Melissa Snark's Blog: The Snarkology, page 108

Guest Blogger: How To ‘Write What You Know’ for Urban FANTASY by Renee Charles

As authors, we are told to be successful we must write what we know. But how does that work for an author of Paranormal Romance or Urban Fantasy? If authors only wrote what they knew, we would have very few genres out there to read. 
How many of us have been to Narnia or The Push for that matter? Don’t get me wrong. There is something to be said about cutting your teeth on the familiar. (Just ask my dog and my slippers.) But what if we writers went another route? Another philosophy? What if we went in with the intention to get to know what we are writing about? After all, at some point it becomes necessary to branch out past our experiences to create worlds beyond our own existence. Otherwise how would Oz, Wonderland, or Frankenstein have been created? 
So how do you write the unfamiliar with authority? How do you bring authenticity to what you make up?
In a word, Adventure.
We’ve all heard the story of the fateful night Mary Shelley and several others created their monsters in a macabre challenge born of wine, boredom and conversation; conversations about the work of Erasmus Darwin, which reportedly led to her dream and then later, her novel. But, did you know Mary Shelly crept around graveyards at night? Yep, typical teen, snuck out at night to meet her future husband at her mother’s gravesite once he and her father had a falling out over a business matter. (Well maybe not so typical. I didn’t meet my boyfriends in a graveyard.) 

Adventures supply real experiences, which we can draw from when describing the worlds we make up.
For example while writing my new romance novel, Only Love Survives, I shot an automatic rifle called an Hp45. Now, I did not shoot a Zombie or a person in any way shape or form, of course. (I know, quit saying ‘duh’, and follow me a minute.) But how would I know how to describe the weight and recoil of the weapon if I had not experienced it? Using a weapon allowed me to incorporate all five senses into writing the scenes. To me that is not writing what I know, but getting to know what I am writing about. Oh and btw, after seeing what it did to a watermelon, it was easy to envision what such a weapon would do to a Zombie. 
How can you write about the ocean if you have never tasted the salt air?
Each author has a different process. I can only share mine. But your writing will be enriched if you seek out ways to explore the world you’re writing about, even the made up ones. If you are writing about a faraway desert that rivals the Sahara, by all means don’t be afraid to write it just because you have not been there. But do take a trip to a beach on a sunny day, otherwise you might miss what it’s like to burn your feet on hot sand.  
Not all genres have the luxury of writing what you know, but don’t let it stop you. Seek new experiences to draw from, and your writing will remain fresh as well as realistic.
About the author:
Author, Renee Charles believes all love is legendary. Being the only female in a house full of giants (husband and two teenage boys) she tends to lean toward the strange and unusual, but inevitably the softer side shines through.

Whether life leads her to a snow covered mountain top, sun dappled forest, or the bottom of a ravine (yes, ditches happen) she always has a pen and note pad ready so wherever the next adventure takes her, she can take notes.

Her own romance began in an insane asylum. Luckily, both she and her husband only worked there. But it makes sense her romance novels have strange beginnings that lead to passionate endings. Romance with a twist.

In the face of zombies, werewolves, and big foot she always seems to find a happily ever after to leave you with a sigh at the end.

Find Renee Charles at: Website Blog Facebook Twitter
Find my Books: Wild Rose Author Page Amazon Author Page
About Only Love Survives: 

Amidst an epidemic ravaging the world, all Megan Fletcher's hopes for the future lie in getting to Las Vegas where newscasts reported scientists were gathering to search for a cure for the modern plague. After rescuing her from a rooftop surrounded by Zombies, Sam Woods appoints himself her escort.  While he knows she is determined to get to Vegas no matter the cost, he doesn't know her secret. And with his hatred of all things Zombie, she doesn’t dare tell him the truth. The more he kisses her, the harder it is for Megan to hide her growing feelings…and the bite-shaped scar. 
But Vegas is not the haven it was promised to be, and when Megan’s immunity to the disease is discovered, she realizes her future and her heart belong to Sam, if he will trust her.  An idealistic school teacher and ex-corporate mogul manage to find love despite a looming worldwide catastrophe. Can their love survive while everything around them is dying? Will they learn that when facing the end of the world, Only Love Survives.   
Excerpt:A storm that spelled danger flashed across Sam’s face. He advanced on Megan so fast, she backed up against the side of the Suburban. Planting a hand firmly on each side of her, he pinned her with his arms as well as his gaze. “What I want? Are you so hard headed you can’t tell what I want?” He covered her mouth with his lips and crushed her clever comeback with an assault on her senses. Megan pushed him, but he didn’t budge. Instead, he continued to kiss her until her heart raced and cheeks flushed with need. All resistance melted and she succumbed to the warmth of his embrace. Her arms wound around his neck of their own accord pulling him closer while her tongue sought his in a passionate dance, completely ignoring what her heart wanted. When he finally broke away leaving Megan breathless and wanting so much more, Sam put his forehead to hers and watched her mouth like a drunk watches amber liquid poured into a glass. “You,” he rasped. “I’ve wanted you since I found you hanging from that damn roof, and all our little encounter in the river did was add fuel to the fire.”  
Buy Links:Amazon Kindle  /  Amazon Paperback The Wild Rose Press Paperback 

Writing with a plan or flying by the seat of your pants. Plotters vs. Pansters

Plotters vs. PanstersBy Melissa Snark

Lately, I've seen a lot of two particular terms brandied about on various author and writing blogs. Plotters and Pansters. The debate rages across forums and conferences. It's an issue that transcends genre, common to all authors. What are they? Who are they? Why does it even matter?
Plotters
Doesn't sound very romantic, does it? In fact, it brings to mind the image of an author kneeling in a patch of garden soil. Through tedious and attentive toil, the plotter carefully attends to their story seedlings, waiting for the moment when the plant blooms and produces full blown characters, chapters and complete story outlines. Plotters strive to have their story grow organically from their labor, minimizing wasted effort.
Plotters are writers who work within a structural framework. There are a number of tools employed to create the scaffolding that can include: outlines, charts, diagrams, index cards, and software programs such as Scrivener. A plotter often knows the beginning, middle and conclusion of the story before the writing process even begins and uncertainty imparts a sense of anxiety. Research is fundamental to a plotter's understanding of a topic before she feels comfortable writing about it. Read the rest on The Masquerade Crew.

Book Review: The Artist's Inheritance (Antique Magic, Book One) by Juli Revezzo

The Artist’s Inheritance.
The balance between good and evil can be an art... or a curse.

Trevor and Caitlin were once happy newlyweds, profiting from Trevor's art. Until Trevor inherits his brother's house, and with it, his part of a family curse. Now, Caitlin will stop at nothing to save her beloved husband from insanity and suicide, even if it means she must embrace her destiny and become a witch.
It’s available at:Amazon ebook 
Amazon printBarnes and Noble SmashwordsAnd in paperback from Createspace


Review: 


If I had to define this novel in one word: SPOOKY. The dream sequences within the story are particularly effective at setting the mood. I'm a horror film/book aficionado, so the story did not leave me overly disturbed. However, I noticed my jumpiness levels increased as the story progressed. In my mind, that's the mark of a successful storyteller.
The Artist's Inheritance is a contemporary supernatural suspense novel with a strong romantic subplot. The story is set in Gulf Breeze, Florida, near a Civil War fort. Juli D. Revezzo weaves an intricate tale embodying many elements of the supernatural, including ghosts, witches and demons. Yet, I'm unable to fit the story neatly into any one particular subgenre. Much of the story's strength resides within the uniqueness of the plot elements and the way the story unfolds.
The story starts off a bit slow, but it really gets rolling by the third chapter. The first chapter really serves as an introduction to the three primary characters in the novel—Caitlin, Trevor, and The Chair. Caitlin and Trevor are a young married couple who's love is about to be tested by supernatural forces. Trevor is the artist of the novel's title, and The Chair is his monstrous creation.
Caitlin is Trevor's loving wife and the central protagonist. She's smart and loyal to her husband, but initially clueless regarding the spiritual disease afflicting her husband with bad dreams and obsessive behavior. Then, his nightmares affect her and she begins to pick up on other clues that things are very wrong with both him and his acquaintances.
Of the pair, Caitlin is the more sympathetic. I understood Trevor was not entirely responsible for his own actions but his behavior made him far less likeable than his courageous wife. He'd suffered the traumatic loss of siblings, including his twin, and the reader receives glimpses of the man he was before the downhill slide began. However, there were points when I just plain did not like him. As the story progresses, you really have to applaud Caitlin's loyalty to her husband and her determined efforts to save him.
Once it gets going, the story's pacing is swift, the makings of a real page-turner. Secondary characters are well developed and interesting. I enjoyed Caitlin's interactions with the coven of witches who assist her and also appreciated the creepy evility of the primary villain. Love scenes are closed doors and I would have liked to have seen the more sensual side of the couple's relationship.
The Artist's Inheritance is a recommended read for any reader seeking a creepy and compelling story of the supernatural.



Author BIO:

Juli D. Revezzo is a Florida girl, with a love of fantasy, science fiction, and Arthurian legend, so much so she gained a B.A. in English and American Literature. She loves writing stories with fantastical elements whether it be a full-on fantasy, or a story set in this world–slightly askew. She has been published in short form in Eternal Haunted Summer,  Dark Things II: Cat Crimes (a charity anthology for cat related charities), Luna Station Quarterly, The Scribing Ibis: An Anthology of Pagan Fiction in Honor of Thoth , and Twisted Dreams Magazine. She recently released her debut paranormal romance novel, Passion's Sacred Dance.


Where can to find Juli D. Revezzo on the web?
WebsiteAmazon Author PageFacebook TwitterGoodreads Google+

Author Spotlight: Juli D. Revezzo

Juli, please tell us about yourself and your writing.
I’m married live in Florida, attended the University of South Florida and have a degree in literature as well as Art History. I write—a lot. ;) Have been writing since childhood, mostly of the Fantasy-ilk, dark, romantic, any kind of fantasy will do. I’ve some short stories published in Twisted Dreams Magazine, Eternal Haunted Summer, and two charity anthologies: Dark Things II: Cat Crimes and The Scribing Ibis. And I have a book in galleys with The Wild Rose Press. Awaiting release information as we speak! 
I’m a total geek girl for Druids and Celtic Mythology, SF and Fantasy, for the Middle Ages and Renaissance and Victorian Eras, and I’m a huge bookworm.
What does your writing space look like?
A mess? *lol* My computer monitor takes up most of the desk space (when I bought the desk I just had a laptop) the tower’s next to it, and there are papers and books on the right hand side.
How long have you been writing?
Since I was a child sounds like a cliché answer, but it’s true. I started out writing poetry, and advanced to narrative ‘round about high school.
How do you come up with your book titles?Usually I pick a theme in the story … but then I run them past my editor/critique partners. Sometimes they shoot them down then we brainstorm other, better titles. Sometimes, the first shot sticks. So it’s kind of a group effort. ;)
How do you name your characters?
I figure out what the character’s heritage is first (are their parents/Grandparents Italian, French, Norse, that kind of thing), or the era they were born in. Then comb through the appropriate baby name sites until something strikes me.
Do you write with music going in the background? What are some of your favorite types/bands?
Yes, I do. Though I try to match the music to what I think might fit the story, sometimes (like with one I’m writing set in the 1500s) it’s a bit hard.
What is your favorite book genre? Who are your favorite authors?
I read just about everything but my favorites are: mythology, fantasy, science fiction, classics and a little romance. I love Joanne Rock, Jolene Dawe, Kathy Carmichael, Beth Trissel, S.G. Rogers. I’m also a huge fan of Michael Moorcock, Melanie Rawn, Anne McCaffrey and Kim Harrison. I’m enjoying Elizabeth Moon’s works. There’s also the classic authors J. Sheridan LeFanu, Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, Virginia Woolf and the writers of Irish and Welsh Myth.
Do you have a favorite character from your books? Who is it and why?
From The Artist’s Inheritance and Caitlin’s Book of Shadows, it would have to be Beryl. She just seems like such a cool friend to have. Plus, she’s a good cook, and a witch. Handy to have around while kicking imp butt…you know how pesky imps—I mean characters—can be. ;)
Is there anything else you'd really like our readers to know?
I hope they enjoy my stories as much as I enjoyed writing them—all of them. 
Quick quiz: Favorite food? I’m fond of Italian food. Favorite color? Greens in dark and bluish shades. Favorite animal? A raven. Biggest pet peeve? People who judge books by one tiny little word in the synopsis without even reading a paragraph or two. People who believe they know the meaning of something without looking into, at least, the dictionary, drive me crazy too. Close-minded people are up there on the list too. *nods*Dream car: I’d love to have a Lamborghini*, or a steam-car! ;) *Not powered by steam
The Artist’s Inheritance
The balance between good and evil can be an art... or a curse.

Trevor and Caitlin were once happy newlyweds, profiting from Trevor's art. Until Trevor inherits his brother's house, and with it, his part of a family curse. Now, Caitlin will stop at nothing to save her beloved husband from insanity and suicide, even if it means she must embrace her destiny and become a witch.
It’s available at:Amazon ebook 
Amazon printBarnes and Noble SmashwordsAnd in paperback from Createspace

Its companion story Caitlin’s Book of Shadows:
Something terrifying stalks Caitlin and her beloved Trevor. Something the bits and pieces she left claimed she had to make sense of--or so legend says. When the curator of their collection finds Caitlin's long forgotten diary, she wonders will it tell the whole tale? Will it tell why Caitlin seemed so determined to tell the difference between reality and nightmare even as she continued the fight to defend her family from evil? Will it explain why she thought her world twisted? If she really became a witch?

Perhaps the answer lies between the lines of her story, one of lessons, struggles, and the hopes she carried like a warrior's shield.

 **This is a side (or supplemental, if you will) story in the Antique Magic series, a companion to The Artist's Inheritance (Antique Magic,Book One).
It is available at:
AmazonBarnes and NobleSmashwords
And I have a paranormal romance novel forthcoming from The Wild Rose Press. If your readers would like to keep tabs on its release they may do so at my blog, or on my page at the Wild Rose Press.

Author BIO:
Juli D. Revezzo is a Florida girl, with a love of fantasy, science fiction, and Arthurian legend, so much so she gained a B.A. in English and American Literature. She loves writing stories with fantastical elements whether it be a full-on fantasy, or a story set in this world–slightly askew. She has been published in short form in Eternal Haunted Summer,  Dark Things II: Cat Crimes (a charity anthology for cat related charities), Luna Station Quarterly, The Scribing Ibis: An Anthology of Pagan Fiction in Honor of Thoth , and Twisted Dreams Magazine. She recently released her debut novel, The Artist’s Inheritance.

She also has an article and book review or two out there. But her heart lies in the storytelling. She is a member of the Independent Author Networkand the Magic Appreciation Tour.

Where can to find Juli D. Revezzo on the web?WebsiteAmazon Author PageFacebook TwitterGoodreads Google+


Thanks for having me here today, Melissa!
Juli, you're welcome! It was wonderful having you as a guest. :)

Be sure to stop back on Wednesday for my review of  The Artist’s Inheritance.

The Book Maven Reviews Hunger Moon

Review by The Book Maven 7/12/2013
Hunger Moon begins in a burning building with Victoria Storm holding a knife on a hunter who has been targeting her pack.  Victoria Storm is a Valkyrie and Priestess for the Goddess Freya.  She is also the Alpha of her pack of werewolves.  In being the Alpha it is her responsibility to protect what is left of her pack.  After one of her pack dies and she ushers him to Valhalla she is pointed in the direction of Sierra Pines, California.  She knows that there lies her lifemate, whomever that may be.  When she meets Arik Koenig she realizes immediately that he is her lifemate and very strong werewolf.  With Arik comes his son Logan.  Victoria immediately realizes things aren’t as perfect as they seem with the Koenigs and secrets threaten the safety of her pack.  She must decide to continue running from the hunters with no help or stay and figure out the secrets of Arik and Logan Koenig.  It is Victoria’s decision that will change the course of the pack and impact her life forever.

I really loved this book.  I didn’t realize this book was actually the second book in this series.  I was very impressed that this book almost read like a standalone book.  There were very few things that referred to the first book.  I fell in love with these characters and the story.  Victoria’s and Arik’s mini-courtship was quite steamy at times and you could understand why Victoria felt the way she did.  I really did feel for her though.  I felt bad that the relationship was kinda one-sided.  No matter how this story would have ended it would always be Victoria caring more for Arik and Arik still pining for his deceased wife.  I hope that with the next Victoria finds something a bit more lasting.  I get the feeling that Victoria has had so much loss it is time for something positive .  No matter what though I know I will be reading Melissa Snark’s next Victoria Storm book.  I even feel the need to go back and read the first one.  I would whole-heartedly recommend this book for any PNR fan.  Once you pick it up you will be like me and itching for more!

Read the original review.

Book Review: Risk Factors by Calisa Rhose

Love, like life, is not without risk.
Veterinarian Vivian Dane has purchased her uncle’s practice in the tiny town of Wales, Missouri, where most residents still doubt her ability to treat their pets. But Viv is used to being considered less-worthy than her predecessors. After all, her parents are world-renowned wildlife vets, and most everyone is unimpressed she’s chosen to not follow directly in their footsteps. Now Connor, a patient’s owner, is hot for Viv, but clearly doesn’t think she’s dating material because he has a daughter…who he believes no woman is good enough for. Being a perfect dad is EMT paramedic Connor’s life focus. He can’t seem to stay away from sexy Doctor Viv, but attraction is as far as he’ll ever let it go. His mother abandoned him, leaving him to be raised in the foster system, and then his wife abandoned both him and their daughter. He absolutely will not risk bringing another woman into his little girl’s life and having her feel the hurt of being left…again. Forfeiting is easier than attempting and failing. So why does Viv feel compelled to prove she’s a sure bet for Connor and his daughter? Can Connor trust Viv–and himself–enough to play the possibilities?
Review:
Risk Factors is the second novel I've reviewed by Calisa Rhose. Like Home, Risk Factors is a sweet romance with wonderful small town aura, although, this story is set in a more contemporary setting. The author delivers clear language and a direct storytelling style to deliver an engrossing tale of two people who overcome their differences to fall in love.

Vivian Dane is a veterinarian specialized into domestic pets who has taken over her uncle's practice. The heroine is a compassionate and courageous lady. As the story open, the reader finds her volunteering at the scene of a major auto accident, treating dogs and cattle who have been injured or traumatized. There she meets hunky hero Connor McKay, EMT paramedic, amidst the chaos.

Vivian has a quirky sense of humor, which she often uses as a self-defense mechanism. She suffers self-esteem issues thanks to the number her snotty globe-trotting wildlife vet parents have done on her. It makes her passive aggressive at times and slow to stand up for herself when she should, but she grows as the story progresses. Viv learns to value herself for what she's accomplished and provides caring medical treatment for the small town pets people bring to her practice throughout the story.

Connor is handsome, brave and committed. Daily, he puts his life on the line to rescue strangers. He is also a dedicated single father to his daughter, Janna aka Jelly Bean. The blurb description made me worry the child would be on the spoiled side but she winds up being absolutely adorable. The girl and her pet skunk, Skittles, bring a touch of whimsy to the story. I loved the child and the mother/daughter bond that formed between Janna and Vivian.

Unfortunately, Connor has some deep-seated trust issues.  As a child, his mother abandoned him and then later his wife played the same dirty trick on Connor and his newborn daughter. The hero's resultant mentality turns him into an irrationally overprotective father who is determined to prevent his daughter from ever being hurt. He does so by trying to stop Janna from ever bonding with anyone other than him.

Connor and Viv's insecurities represent the internal conflict of the story, causing most of their misunderstandings and arguments. For external conflict, Rhose utilizes an eclectic mix of human and animal emergencies help drive the story and keep everything on an even kneel. The charisma between the hero and heroine sizzles even though love scenes are sweet. 

Rhose delivers an extremely satisfying story for anyone interested in sweet small town romances with plenty of action. I don't hesitate to recommend Risk Factors.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Buy Links:AmazonBarnes & NobleiTunes
Also, Risk Factors is on Authorgraph! Get your copy signed.
Author Bio: 
Calisa Rhose is an Okie, born and bred, through and through, and proud of it. While growing up, when she wasn’t on the back of a horse, she could be found with pen and paper in hand. Her writing career began with poetry in her younger days. Then she discovered Rock-n-Roll and cute musicians. Poetry turned into stories of romance and dreams. These days she lives with the same man who convinced her to take a romantic journey with him almost 30 years ago. After raising three strong daughters she spends her days loving their granddaughters, hoping for a boy someday, and writing. 

When she’s not writing, you can find Calisa putting on her editor hat and working to help other published and aspiring writers. She is working on more projects with her favored contemporary cowboys, first responders  and firemen.

Find Calisa Rhose at: 
Website/blog  
TwitterFacebookGoodreads Amazon Author Page

Author Spotlight: Calisa Rhose

Hi Melissa! It’s great to be here today. Thank you for reading Risk Factors and I (really!) hope you loved it as much as I do. I’m ready when you are. <grin>
Calisa, No worries! As always, your stories are wonderful. I loved Risk Factors! Everyone be sure to stop back by on Thursday for my review. 
Calisa, please tell us about yourself and your writing.
I write romance because that’s what I love. I read other genres, but my writing is strictly romance at the moment.
What does your writing space look like?
I used to have a lovely cluttered room with pictures and trinkets and books all over. Since moving to the new house and having my FIL to care for, I hang out on the sofa to write. That’s where I am now.How long have you been writing?
I began writing when I was about fifteen and decided to get serious in 2005. I wrote my first full length cowboy story with intent to publish between June of that year and June 2006 and sent it to Harlequin on July 3rd. It hasn’t been published yet.
Do you have a process for coming up with character names and book titles?
I’d love to be able to say I have this whole ‘thing’ I do to title my books or name my characters, but-- Nope. The title will come to me once I begin writing usually and all my characters pick their own names, even the secondary characters.
How do you come up with your book titles?
They usually come to me on their own once I get into the story good. Except for Risk Factors. This book title got a change request by my editor. Originally it was Perfect Dr. Viv. And though Home is the title of my first book- it’s mostly because that was the only title I could come up with while writing and it just fit. Thankfully my editor agreed.
How do you name your characters?
I don’t name my characters. They tell me who they are when they are ready to. I actually had one hero I identified as XX through half the book until he finally decided I needed to know his name. Talk about awkward.
Do you write with music going in the background? What are some of your favorite types/bands?
I do. Put on good country and I can write for hours to it. When I wrote Home for The Wild Rose Press I lived in 1960s music to keep me in the era because writing those characters in Vintage America didn’t come natural to me.
What is your favorite book genre? Who are your favorite authors?
It depends on the book and my mood but I love contemporary first responder stories and paranormal wolf shifters. I can’t name my favorite authors because there are too many, but I read Amazing Gracie and that introduced me to Sherryl Woods- beautiful story if you haven’t read it, anything by Vonnie Davis, (some) Nora Roberts, and every Brenda Novak book I’ve read so far, oh, and Sarah Grimm and AJ Nuest-- everything from these two! There are too many more to name, but pretty much any WRP or LPI author grabs my attention.
Is there anything else you'd really like our readers to know?
I’m also an editor and avid reader when time allows, but I’m a writer first and always. I’m huge on family and love animals.
Quick quiz: Favorite food? MexicanFavorite color? Dk greenFavorite animal? HorseBiggest pet peeve? People who don’t try before asking for helpDream car? 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS

Love, like life, is not without risk.
Veterinarian Vivian Dane has purchased her uncle’s practice in the tiny town of Wales, Missouri, where most residents still doubt her ability to treat their pets. But Viv is used to being considered less-worthy than her predecessors. After all, her parents are world-renowned wildlife vets, and most everyone is unimpressed she’s chosen to not follow directly in their footsteps. Now Connor, a patient’s owner, is hot for Viv, but clearly doesn’t think she’s dating material because he has a daughter…who he believes no woman is good enough for. Being a perfect dad is EMT paramedic Connor’s life focus. He can’t seem to stay away from sexy Doctor Viv, but attraction is as far as he’ll ever let it go. His mother abandoned him, leaving him to be raised in the foster system, and then his wife abandoned both him and their daughter. He absolutely will not risk bringing another woman into his little girl’s life and having her feel the hurt of being left…again. Forfeiting is easier than attempting and failing. So why does Viv feel compelled to prove she’s a sure bet for Connor and his daughter? Can Connor trust Viv–and himself–enough to play the possibilities?
Excerpt: Viv’s smile and throaty laughter burrowed deeper by the second, mutating into hot want that seemed to draw him to her at every opportunity. But her invitation shook him back to level ground. Dinner. With her. Vivian Dane, the woman who seemed to freely access his dreams lately, was asking him out.
Her voice fell to a low smoky grade that slid like satin over him, tightening around his chest, making it hard to breathe.He wanted to kiss her.Period.There was something about her in the lab coat he couldn’t put his finger on. She appearedso fragile and delicate in pink that matched her lips…china doll perfect. Kissable.He opened his mouth to refuse. He couldn’t afford to get close to anyone, wouldn’t risk Janna. He knew his daughter already liked the vet, had said so. If he got involved and it all nosedived south, he couldn’t stand to have Janna hurt. Even if she didn’t know it, Viv was their veterinarian now and he’d have to see her, Jelly Bean would notice the tension--“Connor?”“I’d like that.”
Buy Links:AmazonBarnes & NobleiTunes
Also, Risk Factors is on Authorgraph! Get your copy signed.
Author Bio: 
Calisa Rhose is an Okie, born and bred, through and through, and proud of it. While growing up, when she wasn’t on the back of a horse, she could be found with pen and paper in hand. Her writing career began with poetry in her younger days. Then she discovered Rock-n-Roll and cute musicians. Poetry turned into stories of romance and dreams. These days she lives with the same man who convinced her to take a romantic journey with him almost 30 years ago. After raising three strong daughters she spends her days loving their granddaughters, hoping for a boy someday, and writing. 

When she’s not writing, you can find Calisa putting on her editor hat and working to help other published and aspiring writers. She is working on more projects with her favored contemporary cowboys, first responders  and firemen.

Find Calisa Rhose at: 
Website/blog  
TwitterFacebookGoodreads Amazon Author Page


Thanks again for having me here, Melissa. I had a fun time.

Calisa, thank you for being my guest today. It was a blast! 

Setting the Scene by Melissa Snark

Do you recall doing a book report in elementary school? One of the questions was always: "When and where was the story set?"

For years, I wrote in short, succinct answers like: "The Present. New York City, New York."

Honestly, I never gave setting much thought. It was the fast, easy answer on the book report. Many years later when I became a writer, I realized that setting is so much more than a quick answer. So what is setting really?

Setting can be one of the most easily overlooked aspects of storytelling, but with a touch too much enthusiasm, it can also become completely overdone. Setting is more than the backdrop to set your story against. It is the time, the place and the circumstances in which events occur or develop.


Read the rest on Brenda Sparks blog.

Update to Friday Free Reads: The Child Thief

Update: Some of you may have been following my frustrated attempts to have my novella, The Child Thief, free on Amazon. So far it's been listed in the free store twice and twice moved back to the paid store.  

I emailed with Kindle Direct Publishing and received the following reply:  



Hello Melissa,

I understand that you want to offer your eBook for free permanently. In this case you can offer it for free by enrolling it to our KDP
Select program.

You can offer any book enrolled in KDP Select free to readers for up to 5 days at your discretion during each 90-day KDP Select term.

You can pick the days when you want to run your free promotions, choosing to go one day at a time or offering your book free for multiple days in a row.

<<trimmed for brevity>>

I hope this helps! Thanks for using Amazon KDP.

Regards,

Steve R.   * * * * That seems to be Amazon's final word on the subject. I'm so sorry for the inconvenience this causes anyone.
However, The Child Thief remains free at B&N, All Romance ebooks, Smashwords and on Goodreads. If anyone would like a Kindle version of the story, then leave a comment and I'll email you the .MOBI version.
Happy reading!   * * * *
"I loved this short story and so wanted more, it ended way too soon."            ~LT at Vampires, Werewolves & Fairies, Oh My!
"With Victoria, Melissa Snark created a conflicted heroine and an alpha that no one intent to challenge because of her strength of character, her willingness to serve justice, and her devotion to her pack."                 ~The Masquerade Crew

Valkyrie Victoria Storm has werewolf hunters hell bent on revenge trying to kill her. She can barely keep her own downtrodden pack alive, let alone respond to the pleas of a murdered mother. Can she set aside her differences and work with her sworn enemy to save a little boy from a Christmas nightmare?
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Charity Pineiro Cover Reveal

South Beach sizzles as two determined and courageous sisters explore their attraction to two very handsome and successful men.  Join Connie and Carmen on their sexy, emotional, and humorous journey to find love and reach for their dreams.
NOW AND ALWAYS
Romantic Times: 4 Stars - Pineiro "ignites her own brand of Miami heat in this sexy and humorous romance."
Connie Gonzalez is a driven, ambitious woman who is one of the FBI’s best agents and determined to prove herself in a man’s world. Assigned to the Miami Bureau, Connie soon finds herself going undercover in Miami's glamorous South Beach area. An injury throws her together with the very rich and tempting Dr. Victor Cienfuegos. Victor is everything Connie should avoid, but despite the risks of her work and allowing any distractions, Connie cannot deny the attraction between herself and the sexy physician. Will danger keep them apart or is their love strong enough to survive for now and always?
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FAITH IN YOU
Affaire de Coeur: Pineiro "pens a truly charming . . . romance . . . Her lively writing style makes this . . . romance a page-turner. "
Paul Stone accepts Connie Gonzalez’s invitation to join her for a traditional and fun-filled Christmas Eve dinner. Paul is instantly captivated by her intriguing kid sister. Carmen Gonzalez is leery of the self-assured FBI agent whose upscale upbringing provided him with all he ever needed. . .except love. After a fast-paced courtship, Paul and Carmen are ready to walk down the aisle, blissfully unaware that fate – and their own secret fears – will test their fragile commitment long before they make it to the altar . . . .
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