Mimi Sebastian's Blog, page 8

July 16, 2013

Fiery Bride, New Release from Cynthia Woolf

Since we’ve been on the topic of new releases ;) , I’m pleased to feature Cynthia Woolf and her new release, Fiery Bride!


Cynthia WoolfCynthia Woolf was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in the mountains west of Golden. She spent her early years running wild around the mountain side with her friends.


She was and is an avid reader. Her mother was a librarian and brought new books home each week. This is where young Cynthia first got the storytelling bug. She wrote her first story at the age of ten. A romance about a little boy she liked at the time.


Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband Jim and her critique partners for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her creativity


Thanks for joining me today. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hobbies/interests? When did you start writing?


Well let’s see, I’m older than I think I am, except when I get up in the morning and my back hurts, then I think I’m older than I am. :)


I like to garden, read and fish.  We haven’t been able to go fishing for several years now, but we are determined to go this year.  My garden is growing but the heat this year is taking its toll.  I don’t like to go out and weed it or water it in the heat and sometimes I forget on our watering day so the flowers are the worse for wear right now.


I wrote my first story at least the one I can remember when I was ten.  It was a romance, of course, about a little boy named David Williams, that I liked at the time.  I’m amazed I still remember his name.


It is amazing some of the things that stick in our minds. Speaking of…How did you get the story idea for your current title? I find the concept for your matchmaker series intriguing.


I wrote the first two books in this series and always knew that I’d be doing Maggie’s story.  She called to me from the very first page of book one.


Are you an outgoing person? Are you a morning or night person?


I have severe insomnia, so I guess I’m a morning and a night person.  As to being outgoing, I don’t think I am.  But I married a very outgoing man, so we’re good in any social situation.


What are your favorite movies?


I love action movies.  Some of my favorites are RED, Terminator, Total Recall.  And I love the Harry Potter movies.  I can always be counted on to watch one of those anytime.


What does your significant other and family think of your writing career?


My husband and family are very supportive of my career.  They are so proud of me.


Does your significant other read your stuff?  Yes, he reads and proofs every book.


Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with it?


I just started using a different name for my scifi romance, CA Woolf.  I want to separate my western and scifi personas and scifi seems to sell better for those authors who use initials.


Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what?


I love listening to the Last of the Mohicans soundtrack when I’m writing historicals.


I listen to that sometimes too! It’s great for historicals.


Blurb for FIERY BRIDE:


Fiery Bride, Cynthia WoolfAfter a disastrous marriage, Matchmaker Maggie vowed never to marry again.  She will never give another man the power of life and death over her body and soul. Unfortunately, that doesn’t keep her lonely heart from fantasizing about her newest client, Caleb Black. She made the mistake of starting a flirtatious correspondence with the clever devil, believing they would never meet. But when his new bride abandons her mid-way to Colorado to elope with another man, Maggie is forced to face the devastatingly handsome Caleb and explain.  Now she’ll have to stay long enough to make things right and find him a new wife.  But Maggie better hang on to her vow with both hands, because Caleb has other plans for the fiery matchmaker…and a very seductive kiss.


Cynthia has lots of other titles to check out!


TITLES AVAILABLE


CENTAURI DAWN


CENTAURI TWILIGHT


CENTAURI MIDNIGHT


TAME A WILD HEART


TAME A WILD WIND


TAME A WILD BRIDE


THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – JENALA


THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – RIZA


THE SWORDS OF GREGARA – HONORA


CAPITAL BRIDE


HEIRESS BRIDE


WEBSITE – www.cynthiawoolf.com


FACEBOOK – www.facebook.com/CynthiaWoolf


Twitter – @CynthiaWoolf


Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5148049.Cynthia_Woolf


 


 

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Published on July 16, 2013 06:43

July 15, 2013

Release Day!

Somebody pinch me :) . Today is truly surreal. If someone would have told me a couple of years ago when I futzed around with writing what is now The Necromancer’s Seduction, I would have probably snorted while secretly smiling inside. This has been an amazing journey with its share of insanity and chaos. Thankfully, I’ve had some amazing people to share it with, people I’ve met through our local RWA chapter, writers I’ve met online, who have encouraged and supported me. It’s a long list, many of whom you’ll find on my blog :) Love you all! Okay, so lots going on :)


My wonderful publisher ImaJinn is offering the Necromancer Seduction ebook for $.99 for a week only to celebrate the release! Please check it out on Amazon, Barnes and Noble.


I’m having a Facebook party today, organized by the wonderful Roxanne Rhoads at Bewitching Books tours. We have games and giveaways. Please stop by: Necromancer Release Facebook Party.


I’m also participating in a blog tour lasting through August. Please visit my Necromancer Books page for the various stops. Included is a tour wide giveaway which includes signed copy of book, $15 Amazon gift card, and a nifty painted skull. Click on Rafflecopter to take you there.


In addition, up until today, I entered folks who joined my release notification e-mail list in a drawing to win a free eBook of Necromancer’s Seduction and congrats to Mary Preston. I’ll send it your way shortly :)


Thanks all!

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Published on July 15, 2013 07:00

July 9, 2013

Writing a Book Series-Author Guest Panel

Thanks for joining us today. I’m stoked about today’s post. In my ongoing discussion on constructing a book series, I asked a group of writers, who are in the process of, have written, a book series, to provide some insight into their process and books.


My panel includes V.S. Nelson, Camelia Miron Skiba, Shanyn Hosier, Mary Buckham, and Gina Conkle. I’m very excited to have this incredibly talented panel of authors bringing varied knowledge and experiences, some traditionally published and some self-published, writing different genres that include romance (including a LGBT ménage romance!), paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and historical. Next to their pictures below, I included a brief description of their book series. At the end of the post, please find a brief bio on each along with a picture of their latest release or cover to one of their series!


Mary BuckhamMary Buckham: I’m writing two series. One in fiction, one in non-fiction. The fiction one is an Urban Fantasy series focused on a group of five human women with unique gifts recruited to fight growing agitation from the preternatural world that exists side-by-side with the human world, though unknown to most.  They do this via a new agency called the INVISIBLE RECRUITS, which echoes the theme of women in the shadows, fighting their own fears and limitations as well as battling threats unknown to most humans. The initial books in the series focus on Alex Noziak, part/witch, part/shaman, who must learn to embrace her gifts to help her team and others or die in the process. The non-fiction series is called WRITING ACTIVE SETTINGS, which explores different elements of utilizing setting on the page as a dynamic, powerful craft tool in several distinct ways.


Shanyn Hosier, Desert MenageShanyn Hosier: Desert Menage is comprised of three books. It follows three characters—Beth, Paul, and John—and their triadic relationship from its comically tenuous beginning in Nine Dates, through its evolution into a strong and equitable bond in Tri Me, culminating with the threesome facing unique and politically charged challenges in Wholly Trinity as they strive to live more openly and begin a family together.  Amanda Ryder (series) never asked for her special gifts—she’d been born with the ability to see, hear, and sense things around her no one else could. But her family never believed her innocence and accused her of witchcraft. Her father threw her out of the house on her eighteenth birthday, when an exorcism went horribly wrong. The series follows Amanda as she makes her way in the world, meeting others with paranormal talents, struggling to find her place. It’s not always easy, especially when “good” guys don’t always make “good” choices.


V.S. NelsonV. S. Nelson: Long ago, seven stepped forward and volunteered for a mission to protect Earth from an evil that escaped their world. Today they are known as those that run Guardians Inc., a world renowned protection agency. Although the books in the series are multi-plotted, each book centers on one of these heroes and their quest for true love.


Camelia Miron SkibaCamelia Miron Skiba: My series is a 5-story historical romance series called Dacian Legends (Born In Vengeance and Born In Sin already released; Born In Darkness will come out 2015). Each book follows the story of one of the members of a Dacian brotherhood in their quest for revenge, honor and love.


Gina Conkle, Norse JewelGina Conkle: Midnight Meetings, a 3 book series with Sourcebooks, tells of men and women entwined with the once golden Sanford family. The Industrial Revolution looms ahead and each character must adapt.  A pivotal “midnight meeting” changes lives in each book.


All the series sound great and some I’ve had the pleasure of starting to read! I’d like to observe something here, which I find very interesting. The book titles are connected in some way (all very creative and intriguing), and we definitely see this with many book series.


We have V.S. Nelson’s two published books in her Sekhmet’s Guardians: Eternal Lovers and Eternal Nights. The eternal already clues you in to the immortal aspect.


Cami’s Born In Vengeance, Born in Sin, etc…touching upon each hero’s conflict/story.


Shanyn’s Nine Dates, Tri Me, and Wholly Trinity which all play into the ménage theme.


Mary’s Invisible Recruits, Invisible Magic, Invisible Power. Automatically I wonder, why invisible? Mary explains the invisible relates to internal and external conflicts.


Gina’s Midnight Meetings, which I find a fantastic idea., and the series title immediately clues you in.


My Necromancer Series: Necromancer’s Seduction, Necromancer’s Betrayal, and tentative third title of Necromancer’s Redemption. Each title reflects a specific theme for the heroine’s arc (and other characters as well).


If you visit these authors’ websites and look at the book covers, you see a design theme as well. All this helps the reader connect immediately to the series, and also shows the author put a lot of thought into the look of their series, etc.


One of the challenging aspects for me in writing my series has been filling the reader in on what happened in the previous book. I’ve seen authors do this in various ways, and I think the method used depends on the type of book series. How have you approached filling the reader in?


Shanyn: I consider it a need-to-know basis thing. I try to keep a list of the key facts a reader must know (or be reminded of) in order to make sense of a plot point or relationship dynamic, and I try to weave them in only when the new plot demands it. I try to avoid mentioning much “history” in the first chapter, instead making the situation compelling enough to draw the reader in further.


Gina: Treat each book as a standalone story. Make a list of the important facts, big items that must be in every story, and weave them into various appropriate scenes, usually conversation. A big info dump drags the story down. Give a little here and there, like bread crumbs, to your reader. I keep timelines with big historical and character events.


Mary: With each new book in the INVISIBLE RECRUIT series I treat what happened in the previous stories as back story, especially in the opening chapters. A line or two here and there, focused on only what a new reader needs to know NOW, right here, to understand the motivation or conflict of the current story. No large info dumps. No saying the same thing in the exact same way that it’s been said in a previous book. No waiting to start the current story at the expense of catching the new reader up on the series. Readers will engage in the back story elements only if they commit to the current story, which means if there’s a strong story element from a previous book that really must be known it’s revealed deeper into the new book. It can also help to reveal what’s happened before via dialogue (an argument between two characters regarding a course of action in the current story based on what’s happened in the past; internal dialogue revealing just enough of past books to explain current motivation, etc), or by introducing a new character that might need to be caught up on previous events. Each book or novella or short story must stand on its own though. There’s nothing so frustrating for a reader, new or returning, than to get bogged down in back story.


V.S.: I try to instigate important events from the past in dialog. It’s a great way to slip something in without distracting the reader from the actual plot. Example, “Hey Joe, remember last month when….”


Cami: I started the second book in the same place where the first one ended (the battlefield),with the same heroes but switched the point of view (in Born In Vengeance Ilias is the main character. During the events of Born In Sin, the second book, it’s Zyraxes’ turn to be in the spotlight). Throughout the second book I sprinkled in reminders of events that happened in the previous book. Born In Darknessunlike the second book—will start a few months later, with Galtys now taking the front stage. Personally, I think having the same characters throughout the entire series, fillers come from whatever common ground/goal they have. Something brought them together in the first place and will keep them that way or will separate them, depending where your story goes.


Your answers have already helped me! I think switching point of view with a series can be extremely interesting because you can provide a different perspective on a past event, which also provides a fun and alternate way of dropping in backstory. And I think we can all agree to avoid information dump where possible.


Other challenges to writing a series?


Gina: Mostly, lack of time.  To do a series well is to embrace layers of conflict. That means really digging into personalities in depth. It’s not enough to focus on hero and heroine, but then have surface interaction with other characters. Think about the hero’s personality type conflicting with the best friend, the trusted servant, his mother, etc. We get so focused on hero and heroine conflict that we forget how layers of conflict with other characters enrich a story and make an engaging read.


Let me break in here because Gina’s point touches upon an important aspect of my series. I have a large cast of characters, and with each book, I explore how the heroine’s relationship progress with each major character: the conflict, interests, etc. Challenging but fun.


Cami: Since the story is set in ancient Dacia 2,000 years ago (Romania of today), I have to do a lot of research. It’s very time consuming. When I wrote the first book, Ilias was the only hero that spoke to me. It wasn’t my goal to write a series. Eventually Zyraxes became “vocal” and wanted his story be told as well. As a woman writing from a male’s perspective, sounding like one is challenging. The stories are told from the hero’s point of view and NOT the heroine.


V.S.: As I began the series I also started character sheets on each individual in the series knowing eventually I would be writing An Insiders Guide to the Series. It has helped me keep important facts straight for each character (even minor ones who might some day take center stage.)


Mary: Not enough time in the day . Writing a series involves knowing the details of what has happened in previous stories and making sure those details don’t trip you up. As readers we notice when a character is aged mid-twenties in one book and then four books later they are described as mid-thirties when we know only a few months passed between story events.  So creating and maintaining an accurate bible for the series is invaluable.  Keeping an eye out for the overall story lines is important to, whether it’s a few months or a few years, you as the author must assume something has happened to your characters while they have been off scene. Time is not static and plays a large part in the believability of the series. I remember the thriller writer Robert Crais speaking to this topic once. His primary two story protagonists were Vietnam veterans. When he started the series their ages and experience were very believable, but as the series lengthened, and one book a year would be released the characters started aging.  Crais wished he’d spaced the story series tighter, month-to-month instead of year-to-year because within a decade he no longer had forty something ex-vets but fifty-something and the sixty-something, which changed the dynamics of the series.  Something to think about.


Shanyn: It’s always difficult to keep track of the little details. As series progress, there’s so much world-building, so many “rules” our characters have to follow to stay true. Not to mention a slew of minor characters whose names and dates and details you’ve got to keep track of! Thank heaven for sticky notes and spreadsheets. It’s also easy to get intimidated by the success of earlier installments of the series. What if readers hate the final ending? I know what feels right to me, to my characters, but the rest of the world might not agree—just ask JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer.


I have to add my challenge here, and it seems to echo some of what you all have mentioned. The mythology of my world morphed quite a bit from Book Two to Book Three. Granted, I should have plotted a lot of the mythology out from the beginning, but even so, it still would have changed. So I just completed the first draft of Book Two, and as I begin writing Book Three, find myself going back and making changes to Book Two. I think I have the mythology written down now…in pencil…sigh :)


In my posts about writing a series, I discussed overall story arcs, and character arcs. Does your series have any arcs that you can discuss without giving too much away?


V.S.: Unlike traditional romance, my paranormal series is multi-plotted so there are several story and character arcs throughout each book.


Gina: Having a chuckle as I write this…I must like women who perceive themselves as flawed. In Norse Fire, my heroine sees herself as flawed from circumstances from birth and seeks the safe route. Of course she’s tossed headlong into all kinds of unsafe (physical and emotional) situations. Similarly, in Book 2 of Midnight Meetings, the heroine lived a wonderful life until difficult circumstances came her way in recent years.  In her case, two men will open her eyes to the truth about herself.


Cami: Absolutely. That’s what makes a good story excellent and keeps your readers buying the next book in the series. Leaving a few loose ends and developing secondary characters so well that they become main heroes is a sure algorithm for continuing the series successfully. I love train wrecking the lives of my heroes and see how they end up coming out of whatever I throw at them: stronger, better, wiser. I’m more drawn to stories where the characters develop rather than by stories per se.


Shanyn: Since the books in Desert Ménage retain the same lead characters, it’s kind of obvious that the relationship isn’t going to crash and burn in the first book . But this complex relationship does face obstacles and continues to evolve. I enjoy playing with the different characters’ personalities—what was a character weakness in one book or stage of the relationship might become a strength in the next one. I’m also challenged (and encouraged) by the rapidly changing political and cultural status of LGBT rights. Much of the plot for Wholly Trinity (the third book) was conceived and written before the recent landmark Supreme Court decision striking down DOMA, for instance.


Amanda does a lot of growing through the series, partly due to the fact she’s so young in the first book. Her paranormal powers are still developing, and she’s not sure what she can or can’t do—only that she wants to use her talents for good and prove her father was wrong about her. Many of the characters are recurring, and Amanda’s conflict with the primary villain persists through all the books. There is a romantic arc, too, which takes a while to develop. Puberty is punishing enough, but Amanda’s paranormal libido is tied to the lunar cycle, wreaking havoc on her relationships, not to mention her nerves! But Amanda will end up with a special someone at the end of the 6-book series, I promise.


Mary: In the first five books of my series I focus on one of five main characters, Alex Noziak, revealing a hint here and there of the other characters to intentionally intrigue readers into wanting to know more about them. Building this interest to the point that the readers MUST HAVE a full length book on X or Y.  In the initial five books the protagonist, Alex, must change and grow, but incrementally, not in huge leaps. I’m also going to allow her to digress, which creates conflict for her and the others on the team, but is part of human nature. Conflict creates drama and drives fiction, so an easy, or too quick positive character growth, creates no story questions that will compel the reader to pick up and read the next book in the series. Each book must have a complete story arc but the very attainment of the external goal sought by the protagonist must be fraught with unexpected consequences. An example is in INVISIBLE MAGIC, the protagonist’s external story goal is to find and stop someone behind a series of thefts, and murders. When Alex accomplishes this it creates bigger problems that then set up Alex’s next book, INVISIBLE POWER.


Me again. Yes! Mary. My main characters flounder quite a bit in Book Two, and while difficult to write, also quite enjoyable. They end up in these crazy situations at the end of Book Two which they must dig themselves out of in Book Three.


What book series have you enjoyed reading and why?


Mary: I love series because if written well I can dive back into a world I love and a cast of characters I know something about while having a chance to learn something new.  In mystery series I love Dana Stabenow’s Kate Shugak series set in Alaska and Margaret Maron’s set in North Carolina. In Urban Fantasy I’ve loved Patricia Brigg’s Mercy Thompson series and the Ilona  Andrew’s  Kate Daniels series. In Suspense Dianna Love’s Slye Temp series is a winner as is either the Joe Pike or Elvia Cole series by Robert Crais.


Cami: My all time favorite is Nora Roberts’ Chesapeake Bay Saga. Each of the four books follows the story of one brother. In each book you get a glimpse at another brother and it’s intriguing enough that you want to find out more about him as well. Aside from Nora’s experienced voice, their heartbreaks and struggles and the way they overcome them is what appealed to me.


Shanyn: I tend to seek out long series or really thick books, because I never want the story to end! I love the imagination of Harry Potter—so much so that I wrote two fan fiction novels. I love the escapism of Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books. I adore the snarky humor of Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series. I love almost everything Edward Rutherfurd has written (historical mega-sagas a la James Michener). Recently, I’m really digging Hugh Howey’s Wool series. For more ideas/suggestions, please friend me on Goodreads and check out my bookshelf!


V.S.: Black Dagger Brotherhood – J.R. Ward (Dark Paranormal romance); Troubleshooter Series – Suzanne Brockmann (Military romance)


Gina: A favorite is Josie Litton’s Viking trilogy from the 1990s.  I’ve read those books over and over again.  The characters make cameos in each other’s stories, but I love Vikings.  I love how she painted those stories, just lyrical writing and great characters.


Any other tips to offer other writers in writing a series?


Mary: Once a reader invests in a series, discovering and taking the risk on the first book (regardless if it’s the first in the series or not) it’s easier for them to gobble up the next book in the series. As the author we must keep them in mind as well as the new reader, which can be a fine juggling act. I recommend finding Beta readers for your books from these two types of readers-those who know the back stories from previous books and those who are brand new to the series. Ask them about when the book they are currently reading drags for them, or when they need more info to understand what’s going on. That can help keep each book in the series meeting different reader needs. Create your story bible early and break it out into sections such as secondary characters, locations, time frame of the story. You’ll want that info at some point without re-reading all of your own work. Keep a notebook (electronic or paper) to jot ideas about future story ideas while you’re working on the current story. That will keep you focused on the story in front of you and create a wealth of material to mine when you need it.


V.S.: It takes a lot of time to create a paranormal or urban fantasy world. Sadly, it can be very distracting once you are involved in a series to find the author has changed the rules of the game half way through the series. Make sure you stay true to the world you have created.


Shanyn: Go for it! All the difficulties are well worth the organizational effort required. When you love a set of characters, a world you’ve built or an era that speaks to you, why leave it?


Cami: Edit. Edit. Edit. When you think you’re done editing, edit again. Then hire a professional editor. It’s worth every penny. Overnight stardom doesn’t happen. Grow a thick skin. It’s not about whether you will get a bad review or not. It’s about when. Be prepared for that very moment and remember you won’t ever be able to please everyone (not even God can, so don’t expect that from yourself, a mere mortal). Set goals and expect the best from yourself. Publishing—traditional or self—is not for the faint of heart. Seth Godin predicted in an online interview that there were 15,000,000 books published in 2012. Which means it’s harder and harder to gain a fan base if you are a newbie. Be persistent, practical and patient. Be professional in anything you do and post online. Once it’s out there it can come back and haunt you.


Gina: For me, doing advance research on times and places (world building) makes a huge difference.  Then, delve into your characters, but be fluid.  People change, and they’ll let you know what new direction you need to take once the story starts.


I’m going to have to echo Gina here because if I would have really thought things through from the beginning, I’d be less frustrated now. That being said, it’s also okay to let things flow and morph, let the characters take you on the ride.


This has been a blast.


Please join the discussion. Leave a comment with your own experiences, thoughts, tips, or ask a question of our panel. The authors will be visiting periodically, and we’ll keep comments open for a couple of days. I know Gina is conducting a Red Hot Reads Book Club to talk Norse Jewel, Vikings, Viking culture on Facebook today :) .


Thank you ladies for joining me today, taking the time to answer questions!!!


Born In Sin, Camelia Miron SkibaCamelia Miron Skiba—official bio


~~Who I am is not important but what I leave behind is~~ © 2013 Camelia Miron Skiba


I’m a dreamer

I’m a sinner

I love my books

I conjure hooks

And heroes with good looks


Romance is my guilty pleasure

Taking me to places with new decor

Come join me if you dare

I promise not to bore


If you like to read my stories

Pray my husband continues snorin’

For he’s the one who keeps me up at night

When I give my heroes wings and flight.


www.authorcameliamironskiba.com


Eternal Nights, V.S. Nelson, Sekhmet's GuardiansAfter spending sixteen years living on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico, and another twelve battling the heat while teaching in the Middle East, Virginia S. Nelson, moved to Mesa, Arizona where she resides with the love of her life and her four pound Miniature Pincher, Anubis. She joined three chapters of RWA sometime after she completed Eternal Lovers, convinced by others she should seek publication for a story which was originally written to make the voices in her head shut up. Guess what, it didn’t work.


www.authorvsnelson.com


 


Invisible Magic, Invisible RecruitsMary Buckham was born into a family of artists so as a natural story teller didn’t realize she was creative until an adult. After working in the financial and media industries, as well as raising five children, Mary turned to writing and now loves creating thrills, spills and spells as she follows the ups and downs of fascinating characters starting with Alex Noziak, the heroine of INVISIBLE MAGIC, INVISIBLE FATE and INVISIBLE POWER.


www.marybuckham.com


 


Norse Jewel, Gina ConkleGina’s a lover of history, books and romance, which makes the perfect recipe for historical romance writer. Her passion for castles and old places (the older and moldier the better!) means interesting family vacations. Good thing her husband and two sons share similar passions, except for romance…that’s where she gets the eye roll. When not visiting fascinating places, she can be found in southern California delving into the latest adventures of organic gardening and serving as chief taxi driver.


www.ginaconkle.com


Desert Menage, Tri Me, Shanyn HosierBorn and raised in small-town, rural Indiana, I (Shanyn) now live in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona with an intimidatingly smart and devastatingly handsome husband and two hyperactively cute and talented sons who will one day be Earth’s Overlords (never underestimate the power of Legos). I enjoy cooking, traveling, gardening, sewing, quilting, and embroidery but only when in the right mood and seldom concurrently (I’m kind of streaky when it comes to hobbies). I adore reading and writing in the same way that I love breathing and eating, gaining a similar nourishment from each. www.shanynhosier.com

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Published on July 09, 2013 07:00

June 21, 2013

Bewitching Book Tours Sizzling Summer Giveaway

Check out this amazing giveaway sponsored by over 35 Bewitching Authors.


Rafflecopter Giveaway One: Kindle and swag packs


Bewitching Tours, Summer Giveaway


1 Kindle HD -30 authors joined together to offer a spectacular grand prize A Kindle Fire HD 8.9” screen , Wifi ,16GB $269 value Open to US shipping, if outside US you can receive an equal value Amazon Gift Card


1 huge package of book swag from Bewitching Book Tours filled with fun goodies from Bewitching Book Tours, owner Roxanne Rhoads and numerous Bewitching authors including a Starbucks giftcard from Gina Conkle


4 packages of book swag from Bewitching Book Tours- filled with fun goodies from Bewitching authors


1 mixed swag pack of various book swag from Milly Taiden


1 book swag from Constance Phillips


$15 Amazon gift card from Sky Purington


http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112f305/


Rafflecopter Giveaway Two: Print Books


1 set of Bleeding Hearts (Demimonde #1) and Blood Rush (Demimonde #2) by Ash Krafton- US Shipping


2 sets of Her Dear & Loving Husband and Her Loving Husband’s Curse by Meredith Allard open to US Shipping


1 Kidnapped by Maria Hammarbald us shipping


1 ROGUE ORACLE and DARK ORACLE by Alayna Williams- us shipping


1 EMBERS and SPARKS by Laura Bickle- US shipping


1 Fall of Sky City by SM Blooding US Shipping only


1 signed set of DARK LIGHT OF DAY and FIERY EDGE OF STEEL by Jill Archer


1 Life After the Undead and Death to the Undead by Pembroke Sinclair- US shipping


1 DiSemblance by Shanae Branham


1 Shield: Allie’s War, Book Two by JC Andrijeski (or Revik: Allie’s War, Early Years) by JC Andrijeski


1 signed copy of VICIOUS CIRCLE by Linda Robertson (or any other title written by her if winner already has VC)


1 DiSemblance by Shanae Branham open to International Shipping


1 The Necromancer’s Seduction by Mimi Sebastian open to International Shipping


2 print copies of The Chosen by Annette Gisby, US/Canada and UK entrants


1 Print or ebook Copy of Night Hawk by JE Taylor to US residents or ebook (mobi or epub) for international folks. If US resident would prefer ebook – that can be done as well.


1 Print or ebook Copy of Hunting Season by JE Taylor to US residents or ebook (mobi or epub) for international folks. If US resident would prefer ebook – that can be done as well


1 Winner’s choice of print or digital (.mobi or .epub) of Royal Street or River Road by Suzanne Johnson, in either U.S. or U.K. editions; open to international.


1 Winner’s Choice of print, audio, or digital (.mobi only) of Redemption, Absolution, Omega, or Storm Force by Susannah Sandlin open to international.


1 All three books in the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator series The Seduction of Phaeton Black, The Moonstone and Miss Jones, The Miss Education of Dr. Exeter by Jillian Stone. Print or eBook any format, reader’s choice Ebook open international


http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112f306/


Bewitching Giveaway Three: YA Books


1 Signed print copy Portal by Imogen Rose- US Shipping


1 Signed print copy of INITIATION by Imogen Rose- US Shipping


1 print copy Hollow’s End by Marianne Morea- US Shipping


5 print copies Visionary Unleashed by N. Dunham US shipping


1 THE HALLOWED ONES by Laura Bickle- US Shipping


1 print copy The Ifs (middle grade book) by JD Pooker


1 print set of Reckoning and Relentless by Molly Hall- US shipping


1 ebook copy of Soul Meaning by AD Starrling


1 ebook copy of King’s Crusade by AD Starrling


1 ebook copy Hollow’s End by Marianne Morea


5 ecopies Visionary Unleashed by N. Dunham


5 ecopies of Portal by Imogen Rose


5 ecopies INITIATION by Imogen Rose


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Bewitching Books Tours Summer Giveaway Four- Ebooks


1 ebook copy Flashback by Maria Hammarblad


10 ebook copies of Shield: Allie’s War, Book Two by JC Andrijeski (or Revik: Allie’s War, Early Years)


1 Tyrant of Tarsit (Time travel romance) by Holly Hunt


2 ebooks of New Zealand with a Hobbit Botherer by John Gisby (international)


1 each Bleeding Hearts (Demimonde #1) and Blood Rush (Demimonde #2) by Ash Krafton


2 copies each Her Dear & Loving Husband and Her Loving Husband’s Curse by Meredith Allard


1 Winner’s choice Caged Heat or Wolf Protector by Milly Taiden


1 ecopy Resurrecting Harry by Constance Phillips


1 The Cat’s Meow by Stacey Kennedy


1 Stavros is giving away 1 of each- eBook copies of Dead Girl: A Romantic Zombie Tale of Revenge, Blood Junky, and Love in Vein


1 Murder on Mars (A New Orleans Mystery) by MM Shelley


1 Little Red Riding Wolf by Jessica Aspen, mobi or epub available


1 Cindy Spencer Paper is giving away an E-book – winner’s choice of any available on her website.


1 eCopy of The MacLomain Series Boxed Set by Sky Purington (Books 1-4), PDF or gifted to Kindle


5 free copies of DRAGONSTONE by Paula Millhouse : pdf, emobi, ePub


5 ecopies of THREE WISHES by Paula Millhouse pdf, mobi, ePub


1 ecopy SMOKE AND MIRRORS (The Gifted, Book 1) by Marie Treanor


1 ecopy SERAFINA AND THE SILENT VAMPIRE (Serafina’s, Book 1) by Marie Treanor


1 BLOOD GUILT (Blood Hunters, Book 1) by Marie Treanor


1 Annie Nicholas is giving away Reader’s choice of any ebook from her backlist winner’s choice of .pdf, epub, mobi.


1 one e-book set of the first two books in the Seven Seals Series (Seal of Destiny and Seal of Surrender) by Traci Douglass


1 ecopy Wucaii by Pembroke Sinclair


2 ebooks of Silent Screams by Annette Gisby (international)


2 ebooks of Shadows of the Rose by Annette Gisby (international)


3 EBOOKS (one set): THE CROSSE HARBOR TIME TRAVEL TRILOGY by Barbara Bretton


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1 In Flames by Jessica Jayne (.epub, .prc and .pdf)


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Published on June 21, 2013 07:00

June 6, 2013

Viking Romance with Gina Conkle

I’m very pleased to have Gina Conkle on my blog today.Gina Conkle, Norse Jewel


I happened to connect with Gina, while totally getting into the tv show Vikings, then found she writes Viking themed romance! Gina has written some great historical blog posts related to her writing. Check it out.


Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hobbies/interests? When did you start writing?


First, thanks for inviting me here and to you, the readers, for sharing part of your day. I’m guessing one thing we have in common is love of a good story.


My first story began over ten years ago.  The “what if” moment came when I’d been reading a Viking non-fiction book and watched the movie “Gladiator.”  I wondered, “What happens if a Viking chieftain wants to lay down his sword and be a farmer?”


That’s how the premise for Norse Jewel was born.


As far as other areas of interest, I’m slowly getting back to running. I used to do triathlons…had two injuries and stopped, but now am content with a little running.  Our family’s also dipping our toe in organic gardening with a garden box my husband and sons made.  You could say it’s a joint effort. 


How did you get the story idea for your current title?


There’s a red stone pendant threaded in the story. The heroine, Helena, goes to great lengths to keep the jewel but later questions its value.


What has been one of your favorite characters to write?


Writing the bad girl, Astrid, intrigued me. I went back to one scene many, many times…I was drawn to what made her tick.  Astrid “had her reasons” for some choices, but my heroine, Helena, also grew more backbone in that scene. Watching both women evolve absorbed me.


I have to ask: Do you get tired of every heroine being Miss Kick-Butt?  What happened to shy girls growing into their own?


Recently, I saw a post on Goodreads asking for a book recommendation.  Wanted: a shy/quiet heroine paired with alpha male hero.  There’s not many of those combinations anymore.  


I’m so glad to hear that. With Urban Fantasy, there is an expectation the heroine must kick ass all the time, but many of them are written as very emotionally stunted or immature and that frustrates me. I wanted to write a heroine who’s strengths were emotional, more than physical, the ability to make hard decisions to defeat the bad guy.


What book(s) are you reading right now?


I’m reading A is for Admission by Michele Hernandez (because I have a son in high school), Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, Come Back to Me by Josie Litton, and have been skipping around The Viking Art of War by Paddy Griffith (a research book on Vikings).


I just finished On the Island by Tracy Garvis Graves and loved it!  It’s a contemporary romance with an age difference (older woman, younger man) and written in first person.  Usually I shy away from first person stories, but I devoured that book.


Any cool places you’ve traveled to and do you include anything from your travels in your books?


Yes, Sweden.  The majority of Norse Jewel takes place in Sweden (called Svea in Viking times).  The landscape is beautiful: trees, gently rolling meadows, and lots of small islands along the coast.


If you follow the show “Vikings” on History Channel, they filmed in Ireland but the series takes place in Norway.  Norway is rockier and the coast doesn’t have the same farm-friendly landscape as Sweden…two Viking cultures but very different landscapes.  That played into how those nations evolved over time.


Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what?


For my Viking romance: Loreena McKennit’s “The Book of Secrets” and Game of Thrones soundtrack.  I bought the soundtrack for the video game “Viking: the Battle for Asgard” for the next Norse story. My boys thought that was sooo cool!


For my Georgian romance: Target has great music called “Lifescapes” which feature classical music and nature sounds.


What themes do you like to explore in your books?


Freedom, forgiveness, second chances, women forging their own lives with or without a man figure predominantly in my stories.  Independence, healing, and fun (because if there’s no fun in there, we may as shelve the book!) also figure into my stories.


I like to do this by connecting somehow to true historical events. Of, course the guise through which this happens is banter and lots of sexual tension.


What is next? Any new titles we should be looking for?


I’m working on Norse Fire (tentative title) which is the story of a mouthy, brazen thrall (slave) named Sestra.  She’s a character in Norse Jewel.


If you like Georgian era romance, I have a fairy tale themed series coming out in 2014 with Sourcebooks.  The first book, The Beast’s Bargain, is a lively retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a brooding, reclusive hero and a heroine with a special talent of her own.


My favorite type of hero :) . Anything else you would like to share with our readers?


Yes, if you’re looking for evocative, adventurous romance, then my Viking romances are for you.  If you’re looking for scintillating, sparkling stories then my Georgian romances are for you.


Of course, both deliver sexual tension.


Of course. :)


And, thank you again for inviting me to join you.


It’s been great having you. You’re books sound wonderful! And here’s the fantastic cover for Norse Jewel and buy link. Also, see below to read the first chapter.Norse Jewel, Gina Conkle, Viking Romance


Amazon Link


Gina is also participating in a Entangled Blog Tour with a giveaway! To enter, follow the link to Rafflecopter.


To connect with Gina:


Website: www.ginaconkle.com


On twitter @ginaconkle


On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gina-Conkle-Writer/255265831271024?sk=messages_inbox&action=read&tid=id.508794675849804


Book Trailer for Norse Jewel


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bf2qBgwjmI&list=LL32hfN8Svpd-ica9Pq-GqpA


Chapter One


Land of the Franks


AD 1022


Smoke and mist parted, luring gawkers and traders alike.


“Come, see the goods,” a voice beckoned from the crowd.


Canny merchants in billowing robes examined exotic wares: fragrant spices, cloth spilling rivers of color, and barrels of rich Frankish wine. Morning air filled with foreign words and the clink of foreign coins. Bretons. Castilians. Saxons. All mixed with the Danes, those giant men who fingered giant hammers with relish. A gaggle of freewomen gossiped while gutting slippery fish. Scores of seagulls squawked, diving at fish heads the chattering women tossed aside. Helena watched these curious sights, so different from her humble village. All would be well except she was a stolen woman, taken in a raid on her village. Human chattel to the Danes.


She scanned the heavens and curled her fists.


I will return home.


A cool, mocking laugh intruded. “Praying again?”


Sestra, a buxom, flame-haired woman swigged water from the drinking pouch they shared. Like Helena, her wrists were tethered by long leather bindings to a stake in the ground.


“Good morning.” Helena reached for the proffered pouch.


“We’ll see soon enough,” Sestra groused. “Prayers don’t work, you know. Find a good protector. Work will be light then.” She finger combed her tangled hair for maximum effect and purred, “Find the right protector and you won’t have to lift a finger.”


Helena bristled at the suggestion. “I will have my freedom again.” She winced at the sight of loud warriors sharpening their axes around a smoky fire. “First, I need to get away from here.”


“Give it up. Accept your lot in life. We are captives. Slaves. Thralls. The language doesn’t matter, the master you serve does.” Sestra scanned the horizon, assessing a Flemish merchant fussing with his robes.


Both women were Frankish and of similar age but worlds apart in experience. Helena wanted to argue her point, but Sestra held up bound hands.


“Let me give you some advice…advice that’s saved my hide. Forget about home, and don’t fight. Those who fight don’t live long.” Sestra tapped her own smooth cheek and gave Helena a knowing look. “Look at what happened to you.”


Helena tested her cheek, touching skin scabbed and smooth. Outer wounds heal, but wounds to the soul cut deeper and lingered long. Aye, some things were worth a fight. Her hands slid to the leather pouch that hung from her neck. ‘Twas tucked between her breasts inside her dress, the contents safe—for now.


“The wound stopped the Danes. What’s done is done. . .” She squeezed her eyes shut, banishing images of that day. “. . .but I will not accept this as my lot in life.”


A stench of fish assaulted Helena. When she opened her eyes, the freewoman who brought their provisions approached and her gap-toothed smile held no cheer.


“Won’t have that for long,” the hag sneered, pointing at the lump under Helena’s bodice. “Should’ve let him take yer puny purse.”


The old woman dropped bread to the ground and planted work-rough hands at her hips as she loomed over them. Chills swept Helena’s limbs, owing nothing to the morning’s dampness. She folded her legs tight to her body. Her bindings chafed tender flesh. The brutal Gudrud’s attack broke like sharp-tipped fragments in her mind as the grizzled woman cackled.


“He returns. Soon,” she crooned. “Dung for brains has he. Felled by a Frankish maid in front of the other men. Yer kick hurt more than his man parts. Ye damaged mannish pride.” She waggled a finger at Helena and sang a gleeful warning. “Get sold today or sleep with one eye open. Night’s when he’ll get revenge.”


“Leave her be,” Sestra hissed. “Isn’t it enough you torment us daily?”


“I can forget to bring food for the likes of ye,” the old woman jeered.


“Be gone. We don’t need you.”


Two pairs of stunned eyes turned to Helena, who sat tall with her chin tipped high.


“Want me gone, do ye? I can forget yer food. See how those haughty words taste when yer belly aches from hunger.” The fishwife’s rheumy eyes narrowed on the small bulge under Helena’s bodice. “Hope whatevers ye got was worth it.”


The freewoman sauntered away, jibing about less thralls to feed. Helena clenched the pouch; the stone within was hard to her fingers. After she had been wounded, the other Danes had belittled Gudrud for losing a tussle with a mere woman. Magnuson, their leader, had let her keep the well-worn pouch, deeming it worthless upon quick inspection.


“Well, she did serve a purpose. I, for one, like to eat,” Sestra said, eyeing the bread.


“I couldn’t abide her taunts anymore.” Helena’s shoulders slumped as she dusted off the loaf and tore it in two. She passed the larger portion to Sestra. “And now my outburst cost us both. Who knows when she’ll bring food again.”


Sestra inspected the bread’s soft innards and scooped a handful. “Forget it. Eating is the least of your worries. The hag had one thing right. Gudrud will return and you cannot be here.”


Helena tucked her bread portion into her lap. “I could try running away.”


Sestra choked on her bread. “Remember the Basque woman?”


Helena hugged her legs still folded tightly to her body as visions of that day spilled. A twilight trip to answer nature’s call at the forest’s edge, and she saw the black-haired Basque woman slipped from sight. The fishwoman screeched an alarm. Men yelled. Hooves thundered. Tree bark had bit Helena’s skin as she sunk into the nearest tree to avoid the blur of men atop horses. Then, somewhere in the dense forest, the Basque woman’s blood-curdling screams carried through the air. None heard or saw her again.


Helena eyed that dark tree line. “A bad plan.”


Sestra snapped her fingers twice. “Look. Buyers come. Heed the old woman,” she chided. “Hide your wound. And smile. Men like a woman who smiles…a friendly woman.”


Aye, survival first.


Blood rushed through her ears. Her breath quickened as she whispered a short prayer, but heaven stayed silent. Gulls squawked and dove in the salty sea air, like her, seeking survival. Helena tugged at her braid, covering her wounded cheek with loose strands and prepared for the loathsome ordeal—one human selling another. Beside her, Sestra’s voice touched a seductive note.


“For these men I can smile very nicely.”


“You say that about every man.”


Sestra snorted and nodded at the horizon. “Judge for yourself.”


Two long-limbed, thickly muscled warriors walked through morning mist. Hard Danes and wiry merchants alike paused mid-conversation to dip their heads in greeting to these two. One was dark and amiable, yet large as a bear. The other, wary like a wolf, was fierce and blonde. He wore his sword strapped across his back and listened quietly to his friend, but his ice-blue eyes measured the camp. Sestra, ever the fount of knowledge, tipped her head toward the blonde man.


“See that? His leather belt,” she said with calculating awe. “A sign of authority. Kings served. Battles won. Many battles. A Norse chieftain by the look.”


Bronze and copper squares were stamped into his wide belt. Each token bore a unique design that caught the eye. But, he did not need the belt to command respect. The air around him crackled with authority. He moved like one belonging to an honored warrior class. Helena suddenly realized that her home village of Aubergon, her whole life, was sheltered and small.


Beside her, Sestra poked her arm. “You speak Norse. What are they saying?”


“I understand some.” But, her gaze wandered to the sinister horizon where the Basque woman had disappeared.


Her heart beat faster; a copper tinge filled her mouth at the sight of the dense forest, dark even in the morn. Aye, get sold this day—a far better fate than risking escape or facing the cruel Gudrud when he returned.


Sestra prodded her again like an insistent child. “Helena. Aren’t you listening? What is he—”


“Shhh,” Helena set a finger to her lips and canted her head to listen.


“…a farmer?” The bear man spoke the word as if he tasted brine. “I don’t see it. Hakan the Tall, a chieftain of Svea becomes Hakan…the farmer.” His booming voice flattened. “Why?”


“I tire of this life.” The chieftain answered as he studied the surroundings.


“Do we not gain gold aplenty from fat foreign kings?” The bear man jingled a bag at his waist and grinned.


“This isn’t about gold.”


Yet, the wolf-eyed chieftain loosed a bulging bag from his belt. ‘Twas obvious he didn’t waste coin on fine attire: his scuffed leather jerkin and faded blue trousers, tucked into fur boots, had seen much wear. No sweeping capes or brash torque hung about his neck such as usually graced the necks of high ranking Norsemen. What manner of chieftain would dress so simply?


“What are they saying?” Sestra whispered.


“That you need to be quiet so I can eavesdrop better.”


Sestra paused midst cleaning her teeth with her tunic sleeve. “Oh, very funny.”


Helena grinned and turned her attention to the men, but their voices were too low. The chieftain carried himself like a warrior-king, but of course that was harebrained. What did she know of kings? As she surveyed the men, the chieftain turned to greet Magnuson, leader of the Danes. An ugly shiver traced her back.


“Hakan.” The Dane clapped a heavy hand on the chieftain’s shoulder. “I hear you seek a woman to teach you Frankish words.”


“An old Frankish woman. To keep my farm, help with my wine trade.”


“Old? Young? What does it matter?” Magnuson grunted and splayed his fingers her way. “Frankish women here. Three of them. The rest…Sarmatians, Flemish, many from Eyre.”


“And not one of them long in years.”


Hakan rubbed his jaw as his gaze swept the row of women. Wide silver bands etched with intricate swirls wrapped around his muscular, sun-browned arms. Helena frowned as Sestra brazenly thrust her curves at the men. Is that what it took to escape this place?


The bear man laughed and pointed at the blatant display. “This one could teach you much.”


The chieftain scowled. “And cause trouble.”


Sestra’s come-hither smile melted to a sulk under his harsh glower. Her disappointment didn’t last long, more men ambled on the horizon. The Frankish maid’s face lit up when she spied a lavishly dressed merchant smiling at her.


Magnuson rubbed his hairy cheeks, countering, “Old women give fewer years of service.”


Helena wrapped her skirt close about her legs. Listening to their rapid Norse took all her concentration. New spring grass crunched under three pairs of boots as the men turned their attention on her.


“What happened to that one?” The one called Hakan asked about her.


She stiffened under the intimidating weight of male stares and couldn’t look higher than the chieftain’s silver armbands; a blood-eyed dragon carved in silver winked at her, a trick of daylight’s reflection.


“An unfortunate mishap.” Magnuson shrugged a massive shoulder under his bearskin pelt. “One of my men…she fought him, his knife slipped, caught her jaw . . .” The Dane slid his finger from jaw to ear, mimicking her wound. “ . . .but, if its old you want, come this way.”


The chieftain turned his back on her.


Helena dropped her forehead to her knees. The overbearing Magnuson spoke of the older woman, and the men moved away. She chided herself for her lack of courage in failing to meet the Norseman’s stare. Was her cheek truly awful? Her fingers gingerly tested the scab.


“Stop,” she whispered and lowered her hands.


Beside her, Sestra greeted a be-ringed Castilian merchant whose rich robes boasted silken tassels. Near the Dane’s camp, rough warriors emerged from a tavern; their crude jests were abrasive to her ears and soul.


Greater is the need to flee this place than to feel sorry for myself.


Her stomach growled and Helena checked the bread nestled in her lap; best she ration the fare. She carefully pulled a bite-sized morsel from the loaf, as Magnuson’s rumbling voice played in the background.


“Older, quiet…women who know their place…” He extolled the virtues of the poor woman whose name he did not know. “…give you a good day’s work.”


Half-listening to his merchant’s pitch, she rolled her eyes. So disgusted was she, Helena almost missed a rarity. But she didn’t. Her hand stopped mid-way to her mouth.


Unbelievable.


The chieftain, the one called Hakan, spoke gently to the older captive woman.


The slave, huddled and silent on the ground, failed to respond. He knelt in the dirt and touched the woman’s shoulder with care—an odd thing for a warrior. The captive had been too far away for Helena to render aid when the Danes first brought her to camp. Yet, she was close enough to see that she stayed curled in a tight ball, quiet and unmoving, sometimes rocking and moaning.


Lured by the scene before her, Helena’s gaze followed the Norseman’s large hands as he cradled the silent woman’s head. She leaned forward, straining against her tether, as if her eyes deceived her. He could have been holding a newborn babe, so tender was he. Then, his thumb cautiously brushed open the corner of the thrall’s mouth.


“No tongue?” His hard stare shot accusation at Magnuson. “You’re trying to sell a woman who cannot talk.”


“Not always a bad thing.” The Dane’s smile stretched over-wide at his weak jest.


“Not when I need her to speak Frankish.”


“She is the oldest here.” Magnuson waved his hands over the small array of women tethered to the ground.


The chieftain stood up and silenced Magnuson with a thunderous glare. He did not draw his sword as other affronted warriors might have done. Instead, he opened his coin pouch and counted a few gold pieces.


“For the goats and sheep already on my ship.”


Magnuson closed thick fingers around the coins dropped in his hand and joined the Bear Man and the Castilian, both enchanted with Sestra. The whole camp, a blend of voices and laughter, played background noise to the interest threading from Helena to the chieftain. All faded to a hum. Her bread slid to the ground, forgotten. She sat up taller, staring at the Norseman as his long fingers retied his coin pouch. He was careful with the older woman. One could even say, kind. Her gaze swept upward past the width of his shoulders to his hard, sun-browned face.


Ice-blue eyes stared back.


Helena froze.


She had once crossed paths with a lone wolf in the forest near home. Such a beast would devour the weak. To her relief, that wolf had turned and disappeared. Though dangerous, she willed this two-legged wolf closer. The price was tension coiling inside her.


Like a predator measuring prey, the Norseman’s unyielding stare traced her frame, lingering at the curve of her hips. A peculiar warmth poured through her as she stared back. Sunlight broke through mist, bouncing off the sword strapped across his back. A large, red stone glimmered from the hilt. Something of a smile crossed her face. This chieftain’s clothes were faded and well-used, but his arm bands and sword were finely crafted with matching designs and matching red stones.


The chieftain scowled and crossed his arms.


Her smile wilted. Was she over-bold? Her manner was nothing like Sestra’s. Helena swallowed hard and licked her lips, working to put her smattering of Norse words to work.


“Smiles…you do not like,” she said in soft, faltering Norse.


“A woman’s false smiles, no.” His voice was deep and smooth to her ears. “You speak Norse.”


“Aye, some. I smile…friendliness only.” She cleared her throat and dared to say, “I seek freedom…nothing more.”


The chieftain’s head tipped with interest. “Strange words for a thrall.”


“I wasn’t born to this.” She held her head high, ignoring that she sat in dirt at his feet.


A light flashed behind the Norseman’s eyes. He loosened his stance, and Helena knew she had penetrated some unseen shield, drawing him closer. Camp sounds faded to nothing as his ice-blue eyes pinned her.


“Status of birth matters little. How you live each day…that’s your true measure.”


A breeze blew thick blonde hair that fell past his shoulders. The stoic chieftain stood like a rock, staring at her with unnerving intensity. A kernel of interest sprouted betwixt them, but she needed to nurse this cagey conversation with care. Her hair blew across her face, a momentary mask.


“A warrior who speaks like a…” She paused, searching for the right word. “…a wise man…’tis rare.”


“Fools don’t live long.”


Helena motioned to his belt. “Marks of a warrior?”


“I have…been places.”


“I have not.” Her bound hands tapped her chest. “But, you need one who speaks–”


Suddenly, wild bellows cut her short. The chieftain pivoted, alert and ready, facing the clamor. Danes emerged from red-striped tents, cheering and pointing at a dark form that came from the forest. That dark form shifted into a rider galloping hard. Iron battle rings clanked across the horse’s chest, a nerve-chilling noise to raise the dead. The rider’s bulky frame and bald head were familiar; Helena’s heart pounded hard and fast long before Magnuson raised his fist and roared her worst fear.


“Gudrud returns!”


She inhaled sharply. Cold flushes gripped her as the freewoman’s singsong words played in her head.


Night’s when he’ll get revenge.


Staring at the menacing horse and rider, Helena’s hands squeezed together as a worried supplicant. She would beg this Norseman, this one called Hakan, to take her. He was her only hope.


When she turned around, the chieftain was gone.

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Published on June 06, 2013 07:00

June 3, 2013

Writing a Book Series – Character Arcs

Good to be back after a brief hiatus. Juggling revisions on one book, my own editing on another, and actually writing the third has been a hair wringing task, (lots of new gray hairs) but I’m still on track to meet deadlines, thankfully, and, am currently reviewing galley proofs for book release July 15!!


This was a tough post to write because characters are such fundamental parts of our stories. And how to make them grow and change over a series even tougher. I don’t claim to be an expert, and am sharing my learning process. One thing is for sure, nothing turns me away from a series more than, after the third or fourth book, the protagonist doesn’t learn or grow. They become plot devices. Argh.


I began writing my necromancer book when my protagonist, Ruby, invaded my head, told me about her power over the dead and how she struggled with it, and I got excited, started writing, and thought, well this is a story of how she masters her power.


Well, yes, but no. As I explored her character more, I realized it was also a story about how she changes her beliefs about herself, her world, and her power. Even more exciting.


What is character growth? Change? External events can drive the character forward (more of a plot driven scenario). Changes in the character’s skills and knowledge take the arc a bit deeper, but deepen it more, and you get the internal changes, the beliefs, that make the story more interesting. I always loved the interplay between Scully and Mulder in The X-Files. Okay, I just loved the damn show. But Scully really changes, in many ways, more than Mulder. She starts out very scientific and skeptical and slowly over the series, she faces death, kidnapping, possible alien experimentation, and she becomes a believer. But it wasn’t just belief in aliens, but in herself, in her relationship with Mulder. At times, she had to convince him to keep believing.


So how to approach character change over a series? Before continuing, I must insert disclaimer here again.


I’m speaking from my experience of writing my series and what worked or didn’t work for me. Everyone has different writing styles and different stories. There are also many different types of book series. My series is set in the same world throughout, with the same characters, and has a major story arc that will only get resolved in Book Three.


The latter is important because this discussion centers on a character’s growth over a series of books. Think Jim Butcher’s Dresden series or Kelley Armstrong’s Woman of the Underworld characters, such as the werewolf Elena.


Ruby’s growth revolves around her ever growing and changing necromancer skills, her past, and the past history of necromancers.


In Necromancer’s Seduction, Ruby is seduced by her power and by her love interest. How does she respond to the seduction? How does it affect her beliefs? The book ends with Ruby making a major decision that has very important consequences for her growth, but also for the plot. The second and third books begin with her dealing with the consequences of her decision from the previous book. Did she make the right decision? Did the end justify the means? And how does the decision impact her relationships with the other characters? And her relationship with her power?


I loved writing about her struggles with her decisions. How maybe her decisions were not the best, but they seemed like the best decision at the time and were certainly justifiable, the lesser of two evils, so to speak. Either way, her decisions lead her in the direction I need her to go for the next book. (Maybe not exactly the direction she would have chosen, but I’m mean like that J )


So: external change, event leads to new capability/new use of power creates new circumstances/consequences results in change in belief/decision.


Ruby goes through this cycle in each book. She explores a new necromancer power, related to the plot, which leads to a change in belief and a decision, but with each book, the stakes go up, the skill she learns and uses is more difficult and leads to more significant and perilous consequences. The advantage to writing a series is the author can explore different stages of that growth.


Here are some questions to frame this journey:


What propels the hero on his or her journey? Why does s/he need to go on the journey? Does the hero have a mentor or someone to talk to? What are the mentor’s motives? Why does the hero keep going forward? What tools does s/he have at his/her disposal?  Did the hero fail or succeed? Why do we care if the hero is successful or not? What was the hero’s major struggle in each book? With his/her power? Personal or romance?


Lots of questions.


In addition to exploring different facets to the heroine’s growth, a series also provides space to show the hero faltering. Book Two has both Ruby, and her main love interest, Ewan, both struggling immensely. External forces, split loyalties, or decisions made in order to defeat the bad guys drive them apart. Ruby stumbles quite a bit as she navigates her new powers and other things I won’t reveal, which lead her to commit an act that is morally questionable. She comes to terms with her actions in Book Three.


Ewan is quite confident in Necromancer’s Seduction, and over the three books, he has to break down and reform himself before he can be the demon he wants to be for Ruby, and to help her in the end. If he doesn’t go through that process, he will not be at that strong place, mentally or emotionally, to help her.


The relationship with the villain also plays an important role in the hero or heroine’s growth. In the beginning of the story, the villain has more choices and tools at his disposal, which makes him more powerful. It’s the opposite for the hero or heroine. Every scene and plot point strips away options from the hero until the black moment. At the black moment, the hero’s belief, ego or some cherished value is destroyed. Then a new choice presents itself that wasn’t available before because the hero wasn’t ready to make that leap of faith (Saito to Cobb in Inception—“Don’t you want to take a leap of faith? Or become an old man, filled with regret, waiting to die alone.” Love it!)


Ultimately our hero prevails because, while the hero grows and embraces new beliefs that drives her/him to take actions that ultimately lead to success, the villain adheres to inflexible and intolerant beliefs that keeps him/her from growing, and unable to take the actions or make the right decisions, which lead to his/her demise.


Speaking of the devil, each book in a series can have an ultimate black moment, but the series as a whole should have a major dark moment where the hero makes a choice that would have been unthinkable or unavailable in some way at the beginning of the series. Harry Potter, in the end, comes to the realization, the belief, he is a Horcrux, and accepts, understand he has to die in order to kill Voldemort. Fortunately, he doesn’t.


On a side note, I’m a big fan of the television show Game of Thrones. What I like is how some characters begin as unsympathetic and bad, then they suffer various experiences which test their beliefs, and they become better. Like Jaime Lannister. He friggin pushed Bran off a window when Bran saw him having sex with his sister, Cersei. Jaime starts out as conceited and ruthless, but he changes, and we begin to like him, or I do, at least. I need some new characters to like as my favorites keep getting killed off, sigh, Red Wedding, sigh Robb Stark.


How have you seen, treated character growth? How has the villain helped or hindered the hero’s growth?

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Published on June 03, 2013 07:03

May 6, 2013

Danica Winters-Paranormal Romance Writing Cowgirl

Please welcome Danica Winters! Her Nymph Series sounds like a must read, with Greek mythology, romance, and settings that include Crete and the wilds of Montana.


Romance in Montana


Whenever I am at a large event outside of my home state I’m always asked where I’m from.  Perhaps it is the fact that I have never owned a purse that cost over a hundred dollars or a pair of heels that I’ve seen in a magazine.  Or, it could be the fact that my dress clothes have mostly been purchased at ranch supply stores (I’m not kidding).  I’m not saying I am unprofessional—no far from it. I always have a nice shine on my boots and my hair is filled with spiraling curls and silver clips (unless I’m at home, in which case you will find me in yoga pants and a sweatshirt even in July).  When I tell my readers I’m from Montana I am usually met with a response like, “Are you serious? Montana Montana?”


Those wonderful readers helped to remind me what a wonderful and picturesque state I have the honor of calling my home.  It was this reminder which pushed me to write my latest book Montana Mustangs which takes place in a blink-an-you-miss-it town called Somers.  Somers lies on the northern tip of Flathead Lake, one of the largest natural lakes west of the Mississippi.  Having grown up in Montana I have had the chance to dip into this bone-chilling lake that rests in the bosom of the Mission mountains. The water of the lake reflects the snow-capped craggy mountain tops and as soon as you see it you are instantly reminded about how small we are in the grand puzzle of life.


The truth is that most of my writing is inspired by not only the ethereal beauty of Flathead Lake, but all of the beauty that surrounds me in this wonderful state.  Every morning when I leave my home I’m met with the nod and wave as I pass my neighbors on a dirt road that has been forgotten by GPS.  This slow-paced lifestyle is solely focused on the love of nature and the bounty it has to offer.  In addition to the necessary love of the outdoors I am filled with a need to write—a need to share with those who love the written word.


In Montana Mustangs I have created a work in which I have tried to capture my love of Montana in addition to capturing the hearts of my many wonderful and loyal fans.  If you love books that are outside of the normal Mary Jane romances and if you like the unexpected twists and turns of mystery than you will love the paranormal romance Montana Mustangs—the second book in the Nymph Series.


The Nymph Series is a connected series that revolves around the lives of several nymphs as they are each faced with the curse of their kind—fall in love with a human man, and the man is fated to die a tragic death.  The first book in the series, The Nymph’s Labyrinth (which was featured in USA Today) takes places in Crete and follows the lives of an American archeologist and a museum curator who is charged with keeping the history and secrets of her kind under wraps.  I’m happy to say, readers and reviewers have loved the first book in this series.  The third book Winter Swans is slated to be released Fall 2013.


If you have questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.  I love to talk to my readers.  Where do you live?  What is your favorite thing about your home state/country?  I would love to hear!


Thank you for stopping by,


Danica Winters


The Paranormal Romance Writing Cowgirl


Montana Mustangs


Publication Date: May 6, 2013


The Nymph's Labyrinth, Danica Winter, Nymph Series


A nymph: a woman with the ability to seduce at will, shift to protect, but cursed with the fate to have the man she falls in love with die a tragic death. As one of these ill-fated nymphs, Aura Montgarten has spent her lifetime drifting from one place to another hiding from love. Until she meets Dane.


When a body washes up on the shore of a rural Montana lake, police officer Dane Burke is faced with the task of finding the killer—even if it means he will be forced to put his life and heart at risk by working with a drifter.  As the truth of Aura’s Mustang-shifting nymph ways are revealed, Dane learns exactly the amount of danger he and Aura are in, but can’t force himself to leave a case unsolved when the truth is just outside his grasp.


When the killer decides he needs to take another victim—Dane—Aura must choose between their forbidden love and her immortal life.  Can there be life without love or is death her only choice?


The Nymph’s Labyrinth Untitled3


*(Featured in USA Today)*


A world shrouded in mystery and intrigue, the Sisterhood of Epione must not be exposed.


A Shape-shifting nymph, Ariadne, is tasked with keeping the truth of her group’s existence and their ancient mysteries far out of reach of an American archeologist and his troublemaking son.  When forgotten and forbidden passions are awakened, Ariadne is forced to make a choice—fall in line and continue to be overrun and pushed down by the sisterhood, or follow her heart and put everyone’s lives in danger.


Can Ariadne have the man she loves or will the pressure and secrets of the past keep her from her heart’s desire?


Publication Date: December 31, 2012

Publisher: Crimson Romance

Purchase Link: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo


About Danica Winters:


Danica Winter, Nymph SeriesDanica Winters is a bestselling author who is known for writing award-winning books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and often a touch of magic. When she’s not working, she can be found in the wilds of Montana testing her patience while she tries to understand the allure of various crafts (quilting, pottery and painting are not her thing).  She always believes the cup is neither half full nor half empty, but it better be filled with wine.


Website | Blog | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook |


Other Titles by Danica Winters:


Love Under the Christmas Tree


A Christmas Miracle


The Vampire’s Hope


Curse of the Wolf


An Angel’s Justice


Coming Soon from Danica Winters (2013):  Winter Swans (Crimson Romance)

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Published on May 06, 2013 07:00

April 26, 2013

My Pirate Heroes

Pirates. A far cry from Urban Fantasy, but, oh yes, pirates. Errol Flynn had me at arrrrgh with his first swing on the rat line in Captain Blood. Or maybe Tyrone Powers in The Black Swan. Maybe it’s the black boots, the swagger, or the devil may care attitude, but pirate heroes are my ultimate bad boys. (And I did love Depp as Jack Sparrow in the first Pirates, but that series lost it’s footing. I actually looved Geoffrey Rush as Barbossa)Devil's Island, Sea Rover's Passion, Mimi Sebastian


And I mean pirate heroes. Not a privateer or falsely accused sailor. Like vampires who actually drink blood, I like my pirates to plunder from the East India Company and give to the disenfranchised. Okay, I know they probably had bad teeth and smelled like bilge, but this is romance, dammit.


I read a very excellent book, The Republic of Pirates, by Colin Woodard (tv show based on the book coming soon, SQUEEEEE). Woodard focused on three of the more successful Caribbean pirates: Charles Vane, Edward Teech a.k.a. Blackbeard, and Black Sam Bellamy, and the British patriot, Woodes Rogers, who eventually played a huge role in ending the Golden Age of Piracy (1715 – 1725). A great book worthy of a read. It inspired me to finally write a pirate historical romance, Devil’s Island, and inspired my hero, Captain Boone Wilder.


In Boone Wilder, I realized my vision of a sexy, uncompromising hero. Uncompromising until he meets his match in Sabine Tanner, my heroine, of course. I modeled Boone after Black Sam Bellamy. If you read his story (also check out the National Geographic webpage dedicated to his discovered shipwreck, The Whydah), he’s often called the Pirate Prince. He was the Robin Hood of pirates, uncompromising :) and dedicated to evening out the playing field (the first 99%). What’s interesting about Bellamy and Blackbeard, according to Woodard, there’s no record, in nearly 300 attacks on shipping between the two of them, of either Blackbeard or Bellamy killing a captive. (They may have  roughed them up a bit.)


In the Republic of Pirates, Woodard includes a short speech made by Bellamy from the writings of a Captain Beer, captured then released by Bellamy. The following are the wonderful pirate words of Bellamy from the Republic of Pirates:


“Damn ye, you are a sneaking puppy, and so are all those who will submit to be governed by laws which rich men have made for their own security, for the cowardly whelps have not the courage otherwise to defend what they get by their knavery.”


But the fascinating story of Bellamy doesn’t end there. The legend goes, he loved a young woman, Maria Hallett, who he left behind in Maine to seek fortune and fame. He was on his way back to her, loaded with treasure, when they hit a terrible storm and wrecked off the coast of Cape Cod. Three of the crew survived only to be taken prisoner and tried for piracy. The Whydah Pirate Museum in Massachusetts contains a wonderful exhibit which I had the fortune of seeing when it traveled to the Arizona Science Museum.


I hope to self publish Devil’s Island later this year in the memory of Sam Bellamy and his love Maria. And avast, me hearties, don’t forget ‘Talk Like a Pirate Day’ coming on September 19, ye scurvy dogs!

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Published on April 26, 2013 07:00

April 12, 2013

Next Big Thing Blog Hop

Thanks to the wonderful Camelia Miron Skiba for nominating me to participate in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop. The blog hop serves to highlight new releases and introduce other authors. Cami’s new book is called Born in Sin. Fabulous cover!! The blog consists of a series of questions about the author and his or her book.Next Bog Thing Blog Hop


What is the working title of your book?


The title is official: The Necromancer’s Seduction.


Where did the idea come from for the book?


My protagonist, the necromancer Ruby, just started speaking to me and telling me her story, which included raising people from the dead. Not sure what that says about me :)


What genre does your book fall under?


Urban Fantasy with strong romance.


What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?


That’s a hard question. Maybe the red headed version of Rachel McAdams for Ruby. And for the hero, Ewan? Joe Manganiello probably has the right body type, although I finally watched Vikings, and am liking it! The brother character, Rollo, played by Clive Standen, would be good, although his morals are questionable, Rollo that is. He’s definitely got that dark, swarthy thing going on though!


What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?


Ruby, a necromancer unleashes her power and reignites a legacy that threatens the entire supernatural community as well as her own soul.


Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?


The entire Necromancer Series will be published by ImaJinn Books.


How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?


When I first started writing the story, I never thought I’d make it this far. I had time to treat it like a hobby, so I’d say about two years.


What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?


I can’t think of specific books, but there are some Urban Fantasy authors I read that provided some inspiration: Kelley Armstrong, Stacia Kane, and Diana Rowland.


Who or what inspired you to write this book?


The character Ruby and my love of reading paranormal fiction.


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


Zombies? Demon love? Glimpses into a demonic realm. What I especially like about my characters is that none of them are black or white, or perfectly good or evil, but are driven by loyalties and events that force them to make decisions that sometimes put them at odds with the other characters.


Thanks for joining me today! It’s my pleasure to introduce you to three amazing authors joining the tour:

Maria Piork


Sandy Wright


Ashley Barron

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Published on April 12, 2013 07:07

April 3, 2013

Keeping Us Guessing

An interesting, fun movie just came out in limited release (ugh! translate not in Phoenix), Room 237, exploring the many interpretations and even some far fetched conspiracy theories surrounding The Shining. The film makers drew on theories presented by various people who have amassed enormous archives of Shining interpretations. It’s unbelievable. Rob Ager is one example and is featured in Room 237: Rob Ager.


After watching a few Kubrick movies, which also includes 2001, I do agree he explores themes like imperialism and how it has led to a legacy of violence in human history. Room 237 covers those various theories, like references to Native American genocide and the Holocaust, but still much argument and discussion abounds as to what the movie is really about. To me, film critic for Salon.com, Andrew O’Heir summed it up well:


…this really is a story about a guy going crazy in a snowbound old hotel and turning on his wife and kid, but one that draws on the most troubling aspects of myth, history and psychoanalytic theory to create an overdetermined landscape of madness, one in which the viewer ultimately feels almost as disoriented as Jack, frozen in permanent rage at the heart of the labyrinth.


Interpretation aside, what I find compelling with Kubrick and his movies, or at least The Shining, is how he composes his scenes and populates his movies with lots of detail and symbols. The Shining contains so many references to Native American culture, genocide, symbols, it hard to argue he wasn’t making some kind of statement.


But even better are the flashes of straight out strangeness. The twin girls, the blood flowing out of the elevator, the (grimace) decayed old lady in Room 237. And what the heck is the deal with the guy in the bear suit? Creepy. Maybe that’s simply the point, and an explanation would ultimately ruin the impact of the scene. Some film directors explain too much and Kubrick often explained nothing. Room 237 does provide possible explanations for all of those scenes however.


I was writing a scene in my second book, where one of the bad guys was revealing some of his motivations, and I wavered between how much I needed to explain and decided to leave it vague.


Take the movie The Warriors. (Another one of my favorites) At the end, the leader of the Gramercy Riffs gang asks Luther, the leader of the Rogues, why he shot Cyrus. Luther answers simply, “No reason. I just like doing things like that.” He’s friggin’ nuts. We totally get that and we don’t need an exposition on the tragedy of his life.


Explaining too much can take away from the mystery and emotion behind certain aspects of the story. Some character behaviors should be left up to interpretation. Why is the bad guy bad? Was it childhood trauma? Socio-pathetic tendencies? Why did Jack Torrance try to hack up his wife and kid? We don’t know exactly. Was it cabin fever? Writer’s block? (OH, crap, no.) Or was it him perpetuating the endless cycle of violence due to imperialism? Kubrick doesn’t tell us and personally I don’t want him to. (Not that he could at this point.) It’s enough for me to see the scene with Jack talking to the previous caretaker, John Grady, in the bathroom, about correcting his wife and kid (yikes) and seeing him in the Forth of July ball picture from 1921 at the end. What what it all about? Kubrick keeps us all guessing, writing, and making movies about it to this day. If he would have explained everything, there wouldn’t be a Room 237.

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Published on April 03, 2013 07:30