Jennifer Bray-Weber's Blog, page 83

Link of the Week – WiseStamp

Want a fancy signature line in your emails that can direct recipients to all your social media sites? How about your Amazon author site? Or your Goodreads page? Do you have a Myspace? Are you selling something on Ebay or Etsy and want a quick link on every email you send?

Check out WiseStamp

 

Talk Back: Do you edit your manuscript as you go?

On my Kindle: “Super Secret Contemporary Romance” by Candi Wall and “Super Secret Pirate Romance” by Jenn Bray Weber – I’m Beta reading!!!

Talk Back – Tell us how you write!

You tell me: should I edit as I go, or will I write the whole dirty first draft, then edit?

You see since I finished my last manuscript, I have now started a brand new one. Well not so brand new since it’s the sequel to the previous one. Anyhow, as I was finishing that last manuscript, I got back into editing mode which I usually hate and towards the end, I was almost liking it.

Hence my dilemma, if I just go straight back to writing, I won’t be editing for a good 3 months. I will hate it again. And there is a nice feeling to get to THE END with a nice complete novel instead of going up and down in happiness with each draft (I’m done!!!! – but I am really done??)

But when I write the whole first draft without editing, the story grows on me and when I go back to edit the first chapter, I have a better sense of my story and characters – great way to put those unfired guns when you know there will be a gunshots at the end.

So I don’t know. I am 10,000 words into this story and I’m still going back and forth with this. I’ve tried to edit a bit, but my heart is not into it.

So what do you do? Are you consistent in your method or does it change with each project?

And by the way, if you need a little help with plotting, NYTimes bestselling author Bob Mayer was kind enough a couple of weeks ago to share his whole method on how he sets up conflict in his plots. Check it out – you’ll learn a lot!

Much love,

Marie-Claude xoxox

Location:Seattle

MuseTracks Guest – Susanne Matthews – A Dream Come True – Giveaway!

Romantic Suspense author Susanne Matthews joins MuseTracks today to talk about dreams and her debut release FIRE ANGEL. How exciting! Please help us welcome and congratulate her. Comment and you could win an e-copy of  Fire Angel!

Take it away, Susanne.

Blog: A Dream Come True

LOCAL AUTHOR PUBLISHES ROMANCE! All of us who aspire to be published authors dream of seeing such a headline on the entertainment page of our local newspapers.

Have you ever tried to imagine how you would feel if that were the headline in your local paper and you were the author?

For years I said that someday I would write a book and have it published, but deep in my heart, I’m not sure I ever believed it would really happen. It’s like saying I’m going to win the lottery, but how many really do? Now that Fire Angel has been released, I’m stunned. I did it! I thought I would be proud and excited, and while those emotions are certainly present, there is also awe and fear. It’s real now, not a dream, and it scares me to death. Where do I go from here?

What awes me is the thought that out of all of the wonderful manuscripts out there submitted to editors every day, Jennifer Lawler, the publishing editor at Crimson Romance chose mine. The feeling is akin to giving birth to a child and looking at that tiny life and saying, “Did I do that?” You know you’re not the only person to ever accomplish such a thing, but what you have created is yours, unlike any other, and you’re amazed. The love and pride are overwhelming, but there’s that unbelievable “wow” factor that has to be acknowledged, as well as the fear of letting it go.

From the moment the idea came to me, I hoped that Fire Angel would be a winner. When Jennifer requested a full from the Twitter pitch, I was excited, but I expected a rejection – it was the first time that I had ever submitted it to a publisher – no one sells the first time, right? And I didn’t! I got a revise and resubmit letter, with directions as to what revisions were needed. I did as she asked and three weeks later, I signed a contract for the book. Amazing!

An avid reader, I’m a ‘happily ever after’ junkie, but one who thrives on characters overcoming personal adversity as well as defeating an antagonist with good always coming out on top. I’m not a fan of reality television; there is more than enough reality for me in the nightly news. There is a lot of ugliness in our world, and whether we like it or not, in real life, the good guy doesn’t always win.

As an author, I can create a story based on the ugliness out there, but suspend to allow the romance and ‘happily ever after’ of fairy tales to occur. Fire Angel is my creation, my attempt to take the reality out there and turn it into something I hope you will enjoy. Where do I go from here? Only my muse knows for sure; in the meantime, I’ll keep following where she leads me and hope to repeat my success.

About Fire Angel

A malicious serial killer is out for revenge, and he doesn’t care how many people have to die before he gets it. Using fire as a weapon, he strikes at random, and the bodies are piling up, leaving the citizens of Paradise wondering who is next.

Betrayed by the one closest to him, criminal profiler Jake McKenzie has returned from Afghanistan minus a leg and afraid to trust his instincts. When the police chief asks for his expertise in identifying the killer, he agrees knowing this is his chance to prove he can still do the job.

Sixteen years ago, fiercely independent Alexis Michaels escaped an abusive uncle and a deadly fire, to become one of the country’s top fire and arson investigators.  She reluctantly accepts the assignment and returns home to lead the hunt for the killer, knowing she will have to confront the memories she has repressed all these years. Her uncanny ability to put herself in the arsonist’s place is the skill they need to find this maniac. 

When Jake discovers that his new partner is the girl who has haunted his dreams all these years, he finds himself enthralled, but memories of his dead wife make him doubt his emotions. Alexis has few pleasant memories of Paradise, but Jake is one of them. Undeniably drawn to him, she longs for a deeper relationship, but won’t compete with a ghost.

Until they catch the killer, they must set aside their conflicted emotions and work together. The clock is ticking, and the killer has made it clear: Alexis is next. 

Excerpt from Fire Angel

Somewhat stung by his disbelieving tone, Alexis pushed away from him and stood.

“That’s the reason I’m here, isn’t it? Because I can do what no one else can?”

The pleasant feeling that had existed between them vanished. He wasn’t the first to be doubtful of her abilities. Why was it that people always mistrusted what they didn’t understand?

Jake stood and called Maya to follow him.

“You’re right; I don’t know enough about what you do to be skeptical. It’s late and it’s been a long day for both of us. Since you’re hell-bent on being independent, I’ll meet you at the station in the morning. You have GPS in your car; set the address; it’s not hard to find. We can show your note to the chief and have it tested while you look at the evidence.”

She stood to walk him to the door. Before she could hand him his jacket, he put out his hand to stop her.

“Alexis, don’t get me wrong, I’m really glad we have this opportunity to reconnect, but I have to ask—why are you here? Why did you take this case? The more I think about this maniac, the more I realize what danger you were in on the highway with that monster out there with you, and I don’t mean the moose. Even this cabin might have been a bad choice.”

He reached for her and held her shoulders, forcing her to look up at him. “When you left, I was angry at your uncle because he wouldn’t look for you. I’ve searched on and off for years. I’m good at my job, but Alexis Pruett had vanished. You obliterated all traces of yourself. Some of us cared about you, and you hung us all out to dry.” He let go of her and ran his hands through his hair, something he seemed to do when he was frustrated or confused.

“I need to know; why now? Until today, I didn’t even know that you were still alive! It was my idea to send for you, based on the article in the paper about the way you brought the mob to its knees, but if I’d known it was you, I’m not sure what I would have done. I know that you’re good at your job, but surely there are others who are equally skilled. You do realize that he still lives in town?”

Alexis stood away from him and raised her chin defiantly. This was why she chose to stay alone. Men! Why did they assume they knew everything? That they could fix everything? He had no right to question her. She’d done what she’d done to survive!

As far as the job went, he’d asked for the best and that’s what he’d gotten. That hair-trigger anger of hers, the one she tried so hard to keep under control, flared. She glared at him, her hands on her hips, so incensed that she trembled in her fury.

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 traveled 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 www.mhsusannematthews.ca

Don’t forget to comment for your chance to win an e-copy of FIRE ANGEL!
Thanks for sharing your experience and your debut book release with us, Susanne. Congratulations and may you find success!

Hump Day Kick Start – Dressing Room Edition

Song of the Day: Otherside by Red Hot Chili Peppers

I’m sure y’all won’t mind my posting another Hump Day Kick Start. My weeks have been crazy and I suspect they will continue for a little while longer. Life on the outside (AKA my ‘real’ life) has taken priorities. And so, we will all soldier through another picture prompt.

What’s going on in this picture? Who are they? Is she his personal shopper?  Is he the latest model for her line of men’s clothing and she’s inspecting the goods that will show off her hard work? I say hire him!

Instead of taking his shirt off—because, really, that’s what we want, right?—maybe he’s dressing. Or changing. Could he have gone in for a kiss only to startle her into spilling her red wine down his chest?

Perhaps he’s auditioning…

You tell me. I’d love to hear your take.

Link of the Week – Shameless Promotion and Giveaway!

Forgive me, but I’m doing a little something different for Link of the Week today. I’m up for the prestigious RONE award and need your help.

There are three rounds to the contest. First, an author’s book has to have had a 4 star or better review from the InD’tale magazine. The second round of the contest is up to the readers. Readers get to vote for their favorite books. In the third round, the book goes to a professional industry judge.

My title A KISS IN THE WIND is in the middle of its voting period, which is only one week long. – WEEK #2 HISTORICAL POST MEDIEVAL.

Please, please, if you are so inclined, follow the link and vote. The only kicker is that you must register to vote, but it is quick and painless. Promise. But you should have already done that, right? As InD’tale was my link of the week not too long ago.

Here’s link. I’ll love you forever.

http://www.indtale.com/2012-rone-awards

And while we are at it, starting tomorrow, I AM RUNNING A MONTHLY CONTEST. All you have to do to be eligible is sign up for my newsletter on my website. That’s it! I only send out a newsletter 2-4 times a year, so you’ll receive no clutter from me. For the month of May, I’m giving away a $10 Amazon gift card.

http://www.jbrayweber.com/contact.html

I’ll return to your regularly scheduled Link of the Week next Tuesday. I’ve got more wonderful sites to share with you.

Thanks in advance for participating.

Another awesome guest agent for pitch day! Becky Vinter!

Wow! Where did April go? Since I’m posting on a monday instead of Sat or Sun, I guess I’m really behind. Ruh Ro Raggy.

Between work, kids and plugging away at my next novel, this month has almost disappeared, and I have no idea what I accomplished… Doh.

Anyway! I have good news! LOTS of good news.

I’m going to be a GRANDMOTHER! EEEEEEP! I’m only forty! But, with kids at 21, 17, 12, and 9, I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later.

   Soooooooooooooooooooo excited!

AND – I’m going to be a GREAT AUNT too! Holy smokes! What a year 2013 is turning out to be!

AND – I’ll have a new book out in a month, and STAY will be releasing from Samhain on August 6th!

AND – I’m doing a month long blog tour to promote Agent/Editor Shop at Musetracks! If you’d like to host me, contact me at dancillaw @ yahoo dot com.

AND – Pitch day at Musetracks is MAY 18th. We have the awesome Becky Vinter with Fine Print Literary as our guest agent! Get ready to pitch, and if you haven’t, join our Yahoo group for updates so you won’t miss out on any of our upcoming Agent/Editor Shops!

Here’s the link:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EditorAgentShop/

Happy reading and writing everyone.

~Candi

Hump Day Kick Start – Taking a Breather Edition

Song of the Day – Fly From the Inside by Shinedown

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

I’ve been super busy this week. So busy, I really could use a break. Kinda like the sexy piece of, er, I mean, today’s prompt.

So who is our guy? Where is he? Is he a mechanic who scooted on his butt to hard?  Maybe he’s a rolling stone resting up for another leg.   With those dark glasses, it’s hard to tell if his eyes are closed or if he’s looking at someone or something. Is he the contractor caught  taking a ‘breather’ by the beautiful homeowner? Could he be a law enforcement agent on assignment just thrown to the ground by his sexy partner after he inadvertently insulted by questioning her ability to kick ass with manicured fingernails? Maybe he’s getting up from a roll in the hay with farmer’s daughter.

Let’s hear your take. Love to hear from you.

Link of the Week – Yasiv

This weeks link is just a fun, visual recommendation of Amazon products, including books.  Yasiv works much like the “Customers who bought (insert product) also bought (insert product). The neat thing about this is it shows a network of how like products, or in our case, books are linked.

Check it out. Insert a book title and watch it build a picture based on sales. Click on any book cover in the web and a product description appears to the side, complete with a link to buy. How freakin’ cool is that?

http://www.yasiv.com

Enjoy!

MuseTracks Guest – Selena Laurence

Contemporary romance author and dog-lover, Selena Laurence, is celebrating her debut release of Love, Lies, and British Spies with Crimson Romance out TODAY.  She’s sharing her release day with us, and she’s brought an excerpt.

Welcome, Selena!

*****

Snow. As I write this, it is EVERYWHERE! At least everywhere that I am. Yes, snow in April. Buckets of it, barrels of it, about two feet of it right outside my backdoor.

Which is why it’s a good thing that I’m a Romance writer. Because if I’ve ever needed to get away from it all, now would be the time. That’s one of the reasons I love Romance novels so much, and also why I write them – to Escape the Everyday.

When I write a book, I want it to distract you, entertain you, help you forget about the taxes and the kids and the guy next door who is standing in the front yard right now in his underwear (just take my word for it). A Romance novel is the ultimate escapism and that’s just fine. Not everything has to be serious or contribute to discussions on world politics. Some things are just for fun, like LOVE, LIES, AND BRITISH SPIES. It’s my first book, and it’s for the fun of it. A spy who’s sexy, a heroine who’s spunky, evil terrorists who aren’t really all that evil, and some awesome settings. Grab it for your next plane ride or transit commute, or while you’re sitting around waiting for soccer practice to be over. It won’t alter the course of global warming, but it’ll warm you up on the inside, and sometimes that’s just as important.

Book Blurb: LOVE, LIES, AND BRITISH SPIES

After an engagement gone terribly awry, American interior designer Eva Anderson has finally met the man of her dreams. Handsome, charming Owen Martin is one of London’s most talented musicians, and he’s head over heels for Eva to boot. They fall in love, get married, and go on a fabulous honeymoon to Paris.

But Owen forgot to tell Eva one little detail: he’s actually a top secret British spy . . . oh, and there are more than a few women in his past. Unfortunately for Eva, one of those women is the beloved younger sister of Middle Eastern terrorist Hassam Khalil. Hassam wants nothing more than revenge on Owen for defiling his sister, so he kidnaps Eva.

Owen rushes to the catacombs of Paris to rescue his new bride only to discover that she’s learned all of his worst secrets and wants nothing more to do with him. From the teashops of London to the cafes of Paris and the ports of Alexandria, Owen and Eva encounter terrorists run amok, friends with the best of intentions, guns, fangirls, and espionage galore. But, will love ever be enough to overcome the lies of this British spy?

LOVE, LIES, AND BRITISH SPIES Excerpt:

Sometime later, Eva found herself ensconced yet again in the large hotel bed, as Owen licked the last of the champagne off of her torso.

“Honey, I appreciate all of your efforts, but no matter how much you lick I’m still going to have to shower, I’m sticky from head to toe,” she said.

“I hate to break it to you love, but I’m not the least bit concerned about how sticky you might be,” he looked up at her grinning. “I just like the licking part.”

Eva rolled her eyes and went back to reading the newspaper she’d picked up from the nightstand. Owen batted the offending newsprint out of his way as he settled on Eva’s left breast. “Owen! I’m trying to read this article about the palace of Sheik Abdabayah. You should hear about this place, it’s incredible. The draperies alone must be worth in the millions of dollars.”

“And are undoubtedly used to wrap all those AK-47s he’s been shipping to Afghanistan,” Owen muttered as he buried his face in Eva’s neck.

“What did you say?” she asked. “It doesn’t say anything about him shipping guns in here. In fact, it says that he’s a member of the Saudi royal family and one of their most respected philanthropists. Last year alone he donated over fifty million dollars to Saudi hospitals and schools.”

Owen looked up sharply for just a moment, and said, “I’m sure you’re right, I must be remembering someone else. I think I read an article yesterday and it was about some Middle Eastern arms dealer, all of those names sound the same to me.”

“Maybe we should at least try to learn something about foreign affairs,” Eva replied. “Oh, let’s not,” Owen said, finally getting out of bed and heading toward the

bathroom. “Foreign affairs are more trouble than they’re worth.”

Want more?

http://amzn.com/B00C9KNYWA

Selena’s Bio:

Selena Laurence is a wife, and a mom, and a generally all-around nice person who woke up one day and realized that a) life wasn’t getting any longer, and b) the only thing she really liked to do was write and read Romance fiction. It was a lifelong tendency that started with books like PRIDE AND PREJUDICE when she was a teen, and continued in college when she would sit in the library and read Harlequins instead of studying for finals (OK, that part wasn’t terribly smart). Over the years she filled her need for romance by getting married (Mr. Laurence has a romantic streak hidden in there somewhere), watching soap operas, and dreaming about all sorts of improbable stories.

Finally, she gave in to her obsession, sat down (many times) at the local coffee shop, and wrote a book. The book was terrible, and she put it away, never to be seen again – seriously, never again. Then, she saw a special call for stories related to Greek Myths. She got an idea, found critique partners, and started all over again. She didn’t make the deadline for the special call, but she did end up with LOVE, LIES, AND BRITISH SPIES. Now, she is hard at work on her next novel and has fallen in love with her new career, although her family says she loves the dog more than anything else.

And speaking of the dog, Selena and her Goldendoodle live with two kids and Mr. Laurence in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. They all spend a lot of time driving to soccer games and gymnastics meets. There are also two more kids in the family who got big, moved away to college, and wreak havoc on other parts of the state. They think they visit too much, Selena thinks they don’t visit enough. Contact her at: http://www.selenalaurence.com

Connect with Selena:

www.selenalaurence.com

Twitter: @SelenaLaurence

FB: SelenaLaurenceRomanceAuthor

Thank you for being a guest here at MuseTracks, Selena. Congratulations on your debut release!

Editor Shopping day at Musetracks. Welcome Debby Gilbert with Soul Mate Publishing!

It’s Agent Shopping day! Welcome Debby Gilbert!

Good morning everyone!

Welcome to shopping day at Editor Shop.

As always, I’ll start with the stats, winners, and my thoughts on this ‘Shop’, and then we’ll get to the pitches.

Pitches received: 22

Pitches accepted: 18

Pitches rejected: 4

• 3 – Too long

• 1 – Missing info

Not bad, and not great. I’m only posting 18 out of a potential 30 pitch slots for an editor! Where was everyone this weekend?

ON TO OUR WINNERS ARE!

• The ARC of STAY goes to: Tracy James Jones

• The three $10.00 giftcards go to: GirlDrankDrunk, Gina Danna, and Katie Teller

• The Top Pitch Slot goes to: SECOND THOUGHTS

Please contact me at candi-agent-shop @ yahoo .com to claim your prizes!!!

Congratulations to our winners and to those who made it into this pitch session. Good luck!

Welcome Debby! Thanks so much for taking the time to come and visit with us. I hope you find something you like. If you do, simply e-mail me the pitch number, title and what you’d like to see from the author. Also, if you’d include how you’d like them to send it, that would be helpful. Please send them to dancillaw at yahoo.com

Happy shopping and thanks for spotlighting Rescuing Lacey! It’s now officially on my TBR pile. I. Can’t. Wait.

Here are the pitches!

~Candi

TOP PITCH SLOT WINNER

Second Thoughts

Women’s Fiction

11,000 words

What would you do if the past you thought you left behind suddenly paid you a visit? What would you do if the child you thought was gone from you forever suddenly showed up on your doorstep one day? This is the dilemma that faces Sadie Foster when she opens her door one morning and literally trips over the daughter she gave birth to when she was just a child herself – the child her parents ripped from her arms to give away to someone else.

Now Sadie is left to confront her past – and the moody teenager on her doorstep – and reconcile, with herself at least, what happened all those years ago. But the past couldn’t have returned to test her at a worst time, for Sadie is in the middle of an estrangement with her husband, Patrick – an estrangement brought on by her reticence about starting the family he so desperately wants. What will happen to their relationship when Patrick discovers that she already has a child? A child she had with someone else. Will he have Second Thoughts about a reconciliation with Sadie?

***

#2

Souls Entwined

YA Paranormal,Coming-of-Age with Romantic Elements

57,000 words

Sixteen-year-old Rachel Wells’ world is turned upside-down when her friend Billy links his mind to hers. Through telepathy and astral travel, he takes her in and out of the spirit world, develops her trust and awakens her desire for more spiritual adventure. It all feels so natural; their souls are connected, entwined.

Rachel hears spirits, and delivers messages from the dead. Billy taps into the minds of the living. Together with a teenage shaman, a healer, and a witch, they form ‘The Psychic Circle’ to secretly explore the paranormal.

When BFF Melody’s jealousy of Rachel’s chemistry with Billy is coupled with her obsession for black magic, it becomes a lethal combination. Melody attacks Billy during meditation, robbing him of his free will. Romance blossoms between Rachel and Billy as they dabble in psychic experimentation, helping to break the karmic ties with Melody, while the circle opens the door to dangerous entities that they don’t know how to handle.

Torn between forgiving her best friend who’s betrayed her, and protecting her possible soul mate, Rachel’s choice will determine the direction her life takes and the sacrifices she makes – either loosing Melody or ruining her chance to find love.

***

#3

Missing

Romantic Suspense

82,000 words

When Liah Henley’s daughter is kidnapped, she’s forced to work with the grumpy detective assigned to her daughter’s case. His callous disregard is easy to handle, but the sparks that fly when he touches her are anything but.

Detective Brian Lane hates his job. He hadn’t always, but the blundering idiots running the department have broken his beliefs his grandfather and father passed along to him. Liah’s daughter’s case rejuvenates the embers of the spark that once carried him through each case, but it’s the mother that strikes the cords of humanity buried deep in his scarred heart.

***

#4

Guitar God

YA—Contemporary Fantasy

195,000 Words

Polly’s moment had finally arrived, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Barely a teenager, Polly had reluctantly accepted the role of human guardian of the Green. Now, about to begin college and leave her hometown and all the weirdness behind, fate calls her, except to save the Green she must defeat Isaac, the boy she loves.

Isaac was the kid nobody liked until a mysterious faerie granted him his greatest wish. Now bestowed with incredible musical prowess, Isaac is loved and admired by all. But there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Polly is the only one who can save Isaac’s soul, but her first responsibility is to the Green. Can Polly save the Green and save Isaac as well?

Guitar God is a Jewish, suburban rock and roll fantasy with a 1970s soundtrack. It’s urban fantasy in the suburbs. It’s War For The Oaks meets Portnoy’s Complaint. It’s crossover YA for teens and their parents. It’s a world where the faerie folk walk among us, but we don’t know it. It’s about the magical places where we grew up. Maybe we knew about them or maybe we walked by them every day without even noticing.

***

#5

“Secrets & Lies,”

Interracial/Multicultural Romantic Drama

60,000 words

“Sometimes a need for keeping secrets can be just as intriguing as a reason for telling lies…”

Logline: A secretly engaged young bank executive has one last fling with a sexy, smart younger woman, who turns out to be the best friend of his fiancée’s daughter. This is a story about real life, real love, and real drama.

Synopsis: “Secrets & Lies,” is a provocative, character-driven, emotional journey into the private lives of four central characters and their desperate struggles to survive in the shadows of life-altering secrets and lies. At the heart of the story is a beautiful transgender woman with a connection to everyone, who questions her personal worth as she fights to keep the life and love she has always wanted. Even the elements of true confessions get lost in translation as the details of who these people really are brings them together in a surprising, yet necessary finale that could change their lives forever…

***

#6

Before I Was

Erotic Romance

67,000 words

Emily was married for fifteen years. In that time, she had about a 2% real orgasm rate during her tenure, and most of those were by the BOB.

With an ex-husband, who left her for a younger version, still chasing her skirts, she’s about to embark on the ride of a lifetime in search of the perfect package. A man who can kiss, tantalize and screw the way he says he can.

Finding him, now that’s the real fun.

***

#7

Misty With A Chance Of Shooting Stars

Young Adult

70,000 words

Misty Blake is a girl with big dreams, but her friends are more interested in the catching the newest teen heartthrob or the next episode of Jersey Shore than school or what to do after graduation. She has a plan, win a once in a lifetime college scholarship and get out of this small town before she ends up pushing fries out of a drive-thru. The only thing standing in her way is passing the dissection part of Biology.

Eddie Godwin is what most cool kids consider a nerd. He and his friends are in advanced classes, collect comics, and love online gaming. When a pretty girl with a reputation for being a brainless flirt asks for his help to pass an assignment she already calls stupid he has his doubts.

While Misty does her best to show Eddie she is serious, Eddie finds her reputation is just a front to fit in with her friends.

If the TV show Big Bang Theory collided with the movie Can’t Buy Me Love, you would end up with the cute story called Misty With A Chance of Shooting Stars.

***

#8

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.

***

#9

Loving Emmalyne

Erotic romance

37,000 words

Growing up in a royal castle beside her cousin, the future king, young Emmalyne believed she’d have a perfect life. Well, perfect if she could only catch the eye of the wizard who would serve her cousin when he took the throne.

Several years away from the castle, she returns as a beautiful young woman and does just that. The wizard, Donovan, falls hard and fast now that she’s no longer the child he remembers.

However, their perfect life is snatched from them when the vampire who has slaughtered all of Donovan’s family arrives and takes Emmalyne’s life as well. Only he doesn’t kill her, he changes her and keeps her for himself. Fifty years later, Donovan learns she is not dead-but is one of the monsters he hates and has devoted his life to ending. Is the love they shared strong long ago enough to overcome his hatred and her doubts. He has only one day to find out.

***

#10

Where the Wild Things Ride

Romantic suspense

82,000 words

Creole Daniels has crazy ass parents, crazy ass siblings, crazy ass relatives all the way around. But they’re harmless. She’s been their watchdog, their source of right and wrong from the time she was two. Sometimes she swears she was adopted.

When three of her crazy relatives are framed for a crime they didn’t commit, Creole sheds her not-at-all-crazy-ass and partners with a detective who might as well be one of her family.

***

#11

Chasing Jasmine and Butterflies

Erotic fantasy

110,000 words

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.

***

#12

Slice of Betrayal

Romantic Suspense

100,000 words

Caleb Hartson, is a successful businessman and philanthropist but with a not so upstanding reputation. Whether deserved or undeserved depends on the person sitting in judgment. Policeman Nathan Flannery only sees an unrepentant criminal. The fact his father, also a policeman, was inadvertently killed while trying to arrest

Caleb as a juvenile taints his conclusion. He will stop at nothing to see Caleb’s empire fall in ruin.

When his estranged sister, actress Jayne Colliaire, is set to film inside one of Caleb’s businesses he pretends to reconcile with her to use her to get close to Caleb and find out about his illegal dealings. Jayne finds Caleb desirable and irresistible, yet wants to believe the horrible things her brother tells her about the handsome man.

Caleb knows there is a traitor close to him, but is it the woman he is falling deeply in love with or someone else dear to him? To find out, he sets a trap that will leave one person he loves in danger but only time will tell who is revealing his secrets to the cop.

***

#13

Sin On The Strip

Romantic suspense

100,000 words

Sin on the Strip is a romantic suspense about Maggie Anderson, a televangelist’s daughter and street counselor. Years earlier a violent near miss with a human trafficker destroyed Maggie’s confidence forcing her to use her strip club as a means to reach women in need. When a serial killer kidnaps her friend, Maggie must finally face her old demons and runs to the rescue, hoping to God this time she’ll do whatever is needed to defend herself.

Search and rescue investigator, Christian Beck has been on too many ‘damsel in distress’ missions to stomach another one. But when his latest assignment leads him to a reckless club manager determined to put herself in danger, professional distance no longer seems to be his motto. As the serial killer sets his sights on Maggie, Beck can’t risk losing her to the same psycho he believes killed his kid sister, twenty years earlier.

Maggie and Christian discover that on the strip, sin is a relative term and to have a future they must conquer their pasts.

***

#14

Branded

NA Romantic Suspense

95,000 words

Sydney is invaded. Allison King barely escapes her brother’s wedding reception alive. She and her siblings flee into the bush, but watch as their parents are killed by firing squad.

Ali is captured while searching for other survivors by the General, who led the invasion. When she refuses to submit to his whims, he brands her for death. In a wild act of defiance, she snatches the branding rod and sears the mark onto his face. She is taken out to join the rest of the captives in front of the firing squad. But she escapes, barely, and flees back into the bush.

She finds a group in hiding who nurse her back to health physically and emotionally. While among them, she falls in love with the young man who found her – Damien Rogers.

But the General is hunting her. When he discovers their location, and finds her with another man, his wrath is kindled and his obsession is inflamed. Allison discovers that his hunt for her may break her and Damien. She must put herself on the line or the General could kill her family, those who help her flee, and most significantly, the man she loves.

***

#15

The Lady in the Mist, The Western Werewolf Legend #1

Romance

44K 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 wolf. Her fate as a werewolf is sealed. When she stumbles upon Ty Loflin, a Rebel solider 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?

***

#16

Comanche Haven

Romance/Western Romance

106k 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.

***

#17

Loving: A Man I Can’t Have

Contemporary Romance

50,000 words

“Trace was the man of Katie’s dreams. She was the woman he never expected to meet. There’s just three people standing in there way. When these two get tangled up in each others lives, they might just break a lot of hearts.”

***

#18

When We Met Again

Contemporary Romance

91,000 words

Abigail Parson’s has everything she could want. Money, power, a booming family grown business. But what she wants most, is a child. And that she can’t have. It’s why her fiancé left her. It’s why she feels like less of a woman.

But Andy is an old fling. The one that got away. And when she runs into him at an important, high society fundraiser she’s running, he takes her back to the old days when life was simple and all that mattered was what she felt when she was in his arms.

But a madman is in the house. Determined to kill the man scheduled to appear at the fundraiser, this assassin kills without prejudice, and it’s up to Andy to protect his client and the women he’s spent years trying to forget.