Sarah Cass's Blog: Sarah's StoryLines, page 48

Tuesday Tales – Tight {Hybrid}

The prompt this week was Tight. I finally managed to name this bad-boy…and she will be henceforth called Hybrid (at least until I decide to hate it and change it).

There will be no Tuesday Tales next week (~whimper~), so this is it for two weeks…hope I didn’t leave you hanging too badly.

Remember, this is a meme with many contributing authors, so make sure to click the link at the bottom of the image to take you to see more!

Anyhow, as always this is un-edited mostly, so forgive any errors. :

An arid breeze stirred along my skin. The familiar scent of phlox blooming in the dusk relaxed even my worst nerves at being home. Distant peaks jutted against the deep purple and red of the setting suns.

I stepped onto the ledge just yards from the door we’d entered through and soaked in the familiarity. Where I stood now would be, to a human on the Terran plane, Liberty Island. The peaks and pits of the mountains were city buildings, skyscrapers. Millions of people occupying a land that in our world was desolate save for loners and wildlife.

Beside me, my father’s human veneer, which moments ago had sagged with regret, grew tight against his true form.  Silver scales gleamed through the thinning human flesh, his eyes sparkling silver.

My own flesh became taut, pulling and stretching against my body’s instinct to grow taller and larger. Red lines etched along my arms, adding to the pattern of flowers and scale-like arches.

“I will have to break my arm to cover the signs with a cast at this rate. We shouldn’t remain long.” Even through my words I didn’t move, compelled to stay where I was as I reacclimated to the plane. The songs of dragons began to carry on the breeze, welcoming their king home, and me as well.

Our conversation weighed heavy on my mind, and my father’s quick agreement to my accessment the war wouldn’t be fight here on the Wyvern plane. Instinct clawed its way through my belly and twisted it into knots.

“You’re right, Father.”

“About what, Jyoti?”

“I am a very good tactician.  You knew what I would say, that I would return and fight for the plane.  You knew what was happening, there was nothing in that box and that’s why you didn’t force my hand.”

My accusations didn’t draw anger, but a smile creased his lips. “And why do you say such things, child? Accusing your father like that is dangerous.”

“How many are there?”

The smile faded and he clasped his arms behind his back. Lines returned to his face, etched deep along his forehead and around his mouth.  “Jyoti.”

“You said I was the only one. The only one! Father, what have you done?”  My heart pounded in my chest, bile rising in my thorat.  “You said the experiments ended because none other would work.  No hybrids survived but me because of the griffin…”

“Griffin blood gave you an edge that any other natural born hybrid did not and could not mimic. Our greatest minds attempted to find a solution. They did.” His silver eyes bore into mine, almost black in the depth of pain he tried to convey. “Our race would have died without the hybrids.”

“You let them use me? My blood?”

“The only pure, natural hybrid alive.”

My heart ceased its incessant pounding, in fact it stilled completely. Where heat had burned my veins and flesh now felt chilled and dead. “How many?”

“Approximately one hundred.”

 

 

 

*~*

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

 

 

 

*~*

 

 

Afterburn by Tara Chevrestt

Very happy to have Tara here today to talk about her newest release, Afterburn. Tara was my editor for both Changing Tracks and the HerStory Anthology (which she also created and headed up).  So give her a warm welcome, and go buy her book already! 

Blurb:

Crystal is an enlisted mechanic with a tragic past. Grant is an officer and a pilot with a broken heart. When faced with a difficult decision, will Crystal choose wisely or lose the best thing that ever happened to her?

The love between them burns hot, but their relationship won’t stay fueled if they can’t beat the obstacles in their way. Besides breaking the fraternization rules, Grant and Crystal have the difference of race between them…but can they prove to the rest of the world, and to each other, that love is color blind?

Afterburn is about overcoming one’s past, not judging others, learning to forgive, and what it’s like to be a woman in a “man’s world”.

***

The book is novella length and has some language and sexual content, but the story far outweighs the sex. This is not erotica.

Below is an excerpt, a brief look into the troubles Crystal is facing and how Grant is helping her through.

“You called about a leak?” Crystal wasn’t surprised to find Grant, looking immaculate in his flight uniform, leaning against the fuselage of his Falcon. She peered up at him from under her cap, trying to look coy, but knowing she failed miserably. She was still shaking from her encounter with Swenson. She heard her tools rattling in her tool bag.

The smile on Grant’s face that had greeted her faded. “What’s wrong?” He reached out a hand and touched her shoulder. His casual stance tensed, his body looking ready to battle any and all of her demons.

Crystal took a deep breath. “I’m okay. Just those problems at work I didn’t want to talk about.” She turned away from him, not wanting him to see the tears that filled her eyes. “Where’s that leak? Which wing?” She dropped her bag onto the tarmac, lowered herself to her knees, and began removing fasteners of different sizes. “What size is it?” She kept her head down, avoiding his probing eyes.

“The only leak is in my heart. It doesn’t need a fastener, only for you to smile.” Grant’s soft voice rolled over her as he crouched down beside her. The smell of his cologne tickled her nostrils, bringing to mind memories of their wonderful weekend together. His kindness was her undoing. Much to her embarrassment, she began to cry. Tears fell into her canvas bag, wetting the tools of her trade.

Grant was on his knees beside her now, and he kept a lookout as he put his arms around her and let her sob, offering her shelter and comfort. He made soothing sounds, held her tight, and waited.

Feeling safer and reeling from all her conflicting emotions, Crystal finally began to talk. In a tearful voice wracked by an occasional sob, she told Grant about that morning, about the declined promotions, about how she dreaded walking into her shop every day. It felt as though a leak was fixed in her own heart, no fastener or sealing required, just the love and strength of a caring man. If only all of her problems could be solved like this…

When she had told him everything, she sat back on her heels and waited, wary at the clouds of anger on Grant’s face. He stared at her intently. “You need to go to EEO.” He reached out and brushed a tear off of Crystal’s face. “No one, no woman or man, is supposed to put up with discrimination or harassment over what they are. The military has a zero-tolerance policy. I’ve been there, Crystal, and I know you can fight it. We all deserve to be treated equally.”

“I’m afraid,” Crystal whispered. “Who will believe me?”

“I believe you.” Footsteps sounded behind him, and Grant straightened and stood next to the jet wing, blocking Crystal’s tear-stained face from view. She heard him quietly conversing with someone. When she saw the military boots walk away, she waited for Grant’s face to appear below the jet again. He held out a hand to her.

“I have to do a practice CAP.” He pulled her to her feet, grabbing her bag with his other hand.

She nodded, stood on shaky legs, and brushed off her coveralls. “Are you sure there isn’t a leak I need to fix before you go? Combat Air Patrol maneuvers are no light thing. Was that really a fake call? Is your jet fueled?” Her words came out in a rush of nervousness. Her fiasco from the morning was forgotten in light of her sudden, new concern. She didn’t want to watch him fly. Her feelings for him were growing too strong. A picture of her dad came to her mind. “I think I’ll be going now. I can’t watch you fly now that I…that I…” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t dare say it. Didn’t dare say the “L” word or that she cared for him deeply. It was too soon.

Grant placed his hands on her shoulders, preventing her from leaving. His voice was deep and serious. “Fake call. I just wanted to see you. Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.” He gave her a reassuring squeeze. “With me at the controls and you as its mechanic, this jet will perform wonders in the sky. We make a good team—in more ways than one.”

 

Mark Afterburn TO-READ on Goodreads.

Get your copy on Amazon.

***

Tara Chevrestt is a deaf woman, former aviation mechanic, writer, and an editor. She is most passionate about planes, motorcycles, dogs, and above all, reading. That led to her love of writing. Between her writing and her editing, which allows her to be home with her little canine kids, she believes she has the greatest job in the world. She is very happily married.

Her theme is Strong is Sexy. She shares a website with her naughty pen name: http://tarachevrestt.weebly.com/index.html and they have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Chevrestt-Sonia-Hightower/218383211513877.

 

A View From the Other Side – Acquisitions Editor Alison Nee Heller

One of the many hats I wear is Acquisitions Editor for Curiosity Quills Press. I really like this job! I’ve seen a lot great stories come through. There are so many people creating wonderful worlds and coming up with unique plots that I’m continually amazed at the ingenuity of my fellow authors (and you are an author, whether or not you’re published!).

However, one unfortunate trend I’ve seen is for people to send in unedited manuscripts. People, I know that we’re a small press, but that doesn’t mean that a) we’re any less professional than anyone else and b) that you should present a less than professional ‘face’ to us.

That said, I do realize that sometimes, especially for novice writers, the idea of editing is daunting. Overwhelming. Fear inspiring.

Deep breath. There. You ready? I’m going to show you three sites that will help you learn some of the basic steps you need to take before you send in that manuscript to anyone – Curiosity Quills, your dream agent, ABNA submissions, whomever.  (Actually it’s four sites, but more on that later!) Used together their advice on how to tame and clean up the beast that your manuscript may have become covers the more important points.

1) http://poewar.com/get-rid-of-ugly-wordiness-how-to-cut-your-novel-down-to-size/

This article from Writer’s Resource Center discusses how to ‘Get Rid of Ugly Wordiness’. The bullet points (be sure to click link for full explanation on how to accomplish each!):

Eliminate repetition
Eliminate unnecessary words (more on that in the next two links too!)
Eliminate backstory
Eliminate anything that doesn’t reveal character or move the plot forward

2) http://www.rachellegardner.com/2012/04/how-to-cut-thousands-of-words/

Most writers can significantly shorten their manuscript simply by eliminating extraneous adverbs, adjectives, gerunds, and passive verbs, i.e. things you don’t need anyway. If you cut 10 words per page in a 350-page manuscript, you’ve already shortened it by 3,500 (unnecessary) words.

Miss Gardner has specific points as well as a list of ‘words to watch for’ to help you clean up your manuscript.

3) http://www.absolutewrite.com/novels/ten_quick_fixes.htm

So you have your list of ‘words to watch for’, but how do you actually go about changing your sentences to eliminate them? This article takes some of the most common words and shows you examples of how to rework sentences.

*

In addition you might want to check out Autocrit http://www.autocrit.com/. It’s not one of my top three suggestions because, in order to use it effectively, you need to use it at the paid subscription level, something not everyone can afford.

Now doing these things doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to be accepted by anyone, but it does mean you’re presenting a more polished manuscript. And that is just more polished. But by no means does it mean you’re ready to go and publish your piece yourself. Heck even people who are strong editors need to have someone else lookover their work! (Here’s a great article by Barbara O’Neal, who’s been writing and published for over twenty years and works as an editor herself, on The Value of Editors: http://writerunboxed.com/20018/ – actually Writers Unboxed is a great site for any number of articles!)

Doing these initial edits will help us slush readers, I mean Acquisition Editors, see your story more clearly. And that can be the difference between ‘it needs a little work, let’s consider it’ and ‘it needs a lot of work, so it’s a no’.  And it it’s a ‘yes’ our editors will help you with the final steps you need to get your story ready for publication. Then, next thing you know your book will be out and published.

But first, you’ve got to do the initial edits.

*~*

To find out more about what Alison is looking for check out this blog post: http://curiosityquills.com/alison-nee-heller-acquisitions-editor-wants-your-ms/

 

If you’re interested in learning more about Curiosity Quills Press take advantage of their huge 99 cent Luck o’the Irish Sale. More information on the sale, as well as the author giveaways will be posted here on 3/17: http://sharonbayliss.blogspot.com/

 *~*

Alison can be found on the web as her writing alter ego, Ellie Heller, at www.elliewrites2.com, @Elliewrites2 and on facebook as Ellie Heller Author.

Red Carpet Romance by Jean Joachim (Character Interview)

I am very happy to have a fellow Secret Cravings Author, Jean Joachim, stop by today.  Or rather, her heroine, Susanna Barnes from Red Carpet Romance has stopped by.  I think you’ll enjoy her interview as much as I did.  She’s fun and sassy…the kind of character I can get behind.

**

1.  Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come to your author’s attention? Occupation?

I had a tragedy. Jean, my author, loves tragedy. Tragic figures call to her. Frankly, I think she needs anti-depressants. Oh, yeah, I’ve got real dark hair and gray eyes. She wanted a pretty, but different looking women for this book. I used to be a budding art historian. Now I’m a nanny. Tragedy struck. It sucks.

2.  What or who is the greatest love of your life? Why? What drew you to them?

Quinn Roberts, without a doubt. Geez, if you had a gorgeous movie star panting after you, would you fall in love? What drew me outside of his looks and fame? His generosity and sense of humor. He’s sexy and funny, a perfect combination.

 3.  What’s your greatest fear?

My greatest fear is that something will happen to Quinn or my sister, Annie, and her brood. They are the only family I have left.

4.  What’s your motto in life?

My motto? Hmm, let’s see. A positive attitude will bring positive results. I’m kind of a romantic, a believer.  Unrealistic maybe but it keeps me happy.

5.  How do the other characters in your book view you?

Jaden Sinclair thinks I’m the biggest man-stealing slut going. And I can see her point-of-view. Quinn’s sister, Maggie, sees me as a new best friend. I’m pretty good at getting along with people.

6. What do you prefer? To spread & hear gossip, or be the creator of gossip fodder?

I hate gossip. After Tiffany Cowles, tabloid editor, came after me, wow, scared the crap out of me. I guess hear gossip but mostly I prefer to stay away from gossip, since I’ve been at the center of some pretty nasty stuff.

7.  What is it about you that is going to draw us readers in?

My chemistry with Quinn, my affection for Junior, a baby, and my snappy comebacks. Okay, okay, Jean – she’s responsible for the snappy comebacks. *whispers* I thought we were doing this interview without her!

8.  What was your happiest moment?

*Blushes* there are a few I can’t tell you about. Let’s just say, being on the Red Carpet with Quinn. Guess you’ll have to read the book to find out what that means. That ought to keep Jean happy.

9.  What trait in others do you find most deplorable?

Dishonesty and greed – it’s a tie.

10. The random question: If you were a color, what color would you be and why?

Me? I’d be turquoise blue, I think. My favorite color and the color of a gown I wore in the book.

*~*~*~*

A bit about the book

Why is gorgeous movie star, Quinn Roberts, sharing his space with a baby he calls “Junior”, if it isn’t his own? Susanna Barnes, live-in nanny, can’t figure him out. Overwhelming mutual heat melts his guarded heart and her reserve until a slip of the tongue shatters his dreams. Will she unravel the mystery of Junior’s birth and will they regain lost trust?

Excerpt

Raven-haired Susanna Barnes pushed open the unlatched door. Quinn Roberts, stuck up, rich boy movie star. With a kid. Great. “Hello?” She called out, stepping just inside the doorway.

“In here…twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty,” called a deep voice.

She moved toward the sound, stopping a few feet from the entrance to the living room. When she glanced up, she saw the almost-naked, suntanned body of a muscular man, hanging by his hands from a metal pull-up bar stretched high across the entryway. Her gaze wandered over the flexing, sweaty muscles of his shoulders then back and down to his hips. Boxers…cute butt. Farther down were strong thighs tapering to Bermuda-shorts-perfect calves and bare feet.

When she cleared her throat, he dropped off the exercise device and turned around.

“Do you always greet people in your boxers, Mr. Roberts?” She cocked an eyebrow as her stare roved over his damp chest covered with a smattering of brown curly hair, stopping at his waist. Shoulders as wide as a basketball court.

He grabbed a black, terry towel from a nearby chair and wrapped it around his middle. Color flooded his cheeks.

*~*

Buy Links

AMAZON

Barnes & Noble

All Romance Ebooks

*~*

Bio

Jean Joachim is an author, married, a mother of two boys and owner of a rescued pug named Homer. She writes contemporary romance and has more than a dozen contemporary romance books published with more scheduled to be released within the coming months.  Jean has been writing non-fiction for over twenty years and fiction for three. Her review column, “Movie Choices for Kids” has been syndicated on parenting newspapers websites for the past 12 years. A native New Yorker, she still lives in New York City. Her website address is: http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com.

Hump Day Hook – Week 18 {Derailed}

Another Hump Day Hook!  Changing Tracks has taken me on a whirlwind of joy this week.  It showed up on Secret Cravings Bestseller list (#1 on the Historical Bestseller list still)…and got a Silver Star at All Romance Ebooks, indicating another best seller.  I just got my first review & rating from someone unknown to me (and it was 4 stars!).  So it’s been a bang-up week.

So as a treat I’m going to give another little hook from Derailed (Dominion Falls Series #2). One you might kill me for…because it’s from a little later in the scene that I posted two weeks ago - but it’s just another tease:

She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. The tight grip his hand had on hers transferred his old panic and fear right to her heart. A soft gasp whispered through the room and she wiped at a tear, “You had no choice.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt her. I just was trying to get the knife.”

A small splash of salty sorrow landed on his stomach and curved along the lines to the bed beneath. “Cole.”

 

*~*~*

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:

Cover Reveal – The Actress (Protectors #3) by Carolyn Wren

A famous television actress trying to balance her fictional character and her real life. And an obsessed fan who cannot tell the difference.

Blurb:

The technical wizard of The Protectors agency…

Bryce Black can invent, build, or hack anything.  Preferring to leave the danger to his fellow operatives, Bryce is happiest at home designing gadgets, and pursuing his hobby of creating replica diamonds.  When offered an assignment to protect a fortune in real gems featured in a high rating television show, he accepts. Only to find himself falling for the beautiful lead actress. 

Katrina Abbott is walking away from her acting career without regret.  The loss of privacy and invasion of her personal life have become overwhelming.  The handsome security advisor with his fascinating amber colored eyes has her contemplating a new life, far from the glaring spotlight. But first she needs to film the finale of her wildly popular drama series. 

One female fan does not want the show to end, and has a very different view of what Katrina’s future should be.

Tuesday Tales – The Door

The prompt this week is a picture prompt and it was author’s choice.  Soon as I saw this image I knew how to end the first chapter of this story. Hard to believe just a few weeks of Tuesday Tales has brought me almost 3000 words and one full chapter into a story that as yet remains untitled.

Remember, this is a meme with many contributing authors, so make sure to click the link at the bottom of the image to take you to see more!

Anyhow, as always this is un-edited mostly, so forgive any errors. :

Jdyne remained quiet. The thin human veneer he wore sagged into tired lines.  Silver-streaked gray hair quivered in the breeze as he leaned his hand on his knee.

I didn’t know what else to say. My responsibility was clear, but to leave the life I’d formed, the family I’d grown attached to still weighed on me.  “Who will protect them?”

“Hm?” My father shook out of his reverie. “The humans? It won’t get that far, if we handle it well.”

“Alatus will not play by the rules.”

“Very true.”  A screech broke through the hum of wind, the phoenix appearing in a flash, bright red against the purple sky. It glided down to rest on Jdyne’s shoulder. “What are you suggesting?”

“I don’t know that I’m suggesting anything specific.  However, the elders should face that Alatus is likely to involve humans.” When the phoenix bowed to me, I lifted a finger to run it along his forehead.  Licks of flame traveled along the lines of my hand like a caress.

“You will come with me to speak with them.  You are one of the best warriors and the best tactician we have. They will listen to your ideas.”

I pursed my lips and dropped my hand, “What of Darren and the children?”

“They won’t even know you’re gone.”  He turned his now bright silver eyes on me. “Come, child.”

With a sigh, I set my hand on his and walked down the dune toward what had been the center of town. A wave of his arm brought a strong enough wind to sweep away the sand. Behind the dune sat a stone door frame, the door itself wrought like iron, but out of liquid silver. The doors already hung open, revealing the mountains of home.

I nodded and together we stepped through the gates home.

 

*~*

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

 

 

 

*~*

 

 

Dessert Is On Me – Just Desserts Blog Hop #Giveaway

I almost didn’t join this hop, after all my characters don’t inspire any great dessert recipes.  There is no scene in Changing Tracks that talks about it, with the exception of one scene where Jane is offered a slice of apple pie.

However, I couldn’t resist showing this ‘outtake’ of sorts – one that Jane may never forgive me for – unless the ending is good enough for her to soften.

Please enjoy – and one lucky commenter will receive a copy of Changing Tracks!  So leave a comment and then get hopping over to the Secret Cravings blog to find chances to win other great SCP authors books (or don’t, so my chances are better ).

 

Dessert Is On Me:

Jane threw the pan and everything on it into the water.  The smoke that poured off in the resulting clatter and hiss added to the smoke already filling her house. Another attempt at cooking burst into flames—in rather spectacular fashion.

“I give up.” She sneered at the charred and drowning remains of her attempt at sweet cakes. Not even detailed instructions from Cora had resolved her inability to make what Cora had declared a simple recipe.

A knock at the door interrupted her attempt to glare the pan into cleaning itself. She spun and left the pantry.  On her way past the stove she kicked shut the door. The whole way to the door she waved her arms at the smoke in a useless gesture of clearing the air.

When she ripped open the door, Cole’s lips were already quirked in a cockeyed smirk. His ice blue eyes twinkled without any restraint of his laughter. “I could see the smoke from half a mile back. Wondered if I oughtta call for help.”

“Hush.” She couldn’t contain her own grin at his amusement. “I wanted to try to cook again. Cora swore the recipe was simple, I think she lied.”

“Or you just can’t cook.” He chuckled and held up the bowl in his hand. “Think Cora ain’t too confident in your cooking neither. Sent ya some custard.”

“Good to know she has such faith in me. Too bad she didn’t send some sweet cakes. I prefer it to custard.”

“She did try. I told her to send the custard.” One long finger dipped into the creamy custard and he held it out to her. “It’s more fun.”

“I didn’t think about that.” Her heart fluttered and her womb clenched when he licked his lips. She licked her lips before leaning in to capture his finger in her mouth. The sweet treat melted smooth on her tongue, and she held still until his low groan.

When he took a step closer she swirled her tongue around his finger, flicking it across the tip. Slowly she pulled back, sucking gently until his finger was free.

She smiled and licked her lips. “I don’t remember custard ever tasting so good.”

“I wanna try.”

 

Blurb:

There’s nothing simple about forgetting your past.

Cole Mitchell runs the busiest saloon and brothel in Dominion Falls. He keeps his women at a distance, unwilling to relive a past he worked hard to forget.

Until the night Jane Doe falls into his saloon bleeding and near death.  She wakes with no memory, only the firm belief someone tried to kill her. In the strange world of amnesia she manages to find solace in Cole’s arms and he finds home in hers.

While they work together to solve the mystery of her appearance, their pasts – her lack of, and his buried – build a barrier between them.

To make matters worse, Jane’s past isn’t willing to let her go. A stranger proves he’ll kill to keep his secrets safe. With those she loves in danger, Jane’s errant memory is all that stands between them and death.  Cole can only do so much to protect her, will it be enough?

Buy Links:

Secret Cravings Website

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

All Romance Ebooks

Bookstrand

 

Follow me on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/sadiecass

Follow me on Facebook:  http://facebook.com/SarahCass.Author

 

HerStory Release Day is Here! #Giveaway

In ancient times, women were regarded as sacred. They were thought to hold the mystical power of creation—responsible for the continuation of our species. With the rise of Science and Religion, these myths were dispelled and their plight began.
 
HerStory: Fiction Honoring Women’s History Month is a collection of Flash Fiction and Short Stories from today’s top authors featuring female characters that exemplify strong strength of mind, body, and character. Some of these tales are based on real people while others are purely fictional. However, all are standing up for themselves and what they believe in.
 
Grab yourself a glass of wine or favorite hot beverage and get comfortable as you read about the lives of women who will light the fire in your soul.

It’s finally here. HerStory. Available to the masses. And to honor release day, we’re having a party. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win some terrific prizes. *U.S. residents only*





Here’s what’s up for grabs.

GRAND PRIZE
 






First Grand Prize









First Grand Prize

Because they have the same agenda: empowering girls/women, Keira’s Kollection owner Mr. Wagstaff has graciously agreed to donate a Strong is Beautiful T-shirt. One very lucky woman is not only going to walk away with a paperback copy of HerStory and be empowered through words, but she will also be showing her empowerment right there on her shirt.

And that’s not all, the grand prize winner also gets a pair of earrings from Cathy from Etsy, who runs Yesware. The earrings sparkle one side and have a message on the other side: the greatest story never told.

Only, we’re telling it, the authors of HerStory. We are telling it.

 
SECOND GRAND PRIZE
 

Author Laura DeLuca has donated an incense diffuser to go along with some handmade soap from Greenchild Creations.



And we’re throwing an e-book into this mix. Why soap and diffusers? What does that have to do with women’s history?



In HerStory, Mathilda of Ringelheim runs a bath house. It seems appropriate to honor herstory this way.



AND as Mathilda seems to know, every woman needs soap and every woman needs time to relax. So one lucky winner will take a nice long shower with her fantastic handmade soap, set her diffuser on a table, and curl up with HerStory on her kindle. Who says you can’t be relaxed and empowered at the same time? (and smell good)

THIRD GRAND PRIZE
 

Another donation from Laura DeLuca: an ebook, a Japanese tea set, and an Oriental incense diffuser. How does this tie into HerStory?

In Please Stay, Asuka, a Japanese wife of the 1600s, is preparing the evening meal while awkwardly trying to discuss a matter–somewhat delicate–but of great importance with her husband.



As you get lost in your ebook, in Asuka’s story (penned by Becca Diane), you can pretend you are there. Perhaps you feel your husband’s penetrating stare. But you serve him his tea, straighten your spine, and say what needs to be said…then wait, breath held, for his reply, incense lightening the tension in the air…

FOURTH GRAND PRIZE
 

One lucky winner will have a chance to make their voice heard on the radio…with a $25 Amazon gift card burning a hole in their pocket!




HerStory goes behind the scenes to locate the stories of women who lived, laughed, and touched the lives of generations…




Now, here is your chance to have your story told to the world….or your mother’s…it’s your chance to talk about the most inspiring woman or women in YOUR life. Shout it out! Tell listeners everywhere about this amazing person. Honor her!





This prize is being donated by Indie Reviews Behind the Scenes.

PRIZE 5, FOUR WINNERS, FOUR TINS OF EMPOWERMINTS
 

Four of these tins of mints are being donated by the Unemployed Philosophers Guild. That means four lucky winners are going to win a tin of mints to carry around in their pockets and every time they look at the tin, they’ll be empowered!



The tin is also the perfect size to serve as a pillbox once the mints are gone. This is something you can keep for a LONG time.

PRIZE 6, TWO WINNERS, CROSS STITCH WALL HANGINGS
 
Author and editor Tara Chevrestt has a secret addiction and hobby. It makes her feel like an old lady, so she keeps it under wraps, but now the truth is out…
 
She likes to cross stitch!!!
 
And with the suffragette tales (Sister Suffragettes by Dahlia DeWinters and Chevrestt’s own From You No and Silent Suffragette) in the back of her mind, she found a pattern on Etsy by Patternbird and set to stitching.
 
Two lucky winners will walk away with these. They are 3.25″ by 6″ and have a hard backing so they may be placed on a wall.









PRIZE 7, ONE WINNER, FLAPPER-STYLE HATDonated from Rakestraw Book Design.




Toni Rakestraw, one of the HerStory contributors, is stitching this hat so one lucky reader can–in her mind–march in a suffragette parade as she reads HerStory. Or perhaps this is something Margaret Sanger would have worn as she leaves the workhouse in The Woman Rebel.




 




PRIZE 8, ONE WINNER, ONE PAINTING

You’ve heard the term multi-published and many of HerStory’s authors can place that before their name, but how about multi-talented?





Author Morgan Summerfield can not only write as she shoes us in Adella, but she can paint too! She is kindly donating a painting 27″ wide by 11″ high, titled Morning Poppies. The frame is handmade with real wood and she stretches all her own canvases. It is hand-painted-by her!-in multi media.





And last, but certainly not least, we have a lovely Coco Chanel quote pendant donated by the lovely Jewelry Designs by Lula. One winner will win this delightful pendant that says  A girl should be things: WHO and WHAT she wants.





I could not have said it better.

Enter for all prizes using the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is for three weeks. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond with their snail mail addresses. After 48 hours, new winners will be chosen.





Thank you and enjoy HerStory! Be empowered! Learn something. Believe in yourself and womankind.









Buy links:

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Morrigan – Book Spotlight – Author Laura DeLuca

Blurb:

Shuffled from place to place in the foster system, Morrigan doesn’t know the meaning of home. Plus, she is different. She has power over fire, the ability to move objects with her mind, and glimpse into the future. Just when she believes her life can’t get any stranger, she discovers her true identity.

Filtiarn, a knight with a dark past and a surprising secret, has been tasked with guiding the heir of Tír Na NÓg through countless perils to be returned to her family. Once Morrigan has been reunited with her mother and grandmother, their triad can save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil.

Short Excerpt:

“Guardians!” A low snarl emanated from the back of his throat. “What are you doing with Guardians?”

“Stop it! Sit down!”

Morrigan wasn’t sure who she was addressing, the man or the animals. Luckily, they both obeyed her command. She stepped in between them to avoid any further confrontations. The cats took a seat on either side her legs, but their posture hardly relaxed. They still glared warily at the newcomer, even though their hisses died down to an occasional soft growl.

“Dirty, filthy beasts!” Tiarn snarled as he climbed to his feet. “I hate Guardians.”

“They’re just little cats,” Morrigan told him. “What’s the big deal?”

“Just cats! Hah!” He was standing at a careful distance, even though they had started licking their paws nonchalantly. “They are much more than simple cats! Though even those I find distasteful.”

Morrigan narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Never mind. It does not matter.” Tiarn dismissed her question with a wave of his hand. “They are not coming with us.

“They most certainly are coming!”

Tiarn growled again. “I beg to differ with you, Your Highness. They would only get in the way.  Possibly even get killed.”

Danu raised her head from her grooming to hiss at him again, as though she had taken that last statement as a personal threat. The strange reaction of her faithful sidekicks made Morrigan wonder again just how much Tiarn could be trusted. She also wondered why, when she wasn’t sure she could trust him, she still felt the undeniable urge to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him.

“If they stay here alone, they’ll definitely get killed or at least sent to the pound,” Morrigan told him. “I can’t let that happen. So, they’re coming. End of story.”

Tiarn’s eyes flashed dangerously, and he looked like he wanted to argue, but thought better of it. “Very well, Princess. Bring your mongrel felines. Just keep in mind that Guardians and lycans do not mix well.”

“Lycans?” Morrigan repeated.

A sick feeling started to settle in her stomach, as the truth of his words sunk in. It all started to make sense—his hairy arms and chest, his reaction to the cats, even his earlier comment about smelling her out. Her dark knight had a much darker side than she had ever seen in her dreams.

“Why yes, Your Majesty. Did you not realize? You are a witch and a sorceress. And I, your faithful traveling companion, am a lycan—a werewolf.”

*~*~*

Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart.  In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.  Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon.