Jennifer Bray-Weber's Blog, page 77

Link of the Week – Promote Your Book Free

This week’s link came from MuseTracker Marie-Claude (thanks MC!). And if you are trying to get the word out there about your new book, you’ll be singing joyous praises. Last week, online publishing rag, GalleyCat, posted an article on 15  places to promote your book for FREE.  Some of these places you’ll recognize, others, maybe not. All are worth checking out.

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/15-places-to-promote-your-book-for-free_b76294?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

Talk Back: What is a professional writer?

On my Kindle: Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen

Talk Back – Tell us how you write!

A few weeks ago the web was abuzz with writers discussing the definition of “professional writers” after a horror writer wrote a controversial blog post on the subject.

Now I don’t want to add to the fire but since I didn’t hear much from writers I know (mostly romance writers) on the subject, I thought I’d come out here and ask you, wonderful Musetrackers:

How do you define a professional writer?

And do you feel the need to label writers in this manner?

I was a little disturbed to see some authors viewing professional writers as only those who are paid to write which basically implies only contracted writers and people on staff at newspapers and magazines qualify.

Because most of us write then hopefully get paid after making a sale or self-publishing, and a lot of us may take quite a lot of time between sales or may not be able to fully pay the rent yet, does this means we are not quite yet “professional”.

And does it matter?

So what do you think? Do you consider yourself a professional writer? What does it mean for you? Is it a question of work ethic or monetary compensation? Do you label other writers as professional or not?

Let’s hear it!

Much love,

Marie-Claude xoxox

Location:Seattle

It’s Editor Shopping Day

Good morning.

I’m going to start by apologizing for any formatting issues. For whatever reason, the control panel was being wonky last night and not setting up the pitches the way I wanted.

We don’t have as many pitches as I’d hoped. And unfortunately as you’ll see from the stats, I had to refuse a few for not following the rules.

So here goes:

Pitches received – 22

Pitches accepted – 13

Pitches rejected – 9

7 – Too long

2 – Missing information

Now, please welcome the editors from Curiosity Quills! Thank you all so much for taking the time to be here today. Please email me at dancillaw (at) yahoo (dot) com if thee are any pitches you’d like to see more of. Please include the pitch number, title, and what you’d like to see from the author.

Feel free to comment on pitches as well. We writers are ALWAYS looking for feedback.

And here they are!

#1

Title: ONCE HUMANS

Words count: 73,000

Genre: SCI-FI

Mankind is undergoing rebirth, after a planetary culling perpetrated by a dominant alien species, he Moîrai. The new survivor arrivals are watched by the Selected: the transgenic humans created by the aliens.

The new communities thrive with Moîrai’s 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 to disrupt Moîrai’s plans. The fight for the control of unique genetic resources risks to push the world perilously close to the brink of self-destruction.

And it is up to Dan Amenta to journey through dark and deadly alleys–even into the depths of the planet–to unlock the shadowy logic of competing alien races and their secret organizations.

#2

Title: DAIMONES

Words count: 93,000

Genre: SCI-FI

One morning after a mysterious windstorm, the world experiences a planetary culling of the human race. Apocalypse has arrived, but why and how remains unknown in a fearful reality for Dan, his wife Mary, and their teenage daughter, Annah.

Vehicles litter the highway, their deceased occupants still inside. No one answers the phone at any of the emergency departments, and their relatives and friends are unreachable.

Dan starts to think they might be the only survivors of a global catastrophe.

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.

Other survivors report supernatural experiences forcing Dan to seek explanations from his own past. Memories of childhood hallucinations strike him with sledgehammer force, and bring 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 few selected will face a painful genetic transformation and work toward the rebirth of a new human race, or oblivion and death in isolation.

#3

TITLE: Pair- A- Normal Mixed and Matched

GENRE: Young Adult to General Fiction

WORD COUNT: 50,000

“You’ve got to be crazy!” It’s a question I often ask myself but now I’m asking my two closest friends, Sucretia and Marianne, if maybe they need counseling. And soon. It’s October 29th and I haven’t a date for the Halloween dance this year. Not that I had one last year unless you count my cousin Gordy who is a nerd and couldn’t find a date either. I have a hard time finding dates. It’s this thing I have going on. Electrical appliances go crazy around me and don’t get near me while there’s a storm brewing. My last date is still recovering. My friends booked us for an evening with Madame LaQuavious and her Wonderful Ouida Board on All Hallows Eve.

But something goes wrong. As it usually does when I’m around. Suddenly I’m seeing dead people. And they are asking me questions. How does my match making service go from a human friendly date making arrangement to one that matches up ghosts with people in order to help them ‘move on’ to the other side?

#4

A Heart Trapped Inside A Highlander’s Curse

Time Travel

42,657 words

“Born in the wrong time, thrown back to the right time. Adrian was about to get his first love, only she isn’t like any other woman he’s ever

met and he can’t let her die”

#5

Power Struggles

Young Adult Paranormal

88,000 words

Melody’s first power brought her to boot camp, but it’s her second one that could land her in prison.

Sixteen-year-old Melody Vander wants to master her telekinesis so she can defeat Psyfons, the power-draining monsters who killed her father. Although focused on her Psyfon-destroying goal, she catches the attention of Jonas, the gorgeous junior trainer whose very presence makes her feel dizzy and distracted.

Boot camp is beyond frustrating. She’s out in the middle of freaking nowhere with kids who only care about which powers rank highest, not how to use them better. A few trainees collapse, and Melody fears Psyfons have infiltrated the camp.

Before she can figure out who to trust, a bunkmate goes into anaphylactic shock. Despite the risk, Melody uses her healing power to save the girl’s life. Jonas witnesses the rescue and swears to keep Melody’s secret so that she won’t be branded a Psyfon and taken away.

But he already knew about her other power. Melody’s been their target since his leaders killed her father.

#6

TITLE: Bards Lair – The Book of Ruins

GENRE: Young Adult to General Fiction

WORD COUNT: 120,000

“Caw caw” a blackwing breaks the silence as it lands on an outstretched limb of a willowed sapling near the old well house. The Enchanted Lands won’t remain quiet too long. They never do. A new master, a new dimension, old faces, new-fangled clothes and a fancy smancy resort of sorts named Bard’s Lair brings a whole ‘nother meaning to the words Enchanted Lands.

The War Between the States of Service and Servitude brought the town of Adder to its knees. The Murfles become service providers while the numahs the ruling class looked with disdain on the blue skins much as a lion with a thorn in its paw.

BeJewelled and Julius refused to give up their ghosts and remain on the lands at Bard’s Lair in the old Manor even though it is crumbling and the gardens are overgrown. Can Bards Lair survive the new master? Will la friendship between a Murfle and a numah keep the place from ruins? The answer may lie in one of the many hidey holes on property in an old discarded mirror.

#7

TITLE: Steps to Heaven

GENRE: Mystery

WORD COUNT: 70,000

Steps to Heaven the first Sgt Major Crane crime thriller

Love mysteries, crime thrillers and suspense novels? Then this is the British military mystery for you!

A dark twisted crime thriller.

Soldiers murdering their children

Then committing suicide

An SIB detective determined to stop the killings

A British Army soldier on Aldershot Garrison deliberately kills his wife, his 6 year old son and then himself. He cuts their throats and then his own. But this is not an isolated incident. There are similar crimes on other Garrisons.

Sgt Major Crane, a Branch detective with the Royal Military Police must deal with one of the most horrific cases of his career. He is convinced the link is connected to the local church But is the church offering salvation – or slaughter? How many more innocent children must die before Crane catches the man responsible?

Praise for the Sgt Major Crane crime thrillers

“Crane is a charismatic leading man and is one of the more interesting new genre protagonists I’ve encountered in quite a while!” Chris Algernon.

“Fast paced crime thrillers for lovers of the police procedural and whodunnits!” Keith Thomas International Broadcaster

#8

Genre: Contemporary paranormal

Title: The Found Girl

Word Count: 100,000

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.

#9

Genre: Erotic fantasy – Book 1 of Fae Series

Title: Chasing Jasmine and Butterflies

Word Count: 110,000

As a young fae princess, Comyn wants some adventure in the human world. She finds it during an ancient pagan celebration with a druid priest. With her face painted in a butterfly pattern and hair braided with Jasmine, the druid is enchanted with her; he can’t resist getting to know her better. If he knew she was a member of the fae, he would’ve thought better. He has been commissioned as protector to the fae realms from the human world. Upon realizing who she has mated with, she runs away, but not without taking a piece of the druid with her.

This story is the first in a series that rewrites the history of the world of the fae and elves. The Great Mother and Father created these beings to one day replace humans on earth.

But the centuries have not fulfilled this plan. They must reunite the many realms to keep the species alive. This plot begins by reuniting Comyn with the druid priest Raghnall. From there, the two will play matchmakers to the rest of the supernatural world.

#10

ABOVE THE GAME

Literary Fiction

70,000 words

Eliot MacKenzie dreams of escaping his small New England town of Granite Harbor. Suddenly, there is no more dreaming, no escaping. Eliot MacKenzie is dead.

His life is over but not his tale. Over a several year period in the mid 1990’s, Eliot narrates his story of grief, anger, conflict, estrangement and resolution as family members struggle to deal with their loss.

Eliot’s abrupt death shatters the deceptive harmony of his family’s life. His twin brothers reaffirm their private bond, but each pursues a separate path out of the rage and confusion rising from the loss of their older brother. Eliot’s mother contends with a second family crisis that not only provides escape, but also helps her deal with the death of her son. His father remains lost in the present and tied to the past as he indulges in one-sided conversations with his dead son. Eliot’s narrative follows his family members as they emerge from tragedy and anticipate futures beyond their small town and their fragmented family.

Eliot alone remains above the game – a spectator, confined to Granite Harbor forever.

ABOVE THE GAME was shortlisted for the 2012 Faulkner Society Novel-In-Progress Award.

#11

TITLE: A NEW WAY TO DIE

GENRE: YA Mystery/Thriller

WORDCOUNT: 67,000

Seventeen-year-old Deech Rosselli works as a consultant for a video game developer in New York City. After finding the body of the owner’s fiancé, Deech is swept into the hunt for an extremely meticulous, imaginative killer who is emulating the action of the violent video game Deech has created and bringing his play out onto the street.

When Deech’s apartment is tossed while he’s in for questioning, he’s remanded into the custody of Jimmy Marrone, the somewhat older, tough-talking, no-nonsense detective assigned to finding the killer. Deech is a little hesitant to add his opinions about the case and the killer, until he discovers that Jimmy was left behind during the latest technology surge.

With the body count rising, they have to find out how the victims are selected before the killer strikes again. As the focus narrows in on the killer’s ability to access the victims, they find a clue tied to a series of earlier killings and once again brings them back to the game.

It’s all about the game.

A NEW WAY TO DIE is a 67,000 word YA Thriller that presents technology as a tool for the killer with the greatest imagination.

#12

TITLE: DRAGONFYRE

GENRE: YA FANTASY

WORDCOUNT: 89,000

I would like to present my YA Fantasy novel, DRAGONFYRE for your consideration.

At seventeen, Colin Coghill has experienced enough heartache and adventure to encompass two lifetimes. Having lost his father several years earlier and spending the last few years recovering great treasure while facing massive creatures as he sought retribution, Coghill’s new life as the youngest assistant lecturer at Magdalen College in Oxford, now remains mercifully quiet.

In 1910 England, Coghill finds himself in a setting that is perfect; teaching subject matter he loves, in a place he feels the most comfortable, surrounded by a rich tradition of both writing and magic. However the reprieve is short-lived as creatures of the Darkness crawl out onto the streets of Oxford searching for him. After a punishing battle that has put both students and faculty at risk, Coghill finally has to accept his role in a war that has been raging for the last two centuries.

Leaving Oxford, Coghill reunites with his best friend Seamus and together they look to band together the peoples of North Yorkshire in an effort to make a stand against the Darkness.

DRAGONFYRE is complete at 89,000-words.

#13

TITLE: The Victorious Dead

GENRE: SF/ Space Opera

WORDCOUNT (of ms) 111,000

Vaslisha Tor Dain is a mercenary starship captain with a few simple rules: A good ship is better than a great man; in case of confusion always err on the side of blowing someone’s head off; and never fall for a telepath or a member of her crew. All of these are about to bite her in the ass.

Vas’s life takes a turn for the worse when she comes back to her crew after what should have been a two week pleasure trip to find out she’s actually been gone a month and has no memory of missing time. Her beloved ship, The Victorious Dead, has been sold for scrap and its pieces scattered throughout the galaxy. Plus, there are mysterious, unmarked ships blowing apart entire planets and the Commonwealth government can’t, or won’t, stop them.

And that’s only the beginning of her problems.

Pitch Opp with Curiosity Quills on Saturday Aug. 24th!

Looks like the whole crew at Curiosity Quills will be here Sunday to check out the pitches!

Here’s a link to their website: http://curiosityquills.com/

This is what they are looking for: Curiosity Quills publishes sci-fi, speculative fiction, & paranormal works aimed at adults, young adults & new adults. We also publish graphic novels, suspense, mystery and fantasy novels. We don’t acquire “Romance”, although romantic themes are fine. And, yes, that means sex is fine, even super steamy sex, if it adds to the plot or a character’s growth.

And here is a little bit about them:

Acquisition Manager Andrew Buckley had the good fortune to grow up in England where the sense of humor is rather silly. In 1997 he moved to Canada because the thought of a country run entirely by beavers was amusing. He attended the Vancouver Film School’s Writing for Film and Television program where he graduated with excellence. Andrew now dwells happily in BC with 3 kids, 2 cats, 1 beautiful wife, and a multitude of voices that live comfortably in his head. Check out Andrew’s Wish List.

Moving often as a youth, Acquisition Editor James Wymore’s family finally settled in the desert paradise of Utah. He spent a couple years in Korea contemplating the balance of opposing forces. After learning chaos theory in college he found the ideal environment to continue his studies of the uncontrollable,and became a teacher. He earned a Master’s degree before departing from the academic path to seek the greater freedoms of fiction. In his dwindling free time, he draws a line of death themed comics called Parting Shots. Check out James’ Wish List.

After spending several of her formative years in a commune, Acquisition Editor Alison Nee Heller found herself in the metropolis of Chicago only to be thrust back into the bohemian lifestyle when she chose to attend high school on a farm. Upon graduation she was back in the city attending the University of Chicago.Since then she’s lived here, there, and everywhere, all east of the Mississippi. Currently she can be found in SW Ohio with her three kids, two dogs (one of whom thinks he’s a cat) and one cat (who thinks he’s a dog). Check out Alison’s Wish List.

Acquisition Editor Kathleen Kubasiak is living the dream life, surrounded 24/7 by her devoted fan club (aka: her children). She draws on her degrees in Education and Language Arts, as well as her Masters in Library and Information Sciences, in order to homeschool her children while exploring all the nation, and the world, has to offer, thanks to her husband’s career. Check out Kathleen’s Wish List.

Dori Cross, Acquisitions Editor, may have walked through a worm hole, or did she find a tessellation? Whatever it is, she’s been sworn to secrecy about her past by ancient Incan vampire gods wearing bolo ties and spats. When she’s not working on her computer reading fantasy submissions for CQP she can be found deep in the Peruvian jungles with her pet armadillo, Mopsy van Deederdorn, searching for a cure for her curse. Or maybe renewing it. Check out Dori’s Wish List.

Remember to wait until morning to submit your pitch! I’ll post the word GO around 10:00am EST.

Good Luck!!!

The Cruelty that is the Dreaded Synopsis

Song of the Day: Come Undone by Adrenaline Mob

This past week, I was forced, kicking and screaming, mind you, by my editor to write a synopsis on a book I had turned in to my publisher. And she wanted it within a few days. Now, call me naive, but I thought I would never, EVER have to write a synopsis again. I mean, I got away without writing one for the last two books.

I look exactly like this when I’m writing. Just sayin’.

You see, like every other sane—or insane, depending on how you look at it—I hate writing a synopsis. How, in the name of all the is good and holy, can one take a novel borne of blood, sweat, tears, alcohol, more tears, and untold hours upon hours of staring out the window, and condense it down to a measly hand full of pages? What devil is this? Haven’t we suffered enough?

Because I think synopsis should be avoided like a black plague, I have ignored all workshops and advice on crafting one. And I really didn’t have time to scour the internet for those *ahem* easy tips.

So I did what I always do. Fake it. Shh…don’t tell my editor.

A synopsis should be concise and tell the whole story in a nutshell. That means the romance comes full circle. The plot comes full circle. The mood, style, and voice should be apparent, too. Crazy. Absolutely, crazy.

As much as I hate to say it, it is possible.

I’m no expert. But this is how I do it. Chapter by chapter. No real secret, there. I read each chapter and jot down notes.

I make sure that I have the GMC (goal, motivation and conflict) for both the hero and heroine spelled out at the beginning of the synopsis in a way that is compelling. Since I write romance, I add in the romantic element, too. Can’t leave out the antagonist’s GMC. Gotta hit the key climaxes, the important stuff that drives the story forward, until it wraps up in a neat little irresistible bow at the end.

Once I have polished off a fifth of alcohol and summarized the 400+ pages down to 10, I get out the paring knife. No, I don’t commit hara-kiri, though the thought crosses my mind. I cut out non-essential words, remove the fluff, and trim action that can be reworded for efficiency.

Then I take another hard look, because, sheesh, I still need to edit out another 3 pages. It is here I whimper and decide what parts can be removed and still leave the overall story and romance arc untouched.

Eventually, I have a synopsis and the pain subsides. Yay, me!

How do you write a synopsis? What is your process? Got any *finger quotes* easy tips to share? Don’t be greedy. Let’s hear from you.

 

Link of the Week – Ninth Moon

Looking for book plates, stickers, booklets, note cards, graphics, and so much more to promote your books, series, or YOU? Check out the Ninth Moon. This is a great spot for all those little extras you might need to celebrate your masterpieces.  The promotional product and graphic designs come well recommended. I can see why. Check it out. Samples are available, as well as gift certificates (hint, hint).

http://www.ninthmoon.com/

For the on-line portfolio, click below.

http://laron3.wix.com/ninthmoonportfolio#!

Talk Back: Does Facebook make you an unhappy writer?

On my Kindle: Stay by Candi Wall

Talk Back – Tell us how you write!

There was a French research that came out not too long ago which showed that people who spent a lot of time on Facebook tended to be less happy and satisfied with their lives than people not using the social media site.

People tend to show only the best side of themselves on social media, and admit it, beside cat memes, there are a whole lot of pictures of exotic holidays, family graduations and other milestones, adorable babies and luscious meals from various eateries on people’s feed.

Seeing those constantly, made it seems as if our friends have these perfect glamorous and successful lives when ours is just, well, normal.

When it comes to writers, I wonder if the same is true. Seeing series of beautiful cover reveal, news of new contract sales, positive reviews and pictures of writers frolicking with cover model may seems to us as if all our writer friends are having this wonderful party of success to which we are not invited.

Personally, with almost 5000 friends, a big chunk of them writers, it can seems at time like that. While I toil away at writing my little chapter, Facebook makes it sound like everyone is having successes after successes with nothing but exciting news.

And seeing those statuses, I find, is both good and bad for my spirit. I noticed that when I limit my time on Facebook to a few minutes a day, seeing my friends happy news makes me happy and super motivated.

However, scrolling down for over an hour will see me frustrated that my career is stalling.

It’s all a question of balance.

What about you? Are you on Facebook? How do you react to gazillions happy news from all your friend? A tiny wee bit jealous? Frustrated? Or needed to keep you on track?

I’m curious, let me know!

Much love,

Marie-Claude xoxox

Location:Seattle

MuseTracks Guest – Vivi Dumas – Cover Reveal and Giveaway!

It is always so exciting to be a part of a cover reveal. And today, MuseTracks is honored to host Vivi Dumas and the next book, Stolen Innocence, in her Dueling with the Devil series. To celebrate, Vivi has brought us an excerpt, plus a chance to win a copy of the book. (The ARC of Stolen Innocence will not be available until September. But it will be worth the wait!)

Stolen Innocence:  Dueling with the Devil Book 3

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: VPG Publishing and Promotions, LLC

Publication Date: 10/4/13

Website: http://vividumas.com/stolen-innocence/

GoodReads: http://goo.gl/xMNuDN

Blurb:

They say ignorance is bliss, but when it comes to love and mating, Charity Lovell wished someone had schooled her on the ins and outs. She fell hard when she saw the beautiful face of the fair-haired demon as he lay broken in Lucifer’s dungeon. Her body ached for him. Her heart cried for him. This had to be her mate, right? Who else could make her trade her soul to the Devil to save someone she didn’t know? Someone should’ve told her love wasn’t quite as straight forward as that.

Damon lived an uncomplicated life, even as the alpha of the Lake Charles pack and the son of Lucifer. He should’ve taken a mate years ago, but held on to the hope of love. Only one female came close to making him believe he still had a chance for happiness. Yet, her heart belonged to someone else. Once again, the feeling is back, stronger than ever. And again, his female has pledged herself to another. Damn demons were ruining his love life. This time Damon plans to fight for what was his and win his rightful mate.

Excerpt:

Damballa eyed Lucifer suspiciously as the angel dusted off a boulder and gracefully lowered himself on the hard, burnt-orange surface. “What bring you to the slums of Purgatory?”

“Not many people still think of me as an angel. You’re showing your age, Damballa.” Lucifer’s smile gleamed in bright contrast to his ebony skin.

“You shouldn’t pry in other’s minds without their permission. Does age matter when you’re no longer amongst the living?”

“Valid point.”

“Again, why are you here?” Damballa demanded.

Lucifer inhaled a deep breath and sighed as he released it. His face displayed an Oscar winning expression of disappointment. “Everyone’s so impatient these days. All that television and those video games. Do you get those down here?”

Crossing his arms across his chest, Damballa stared at Lucifer without a response.

“I guess you want to know why I’m here.” Lucifer laughed at Damballa’s grunt of frustration. “I need your help.”

Damballa narrowed his eyes, tightening his arms in their locked position, closing himself off even more. “How can a lowly human priest banished to Purgatory help the Prince of Hell?”

“When you put it like that, it make me second guess my visit. But then again we both know the greatest Vodou priest who’s ever walked the Earth isn’t exactly a lowly human. Didn’t your followers even deem you a god?”

“You know I was stripped of my title and those followers turned on me with vengeance.”

“Some don’t appreciate those who think outside of the box. I, on the other hand, appreciate innovation, especially when it goes as far to the dark side as you delved.”

Damballa strolled over to the hollowed out cavern wall filled with books, pretending to study its contents. His hand trembled as he removed a book of spells from a shelf. Sorrow lingered in his heart when he thought of his demise. The darkness took everything he loved away from him and landed him in this fiery stone prison. Love was an unstable drug. No one could predict its side effects. For him, they were lethal.

“Regret and self-pity only lead one down the road to condemnation. They’re useless in seeking redemption. I know what you want. And I can get it for you.” Temptation slithered amongst Lucifer’s words.

A chuckle tickled Damballa’s throat. “There is nothing on Earth for me. I’ve glanced at the world a few times and they’ve turned it into a shithole. I’m not looking to go back to a place I no longer recognize.”

Pushing himself off his seat, Lucifer appeared beside Damballa. “You underestimate me. I mean I know what you really long for.”

Damballa faced the Prince. He raised a brow in question. “What is it you think that I want?”

“I can give her back to you. And I’ll throw in a bonus.”

“No. She has ascended,” Damballa spat.

Lucifer barked a laugh. “There’s no ascension for those who trade their soul to the Devil.”

“What do you mean? She made a deal with you?”

“Yep. I helped her people. She was really pissed at what you did. In exchange, I have her soul until I decide what I want to do with it.”

Grabbing Lucifer by the shoulders, Damballa shook the Devil. “You’re lying. She would never…she wouldn’t give herself to you.”

Lucifer shoved Damballa’s hands off his shoulders. “Your little lady was willing to offer herself to the highest bidder. Isn’t that why you killed her in the first place?”

Damballa struggled to keep from striking Lucifer.

“You’re not crazy. You know I could incinerate you right here. She wanted a life for her family. One not involving running around as wolves for the rest of their lives. A little blood signature on some parchment and we had a deal. I must admit the new E-sign makes brokering deals much easier.” Lucifer cracked a slow grin and chuckled to himself. “Anyway, I have her soul and the world got werewolves. Maybe not a full recovery, but a good compromise. Seemed like a fair trade at the time. Now, I’m offering to return her back to you. Slightly used needless to say, but who cares when it’s the love of your life.” The jagged edges of Lucifer’s teeth showed when he smiled fully.

Damballa’s heart and head raced with anticipation. “And what do I have to do to get her back?”

“Just a little magic.”

“What kind?”

“I need to manifest on Earth,” Lucifer answered casually as he picked imaginary dirt from under his finger nails.

Damballa choked at Lucifer’s words. “Do you know how much dark magic that requires? I don’t even know if I can harness enough energy to jump start the process. That requires a blood sacrifice.”

“Okay. Let me know what you need and I’ll order it.” With those last words, Lucifer disappeared.

A shiver whispered down Damballa’s spine. No matter what dark magic he practiced in the past or how badly he wanted Ariella back, unleashing Lucifer on Earth was a terrifying thought.

* * *

The female crouched in a ball in the corner of the cell, hugging her long legs tight to her chest. Her ankle-length, brown skirt billowed around her on the twin-sized bed. Her honey-colored hair hung in a thick braid, dangling over her shoulder, glistening like spun gold in the dim light. Every now and again, Charity found the woman staring at her with haunting green eyes threaded with ribbons of amber, giving them an iridescent quality. For three days they had sat in this godforsaken hole without a word. Charity debated on speaking to her. Usually talking was a no brainer, a natural affliction she wielded like a weapon. But the odd symbols and murmured chants freaked her out. She was in enough trouble without pissing off some crazy witch. Especially one trapped in Lucifer’s dungeon.

The clamor of keys caught Charity’s attention. A burly demon balanced two trays in one hand as he unlocked the cell door. He pushed the heavy titanium bars open, clipping the edge of the top tray against the doorframe. In slow motion, the plate toppled to the floor. Charity watched the slop they considered food splash in a multicolored mess on the ground and sighed in both frustration and relief.

“Looks like one of you will not be dining tonight,” The guard laughed.

The girl in the corner stayed silent, glancing longingly at the destroyed food. The demon haphazardly dropped the other tray on the edge of Charity’s bed. She flashed him her famous f-you smile before he slammed the cell door shut. Charity remained in her spot and listened to the click-clack of his boots echo down the hall. When the sound disappeared, she stood and picked up the gruel left on her bed. As fowl as the food looked and smelled, it was the first nourishment they had brought in three days.

Charity walked cautiously over to the stranger in the corner. “Hi. You look like you need this more than I do.” Piercing emerald eyes met Charity’s gaze. A familiar sadness glowed behind the brilliance of the girl’s stare. “Can I sit?”

The female unwound her long body and dangled her legs over the side of the tiny bed. As she sat up and light shone upon her face, Charity gasped at the female’s overwhelming beauty. Handing the girl the tray, Charity lowered to the edge of the mattress, close to the foot of the bed. Her cellmate shoveled the food into her mouth with her hands, filling her cheeks like a chipmunk. How long had it been since she ate?

“Wow. You were hungry. How long had it been since they fed you?” Charity had been here three days and this was the first sign of food she had witnessed.

The girl choked down the stuff in her mouth with a look of embarrassment. “Seven days,” she announced through the food left in her mouth.

“Seriously?”

The girl nodded affirmation.

Charity pressed her lips in a thin line. Heat rose from her stomach, spreading throughout her body and flushing her face. “They’re not going to fucking starve me to death. Lucifer said nothing about starving to death.” I really got to think through shit before I act on it. That boy better be worth it. He was fine as hell.

The girl stopped eating, tilted her head to the side and studied Charity. Swallowing the mystery meat she was chewing, the female asked, “You look familiar. Who’s your people?”

“I’m with the New Orleans pack. My name is Charity Lovell. What’s yours?” The girl choked on something. Charity thumped her back as she coughed up a piece of bread. “You okay?”

The female nodded in affirmation even though her face remained red. “Yes. It’s been a long time since I met someone from the New Orleans pack.”

“Oh. You know someone from the pack? Who?”

“I doubt anyone I know would still be earthbound.”

Charity raised a brow. “And what did you say your name was?”

“I didn’t, but it’s Ariella Lovell.”

It was Charity’s turn to freak out. Her throat tightened and her head swam. How did she end up in a cell with her great-great-great-grandmother who died in the seventeen hundreds? “You can’t be. She died a long time ago.”

“Darling, you’re in Hell. Why are you shocked to run into someone who no longer walks among the living?”

Sweat moistened the palms of Charity’s hands. She fought the urge to touch her to see if she was real. She had heard of Ariella’s beauty. Listened to the stories about how the pack came to be, but she assumed most of it to be folklore, stories the elders told to keep them in check. But they hadn’t exaggerated about her allure.

“How did you end up here?” Charity asked.

Ariella laughed harshly, without humor. “Bad choices. I guess I can ask you the same.”

“A guy.” Charity folded her legs under her and shrugged.

Amusement lit Ariella’s face as she smiled. “That’s the same as bad choices. I’m glad Lucifer held his end of my deal. Tell me about my pack. I’ve worried so much through the years that the Devil would renege on his promise. Does the curse still run through the females in the family?”

* * *

“I didn’t fucking ask her to serve herself up for me,” Laurent barked at the massive wolf sitting across from him. “I was passed the fuck out. Haven’t even spoken two words to her.”

Damon jumped out of his seat, catching the lunging wolf midair. “I think we all need to calm down.”

A feral growl escaped Ty, the Alpha of the New Orleans pack. He shoved Damon away from him. “This is your fault Boudreaux. You came to us for help. We trusted you. And you vouched for them.” The wolf jerked his thumb towards Laurent and his friends.

Laurent’s sister, Bell, stood with her hand on her hip, blue eyes ablaze. “That chick was off. She went all Twilight-Wolf on us. Like she imprinted on Laurent. I told everyone something was wrong with her.”

“We don’t imprint!” a pretty she-wolf growled from the back of the room.

Bell inhaled to begin another rant, but her brother cut her off.

“Bell, sit down and be quiet,” Laurent grumbled. Bell muttered something under her breath. “You’re not helping. Sit!” Laurent snapped.

Stepping in the middle of the eclectic crowd of supernaturals, Damon ran a hand through his hair and cleared his throat. “This is no one’s fault. Charity is an adult. She made a choice, albeit stupid, but one she made on her own. She believes Laurent is her mate. When we rescued him from Lucifer’s dungeon, she definitely had some kind of attraction to him. Wouldn’t leave his side. We can’t change any of that now. We have to work together to figure out how to get her back.”

“Why the hell would Lucifer trade Laurent’s life for hers?” Tact wasn’t Bell’s strong suit. This time her fiancé, Xavier, nudged her lightly, swinging the ice-blue glare in his direction. “What? It’s a valid question.”

The five members of the New Orleans pack looked at Ty, waiting for his response. Them and their damn secrets. Damon shook his head.

“She’s one of the few members left of our original lineage. Charity’s family is the reason there are werewolves. The females of her line are cursed with the inability to shift until they find their mates. It keeps their other powers dormant until they find the one they love.” Ty spoke in hushed tones as if Lucifer himself eavesdropped on their conversation.

The whole room remained silent, allowing the gravity of the revelation to settle. Damon paced the length of the purple flowered sofa. The small living room became more constricting. Jacque, a shifter demon and Xavier’s brother, rose from his chair. He strolled over to Damon and Ty.

“How did her family start a species?” Jacque questioned.

Ty rubbed the back of his neck. “Her great-great-great-grandmother was promised to Damballa, but she gave herself to another. As punishment, Damballa cursed us to turn to wolves. He was so enraged he killed Ariella and then offed himself. It’s told Ariella brokered a deal with Lucifer before she ascended to allow us to maintain our human form except on the full moon. Later we learned to adapt and shift when we needed. Afraid that one of the Lovell females would eventually be able to reverse the curse or become too powerful, Lucifer bound their powers until the found a mate, which only a few did. It’s like one of those fucked up Lifetime movies.”

“What kind of powers do Charity’s people have?” Laurent asked.

Ty shrugged. “We don’t really know. None of them has ever used them to my knowledge. That’s why it’s dormant until they mate. If or when they find the one they belong with, they focus on their partners and not their powers. Only one has left the Ward and might have accessed her powers. We’ve asked Red to come here today.”

“Who names their child Red? Is that like Apple or North?” Bell stopped laughing when Laurent shot her a menacing glare.

“It’s a nickname cause she loves the color red. Her real name’s Simone,” one of the females of the New Orleans pack corrected, rolling her eyes at Bell.

“Someone talking bout me?” A fine, leggy female in a painted-on red dress walked into the small room followed by two equally hot females. Red’s thick mahogany tresses fell around her face in long spirals. She crossed the room to Ty and kissed both his cheeks. The other two women repeated the gesture. “Look like y’all started the party without us. What’s all the commanding my presence about?”

Ty hesitated before answering. “It’s about Charity.”

The short honey-toned female crossed her arms. “What the fuck she do now?”

“Jade, don’t start,” Red chastised before turning back to the Alpha. “What she do, Ty?”

Ty laughed nervously. “It’s bad this time. She done turned herself over to Lucifer.”

“What the fuck, Ty? You’re supposed to keep an eye on her and call us when she gets out of hand,” The female in the wife-beater and ball cap fussed. Even with the boyish clothes, she couldn’t hide her pretty features.

“Look, that girl’s a handful. Dani, you know for yourself. How many times you had to go find her outside of our territory?” Ty aged as the conversation continued. Lines cut deeper in his face from worry and stress.

Damon interrupted to get the conversation back on tract. “Hi, ladies. We were trying to figure out why Charity would be important to Lucifer. Ty seem to think the females in your family has some powers that might attract Luc’s attention, but not sure what kind. Do you have any idea?”

Red scanned the faces in the room with a deliberative expression. She met the gaze of the two females who arrived with her. The one they called Dani nodded in encouragement. “We’ve not spoken of our powers to anyone outside our family. It has brought nothing but unhappiness to the women who have used it.”

Jade spoke up. “But you know that’s why he wants Charity.”  Red released a breath she was holding and plopped into an armchair, covering her face with her hands.

“How bad can it be? It’s a freaking power. We all have them,” Bell interjected.

Red lifted her head, her pretty face lined with worry. “We’re necromancers.”

The room went dead silent.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway. Follow the link below! And please leave a comment. Vivi would love to hear from you! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want more? Visit Vivi’s website for more from the Dueling the Devil series, including information on how to get your own copies!

Author Bio:

Although Vivi Dumas grew up an Army brat, she calls Louisiana home, but have endured the hot summers and cold winters of Maryland for the last 16 years. She is a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s University with an MBA in Finance and Marketing. Her analytical side has honed a career in the financial industry for almost twenty years. To balance her logical, numerical day job, she unleashes her creativity in her writing.

Vivi pens multicultural paranormal romance, mixing the two genres she loves. Her steamy paranormal romances indulge in worlds inhabited by demons, werewolves, vampires, and other supernatural beings. She has published works with Decadent Publishing, Ravenous Romance, and Breathless Press.

Website: www.vividumas.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/vivi_dumas

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vividumasfanhub

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vividumas/

Amazon: http://amzn.com/e/B0047LXKHI

MuseTracks Guest – Susanne Matthews – How Can You Do That? – Giveaway

MuseTracks welcomes back the prolific, witty, and intelligent (I’d bet she’s blushes about now) Susanne Matthews. She has a new release, a romantic suspense, IN PLAIN SIGHT coming August 12, 2013 from Crimson Romance. To celebrate, she giving away an e-book copy to one lucky person who leaves a comment. Please welcome, Susanne.

How Can You Do That?

I’ve sold five books to date—five books that I’ve written in the past twelve month period, and I have four others on the go. People keep asking “how can you do that?” Frankly, if you’d told me at this time last year that I’d do what I’ve done, I’d have said never! Not in a million years! In the words of James Bond, “Never say never.”

Why should it seem so surprising to me that I’ve managed this incredible feat? The ideas have been in my head for years, and I’m finally getting them down on paper. The truth is I spend between ten and twelve hours a day, six days a week, at the computer working on my craft, and I enjoy every single minute of it. It’s my full-time job, and if the dust bunnies threaten to take over the house, then, maybe I’ll take a day off to clean. Writing consumes me, but I haven’t neglected any of my other responsibilities—dinner might be late, but you’ll still get to eat.

When I sit at the computer to start my day, I enter a new world, one where the entire minutia of everyday life no longer exists. It’s a world I’ve created filled with people who are old friends, and whose actions and reactions never cease to amaze me. These people have lives that are as complex as I wish them to be, but in my worlds, good always triumphs over evil, and when I insert that final period, all is well with my world.

So where do the ideas get their start? I’d like to say that all of my ideas are born in my imagination, but the truth is, most of them come out of the everyday world we live in. The news is my first source of inspiration. Since I seem to be settling into the romantic suspense sub-genre, the news is full of interesting crimes. Unsolved arson cases provided the initial idea for my first novel, Fire Angel, and blood feuds and the mob provided the nascent idea for In Plain Sight. An article of psychosomatic illnesses completed the initial theme for that book.

The hardest part of writing each story is making the plot and the characters unique. The reader needs to be transported into a believable story, one where the characters are instantly attracted to one another, but have to surmount personal and external obstacles to get to the happy ending. Research is exhaustive so that the reading experience isn’t contrived. If I want a building to burn in such a way that no one immediately suspects arson, then I have to find a way to make that happen.  I had people ask me if Alexis and Jake, the characters in Fire Angel, would appear in another book. I toyed with the idea, and I’m pleased to say, they have a cameo appearance in In Plain Sight, that is crucial to the unraveling of the plot. Sometimes, you just need an expert to help you along the way.

About In Plain Sight

In life, you pay a price for everything you do. Widowed, her dream of starring on Broadway in ashes at her feet, Misty Starr yearns for a happy, healthy, normal life for herself and her four-year-old daughter, Debbie. Settled in Pine Falls, NY, a sleepy little town filled with friendly people, she believes she’s found it and feels safe enough to sing in an amateur theater revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. She’ll do anything to keep this life even if it is built on lies, because revealing her secret is impossible. When Nick Anthony joins the cast as music director, Misty is attracted to the man who stirs up feelings she thought long dead, but can love grow on a bed of deceit?

A former concert pianist and secret CIA courier, Nick lives in darkness ever since the accident that killed his wife. The doctors say there’s nothing wrong with his vision, so why can’t he see? Hiding from his former life, he reluctantly agrees to help with the musical and is drawn to the young singer with the voice of an angel. When a mysterious fire destroys her home, Nick vows to keep her and her daughter safe. After one suspicious event leads to another, Nick is determined to protect them from an unknown assassin, but in order to do that, he needs to know her secrets. With his money and connections, he’ll do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves, but does she love him enough to reveal the truth?

About the Author

Susanne Matthews grew up as an avid reader of all types of books, but always with a penchant for happily ever after romances. In her imagination, she travelled to foreign lands, past and present, and soared into the future. Today, she has made her dreams come true. A retired educator, she now gets to spend her time writing, so she can share her adventures with her readers. She loves the ins and outs of romance, and the complex journey it takes to get from the first word to the last period of a novel. As she writes, her characters take on a life of their own, and she shares their fears and agonies on the road to self-discovery and love.

Susanne lives in Cornwall, Ontario with her husband. She has three adult children and five grandchildren. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, chatting on the Internet with her writer friends, and hearing from her readers. You can learn more about Susanne and buy the e-book at http://www.mhsusannematthews.ca

Don’t forget to leave a comment. You could win a digital copy of IN PLAIN SIGHT.

Hump Day Kick Start – iPhone Edition

Song of the day: Closer to the Edge by 30 Seconds to Mars

Hump Day Kick Start – for your muse, a writing picture prompt, or just a visual treat.

 

Say cheese!

I’ve got all sorts of ideas in my head with this picture prompt. Who is our couple? Model and photographer?  Young lovers making their own movie? Maybe he’s just checking his Facebook status before getting busy.

Or could the scene be something more sinister? A jaded lover seeking revenge by videoing a cheater? Or maybe he is the one doing the cheating? Are they staging a kidnapping/blackmailing crime?

Could he be taking a picture for prosperity, so he will have proof when his buddies claim he’s lying about seducing the librarian/cocktail waitress/ college teacher/boss’s daughter/etc.

Wait…could someone be hiding in the closet?

Check out the details: her knowing (almost) smile, his hand on her knee, his focus that doesn’t seem too passionate. What do you make of it?

You know I want to hear your take on this prompt.