Linda Nightingale's Blog, page 83

XOXO Spring is in the Air Hop — Win!!

I make my New Year Resolutions in Spring.  Frees up the first couple of months for writing or trying to get out more—one of my NYE aims.    Like spring cleaning, I try to abandon those practices or thoughts that have not worked.  This philosophy usually lasts as long as the spring cleaning.  But a friend of mine once told me that she would think about doing something then do the opposite of what she would have done in the past.  I’ve tried this but it really doesn’t work for me.  I guess I’m too cautious.   This spring, I resolved to exercise.  Yeah right.  Anyone else broken that one yet?  BIC, that’s me.  But writing requires Butt In Chair.

Writing is a lonely practice, by and large.  I have my writing friends, but when you are with your characters, in those exotic or mundane locales, you are alone in your “writing space.”  Husbands, significant others, children and friends must not transgress on this space.  They do.  Like everyone else’s lives.  Right?

My favorites of Spring are the Top-Down Days before it gets stifling, humidity hot in Houston, bluebonnets, daffodils, thoughts of love in the air.  The TOL are what chain me to my computer rather than enjoying the Drop Top Days.  My choice.  I love my heroes and heroines and being somewhere else with them.

All the time, I question why I write.  The answer boils down to a cold, hard stone that grates on my heart when I can’t seem to get to it (I have a full-time, full-minute job as a legal assistant).  I have to write for my own sanity.  Some watch TV.  I write.

My latest release, Gemini Rising, is all about love, deep and dark as an underground river, and the psychology of that love.  The first chapter is available on line at Double Dragon Publishing.  It is erotic.  It is controversial.  The ending, I hope, is shocking.

Excerpt:

His eyes adjusted to the gloom.  Lina curled in a blanket against the chill, gnarled rock.

“I knew you’d finally come.”  Her voice was small, nearly inaudible above the crash of the surf.

He crawled forward on his knees.  The cave was too small for them to stand.  She offered to share the blanket, and he snuggled against her.  Her gaze found his, but she didn’t speak.  Accusation sparkled in her eyes.  He looked away, studying the cavern walls.  In the thundering silence, they were motionless.  He was reluctant to break the enchantment of being with her.

She turned and his arms went around her.  She cradled his face between soft, loving hands.  Electric desire zinged through him, but his heart melted.  He loved her more than anything in the world.

“I’ve missed you so,” he said simply.

“Kiss me.”

He swallowed hard, grasped at his promise not surrender to forbidden love and brushed his lips to her cheek.

This is an erotic dark fantasy.  Buy link:  http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.php?ISBN=1-55404-978-4

My prize besides the grand prize of an ebook prize package of XOXO authors!!!! is a Gemini Rising Mousepad with the dynamic cover.  And there’s some swag for other commenters.  Hop on for other great prizes.  http://sensuouspromos.blogspot.com

 

The Art of Change

I had a hard time choosing an excerpt…Kelly weaves a tale of the art of life…

BLURB:

Gallery owner Nellie, a giving yet neurotic New Yorker, brings together a mismatched cast of characters in the opening of Ryan Whittaker’s debut, a phallic show. Little does she know that she is setting the scene for odd and unpredictable relationships, much like Shakespeare in Midsummer Night’s Dream. The frenzied, magical mix-up is an outrageous farce with a deep moral message: there is a RIGHT place for everyone in this world and love and friendship cement us in it.

The Art of Change is a funny, smooth reading romance, which deals with bridging differences in gender,  education,  social milieu, in an insane but pragmatic, modern fairytale, set in New York City. The twists of the plot are written without an ounce of cynicism but simply acknowledging that life is neither here nor there, neither black or white and all can be dealt with in real friendship and love.

Excerpt:

Out in the gallery, the umbrella bin was overflowing as people started trickling in from the rain.

A nice crowd, thought Pino. They will need to unwind and drink and eat. Enter moi!

“Aurora, what are you doing? Stop looking at the people and come help me!” he ordered, and although Aurora immediately came over, she couldn’t take her eyes off Cynthia, the artist’s girlfriend.

On the other side of the room, Cynthia was following Ryan with her gaze, as he went from painting to painting, scrutinizing each one, as if he had never seen them before. She was infuriated by his bloody remarks on their sex life. What sex life? Making love to him was like putting on a performance! A warm, touchy-feely woman! No, sir, she was not going to end up barefoot and pregnant with no life, like his mother in Oregon! She was a fast-paced go-getter, and this is the way it was going to be.

Aurora looked over at the door. A navy officer with an umbrella big enough to cover a battalion walked in with a very close friend, or so it seemed, as she was almost his age and holding on to him for dear life. Aurora approached with a smile and offered them a drink.

“Thank you very much. Much needed with this kind of weather outside. What are you showing here tonight?” Aurora blushed, but the teased-up, helmet-haired German lady exclaimed, “Honey, look! A self-propelled torpedo!”

The officer looked at her, eyeballed the torpedo painting across from him, took another sip, and asked her, “Is that what they are?”

“Yah, this one over here is not intact. It looks cracked like a war leftover, and— turn around, check this one out—this one is crashed, destroyed, perhaps damaged by the passing of time.”

Readjusting his glasses, he walked closer to the broken torpedo painting, then took a step back and burst out, “What the fu—boooooom! Ha ha-ha ha! Come along, Mrs. McCouifer, I’ve seen plenty of torpedoes in my time but nothing like these.”

She squeezed his arm as he whispered something that made her scalp and hairdo move back and forth. “You have a torpedo like that at home? Where did you get it? Is it buried in the backyard? What do you mean you’ll show it to me tonight?”

Pino was waving to Aurora to come and replenish her tray. The general grabbed her to place the two empty glasses on it.

“Wait, please, I will bring some more,” Aurora said, trying to please Pino with her eagerness to serve. She smiled at the uniformed man — she had always had a crush on regalia and uniforms. Sometimes she would look with childish adoration even at hotel doormen.

The gentleman, straightening his military jacket, turned to her and made a declaration, like a state of the union address, to all who happened to be next to them. “These are pink torpedoes, I hope you know.” And smiling to his audience, he clicked his heels and took the whacky-haired lady and marched away.

“Weird peoples, Pipinousco, weird, very weird general and companion. And very very weird hairs tonight. Look at this older lady.” Pino followed his wife’s gaze to an elderly couple approaching them.

The short lady with a haircolor not found in nature stood in front of the first painting by the door. She shook her head in dismay and quickly moved on to the next. When she took a step back and saw them all, side by side, she scurried away to the next, which was half erect . . . almost ran to the next, which was three-quarters erect, and was covering her eyes by the time she had gotten to the fully erect penis . . . and then had to run off and find a chair to sit down and fan herself. Her husband offered a hankie to mop her brow.

“Where is the painting with the ejaculation?” she asked him, laughing. “Nellie is probably hiding it in the office because it’s still wet.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kelly Andria is the pen name of two very close friends who decided to write a story to make people laugh. The two authors, although different in many ways and viewpoints, have a lot in common. Both Greek Americans coming from conservative vibrant families, they learned to speak and act as they believe. Fair but always kind. Their passion for art, food and romance led them to become authors of a comedy that redefines the “boy meets girl” norm.  The wacky one of the group knew that they had the stories in them. The other half quickly became convinced as their quirky characters took shape and form and gained a voice of their own.

Website: http://www.kellyandria.com/

Buy Links:

Xlibris: http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-0115730049/The-Art-of-Change.aspx

Amazon Kindle Edition:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-of-Change-ebook/dp/B008PEXGQ8

Amazon print:  http://www.amazon.com/Art-Change-Kelly-Andria/dp/1477120025

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-of-change-kelly-andria/1111961653

 

Bianca Swan’s On Wings of Desire Released Yesterday

Get ready for a sexy, fast-paced ride to the end of the world!  Erotic romance with a strong, intriguing plot.  Carnal Desires is Sophisticated Erotic Literature.

From the Inside Flap:

The fallen angels have again risen against the Light, and the Second War in Heaven is raging.  Paimon, General of Hell, yearned for a lover with the beauty of an angel and created a demon the exact replica of a celestial.  He presents his creation with a powerful sword and appoints him commander of the demon forces.  If Salseph returns to Hell with the sword in victory, Paimon vows to end Seph’s demeaning missions of seducing human women and destroying their lives.  The promise is a double-edged blade.  The demons under his control abhor Salseph as much as he reviles them.

In battle, the angel Ophiel disarms Salseph and humiliates the young demon.  Seph vows revenge against his foe and strikes upon the perfect plan for vengeance.  He will seduce the guardian angel’s charge, Gloria Landry, and at the Battle of Armageddon present soiled goods to the arrogant Ophiel in exchange for the stolen sword.  When he rescues Gloria from a violent storm, she believes Salseph is her guardian angel.  On their journey to the apocalyptic war, Salseph and Gloria discover that lust can become the purest love and that a bad boy can be good.

Read the full first chapter of On Wings of Desire at:  http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.php?ISBN=1-77115-070-X

Celebrating St. Valentine Giveaway Hop!! Comment to Win!!

  Happy Valentine’s Day!

Welcome to my blog.  I couldn’t think of my favorite Valentine moment so I’ll jump straight to the point of this hop:  GIVEAWAYS

Comment to win a copy of The Night Before Doomsday, a swag packet and as my Grand Prize a lovely necklace and earrings.

Please visit the Gemini Rising page for a book video, reviews and an excerpt.  Gemini Rising was #1 in Mainstream in the 2012 Preditors & Editors Poll.  Also, for a preview of one of the prizes (The Night Before Doomsday), visit that page as well.

Thank you for participating in the hop and for visiting my blog.  Hop around the other blogs for other super giveaways.  Click on the Hop Button to be taken to the other pages.  Good luck!

WINNER!!!

Gemini Rising won All Other Novels (Mainstream) in the Preditors & Editors Poll.  Thanks to all who voted!!  Please visit the Gemini Rising page on this blog for more information, book video, reviews, etc.

Celebrate with me.  Have a glass of champagne (or as Alain or Alina would say “a glass of champers”)……

#1 Preditors & Editors Poll

Gemini Rising is #1 in All Other Novels!  The competition was stiff but GR made it!  Thanks to all who voted!  Take a look at the Gemini Rising page while you’re here for an excerpt, book video and reviews.

ETERNITY – Kim Carmichael and Prizes!!

Have you ever wondered what eternity would be like?  Join Kim Carmichael on a journey in her exciting novel ETERNITY and let her immortal characters show you.

BLURB:

Therin Athan faces a choice…eternal salvation or eternal damnation.

After centuries of pining away for a love never realized, Therin’s last assignment as a Cupid depends on helping the lonely, shy Lucy Carlton.  The mission’s success or failure will determine where he is transferred.  He can study the heavens or be condemned to hell.

Lucy Carlton spent her life searching the stars for answers, but finds them in the form of a gorgeous man who comes in her dreams.  Therin shows her the joys of physical pleasure and encourages her to try to find love.  She wakes with a new found confidence, but soon her timid nature takes over and she retreats back to the comfort of her home…alone.

With only a week to decide his fate, Therin breaks every rule.  What starts as a job to save himself, becomes a love that can never be…except maybe in eternity.

Who wouldn’t want to read this, right?  Now, for the intriguing excerpt:

EXCERPT:

“Why stars?” He retrieved the bottle and poured her some more, staying quiet hoping she would continue to reveal bits of herself.

“Stars are endless, they are sort of like looking at hope.”

He stared at her profile.

She let out another laugh, this one heartier than the first. “Right there.” She motioned up at the night sky.

“Where?” He leaned over.

“Right there.” She put out her finger and leaned toward him as if to show him her perspective.

He moved the basket to the side and slid over, sighing when he finally focused on what she pointed out. “Pisces.” The two fish represented Aphrodite and Eros. A few wisps of her hair tickled his face but he didn’t move them away.

“Is she your mother?  Are the stories true?”

“Nothing is ever exactly as it seems.” He repeated his words from earlier, but appreciated the way she was fluent not only in the stars but the mythology. “Just like Pegasus, there is more than one Cupid. He was the just the most famous.”

“Are you a God?” She kept her eyes on the night sky.

“I am what they call an immortal. I work for the Gods.” He lowered his voice as to not scare her.

She finished off her wine. “Why is this your last assignment?  Did I break you or something?”

He put his hand over hers. “I was broken way before you were even born.”

“What broke you?”

“Every being has wants and needs.” He paused. “Sometimes when they go unfulfilled it’s hard to keep going.”

She looked at her lap. “What happens after you deal with me?”

“It depends on how successful I am.” He balled his other hand in a fist. This was not something to put on a human.

“Do you mean how successful I am?”

From one day in her apartment he knew she was not only intelligent, but also insightful. “Something like that.”

“What happens if I don’t end up with him?” She stared into the empty glass.

“There are things only Gods know. I need to guide you.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to think of you down in Hades.”

He almost smiled. “Something like that.”

“Must be frightening for you,” she whispered.

“What do you mean?”

“If you are immortal then you are never really know how or when it will end.” She turned her hand over. “Infinite can be as terrifying as finite.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kim Carmichael began writing eight years ago when her need for graphic sex scenes and love of happy endings inspired her to create her own.  She has a weakness for bad boys and techno geeks, and married her own computer whiz after he proved he could keep her all her gadgets running.  When not writing, she can usually be found slathered in sunscreen trolling Los Angeles and helping top doctors build their practices.

Website   http://www.kimcarmichaelnovels.com/

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/kimcarmichaelnovelsTwitter

https://twitter.com/KimCarmichael4

PRIZES to a lucky commenters!

Preditors and Editors

And yes I did spell it right, or at least the way they spell it!

GEMINI RISING is nominated in Other Novels and in Books/ebooks Cover Art.  Please vote!  I’d REALLY appeciate it.

http://critters.org/predpoll/

 

Paranormal Romance Guild – Book of 2012!

The Night Before Doomsday, my novella about the Grigori, angels who fell to lust, has been nominated for Book of 2012 in the Novella category.  Voting is open at:

http://www.paranormalromanceguild.com/WEBPROTECT-2012awardnominees.htm.  Would you please vote for me?  You don’t have to take the time to vote in all categories.  Just scroll down to Novella.

Happy Holidays and Big Thanks!

Linda

The novella is available for $.99 at Amazon.

The Divinities – Lia Davis

Death’s Storm is Book 2 in this fascinating paranormal romance series published by Fated Desires Publishing.  Lia is visiting today with an intriguing excerpt.  I had the opportunity to choose the excerpt from her media kit and what a difficult choice it was!  Welcome Lia!

Keeping it Real by Lia Davis

What draws you to a story? To me, it’s the realism and the connection to the characters that keep me coming back for more.

Character development is the first thing I start on when creating a new book or series. I flesh out my characters and make them as real as possible by giving each jobs and hobbies and little quirks. I list out their dislikes and likes. Each character has to be an individual that my readers can relate to. They also have their own level of emotions.

In The Divinities series, Kalissa and Khloe are different in many ways despite being magical twins able to communicate telepathically with one another. Khloe has piercings and uses glamour to add colored streaks in her hair. Kalissa is more reserved, and as the oldest by 5 minutes, she is the one to follow the rules and the mothering type. Khloe plays by her own rules. She’s a little sporadic and emotional (not annoyingly so, she just doesn’t hold back her emotions). Kalissa’s Divine gift is visions of the past presence and future, where Khloe’s is to control the four natural elements. Kalissa loves to cook and runs their father’s coffee shop. Khloe is technical and runs their mother’s graphic and web design business.

Each of the Divinities has a place in the war, as well as a life they try to keep together and live. Although there are a few who may be a little too focused on giving pay back to the demons more than the others.

Blurb:  

Technical genius and demi-goddess–aka Divinity–Khloe Bradenton relies on no one for help, and she definitely doesn’t need comfort from anyone other than her twin. After her parents died by the demons’ hands over two years ago, she has graciously stepped up to her place in the war between demons and witches. When a creature far more dangerous than the ones responsible for killing her parents claims he is her guardian, she is torn between her desires for the dark predator and the painful loss she has endured at the hands of her enemies.

One of the last death demons still in existence, Jagger has pledged his life to the Goddess Hecate. Charged with the guardianship over the Divinities, he is never to approach them, but to aid them from a distance. When the firestorm, Khloe, sacrifices herself to save her twin and best friend and becomes the prey, he has no choice but to reveal himself to her. He is taken by surprise when the need to claim her as his own emerges. A desire he has never felt before could be more dangerous than the demons out to destroy them.

Now Available at   Amazon   |   B&N   | ARe   |   Kobo

Excerpt:

Jagger tossed the Amiddian to the side, stepped away from the overturned van, and froze. Khloe stood on the shoulder of the road about fifteen feet ahead, and watched him. Her pink-streaked blond hair framed her oval face, making her look like a pissed off angel. He took a step forward and felt the presence of another demon. He turned to the new energy to see a horned, blue-skinned demon advancing toward Khloe.

Fuck. Where were they coming from?

Letting out a low growl, Jagger materialized in front of the demon and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. Holding the hell-spawn off the ground, Jagger let his fangs drop. “What do you want with her?”

The demon narrowed his eyes and smirked, but said nothing.

Tightening his grip, Jagger gave the demon one more chance. “You can tell me, or I’ll drain the memories from your useless soul.”

The idiot laughed and vanished.

Fuck! No one should have been able to flash from his hold. He surrounded them with a spell for just that reason. There was only one possibility. Khan had a power source just like Jagger suspected.

Fisting his hands to his side, he whirled around to find Khloe gone. Great. Another complication. Scenting the air, he picked up on her chocolate-rose fragrance and rushed into the forest. Several feet into the trees and brush, he found her.

She wasn’t alone. A Regal—the imperial guards of Khan and the most powerful demons in the Underworld—stood over her, with his hand gripping her arm.

Rage ran in Jagger’s veins, fueling his need to protect her and kill for her.

He soon discovered his Khloe was a fireball. She kicked the Regal in the balls, taking the demon to the ground. Turning on her heels, she took off again, but not before he caught the scent of blood.

A deep growl ripped from his throat, and he thrust his hand toward the male struggling to stand, hitting him with a ball of fire. The demon puffed into a black pile of dust.

No one harmed what belonged to him and lived.

Here’s the link to Forgotten Visions’ book video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST07fV9gi2M&feature=g-upl

About Lia:

Lia Davis is a mother to two young adults and two very special kitties, a wife to her soul mate, a paranormal romance author, graphic designer, and co-owner to Fated Desires Publishing, LLC. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it!

An accounting major, Lia has always been a dreamer with a very active imagination. The wheels in her head never stop. She ventured into the world of writing and publishing in 2008 and loves it more than she imagined. Writing and designing are stress relievers that allow her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world that she created, leaving real life where it belongs.

Her favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties.

Author website | Fated Desires Publishing | Books Amour | Heartthrob Haven

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GIVEAWAY!! 

Lia is giving away a swag pack to two commenters.