Melissa Snark's Blog: The Snarkology, page 30
June 30, 2015
Evolution of a cover: Viking Love Slave 1 (with Angelina Cavanaugh) @TariaReed
The final versions of the Viking Love Slave covers are finally done. For my own amusement, I’ve decided to chart the progression of each cover from the original model’s image through all the subsequent revisions. Once I’m done, you’ll understand why I say that Farah Evers is a saint for what she puts up with from me.
Let’s begin with the original image of model Angelina Cavanaugh taken by The Reed Files. I’ve thrown my own watermark on it since I wasn’t able to link to the demo version on the stock site.
The Reed Files Contemporary Woman
Initially, a friend, Lisa Rayns, helped me create a concept cover.
First draft
Farah got involved once I lured her in with shameless flattery and a trail of dollar bills.
For a while, there were fetish items on the covers
The background didn’t look SciFi enough for me, so Farah changed out the background.
Space Opera-y
An annoying series of color and brightness tweaks followed. More than I can count.
Ta-Da! Final draft.
June 29, 2015
Mid-year Writing Goals Check
A friend did a blog post reassessing her progress on her writing goals. I’m highly goal-oriented so I decided to go ahead and do the same.
I wrote this post back in January 2015. Ironically, I had a cold then, and I’ve got one now.
2015 New Years Writing Goals:
1. Edit and publish Valkyrie’s Vengeance, the expanded book #0 in Loki’s Wolves.
Goal status: accomplished.
2. Finish, edit, and publish Mated Hearts, book #2 in my Mating Games series.
Goal status: incomplete.
3. Finished, edit, and publish Viking Love Slave as a three part series.
Goal status: Work in Progress. (With the caveat that this has expanded into a massive 6 novella series. I’m current revising and expanding the introduction. Approx word count is 80K.)
4. Finish Hell on High Heels. Edit. Maybe publish.
Goal status: On hold. I finally figured out what I wanted to do with this manuscript. Intend to return to it next year and make it part of a new dark fantasy series.
5. Complete a first draft of Trickster.
Goal status: Work in Progress. Trickster is now called Moon Snatcher and the current word count is around 70K.
6. Wish more than resolution… I’d love to see another novella made into an audiobook.
Goal status: On hold. I’m so not ready to take this on.
Shiny things that have distracted me along the way.
A Cat’s Tale released in March as part of the Alphas Gone Wild Boxed set. Lots of promotion associated with the release.
Wrote and subbed Going Viral to Analog.
Wrote a first draft of a SciFi humor short called A Matter of Policy.
Revised an old trunk novel and published under a different pen name.
Blog stuff, newsletter stuff, and a convention.
Elemental Storytelling #amreading
Coming in July 2015
With the permission of TV Tropes, the Snarkology will be hosting Elemental Storytelling
Elemental Storytelling is a blog series based on The Periodic Table of Storytelling as well as the tropes of TV Tropes.
The event will run in July and feature authors from a variety of genres and backgrounds who will be building simple story molecules for their novels.
Our schedule of guest authors…
July 7
Kayelle Allen
July 8
Jax Daniels
July 9
Nicole Zoltack
July 10
Houston Havens
July 13
Caroline Warfield
July 14
Jude Knight
July 15
Emily Walker
July 16
Mari Christie
July 17
Jami Brumfield
July 20
Melissa Snark
July 21
Beth Caudill
July 22
Jordan K. Rose
June 28, 2015
DRAGON KNIGHT’S AXE by Mary Morgan #Romance #TWRP
Battled scarred, Dragon Knight, Alastair MacKay, has fled to the seas to separate himself from his powers that are connected to the land. Yet, when he rescues a woman from a slave trader in Ireland, he steps back inadvertently into a world filled with magic—taking on the role of protector and leading him on a journey to confront his greatest fears.
Research assistant, Fiona O’Quinlan loves translating ancient artifacts at Trinity College. When she falls asleep on an archeological dig, she awakens in another time. She soon discovers a Dragon Knight’s relic has been entrusted into her care. Determined to return the artifact to the Great Glen, Fiona is unprepared for the danger ahead—losing her heart and soul to Alastair “Beast” MacKay.
Will their love be strong enough to soothe the beast and heal the man? Or will Death swing its axe, leaving them lost for all eternity?
Buy Links:
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Knights-Axe-Order-Book-ebook/dp/B00Y5756TO/
The Wild Rose Press http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6263
Excerpt:
He would get the truth out of her. She was now his. Bought and paid for.
His anger simmered just below the surface, and he allowed his eyes to flash with the fire of the dragon. Hearing her gasp, he smiled. Good, little bird. Fear me. Without giving her time to react, he swept her up and dumped her over his left shoulder, and strode to the ship.
He heard her sharp intake of breath, and then she started to pound against his back. “Put…me down,” she demanded.
“Nae.”
She started to kick, and he clenched his jaw in frustration. The little bird had talons. He responded with a smack to her bottom, but instead of removing his hand, he kept it against her soft curves. “I will put ye down when we are on my ship.”
She went completely still, and then she screamed.
Alastair dumped her onto the ground. “For the love of Brigid, did ye have to yell into my ear?”
Fiona rubbed at her bottom and then stood. “You beast,” she spat out at him. Jumping onto a nearby boulder, she looked directly into his eyes. “Don’t you ever touch me like that again.”
Alastair yanked her to his chest by her arms, his face mere inches from hers. “And what are ye going to do?” He watched as her eyes widened in alarm. Blue eyes that reminded him of the sky on warm summer days. Then his gaze traveled down to her lips, red as berries.
Instantly, his beast roared to life. Claim one kiss, Alastair.
“I will slit your throat,” she whispered.
Releasing his hold, his beast laughed, mocking him. He stared at her for a few moments before turning away. Stalking over to the ship, he climbed up the ladder.
Bio:
I am a constant daydreamer and have been told quite often to remove my head from the clouds. Yet, this is where I find the magic to write my stories. Not only do I love to weave a good tale, but I have a voracious appetite for reading. I worked for Borders Books for almost fourteen years. Imagine my delight to be surrounded by so many books, talking to others about them, and getting paid.
Pure bliss!
I have traveled to England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. There are those who know me well when I say, “My heart is in the Highlands.” I believe I have left it there or maybe in Ireland.
When not writing, I enjoy playing in my garden—another place where magic grows. Of course, there is time spent with my family. They are the ones that keep me grounded.
I love making new friends:
Website: http://www.marymorganauthor.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mary.morgan.564
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/m_morganauthor.com
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marymorgan50/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8271002.Mary_Morgan
June 27, 2015
Snarkology Read to Review Newsletter: open for signups
The Snarkology Read to Review would like to invite readers to subscribe to our newsletter. Over thirty authors have joined together to create a place where complimentary review copies of published books and new releases will be offered to interested readers in exchange for an honest review posted to Amazon and Goodreads. Beginning July 13th, our email newsletter will be sent out once a week with new opportunities.
Join here to learn more.
http://www.melissasnark.com/snarkology-read-to-review-newsletter/
June 25, 2015
Saved by the Wolf by Marie Mason #Paranormal #Romance
Genre: Paranormal
Logan McCall had always wanted to be a family man—in spite of—his playboy reputation. Find his mate, have a few pups and settle down into a long, loving relationship sounded good, real good to him.
During a storm that rocked Chicago for three days, Logan found fate had a wicked sense of humor when it sent nurse Katie Wilson tumbling into his life. She was here for a weekend of loving with a man alright, just not with Logan.
How can he convince a woman that his reputation as Chicago’s hottest bachelor is all smoke and mirrors and that what he truly longs for is a mate and a family he can love and cherish.
Driving along a snow covered highway in the middle of a blizzard, Katie swore off men. It was a man who had put her in this dangerous situation. Well, a man and her stubborn pride. She’d been unwilling to waste the romantic getaway that had already been paid for at a secluded mountain cabin just outside the city. So she decided to enjoy the weekend all by herself—if you didn’t count the adult toys she had packed in her suitcase and the multiple pints of ice cream she planned to buy on her way out of the city.
The last thing she’d been expecting on her binge-eating, binge-crying weekend was being Saved by the Wolf.
Buy Link: Amazon
~Excerpt~
For an instant, her hands fluttered helplessly as she tried to figure out where to touch him. Then she remembered. She could touch him anywhere. He was hard as a rock—all over. She’d felt the proof of that not moments before. Katie’s hands explored his body, the corded muscles of his shoulders, the light mat of curling hair on his chest and the taut planes of his abdomen. He truly had a spectacular physique.
Powerful arms roped with muscles, layers of strength making his chest and shoulders wider than any other man she’d ever been around.
He was strong and powerful. And hers? Somehow it just felt right to think that. Like the growl of a wolf she’d heard in her head last night, the image of one flashed through mind and she had no doubt she was seeing Logan in his animal form.
~About the Author~
Marie Mason has always known, somewhere deep in her soul, that being a writer was what she was born to be. Thanks to the new and exciting world of self-publishing, Marie was finally able to make her dream come true. Part two of the dream is to be a full-time writer, spending the wee hours of the morning creating new and exciting characters for her readers. That part might take a little longer. If you’d like to contact her with a comment or suggestion, her email is mariemasonwriter@yahoo.com or you can find her on Facebook.
Author Links: Facebook Facebook Page Twitter Goodreads
Beauty Submits to Her Beast by Sydney St. Claire #BDSM #Romance #TWRP
Beauty Submits To Her Beast -Sydney St. Claire
Avail June 26 (Once Upon A Dom Erotica Romance Series)
Summer of the Eagle – Susan Edwards
Seasons of Love, #1, A SpiritWalker Novel, available Fall 2015
Caitlin is a woman in control. Control of her own successful business, her personal life, and her family. Sometimes she is tired of having to be the strong one, the one who makes all the decisions. Even in bed with her ex-husband, she was the one in control. She has such a strong personality, not by choice but by her life experiences, that people automatically bow down to her. When a friend suggests that she try a bit of BDSM role-play, she does her research and decides to give it a try. She’s invited to Pleasure Manor to participate in their Fairy Tale event. She’s assigned the role of Beauty. Will she find her Dom to her liking? And can she give up control in exchange for the best sex in her life?
Damon is a Dom. He deliberately seeks out encounters where there is no strings attached. He doesn’t want the responsibility that comes with a full time relationship, especially the emotional responsibility. He’s a man in charge and he plans to remain in charge of his life and only his life.
Damon will have past issues that make him a tortured hero. Maybe too much responsibility too young when adults should have taken care of him, or a relationship where he failed to care for another that had disastrous outcome like death and now he will only care about himself. Caitlin will sense this and her own need to control and fix what’s wrong will clash with his need to keep others at a distance.
Available on Amazon
Barnes and Noble
The Wild Rose Press
Excerpt:
Caitlin woke during the night in the heavenly bed beneath the open skylight. She’d fallen asleep with her very own prince, in her very own miniature castle. Overhead, the wind rustled through the trees, and the lonely call of their owl drifted into the tree house. Stars winked above. She snuggled deeper. The bed with its feather comforter and mattress top along with the Egyptian cotton sheets was like sleeping inside a cloud.
She turned and stretched out her arms, needing to feel Damon and to prove she wasn’t dreaming. His side of the bed was empty.
Sitting, she frowned. A low sound from the other room caught her attention. “Damon?”
The moan came again. Caitie grabbed the robe she’d used after her shower and left bed. She found him thrashing on the couch. A slanting beam of moonlight revealed a face twisted with pain.
He called out, flung out his arm. Caitie quickly realized he was trapped in the throes of a nightmare. Unsure what to do, she went to him. She knew from the many vets on her ranch not to touch him in case he thought she was an enemy and tried to attack in defense of whatever stalked his mind.
She turned on the lights. He’d removed his leather pants and slept in his own skin. A quilt was twisted beneath him, half on the floor. She couldn’t stop herself from staring. Even asleep, the man had the most impressive body she’d ever seen.
She frowned when she spotted a long, deep, ragged scar furrowed his upper thigh from just shy of groin to his knee. The muscles were taut, and spasms rippled beneath the puckered skin. Good lord. No wonder he limped. She sucked in her breath and sat on the edge of the couch. She knew enough to know he was both lucky to be alive and to have his leg.
“Damon. I’m here. Can you hear me?” As though she were gentling a frightened horse, she spoke soft and low, calling his name. At the same time, she slid her palm up his thigh, her touch faint and gentle, applying more pressure so she didn’t startle him. When she was able to touch him fully, she began massaging his thigh with her thumbs, using long, smooth strokes.
Trapped in his nightmare, Damon lashed out. He heard shouting, screaming, and shrieking. He tried to stand. Couldn’t. Hurt—bad. His men. They needed help. Ambushed. Fuck.
“Can’t get them. Can’t save them.” The pain in his thigh took his breath away. Had he lost his leg? The pain. Breathing was labored, and his heart pounded. He was weak, everything going gray, as though his life was draining from his body.
“It’s all right, Damon. You’re dreaming.”
The gentle voice of an angel threaded through his nightmare, soothing, calming. Heaven? He tried to open his eyes, but the light was too bright. “Not—dream. My men. Killed them.”
“Wake now. You’re safe. You’re with me.”
Safe. The soft, low voice promised he was safe.
“No!” He didn’t deserve to be safe. Or soothed. His men were dead. He was not. Families destroyed. His fault. Pain had him gasping. Pain he deserved.
Except the pain was fading, replaced by warmth seeping into him. He relaxed as hands unknotted muscles and warmed him, as his angel talked and tore him from the grips of hell. He opened his eyes and blinked. An angel in white sat beside him. Not an angel. Caitlin.
CELEBRATING THE RELEASE OF BEAUTY WITH A NEW CONTEST
Tote Bag — Fairytales Your Mother Never Read You
Nice large roomy bag
Also included: 4 GB Flash Drive, Large clip, Notepad & Pen, Mug
And assorted other goodies
Sydney St. Claire is the pseudonym of Susan Edwards, author of 14 Historical Native American/Western/Paranormal romances and the author of the popular “White” Series. During her career, she has been nominated for the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Western Historical and Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award.
Sydney loves writing and sharing stories of love, happiness and dreams come true with her readers. She credits her mother for her writing as she was encouraged to read as a child and preferred happy endings which meant romances were her favorite genre. When the writing bug bit, she followed the sensible advice to “write what you know” and has been writing and publishing her stories since!
Sydney takes her readers into the world of erotica romance where her characters come together in explosive passion as they solve life’s problems and find true love along with the best sex our hero and heroine have ever experienced.
Sydney resides in California. Her office is quite crowded with two small dogs at her feet, another huge girl in her recliner and five cats to keep her company while she writes. Three cats always insist on beds on her desk, barely leaving enough room for her monitor and keyboard. Life gets fun when all five insist on supervising…
When not writing, she enjoys crafts of all sorts including quilting, sewing, cross-stitch and knitting. Knitting and crochet are her current passions. She and her husband of 30 + years are avid gardeners. He takes care of the veggies, and Susan is in charge of the ‘pretties’. Her medicine wheel garden is in a contact state of war: flowers vs. weeds. Sadly, right now the weeds are wining…
Camping, fishing, biking and hiking (when not hot) are other outdoor pursuits she and her husband enjoy. She is of course, an avid reader and hates cooking and housework. While writing, she listens to a wide variety of music, including Neil Diamond, Celtic, Native American, New Age, Classical, and mood music (bagpipes and howling wolves drive my family nuts). Her current favorites are Blackmore’s Night and David Lanz.
Contact Links
Email: Sydney@sydneystclaire.com
Website: http://sydneystclaire.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sydneystclaire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sydneystclaire
Blog: http://sydneystclaire.wordpress.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/sydneystclaire
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sydneystclaire/
June 22, 2015
Lei Crime Series (Contest) #Suspense #Mystery @Goddessfish
The Lei Crime Series is: Hawaii is palm trees, black sand and blue water—but for policewoman Lei Texeira, there’s a dark side to paradise. Lei has overcome a scarred past to make a life for herself as a cop, but often the cases she works activate wounds and complications from her tangled family history. Lei is affected deeply by her cases even as she solves them with persistence, obsession, and intuition. She falls in love with Michael Stevens, the charismatic detective she works with, and they make a life solving crime in contemporary Hawaii with all its beauty and deadliness.
Both books are Crime/Mystery/Suspense
Half Moon Girls by Corinne O’Flynn
Even paradise has a dark side…
When Detective Leilani Texeira begins investigating a murder on Kaua`i, she’s struck by one thing: the victim looks like her. As Lei battles dark memories stirred up by the likeness, a friend calls, worried that her daughter didn’t come home last night. Lei soon discovers that the dead girl and the missing girl were friends and last seen together the previous day.
Can she conquer her demons and capture a killer in time to rescue the captive?
A Snake in Paradise by Eden Baylee
Lainey Lee has always dreamed of going to Hawaii. It should have been her honeymoon trip, only it never happened. Now, in a poetic twist of fate, she is making the journey twenty-seven years later—following a messy divorce.
Once on the Big Island, Lainey discovers paradise, but white sand beaches and blue skies are not all Hawaii has to offer. She soon meets Julian, a mysterious stranger ten years her junior. They share an instant connection.
Lainey is eager to shed the fears that trapped her in a loveless marriage, but is Julian a tempting distraction, a new beginning, or a snake in paradise?
Author Bio – Corinne O’Flynn 
Corinne O’Flynn is a native New Yorker who now lives in Colorado and wouldn’t trade life in the Rockies for anything. She loves writing flash and experimenting with short fiction. She is a scone aficionado, has an entire section of her kitchen devoted to tea, and is always on the lookout for the elusive Peanut Chews candy. When she isn’t writing, Corinne works as the executive director of a nonprofit. She is a member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
You can find her online at her website, Facebook, or Twitter @CorinneOFlynn. She blogs about her adventures at http://www.corinneoflynn.com.
Twitter: @CorinneOFlynn http://www.twitter.com/CorinneOFlynn
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/oflynnbooks
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Lei-Crime-Kindle-Worlds-Novella-ebook/dp/B00VQWUE5W/
Author Bio – Eden Baylee Eden Baylee left a twenty-year banking career to become a full-time writer. She incorporates many of her favorite things into her writing such
Eden Baylee left a twenty-year banking career to become a full-time writer. She incorporates many of her favorite things into her writing such as: travel; humor; music; poetry; art; and much more. She writes in multiple genres and has written three collections of erotic novellas and flash fiction—Spring into Summer, Fall into Winter, and Hot Flash, along with contributing to the anthologies: Allegories of the Tarot, Indie Authors Naked, and Triptychs. In 2014, she released her mystery-suspense novel Stranger at Sunset, the first of a trilogy with psychiatrist, Dr. Kate Hampton. Look for the second book entitled A Fragile Truce in 2015.
Eden loves hearing from readers, so connect to her via her website at www.edenbayleebooks.com.
Twitter @edenbaylee https://twitter.com/edenbaylee
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/edenbaylee
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Lei-Crime-Paradise-Kindle-Novella-ebook/dp/B00VQWUBUU/
June 21, 2015
BACK TO US by Teresa Roman (Contest) @Goddessfish #Romance
Abandoned by her parents at fourteen, Jessica knows what it means to struggle. Jessica’s vowed that getting her degree is the only thing she has time for, until a summer internship brings Justin into her life. But Justin has scars of his own. A tour of duty in Afghanistan has left him with wounds. A medical discharge from the Navy leaves Justin struggling to make sense of his new reality. Then he meets Jessica; but can the two of them leave their pain in the past and make a future together?
Excerpt:
“I don’t want to bail on you, Justin. I love you.”
“It’ll be easier if you walk away now, before I fall even more in love with you than I already am,” Justin whispered, his voice hoarse.
“Please don’t say that to me again or I’m going to feel like it’s what you want.”
“You seemed so unhappy earlier after we left my apartment. I thought if we came back here I could make you forget what an awful time you had at my house.”
“Is that why you were overdoing it on the champagne?”
“You noticed?”
I nodded. “It’s not like you to drink that much.”
“God, I’m so sorry. I was just upset about the way my mom treated you. I kept thinking that you wished you had gone with your brother instead.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” I said. “Let’s just forget about it, okay?
Justin nodded. I lay back down and pulled him down beside me. It was half past three and I was tired. “If I turn off the lights and we try and get some sleep, do you think you’ll be okay?”
“Do you still love me, Jess?”
“Of course I do,” I insisted, surprised that he could think otherwise.
Justin wrapped one of his arms over my shoulder. “Then I’ll be all right.”
Teresa Roman is awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Teresa Roman is a lover of books. That’s what prompted her to try her hand at writing. She currently resides in Sacramento, CA with her husband, three adorable children and the puppy her son convinced them to adopt. When she isn’t at her day job or running around with her kids, you can find her in front of the computer hard at work writing or with her head buried in another book.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teresaromanauthor
Website: teresaromanwrites.com
June 19, 2015
@NightOwlReviews awards “Top Pick” to Hunger Moon and Battle Cry
I’m thrilled to announce that Night Owl reviews has awarded the “Top Pick” badge to both novels in the Loki’s Wolves series.
Hunger Moon
Loki’s Wolves, #1
I give 4.5 stars / Top Pick to Hunger Moon by Melissa Snark. This is an urban fantasy / 
paranormal romance and is for readers 18+ due to sexual content.
Valkyrie’s Vengeance (Loki’s Wolves Book 0) should be read first before reading Hunger’s Moon. The beginning of Hunger’s Moon (Loki’s Wolves Book 1) starts off a little after the ending of Valkyrie’s Vengeance. Reading the two books in series order gave me a deeper understanding of what drove the characters personalities, what happened in their pasts. I understood why the Storm Pack was running from the hunters, and leaving false trails in Hunger’s Moon.
Battle Cry
Loki’s Wolves, #2
I give 5 stars to Battle Cry by Melissa Snark.
Battle Cry is part of Loki’s Wolves series, and should be read in series order. Here’s the book series order: Valkyrie’s Vengeance (Loki’s Wolves Book 0); Hunter’s Moon (Loki’s Wolves Book 1); Battle Cry (Loki’s Wolves Book 2). Battle Cry has some backstories in it, which I found very useful since they explained past events. Reading the three books together in series order gave me a deeper understanding of what drove the characters personalities, and what happened in their past.
I found Battle Cry to be an amazing book. I was caught up in the fascinating and truly original storyline; drama, action, and suspense. While reading the book, I was eagerly hanging on trying to find out what would happen next. At times, I had to keep a box of tissue handy nearby to wipe away my tears. Wow, I am truly amazed by how Melissa Snark wrapped up, and presented this story. She had a great way of weaving her tale of Norse mythology; other paranormal elements, and hunters, in this modern story.
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