. Heinhaled and forgot to continue the breathing process as his eyes slid down thecurve of her waist, across her softly rounded stomach, to the dark curlsbetween her pale thighs.  He could've resisted one of theemaciated women that passed for beautiful on so many planets, but the mixtureof healthy muscles and full curves muddled his thoughts.  Exactly as she'd planned, hereminded himself harshly and lifted a jacket off the back of a supply containerand threw it at her.  "For moon's sake,cover up."Her arms closed around the clothinghe'd thrown at her.  She studied thematerial for a moment before slipping an arm into each sleeve.Wide-eyed, she stood before him andhe began to curse.   The unfastened frontof the jacket hinted at the curves he could still see far too clearly in hismind.  With the layer of cloth betweenthem, he gave her a push out of the way. "Button yourself up."  He'd hoped to sound indifferent, but hisvoice came out as almost a croak. Turning away from her lent him some mental clarity.  The pulser. Focus.  He closed the distance to the pileof clothing in a few strides.  "You mayregret stowing away on this ship.  I'mnot entirely sure I can get her running again. That last storm knocked out her engines."Their eyes met and held as hereattached his weapon belt. She studied him with open curiosity of a childdebating the safety of touching a small, fluffy leporidae.  He settled his pulser against histhigh and watched her slowly fasten the front of the long jacket.  Her delicate fingers took their time witheach button; her eyes never wavering from his.  He gulped in a breath of air. If only she were human...Whatwould you do if I were? she asked.Damn, he'd been schooled on how toclose his mind to telepaths, but she waltzed through his defenses withease.  Luckily his grandmother wasn'tthere to witness how little all those hours of tutelage on mental strengtheningwas proving worth.   That simple thoughtbrought renewed anger at his invader.  Hehadn't thought about his grandmother in years. This woman was good.  By openingold wounds, she could keep him off balance and unable to close his mind toher.  As he battled for control, a painbegan to throb behind his temples.   "Youare the worst telepath I've ever met," he bit out in frustration. "You're aboutas gentle as an Eldrin bull."            She pulledback, lessening the pressure, but still answering within his mind.  I'msorry. I have never focused on anything so small before.  A sarcastic, bio-morphingtelepath.  The universe sure did love totwist the knife. "What's your name?"She tilted her head to one side asif the question puzzled her. Name?"So, now you've lost your memory?"He let out a disgusted grunt.  This womanwas as transparent as they came.  He'dbet his cargo ship and what little his life was presently worth that herhelpless act would drop the instant he had the red crystal in his hands.Mymemories are intact.  It is my vocabularythat is limited."You're full of shit."  Her focus switched fromcommunication to exploration.  Words andphrases came to his mind as if he were recalling them.  His hand tightened instinctively on thepulser, but he didn't draw it. Let her look. Better to know your enemy. Hersearch would reveal her intention.Everyonehas a name?  Then I will have aname.  I am here.  I am Ibi.  "While you're searching my mind ina language I no longer speak, maybe you should look up the Besarn translationfor I-don't-really-care-what-your-name-is-as-long-as-you-get-hell-off-my-ship."She went deeper. As she explored,he stood powerless, reliving each memory with her in the vividness ofreality.  Scenes from his childhood onTrilodon came flooding back to him.   Heinhaled deeply.  Oh, yes.  If he closed his eyes, he could easily havebeen back in his grandmother's kitchen begging the cook for just one beforemealtime.  The smell of freshly bakedgrillo cookies filed the room.Whois Sarras? Ibi asked as she studied a memory of his grandmotherperforming a ceremonial blessing of a young child.He didn't answer.  Couldn't answer.  A new, rapid-fire burst of memories held himimmobile.She dragged him briskly throughrandom scenes from a lifetime he had worked hard to forget until she stumbledonto the one day he denied even to himself.As real as the day it had happened, Daniel was backinside the turbo fighter on his way to Lunas. His best friend, Kaz, was flanking him in an experimental, militaryissued tryonic boost fighter; he claimed he'd borrowed with permission.  Trilodon's Minister of Cultural Affairstrailed behind in a larger, much less useful cargo ship that had been outfittedwith all the luxuries the minister had deemed necessary for a deep space, threeday trip."Kaz, I shouldn't be flying thisthing.  I don't even know what half thebuttons do."  Daniel's words echoed inthe small cockpit of the turbo fighter.  Kaz's booming laughter was thegiant's first response. "If you see anything dangerous, just press the orangebutton.  Other than that, the autopilotwill get you there.""I didn't need a fighter craft,Kaz.  We're cloaked."  Sarras would not be happy when she heard hismethod of transportation.  As futureleader of Trilodon, he was held to a higher standard of morality.  "That's the problem withBesarns.  You believe your propheciesmore than you trust the reports.   As amember of the Council, Trilodon was already an Agadyrn target.  But now that your grandmother has announcedthat you are going to stop the Empire with a red crystal, none of your peopleare safe.   Not one.  You think your grandmother's vision meansyou're untouchable? You should have brought a fleet of fighters for protectiontoday.  If there is the slightest chancethat your grandmother could be right, the Agadyrs aren't going to let youcomplete your mission.""I'm surprised your father didn'tsend an escort.""He won't move against Sarras andthis is a peaceful mission, remember.  Fathersays there is too much dissent already in the Council without showing aweakening of our alliance.  When theEmpire does come, we need to be on the same side.""How does he feel about you stealingtwo fighters for the trip?""It doesn't matter how hefeels.  If we succeed, forgiveness willcome easy.  If we fail and the warbegins…""It won't come to that, Kaz."An aged throat cleared, remindingDaniel that their conversation was not a private one.  The Minister added, "You must havefaith, young ones.  Sarras has never beenwrong. So she says, so we believe."Kaz spoke over the minister's finalsentence. "What exactly is the purpose of that guy?"Daniel groaned. "He is here torecord the fulfillment of the prophecy."The giant's laughter boomed again."I love that your people have such faith in you.  Do they know that I used to have to bait yourtrillin hook?""Shut up, Kaz.  We can't all be twelve feet of death anddemolition." His grandmother had never understood his friendship with Kaz.  The two had met as young children during aCouncil session.  It hadn't mattered toeither of them that Kaz's father commanded the Intergalactic Fleet andadvocated peace through domination while Sarras mediated treaties and kept herposition on the council by speaking for the Cluster's gods. No, that day he and Kaz had simplybeen two boys, both tired of being kept quiet in a dusty library room by guardswho didn't understand the lure of the sunlit garden just outside the door.  Their escape had taken Tannian strength andBesarn cunning and had been worth every moment of the punishment that hadfollowed their garden adventure. Sarras would not be happy thatDaniel had included Kaz on this mission.            The giant'svoice interrupted his thoughts. "I have a softer side."            Danielsaid, "It's called Ceri and what she sees in you, no one is really sureof."  He checked the sensors.  All clear. Kaz was worried about nothing. "What she sees is something bigger than you'llever have."  He moved his much largerfighter ahead of Daniel's to accentuate his point."You do realize that the Ministeris recording all of this?  Is that reallyhow you want history to remember you -- as a man obsessed with size?""Do you think he would?  Imagine the sketches he'd need. Should Iflash him, you know, for accuracy's sake?"The minister coughed, remindingthem that he was not only recording, but also listening.            "Sarras isgoing to kill me, even if we do save everyone," Daniel said with a groan.            "Relax, youhaven't broken any moral code. Yet," Kaz replied.Daniel saw the moon come up on thefighter's short-range sensors.  Ibi had gone too far this time.Rage filled him.  He would not relive therest of that mission, no matter how powerful she was.  Once had been bad enough.  Pulling back from the scenedominating his mind, he imagined picking Ibi up like a child, turning her overhis lap and smacking her sweet ass with all of the anger building withinhim.  He hoped his thoughts were as realfor her as they were for him.The reverie came to an abruptend.  Eyes wide, Ibi jumped back a stepand placed a hand protectively behind herself as if she'd felt the reprimand. Youhurt me, she accused.  "Good," he replied without a lickof remorse. "You need to learn to stay the fuck out of people's minds."   Her forehead wrinkled infrustration. I am trying to know you,Daniel."If only that were true and I hadthe time to let you."  Even angry withher, his spanking-inspired erection would not subside. He folded his armsacross his chest and shifted uncomfortably. Gods, she was beautiful.  "This whole act is pathetic.  Who sent you?"Youcame to me. She moved to sit on one of the storage bins with a sigh. This body tires easily."This body? You have others?"  Whether it was mind control or bio-morphingdidn't really matter.  Either way, noneof this was real. "And use your damn voice. My head is killing me."Her rebuttal was an act of sheertorture.  She ran a hand down one calf,stealing the breath out of him as he caught a glimpse of the area above.  "Is this better?" Her voice was husky andhesitant as if she were trying it on for the first time.  She crossed one leg over the other and smiledat him.She knew exactly what she was doingto him.  Damn her.  Only, he wasn't going to let her win.  He looked away and adjusted his weaponbelt.  "Entertaining as you are, I've gota ship to fix." He walked back to the control room. She's not real. None ofthis is real.His gut clenched at the sound ofher bare feet hitting the metal floor as she followed him.  "I don't suppose telepaths know much aboutfixing cryon engines?" he asked."The engine is what makes thiscraft move?" she asked with a serious tone.He decided to ignore thequestion.  The woman was taking her rolefar beyond credibility. Maybe she'd drop the act if he stopped responding toit.The lights on the console flashedas the engines reengaged. "Betty, I knew you wouldn't let me down!"  He closed the distance to the command chairat the front of the ship.  "Who is Betty?" He ran a hand lovingly over thenameplate on the wall. "Betty's the ship.""Does she speak?"He sat at the control seat andsmiled as the engines started without hesitation.  "I could've added that option, but I'm oldfashioned. I like to make my own decisions."He reset the coordinates to Byrackand wondered if Ibi had a weapon hidden somewhere on the ship. The short-rangescanners were back online and clear, but there could be a vessel trailing justbeyond its scope.  Eventually, Ibi wouldtire of the mind games and change her tactics. He had to be ready for her.First things first, though. Bettywas up and running.  No time to sitaround and figure out why.  He'd run afull diagnostic in flight. If the Agadyrn scouts found hiscontact at the Farbegn market before he could get there, he'd have lost hisonly buyer. Dyrgrimr wasn't going to free him unless he came back with abargaining chip. The crystal alone was too hot for Dyrgrimr to accept aspayment.  Daniel had to ensure there wasno way to link him to the theft and sale of it because even his blockagerunning slave owner wouldn't want to draw the attention of the Agadryn forces. And Ibi? He turned his seat tostudy her resting figure. She'd curled herself into a scooped chair and lifteda blanket off the floor to snuggle beneath. Her eyelashes lay peacefully against her cheeks as she rested.What the hell was he going to dowith her?  He couldn't leave her on aplanet and risk her warning the outpost. And afterwards, what was to stop herfrom telling anyone who was interested that he'd stolen the crystal? Another man would have killed herto ensure her silence.  But another manwould have killed back when it actually mattered, when millions of lives haddepended on him to press that one orange button.He turned back to the control paneland initiated the self-scan mode.  ETA,two hours to Byrack, an old Agadryn outpost. With the Agadyrn forces on theoffense in so many directions, the crystal would have the least guardsnecessary to man the outdated station. No one would expect someone to steal from the very regime that was benton complete genocide of every race in the Virgo Super Cluster.  It was either a suicide mission or sheergenius.  Either way, Daniel was done livingunder Dyrgrimr's control.
(End of Chapter One)
I'd love to hear what you think.  I've considered publishing it under another pen name because it's so different than my billionaires, but it's also fast paced and Ibi and Daniel were a fun couple. Maybe my current readers would enjoy watching them grow.  Ibi's journey is to become human and to help Daniel discover the hero he was always meant to be.

Why my romances advocate social issues/activism...

Some critics of my romances have asked me why I weave what they consider political messages through my romances. One woman wrote to me and said that Stephan's feelings about global warming and Nicole's desire to donate money from auctioning off her father's house were not necessary to my story.  She said I could write a good romance without those messages.

Everything an author writes holds a message whether or not they want to admit it.  I do have strong beliefs about family, forgiveness and duty toward one another.  I couldn't remove those aspects of my books any more than I could leave out the happy ending.  When I create a fantasy world, I want it all.

When my cowboy romance gets published, some of its proceeds will be donated to horse rescues.  Why? Simply because horses have brought me so much joy and it seems fitting that a romance that features them should help a species who has suffered greatly in these tough economic times.

If you'd like to read more about what I've done for animals shelters in the past, read my old myspace page  ....   http://www.myspace.com/ruthcardello  ....  I know, can you believe I even still have one?  The posts are old, but you'll get to see my husband, my horses, and some of the projects I've done locally.  You don't need to do much to make a huge difference.  Every little bit counts.
 
I asked my Facebook friends to help me decide what I should write about on this blog.  One woman told me to be myself and that inspired me . 

So my answer to those who would ask me to keep social views out of my romances? I can't.  It's who I am. 

I'm doing it! I'm quitting my day job!

I haven't posted in a while.  I've been talking on some message boards and been working on book 3.  Sorry to have neglected you blogger :)

My combined earnings from my book sales on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and iTunes have now exceeded $80,000 (in about 6 months).  That kind of income makes it possible for me to ask for an unpaid leave of absence from my day job for a year and write, write, write.

It's scary and exciting and...did I mention scary?  I've got kids and a mortgage.  What if this doesn't work?

Nope, I can't think like that.  It is going to work.  I'm going to pour my heart into book 3.  As soon as it's finished, I'll have time to work on my other books...my cowboy romance and my sci-fi.  So by December of next year I could have book 3 and book 4 of my billionaires up...as well as one of the other two romances.  That has to be able to support us while I make the move into my new career. 

I cannot tell you how grateful I am to those who have helped me along my way down this path. 

If you're reading this and wondering if you can do it -- you can. I'm not saying that it is going to be easy or without setbacks.  Writing is a humbling experience.  You're almost never ready when you think you are.  And just when you're about to give up -- that's usually when you've worked hard enough that you're just about to have a breakthrough.

Surround yourself with positive people who will help you improve your craft...no matter what level of writing you're at. Avoid those who feel that this is a competition.  By working together and helping other authors succeed, we all do better.

I'll be on this blog more, just sharing .

Thank you for sharing this adventure with me.

Jerri Hines: INDIE WEEK ON NOVEL WORKS

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The making of a promotional website

This is the commercial we hope will bring people to our website:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz78u-...


This is the video that will introduce people to me and hopefully encourage them to either go back and download my books or to download a pay per view podcast :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGXjaL...

Heidi Hall - WriterGurl1: For Love or Legacy by Ruth Cardello - Another grea...

Heidi Hall - WriterGurl1: For Love or Legacy by Ruth Cardello - Another grea...: Somehow between finishing the first book in my new series, cleaning my windows and patio furniture, and washing my car, I managed to also f...

Another author goes FREE.

Calista Taylor and I had many discussions about whether or not she should try to go FREE on Amazon.  I'm sure she is dancing this morning as her book is #21 on the FREE list.  Here is hoping that it goes to #1!  It couldn't happen to a nicer fellow author.

When she puts her second book out (next month)...will she have the same results?  Cali is doing all the right stuff.  I'm thrilled to see it work for someone else.

http://www.amazon.com/Viridis-The-Series-ebook/dp/B005KT028Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318497872&sr=8-1

Contests Contests Contests - worth it?

My 3rd contest was a blast.  People wrote scenes loosely related to my books and submitted them to my FB page for my "friends" to vote for.  I loved all the entries and my "friends" doubled.

My 4th contest is underway now....a youtube video contest.  I'll keep you updated.