Tempeste O'Riley's Blog, page 38
September 4, 2013
And the Goodreads Winner Is…
Mtsnow13
*I’ve sent you a separate email and will mail your book out this Friday.
August 20, 2013
Guest Author Wednesdays ♥ Andrea R. Cooper
Hello everyone. Today I’m thrilled to have Romance Author Andrea R. Cooper stop by. She’s got a great post on What’s wrong with Princess and a wonderful excerpt for your enjoyment! Don’t forget to leave her a little love below!
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Andrea grew up in Houston, Texas and has always enjoyed creating characters and stories. But it wasn’t until she was in her late twenties that she started writing novels.
What happened that ignited the writing flame in her fingers? Divorced, and disillusioned by love songs and stories. They exaggerate. She thought. Love and Romance are not like that in the real world. Then she met her husband and realized, yes love and romance are exactly like the songs and stories say. She is now a happy wife, and a mom to three kids (two boys and a girl).
Once she heard about a writer who never let her characters deviate from the script. If they did, she just killed them. How sad, she thought. For her one of the best parts of being a writer is letting the characters have a mind of their own and seeing where the story takes them.
She loves this quote from Robert Frost, which sums up her opinion on allowing the characters their freedom: “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” ― Robert Frost
Andrea writes fantasy, paranormal and historical romance. When not writing or reading, one may find Andrea dancing in Zumba.
She is excited to work with Crimson Romance on her forthcoming debut paranormal romance, The Garnet Dagger. She hopes you will enjoy the story as much as she did writing it.
She believes in the power of change and counting each moment as a blessing. But most importantly, she believes in love. Even if she has to fight for it.
♥ Site ♥ Amazon ♥ Crimson ♥ Twitter ♥ Goodreads ♥
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The Garnet Dagger
Forbidden to cross the Elvin barrier into human lands, Brock cannot sate his curiosity. Cursed by a vampyre bite that forces him to feed on the life-essence of others, he is unable to touch another without taking their life. Chained by prophesy, he must find a witch, pierce her heart, and draw her blood for his cure.
Celeste must escape the monks who have held her prisoner for years. Her magic has been kept dormant by her captors. An ancient powerful Warloc craves her powers. If he succeeds in devouring her magic, she and the world will die.
When Brock falls in love with Celeste before realizing her demise is his cure, will love triumph over his desire to be healed? Will he risk everything to save her from a Warloc, an oath breaker, who also wants her dead?
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What’s Wrong With Princess?
Never before, in recorded history, have women been able to do so much and become whoever we wish to be. We can be astronauts, chefs, mechanics, or even the President.
So we shouldn’t call our daughters Princesses, because that will label them, and expect Prince Charming to rescue them and make them happy.
What? That’s as absurd as someone saying playing with Barbie dolls will make them want to have plastic surgery, and low self-esteem. Yes, I had low self-esteem when I was younger, and still struggle with it, but it wasn’t because of a plastic doll. It was because of boys at church and school who tripped me in the halls, etc.
What I think needs to be thought of besides just a name, is how it’s implied. Princesses can be spoiled and pampered, but they can also be warriors, brave, and resourceful, etc.
I think in addition to the Disney stories, the real histories of famous women (some of whom may even be princesses), myths and legends should be shared with our daughters, and our sons for that matter.
Like Princess Pingyang who gathered an army and defeated the Sui Dynasty, Queen Zenobia, Artemisia I of Caria, Spartan princess Archidamia, Queen Boudicca who stood against the Romans, Queen Cordelia, The Dahomey people of West Africa who only allow women as royal guards to the King, Queen Samsi of Arabia, the legends of the Amazons, and more. These are just a few of many examples of women, some who were even royalty, who didn’t let the label of ‘Princess’ pre-define who they were.
Will I call my daughter a Princess? Yes. And I will call her a Warrior Princess, and smart, and brave, etc. She’ll know the difference between a label and being someone who is happy with herself despite society and other’s expectations. I will praise her for her accomplishments and hug her when she falls. But I will never say she can’t be called something just because of preconceived notions.
Sources:
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/womenbiography/tp/030110WomenWarriors.htm
http://www.spike.com/articles/e4ukwt/the-top-10-warrior-women?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman_warrior
http://listverse.com/2008/03/17/top-10-badass-female-warriors/
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Viking Fire
856 CE, Ireland is a land of myth, magic, and blood. Viking raiders have fought the Irish for over half a century. Rival Irish clans promise only betrayal and carnage.
Kaireen, daughter of Laird Liannon, is suddenly forced into an arranged marriage with her sworn enemy, a Viking. She refuses to submit. With no mention of love, only land and the protection of her clan, she endeavors to get her betrothed banished from her country. Will love find its way around her stubborn heart?
Bram, the Viking, finds himself without future or inheritance as a younger son in his family. A marriage to the Laird’s daughter would grant him land if he swears fidelity and if his men will fight along with the Liannons against any foe—Irish or Viking. However, the Laird’s feisty daughter only holds animosity for him and his kind. Is marriage worth the battle scars of such a relentless opponent?
With the blame for a rival laird’s death treacherously set against the Liannons, Kaireen and Bram must find a way to lay aside their differences as an unforeseen darkness sends death snapping at their heels.
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Guest Author: Tempeste O’Riley
Reblogged from Charley Descoteaux
Today i’m happy to welcome the two leads from Tempeste O’Riley’s novel Designs of Desire, Seth Burns and James Bryant! Thanks, Tempe, for letting them come over to hang out a while!
Okay, guys, it’s all yours!
August 19, 2013
Welcome Guest Author Tempeste O’Riley! + A Giveaway
Reblogged from Jennifer Wright’s Blog:
I’d like to welcome the wonderful Tempeste O’Riley as my guest today! Tempeste has just recently had her debut novel, Designs of Desire, released at Dreamspinner Press, and she’s going to be telling us a little bit about it.
Also, Tempeste will be giving away a couple of copies of Designs of Desire as well as a couple of gift cards, so be sure to click on the Rafflecopter link at the bottom of this post!
August 15, 2013
Domestic Abuse & Finding Your HEA
reblogged from The Purple Fantasy Den
First I would like to thank Vic and The Purple Fantasy Den for hosting “Designs of Desire” and me, the author, today. In my novel, “Designs of Desire”, one of the MC’s has sadly suffered both domestic abuse and sexual assault—thankfully before the story starts, but for James, the victim, the abuse is never far away.
For me, one of the things I wanted to show in this story is that while abuse can destroy, or nearly destroy people, families, and more, there is the possibility that if you leave and are able to move on that maybe your true “prince” or “princess” will still be out there waiting for you……
August 14, 2013
ROMANCE AND THE MC WITH A DISABILITY
Hello and thank you Michael for hosting Designs of Desire, and me, the author, lol. Today I’m going to tackle an oft ignored topic… the disabled MC. It’s a topic that many don’t think about or concern themselves with—almost like if someone has a disability they aren’t a whole sexual being… Seriously_ Everyone can have a fully enriching life despite physical or mental limitations. That said though, when I sat down to wrote DoD I didn’t say “Oh, I want to write a story where a disabled guy finds love.” No, what I thought about was how frustrated I get about how others perceive me and often treat me because I use forearm crutches and can’t walk much—or stand long without serious pain. The pity, anger, or out right dismissal of my existence. And so, James Bryant was born!…..
Tempeste O’Riley Week: Character Thursday
reblogged from The Purple Fantasy Den
Meet James and Seth from Designs of Desire
Tempeste O’Riley is here with profiles of James Bryant and Seth Burns from her debut book Designs of Desire, book #1 of the Desires Entwined series. Tempe is currently working on Desires’ Guardian and Temptations of Desire, both part of the Desires Entwined universe…..
August 13, 2013
Tempeste O’Riley Week: Day Three: WIP Wednesday
reblogged from The Purple Fantasy Den
In keeping with the theme here at The Purple Fantasy Den, I’m sharing a little teaser from one of my WIPs, Temptations of Desire. Temptations is the journey of Officer Dal Sayer, a police officer, and Alex Noble, a sexy, gender fluid man. Can Dal embrace who Alex truly is inside and out? And, can Alex trust in Dal and their burgeoning feelings to find their HEA?….
Guest Author Wednesday ♥ Anne Barwell
Hello everyone. Today I’m thrilled to have Romance Author Anne Barwell stop by. She’s got a great post on Unexpected Guests and a wonderful excerpt for your enjoyment! Don’t forget to leave her a little love below!
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Anne Barwell lives in Wellington, New Zealand. She shares her home with two cats who are convinced that the house is run to suit them; this is an ongoing "discussion," and to date it appears as though the cats may be winning.
In 2008 she completed her conjoint BA in English Literature and Music/Bachelor of Teaching. She has worked as a music teacher, a primary school teacher, and now works in a library. She is a member of the Upper Hutt Science Fiction Club and plays violin for Hutt Valley Orchestra.
She is an avid reader across a wide range of genres and a watcher of far too many TV series and movies, although it can be argued that there is no such thing as "too many." These, of course, are best enjoyed with a decent cup of tea and further the continuing argument that the concept of "spare time" is really just a myth.
♥ Site ♥ Blog ♥ DSP ♥ Coffee Unicorns ♥ Goodreads ♥
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Cat’s Quill.
Hidden Places, Book 1
Tomas Kemp has two successful novels to his name and the true belief that a successful sequel is only a matter of a little inspiration. When Tomas meets a mysterious stranger under the branches of an old oak tree, he feels compelled to tell him about a book he holds dear and the sequel he wants to read. But Cathal doesn’t share that deep belief that the sequel Tomas seeks ends happily. Cathal has seen enough of a world where stories are real to know that happy ever after is sometimes the dream that won’t come true.
But stories have never let Tomas down, and as he follows Cathal across the reality shift between their worlds, he learns that Cathal is right: Happy ever after is never just given—but sometimes, it can be fought for and won.
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Unexpected Guests
A big thanks to Tempe for hosting me today J
Writing about characters and plot and which one comes first is often on par with the age old question about chickens and eggs. With my own writing I find I tend to experience a mix of the two. Often my ideas start with a ‘what if’, which then grow into full blown plots complete with characters. Or on the flip side, I have characters I want to do something with and the plot grows alongside them. Often it’s difficult to tell where the line is between the two, but I rather like it that way as it means by the time I go to write a story, the characters are very real and clambering to get out of my head and onto ‘paper’.
Then there’s the characters who just show up, move in and refuse to go away again. I’ve had a few of those. In Cat’s Quill, there was supposed to be a kid with a bicycle who nearly ran Tomas, who is one of the main characters, over. Said kid was supposed to apologise, somewhat reluctantly, and ride away never to be seen again. All part of the general sucky day Tomas is having at the time. How was I supposed to know Mikey was actually a part of the plot, and not exactly a small part at that? And then there was Christian, who also turns out to be a major character, with a very interesting back story. He just turned up, made some so-called witty comments, much to Tomas’s chagrin, and decided to stay. I love Christian. He’s one of my favourite characters, and he’s very smug about it too.
In A Knight to Remember, the person who ends up being the villain wasn’t in the outline either. He just showed up and ran with the plot, while the person I had pegged for the villain ended up in quite a different role altogether.
After Mikey and Christian, oh and Will who somehow snuck into Cat’s Quill as well, I really should give up being surprised by these kinds of things. The one thing I have learned to do from all this is to just go with the flow. While an outline is nice, and gives me a plan to work from it’s not set in stone. Listening to the characters and the story is an important part of writing, and the fact they do their own thing―within reason, as some things are NOT open for debate―is a sign that I’m working with three dimensional people who know their own mind and will complain loudly if they’re not happy with the way things are going. Or more likely, do something about it in such a way that by the time I figure out that’s what they’ve been up to, it’s already too late.
In saying that, however, it’s probably on the cards they’re not going to like the way everything is going, but sorry, they’re going to have to put up with a bit of hurt/comfort along the way in order to get their happy ending. Sure, I’ll listen to them and the story as I write, but, as with most things in life, as the saying goes… so much for the well laid plans of mice and men.
Or in this case writers, characters, and stories.
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Excerpt:
Cathal wiped his palms on his trousers and then turned the page of the journal back and forth, his eyes scanning the words again. “Maybe I could help?” he suggested. “Can you tell me what the story is about so I can get more of an idea of what this kiss should, er… involve?”
“Involve?” Tomas’s voice sounded strained to his own ears. He coughed, clearing his throat before speaking again. “Umm, it’s about a writer who meets someone he thinks might be a muse.”
“I see.” Cathal nodded slowly. “Why does he think that?” He edged closer to Tomas, the book still balanced carefully on his lap.
“He’s drawn to this person he’s not long met.” The explanation sounded somewhat weak now that Tomas had to actually explain it to someone else. “It’s like they have a connection….”
“Like Alan and Roger in your other book?” Cathal frowned. “That doesn’t explain why—” He checked the name. “—Deimos might be a muse though, but then I haven’t read enough.”
Tomas opened his mouth to explain more, how Deimos seemed to appear and disappear out of thin air, how he seemed otherworldly, how Mark kept thinking about him all the time. Cathal placed one hand on Tomas’s knee, his breath warm against Tomas’s face. “Cat? What are you doing?”
“I’m getting into character.” Cathal reached over and brushed Tomas’s hair from his face. “You’re a writer, so you need to be Mark. That leaves me the role of the muse.” His voice was barely a whisper. “This scene is too good for it to be abandoned like the other one.” His eyes dropped to the page and back again. He licked his lips, his fingers tightening on Tomas’s knee. Tomas’s breath hitched.
“Yes, it is.”He swallowed again, reaching out his own hand to caress Cathal’s cheek, echoing Mark’s actions in his book. “I don’t want you to leave,” he whispered, his words following the script, his heart speeding up.
Cathal closed his eyes as he followed Tomas’s cue, slipping into a role that could have been written for him. “I think I’m in love with you,” he murmured.
Their lips brushed together, tentatively, awkwardly. Tomas pulled away, unsure, his breathing growing ragged, Cathal’s skin warm under his fingers, soft but for the slight stubble across his lower cheek, blond facial hair almost invisible. Tomas leaned in again, his lips parting this time in invitation as he pressed their mouths together. Cathal moaned softly, opening his own lips, leaning into it, his fingers threading through Tomas’s hair.
Wet skin, soft and inviting, tasting of coffee and something else Tomas could only describe as uniquely Cathal. It felt right, better than anything Tomas could have imagined. He whimpered, pulling Cathal to him, convincing himself for that moment they weren’t play acting, that this was real, that the man in his arms was someone who loved him.
The need to breathe drove them apart. Cathal’s eyes opened with a start, searching Tomas’s. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“Don’t be.” Tomas traced Cathal’s lips with his fingers, committing the scene to memory, allowing himself a photograph he realized he wanted frozen in his mind forever. “I’m not.”
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[image error]A Knight to Remember
"The last of your line will be in the embrace of a dragon."
Aric, Crown Prince of Astria, has been brought up to believe that all dragons are evil. But when he speaks with one, he finds himself questioning those beliefs. The dragon tells him to find a sword in Sherwin Forest to save not only his kingdom but also his sister, Georgia, who must otherwise wed the prince of a neighboring kingdom.
At the start of his quest, Aric dons a disguise and meets Denys, an archer and herbalist who lives alone at the edge of the forest. Denys agrees to guide Aric into the forest, but then Georgia appears, revealing Aric’s true identity.
However, Aric learns he is not the only one keeping secrets. Denys has a few of his own that could change both of their lives forever.
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Tempeste O’Riley Week: Day Two: Tantalizing Teaser Tuesday
reblogged from The Purple Fantasy Den
Hey Vicksters!
Just as I said yesterday: This week belongs to Tempeste O’Riley who just got her first novel published with Dreamspinner Press! (Congratulations Tempe!). She’s going to regale us interviews, blurbs, excerpts, works in progress, character insights, and the like.
Are you excited? You should be! Today is Tantalizing Teaser Tuesday here at The Purple Fantasy Den and Tempeste brought something from her new book for you all to salivate over….
