Jennifer Bray-Weber's Blog, page 72
December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas
December 18, 2013
Twas The Night Before Christmas – 2013 Edition
‘Twas the night before Christmas,
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even my computer mouse;
The pc screen glowed blank
With all creativity ka-put,
My Muse took a holiday
From inspiring my book;
The NaNo craze had ended
I’m in edits knee deep,
While visions of ‘the end’
Dance out of reach;
Exhausted from writer’s block,
And with my sleep mask,
I had just curled in bed
For a short cat nap;
When out on the street
There arose such a thunder,
I sprang from my bed
To see what was the rumble.
Away to the window
In bunny slippers I sprang,
I stumbled and tripped
And drew back the drape.
The vapor lamps casting pools
Of pale light on the street
Gave the luster of mystery
To objects beneath,
When, what to my wondering eyes
Caught my sight,
But a red ragtop muscle car,
And eight Harley bikes,
With a super hot driver
With a smooth grin of mirth
I knew in a moment
It must be Chris Hemsworth.
More handsome in person
His buds they came,
And I whistled and squealed
As he called them by name.
“Now Channing! Now Gerard!
Now, Adam and Bradley!
On Ryan! On Beckham!
On Robert Jr. and (of course) Johnny!
To the edge of the curb!
To the end of the way!
Now pull over! Pull over!
Pull over here, I say!”
As the growl of engines
Revved and roared,
Testosterone oozed
From their very cores;
So up to my house
The hotties they drove,
With Chris in the lead
Of this dreamy treasure trove.
And then in an instant,
I heard them out front,
The back-slapping and laughing
Of each manly hunk.
As I wiped the drool
And raced to the den,
In sauntered Chris
A perfect Ten.
He was dressed all in leather
From his head to his boots
Just like superhero Thor
He was lip-smacking good.
A bundle of goodies
He had flung on his back,
And his t-shirt strained
Against a nice six-pack.
His eyes – how they seared!
His lips, how inviting!
His jaw line so strong,
His smirk too enticing!
His dark flaxen goatee
Was trimmed just right
And his blond tousled hair
Gilded in the firelight;
The sky blue of his gaze
full of smoldering heat,
And he took off his jacket
And rolled up his sleeves;
Wide, cut shoulders
And flawless firm rear,
Completing the package
All but brought me to tears.
He was lean and fit,
A right sexy heartbreaker,
And I fanned my face,
As ideas struck this story maker.
A wink of his eye
And I nearly swooned,
Naughty or nice?
My thoughts lampooned;
He spoke not a word
But went straight to his work,
And left festive presents
As I giggled and lurked,
And smiling to me
My Muse had more than awaken,
And giving a nod,
Chris left me a-quaking.
He hopped in his convertible,
Gave a whistle to his team,
And away they all drove,
Leaving me to scheme.
But I heard him exclaim
Ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas Writing to all.
And to all a good night.”
December 17, 2013
Link of the Week – Sexy Cats
Just for fun. Because who doesn’t like to look at men and kitties? (though I admit some of you might object ;-D ) It’s no wonder the link went viral.
http://distractify.com/people/male-models-and-cats/
Enjoy!
December 15, 2013
It’s Editor Shopping day!
Good morning everyone. I apologize for posting the pitches so late, but we’re under about a foot and a half of snow up here in Maine, and my internet has been spotty at best – when we’ve had power. Fun times.
Anyway – quickly to the stats:
Pitches received: 29
Pitches accepted: 17
Pitches rejected: 12
8 – Too long
2 – missing information
1 – Off genre (Childrens fiction)
1 – No pitch
Please welcome Candace Havens! Thank you so much for joining us here at Musetracks. I hope you find something you like. If you do, simply e-mail me the number, title and what you’d like to see from the author.
Happy shopping!
***
#1
The Elder Race
YA Urban Fantasy
85,000 words
Seventeen-year-old Carri Helms is not the first person to be attacked by the Goetia, a legion of Fallen Angels and demons, but she is the first to survive.
After walking away from an accident that should have killed her, Carri soon learns she is their primary target. They track her to her senior prom party where, Riker Irin, a Watcher with a troubled past, ignores his Commander’s standing orders of no mortal interference and saves her.
In an effort to find out how to stop the attacks, Riker leads Carri deeper into his world. They discover she is the last obstacle standing between the Goetia fulfilling an ancient plot to unite the earth with the heavens and the only way to destroy them is by working with the enemy. Now Carri must decide how much she will sacrifice to free Riker, and herself, from the past to ensure they have a future.
THE ELDER RACE is an 85,000 word YA urban fantasy. Although it is a standalone novel, I have already outlined a sequel.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
***
#2
Final Notice – Book 1 in the Damaged Goods Series
Mystery with Strong Romantic Elements
75,000 words
Jackie Parker has had enough of her butt-grabbing lawyer boss. Sexual harassment lawsuits aside, there’s got to be a better way for a certified process server to earn a living in Miami. When her husband asks her to join forces with him and his brother to start up their own property management company, it seems like the perfect solution. Until they find an unidentified young girl’s body in the first home they visit and no sign of the tenant.
Just another day on the job for the Damaged Goods team.
***
#3
Seething Jealousy – Book 1 of Conniving Cocktails Series
Mystery with Strong Romantic Elements
70,000 Words
When bar and nightlife expert Lorelai Lake agrees to help turn around the failing bar Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, she’s sure she’ll regret it. But Lorelai has never been able to say no to Grant McTavish, and beverages are her business even if Grant’s love life is no longer any of hers. More than the whiskey turns sour though when one of the bartenders is found murdered in the bar basement and Grant becomes the number one suspect. Now Lorelai must save Grant’s reputation as well as his bar in an epic turnaround that could either exonerate the man she loves or cost her everything.
***
#4
Arty Smarty
Single Title Contemporary Romance (Romantic Caper)
80,000 words
Museum curator Claire Raffen must retrieve the keystone piece for her art exhibit from reclusive artist Sinjin Reid. When she arrives at the sexy Brit’s estate on the shores of Lake Michigan, to collect the sculpture, it’s missing. Claire discovers that Sinjin has hidden his masterpiece from his greedy ex-wife and her lover–Claire’s smarmy boss–the director of the Lafferty Museum.
Since the success of her show hinges on the star attraction, Claire reluctantly agrees with Sinjin’s crazy plan. He will gladly display the piece in Claire’s exhibit only if the exhibit is hanging at his gallery. Claire and Sinjin uncover allies who help them move the exhibit under the nose of the museum’s crooked director. Working together, Claire gets a glimpse of the real Sinjin beneath his iconic image.She resists his genuine charm and shakes off her squishy feelings.
Sinjin’s only using her to get back at his ex-wife. With her reputation and exhibit at risk, Claire musters up enough trust to rely on Sinjin. Pulling off a museum heist, Claire might wind up jobless and in jail. But worse, if she falls in love with Sinjin, her heart may be stolen.
***
#5
Waking Up Dead
Romance/paranormal
45K words
The Western Werewolf Legend series continues
The truth, Sonja Brooks understands is relevant. She’s a werewolf with a special ‘gift’ and faces danger at every turn. Now, the bloodsuckers stalk her family and the man she loves.
He vowed to protect his men despite the cost. Tyler Loflin must save them and Sonja from the threat of Yankee vampires. Seeking help from one of them will test his faith in the human he once knew and his own strength as a newly born werewolf.
Escaping to a better place, Ty and Sonja set out for Texas, but will the freedom and safety they seek elude them?
***
#6
Wolfen Secrets
Romance/paranormal
50K words
Not only do our dreams hold secrets to our future, but as Sonja Brooks discovers they also hold the keys to immense danger for her kind. Sonja finds the westernwerewolf pack in great peril when she and her mate, Tyler Loflin have to take on the vampires and their undead magic.
When confronted with vampires that won’t ever die, Tyler Loflin has to formalize a plan to protect the woman he loves as well as the men who are like brothers to him. The only problem is keeping the plan a secret from Sonja, who is the alpha she-wolf of their pack.
***
#7
Comanche Haven, The Loflin Legacy # 1
Romance/western
100K words
From the moment Celia, the emerald-eyed, Comanche half-breed, gets off the stage in Tyler, Texas, Seth Loflin realizes he is on a collision course with the past. She was his first love and now the Shooter Creek’s ranch boss can’t allow her to succumb to the danger that stalks her. Someone wants to kidnap her and sell her as a slave, but now that she’s in his protective arms, he intends to keep her safe.
Celia can’t run back to the safety of her former life in South Carolina. And if she stays at Shooter Creek with Seth, she’ll be putting the man she has always loved and his ranch in danger of harboring a Comanche. But Seth refuses to leave her side, and his vow to protect her gives Celia the hope and courage she needs. Now she’ll fight for her new life with Seth…or die trying.
***
#8
The Lady in the Mist, The Western Werewolf Legend # 1
Romance/paranormal
45K words
The Civil War took Sonja Brooks’ husband and left her alone. Unprotected and scared, she runs headlong into a life changing event when she’s attacked by a pack of wolves. Her fate as a werewolf is sealed. When she stumbles upon Ty Loflin, a Rebel soldier dying of his wounds, she nurses him back to health. He’s the perfect mate, but will he want her once he knows the truth?
***
#9
Daimones
Science Fiction, alien post-apocalypse
93,500 words
Dan Amenta wakes up one morning to discover the world has changed…the Apocalypse has arrived.
Death, destruction, and disaster are spreading around the globe. Yet Dan and his family remain untouched. He begins to fear they are the only three people left alive on Earth. They are not.Efforts to survive and make contact with others reveal disturbing truths about the human extermination. Dan finds Laura who discloses even more. Her presence – a young, sexy, disruptive girl – adds questions about what is moral and ethical in this new reality.
Then supernatural experiences reported by other survivors force Dan to seek explanations from his own past. Memories of childhood hallucinations strike him with sledgehammer force, bringing him face-to-face with a secret millions of years old. Planet Earth is in the hands of an older power, one Dan never envisioned and dares not disobey…
A first contact and an alien colonization set the seeds in the trilogy for a galactic upheaval and space wars with aliens.
***
#10
In the Heart
Contemporary romance/womens fiction
100,000 words
After a tragic shooting claims the life of her fiancé, Celia Bailey returns to her small hometown vowing one day to find love again. A year later, she’s finding it difficult to keep that vow when the man occupying her thoughts and haunting her dreams is a man she knows shouldn’t get involved with.
Toby Colton is about to find his new life turned upside down. He has a steady job as a prison guard and is forming ties in the close-knit community he recently moved to. However, one chance meeting on the side of a road brings a string of complications he never counted on.
For the ex-rodeo rider, Celia is one sad cliché after another: the boss’s daughter…his best friend’s sister…and love at first sight. While the two fight a losing battle to resist their attraction, a scheming and dangerous inmate by the name of Vince Monroe sets his sights on escape—and Celia.
When Toby must risk his own life to save a kidnapped Celia, they learn love doesn’t always play by the rules.
***
#11
The Found Girl
Contemporary paranormal romance
100,000 words
Jonas Kavanagh’s life was predetermined.
One day he will be king to a magical elf kingdom and he will also be the first in the royal line to take a human as queen. Only two complications stand in his way. First, the human woman fated to be this queen doesn’t believe in love, magic or even the prediction. Second, and far more difficult to overcome, the person assigned the task of finding this human wants nothing more than see Jonas joined with someone else and he possesses enough power to accomplish this.
Alvina McKellen’s life has been one loss after another. Orphaned and unwanted by relatives forced to care for her, then framed by a man who said he loved her, she seeks a new life far from where she began. She sure never expected that new life to involve a frightening man with strange abilities and an unexpected marriage to a supposed king.
Together, a reluctant elf king and a lost girl find passion, love and their destiny together, something not even the most powerful magic of one who would tear them apart can destroy
***
#12
Chasing Jasmine and Butterflies
Contemporary Urban Fantasy
85,000 words
Raghnall is enchanted by a beauty with face painted like a butterfly and hair braided with Jasmine. However, if he knew she was a member of fae royalty, he might’ve thought twice.
Princess Comyn seeks adventure in the human world. Instead, adventure finds her, in the form of a passionate encounter with a handsome druid priest.
The only problem—this druid is the immortal messenger between the gods and the fae. It isn’t until after they discover eternal magic in each other’s arms she learns who he is and he figures out what she is.
Believing she’s angered the gods with the liaison, she engages him in a game of cat and mouse until fate steps in to right the wrong.
This is the first story in a series that will rewrite the history of the fae. The gods created them to replace humans on earth. However, now the fae are on the brink of extinction. To survive in today’s world, someone must reunite the many realms across the earth.
What better place to begin, than with two who already found their destiny? Then they can play matchmakers to the rest of the supernatural world.
***
#13
Once Humans
Science Fiction, alien post-apocalypse
75000 words
In a dark future, aliens are regenerating a new, transgenic species of humans called the Selected. But when sabotage and conspiracy threaten — and a divided humanity risks destroying itself — can one human save his species in time?
Mankind is undergoing rebirth, the new arrivals closely watched by the Selected: the transgenic beings created by the Moîrai. The new communities thrive with the aliens’ support and peace and security reign on Eridu, as the planet Earth is known by the Moîrai and in the galaxy.
But peace and security of the cradle are suddenly shattered by acts of sabotage set to disrupt the fragile balance of the fledgling communities.
From the coldest climes to the deepest ocean floors, a cosmic conspiracy full of betrayal and fear is being hatched with the hope of pushing the world perilously close to the brink of self-destruction.
A first contact and an alien colonization set the seeds in the trilogy for a galactic upheaval and space wars with aliens.
***
#14
Under Covers
Contemporary Romance
76,000 words
Animal Welfare agent, Jade Devlin, plans to photograph the abuse happening at a puppy mill to help convince the D.A. to grant her a search warrant. She’s as far from a kick-ass heroine as a body can get, and when she’s discovered by one of the mill workers, she’s forced to play along as her captor’s girlfriend, or risk certain death in the backwoods of Virginia’s forgotten countryside.
F.B.I. agent Mason Gardiner has been under cover for nearly a year. As much as animal abuse sucks, the illegal weapons the mill owner is running, and finding their supplier, are his biggest concern. Smart, stubborn and incredibly sexy Jade is the last thing he needs, but removing her from the danger, without blowing his cover, is impossible.
With different missions on the line, and an insatiable hunger for justice, mistrust and desire are constant companions for both Jade and Mason.
***
#15
Commitment Issues
Contemporary romance
89,000 words
Alexis has never committed to anything. Ever. Color her a vagabond like her dad, but she likes life with no ties. But when her sister Emma dies, leaving behind two young children, Alexis can’t walk away. They don’t have any family, and If Alexis doesn’t take them in, the state will.
Known child advocate, Assistant District Attorney, Allen Gates doesn’t think the vagrant younger sister of Emma’s shoud have the boys. He’d fallen hard for Emma and her children, and he’d be damned if those boys were going to be dragged all over the country and beyond by their un-grounded aunt.
Anger, attraction, and much more erupt as Alexis and Allen knock heads over the boys well-being.
***
#16
Call Me Casanovette
Erotic romance
99,500 words
Marriage isn’t the fairytale Gemma’s mother made it out to be.
Sixteen years worth of matrimonial agony, an ex-husband that walked out to bang his twenty-nine year old secretary, and having to start over at the ripe-young-age of forty is just the proof Gemma needs to affirm that thought.
So now it’s her turn. She has sixteen years of wasted time to make up for. She just doesn’t know how. But her best friend does. She wants Gemma to kiss 16 men in six months and let the sparks fly as they will.
The catch? Each man has to be a different age. No repeats. She has to start with twenty four years old and working her way up to forty.
Gemma accepts the challenge and quickly learns that what she’d considered taboo might be her thing, and that what she’d always dreamed about is all wrong for her.
***
#17
Juxtaposition
Romantic Suspense
86,000 words
Tally Martin came from nothing but abuse. When she was ten, she was saved by a kind older woman named May who taught her to love life, smile often, and kick ass when needed.
Now Tally’s twenty two, and her mentor is gone. But May’s sudden death reveals a side of her Tally never knew existed. A darker side. A cool-as-hell-vigilante-side. And taking over where May left off is just the focus Tally needs. The sexy as hell agent that keeps showing up at her door is a tempting inconvenience, one she finds harder and harder to resist, even if he could put her in jail for a long, long time.
Agent Sumner Chapman has worked the ‘Outer’ case for years. It’s his obsession. He doesn’t care of the do-gooder ‘Outer’ leaves enough evidence to put his victims in jail, he’s doing it illegally. Somehow, spirited knockout Tally Martin keeps cropping up in his investigations, and damned if he doesn’t suspect she’s not telling him everything she knows about the ‘Outer’.
Attraction is one thing. But he’ll put hot as hell Tally in jail for interfering with his case. He’s just that much of a hard ass. Isn’t he?
December 14, 2013
It’s Editor Shop Pitch Day!
Good luck to everyone pitching today.
Don’t forget to read the rules. I’d hate to delete pitches during the holiday season!
Wait until I update the page with a bog green GO at the top of this post. I’m working again this weekend, so I’ll try to post the update as close to 10:00 am EST as I can.
And now I’d like to introduce our guest author. He’s an author with Entangled and I can’t wait to read this! Asalways, my TBR read pile will get a few new layers this holiday.:)
Parts and Wreck
Wade Crowson, a brutish and brooding playboy and veteran vivisectionist for the Parts Department, runs into more than he bargained for in new partner, Lucid Montgomery, a quirky beauty with a bizarre secret and a string of psychiatric diagnoses she tries hard to keep hidden. Loving Luce will stamp a demonic target on her back and thrust Wade into a frenzied whirlwind of hilarious misunderstandings and, quite possibly, a stripping gig for emptynesters. Can they withstand the savagery of an exorcism (with or without the split pea soup) and come out alive and …in love?
You can buy Parts and Wreck here:
And you can find Mark here:
Here are a few reviews!
And as a little bonus, here is what Candace is currently looking for:
Covet: Category paranormal romances with more romance than paranormal
elements. The focus should be the development of the relationship. We
like them funny and we like dark, and all points in between. Should be
between 55-65k
Edge and Select: We accept all genres on these lines, as long as there a
strong romance in the book with a happily ever after, or at least a
happy for now. That said… I’m on the hunt right now for single-title
contemporary romances. Think Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jennifer Cruise
or Lori Foster. I’d also like to see some strong paranormal romances
along the lines of Sherrilyn Kenyon or Nalini Singh. If you have a
series, each book must be stand alone with a different couple in each
book. I’d also like to see some good mysteries with strong romantic
elements.
Have a wonderful day everyone! And good luck.
Candi
December 13, 2013
Busy Little Holiday Bees
I feel like a chicken running around without my head. This time of year seems to always be so busy, but I never feel like I’ve accomplished much. From trying to do all the shopping, the cleaning, the wrapping, the decorating, and getting in time with family and friends, there’s not much time left for writing.
And that would be fine if I didn’t have a deadline. My first book with HQN as Sara Arden is due in two days. TWO DAYS. I’m so nervous about it because it’s unlike anything I’ve ever written before. It’s small town romance. I won’t say it’s sweet, it’s a little spicy. Like Mexican Hot Chocolate. Just a bit of red pepper for flavor. It’s taking a lot out of me to write it. I mean, I invest in all of my characters, but these two people have wrung me dry. I find myself sitting at the computer and sniffing as I type. Then you throw the holiday goodness on top of that, well, I’m a mess.
So let’s hear your favorite funny holiday traditions. Elf on a Shelf? Ugly Sweater Contest?
This year mine was signing my daughter up for a call from Santa. She hung up on him because she thought he was a predator and reported it to me immediately. The look on her face was priceless. But I guess that’s what you get when you have parents and grandparents who are corrections officers.
What’s your favorite thing to do during the season that makes you laugh?
December 11, 2013
Hump Day Kick Start – Six String Acoustic Edition
Song of the day: Adrenalize by In This Moment
Hump Day Kick Start – for your muse, a writing picture prompt, or just a visual treat.
Greek men and smoldering eyes… *swoon*
Tell me about our prompt. Who is he? What is he doing? What is the expression on his face? Is he the Spanish lover who had just serenaded his woman only to be dismissed by the fiery, temperamental tart? Could he be tired of his dead end job as a wedding singer? Maybe he is taking a much needed break from his performing on the Vegas strip. Is he a traveling heart-breaker? Just what is he thinking?
Love to hear your take!
December 10, 2013
Link of the Week – Hypocrisy
Rueters reports that Rapper Kayne West is a proud non-reader, yet has written a, ahem, book (of sorts). Okay. So this article isn’t exactly new. But it has been resurrected recently on The Passive Voice, and with it a lot of chatter from authors who had not heard of this absurdity—myself included. When Stacey shared this with me, I was appalled. APPALLED. And yet, somehow not surprised. Well, wait, I was, actually, quite surprised. How can someone with such fame proudly proclaim he has no respect for books? Why would I care? I don’t really. But it sends the wrong message to young people. It sends the wrong message PERIOD. And I think it’s fair to say that people like him is what is wrong with America today. *shakes head*
http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/05/26/us-kanyewest-idUSTRE54P5L820090526
Thanks, again, Stacey.
December 9, 2013
Editor Shop is Saturday with Entangled Publishing’s Candace Havens!
Well, in the midst of the holiday season craziness, I hope you’ll be able to visit us for another Editor Shop. The last of 2013. Yes, another year has almost come to an end.
We’ve had another amazing year here at Musetracks, and look forward to another fun, crazy year in the writing world we all love so much.
Our guest for Saturday’s Pitch Day is Candace Haven with Entangled Publishing. You can check Entangled out HERE and here’s a little about Candace:
Candace Havens, Editorial Director of Covet, Edge, and Select
Bestselling author Candace Havens has written multiple novels for Berkley, Entangled and Harlequin. Her books have received nominations for the RITA’s, Holt Medallion and Write Touch Reader Awards. She is the author of the biography Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy and a contributor to several anthologies. She is also one of the nation’s leading entertainment journalists and has interviewed countless celebrities including Tom Hanks, Nicolas Cage, Tom Cruise, George Clooney and many more. Her entertainment columns can be read in more than 600 newspapers across the country. And she is the Editorial Director for the Covet, Edge and Select lines at Entangled Publishing.
Candace also runs a free online writing workshop for more than 2200 writers, and teaches comprehensive writing class. She does film reviews with the Hawkeye & Dorsey on 96.3, and is a former President of the Television Critics Association.
Good luck to everyone, and please pass this along. Pitch day is Saturday starting at 10:00 A.M. E.S.T.
Check the rules under the tab for Agent/Editor Shop above.
Good luck and happy writing!
Candi
December 4, 2013
Hump Day Kick Start – Audio Edition
Song of the Day: Guardians at the Gate by Audiomachine
Hump Day Kick Start – for your muse, a writing picture prompt, or just a visual treat.
My, my, my…
Tell me about today’s writing prompt. Who is he? What is that expression on his face? Is he forlorn? Apprehensive? Determined? What’s he listening to? Self-help tapes? A mix of break-up songs from his soon-to-be-ex girlfriend? My book?
Is he a musician about to go into a sound check with his producer who is just as lovely as she is hard to please. (Take, after take, after take…) He looks to be wearing overalls. Could he be a painter? No, wait, an artist. He’s half-stripped because his studio is hot, or it could be it’s the beautiful nude model. Maybe, just maybe, he’s the narrator for my next book and he’s getting “in character”. Props if you know who this hottie really is.
Speaking of narration, my Romancing the Pirate book BLOOD AND TREASURE just came out in audio a few weeks ago and I happen to have a copy (or two) I’d LOVE to give away. All you have to do is sign up for my newsletter (I promise to use it for good and not evil – like flooding your in-box.) If you are already on my mailing list, you will automatically be entered. I’ll be running this contest for a week. So if you are late reading this post, you may still have time!
SIGN UP TO ENTER! and then let me hear your take on today’s prompt.
