Sarah Cass's Blog: Sarah's StoryLines, page 29

Friday Focus – Meet Author Gray Dixon

Personal

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Gray Dixon is my nom de plume for the erotica—hot, sexy stories for the adult crowd—I write. I love walks along the beach at sunset, a glass of wine over a romantic dinner and a night of love.

Okay, that sounded like something I’d write. On the serious side, I’m married to my Dear Heart for many years, have the 2.1 children according to statistics, a dog or two (depends on how I feel when I visit the pet rescue center), a couple of fish (they’re easy to take care of), a big yard with lots of fruit trees (I like organic gardening), two cars and a house (both two much to take care of when I want to write). Overall, I like a lot of different things—crafting, watching the History Channel, reality shows (not all, but some), travel, and writing. I have a few skeletons in my closet, but I’ll never tell. I’ve worked hard all my life in many interesting career paths and enjoyed all of them. Writing and getting published, however, has topped all my previous endeavors. I love creating new worlds and living in them for a brief time before moving on to the next one.

Do you laugh at your own jokes?Yeah, I do.
Have you ever found true love? Yes, I married him.
Do you have a saying or motto for your life and/or as a writer? People’s lives change daily, be prepared.


What is something you never leave home without (apart from keys, phone, money, and ID)? Business Cards.
Where can people find you on the web? Where can they read more about your books?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gray.dixon.50

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrayDixon

Between the Pages of Black and White… Blog: http://graydixon.blogspot.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/25504491-gray-dixon

YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdQx7aa87kRVpa0XdjG4Tzw

Your Novel

What is your book about?

Master Marshal is the fourth book in the Masters of Tabu series. As the tagline states, a cowboy and a supermodel hook up and passion ignites. Shane Marshal inherited his family’s cattle ranch and struggles to keep it out of the red, financially. He is also a co-owner in Club Tabu which he doesn’t get to visit often because he works almost every waking hour to keep the ranch going. With the help of his friends, he turns the property into a working dude ranch, with BDSM activities for additional revenue.

 

In walks Sharon Berger, aka Valentina Halston the supermodel. But, Shane doesn’t know she’s famous in the fashion world. She’s there to find rest and relaxation with a little fun to escape the paparazzi and get over her cheating ex-boyfriend.

 

Therein begins the fun and naughtiness.

Are the names of the characters in your novel important? I strive to find the perfect names to fit the characters I have in my head. All the characters in the Masters of Tabu series came to me quickly and I never changed them.
How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book? All of them have bits and pieces of me.
What was your favorite part or chapter, and why? The rope scene. Sensual and really enjoyed writing it. I wanted to put one in this story after watching a few rope suspension scene at a club.

Writing

How many stories are swirling around in your head? Do you keep a mental list, a computer file, or a spiral notebook filled with the ideas? I’m already thinking about adding a few more to the Masters, but they might end up a new series. I keep notes and ideas in a journal I refer to often. If I’m out of the house and an idea strikes, I type it into my phone notes and transcribe when I get back to my laptop.
What are you working on now? I’m working on Book 5, Master Dragon. He’s a bad boy and can’t wait to delve into his character.

Fun (Crazy, odd questions just for fun)

Have you ever gone out in public in mis-matched shoes, or with your shirt on backward, and when you realized it just said ‘eh, screw it’? Many times I’ve had embarrassing moments with wardrobe malfunctions. Like, several buttons opened on a shirt, the lining to a see-thru skirt or dress up around my waist and me baring everything, or once I lost a garter and didn’t know until the stocking started inching down my thigh. Real good times.
Are you a neat freak? Or clutter-bound? Used to be neat freak, but as I’ve grown older and clutter bug because I’m always writing!
You were just given a yacht. What would you name it? Excite Me
If you were a Star Trek® or Star Wars® character, which one would you be? More Star Trek than Star Wars. I love space exploration and when growing up, I wanted to be an astronaut. The best I’ll ever do is maybe one day write about traveling in space.
If parents say ‘never take candy from strangers’ then why do we trick or treat? Great marketing years ago by the candy companies.

Quick Questions

Sing in the rain or dance in the streets? Sing in the rain
Pen or pencil? Pen, I do crossword puzzles in pen.
Summer or Winter? Summer, hate the cold.
Movies or TV? Movies
Theater or DVD? DVD
Rural or Urban? Tough one, done both and like something about each
Facial hair or clean shaven? Clean shaven
Marvel or DC? I’m not into either
Cowboy or Bad Boy? Oh, I have to choose?
Sunrise or Sunsent? Both are beautiful, but I’m a night person, not morning, so sunsets.
Fall leaves or Spring flowers? Spring flowers
Peanut butter or jelly? Peanut butter
Spender or Saver? Saver

 

*~*~*~*

| Amazon | SCP |

BLURB:

A cowboy and a supermodel ignite unbridled passion in the Texas heat.

Shane Marshal struggles to keep his family’s cattle ranch above financial flood waters. With help from friends, he turns the homestead into a BDSM retreat. He can’t keep his mind on business when a single woman from New York with legs to infinity arrives. To tamp down his lustful thoughts, he goes out of his way to give her grief, but she doesn’t flinch. He needs a new strategy.

Valentina Halston, a high fashion model, changed her name from Sharon Berger to hide her past. After finding her boyfriend in delicato with another model, she books a vacation at a dude ranch with BDSM activities in search of change. Rest and relaxation, fresh air, no phones, no paparazzi, and no cheating boyfriend sounded perfect. Instead, she finds more than she could imagine.

EXCERPT:

Kneeling closer, he enfolded his arms around her back and drew her back against his chest. Leaning toward her mouth, he noted her eyes closing.

Shane lowered his mouth and captured those delectable parting lips. He swirled the tip of his tongue inside, discovering every tiny inch of the wet warmth. She didn’t resist and neither did she change her position. He deepened the caress causing his body to react, his erection pressing harder against his tightening jeans. He longed to restrain her, whip her, and finally take her places he could only imagine as a mind-blowing fuck.

What the hell was he thinking? How many times had he told himself he couldn’t get involved with her over the past twenty-four hours? He knew better and reined in his hyper-drive Dom to release her.

Her eyes fluttered open. “Wow,” she gasped. “You were so—so incredible. Do all cowboys kiss that way?”

He chuckled. “I’m not sure about other cowboys.” Shane grinned and glanced over at the other couple to make sure he hadn’t disturbed them. “Glad you liked it. I do pride myself in delivering my all in a kiss.” He winked.

Sharon pursed her lips. “There’s no shame with you, is there?”

“Nope.”

“All this confidence comes from experience? How many women have you had?”

He cocked his head and crinkled his brow. “Darlin’, I don’t kiss and tell. Now, back in position.” He slid along the blanket until he positioned himself behind Sharon. He wrapped his hands around her waist. “Are you comfortable?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice fluttered. “Not really. My knees hurt.”

“Thank you for being honest. This can’t be your first time, darlin’. Lean back on your heels and spread your knees wider.”

“I can’t—”

Hump Day Hook 53 – Santa, Maybe

Back to Hump Day Hook!

Back with my (first ever) contemporary romance, which will be releasing soon.

Ivy and Alan’s first meeting after eight years didn’t go so well. Alan learned Ivy had a daughter and assumed, because of the girls dark hair, that Ivy had kept his own child from him.  Ivy is furious that he made this assumption, that she would keep a child from him.  She, and his mother, have told Alan that the child was fathered by another man, Justin.  The man she was sort of dating the last time Alan and Ivy saw each other. Alan has come to ‘apologize’ but doesn’t do so well:

“And where is Justin? Why isn’t he defending himself?” Alan folded his arms across his chest.

The venom faded at the mention of Justin. She backed off and turned away. Angry as she was at him, she wasn’t about to let him see the grief she still carried. “He’s gone.”

“Convenient.”

She straightened her back. “No. It really isn’t.”

“Of course it is. For him.”

“He’s dead, you asshole. Get out of my studio.”

*~*

 

Hump Day Hook asks authors to post one paragraph of one of their stories, whether a WIP, one contracted, or already published.  Please visit and comment on the participants – you might just stumble on the next great read for your library!  To see more participants, click on the HDH banner below:

 

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Don’t forget, even though I’m not hooking them any longer, my Dominion Falls Series is still happily out there.

Changing Tracks

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Derailed











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Dark Territory

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Best of Tuesday Tales

Over the next couple of months with the holidays we’re doing some “Best of” weeks with Tuesday Tales. We pick the best, or our favorite, Tuesday Tales from our run in the group and post those instead of using a word prompt.

I thought for my first “best of” I’d go back to the beginning. My first week in Tuesday Tales I started this story. With my insanely busy year in publishing I haven’t had time to finish up this first chapter of the Hybrid stories, but it still holds a dear place for me and I hope to get back to it in 2014.

Without further ado, I invite you to revisit Hybrid…my first ever Tuesday Tales post which used the prompt: Light.

The high pitched whine of a delivery truck’s brakes penetrated the sanctuary of peace I’d built. Heavy footsteps plodded through the snow, a shadowy form growing larger through the intricate frosted glass.

Tension started to wind its way through each of my relaxed muscles. The calm center I’d managed to find popped like a bubble at the peal of our insanely loud doorbell.

So much for meditation.

With the kids at school and husband at work I thought maybe I could manage to find peace and quiet for five minutes. That’s what I get for making plans.

“I could try again.” Even as I said it, I knew it was just too much work.

Besides, curiosity tugged my attention toward the door.  Despite last year’s mad obsession with the home shopping channels, I’d been very good about not buying a whole lot this year. I couldn’t recall ordering anything in the past week.

Maybe Darren had ordered something.

I snorted as I rose to my feet.  Darren wouldn’t order anything online. Doesn’t trust the internet, big brother, or the space needle. I have always thought it was adorable, really. The man didn’t even own a smartphone.

Everyone owns smartphones. Even everyone in the government he’s so afraid of.

I pulled open the door and found a small box, hardly worth shipping via the big shipping company. Addressed to Carolyn Riese. Me. Return address, oddly smudged until unreadable.

My hackles raised and I glanced around the quiet neighborhood.

Nothing out of the ordinary caught my eye, but my nerves stayed on edge. Winter covered every naked branch and home, covering the world in white silence. A loud scream from a hawk made me jump out of my skin. I found it high in a tree.

Despite the risk of a neighbor seeing I let my third lid blink so I could see beyond the normal. The moment the membrane restored my inhuman sight the world around me changed. Light shimmered and echoed through each snowflake until the ground itself was as blinding as the sun.

Rays of red light streamed down from the tree, echoing sun-dogs in its effect. The red-tailed hawk had revealed itself to be a phoenix.

They were watching me.

If I ignored the package, the consequence could be great.

“It’s only been fifteen years.”

The phoenix turned its head at my complaint, fiery wings flapping before it lifted into the air and soared toward me.

I snatched the box from the porch and slammed the door before he got too close. The box settled in my lap as I sank to the floor. It couldn’t be.

There was still an option to ignore the box, but if I did they’d turn my life upside down in worse ways than I could imagine.

I couldn’t let that happen.

*~*

Hope you enjoyed it!  Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!

Sunday Snippet 12 – Changing Tracks

Welcome back to the Weekend Writing Warriors!

I’m still keeping you all intrigued with the beginning of the series Changing Tracks (The Dominion Falls Series book 1).

I’m diving into Cole’s POV for you. At the moment Jane has been ignoring him for a week because of a conversation she overheard.  Her stubbornness wouldn’t let him explain it, and her stubbornness keeps her from speaking to him.  At the moment, Cole has spotted her passing by on her way to the library and we see just how much she’s gotten under his skin:

Ever since the first time she’d submitted to his kiss, he’d wanted more. More of her. All of her.

So why hadn’t he taken it? She gave him plenty of opportunities, but he restrained himself. Settling for the incredible passion she laced into every kiss had somehow been enough. The passion that showed she could be the best woman he’d ever had, far from submissive—no, she’d fight for what she wanted.

Yes, he wanted more.

*~*

Did you like this sample, too?  You can pick up the whole series now!!

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Head back on over to the Weekend Writing Warriors to read many more wonderful offerings!

Friday Focus – Meet Fiona McGier

Personal

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’ve always had stories swirling around in my brain; until recently I thought everyone did.  When I’m not actively talking or thinking about what I’m doing, the characters start showing me scenes in their lives, demanding I tell their stories so they can live in the heads of readers also.

Have you ever found true love?

I met my husband over 30 years ago at a 60s party thrown by a mutual friend.  I drank a lot too much beer, so my brother carried me out of the party that night, fireman-style, while I yelled over his butt, “You there, cute boy!  Remember, party at our house next weekend!  Be there!”  He came to that party and never left.   We’ve loved and supported each other through raising 4 kids, and the loss of 3 of our parents.  He’s my soul-mate.

Your Novel

 

What about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I like to write about strong women who are living independent lives.  They’re not looking to fall in love, but are willing to have a hot encounter with a sexy man.  I don’t like alpha-hole men, so my heroes generally appear to be betas…until the chips are down or their woman is threatened.  Then they will move Heaven and earth to protect her. Sigh…

What inspired you to write this particular story?

When I finished my previous book, For The Love  Of His Life, the epilogue ended with Dmitri, the cousin that Ivan sent to convince the scary red-headed biked queen to forget about her promise to hunt down the famous actor and force him to have sex with her, deciding to stay and try to “tame a wildcat”.  At that point I had no plans to write another book with these characters, but after I wrote that last line, Dmitri and the biker queen started to urgently tell me their story, so I had to write it.

How did you choose your title?

I like to use puns or double entendres in the titles.  I’ve been dismayed more than once after choosing the perfect title, to search for it on Amazon and find lots of other books with that same exact title!  So I work to create unique titles. In For The Love Of His Life, the hero, Raul, learns to love himself, as well as the woman he falls in love with.  In Only One  Man Will Do,  the heroine,  Alexandra, learns that not only can she be happy with only one man for the rest of her life, but that Dmitri is the only one who can thrill her for the long term.

How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book?

Ooh, tricky question.  One of my closest friends, who was a roommate after college, says that when she reads my books it’s like sitting and chatting with me…she can hear my voice narrating the story to her.  I guess that’s what gets called the author’s “voice”.

Writing

What are you working on now?

The epilogue in Only One Man Will Do has Raul telling Ivan that they need to find a woman for him.  He smiles and says he’ll wait, leading Raul to tease him, asking him if he expects that someday she’ll just walk in the door of his resort.  He says “yes”.  When I wrote those words, I suddenly knew who was going to star in the next sequel.  I never set out to write a series, but I get so fond of the characters that I want them all to have a HEA.  Plus I respond to the ones who make the most noise in my head.

Have you written any other books?

I have a series of 6 books about the members of a large Hispanic family, and the people they all find to complete them.  The Reyes Family Romances was my first series, and one of the books, # 4 in the order, is a free download at: http://www.smashwords.com/b/18367.  I’ve also written 2 female spy novels that just got re-issued as a 2-in-1 eBook for only $3.99 for 2 complete novels. I wrote 2 stand-alone romances, and then a series of 2 books about the return of Mayan alien vampires and how their plot to destroy humanity gets foiled–these are also romances!

Fun (Crazy, odd questions just for fun)

Someday I want to: 

Be able to retire and get a small camper to travel around the country with my husband, maybe taking any grandbabies that might come along, with us. 

Quick Questions

Pen or pencil?


I even do crosswords in pen.


Summer or Winter?

Summer, when going camping is so easy, and the outdoors is so wonderful!

Rural or Urban?

Rural-I don’t like big cities.

Facial hair or clean shaven?

Barely-growing in facial hair…and a mustache.

Marvel or DC?

Marvel, of course!  Have you seen any of the recent spate of super-hero movies?  Those are MY favorites!   I’m a sci-fi and action movie nerd and proud of it!

***************

  Blurb: For The Love Of His Life

Can a sexy Hispanic action movie star find himself in the BWCA of upper Minnesota? Will the local woman he grows to love believe someone who “lies for a living”?

Buy Links:

 http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?...

 

http://www.amazon.com/For-Love-His-Li...

 

Blurb: Only One Man Will Do

Tough-as-nails businesswoman by day, Alexandra is a biker queen by night. When a large Russian man inserts himself into her life, she follows her instincts to some explosive sex.  But he’s not willing to share her with her gang, and she’s not willing to give up other men.  When two of her bikers are killed, Dmitri is the main suspect.  How far is he willing to go to keep her to himself?  And has she really fallen in love for the first time ever…with a murderer?

 

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Only-One-Man-Wi...

 

 

Excerpt from Only One Man Will Do:

 

Alexandra is attending the yearly charity ball at her father’s country club. She told Dmitri she was going alone, because he’s too “rough” and wouldn’t “fit in”.

Alexandra was so busy with her thoughts that she didn’t hear her Father approaching her from behind.  When he cleared his throat she turned and almost swallowed her tongue.

“Alex, I’ve been looking for you all over!  I know you don’t like when I introduce you to men not directly in our business, but this man here represents a conglomerate of interests from Russia.  They aren’t big in the US market yet, but if they ever get to the point where they need our expertise, it would be nice if we knew we would be in the running at least for an interview.  Isn’t that right, Dmitri?”

Dmitri was wearing a European-styled power suit so tailored to him that it had to have been hand-made.  It was flawless and hugged every part of his body, accentuating his broad shoulders and tapered waist.  The trousers had generous pleats in the front for a smoother line, amply covering up what Alexandra knew was under them, making her mouth go dry as she forced herself to not stare.  His shoes looked to be hand-tooled Italian leather oxfords, and his conservative tie was held in place by a tack that had a diamond encrusted on it.  As he held out his hand to shake hers, Alexandra idly noticed that the cufflinks on his sleeves had the same diamonds on them as his tie tack.  The overall impression she got from looking at him was that this was a man born to wealth, who only walked among the plebeians when he had to; otherwise he stayed on Mt. Olympus, within his own social group.

She tried to speak, but had no voice.  She cleared her throat and tried again, her hand still held in Dmitri’s massive paw as both men waited patiently for her to acknowledge him.

“I’m please to meet you, mister…” she began then turned to her Dad, her hand still being held.  “What did you say his name was?”

“Dmitri Illyanovich,” her Father smiled at the man.  “I did pronounce it right, didn’t I?”

For Dad to be so ingratiating, he’s totally under Dmitri’s spell!  Either that, or I’ve been played for a fool in a major way.  What the fuck?

     Alexandra felt her face begin to hurt as the fake smile she was wearing caused muscle fatigue.  Her eyes searched Dmitri’s face but he kept up the act of having never met her before.

****

Copyright 2013, Fiona McGier

 

Find out more about all of my books, including excerpts, reviews and buy links, along with a free erotic short story at my website: http://www.fionamcgier.com

 

 

Travels with Gannon & Wyatt, Review & Giveaway!

We LOVE reading in this house.

I mean really, REALLY love it.

The day I told the girls I had brand new books for them to read was a party and a half. They were so excited, and when we cracked open the books from the “Travels with Gannon & Wyatt” series it was all over.

I mean, it’s ANIMALS!

The girls immediately dove in and scanned for pictures first, because the pictures of the live animals (the alligator was a big hit for our little alligator), and they couldn’t wait to see every one of them.

Once they’d settled down we sat down to read.

The stories are told in journal form, with separate entries by both Gannon & Wyatt, which make for short “chapters” perfect for my ADD readers.

I also love that each of the entries start with a great learning opportunity (or 2).  They list the location – with a longitude and latitude. Temperatures and weather listings are there too.  These gave me and the girls some great chances to talk about what these things are, and find a map (~cough~ or a computer ~cough~) to look them all up. Of course, there’s all the animals, which my kids LOVE.  Oh, and at the end, there’s a few pages with spots for journal entries.  The girls are dying to take a trip to the zoo to use them!

Kennedy got to read first and eagerly dove in, and by the time she was home, she was dragging Molly over to join her.

Hearing Kennedy say words like “Botswana” and “Kalahari Dessert” at her young age, is so much fun. She’s having fun, she’s reading, and she’s learning.

Kennedy has taken a shining to the Botswana book.  It has all the animals she loves. Elephants, alligators, rhinos and cheetah’s.

We love sitting down and devouring chapters as fast as she can.

I have a feeling these books are going to be long lasting around here, so much to read and learn, and the older they get, the more they’ll understand!

As you can see below, the girls HIGHLY recommend the books and want you to win a set of your own. (Look below the picture for how to win)

Gannon & Wyatt have a Facebook Page and a Twitter account you should really follow to keep up on their latest adventures!!

Giveaway Time!!

Entry is easy…

1. Leave a comment telling me what you love about these books and why you want them for your kid!! (required entry)

2. For an extra entry, tweet the following exactly (copy & paste should do it). ~optional extra entry

Travels with @GannonandWyatt, a review & a #Giveaway. Great books w/ learning opportunities! #GannonWyatt http://bit.ly/1ej1dZG @sadiecass

3. Pin this post using the giveaway picture & leave a comment with the link to the pin! ~optional extra entry

That’s it!  The giveaway ends on 11/25 at 9AM. The winner will only have 24 hours to get back to me, as I must turn in your info by the 26th!  There will be no second chances, as I have a deadline!

You should also know that Gannon & Wyatt are having a Kindle Fire Giveaway on their Facebook Page the month of November!! There’s still time to enter, so head on over!!

 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Tuesday Tales – Loose – Kat’s Story

The prompt this week is Loose.

This week I’m sticking with Kat’s story…just a little while after last weeks.  For those that have read my Dominion Falls series, you’ll recognize a couple of characters here.  Cole is my hero in those stories, and in Derailed we learn he and Kat shared a past…but not just yet, Katherine is just 15 in this scene…although as he points out – 15 isn’t so young in 1861…

A sharp whistle pulled Katherine out of her own thoughts, and she tugged the reins on instinct. The moment she realized the culprit behind the whistle was Cole Mitchell, she wished she hadn’t stopped. The man always left her flustered and beside herself. When she’d first started to notice boys, both Cole and her sisters fiancé, David, had captured her imaginings.

Nowadays David was long gone, but in recent months Cole had begun to speak directly to her on regular occasions. It infuriated her mother, and gave Katherine a disturbing, secret little thrill. Rumors of how well-pleased Cole’s women of ill-repute were kept flew fast and easy in a camp like this.

Ashamed that such thoughts should dare to cross her mind, Katherine tried to again reclaim her wits as Cole stopped just near her right foot. “May I assist you in some way, Mr. Mitchell?”

“Fine looking horse ya got there.” Cole’s lip curved into a knowing smirk. “You enjoying your bribe?”

Heat rushed to her cheeks and she narrowed her eyes. “I beg your pardon?”

“Blizzard. She’s a bribe with a hell of a price tag. You did know that, didn’t ya?”

“Blizzard?”

“The horse. That was her name when I was training her. Why, what did ya name her?” He chuckled. “Let me guess. Somethin’ real pretty like Snowy or Princess.”

Her short, angry huffs of breath formed into steam in the cold air and she lifted her chin to hide the way she had to blink back her tears. Rather than tell him what she’d named the horse she spoke through her clenched jaw. “You trained her?”

“Of course. Who else is gonna train a horse in this camp? Especially a wild one like this beast was.” He rubbed the horses flank and nodded. “I knew she was going to you, though, so I kept a little wild in her. I think ya got some wild in you that ain’t been unleashed yet.”

“I think you’re speaking far too inappropriately.”

“Fifteen is the right age. Can’t tell ya how many women find themselves then. Got three girls now that are near-sixteen. Besides, your parents are marrying you off at fifteen. Guess it ain’t so inappropriate after all.”

“I am not a whore, nor will I be.” She drew up straight, trying to process what he’d said. “And my parents aren’t marrying me off so young.”

“It ain’t so young. And yeah, they are.” He shrugged. “What do ya think the horse is for?”

Katherine pondered the quiet conversation she’d witnessed back at the house. The timing of Powder’s arrival didn’t make her a gift for birthday or Christmas. The talk of going to Denver permanently, and the courting she’d been forced to take part in when they did visit.

“So your Pa didn’t tell you yet.” Cole clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Such a shame too. Gonna waste your whole life on a marriage of convenience.”

“What do you know of marriage anyhow?” Katherine tried to put venom into her tone, but instead it trembled dangerously close to tears. “My parents marriage is good.”

“I know more’n you’d think, and your parents eloped. Heard from your Pa himself, they liked each other. You got a guy you like, Kathy?”

“My name is Katherine.”

“I like Kathy. Suits ya better.”

On Katherine’s left a door slammed open. Her sister, Martha, stormed into the street. Her light brown hair had begun to gray already after the stresses of the past two years. It flew out of her bun in unruly strands as she rushed toward Katherine and Cole. “Cole Mitchell, you get on away from her! Katherine Marie Daugherty, what do you think you’re doing speaking to the likes of him?”

“This is all your fault, Martha.” Katherine spat the words before she could think too hard on what she was saying. “And I have always spoken to Mr. Mitchell, it’s polite.”

“Katherine! How is it my fault you’re speaking with a man that keeps loose women. You know he only wants to make you one. I’ve heard him saying it.” Martha narrowed her eyes at the man who only grinned in response.

“I’d bet anything he’s said such things because you can hear them and you are impossible.” Katherine swung out of her saddle and dropped right down onto the frozen street to meet her older sister’s angry stance with one of her own. “All of this is your fault. The horse, the arranged marriage. All because you couldn’t keep your legs together around a damned red man.”

“Katherine!” Martha’s jaw dropped, and Cole’s laughter rang through the street, drawing more attention their way. “You’d best watch your—”

“I will not! You are the cause for my whole life changing.” Tears burned at the back of Katherine’s eyes as the full weight of what Cole had suggested hit her. To be married off to a virtual stranger, to lose even more of the life she loved here in Dominion Falls. “Because of you, everything is changing. Don’t you dare tell me to be silent because it’s all your fault. You left a good man to be a whore to a red man—”

Katherine’s cheek stung seconds before she registered Martha had slapped her. She clasped her hand over the sore cheek and stared at Martha.

“Hey now.” Cole stepped out from under Powder’s neck and positioned himself in front of Katherine. “Don’t go beatin’ your sister for bein’ honest.”

“I’ll have you know,” Martha began. “That she is a child. She shouldn’t be saying such things when she knows nothing about them.”

“She’s no child. Your parents are gonna have her wed before the end of the year if they can, just so she don’t mix with riff raff. And she’s got a point. Wouldna happened if you hadn’t taken up with an Injun.”

“Lewis is emancipated.” Martha all but hissed, her hand twitching like she was going to slap him too. “Practically white.”

“Only with his paint on, Martha. Ain’t no way he’s ever gonna be one of us.”

Katherine backed up, but bumped into Powder. Married by the end of the year? That was barely over two months away. It couldn’t be. She spun and gripped the pommel to lift herself back into the saddle. Before she got far, she was lifted the rest of the way and Cole slapped Powder’s flank over Martha’s protests.

Without time for even a nod of gratitude in Cole’s direction, Katherine leaned over and let Powder race her out of town toward the small settlement of homes starting to sprout up north of town. She didn’t dare go too far for fear of Indians, but she would run until she found somewhere to hole up and think.

She couldn’t get married. Not now. Not in Denver.

She’d barely begun to live.

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Sunday Snippet 11 – Changing Tracks

Welcome back to the Weekend Writing Warriors!

I’m still keeping you all intrigued with the beginning of the series Changing Tracks (The Dominion Falls Series book 1).

This week Jane and Cole discuss the favorite filly in Cole’s stable (or rather, the favorite until Jane came along).  Daisy Pearson, is known about town as the “doctorin’ whore.”:

“She refuses to talk about what happened before she became a whore, even though I’ve asked her a few times.” A smile tugged at her lips. “I admit I’m more than curious how you managed to get a doctor to agree to be a whore.”

“I got good negotiating skills.”

“Liar.”

Cole laughed and nodded. At least she wasn’t so tired that she couldn’t peg him with the truth. “She had nowhere else to turn.”

 

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Did you like this sample, too?  You can pick up the whole series now!!

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Head back on over to the Weekend Writing Warriors to read many more wonderful offerings!

Along Came Pauly by Chris Redding

| Amazon |

Blurb:

A contemporary romance about a dog that brings two people together who don’t want to be. She’s a vegetarian veterinarian who needs cash for a no-kill shelter. He’s the heir to a hot dog fortune who must give away money before he gains his inheritance. Sounds like a perfect match. It isn’t.

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Excerpt:

     She didn’t have time to soothe his ego. If he couldn’t understand about animal emergencies than she couldn’t explain it to him.

Not now. Not ever.

Running down the steps in front of the hotel, she stumbled. When she landed upright, the heel of one shoe broke. “Damn. Cheap shoes.” She pulled them off, standing in her stockinged feet.

She gave the valet her ticket then waited for her car. A light drizzle, dropping the temperature. She shivered hoping the valet hadn’t parked too her car far away from her.

After what seemed like an eternity, the young man pulled up. She shook his hand, slipping him some bills for his trouble. At least she tried. She ended up dropping the bills. He reached for the money the same time she did. Her shoulder hit him in the eye.

“Ouch.”

“I’m sorry.”

The parking guy managed to stay on his feet. Daria landed on her butt in a puddle. Another dress ruined. “How about I let you get the money?”

“Can I help you up?”

“Maybe you better not.”

 

Friday Focus – Patricia Kiyono

Personal

Can you tell us a little about yourself? I’m a mom of five, grandmother of nine, and I like to keep busy! But sometimes I’m so busy that I get very unorganized.
What do you like to read? What’s your favorite genre? I love to read romance, either historical or contemporary.
What’s your favorite place, real or fictional? I would love to be able to visit Robyn Carr’s Virgin River. It’s full of strong, honorable men and equally strong, resourceful women!
What’s the best thing you’ve done in your life? I think my greatest achievement has been to raise two intelligent and talented daughters, guiding them into motivated, compassionate adults.
What has changed for you personally since you wrote your first book? I used to wonder how I’d find story lines to write, but now I can’t find enough hours in the day to flesh out all the ideas that pop into my head!
Where can people find you on the web? Where can they read more about your books? Readers can find out more about me and my books on my website, blog, facebook, and twitter @PatriciaKiyono

 

Your Novel

What inspired you to write this particular story? I wanted to write a Christmas book and was mulling over ideas this past spring. My youngest daughter, aged twenty-six, announced she planned to quite her lucrative job as a technical writer for a very successful industrial firm and move to southern California and try her hand as a screenwriter. My husband and I don’t want her to go, but we can’t stop her from pursuing her dream. So I did the next best thing – I made her the main character in my story!
Are the names of the characters in your novel important? Since the story is set in west Michigan, several characters as well as the names of the towns have Dutch names. That’s because immigrants from the Netherlands settled the area between Holland and Grand Rapids in the 19th century, and there are still several Dutch language churches and organizations.
How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book? There is a LOT of me in Sophie – I directed many Christmas programs both as a music teacher and as a mom helping out in my kids’ Sunday School. I also toyed with the idea of trying to “make it big” in the big city, but decided I’m better suited for a quiet family life in the ‘burbs.
You got the call – your novel is being made into a TV series or movie – who’s in your dream cast? I think Amanda Seyfried would make a good Sophie, and I’d love to see Jake Gyllenhaal as Mitch.

Writing

Are you a pantser or a plotter? I guess I’m more of a plotter. When I try to write without a plan I tend to go off in too many unrelated directions. I need to have a clear idea of where the story is headed and an idea of how the characters will get there. Sometimes the characters surprise me, but for the most part I stay with my outline.
Are there any occupational hazards to being an author? I suppose being sedentary is the worst hazard for me. In order to write I have to research, and then I have to brainstorm, research some more, and then I have to actually do the writing. All of this involves sitting. I’m not an active person anyway, so my doctor is continually telling me to get up and move.
Where do you get your ideas? I start with the conflict – I know that’s not the route most authors take! I take a problem –external one, like the production of a church Christmas pageant. Then I create characters who are affected by that problem, and give them each an internal conflict, such as Mitch’s insecurity as a single parent and Sophie’s desire to “make it big”. Finding conflicts is not difficult – I just watch the news!
Have you written any other books? I’ve published seven other romances. Three are historicals (The Samurai’s Garden, The Patridge and the Peartree, and Love’s Refrain) and four are contemporary (The Legacy, Aegean Intrigue, The Christmas Phoenix, and The Calico Heart, co-authored with Stephanie Michels).

 

Quick Questions

Sing in the rain or dance in the streets? Neither. I’m totally an indoors kid.
Pen or pencil? Pencil. I make too many mistakes.
Summer or Winter? Summer!
Movies or TV?  TV. I can’t sit still long enough to watch a movie!
Theater or DVD? Theater!
Rural or Urban? Rural for living, Urban for entertainment. I guess the ‘burbs are a good fit.
Facial hair or clean shaven?  I’m not picky about that, as long as the facial hair is neat and trimmed.
Marvel or DC?  DC
Cowboy or Bad Boy? Cowboy.
Sunrise or Sunset?  Sunrise
Fall leaves or Spring flowers?  Fall leaves
Peanut butter or jelly? Peanut butter
Spender or Saver? Saver

 

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| Amazon | BN |

Blurb:

Mitch Carson is tired of the big city. In his former life, he’d been a news photographer in Chicago, where the dangers are endless. But now, he just wants to settle down in this quiet town with his daughter, Angie. Here, his only fear is losing his daughter to his scheming mother-in-law.

Sophie Gardner wants to be a screenwriter. She’s ready to leave small town Zutphen, Michigan and go to Hollywood. With a theater degree under her belt, she’s busy writing scripts while helping out her sister Joanie, who’s bedridden with a difficult pregnancy. Unfortunately, Joanie has somehow coerced Sophie into directing the Christmas pageant at Zutphen Community Church.

When Sophie and Mitch meet, the attraction is instant and mutual. But each wants what the other is trying to get away from. Can they deny their feelings and pursue their dreams? Or will the holiday prove to them that their true wishes might not be what they’d thought?

 

Bio:

In a previous life, Patricia Kiyono taught elementary school students by day and changed diapers at night. Now she teaches college students part time and changes diapers only when she’s taking care of grandkids. She loves to do anything that doesn’t involve exercise. Right now her favorite activities, other than writing, include scrapbooking, sewing, and making music. She and her husband live in southwest Michigan, near their five children and nine grandchildren.