Shauna Allen's Blog

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Taking a break…

Hi everyone. Due to my current work load I am not going to be posting or accepting more comments on my blog until further notice. I want to thank everyone that has been a part of this to date. I love you all.

~Shauna~

I Cannot Tell a Lie

I cannot tell a lie.

I have a thing for bad boys.  Well, within reason.  Am I the only one?  Surely not.  And by bad boy, what I really mean, is:

He needs to look like a bad boy on the outside.  i.e. tattoos, piercings, drive a fast car or ride a motorcycle, like cool music, and be good with his hands.  You know, H-O-T.

But, he also needs to have a soft side…one only I can see.  Be kind to old people, children and animals.  Maybe help me around the house, take care of me when I’m not feeling good, be totally understanding during my time of the month, and he absolutely must think the extra padding I’m carrying is ultra-sexy.

That’s not too much to ask, is it?

Well, if you’re writing a romance hero, maybe not.  Especially if you’re writing one of my heroes.  Well, sort of.  LOL!

But, the part about having a soft spot for bad boys, or what I like to think of as the “non-Ken doll” heroes, is totally true.  I’ve written tatted, pierced, tattoo studio owners, a long-haired mysterious Navajo native, a fallen angel, a brainy Elvis look-alike, and a landscaping accountant (who was pretty hot, too!)  My next hero is a tatted up contractor…I can’t seem to help myself there.

So, in honor of my love of tattoos, I’ve created a little list of helpful hints straight from my first novel, Inked by an Angel, to help you if you’re thinking of getting inked:

Be very certain you AND your tattoo artist know how to spell whatever you’re having inked onto your body…and check it before the needle hits your skin.
Tattoo artists are a lot like barbers. Don’t pick the one with the best haircut or most impressive tat. Remember, they don’t work on themselves. Check their portfolios.
Tattoos might be painful to get, but they’re just as painful to remove, and even more painful to look at if they’re hideous.  Think it through before you put something permanent on your body.
If your new lover is sporting a shiny new tattoo, make certain it isn’t covering an old flame’s name. That ink could mean nothing but baggage.
Don’t tattoo your girlfriend’s name on your body, it’s bad karma and you might change your mind.  Ditto her face.

And, as an added bonus, this week only, Inked by an Angel is on sale for 99 cents at Amazon…I hope you’ll pick up your very own copy!  Enjoy! 

http://tinyurl.com/afpfrd2 

 

 Tattoos…

Jed Gentry is doing just fine, thank you very much, running his tattoo studio in Austin, Texas.  So what if people think he’s a bit on the surly side?  He’s been burned by his ex who sticks around to torture him and he lives with a family heartache that he’d rather not talk about.  But he’s got a thriving business, his dream car, and good friends.  Not much to complicate things.  At least, not until she walked in…

Accountants…

Kyle O’Neill has had it with being the sheltered daddy’s girl at the family accounting firm and is ready to spread her wings and fly on her own for the first time.  Unfortunately, it seems she’s about to fall flat on her face when her first and only client is – gulp — a tattoo artist!  Her country club upbringing certainly hasn’t prepared her for this place or the sizzling attraction her traitorous body feels for the grumpy owner.

And…Cupid?

But there is a Divine conspiracy at work here pushing these two together.  And they are hell bent on bucking the Heavenly plan all the way.  Luckily, their angel is a true believer and pulls every trick he knows from under his halo to make this a match made in Heaven.

 Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor?

Writing. My Life.

Hi all, so sorry I’m such a lousy blogger.  But I’ve been hard at work on multiple (seriously…like three) writing projects, which I will update you on as soon as I have concrete news.  Stay tuned here, my social media pages or my newsletter for all the exciting goodies!

Now, today is a first for me…I’m taking part in my very first Blog Hop.  I’ve agreed to participate to share time with some fellow authors, share about our books and talk a little bit about our writing process.  I think sometimes we get so caught up in the books themselves, we forget about the work that goes into creating our babies.

First, let me tell you about the sweet gal who invited me on this hop tour! Katie Kenyhercz writes hockey romance and lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with her Air Force hubby and her fluffy cat, Motley.  You can visit her and learn all about her wonderful books at: http://lovemewrite.blogspot.com/

The next step in this fun hop is to tell you a little about me and my writing process.  I’ll try not be be boring for any non-writers in the house, LOL!  I was asked to answer four questions:

1. What am I working on now?

Well, as many of you know, I recently released Charlie’s Angel, a Cupid Chronicles novella.  I am in the midst of writing Book IV of the Cupid Chronicles, Cupid’s Last Stand, which is Tristan’s story from The Halo Effect.  I have to tell you I’m thoroughly in love with this book!  I hope to have it ready and out sometime this summer.

I’ve also written a sweet contemporary romance to be included in an anthology called Circle of Redemption, which is slated for release next month.  I’m super excited about that.

AND, if all that wasn’t enough, I’m just about ready to launch my new YA pseudonym, SC Montgomery, with a series of emotional, coming-of-age stories, hopefully this summer as well.  I’m so thrilled about that, I can’t tell ya! 

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Depends what work, LOL!  But, if you’re talking about my Cupid Chronicles, if you’ve read it, the answer is pretty easy.  I don’t think I fit the “Paranormal” box in the traditional sense.  I’m pretty light, with a touch of sexy, sassy and emotional.  I’m my own creature and I’ve embraced being able to write my books my way.

As for my YA books, I’ve yet to find any books or authors like me.  I’m hoping that’s a good thing.  My stories are contemporary, emotional and tell stories with regular kids facing tough but real-world issues.

3. Why do I write what I do?

Well, I write what I do because I love it.  That’s the honest answer.  I didn’t set out to write about angels, but that’s the story that came to me with the prologue from Inked by an Angel, and I’ve embraced it, enjoying every step of the journey.  I’ve only planned for this to be a 3-4 book series, maybe with a couple of novellas.  I’m not sure what will come next.  Maybe another series?  Who knows?

And I write the YA because as I wrote Tristan as a teenager in The Halo Effect I found that not only did I have a knack for it, I loved it.  I enjoyed sinking my teeth into that more emotional, different side of myself.  And these stories, again, just came to me, begging to be told.  So I told them.

4. How does my writing process work?

Heck if I know.  LOL.  Just kidding.  I’m a plotter, if you know the term.  That means I plan my characters and my stories before I sit down to write them.  I know who they are and their backstories and conflict. I also basically plan out all the scenes ahead of time as my roadmap.  Now, if I stray along the way because my characters need to, that’s fine.  But I need a direction to go.  And, for you writers out there, I’ve found that Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat formula works the best for me.  It’s worked miracles for my writing process.  Oh, and I also MUST have music to write.

So, that’s it.  My writing in a nutshell.

Now, to continue the hop and visit with some other fantastic authors, here’s whose up next week on Monday, March 31st:

A.L. Kessler http://blog.amylkessler.com/

A paranormal romance author who lives in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado.  When she’s not at the beck and call of the household–made up of her cats, dog, daughter and husband–she can be found hard at work on her next novel.  In those rare moments of free time, she can be found playing video games, crafting, or reading.

Alexandra Webb http://authoralexandrawebb.blogspot.com

Alexandra lives in her office, where the coffee never runs out, the music plays and the chocolate magically appears.  She adores reading, crafting and sleep.  She often gets lost in her own world of writing.  Spinning tales since she could speak, she knew she wanted to be an author in high school and she chased the dream everyone told her was ridiculous.  Her preferred genre is paranormal romance with a flare for things a little less vanilla.  Alexandra takes gifts of caffeine, candy and other sweets.

Elle Hill http://ellehillauthor.blogspot.com/

Elle began writing novel-length romances in junior high.  She continued scribbling wild tales on her wide-ruled notepads till those pesky college and career things got in the way.  Finally, after earning her Ph.D. in Sociology, Elle gave herself permission to get a life.  Now, she spends just about all her waking hours doing one or more of the following: teaching, writing, volunteering, and tending to the whims of her kitty masters.

 

 

Charlie’s Back!

Hi all!  Well, if you’ve been keeping up with me at all, you know that my latest release, Charlie’s Angel: A Cupid Chronicles Novella, was released this week, and I’m SO excited!  Hopefully you remember Charles Benson from Inked by an Angel (Kyle’s uptight ex-fiance?) Well, when I decided to write a novella, I thought who better to give a happy-ever-after to?  He needed a little lightening up, right?  Enter Kami Monroe.  She’s spunky, outspoken and sexy.  Just what he needs.   But she’s got her own past to overcome.  And, just to keep things interesting, Michael has taken a backseat to allow Gabriel one last shot at Love Detail before he moves on to his new job as Emissary.  Should be fun!

I do hope you’ll pick up a copy, and please let me know what you think!

Available now from Amazon:http://tinyurl.com/nqonco8

B&N: http://tinyurl.com/knl8s35 

Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/nx2s6wh

And, just to celebrate my book birthday falling on the day of love, I’m starting a very special contest just for you, my wonderful readers!

Between now and the end of the month anyone who shares the buy link(s) for Charlie’s Angel on social media and tags me on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/authorshaunaallen or with my Twitter handle: @ShaunaAllen101 will be automatically entered to win!

Only one entry per person, but you can earn one extra entry if you refer a friend and they like my author page AND sign up for my Angel Kisses Newsletter and let me know you sent them.  Sign up is available on my website homepage or at this link: http://eepurl.com/D_RcP

What is the prize you ask?  Great question!  The winner will receive an autographed copy of Inked by an Angel, Shauna Allen swag and a $10 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble.  (***US shipping only.)

Again, I’d like to give a big shout out of thanks to my readers, friends and fans.  I have the best in the world and I couldn’t do what I love without you!  I hope you each have a blessed and love-filled Valentine’s Day! 

Hugs,

~Shauna

2014 New Year’s Fun!

Happy, happy New Year to you!  I hope 2013 was full of joy, laughter, blessings, and lots of fun!  (And lots of hot guys and reading, too!)

As we draw this illustrious year to a close and embrace whatever 2014 has in store for us, I thought about how best to celebrate.  Well, with books, hotties, and friends, of course!

So, as my gift to you, my besties and I are offering up some free books for you to start your year off right.  Yes, I said FREE!  You’re automatically entered to win if you’re signed up for my Angel Kisses newsletter, and I’ll announce the winners here and on Facebook this Friday, January 3rd.  If you are not already receiving my newsletter, never fear, there’s still time!  You can link up through my website homepage or via this link:

http://eepurl.com/D_RcP

Now, what’s up for grabs, you’re wondering?  Great question! 

Selena Laurence is giving copies of her books Concealed and Hidden!

Susan Muller is offering copies of all three of her smooth paranormal romantic mysteries: The Secrets on Forest Bend, The Witch on Twisted Oak, and Voodoo on Bayou LaFonte!

Janet Nash is giving two copies of her newest Inspirational thriller, Invisible Surveillance and two print copies of Powerless Consent!

Belle Whittington is offering her Paranormal Young Adult, Firefly!

And, yours truly, is giving away a copy of my book, Elvis is a Keeper, as well as an autographed print copy of Inked by an Angel!  (***Note all prizes are Amazon e-books unless otherwise specified.)

I think you’ll wanna join the fun!  Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter, and it wouldn’t hurt to show my friends some love for their wonderful donations.  Aren’t they wonderful?! 

I wish you all a very blessed and prosperous New Year . . . thank you for all your love and support!

Hugs,

~Shauna

P.S. As promised, I leave you with a little eye candy to feast on to send you out unto this glorious New Year! 

Wounded Wings . . . Celebrating Large!

Thanks so much for the spectacular release day yesterday of my latest book baby, Wounded Wings!  I’m super proud of this book and the story of my fallen angel and his search for redemption.  I hope you’ll pick up your copy and let me know what you think.  It was a little bit of a stretch for me off my normal beaten path of tattooed bad boy hero, as I delved into a fallen angel just experiencing humanity and true love for the first time.  And, I learned a few things along the way that I will share with you.  And, because I’m feeling blessed and generous, I’ll be giving away a copy of Wounded Wings to a commenter at the end of the day, as well as a copy of my release buddy, Selena Laurence’s book, Concealed.  Check back at 9 pm CST to see if you’ve won!  And thanks for making yesterday so wonderful!

***

Top Ten Things to Learn from Wounded Wings

10.  Scars are often more than just skin deep.

9.  Sometimes, even an angel has to do the dishes.

8.  Be careful if you out-bake the baker.  You might end up wearing a bowlful of chocolate ganache. 

7.  God’s punishments can be swift, severe and painful.  But our own self-inflicted judgments can be much more brutal.

6.  A dunk tank if you can’t swim = bad idea.  Swimming lessons with a beautiful woman who confuses your newly human body?  Maybe a worse idea.

5.  Don’t put your dreams on hold for anyone.  Even someone who looks like he could rock an Abercrombie ad.

4.  It’s not walking a mile in someone else’s shoes—it’s walking a moment in their pain, that truly helps you understand.

3.  Fall in love with a man (or an angel) who is a chef.  You’ll at least be well fed.

2.  If a sexy loner rolls into town looking like Henry Cavill and dressed like a Calvin Klein model, but acting like he’s never kissed a girl, don’t judge him too harshly.  Maybe he’s got a Heavenly secret.

1.  An angel in charge of his fallen brother’s love match?  A sure sign God can forgive anything.

That’s it…all your lessons.  Hope you enjoyed.  Now, leave your thoughts and comments and I’ll randomly choose some winners this evening to win my book, and my release sista, Selena’s book, Concealed…

Who Am I?

It’s that time of year when I reflect on my blessings and offer up my Gratitude Top Ten List on the anniversary of the birth of my website.  I can hardly believe it’s been three years!  So much has happened and I have found this journey to be so very enlightening and joyful, as well as a bit daunting and scary.  But, overall, it has been abundantly blessed. 

I have been blessed with the gift of achieving my dreams . . . some I didn’t even know I had . . . some I still hold close to my heart.  Lots of growth, personally and professionally.  Tons of laughter.  Some tears.  And I’ve gained some of the best friends a girl could ask for.  But, perhaps the greatest blessing of all has been the gift of self-awareness.  Becoming more comfortable in my own skin.  Loving me.  Now, I’ve not perfected this, mind you, but I’m getting there.  Maybe you know what I mean. 

So, who am I?  Glad you asked . . .

I’m just a girl. 

A girl who loves Devil’s food chocolate cupcakes.  A lot.  I also love Yoga and hate Pilates.  I feel guilty if I have dessert first and my favorite breakfast food is French toast.  With hash browns. 

I always thought I was a dog person, but I’ve discovered I love cats.  I love to read and I’m not ashamed to say I love romance (of course) and I enjoy the gamut from erotica to comedy, just no dark urban fantasy or historicals, please.  Remington Tate from “Real” is my book boyfriend, and that is the only book I’ve read twice other than my all-time fave, “A Knight in Shining Armor” by Jude Deveraux.  I love reality dance shows and I’m a Sons of Anarchy whore. 

I have travelled the world a bit and I spoke Spanish before I spoke English.  (Sorry, not anymore.)  My favorite place in the world is my parents’ back porch, followed closely by the beach.  Any beach. 

I have cellulite and scars and stretch marks and tattoos and I don’t have a flat stomach.  But I’ve given birth to three children without epidurals—I’m really proud of that one.  And, those three kids are awesome teenagers, who I dread losing when they grow up and leave home,  because I raised them right. 

I have a cool husband who spoils me, and who I’ve loved since I was fourteen.  We have a proud Christian home full of love and music, and I’m just as apt to raise my hands in worship at church as I am at a rock concert.

I have a huge crush on Gerard Butler (no big secret to anyone, right?)  I also love a guy who can rock a tattoo, long hair, or just me in general.  i.e. Alex O’Laughlin, Tom Hardy, Travis Fimmel, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, just about anyone from the Spartacus cast, the two guys from Supernatural . . . and, if I’m in the mood for clean-cut, I also adore Tim Tebow.  Hey, don’t judge.

I am an introvert who is not the greatest blogger, but I write pretty good books.

I am a kaleidoscope.  A blending of more than one thing.  I’m just . . . me.

Well, I think that’s about it.  No more hiding.  I hope you like what you see.  Why don’t you join me and we can be thankfully “us” together?

~Shauna

P.S. I didn’t forget my Top Ten Things!  Here they are:

I am thankful for . . .

1.  My God.

2.  My family.

3.  My mother’s remission from cancer.  (MD Anderson rocks!)

4.  Cool teenagers.  (Yes, they do exist.  It’s not a myth.)

5.  The Texas Hill Country.

6.  Music to soothe my soul.

7.  Cupcakes.

8.  Books. 

9.  Books.  (It’s worth repeating twice!)

10.  Gerard Butler.  (Yes, he makes the list every year.)

Cupid Quiz

Pop Quiz time.

No need to groan and hide under your desks.  This isn’t a hard one.

If you’ve been following along with my journey over the past few days or so, you probably noticed that I have pulled up my proverbial big girl panties, taken a huge breath, and leapt into the deep end of the pool of my dreams.  Writing.

(My Gerard Butler party with cherries on top ringing any bells?)

 

It’s not without tons (and I mean tons) of fears and worries.  But it was with much deliberation and careful thought and family support that I decided to do this thang.  (And, I will still catch a few babies very part-time.)  So, here I come long days of writing the stories of my heart, editing, and even having more time to devote to my lovely boss ladies as their trusty assistant.  It’s a dream come true.

And, on that note, speaking of those stories I love . . . This entire journey started with one little, itty bitty story and one line of dialogue.  Truly that’s how it happened.  I didn’t even intend for it to happen.  I was just writing along and then Jed, my hero from Inked by an Angel, popped off with “The Angel made me do it.”  I as like, “What?  What Angel?  What you talkin’ about, Willis?”

After I thought about it for a while, I crafted the entire story, and then an entire series, around that one line of dialogue that literally came from nowhere that one day.  So, thank you, Jed. 

So, in honor of those Angels and Cupids, I devised this little quiz for any of you who might wonder if you have what it takes to do their job.  Answer these questions and see how you do.  And thanks for all your love and support on this journey and as I start this new one!

Hugs,

Shauna

1.     What is your favorite Holiday?

A.    Shavuot

B.    National Navajo Code Talkers Day

C.    Labor Day

D.    Valentine’s Day

2.     What is your favorite form of social media?

A.    Instagram

B.    Twitter

C.    The ol’ fashioned telephone

D.    None.  You prefer face-to-face communication

3.     Which would be your favorite movie or TV show?

A.    The Prophecy

B.    Touched by an Angel

C.    City of Angels

D.    Michael

4.     Which would be your favorite song?

A.    “We Ride (I See the Future)” by Mary J. Blige

B.    “Austin” by Blake Shelton

C.    “Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton

D.    “Unchained Melody” by Righteous Brothers

5.     Which job appeals to you the most?

A.    Psychic

B.    Courier

C.    Crossing Guard

D.    Mergers & Acquisitions

If you answered mostly A’s you’re probably cut out for Prophecy.  B’s, you’re a Messaging Angel at heart.  C’s and it’s Crossovers for you.  But it’s all you D’s who are love bugs and have a Cupid’s heart.  Michael and his fellow angels look forward to seeing you soon!

Elvis is in the Building

Elvis is in the building.

Well, maybe not. But I have resurrected just a tiny bit of his essence, stolen some of his good looks, and plopped it into the hero of my latest book, Elvis is a Keeper, releasing today from Soul Mate Publishing!

Honestly, Elvis was a little before my time, but who doesn’t love a little “Love Me Tender?” So when I decided that my spunky, single mom, fishing guide of a heroine, who just so happens to be the biggest Elvis fan on the planet, was in need of a man . . . well, who better than a King clone who’s brainy and slightly clumsy and can’t stand anything outdoorsy? A match made in Heaven, right?

I thought so.

Well, their newfound love is tested in a big way when she finds a body in the lake and her beloved father is accused of a brutal crime and her world comes crashing down around her.

This book was fun to write, but I’ll tell you the truth. I hadn’t intended to toss a body in the lake, and when I did it, I made a mystery for myself, and I’ll NEVER do it again. I don’t know how you mystery writers do it. That stuff is hard. But, in the end, I found a happy spot with my story, my mystery, and my King of Rock—er—just my Elvis.

Hook . . .

Em Reed’s life is complicated enough—thank you, very much. As a single mother struggling to take over the family fishing guide business, she yearns to make her beloved father proud. He is the only man she trusts—the only one who has been there for her through every heartache.

Line . . .

And the last thing the needs is to fall for some brainiac writer who is only in town temporarily. Even if he does bear a fascinating resemblance to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll—the only man who still rocks her world.

And Sinker . . .

But as her life takes a horrific turn for the worst and her father is accused of a brutal crime, can she keep her family together, her father from confessing to save the love of his life, and her own heart safe?

Or is Elvis a Keeper?

Thank you to all the wonderful friends and fans who have gone on this journey with me!  (Including the King, who I hope is still rockin’ his blue suede shoes on high!)  And thanks to all of you who visit my blog and chat with me.  Please feel free to leave me a comment and I’ll pick one of you at random by Friday to receive a shiny new Amazon e-book copy of Elvis is a Keeper!

Available now at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/pueahjl