Eleni Konstantine's Blog: Eleni's Taverna, page 6
February 15, 2015
Wenchy Monday - Holley Trent: Tex-Mex Meatroll PLUS free reads!
Welcome to the Taverna, Wenchy Holley Trent, who has a mouth-watering recipe on offer AND some free reads.
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Holley’s Tex-Mex Meatroll
by Holly Trent
This meatloaf spin-off has ground up tortilla chips. Its airier texture is due to rolling the meat rather than patting it into shape. This dish is a perfect substitution for pickier eaters, and the cheese in the middle adds a little something for the kiddos.
Ingredients
2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. mustard powder
½ tsp. cayenne pepper
½ tsp. ground black pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (can substitute Pepper Jack)
3 cups crushed corn tortilla chips
¼ cup mild salsa
Method
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix meat, egg, and seasoning in a bowl.
On waxed or parchment paper, pat the meat mixture into a rectangle as wide as your loaf pan or slightly less wide than the width of your paper if you're baking on a cookie sheet.
Cover the surface of the beef with the tortilla chips. Just eyeball it. You don't need to use the full three cups - just make sure you have good coverage.
Spread the cheese over the top. Pretend you're building a pizza.
Take one end of the paper and roll the meat as if it were sushi, but don’t catch the paper in the roll. Gently tease the roll to the end and carefully transfer to a greased pan.
Pat the ends so they're rounded and the ingredients inside don’t fall out.
Brush the top of the loaf with salsa. Water it down a bit if doing so makes it easier to spread.
Cover with foil. Mold it against the roll a bit to provide structure to the meat holds its shape as it cooks.
About 45 minutes in—when the roll has firmed but not completely cooked—remove foil. Apply another brushing of salsa.
Bake until a thermometer reads 160°F.
Let the meatroll rest for at least ten minutes before cutting.
While your dinner is baking, check out some of my free reads over at my website.
Holley Trent is the author of Executive Decision, Mrs. Roth’s Merry Christmas, and Her Resident Jester – all available now from Musa Publishing's Calliope Romance Line.
To see all of Holley Musa Publishing books, please click HERE .
Learn more about Holley Trent on her blog and follow her on Twitter .
~yia~
~~
Holley’s Tex-Mex Meatroll
by Holly Trent
This meatloaf spin-off has ground up tortilla chips. Its airier texture is due to rolling the meat rather than patting it into shape. This dish is a perfect substitution for pickier eaters, and the cheese in the middle adds a little something for the kiddos.
Ingredients2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. mustard powder
½ tsp. cayenne pepper
½ tsp. ground black pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (can substitute Pepper Jack)
3 cups crushed corn tortilla chips
¼ cup mild salsa
Method
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix meat, egg, and seasoning in a bowl.
On waxed or parchment paper, pat the meat mixture into a rectangle as wide as your loaf pan or slightly less wide than the width of your paper if you're baking on a cookie sheet.
Cover the surface of the beef with the tortilla chips. Just eyeball it. You don't need to use the full three cups - just make sure you have good coverage.
Spread the cheese over the top. Pretend you're building a pizza.
Take one end of the paper and roll the meat as if it were sushi, but don’t catch the paper in the roll. Gently tease the roll to the end and carefully transfer to a greased pan.
Pat the ends so they're rounded and the ingredients inside don’t fall out.
Brush the top of the loaf with salsa. Water it down a bit if doing so makes it easier to spread.
Cover with foil. Mold it against the roll a bit to provide structure to the meat holds its shape as it cooks.
About 45 minutes in—when the roll has firmed but not completely cooked—remove foil. Apply another brushing of salsa.
Bake until a thermometer reads 160°F.
Let the meatroll rest for at least ten minutes before cutting.
While your dinner is baking, check out some of my free reads over at my website.
Holley Trent is the author of Executive Decision, Mrs. Roth’s Merry Christmas, and Her Resident Jester – all available now from Musa Publishing's Calliope Romance Line.
To see all of Holley Musa Publishing books, please click HERE .
Learn more about Holley Trent on her blog and follow her on Twitter .
~yia~
February 12, 2015
Fragment Friday - Dragon's Quest
Today, I introduce Fragment Friday. The day where I bring you a fragment (or snippet) from my work.
Today it's from Dragon's Quest, a flash fiction story published by Antipodean SF back in June 2011.
News of the dragon's capture reached the castle. But not of who had caught the elusive beast. The Prince of Renu? The Lord of Rawry? Or any of the other dozen in pursuit?
The Steward Mikhail waited, hoping this ridiculous show would cease. He kept this to himself. Here on assignment, he would see it through. For the sake of the dragon.
And her keeper.
Over the next day, many of the pursuers trotted back to the castle — but not the one he waited for.
"Mikhail, what ails you?"
Caught off-guard, he schooled his features. "Nothing of import, Sire."
King Patrik raised his bushy eyebrows. "I know you and my daughter are firm friends."
Mikhail inclined his head. "Indeed. With all these men vying for her hand, and a dragon on the loose..." He trailed off, for the first time finding it hard to speak.
The King gave him a sad smile. "I understand, Mikhail. But the law is the law. Anyone who captures the dragon has her hand in marriage." He hastily looked away.
You can read the rest of the story here.
If you'd rather hear me read the story, it's located here. (My story begins at around 19.20 mark)
Hope you enjoy it!
~yia~
Today it's from Dragon's Quest, a flash fiction story published by Antipodean SF back in June 2011.
News of the dragon's capture reached the castle. But not of who had caught the elusive beast. The Prince of Renu? The Lord of Rawry? Or any of the other dozen in pursuit?
The Steward Mikhail waited, hoping this ridiculous show would cease. He kept this to himself. Here on assignment, he would see it through. For the sake of the dragon.
And her keeper.
Over the next day, many of the pursuers trotted back to the castle — but not the one he waited for.
"Mikhail, what ails you?"
Caught off-guard, he schooled his features. "Nothing of import, Sire."
King Patrik raised his bushy eyebrows. "I know you and my daughter are firm friends."
Mikhail inclined his head. "Indeed. With all these men vying for her hand, and a dragon on the loose..." He trailed off, for the first time finding it hard to speak.
The King gave him a sad smile. "I understand, Mikhail. But the law is the law. Anyone who captures the dragon has her hand in marriage." He hastily looked away.
You can read the rest of the story here.
If you'd rather hear me read the story, it's located here. (My story begins at around 19.20 mark)
Hope you enjoy it!
~yia~
February 8, 2015
Wenchy Monday: Marci Bourdeaux on Romances Over 40
Today, Wenchy Marci Bourdeaux has a treat for you - romances with characters over 40. Gasp! Yep, you read that right! How could that be? Here's Marci with the lowdown.
~~~
Romance Over 40
with Marci Bourdeaux
There has never been a time in my life when I’ve closely associated with the twenty-something crowd. Not that there was/is anything wrong with them. I just wasn’t one of them, even way back then, and I certainly am not now.
When I started writing, I tried to associate with them. I tried to write romance for them.
It didn’t work.
All my characters wanted to be older, to have more history, and to have lived more life.
With each book, I got closer and closer to writing characters my age—40-ish.
Finally, I simply decided to embrace this with my new series, Stonehill Romances—in which just about everybody is old enough to have adult children. The first in the series, The Road Leads Back, will debut this year.
The Road Leads Back delves into the journey of Kara Martinson and Harry Canton. They were in high school together, but both were a bit nerdy and too shy to say they liked each other. Then one night…
Twenty-seven years later, Harry discovers Kara has a gallery opening in Seattle, where he is on a business trip. He decides to surprise her, but it doesn’t quite go as planned.
When Harry and Kara spent their one night together—the night before he left for college—Kara got pregnant. For years, she’s blamed him for abandoning her while doing the best to raise their disgruntled son Phil. When Harry shows up out of the blue, she’s all set to give him an earful until it dawns on her…he was never told he was a father. All these years, Harry’s parents never told him Kara had turned to them for help and they sent her to a community for unwed mothers.
Once they start putting the pieces together, Kara is left feeling betrayed and abandoned all over again, but Harry wants nothing more than his family—including the mother of his only child—to come home with him. Kara is hesitant to face her demons, but her only other choice is to watch her son and granddaughter move across the country without her.
Once back in her hometown of Stonehill, Kara and Harry have a lot of past to overcome. Harry has to face his mother’s deception and Kara has to face the parents who disowned her. Most importantly, they all—Kara, an eccentric artist; Harry, a straight-laced business owner; Phil, who has spent a lifetime blaming Kara for not having a “normal” life; and Jessica, Phil’s daughter with Down Syndrome—have to find a way to be a family.
There are a lot of emotions wrapped up in this one. Harry feels betrayed by his parents. Kara has to find a way to forgive and move on but understandably has a huge amount of anger. Phil is forced to recognize that a lot of the grudge he’s carried most of his life was unfounded. And they all have to jump in and make sure seven-year-old Jessica adjusts to the move.
The second book in the series, Friends Without Benefits, revolves around Kara’s best friend Dianna who is going through an unexpected divorce with near-grown children, a suffocating mortgage, and a realization that her life had so revolved around her soon-to-be-ex that, save for a small handful of friends, she’s very nearly on her own. Her husband’s mistress’s husband Paul becomes Dianna’s emotional support system because—really—who else could possibly know what she is going through?
In The Forgotten Path, the third in the series, Paul’s sister Annie has to face some hard truths about herself after the world she’s fought to build for year threatens to come falling down around her. She prides herself on her independence, but even the strongest people need someone else every now and then. Enter Marcus—Annie’s faithful employee and the only man who has ever made her heart trip.
I’ve heard time and again that because my characters are 40-ish and older, my books are women’s fiction. I disagree. I feel like women’s fiction has a completely different angle than what I am writing. There may be elements of women’s fiction—the emotions may run a bit wider than just falling in love—but, to me, women’s fiction is more soundly focused on the woman’s journey. I think my books focus on everyone involved.
Harry has guilt for not raising his son and anger toward his parents. Kara’s angry, hurt, and has to find a way to forgive herself, her family, and Harry’s family for turning her out and she has to learn how to cope instead of running away. Phil didn’t give him the life he felt he deserved. And they all have to handle the way people treat Jessica secondary to her Down.
But even with all of that, Harry and Kara are falling in love again. They are rediscovering all the things that they admired about each other in high school and toying with their mutual attraction.
So, in my mind, I am writing romance. It just so happens that my characters have more problems, history, and life scars to deal with along the way. As do most 40+ year olds.
The Road Leads Back – Coming April 3, 2015
Kara Martinson and Harry Canton weren’t exactly high school sweethearts, but they did share one night neither will ever forget. Twenty-seven years later, Harry surprises Kara at an art gallery opening and discovers he left her with more than just memories when he went away to college. Desperate to connect with the family he never knew existed, Harry convinces his son to move to Stonehill—and pleads with Kara to come, too.
Kara hasn’t stepped foot in their hometown since the day she was sent away to a home for unwed mothers. Now Harry’s back in her life and as they put together the pieces of his parents’ betrayal, old heartaches start to feel anew. She wants to be near her family, but returning to Iowa means facing some things…and some people…she isn’t quite ready to.
Can Harry convince her to forgive the past so they can embrace the future they were robbed of so long ago or will the pain of the past be too much for Kara to overcome?
Excerpt:
Kara had told herself a million times that Harry didn’t owe her an explanation. It’s not like they had been in any kind of relationship. She’d drooled over him from afar, but other than an occasional smile in the hallway, he’d barely acknowledged her existence in high school. Even if he hadn’t gone off to start his Ivy League college career the day after graduation, he likely never would have looked at her again. Well, at least not until she could no longer hide the truth of their one-night stand from the world.
The sting of what he’d done returned, though slightly numbed by the alcohol she’d downed.
“I expected so much more from you, Harry,” she said sadly.
His shoulders sagged a bit. “I know.”
“Why didn’t you ever write me back?” She was surprised at the hurt that his neglect still held. “I must have sent you a hundred letters.”
He creased his brow. “Letters? I didn’t get any letters.”
Kara searched his eyes. He looked genuinely confused.
“I sent them to…” she started, but her words faded. Suddenly the tequila-induced haze wasn’t so welcome. “Your mother said if I wrote to you, she’d make sure you got my letters.”
“My mother? She never gave me any letters.”
“But you sent money.”
Harry shook his head slightly. “What the hell are you talking about? Why would I send you money?”
She stared at him as realization set in. He hadn’t responded to her letters because he hadn’t received her letters. And if he hadn’t received the letters, he hadn’t been the one who sent her money. And if he hadn’t sent her money, he hadn’t known that she needed it. Her head spun, either from the alcohol or the blurry dots she was trying to mentally connect.
Leaning onto the bar, she exhaled slowly. “She never told you, did she?”
“Told me what?”
Kara couldn’t speak. Her words wouldn’t form.
She jolted, pulled from the intense stare they were engaged in, when an arm wrapped around her shoulder. She turned and blinked several times at the man who had just slid next to her.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, “but I need to get home.” Leaning in, he kissed her head. “Congratulations on the opening, Mom. It was great.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” She flicked her gaze at the man sitting next to her. The longer Harry looked at her son, the wider Harry’s eyes became.
Phil cast a disapproving glance at Harry then focused on his mother again. “Jess is expecting you to help make pancakes in the morning. You promised.”
“I haven’t forgotten.” Kara returned her attention to Harrison. His jaw was slack, his cheeks pale.
Phil nodded slightly at Harry, as if he were satisfied that he’d made the point that his mother didn’t need to be staying out all night, and walked away. Harry watched him leave while Kara waved down the bartender and pointed at her glass. He hesitated, likely debating the ethics of giving her another shot. She pointed again, cocking a brow for emphasis, and he filled her glass.
“Kara…” Harry’s voice was breathless, like he’d been kicked in the gut. “Was…was that my…son?”
No. His mother definitely hadn’t given him the letters Kara had written. She lifted her shot, toasting him. “Congratulations, Harry. It’s a boy.”
~~~
Marci Boudreaux lives with her husband, two kiddos, and their numerous pets. She recently hung up her journalism hat to focus on content editing for several publishing houses, as well as writing.
Romance is her preferred reading and writing genre because nothing feels better than falling in love with someone new and her husband doesn't like when she does that in real life. Find out more at www.marciboudreaux.com
You can also find Marci on:
Twitter | Facebook | Blog
~yia~
~~~
Romance Over 40
with Marci Bourdeaux
There has never been a time in my life when I’ve closely associated with the twenty-something crowd. Not that there was/is anything wrong with them. I just wasn’t one of them, even way back then, and I certainly am not now.
When I started writing, I tried to associate with them. I tried to write romance for them.
It didn’t work.
All my characters wanted to be older, to have more history, and to have lived more life.
With each book, I got closer and closer to writing characters my age—40-ish.
Finally, I simply decided to embrace this with my new series, Stonehill Romances—in which just about everybody is old enough to have adult children. The first in the series, The Road Leads Back, will debut this year.
The Road Leads Back delves into the journey of Kara Martinson and Harry Canton. They were in high school together, but both were a bit nerdy and too shy to say they liked each other. Then one night…
Twenty-seven years later, Harry discovers Kara has a gallery opening in Seattle, where he is on a business trip. He decides to surprise her, but it doesn’t quite go as planned.
When Harry and Kara spent their one night together—the night before he left for college—Kara got pregnant. For years, she’s blamed him for abandoning her while doing the best to raise their disgruntled son Phil. When Harry shows up out of the blue, she’s all set to give him an earful until it dawns on her…he was never told he was a father. All these years, Harry’s parents never told him Kara had turned to them for help and they sent her to a community for unwed mothers.
Once they start putting the pieces together, Kara is left feeling betrayed and abandoned all over again, but Harry wants nothing more than his family—including the mother of his only child—to come home with him. Kara is hesitant to face her demons, but her only other choice is to watch her son and granddaughter move across the country without her.
Once back in her hometown of Stonehill, Kara and Harry have a lot of past to overcome. Harry has to face his mother’s deception and Kara has to face the parents who disowned her. Most importantly, they all—Kara, an eccentric artist; Harry, a straight-laced business owner; Phil, who has spent a lifetime blaming Kara for not having a “normal” life; and Jessica, Phil’s daughter with Down Syndrome—have to find a way to be a family.
There are a lot of emotions wrapped up in this one. Harry feels betrayed by his parents. Kara has to find a way to forgive and move on but understandably has a huge amount of anger. Phil is forced to recognize that a lot of the grudge he’s carried most of his life was unfounded. And they all have to jump in and make sure seven-year-old Jessica adjusts to the move.
The second book in the series, Friends Without Benefits, revolves around Kara’s best friend Dianna who is going through an unexpected divorce with near-grown children, a suffocating mortgage, and a realization that her life had so revolved around her soon-to-be-ex that, save for a small handful of friends, she’s very nearly on her own. Her husband’s mistress’s husband Paul becomes Dianna’s emotional support system because—really—who else could possibly know what she is going through?
In The Forgotten Path, the third in the series, Paul’s sister Annie has to face some hard truths about herself after the world she’s fought to build for year threatens to come falling down around her. She prides herself on her independence, but even the strongest people need someone else every now and then. Enter Marcus—Annie’s faithful employee and the only man who has ever made her heart trip.
I’ve heard time and again that because my characters are 40-ish and older, my books are women’s fiction. I disagree. I feel like women’s fiction has a completely different angle than what I am writing. There may be elements of women’s fiction—the emotions may run a bit wider than just falling in love—but, to me, women’s fiction is more soundly focused on the woman’s journey. I think my books focus on everyone involved.
Harry has guilt for not raising his son and anger toward his parents. Kara’s angry, hurt, and has to find a way to forgive herself, her family, and Harry’s family for turning her out and she has to learn how to cope instead of running away. Phil didn’t give him the life he felt he deserved. And they all have to handle the way people treat Jessica secondary to her Down.
But even with all of that, Harry and Kara are falling in love again. They are rediscovering all the things that they admired about each other in high school and toying with their mutual attraction.
So, in my mind, I am writing romance. It just so happens that my characters have more problems, history, and life scars to deal with along the way. As do most 40+ year olds.
The Road Leads Back – Coming April 3, 2015
Kara Martinson and Harry Canton weren’t exactly high school sweethearts, but they did share one night neither will ever forget. Twenty-seven years later, Harry surprises Kara at an art gallery opening and discovers he left her with more than just memories when he went away to college. Desperate to connect with the family he never knew existed, Harry convinces his son to move to Stonehill—and pleads with Kara to come, too.Kara hasn’t stepped foot in their hometown since the day she was sent away to a home for unwed mothers. Now Harry’s back in her life and as they put together the pieces of his parents’ betrayal, old heartaches start to feel anew. She wants to be near her family, but returning to Iowa means facing some things…and some people…she isn’t quite ready to.
Can Harry convince her to forgive the past so they can embrace the future they were robbed of so long ago or will the pain of the past be too much for Kara to overcome?
Excerpt:
Kara had told herself a million times that Harry didn’t owe her an explanation. It’s not like they had been in any kind of relationship. She’d drooled over him from afar, but other than an occasional smile in the hallway, he’d barely acknowledged her existence in high school. Even if he hadn’t gone off to start his Ivy League college career the day after graduation, he likely never would have looked at her again. Well, at least not until she could no longer hide the truth of their one-night stand from the world.
The sting of what he’d done returned, though slightly numbed by the alcohol she’d downed.
“I expected so much more from you, Harry,” she said sadly.
His shoulders sagged a bit. “I know.”
“Why didn’t you ever write me back?” She was surprised at the hurt that his neglect still held. “I must have sent you a hundred letters.”
He creased his brow. “Letters? I didn’t get any letters.”
Kara searched his eyes. He looked genuinely confused.
“I sent them to…” she started, but her words faded. Suddenly the tequila-induced haze wasn’t so welcome. “Your mother said if I wrote to you, she’d make sure you got my letters.”
“My mother? She never gave me any letters.”
“But you sent money.”
Harry shook his head slightly. “What the hell are you talking about? Why would I send you money?”
She stared at him as realization set in. He hadn’t responded to her letters because he hadn’t received her letters. And if he hadn’t received the letters, he hadn’t been the one who sent her money. And if he hadn’t sent her money, he hadn’t known that she needed it. Her head spun, either from the alcohol or the blurry dots she was trying to mentally connect.
Leaning onto the bar, she exhaled slowly. “She never told you, did she?”
“Told me what?”
Kara couldn’t speak. Her words wouldn’t form.
She jolted, pulled from the intense stare they were engaged in, when an arm wrapped around her shoulder. She turned and blinked several times at the man who had just slid next to her.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, “but I need to get home.” Leaning in, he kissed her head. “Congratulations on the opening, Mom. It was great.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” She flicked her gaze at the man sitting next to her. The longer Harry looked at her son, the wider Harry’s eyes became.
Phil cast a disapproving glance at Harry then focused on his mother again. “Jess is expecting you to help make pancakes in the morning. You promised.”
“I haven’t forgotten.” Kara returned her attention to Harrison. His jaw was slack, his cheeks pale.
Phil nodded slightly at Harry, as if he were satisfied that he’d made the point that his mother didn’t need to be staying out all night, and walked away. Harry watched him leave while Kara waved down the bartender and pointed at her glass. He hesitated, likely debating the ethics of giving her another shot. She pointed again, cocking a brow for emphasis, and he filled her glass.
“Kara…” Harry’s voice was breathless, like he’d been kicked in the gut. “Was…was that my…son?”
No. His mother definitely hadn’t given him the letters Kara had written. She lifted her shot, toasting him. “Congratulations, Harry. It’s a boy.”
~~~
Marci Boudreaux lives with her husband, two kiddos, and their numerous pets. She recently hung up her journalism hat to focus on content editing for several publishing houses, as well as writing.Romance is her preferred reading and writing genre because nothing feels better than falling in love with someone new and her husband doesn't like when she does that in real life. Find out more at www.marciboudreaux.com
You can also find Marci on:
Twitter | Facebook | Blog
~yia~
Super Sunday
The Plug
Check out this workshop by the talented Carla Caruso at the SA Writers Centre
Writing RomCom with Carla Caruso
Flowers, heart-shaped chocolates, and hand-written love letters… we’ve got love and romance on our minds. After all, it’s Valentine’s Day! Bridget Jones’ Diary, Confessions of a Shopaholic and The Devil Wears Prada have nailed the art of having us fall in love with the characters whilst chuckling with every page turn. Now it's your turn!
This workshop will brush up on your romantic fiction writing skills and learn how to craft a love story that’s both memorable and funny. Participants will learn about the different romance genres, diverse romantic characters, where to get published and how to connect with the romance writing community locally.
Carla Caruso is an Adelaide romantic comedy author published by Penguin and HarperCollins. Previously she worked as a newspaper and magazine journalist and fashion stylist. Some of her titles include Catch of the Day, A Pretty Mess, Second Chance and Cityglitter. She’s made the top 21 in Mills & Boon’s international New Voices competition and is a co editor of the Romance Writers of Australia’s monthly magazine.
10:00 am - 1:00 pm, February 14, 2015
BOOKINGS HERE
The Quote
"A woman has got to love a bad man once or twice in her life to be thankful for a good one."~Mae West
The Funny
The Picture
I came across this in my files. I have no idea where this is, but the attribution seems to be V.Borg.
The Reading
Just finished reading:
Currently reading:
Re-reading:
The EditingHealer's Destiny
Have a great week!!
~yia~
February 1, 2015
Wenchy Monday - Vonnie Hughes with an Innocent Hostage
Fellow Aussie based, New Zealand wench, Vonnie Hughes is in the Taverna.
~~
I am happy to bring you Innocent Hostage, the latest novel from Vonnie Hughes. A tense hostage situation sets the pace of this action-packed romantic suspense. Breck Marchant and his four-year old son, Kit, are caught in a frighteningly plausible situation that can happen to anyone in today’s world. Ingrid Rowland provides the calm presence that holds these three people together as they struggle to right their lives and survive.
Innocent Hostage is a compelling story with the right amount of twists and turns and red herrings that kept me enthralled and guessing to the last page.
Two years ago, Breck Marchant handed his son, Kit, over to his ex-wife, Tania, even though it tore him apart. She knows all about kids. Thanks to his own upbringing, he hasn’t a clue. But when the boy is held hostage, Breck steps up to the plate. Somehow he’ll make this father thing work and hold down his dangerous job at the same time even though the odds are against him.
Ingrid Rowland is Kit’s preschool teacher and she has known Tania for years. As far as she can tell, neither Tania nor Breck know the first thing about being parents. She fears for Kit’s future. When Breck turns to Ingrid for help with his son, she sees a different side of him. As Breck and Ingrid work to protect Kit and hold on to their careers, they begin to work together to fight off a puzzling series of vicious attacks. Then a startling revelation culminates in a murderous turn nobody sees coming.
EXCERPT
Toeing the inside of each stair tread he climbed the stairs that led to the bedrooms. As he got near the top, he hesitated. More perfume, different from the smell of soap powder hung in the air. Tania’s perfume, strong and poignant. It was called Chloe. He ought to know. He’d bought enough of the stuff.
He stopped. Was she here? Had she been here? That stuff lingered for a long time. Their apartment had stunk of it for weeks after she’d left.
“Tania?” he whispered.
A disturbance in the air was his only warning. He ducked as something whizzed over the top of his head. Then he was shoved aside as a dark figure pushed past him. Breck clutched at the banisters, his feet shooting out from under him on the slippery carpet. Shit! Scrambling to his feet, he bounced down the last couple of stairs and chased the stocky figure careening down the hallway.
His quarry wrenched open the front door. Dusk had settled and it was almost dark outside. He managed to grab his attacker’s coat and began reeling in the interloper like a fish. But the man wriggled out of his plastic raincoat and fled towards a blue pick-up truck waiting at the curb. His balding head gleamed under the streetlights. Someone inside the vehicle leaned over and flung open the passenger door, revving the engine just as Breck aimed a solid punch at the back of the attacker’s neck. Reeling against the car door, the man half-collapsed on to the front seat of the truck, his legs hanging out the door. The driver floored the accelerator and the blue truck jerked out from the curb as if the driver was unfamiliar with the gears.
BUY LINKS
The Wild Rose Press - Amazon
Vonnie Hughes is a multi-published author in both Regency books and contemporary suspense. She loves the intricacies of the social rules of the Regency period and the far-ranging consequences of the Napoleonic Code. And with suspense she has free rein to explore forensic matters and the strong convolutions of the human mind. Like many writers, some days she hates the whole process, but somehow she just cannot let it go.
Vonnie was born in New Zealand, but she and her husband now live happily in Australia. If you visit Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand be sure to stroll through the Japanese Garden. These is a bronze plaque engraved with a haiku describing the peacefulness of that environment. The poem was written by Vonnie.
All of Vonnie’s books are available on Musa Publishing , The Wild Rose Press , and Amazon .
Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Goodreads .
~yia~
~~
I am happy to bring you Innocent Hostage, the latest novel from Vonnie Hughes. A tense hostage situation sets the pace of this action-packed romantic suspense. Breck Marchant and his four-year old son, Kit, are caught in a frighteningly plausible situation that can happen to anyone in today’s world. Ingrid Rowland provides the calm presence that holds these three people together as they struggle to right their lives and survive.
Innocent Hostage is a compelling story with the right amount of twists and turns and red herrings that kept me enthralled and guessing to the last page.
Two years ago, Breck Marchant handed his son, Kit, over to his ex-wife, Tania, even though it tore him apart. She knows all about kids. Thanks to his own upbringing, he hasn’t a clue. But when the boy is held hostage, Breck steps up to the plate. Somehow he’ll make this father thing work and hold down his dangerous job at the same time even though the odds are against him.Ingrid Rowland is Kit’s preschool teacher and she has known Tania for years. As far as she can tell, neither Tania nor Breck know the first thing about being parents. She fears for Kit’s future. When Breck turns to Ingrid for help with his son, she sees a different side of him. As Breck and Ingrid work to protect Kit and hold on to their careers, they begin to work together to fight off a puzzling series of vicious attacks. Then a startling revelation culminates in a murderous turn nobody sees coming.
EXCERPT
Toeing the inside of each stair tread he climbed the stairs that led to the bedrooms. As he got near the top, he hesitated. More perfume, different from the smell of soap powder hung in the air. Tania’s perfume, strong and poignant. It was called Chloe. He ought to know. He’d bought enough of the stuff.
He stopped. Was she here? Had she been here? That stuff lingered for a long time. Their apartment had stunk of it for weeks after she’d left.
“Tania?” he whispered.
A disturbance in the air was his only warning. He ducked as something whizzed over the top of his head. Then he was shoved aside as a dark figure pushed past him. Breck clutched at the banisters, his feet shooting out from under him on the slippery carpet. Shit! Scrambling to his feet, he bounced down the last couple of stairs and chased the stocky figure careening down the hallway.
His quarry wrenched open the front door. Dusk had settled and it was almost dark outside. He managed to grab his attacker’s coat and began reeling in the interloper like a fish. But the man wriggled out of his plastic raincoat and fled towards a blue pick-up truck waiting at the curb. His balding head gleamed under the streetlights. Someone inside the vehicle leaned over and flung open the passenger door, revving the engine just as Breck aimed a solid punch at the back of the attacker’s neck. Reeling against the car door, the man half-collapsed on to the front seat of the truck, his legs hanging out the door. The driver floored the accelerator and the blue truck jerked out from the curb as if the driver was unfamiliar with the gears.
BUY LINKS
The Wild Rose Press - Amazon
Vonnie Hughes is a multi-published author in both Regency books and contemporary suspense. She loves the intricacies of the social rules of the Regency period and the far-ranging consequences of the Napoleonic Code. And with suspense she has free rein to explore forensic matters and the strong convolutions of the human mind. Like many writers, some days she hates the whole process, but somehow she just cannot let it go.Vonnie was born in New Zealand, but she and her husband now live happily in Australia. If you visit Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand be sure to stroll through the Japanese Garden. These is a bronze plaque engraved with a haiku describing the peacefulness of that environment. The poem was written by Vonnie.
All of Vonnie’s books are available on Musa Publishing , The Wild Rose Press , and Amazon .
Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Goodreads .
~yia~
January 31, 2015
Stunning Saturday - Covers
It's been a long time since I've shown some stunning covers on the blog.
From the books I've read so far in 2015:
From books currently reading, these two are my favourite.
From my To Read pile, there's quite a few that catch the eye.
They are all different in style and tone. Most importantly they all deliver a promise of what to expect from the pages within.
Favourite?
Hard to choose but my eye keeps on going back to the last two - The Emperor's Conspiracy - the brightness of the lady against the backdrop of the foggy town, and Unnatural Creatures - The typography is part of the design and not an afterthought along with the framing of the illustrations. It's quite dramatic.
How about you? Which are you drawn to?
~yia~
From the books I've read so far in 2015:
From books currently reading, these two are my favourite.
From my To Read pile, there's quite a few that catch the eye.
They are all different in style and tone. Most importantly they all deliver a promise of what to expect from the pages within.
Favourite?
Hard to choose but my eye keeps on going back to the last two - The Emperor's Conspiracy - the brightness of the lady against the backdrop of the foggy town, and Unnatural Creatures - The typography is part of the design and not an afterthought along with the framing of the illustrations. It's quite dramatic.
How about you? Which are you drawn to?
~yia~
January 25, 2015
Musa (Wenchy) Monday: Sharon Ledwith's Maple Madness Butter Tarts
by Sharon Ledwith
In my book, Legend of the Timekeepers—the prequel to The Last Timekeepers series—my 14-year-old protagonist Lilith is faced with the reality that Atlantis is on the brink of being destroyed, and her family must evacuate their home immediately. While many of us look back on our lives and think—where the heck did the time go?—it doesn’t take a catastrophe like Lilith and her father had to endure to make us realize that life is indeed short, and we’d better be grateful for what we have in the present. The following recipe will make you appreciate the sweet things in your life, and is great to prepare on those cherished afternoons of baking with a loved one.
Maple Madness Butter Tarts
Tart Shells
2 cups (500 mL) all-purpose flour
1 tsp. (5 mL) salt
¾ cup (175 mL) all-vegetable shortening, well chilled (we use CRISCO® Golden All-Vegetable Shortening)
4-8 tbsp. (60-120 mL) ice cold water
Blend flour and salt in medium mixing bowl. Cut ½-inch (1.5 cm) cubes of chilled shortening into flour mixture using a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces remaining.
Sprinkle 4 tbsp. (60 mL) of the ice cold water over the flour mixture. Using a fork, stir and draw flour from bottom of bowl to the top; press chunks down to bottom of bowl with fork. Add more water by the tablespoon, mixing until dough holds together.
Divide dough into two balls. Flatten balls into ½-inch (1.5 cm) thick disks, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes or up to 2 days.
Place ball of dough on lightly floured work surface. With floured rolling pin, roll out thinly from center outward. Cut out 6 rounds with 4” (10 cm) cutter. Repeat with second ball of dough. Fit rounds into 12 medium-sized muffin cups.
Filling
½ cup (125 mL) packed brown sugar
¼ cup (60 mL) pure maple syrup
¼ cup (60 mL) corn syrup
¼ cup (60 mL) all-vegetable shortening
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract
½ tsp (2 mL) salt
¾ cup of raisin or pecans (if desired)
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C)
Combine all filling ingredients except raisins (or pecans); mix well.
Evenly divide raisins (or pecans) into pastry shells.
Fill cups ⅔ full with syrup mixture.
Bake on bottom shelf for 12 to 15 minutes or just until set. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Cool completely before removing from the pan.
Makes 12 Maple Madness butter tarts.
Now, while you’re waiting for your butter tarts to cool, why not partake in an afternoon of cozying up on the couch with a good book? Ready for a trip to Atlantis?
There is no moving forward without first going back.
Lilith was a young girl with dreams and a family before the final destruction of Atlantis shattered those dreams and tore her family apart. Now refugees, Lilith and her father make their home in the Black Land. This strange, new country has no place in Lilith’s heart until a beloved high priestess introduces Lilith to her life purpose—to be a Timekeeper and keep time safe.
Summoned through the seventh arch of Atlantis by the Children of the Law of One, Lilith and her newfound friends are sent into Atlantis’s past, and given a task that will ultimately test their courage and try their faith in each other. Can the Timekeepers stop the dark magus Belial before he changes the seers’ prophecy? If they fail, then their future and the earth’s fate will be altered forever.
To read an excerpt from Legend of the Timekeepers please click here .
Legend of the Timekeepers Buy Links:
MUSA PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀ SMASHWORDS ׀ APPLE
If you haven’t already read Sharon Ledwith's novel,
The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis
, here’s the blurb…
When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, they're given a choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in the overgrown back yard. The arch isn't a forgotten lawn ornament but an ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.
Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers--legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial--Amanda and her classmates are sent on an adventure of a lifetime. Can they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens? If they don't, then history itself may be turned upside down.
To read an excerpt of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis , please click HERE .
BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing - Amazon Link - Barnes & Noble - Kobo
BONUS: Download the free PDF short story The Terrible, Mighty Crystal HERE.
Check out The Last Timekeepers series Facebook Page .
Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, available through Musa Publishing, and is represented by Walden House (Books & Stuff) for her teen psychic series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, yoga, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.
Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter .
In my book, Legend of the Timekeepers—the prequel to The Last Timekeepers series—my 14-year-old protagonist Lilith is faced with the reality that Atlantis is on the brink of being destroyed, and her family must evacuate their home immediately. While many of us look back on our lives and think—where the heck did the time go?—it doesn’t take a catastrophe like Lilith and her father had to endure to make us realize that life is indeed short, and we’d better be grateful for what we have in the present. The following recipe will make you appreciate the sweet things in your life, and is great to prepare on those cherished afternoons of baking with a loved one.
Maple Madness Butter Tarts
Tart Shells2 cups (500 mL) all-purpose flour
1 tsp. (5 mL) salt
¾ cup (175 mL) all-vegetable shortening, well chilled (we use CRISCO® Golden All-Vegetable Shortening)
4-8 tbsp. (60-120 mL) ice cold water
Blend flour and salt in medium mixing bowl. Cut ½-inch (1.5 cm) cubes of chilled shortening into flour mixture using a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces remaining.
Sprinkle 4 tbsp. (60 mL) of the ice cold water over the flour mixture. Using a fork, stir and draw flour from bottom of bowl to the top; press chunks down to bottom of bowl with fork. Add more water by the tablespoon, mixing until dough holds together.
Divide dough into two balls. Flatten balls into ½-inch (1.5 cm) thick disks, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes or up to 2 days.
Place ball of dough on lightly floured work surface. With floured rolling pin, roll out thinly from center outward. Cut out 6 rounds with 4” (10 cm) cutter. Repeat with second ball of dough. Fit rounds into 12 medium-sized muffin cups.
Filling
½ cup (125 mL) packed brown sugar
¼ cup (60 mL) pure maple syrup
¼ cup (60 mL) corn syrup
¼ cup (60 mL) all-vegetable shortening
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract
½ tsp (2 mL) salt
¾ cup of raisin or pecans (if desired)
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C)
Combine all filling ingredients except raisins (or pecans); mix well.
Evenly divide raisins (or pecans) into pastry shells.
Fill cups ⅔ full with syrup mixture.
Bake on bottom shelf for 12 to 15 minutes or just until set. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Cool completely before removing from the pan.
Makes 12 Maple Madness butter tarts.
Now, while you’re waiting for your butter tarts to cool, why not partake in an afternoon of cozying up on the couch with a good book? Ready for a trip to Atlantis?
There is no moving forward without first going back.Lilith was a young girl with dreams and a family before the final destruction of Atlantis shattered those dreams and tore her family apart. Now refugees, Lilith and her father make their home in the Black Land. This strange, new country has no place in Lilith’s heart until a beloved high priestess introduces Lilith to her life purpose—to be a Timekeeper and keep time safe.
Summoned through the seventh arch of Atlantis by the Children of the Law of One, Lilith and her newfound friends are sent into Atlantis’s past, and given a task that will ultimately test their courage and try their faith in each other. Can the Timekeepers stop the dark magus Belial before he changes the seers’ prophecy? If they fail, then their future and the earth’s fate will be altered forever.
To read an excerpt from Legend of the Timekeepers please click here .
Legend of the Timekeepers Buy Links:
MUSA PUBLISHING ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀ SMASHWORDS ׀ APPLE
If you haven’t already read Sharon Ledwith's novel,
The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis
, here’s the blurb…When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, they're given a choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in the overgrown back yard. The arch isn't a forgotten lawn ornament but an ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.
Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers--legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial--Amanda and her classmates are sent on an adventure of a lifetime. Can they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens? If they don't, then history itself may be turned upside down.
To read an excerpt of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis , please click HERE .
BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing - Amazon Link - Barnes & Noble - Kobo
BONUS: Download the free PDF short story The Terrible, Mighty Crystal HERE.Check out The Last Timekeepers series Facebook Page .
Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, available through Musa Publishing, and is represented by Walden House (Books & Stuff) for her teen psychic series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, yoga, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.
Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her website and blog . Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter .
January 24, 2015
Super Sunday
Welcome to the first Super Sunday for 2015!
The quote:
Literature is humanity talking to itself. ~ Norman Rush
The funny:
The drawing:
Having wanted a wacom (drawing tablet) for ages, I finally got one and produced this avatar. Though it has no double chin!
The reading: All the latest reading is happening at my book blog, but the books I've been reading most this week are:
Tapestry
by Fiona McIntosh
Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon (re-read)
Liminal by Maree Anderson
Dressed to Slay by Harper Allen
Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz (Audio)
The editing:Healer's Destiny
Have a great week.
~yia~
The quote:
Literature is humanity talking to itself. ~ Norman Rush
The funny:
The drawing:
Having wanted a wacom (drawing tablet) for ages, I finally got one and produced this avatar. Though it has no double chin!
The reading: All the latest reading is happening at my book blog, but the books I've been reading most this week are:
Tapestry
by Fiona McIntoshCross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon (re-read)
Liminal by Maree Anderson
Dressed to Slay by Harper Allen
Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz (Audio)
The editing:Healer's Destiny
Have a great week.
~yia~
January 18, 2015
Musa (Wenchy) Monday: Emilia Mancini
Today, I have the lovely and cheeky Emilia Mancini in the hot seat.
Professional Misconceptions by Emilia Mancini
My editor side has seen an influx of book submissions with journalists as main characters lately. This is great for me. I love reading about journalists!
I’m a freelance writer for a local magazine in the daylight hours. Yes, I cover features instead of hard news, but I had to go to journalism school for this, and I certainly have to live the journalist life: deadlines that bitch slap the crap out of me, editors who aren’t happy with my story, sitting outside (not exactly stalking) the house of a source who won’t return my calls so I can catch them face-to-face…
So, yeah, I really love reading stories about journalists. I even wrote one as Marci Boudreaux.
But I get a little worked up when I read misrepresentations of reporters. Just this week, I vented to the LLL ladies about this very topic (which lead to this lovely post). Now I know you are writing fiction and things get twisted and turned and exaggerated, but if you are writing contemporary, you have to be somewhat realistic and I’ve found that frequently isn’t happening when journalists are being written into fiction.
I just want to take a moment to clear the air a little so if you are considering using a print journalist as a character in your book (for good or for evil) some of these stereotypical, panty-bunching mistakes aren’t made in your manuscript.
Easily my biggest issue with people writing newspaper articles is using the phrase “this reporter.” As in, “This reporter was told the world is round.” This phrase may have been used 100 years ago, but it isn’t used now. It insinuates the writer into the article, which is completely unprofessional and no newspaper editor would let this in. Ever. Reporters are telling the facts, without opinion, personal interpretation, or commentary…unless they are an opinion columnist.
Reporters don’t have money to throw around. Newspaper reporters make less than 30K per year, maybe 35K if they work for a decent-sized paper, but overall, we are a very poor lot. In
The Messenger
, my main character came from money. She had a nice apartment, clothes, and car because she used her trust fund to get these things. She was the misfit in the news office based on the those with vs. those without mentality of her co-workers. Overall, unless you set it up otherwise, your reporter should drive an average car, shop at average stores, and live in average homes. Sure, there are exceptions, but your everyday newspaper reporter does not drive a Lexus.
Sensational commentary in a news article would never happen. Reporters write facts. They have sources (quotes from experts, witnesses, or validated research) to back up these facts. This is a requirement for making it to print because people like to sue newspapers. Editors will not approve/print scandalous content. Serious reporters aren’t going to insert opinion, personal jabs, or any other commentary.
Newspapers as a whole are broke. This means reporters take their own pictures with the shared office camera and drive their own cars to get the story. Newspapers do not provide photographers to go on assignment with reporters and they don’t provide transportation (though if a reporter is full-time, gas mileage may be reimbursed).
The last time I, or one of my co-workers, wore a suit to an interview was…oh, right, never. Print journalists don’t dress in business suits. At least not your average reporter. Think business casual. Khakis or nice jeans and a semi-dress shirt. A skirt and blouse. One editor I know loves his corduroys, but suits are just not something I’ve seen in the newsroom—except for the publisher, but he’s in business meetings all day with other men/women in suits, so that makes sense.
I know reporters are usually viewed as a force of evil. Some probably are. We share the horrors of the world more than we share the laughs. But, honestly, if the media only covered the good things, the public would criticize them for not being truthful about the events of the world. Most people view reporters as heartless demons who would step over dying babies to get the scoop. The truth is, we’re human, too. Maybe we don’t break down on the scene, but I guarantee you, even the toughest of reporters have gotten emotional over something they covered. Don’t portray your journalist as a one-dimensional heartless story-grabbing asshat. That’s a stereotype that has been overplayed.
Okay, so that kind of wraps up the biggies. The moral of this blog post? Do some research, whether it is a journalist or a doctor you are including in your manuscript. One phone call and a few questions is all you need to make sure you aren’t making crucial mistakes when representing a profession. Most people are more than happy to tell you what their job is really like. All you have to do is ask.
Here's a little teaser from my latest sexy release for your reading pleasure.
It took Kyle one look to realize he wanted to seduce his best friend’s mother. And one kiss to realize he didn't have to.
It was lust at first sight when Kyle met his roommate’s mother Kate. Kyle, a college transfer, was too far from home to visit on short school breaks, so Justin took him to Minneapolis where his mother was serving up a family meal for Thanksgiving.
One look left Kyle with a healthy obsession for Kate which grew with each visit. When he landed an internship in Minneapolis, he moved in with Kate for the summer, and got in touch with his voyeuristic side. It wasn’t until one late evening and a few too many glasses of wine that Kyle began to suspect his attraction wasn’t one-sided.
When he dared to push the issue, he found Kate more than willing to succumb to his seduction.
To read an excerpt from Seducing Kate, please click a vendor's name.
Musa Publishing - Amazon
Emilia Mancini is the naughtier side to author Marci Boudreaux. Emilia stays hidden in the shadows like a nefarious side kick, slipping out only when the stories Marci wants to share are a little too grown up to be called sweet romance.
Seducing Kate is Emilia’s second release and, at least for the moment, her crowning glory.
Be sure to check out the Pinterest board for Seducing Kate .
Visit Emilia on her website . Stay connected on Twitter and Facebook .
Professional Misconceptions by Emilia Mancini
My editor side has seen an influx of book submissions with journalists as main characters lately. This is great for me. I love reading about journalists!
I’m a freelance writer for a local magazine in the daylight hours. Yes, I cover features instead of hard news, but I had to go to journalism school for this, and I certainly have to live the journalist life: deadlines that bitch slap the crap out of me, editors who aren’t happy with my story, sitting outside (not exactly stalking) the house of a source who won’t return my calls so I can catch them face-to-face…
So, yeah, I really love reading stories about journalists. I even wrote one as Marci Boudreaux.
But I get a little worked up when I read misrepresentations of reporters. Just this week, I vented to the LLL ladies about this very topic (which lead to this lovely post). Now I know you are writing fiction and things get twisted and turned and exaggerated, but if you are writing contemporary, you have to be somewhat realistic and I’ve found that frequently isn’t happening when journalists are being written into fiction.
I just want to take a moment to clear the air a little so if you are considering using a print journalist as a character in your book (for good or for evil) some of these stereotypical, panty-bunching mistakes aren’t made in your manuscript.
Easily my biggest issue with people writing newspaper articles is using the phrase “this reporter.” As in, “This reporter was told the world is round.” This phrase may have been used 100 years ago, but it isn’t used now. It insinuates the writer into the article, which is completely unprofessional and no newspaper editor would let this in. Ever. Reporters are telling the facts, without opinion, personal interpretation, or commentary…unless they are an opinion columnist.
Reporters don’t have money to throw around. Newspaper reporters make less than 30K per year, maybe 35K if they work for a decent-sized paper, but overall, we are a very poor lot. In
The Messenger
, my main character came from money. She had a nice apartment, clothes, and car because she used her trust fund to get these things. She was the misfit in the news office based on the those with vs. those without mentality of her co-workers. Overall, unless you set it up otherwise, your reporter should drive an average car, shop at average stores, and live in average homes. Sure, there are exceptions, but your everyday newspaper reporter does not drive a Lexus.Sensational commentary in a news article would never happen. Reporters write facts. They have sources (quotes from experts, witnesses, or validated research) to back up these facts. This is a requirement for making it to print because people like to sue newspapers. Editors will not approve/print scandalous content. Serious reporters aren’t going to insert opinion, personal jabs, or any other commentary.
Newspapers as a whole are broke. This means reporters take their own pictures with the shared office camera and drive their own cars to get the story. Newspapers do not provide photographers to go on assignment with reporters and they don’t provide transportation (though if a reporter is full-time, gas mileage may be reimbursed).
The last time I, or one of my co-workers, wore a suit to an interview was…oh, right, never. Print journalists don’t dress in business suits. At least not your average reporter. Think business casual. Khakis or nice jeans and a semi-dress shirt. A skirt and blouse. One editor I know loves his corduroys, but suits are just not something I’ve seen in the newsroom—except for the publisher, but he’s in business meetings all day with other men/women in suits, so that makes sense.
I know reporters are usually viewed as a force of evil. Some probably are. We share the horrors of the world more than we share the laughs. But, honestly, if the media only covered the good things, the public would criticize them for not being truthful about the events of the world. Most people view reporters as heartless demons who would step over dying babies to get the scoop. The truth is, we’re human, too. Maybe we don’t break down on the scene, but I guarantee you, even the toughest of reporters have gotten emotional over something they covered. Don’t portray your journalist as a one-dimensional heartless story-grabbing asshat. That’s a stereotype that has been overplayed.
Okay, so that kind of wraps up the biggies. The moral of this blog post? Do some research, whether it is a journalist or a doctor you are including in your manuscript. One phone call and a few questions is all you need to make sure you aren’t making crucial mistakes when representing a profession. Most people are more than happy to tell you what their job is really like. All you have to do is ask.
Here's a little teaser from my latest sexy release for your reading pleasure.
.jpg)
It took Kyle one look to realize he wanted to seduce his best friend’s mother. And one kiss to realize he didn't have to.It was lust at first sight when Kyle met his roommate’s mother Kate. Kyle, a college transfer, was too far from home to visit on short school breaks, so Justin took him to Minneapolis where his mother was serving up a family meal for Thanksgiving.
One look left Kyle with a healthy obsession for Kate which grew with each visit. When he landed an internship in Minneapolis, he moved in with Kate for the summer, and got in touch with his voyeuristic side. It wasn’t until one late evening and a few too many glasses of wine that Kyle began to suspect his attraction wasn’t one-sided.
When he dared to push the issue, he found Kate more than willing to succumb to his seduction.
To read an excerpt from Seducing Kate, please click a vendor's name.
Musa Publishing - Amazon
Emilia Mancini is the naughtier side to author Marci Boudreaux. Emilia stays hidden in the shadows like a nefarious side kick, slipping out only when the stories Marci wants to share are a little too grown up to be called sweet romance. Seducing Kate is Emilia’s second release and, at least for the moment, her crowning glory.
Be sure to check out the Pinterest board for Seducing Kate .
Visit Emilia on her website . Stay connected on Twitter and Facebook .
January 11, 2015
Musa (Wenchy) Monday - Sloane Taylor
It's been a while since I had my Musa Mondays, so let's get back to it.
If you're looking for a hot read, the one and only Sloane Taylor is the author for you, who is "Sweet as honey...hotter than hell".
Not only is she a talented author, she's one of the most supportive writers I've ever encountered being one of the two mega-minds behind the Wenches with Words.
Her latest release is the box set of Magnificent Men of Munich.
Icy German reserve melts with hot-blooded American passion.
Heated Negotiations Book 1
Mergers and negotiations are not just for the boardroom, especially when things heat up high over the Atlantic.
Travel agency owner Teddi Howard is Hell in high heels when she jumps a plane to Munich. Her goal—strangle the German tour operator who reneged on their exclusive contract.
Winter Games Book 2
As the games heat up, the stakes grow higher, and Lonnie must decide whether to play along or leave her heart out in the cold.
Lonnie Copley may be a genius, but not when it comes to her personal life. A series of wrong turns puts her far from reality and the German autobahn. The last thing she wants on the eve of a snowstorm is to be dangling at the edge of an Austrian mountain in need of rescue—especially by a leather-clad giant with Johnny Depp eyes.
Perfect Lie Book 3
A seedling of doubt will unravel even a perfect lie.
After two ex-husbands and a con artist, Francine Daniels has had it with men. Her life is finally the way she wants it — successful and complete. At least she thinks so until a working vacation in Munich brings her face to face with a sexy German hotelier who sees right through her brash exterior and makes her sizzle with his every touch.
Yesterday’s Lovers Book 4
Isabella Carrington has never wanted for anything her entire pampered life -- except for love.
No matter how many designer items she buys or men she conquers, Isabella Carrington never seems to find what she's looking for. When she meets the one man in the world completely unaffected by her charms, she is determined to have him, even if it means a dunk in the Grand Canal.
Available from Musa Publishing and Amazon
And guess what? - you can get a FREE read of her short story, All Roads Lead to Luca.
Go Musa!! I've got my copy. :)
For more of Sloane's books, check out her website.Twitter FacebookGoogle +Goodreads
~yia~
If you're looking for a hot read, the one and only Sloane Taylor is the author for you, who is "Sweet as honey...hotter than hell".
Not only is she a talented author, she's one of the most supportive writers I've ever encountered being one of the two mega-minds behind the Wenches with Words.
Her latest release is the box set of Magnificent Men of Munich.
Icy German reserve melts with hot-blooded American passion.
Heated Negotiations Book 1
Mergers and negotiations are not just for the boardroom, especially when things heat up high over the Atlantic.
Travel agency owner Teddi Howard is Hell in high heels when she jumps a plane to Munich. Her goal—strangle the German tour operator who reneged on their exclusive contract.
Winter Games Book 2
As the games heat up, the stakes grow higher, and Lonnie must decide whether to play along or leave her heart out in the cold.
Lonnie Copley may be a genius, but not when it comes to her personal life. A series of wrong turns puts her far from reality and the German autobahn. The last thing she wants on the eve of a snowstorm is to be dangling at the edge of an Austrian mountain in need of rescue—especially by a leather-clad giant with Johnny Depp eyes.
Perfect Lie Book 3
A seedling of doubt will unravel even a perfect lie.
After two ex-husbands and a con artist, Francine Daniels has had it with men. Her life is finally the way she wants it — successful and complete. At least she thinks so until a working vacation in Munich brings her face to face with a sexy German hotelier who sees right through her brash exterior and makes her sizzle with his every touch.
Yesterday’s Lovers Book 4
Isabella Carrington has never wanted for anything her entire pampered life -- except for love.
No matter how many designer items she buys or men she conquers, Isabella Carrington never seems to find what she's looking for. When she meets the one man in the world completely unaffected by her charms, she is determined to have him, even if it means a dunk in the Grand Canal.
Available from Musa Publishing and Amazon
And guess what? - you can get a FREE read of her short story, All Roads Lead to Luca.
Go Musa!! I've got my copy. :)
For more of Sloane's books, check out her website.Twitter FacebookGoogle +Goodreads
~yia~
Eleni's Taverna
The blog of fantasy and paranormal author, Eleni Konstantine.
- Eleni Konstantine's profile
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