Rae Rivers's Blog, page 6

How Nanowrimo inspired me to write The Keepers

November month is Nanowrimo month, an international event where writers support one another as they attempt to write a novel of 50 000 words in one month.About a year ago, I joined ROSA, our online writing group in South Africa.  They were already on their second week of Nanowrimo and I was warned that the daily emails between members would be a lot.  I wasn’t perturbed at all as up until then I’d been a reclusive writer so it was refreshing to have their support and company.  My newbie author self was completely new to the Nano concept but the daily encouragement and word count swap snagged my attention immediately.I'm over at the Harper Impulse blog with my story of how Nanowrimo and the support of my author friends inspired me to finish my first book in The Keepers series! http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/rae-rivers-how-nanowrimo-inspired-me-to-write-the-keepers/

Free Book Spotlight: Lacy - The Doves of Primrose by Krista Kedrick

Visiting the blog today is Krista Kedrick and she's hosting FIVE FREEBIE DAYS for her latest release, Lacy: The Doves of Primrose, a contemporary western.

Blurb

Lacy Weston… or is it Campbell? Hell her husband took off so fast he may as well take his name with him. She is trying to run the historic family bed and breakfast out in the middle of the prairie while coping with her husband’s desertion, trying to keep up with her two best friends and oh yeah, the movie production that has landed in the middle of The Dove House and taken over, bringing former rodeo champion, famous actor and Lacy’s old flame with it.

The last thing Lacy needs…

Kyle McClintock is back in Primrose to shoot his latest western blockbuster and to see if the passion he and Lacy Weston had so many years ago could be reclaimed. Yes, he had ulterior motives when requesting his old hometown for the set, but he may get more than he bargained for. Strange happenings, hot tempers and Indian summer nights may prove too much for this cowboy.

Nobody ever said it was easy loving a Weston.


Author Info
Hi y’all! I’m Krista Kedrick and I’m a country loving writer. I write stories with the country way of life in mind. Yes, they have cowboys and cowgirls, ranches, tractors, dogs, children and your occasional bar room brawl, but in the end they are down home people who do the right thing and find a love more powerful and promising than your everyday story. Because that’s how we are. Everything is stronger, more passionate and long-lasting.

I write from my home state of Nebraska while living my dream life (well, almost). I have an amazing husband, two of the cutest daughters on the prairie and a Basset Hound who teaches me the meaning of the word “patience”.

Kick back and enjoy my books about the country life-- but keep your boots off my coffee table. Author Links

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Why Do We Write?

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.netI’ve had my nose buried in books since I was old enough to turn the pages.  Words are my passion and my love for reading eventually developed into a love for writing. 

Now that I’m a published author and discovered what being an author actually involves, my relationship with books has changed.  When I see a book – regardless of whether it captures me or not – I treat it with new found respect because I know what it took to write it.

Although it's a wonderful and exciting experience, the writing process is a tricky one that often sparks the question:  Why write?

Stop by the ROSA blog to read my thoughts on this!

ROSA: Why Do We Write?:  Thanks for reading!
Rae Rivers

Halloween Excerpt: The Keepers Sienna

Who can resist celebrating Halloween?  It's fun and festive and offers the perfect backdrop for a night spent with vampires, witches, werewolves, skeletons and dozens of other supernaturals.
My witch, Sienna, and her four Keepers would fit right in!

So in light of joining in the fun of Halloween, here's a brief excerpt from The Keepers: Sienna:

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net Setting the scene

Sienna and her Keepers are at the town carnival and she's working a shift alone in the school hall converted into a hall of mirrors.




Tunnels of giggling school kids were one thing but darkened corridors filled with nothing but her own images were unnerving.

Sienna strolled through the tunnels, ignoring her reflection as she walked. She’d check the stage one more time before heading out to join her Keepers for a beer. They’d also be finished with their shifts and Sienna looked forward to a lively evening with her friends.

With Archer.

The thought shouldn’t send a flutter of butterflies through her stomach but it did. Repeatedly. Before Sienna could scold herself, the dim lights flickered a few times before going out completely. She froze, wide-eyed, and then blinked as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. The only light was a stream of moonlight that filtered through windows in the roof. A shuffle of feet had her whirling around, her senses prickling in warning.

“Who’s there?” she called, pleased that her voice held no hint of her uneasiness.

In answer, a black cloaked image appeared in the mirror beside her and Sienna took a step backward, a soft gasp escaping before she could stop it. She paused, scanning the tunnel of mirrors for the real version, but confusion reigned; the placement of the mirrors having the desired effect.

“This isn’t funny!” she snapped, hoping like hell that this was some silly teenage prank. The figure disappeared and she exhaled, only to spin around when it appeared again – but this time there were multiple images reflected around her. Trying not to panic, she focused on the face clouded in a hoodie and darkened shadows. It was hard to tell if it was one person or several.

Feeling the rumbling of restless energy inside her, Sienna back-tracked away from him, searching for the person behind the reflections. He edged closer to the strip of moonlight cast across the floor, the movement chasing away some of the shadows on his face.

With a deep growl, he lifted his head. The air whooshed out of her as though he’d struck her. She stared, a flash of paralyzing fear rooting her to the spot.

The face of a skeleton stared back at her. Dark soulless eyes, outlined in thick black smudges, seared into her. A black nose with hollow, black cheeks, and a long jawline of skeletal teeth.

Everything reeled and she screamed, staggering back into the mirror behind her. It fell backward, shattering to the ground with an eerie screech of splintering glass that snapped her attention from the intruder for a split second.

With another low growl, almost a gurgle, he charged forward. Sienna screamed again as the mirrors closed in on her, the appalling face coming at her from all angles.

And then he was gone.

Blurb

A full moon in Rapid Falls.

Sienna Beckham is a powerful witch, and along with her four fiercely protective Keepers, it is her destiny to maintain the balance of nature in this world.

Tonight, it's the town carnival and everyone will be there: Sienna's family, her friends, her protectors. Archer. Laughter and flirtation await. But in a few hours, Sienna's life will have changed forever and her powers stretched to their very limits. For something is lurking in the forest…

Murder. Sorcery. Revenge.

And no one sees it coming.

Find out how it all began…

The FREE PREQUEL to a magical new series, The Keepers.

 Happy Halloween!
Rae Rivers

New Release! Cat Got Your Tongue?

I'm thrilled to announce that Cat Got Your Tongue? has been released!
A fun, flirty romantic suspense novel filled with art heists, cat burglars, and hot romance! 

  Blurb

A billionaire’s life and art collection are at risk. Who better to help than the daughter of a cat burglar?   When art collector Cole Anderson is targeted for his priceless Renoir, he reluctantly employs a bodyguard to upgrade his personal security. Imagine his surprise when she arrives—professional, capable, and sporting a ponytail and a gorgeous smile. Alex Foxley is all woman—sexy, feisty, and intimately familiar with the shady workings of the art underworld thanks to her mother’s connections.

While battling an explosive attraction for each other and thwarting thieves determined to have Cole’s Renoir at any cost, Cole and Alex must work together to protect his life and property—and uncover a secret neither of them knows exists. Will they discover who is behind the deadly conspiracy before it’s too late? Or will passion and lust blind them to what’s right under their noses?
 Available now as an eBook: Amazon USAmazon UK Available now in print (yes, PRINT!) The Wild Rose Press
Amazon US  My First Sale!

This was the first book I ever sold and holds a special place in my heart as that first sale gave me the confidence I needed to soar as a storyteller, reach out to other authors who have since become friends, and explore the wonderful (and scary!) world of publication.  Shortly after the sale, I came up with the concept of my gorgeous Keepers which snagged me a four book deal with Harper Impulse.

So, thank you to my amazing characters, Cole and Alex, who provided months of fun, The Wild Rose Press for offering that first contract, and to my editor, Laura Kelly, for saying yes and helping me to shape my very first book!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing this with me! Rae Rivers  






 

New Release! Revenge in Rio by Samantha Darling

Welcome to the lovely Samantha Darling who has joined me today with her latest book, Revenge in Rio, to chat about her heroine, Daniella.

Blurb

Calculated revenge, unexpected passion…

Business magnate Luca Venancio is returning to Rio to pay his respects to his late brother, and to seduce his once fiancée, Daniella, back into his bed. Five years ago she left him without so much as a word, shunning him and the rich life he could offer in exchange for his younger, reckless brother. Now Luca wants revenge—seduce her and dump her, that's all he intends to do.

Blackmailed into a violent farce of a marriage, Daniella had no choice but to comply to protect Luca's life, even though it meant never being able to see him again. Years later, a twist of fate reunites them, throwing her plans of fleeing Rio out of the window and the love of her life straight back in.Luca's flawless plan soon becomes complicated when he discovers Daniella is expecting his brother's child. It becomes even more complicated when old passions return. Can he actually go through with seducing her, bedding her, and then discarding her?

More about Daniella from Samantha ...

*** CONTAINS SPOILERS ***
 Lately I’ve been asked a fair few questions about Revenge in Rio’s hero, Luca Venancio and don’t get me wrong; I’ve thoroughly enjoyed talking about him. Who wouldn’t, right? He’s make-you-weak-at-the-knees hot, rich, intelligent, did I mention hot….but enough about him. Today I wanted to talk about why I adore the heroine of the story - Daniella Venancio. I feel for Daniella, I really, really do and I’m so glad that she gets her happy ever after. It’s truly well deserved.  
 So, what do I love about her…
·         She has a fun, carefree side if only she’d let ·         She’s always been a fighter.
·         She has a feisty side.
·         She’ll go to any length to protect her baby.
·         She had to endure a LOT of sh*t from her late husband – which could have broken, no, should have broken her, but instead it’s made her stronger.
·         She’s beautiful.
·         She’s intelligent.
·         She’s kind.
·         She never gave up on her love for Luca - She held on to it even when they were apart.   
I hope you love Daniella as much as I do!  Thanks for welcoming me on to your blog today, Rae.
Sam

About Samantha

I live in Essex, not too far from London, with my very understanding husband, our identical twin boys, and two Bedlington Terriers. We're crammed into our rather cozy two-up two-down terrace and we can barely swing a cat, but hey, we love it. I work part-time as a nurse, but when I'm off duty, you will find me either chasing the toddlers around like a headless chicken, head buried in a book, or tapping away at my stories.
I have always loved to read and romance is by far my favourite genre! You can easily escape into such promising worlds, where sexy Alpha males lead the way and strong heroine's often can't help but fall head over heels in love. I adore a Happy Ever After - as I'm sure we all do if we're honest, right?!

Reading and writing go hand in hand and from the day I could read, I enjoyed writing. To put pen to paper and conjure up weird and wonderful little stories was what I thrived on! English was my favourite class at school right throughout to secondary - and I will always be thankful for the teachers who gave me the opportunities to develop and be creative! If I remember rightly, one of my first stories was called 'The Turkey Who Could Talk'...but I'll tell you more about that some other day :-)  Author Linkshttps://www.facebook.com/samantha.darling.9828https://twitter.com/samanthav1986http://www.samanthadarlingromance.com/index.html Rafflecopter Giveaway ($20.00 Amazon or B&N Gift Card) a Rafflecopter giveaway
OR, Link to Rafflecopter Page: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NTIxYWM0YzhjYmFkNDc1MDkxYzA3ZDNmMjhhM2RjOjE0OA==/

Link to follow the tour:

The Keepers: Sienna Excerpt

Excerpt Lightning struck in the distance and a bolt of light flashed through a gap in the trees, highlighting six approaching men.Mason’s warriors.

Sienna’s gut twisted and with quick hand movements, she sent lashes of fire their way. Their shouts of surprise ripped through the night and they scattered. Sienna responded with another round of ammunition that seemed to quicken Mason’s movements.
He tied the rope around the cat’s neck and went to the next one with another bag, repeating the movement. “There was an old witch I met recently in New Orleans,” he shouted above the noise, showing her the bag before fastening it to the third cat. “She was a friend of my mother’s and shares our vision for our kind. She gave me these three bags and I’m itching to see if they work.”Sienna knew immediately what he meant, felt the hitch in her energy the moment the third bag touched the cat’s neck, and fought to maintain the protection spell. Ashwood. She’d never seen the debilitating herb before, but her mother had once mentioned it. Not well known, it bound a witch’s powers if placed in a triangular form around her. That and Rose Thorn were two herbs every witch dreaded.Mason straightened, dusted off his hands and gave her a wide grin that smacked of triumph. Their gazes met across the retreating flames and she kept her back rigid, her head held high.“You might temporarily bind my powers, Mason, but you’ve forgotten one thing,” she said with a quiet confidence, even though the circle of fire had begun to wither away.“And what’s that, love?”“My Keepers will come for me.”“They don’t know where you are.”“They will find me and they will come for me. Always.”The long line of skeletal teeth drew together as his smile lessened. Without the grin, his tattooed deadpan expression was even more eerie, blurring the lines between the living and the dead. His black eyes settled on her with such intensity that her stomach lurched. “That’s exactly what I’m counting on.” Download your FREE copy of The Keepers: Sienna!Amazon USAmazon UK    
 

Release Day for The Keepers: Sienna!

Today I'm hopping with excitement as I celebrate the release of the next book in my Keepers series, The Keepers: Sienna! It's the free prequel to Archer, a shorter read, and was so much fun to write!

 
Blurb  A full moon in Rapid Falls. Sienna Beckham is a powerful witch, and along with her four fiercely protective Keepers, it is her destiny to maintain the balance of nature in this world.
Tonight, it's the town carnival and everyone will be there: Sienna's family, her friends, her protectors. Archer.  Laughter and flirtation await. But in a few hours, Sienna's life will have changed forever and her powers stretched to their very limits.
For something is lurking in the forest…
Murder. Sorcery. Revenge. And no one sees it coming.  Find out how it all began… The FREE PREQUEL to a magical new series, The Keepers. Snag yourself a free copy at the following links: Amazon US Amazon UK
 

The Keepers and Ice Wine

Many people have asked me since the release of my debut novel, The Keepers: Archer, why I chose the wine industry as the backdrop for Rapid Falls and the Bennett Estate.  I've also been asked about the Ice Wine that this town is so renowned for.  So why wine?  And what is Ice Wine?  Check out my guest post on the Harper Impulse blog!
 
Guest blog: Rae Rivers on The Keepers and Ice Wine

Cover Reveal for Seducing Phoebe by Nicole Flockton

Welcoming Nicole Flockton with the cover of her latest book, Seducing Phoebe.   
Blurb

Phoebe Fitzgerald is about to marry a wonderful man—that is until her ex turns up and declares his undying love for her. Confused about her feelings, she calls off her wedding to Marco Petronelli.

Marco knows his offer to wed Phoebe isn’t a love match, but he cares for her and believes the compatibility they share will be enough to sustain their marriage. He is forced to admit his emotions go far deeper when Phoebe calls off the wedding, and now he will do almost anything to make her realize they are meant for each other.

Can he convince Phoebe that their relationship is worth saving? Or will secrets from both their pasts be too much to overcome?

Link to Follow the Tour
Goodreads
 Author InfoOn her very first school report her teacher said ‘Nicole likes to tell her own stories’. It wasn’t until after the birth of her daughter and after having fun on the community board of eharlequin.com that she finally decided to take the plunge and write a book. The stories she writes are contemporary romances with either a medical setting or in the boardrooms of high powered business. Nicole enjoys taking two characters and creating unique situations for them.
Apart from writing Nicole is busy looking after her very own hero – her wonderfully supportive husband, and her two fabulous kids. Author Links http://www.nicoleflockton.com/ https://www.facebook.com/NicoleFlockton https://twitter.com/NicoleFlockton http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479388.Nicole_Flockton