Mia Fox's Blog, page 3

Spoon Heaven!

As a writer, I’m always looking for new ideas. Fortunately, I have an active imagination and it doesn’t take much to spark it. Case in point…I found Spoon Heaven! No, not spooning…let’s get our mind away from romance for just a minute. I’m really talking about spoons of the utensil variety.

While recently perusing Pinterest…actually, I was lost in the Pinterest portal. I have a tendency to do that. But I digress…while perusing Pinterest I found a cute pin that showed an old spoon that had been used as a kitchen cupboard handle. Rather than go back to my writing, I decided to type in “spoon” in my Pinterest search box and wow! Who even knew that one could get so excited about spoons?

There were spoon wind chimes, spoon necklaces, spoon garden markers. So many choices and such creativity. It was inspiring and it reminded me of why I love writing so much. Inspiration can come from any direction…even a spoon.

Click if you’d like to check out my new Pinterest board dedicated to spoons. Warning: do not view if you have a job to go to!

Malibu Top Five

My book, “Malibu Angel,” is set in Malibu, California, one of the most beautiful beaches and home to surfers, celebrities, and regular folk. If you’re able to make a visit, here are my Malibu Top Five favorite things to do — some taken from the pages of my book.

El Matador Beach

This is the most beautiful beach…ever! Rock caves, surfing, a wooden staircase that leads down to the shore. It’s perfection.

Malibu Pier

Relaxing, walking, shopping, eating. Malibu Pier has it all.

Solstice Canyon

If you’re a hiker, this is a gorgeous venue. It’s famous for its waterfall, the only year-round one found in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation area. The full hike is six miles, but there are shorter versions.

Pepperdine University

The university sits atop a hill with views of the Pacific Ocean yet somehow students manage to get their work done free of distractions.

Malibu Country Mart

This open air shopping center features amazing boutiques and restaurants for definitive foodies. There’s even a child’s playground in the center.

If you’ve taken part in any of these activities, tell me about your experience.

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Published on August 09, 2015 22:19

Aromatherapy for Writers

Let’s face it, writer’s block is real. It hits even the best writers from time to time. I know that people use aromatherapy for healing physical ailments, but I find that it works for mental stimulation as well. Here’s a helpful guide to aromatherapy for writers…and everyone else.

Feel Alert with peppermint

Feel Relaxed with lavender

Keep your Cool with bergamot

Tame Anxiety with orange oil

Feel Happy with lemon oil

Get in Focus with rosemary

Sometimes getting into the groove of writing is a matter of being in the right frame of mind. Writers have a tendency to procrastinate if their mindset isn’t perfect. Life is rarely perfect. You have to follow the Nike mindset and Just Do It. Try these essential oil fixes and you’ll be on your way.

Got another way to beat writer’s block? I’d love to hear from you.

Angel Worthy Setting

My upcoming release “Malibu Angel” has romance, intrigue, and an angel worthy setting of El Matador Beach in Malibu. This scenic beach has been featured in countless movies, TV shows and commercials from “Grease” to “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Letters From Iwo Jima.”

If you’re visiting Southern California this is a must-see beach with its private coves, rock formations that jut out of the sand, and a charming wooden staircase that takes visitors from the parking lot off of Pacific Coast Highway, down to the sand.

Located between Leo Carrillo and Point Dume State Beaches, El Matador is actually one of three small beaches that make up the Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach. The other beaches in this pristine grouping are El Pescador and La Piedra. For me, however, El Matador is the real gem.

Now available for a special reduced price, I hope you’ll check out “Malibu Angel,” the first book in the Guardian Angel series.

Available on Amazon and Smashwords.

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Published on July 31, 2015 08:08

Charity Parkinson Strikes a Chord

Author Charity Parkinson Strikes a Chord with release of “Heart’s Chord.” Read on for details…

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Heart’s Chord

SERIES – Ugly Eternity, 5

AUTHOR – Charity Parkerson

GENRE – M/M GBLT Romance

PUBLICATION DATE – July 6, 2015

LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 122/23829

PUBLISHER – Punk & Sissy Publications

COVER ARTIST – Charity Parkerson for Punk & Sissy Publications art department

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Even though he already has more to do than there are hours in the day, Finn has no problem adding Austen to his life. The sexy former marine is the only good thing that’s happened to Finn in a long time.

For Austen, Finn is the perfect man. If he sees anything lacking in Austen, he never shows it. But falling in love with Finn changes everything for Austen. All the insecurities he’s faced since he has come home from deployment confined to a wheelchair come rushing back to the surface. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t let Finn in.

When Finn decides he’s had enough of not being enough, and his dreams come crashing down around him, he’s ready to walk away from everything for good. But he never counted on Austen’s reaction to losing him, or how far his Ugly Eternity family will go to make his dreams a reality.

**Author note**

This is an Ugly Eternity bonus story. It can be read as a standalone.

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE US – bit.ly/HeartsChord

AMAZON KINDLE CA – http://bit.ly/HeartsChordCA

AMAZON KINDLE UK – http://bit.ly/HeartsChordUK

AMAZON PAPERBACK – http://bit.ly/HeartsChordPBA

GOODREADS – http://bit.ly/HeartsChordGR

EXCERPT

“You need some posters or a mural or something on the ceiling in here,” Finn mused aloud after a few minutes.

“Why’s that?”

Finn squinted at the offending blank ceiling, attempting to picture the perfect art as he answered. “Judging by your incredibly sexy body, you spend a lot of time in here. You need something to focus on. There’re some studies that suggest visual stimuli is directly linked to physical health.”

“What do you think of these studies?”

At the curiosity in Austen’s voice, Finn rolled onto his side and up onto his elbow. His gaze swept down Austen’s body, taking in every hardened line and scar. His cock lengthened as hunger rose inside him. This man was under his skin. There wasn’t one particular attribute he could point to in order to explain his insane desire to touch Austen, but it was there. When he met Austen’s stare, there was no way Finn could hide his desire. “I think a little visual stimulation has never hurt anyone.”

Austen’s mouth quirked in one corner at Finn’s claim. “The view in here is looking pretty damn good right now.”

Finn wanted to kiss him. His lips tingled with longing, but sometimes, Austen didn’t invite Finn’s touch. He didn’t know how to explain it. There were moments when Austen’s expression remained closed, shutting Finn out—times such as now. Tearing himself away from temptation, Finn settled down beside Austen once more, going back to staring into space. “I can’t hang around all day, but maybe I can figure out something else. Maybe there’s a book somewhere about images for every environment.”

He felt Austen tense beside him a split second before Austen’s mouth came down upon his—hard and hot. Surprise gave way to lust in an instant as Finn opened for him. Finn flattened his palms against the floor beside him to keep from reaching for Austen. His skin itched to be closer, but he didn’t want to ruin the moment, and it seemed like he always did somehow.

AUTHOR BIO

Charity Parkerson is an award winning and multi-published author with Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Indie Publishing House LLC, and Punk & Sissy Publications. Born with no filter from her brain to her mouth, she decided to take this odd quirk and insert it in her characters.

*2015 Passionate Plume Finalist for Paranormal Erotica

*Winner of 2, 2014 Readers’ Favorite Awards

*2015 Golden Flogger BDSM Award Finalist

*2013 Readers’ Favorite Award Winner

*2013 Reviewers’ Choice Award Winner

*2012 ARRA Finalist for Favorite Paranormal Romance

*Five-time winner of The Mistress of the Darkpath

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

Amazon Author Page – amazon.com/author/charityparkerson

Website/Blog – http://www.charityparkerson.com

Fan email: admin@charityparkerson.com

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/authorCharityParkerson

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/charityparkerso

Google+ – google.com/+CharityParkersonAuthor

Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/authorparkerson/

Tumblr – http://thesinnerauthor.tumblr.com/

Networked Blogs – http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/the-sinners-series

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4506281.Charity_Parkerson

Shelfari – http://www.shelfari.com/authors/a2942626/Charity-Parkerson/

Others – http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/OurAuthors/CharityParkerson.html

https://www.ellorascave.com/author/charity-parkerson

http://passionateink.org/forum/index.php?showuser=2945

GIVEAWAY!

$10 Amazon gift card

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Published on July 30, 2015 22:11

A Cook’s Library

When I’m not writing, I love to cook. Today, there are so many great websites for recipes, but perhaps it’s the writer (and reader) in me that still loves to peruse cookbooks. Here are five essential ones that I feel are a must-have for a cook’s library.

The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer

I grew up with Irma’s tomb of a book. It may seem a bit old-fashioned, but this is the Bible of cookbooks. Anything you want to know how to make is in here. It doesn’t have fancy pictures, but every recipe works like a charm. Even Julia Child agreed that this is one you have to own.

The French Laundry Cookbook by Thomas Keller

You may not be able to get to Napa Valley, but you can grab a copy of this cookbook that developed from the Napa restaurant of the same name.

The Flavor Bible by Karen Page

The concept behind this book is so cool and so right. You can’t just cook something; you have to flavor it. Not sure how to work with spices and seasonings? This is for you.

Gourmet Cookbook by Ruth Reichl

Little known fact…before I was a writer I was an entertainment publicist and I often pitched food writers about the restaurants where certain celebrities dined. Ruth Reichl was one of those reporters. Later, I became a novelist and Ruth also moved on. She was editor and chief of Gourmet magazine and created the most useful cookbook with more than 50,000 recipes.

The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten

When I’m entertaining and want to serve something that is equally visually appealing as it is mouth-watering, I turn to Ina Garten. It doesn’t have to be this cookbook, although is her first. All of her books are a feast for the eyes and the recipes won’t disappoint your taste buds.

Send me a line and tell me what you’re planning to make this week.

Cheryl Carpinello’s Newest YA Time Travel

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Sons of the Sphinx

SERIES – The Quest Books

AUTHOR – Cheryl Carpinello

GENRE – YA Historical Time Travel

PUBLICATION DATE – October 10, 2014

LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 192/36,000

PUBLISHER – Beyond Today Educator

COVER ARTIST – Bernistevens Design

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Two souls

Separated by three millennium

One with a gift that is more like a curse

One on an almost impossible quest

Destinies entwined; one seeks to find herself while the other seeks his lost queen. To succeed, the pair must right the injustices 3,000 years in the past.

Only together can they fulfill The Prophecy, but in the process they must defeat the Pharaoh Horemheb.

Dishonor and death are the fate of the defeated.

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE US – AMAZON KINDLE CA – AMAZON KINDLE UK – AMAZON PAPERBACK –

BARNES & NOBLES PAPERBACK – GOODREADS – SHELFARI

CHARACTER BIOS

Rosa: Hi! I’m Rosa. I’m 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. I’m your typical teenager—well, almost. I don’t have many friends anymore, but it’s hard to blame the other kids. If I was them, I’d probably steer clear of me too, at least most of the time. No one is ever mean to me; I’ve grown up with most of them, and on my bad days, they try to ignore me. Wish I could do the same to those who talk to me. Mostly I just shake my head and carry on. It helps that I have a sarcastic sense of humor.

My daily life consists of trying to pass all my classes, getting a date for school dances, and dealing with Nana’s gift nearly every day while I try not to lose my mind.

Tut: My name is Nebkheperure Tutanhkame. I ascended the throne of Egypt upon the death of my father, Pharaoh Akhenaten. There has been much speculation in modern day on my death. My concern is finding the final resting place of my beloved queen, Ankhesenamun and making right that which was wronged centuries ago.

EXCERPT

Before us, nearly filling up the room and taller than either of us, stands the golden shrine of Tutankhamun. I remembered what else lay in that room. Inside that shrine are three more, each a bit smaller than the outside one. All tucked inside each other like those nesting dolls from my grandmother’s childhood. Inside the last shrine were the four sarcophagi of Tut, each displaying him in golden and jeweled splendor.

The last one holds the famed mask of the golden boy. And beneath that, the body of the young pharaoh who now stands here before me. Beyond my understanding, he has been given back his human form, allowed to return one last time to restore honor to his family, one last time to find his true love. And here I am, trying to help, trying to understand, trying to stay alive. Will I ever be able to go home again? Or will I become as lost as Hesena?

AUTHOR BIO

I am a retired high school English teacher. A devourer of books growing up, my profession introduced me to writings and authors from times long past. Through my studies and teaching, I fell in love with the Ancient and Medieval Worlds. Now, I hope to inspire young readers to read more through my Quest Books set in these worlds.

An Interview with Cheryl Carpinello…

What did you do before becoming an author?

I taught high school English for 25 years focusing not only on literature and interpretation but also teaching writing.

When do you like to write?

My favorite time is afternoon. Life gets hectic with grandkids and balancing work schedules. When my husband works winter evenings, I write from 3-6 except for the two days our grandkids are here.

 What do you do if you have writer’s block?

Most of the time, I put aside my pen and paper and write in my head. This is a method I perfected when I was teaching and had little time to spend actually writing. I’ve learned to develop my characters and their motivations while at the same time looking at the entire focus of the story.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – WEBSITE – Main – WEBSITE – Shared

BLOG – FACEBOOK – TWITTER – GOOGLE+ – PINTEREST – GOODREADS – SHELFARI

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

A $50 Amazon/PayPal GC

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This tour has been organized & hosted by

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Published on July 21, 2015 09:35

Why Writers Procrastinate

There are lots of reasons why writers procrastinate about writing. Here are some that plague me from time to time:

The sun is shining and I’d rather be outdoors.

I’ve got company arriving and I need to cook.

I misplaced my imagination and I need to find inspiration.

Now, let me tell you my personal solutions. Numbers one and two above are easy fixes. If it’s a beautiful day and you want to be outdoors, then go. But, take a notepad with you. Sometimes just being in a change of scenery is enough to make you want to write. Be observant and you might even stumble upon an idea for a new story.

When company is calling and I need to prepare, I think of how that time spent in the kitchen can translate to my writing. If anyone follows my blog you’ll notice that I often post recipes and photos of my dishes. I love to cook. There’s no reason to halt one hobby in place of another. If I’m going to entertain a friend for afternoon tea and make lemon bars (bites of heavenly sunshine), you’ll probably find one of my characters is either going to make them as well or find a local bakery to sample them.

Now we come to the tough one…misplaced imagination. You’ve looked under the bed, behind the closed door and still that stubborn piece of inspiration remains hidden in the recesses of your mind. Where is it? Read this article and repeat. Go outdoors. Make a batch of cookies. Think of your story as you do it. Most importantly, trust as you procrastinate that something will evolve.

There’s really no such thing as procrastination if you keep your mind open to the possibilities as you do whatever activity is driving you. Now you know that I go outdoors or cook when the writing muse is on vacation. What do you do?

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Published on July 20, 2015 08:49

Natalie Nicole Bates’ One Winter

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – ONE WINTER

AUTHOR – Natalie-Nicole Bates

GENRE – Contemporary Romance

PUBLICATION DATE – 5/2015

LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 60,000 words

PUBLISHER – Books To Go Now

BOOK SYNOPSIS

After her mother’s sudden death, Rory Lane is home again. It has been fifteen years since she escaped Mount Pleasant and everyone and everything in it. Now she must oversee the closing of her mother’s affairs.

The only bright spot is Rory’s blossoming friendship with boarder CJ Rausch. Rory senses that CJ just might be her soul mate, but the handsome excavator is somewhat of a standoffish loner.

After an unthinkable event, Rory’s life spins out of control, and she must deal not only with her grasping, selfish sister, but also a manipulative, wannabe suitor. CJ offers Rory a way out, but at what price? Beware: Everyone has secrets in Mount Pleasant…And they enjoy them!

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE US – KINDLE CA – AMAZON KINDLE UK

AMAZON PAPERBACK – BARNES & NOBLES NOOK

BARNES & NOBLES PAPERBACK – SMASHWORDS

EXCERPT

Looking into the mirror, he wondered what Rory saw when he took off his sunglasses. Her initial reaction had been similar to most people when they saw his eyes for the first time.

As a child, he was viciously teased for having what the kids called “vampire eyes.” They were eyes he would never have wished for, but inherited from his mother. His eyes were so green and sensitive they hurt when exposed to bright sunlight without sunglasses, further purporting the rumor he wasn’t really human, but some kind of vampire or creature from space. But he was a man, pure and simple. The blood running through his veins was red like everyone else.

All he wanted was to find a nice comfortable life and enjoy it to the maximum, and if he could find someone special enough to share it with, so much the better. But with this want came a nagging fear. Having lost his mother so early in life and sharing a distant, even guarded relationship with his father, he wasn’t sure he knew how to love anyone in the way they needed and deserved. It wasn’t because he was cold or cruel; he honestly didn’t know how to express his emotions, and that scared him.

How could you sustain a relationship if you didn’t know how to make someone happy, or live up to their expectations of you? His parents barely tolerated each other’s presence until they divorced. Even though he was young at the time, it stuck firmly in his memory how unhappy they really were, and how they made every effort to make each other as miserable as possible, before they finally separated.

AUTHOR BIO

Natalie-Nicole Bates is a book reviewer and author.

Her passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia.

She currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.

Visit Natalie online at www.natalienicolebates.com

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

Goodreads – Tsu – Facebook Fan Group – Twitter

Facebook – Blog – Street Team Sign Up – Amazon Author Central Page

This blitz has been organized & hosted by

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Published on July 17, 2015 22:00

Cheryl Carpinello’s Sons of the Sphinx

Cheryl Caprinello’s “Sons of the Sphinx,” is a historical time travel novel you won’t want to miss.

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Sons of the Sphinx

SERIES – The Quest Books

AUTHOR – Cheryl Carpinello

GENRE – YA Historical Time Travel

PUBLICATION DATE – October 10, 2014

LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 192/36,000

PUBLISHER – Beyond Today Educator

COVER ARTIST – Bernistevens Design

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Two souls

Separated by three millennium

One with a gift that is more like a curse

One on an almost impossible quest

Destinies entwined; one seeks to find herself while the other seeks his lost queen. To succeed, the pair must right the injustices 3,000 years in the past.

Only together can they fulfill The Prophecy, but in the process they must defeat the Pharaoh Horemheb.

Dishonor and death are the fate of the defeated.

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE US – AMAZON KINDLE CA – AMAZON KINDLE UK – AMAZON PAPERBACK –

BARNES & NOBLES PAPERBACK – GOODREADS – SHELFARI

CHARACTER BIOS

Rosa: Hi! I’m Rosa. I’m 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. I’m your typical teenager—well, almost. I don’t have many friends anymore, but it’s hard to blame the other kids. If I was them, I’d probably steer clear of me too, at least most of the time. No one is ever mean to me; I’ve grown up with most of them, and on my bad days, they try to ignore me. Wish I could do the same to those who talk to me. Mostly I just shake my head and carry on. It helps that I have a sarcastic sense of humor.

My daily life consists of trying to pass all my classes, getting a date for school dances, and dealing with Nana’s gift nearly every day while I try not to lose my mind.

Tut: My name is Nebkheperure Tutanhkame. I ascended the throne of Egypt upon the death of my father, Pharaoh Akhenaten. There has been much speculation in modern day on my death. My concern is finding the final resting place of my beloved queen, Ankhesenamun and making right that which was wronged centuries ago.

EXCERPT

Before us, nearly filling up the room and taller than either of us, stands the golden shrine of Tutankhamun. I remembered what else lay in that room. Inside that shrine are three more, each a bit smaller than the outside one. All tucked inside each other like those nesting dolls from my grandmother’s childhood. Inside the last shrine were the four sarcophagi of Tut, each displaying him in golden and jeweled splendor.

The last one holds the famed mask of the golden boy. And beneath that, the body of the young pharaoh who now stands here before me. Beyond my understanding, he has been given back his human form, allowed to return one last time to restore honor to his family, one last time to find his true love. And here I am, trying to help, trying to understand, trying to stay alive. Will I ever be able to go home again? Or will I become as lost as Hesena?

AUTHOR BIO

I am a retired high school English teacher. A devourer of books growing up, my profession introduced me to writings and authors from times long past. Through my studies and teaching, I fell in love with the Ancient and Medieval Worlds. Now, I hope to inspire young readers to read more through my Quest Books set in these worlds.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – WEBSITE – Main – WEBSITE – Shared

BLOG – FACEBOOK – TWITTER – GOOGLE+ – PINTEREST – GOODREADS – SHELFARI