C.D. Hersh's Blog, page 156
September 22, 2015
Wednesday Special Spotlight DANGEROUS WEAKNESS Caroline Warfield
Shines on
Dangerous Weakness
By
Caroline Warfield
Genre
Regency romance, historical romance
Heat rating
R for brief sexual content, 3-4 out of 5 flames
Two lucky commenters will receive their selection of a Kindle copy of one of Caroline’s first two books. The giveaway runs today through tomorrow 10:00 a.m. EST.
Tagline
Lily wants to solve her own problems. Why won’t she let Richard do his duty? He’ll chase her to hell and back if he has to.
Book Blurb
If women were as easily managed as the affairs of state—or the recalcitrant Ottoman Empire—Richard Hayden, Marquess of Glenaire, would be a happier man. As it was the creatures—one woman in particular—made hash of his well-laid plans and bedeviled him on all sides.
Lily Thornton came home from Saint Petersburg in pursuit of marriage. She wants a husband and a partner, not an overbearing, managing man. She may be “the least likely candidate to be Marchioness of Glenaire,” but her problems are her own to fix, even if those problems include both a Russian villain and an interfering Ottoman official.
Given enough facts, Richard can fix anything. But protecting that impossible woman is proving to be almost as hard as protecting his heart, especially when Lily’s problems bring her dangerously close to an Ottoman revolution. As Lily’s personal problems entangle with Richard’s professional ones, and she pits her will against his, he chases her across the pirate-infested Mediterranean. Will she discover surrender isn’t defeat? It might even have its own sweet reward.
Excerpt
“Who invited Lilias Thornton?” Richard demanded under his breath. His eyes followed a slender young woman who paced out the steps of the Quadrille across the parquet floor of the earl’s ballroom.
“No ‘thank you for turning your country seat into a diplomatic snake pit for an entire week so the haut ton can mingle with exotic visitors from the East while the foreign secretary manages the fate of Greece over Brandy and cards?’” Will demanded.
Richard looked at his friend, one eyebrow raised. “Chadbourn Park fit the need precisely. I thanked your Catherine this morning.”
Will grunted. “My Catherine worked miracles when Sahin Pasha showed up with six extra people in his party.”
“We can’t predict how many retainers the Turks will impose,” Richard growled. The Ottomans danced to their own tune; the Foreign Office never knows what to expect. Richard loathed the unpredictable. He went back to surveying the overheated ballroom.
“Who invited Lilias Thornton?” he repeated while he moved along the mirrored wall of the earl’s spectacular ballroom to a position next to a massive marble urn that gave him a better view of his quarry. His eyes never left the dancers.
Will snatched two glasses of champagne from a footman stationed discreetly along the softly flocked wall, tray in hand. He handed one to Richard who took it without looking.
“Catherine also had to scurry when your mother demanded that she invite three more marriageable young ladies and their eager mamas,” Will complained.
“I would rather that she refused.”
“Refuse the Duchess of Sudbury? Surely you jest.”
Richard nodded without taking his gaze from the dancers. “I jest. I have less control over my mother than I do Sahin Pasha.” He loathed loss of control even more than unpredictability. He had been forced to sidestep the marriage-minded chits for two days.
Right now only one woman interested him, Lilias Thornton. He watched her throw her head back, send auburn curls bouncing, and laugh up at her partner. She dances with grace, I’ll give her that—grace and unbridled joy. A man could lose his senses over that look. The last thing he needed was to lose his senses.
Will followed his friend’s line of sight. “Beautiful woman,” he acknowledged. “Catherine called her dress ‘beyond perfection.’”
That dress radiates so damned much continental sophistication she makes the women around her look countrified, my esteemed mother’s protégées included. The woman laughed freely again, and Richard felt himself harden in spite of his determination; the surge of attraction irritated him. I have no time for such nonsense.
“Who invited her?” he demanded. “It’s a matter of some urgency.”
Will shrugged. “I believe Catherine included some regular attendees at your sister’s literary salon. She must be one of those. You said to invite women who could provide intelligent conversation to members of the diplomatic corps.”
“So I did. My men tell me she has been in conversation with Konstantin Volkov three times these past two days.”
“You’re tracking her conversations?”
“Volkov’s. He has no official role, yet he follows the Russian delegation and slinks through society in the shadows. I want to know who he works for, why he sought an invitation, and what he intends.”
The entire house party had been arranged to provide a discreet opportunity for the foreign secretary—or more precisely, Richard, his second—to persuade Ottoman officials to moderate their suppression of revolutionary rumbling in Greece. England did not want the kind of chaos that would tempt Russia. Expansionist Russia threatened all of Europe. The weak and floundering Ottoman Empire did not.
“Ask him,” Will suggested. “Unless diplomacy requires a more devious approach.”
“Lilias Thornton accompanied her father to St. Petersburg three years ago. The crown appointed him to the trade delegation at our embassy there,” Richard explained. “She returned without him rather abruptly in early January. I wonder why. Volkov arrived shortly after. It puzzles me.” He did not like puzzles.
“It isn’t unusual for a young woman of marriageable age to seek London before the Season starts,” a woman’s voice cut in. Catherine Landrum, Will’s countess, reached for her husband’s glass and took a sip. She tasted it slowly, seemed to pronounce it fit, and handed the glass back. “Lilias made it clear she’s seeking a good marriage,” the countess told Richard. “Who is Volkov?”
“She’s well beyond the age,” he answered. He ignored her question about the Russian.
“Surely not!” Catherine laughed. “Twenty-two may be somewhat older than the norm . . .” She paused when a young woman of seventeen pranced by and smiled coyly at the marquess over her partner’s shoulder.
“Well, perhaps quite a bit older,” she acknowledged when they passed.
“She served as her father’s hostess in his postings abroad since she turned sixteen. She has shown no interest in the marriage mart until this year,” Richard said. “I don’t care about the gossip. I want to know about her connection to Konstantin Volkov.”
“Ask her,” the countess suggested.
“I intend to,” Richard said as the last notes of the dance faded. He set out in the woman’s direction.
Author bio
Caroline Warfield has at various times been an army brat, a librarian, a poet, a raiser of children, a nun, a bird watcher, an Internet and Web services manager, a conference speaker, an indexer, a tech writer, a genealogist, and, of course, a romantic. She has sailed through the English channel while it was still mined from WWII, stood on the walls of Troy, searched Scotland for the location of an entirely fictional castle (and found it), climbed the steps to the Parthenon, floated down the Thames from the Tower to Greenwich, shopped in the Ginza, lost herself in the Louvre, gone on a night safari at the Singapore zoo, walked in the Black Forest, and explored the underground cistern of Istanbul. By far the biggest adventure has been life-long marriage to a prince among men.
She sits in front of a keyboard at a desk surrounded by windows, looks out at the trees and imagines. Her greatest joy is when one of those imaginings comes to life on the page and in the imagination of her readers.
Links
Buy links (Kindle only)
Canada http://amzn.to/1NwQmMt
India http://amzn.to/1hdwC6C
Caroline’s Other Books
Dangerous Works Dangerous Secrets
Caroline’s social media
Visit Caroline’s Website and Blog
Subscribe to Caroline’s newsletter
Dangerous Weakness Pinterest Board
Be sure and leave a comment for a chance to win your selection of a Kindle copy of Dangerous Works or Dangerous Secrets.
September 21, 2015
Tell Again Tuesday Signs You Have Bad Literary Agent
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.
Signs You Have Bad Literary Agent #writing #amwriting #writertips
Certainly, the writing world is full of wonderful literary agents who have authors best interests in mind, however, just as with everything, there are some that either aren’t good or aren’t good for you. No one likes to face the fact that they’ve made the wrong choice when choosing to sign with a particular literary agent, but if you’ve been thinking that perhaps you’ve found a bad apple, chances are you . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:
September 17, 2015
Friday Features Releasing the Demons L.D. Rose
Talking with H/H of
Releasing the Demons
By
L.D. Rose
Hi! Thanks for joining us on Friday Features Blog Series.
Today’s interview is with Blaze Knight, a half-vampire mercenary from the Order of the Senary, and Valerie Medeiros, an NYPD detective from south Bronx, NY. They’re here today after their many adventures from RELEASING THE DEMONS, talking to C.D. Hersh!
How did you two meet?
*both exchange looks and laugh*
Blaze: *jerks his thumb at Valerie* She arrested me.
Valerie: For good reason, even if he wasn’t the right guy!
Blaze: I was definitely not the right guy.
Valerie: *pitches a sigh* I’m never going to live this down, am I?
Blaze: Nope.
What attracted you to her? Him?
Blaze: Her eyes. Always her eyes. Everything else was just a bonus.
Valerie: *blushes* Honestly, I was completely terrified of him when we first met. And even though it took him awhile to show it, he’s a good man…an amazing man, really. I couldn’t resist someone who sacrificed so much for those he loved.
Were there any fireworks in the first kiss? If so, how big?
Blaze: *lifts eyebrows above his sunglasses* Very big. It was more like a bomb went off.
Valerie: *turns bright red* Let’s just say it led to many more firsts…
When was your first kiss?
Blaze: Not too long after we met. *chuckles* When she finally started giving me the time of day.
Valerie: *whacks his arm playfully* Stop it! It was when he first came to my place. He made up some excuse to check my apartment and make sure it was safe then ended up staying the night.
What was your first date? What do you remember most about it?
*both of them laugh and say in unison* We never had a date.
What was the first meal you shared?
Blaze: Blueberry pancakes, eggs and coffee. She made it, even though I insisted on picking something up.
Valerie: He tried to convince me to let him cook, but I’m sure he would’ve burned down the entire apartment complex. Besides, I actually enjoy cooking when I have time for it.
Name three things that irritate you about him? Her?
Blaze: She’s a stubborn shit.
Valerie: No, you are!
Blaze: And she never asks for help.
Valerie: Neither do you!
Blaze: And she’s a neat freak.
Valerie: He’s a slob!
Blaze: *shrugs* I’m just messy.
Valerie: *rolls her eyes* My only major qualm was his smoking. But he’s quit now. Or he’s attempting to quit.
Blaze: *sticks another piece of gum in his mouth* Mmmhmm.
Where will you live?
Blaze: She’s living with me and my brothers at a compound in New Rochelle, NY.
Valerie: *laughs* It’s a country club disguised as a barracks.
Blaze: You love it. *looks back at C.D.* She loves it.
Valerie: Not denying that. I moved out of my apartment in Marble Hill, so it’s definitely a step up.
Are you going to start a family soon?
*they both shake their heads in unison*
Valerie: I refuse to bring a child into the world we live in, not when we’re constantly fighting an uphill battle against the leeches. It’s too dangerous and our lifestyle isn’t exactly safe. Definitely not an environment to raise a baby in.
Blaze: *laughs* I can’t even take care of myself, never mind a kid!
Thanks for visiting with us Valerie and Blaze.
*they respond in unison* This was fun.
Now for a little bit about RELEASING THE DEMONS, a dark paranormal romance and the first novel in The Order of the Senary series.
HOOK:
Hell-bent on revenge, Blaze is out to set the world on fire, and Valerie is the only one who can tame him. Will she pull him back from the brink or fall headlong into his dark past?
BOOK BLURB:
Blaze Knight has been through hell and back, but the nightmares aren’t over yet.
Five years after Blaze was maimed by Cyrus Chimola, a powerful vampire with a penchant for torture, he’s still trying to pick up the pieces of his shattered life. As a genetically engineered mercenary with the ability to bend fire to his will and to see in infrared, Blaze’s mission is to protect what’s left of humanity. When Chimola and his crew return to the Bronx gunning for Blaze’s blood, Blaze is forced to face the demons of his past. Hell-bent on revenge, he seeks the help of Valerie Medeiros, an NYPD detective who manages to steal his heart and save his life in more ways than one.
Motivated by her sister’s gruesome death, Valerie has made it her life’s goal to bury every vampire in the ground where they belong. When she brings in Blaze Knight for suspected murder, she discovers he’s not only innocent, he isn’t a man at all—he’s a half-vampire hybrid working with a band of brothers for the U.S. military. Valerie has a hard time trusting anything with fangs, yet she quickly falls headlong into Blaze’s life, a life full of darkness and horror she can’t even begin to fathom. The bodies are stacking up, but Valerie can’t seem to let go of this hybrid, a beautiful monster filled with pain, rage, and passion unlike anything she’s ever known.
In a world where the line between good and evil is blurred, Blaze and Valerie will find danger at every turn, risking everything they’ve come to know and love, including one another.
EXCERPT:
Valerie kept her eyes locked on the glass windows covered with cigarette prices and beer ads, watching Tattoos pay up at the cash register. Once she reached the side of the building, she pressed her back against the warm brick wall. Sweat trickled down her spine and she wiped her clammy hands on her jeans before she drew her Beretta. She listened for the bell hanging above the store entrance, and when it jingled, she peered past the corner of the building.
There he is.
Holding a pack of Marlboros, he slipped it into his back pocket along with a silver money clip. He walked back toward the Chevelle, scanning the area one more time as he stepped off the concrete elevation.
This is it. Do it. Now!
With her gun pointed at the ground in a two-handed grip, Valerie pushed off the wall and turned the corner, staring at his back. Her voice was loud and clear as she called, “Blaze.”
He stopped and pivoted around. A fleeting expression of confusion filled his face, but it quickly turned into shock as she lifted her gun and shouted, “Freeze, NYPD!”
Gasps and shouts resounded as everyone turned their attention on her. Some people ducked while others gawked, and she wished they would just climb into their cars and get the hell out of here. She did her best to ignore them, keeping her focus solely on the man before her as she carefully approached him. He didn’t make any sudden movements, his brow furrowing as a muscle in his jaw ticked.
Valerie flashed her badge to prove she wasn’t bullshitting. “Get your hands in the air where I can see them.”
He slowly lifted his arms and spread his hands out wide. Then spoke with a voice like black gravel, matching his appearance all too well. “What’s going on here?”
She closed in on him, his presence becoming more and more overwhelming. Sirens resonated in the distance, sending a trickle of relief through her. He didn’t appear armed but that didn’t mean jack.
“Turn around and get down on the ground. Now!”
Anger consumed the confusion on his face but he surprisingly complied, giving her his back again before dropping to his knees with his hands above his head.
She kept her gun aimed and her mind submerged in the well of her calm. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d arrested someone; she usually shot to kill. “Cross your ankles,” she ordered, and he did so, crossing his booted ankles as if he’d done this before.
Valerie placed her foot in the space between his legs, so if he attempted to stand he would end up flat on his face. People finally backed away as she removed her tungsten carbide handcuffs from her utility belt, gripping the Beretta with knuckles white as chalk. Tungsten carbide was the only metal strong enough to hold a vampire, but she used it on everyone, regardless of species. Two New Rochelle cruisers whipped into the gas station, blocking off both exits before four officers leapt out of their respective vehicles. Valerie put the gun up and cuffed Blaze’s dominant hand, swinging his right arm around before latching onto the left.
He didn’t put up a fight. He didn’t even flinch. But he balled his big hands into fists at his back. She read him his Miranda rights as she cinched the cuffs around both of his thick wrists.
“You have the right to remain silent—”
“I have the right to know what’s going on,” he growled, showing her his savage profile.
“Anything you do or say can be used against you in a court of law.”
“What are you arresting me for?”
“You have the right to an attorney.”
“Fuck the attorney—”
She yanked the chain of his cuffs, bringing his solid body against her as the faint scent of cologne tickled her nose. She leaned into his ear, anger flashing through her as she thought of bloody grass and charred flesh.
“You’re under arrest for the murder of Elena Delgado. Now get the fuck up and move.”
BUY LINKS:
Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B013GVCC7I
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B013GVCC7I
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26063603-releasing-the-demons
Now a little about L.D. Rose and where to find her.
BIO:
L.D. Rose is a neurotic physician by day, crazed writer by night, and all around wannabe superhero. She writes paranormal romance and urban fantasy, but she’s been known to delve into horror, sci-fi, and medical suspense on occasion. L.D. Rose is a member of the RWA, FF&P, NEC-RWA and CoLoNY. She currently lives in Rhode Island with her studly hubby, her hyperactive boxer, and her two devious cats.
Website: writerldrose.com
Facebook: facebook.com/writerldrose
Author page: facebook.com/ldroseauthorpage
Twitter: twitter.com/ld_rose
Goodreads: goodreads.com/ldrose
Pinterest: pinterest.com/writerldrose
Tumblr: writerdoc.tumblr.com
September 15, 2015
Wednesday Special Spotlight The Nothingness JC Stockli
Focuses on
The Nothingness
By
JC Stockli
THE NOTHINGNESS:
“Fall from your graces into the depths.”
A dispirited addict learns that history repeats itself deep within hidden worlds. Evie Westvale is lost in the lifeless existence of her drug-laden fishing town. She finds much more than fellow addicts lurking beneath the docks. Craving escape from her inebriated reality, she discovers the presence of a dark stranger who haunts her dreams in the most delicious ways. Lucca has come to prey on the dregs of Fallhaven. He has not arrived by accident, and he is not alone.
Riding waves of blood and lust, Evie is forced to confront her dark past and an irresistible future, but can she survive the tempest brewing inside?
THE NOTHINGNESS is the first installment of the ADDICTIONS OF THE ETERNAL series.
5-Star Reviews!! “Couldn’t put it down! Suspenseful and intriguing” “A page-turner with an urban-goth heart” “Brilliantly written dark fantasy is not for the faint-hearted”
BUY LINKS:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SU3WYWG?tag=geolinker-20
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-nothingness-jc-stockli/1121285369?ean=9780986268809
EXCERPT:
Evie twisted and twirled through the tables and the shadows. She bobbed her head to the music and lip-synced along. Beyond taking orders, the music overwhelmed any attempt at conversation. Familiar patrons nodded or winked a greeting as she walked by. After a curvy course, she’d arrived at her destination.
When Evie reached the corner booth, she stopped dead in her tracks. Tray in hand, mouth gaped open, Evie stared down at whom she gathered to be the most beautiful man she had ever seen.
The stranger reciprocated her stare with a devious smirk and dark eyes. The sandy scruff of a five o’clock shadow framed his face. His dirty-blond locks hung down the side of his jaw line, ends resting just across his shoulders. His sharp, angular features guarded deep dark irises. They created a sharp line above his eye sockets, like they were meant to purposely shield those dark pools of mystery from the club’s lighting. He held one eyebrow cocked indicating his amusement at her obvious fascination.
Look away, dammit. You’re embarrassing yourself.
Evie forced herself to look away from his hypnotic features, but not too far. She dropped her gaze to his well-cut shoulders. His lean frame was shrouded under a soft grey sweater and worn leather jacket.
Dammit. Stop giving him the once over, she demanded of herself again.
Evie averted her eyes once more. This time she stared straight down to his lap. Weathered jeans concealed what Evie presumed was something much more offensive to stare at than his face. She lifted her surprised gaze back up to meet his. The sly side smirk across his face widened. Clearly, he delighted in her awkwardness. Exasperated, she broke the silence and forced herself out of her reverie.
“Hi,” she said, yelling over the music. She had to lean closer towards him so that he might hear her. By doing so, she caught a faint but pleasant scent overpowering the rankness of the club. “What can I getcha?”
The stranger looked back up at her in pure delight. Eyebrows lifted, he propped himself up with his elbows, one against the table top and the other against the back of the booth’s bench. They cradled his thin but muscular frame. He stretched himself up to her. She leaned in even closer. Her senses now identified his aroma of orange blossoms and mint.
Delicious.
“I was thinking I might like you,” he replied and licked his lips.
Evie snapped upright. His dark gleaming eyes held her in place. His smile haunted. Evie’s pulse quickened. Her heart threatened to burst from her chest. And she softened deep between her thighs at the thought of serving herself up to the devilishly tenebrous stranger.
She moved back a little, allowed herself a moment to register his order and shake off his scent. Fighting a quiver, she replied, “Sorry man. If you’re looking for a girl, you’ll have to request one of the dancers. I just bring the drinks.”
She forced her composure and feigned cockiness with her hip shifted to the side, waiting for a new order. All the while her body trembled with anticipation.
“I can’t say I’m interested in any of these girls,” the stranger said. His dismissive hand waved through the air. “And I don’t care for alcohol myself.”
He reached into his pocket to reveal a large wad of cash and placed it down on the table. She looked at the generous fold of twenty-dollar bills. At least a few grands’ worth. She gawked at him in amazement.
“I…” she stuttered. “I can’t accept that. I’m just your waitress.”
“Should that matter?” he asked. His constant smile made her shiver. “You asked for my order, and I’d like to order you.”
THE SAVING:
COMING SOON!!!!!
“Have you found the light, or have you fallen?”
Evie’s life can never be the same as long as the Sempiternal continue to call out from the depths. She’s in limbo, too ignorant and afraid of the future Lucca has planned with her. She’s left Fallhaven, set adrift in a new city, and fighting more than withdrawal. Evan has become her constant companion, committed to assimilating Evie to a clean, mortal life, but at what cost?
Though he fights to help her concur her demons, still she struggles with her cravings for Lucca’s nothingness. How can she move on when there can be no light to her days without the darkness of his nights?
THE SAVING is the second installment of the ADDICTIONS OF THE ETERNAL series.
Bio:
Choose your poison: Paranormal Fantasy • Romantic Horror • Dark Fantasy With A Twist? Maybe all of the above, and then some? Stockli strives to keep it dark and intimate, feeding off of those quiet moments where secret exchanges of eye contact scream louder than words. Her work consists of “perfectly imperfect characters and real-life grittiness.” She is inspired by music, the past, and possibilities. Happily Ever Afters are only achieved through the cost of some blood, guts, or a soul or two… if at all. Also an established full-time professional, Stockli has earned her BA in Art & Architectural History and MBA with a concentration in Marketing. Over the years she’s traveled, lived, learned, and moonlighted as a magician’s assistant, a roadie for a metal band, a dance fitness instructor, and even dressed up as a promotional character at public events. For her, life has been all in good fun and given her a wealth of real life material to work off of. She lives along the Massachusetts coast with her husband and two little monsters. You’ll likely find them dancing around the house, or out on the water soaking in the sun and breathing in the sea salt air.
Where to find JC Stockli:
https://jcstockli.wordpress.com
September 14, 2015
Tell Again Tuesday The Seraglio World of Women
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.
The Seraglio, World of Women
August 21, 2015 by Caroline Warfield
Sometimes research for a novel takes a fiction writer in unexpected directions. When a complicated plot point led me to place a character in the Ottoman Seraglio as a teacher I had to wonder just how far fetched that idea might be.
“Seraglio” I discovered refers to the Sultan’s household, his home, the private quarters. “Harem” is the name for the women in his household, of which there were many: wives, concubines, sisters, daughters, and, most importantly, his mother. The Seraglio of the Topkapi palace was a massive complex of apartments, baths, and courtyards, a maze of over 300 ornate rooms and tiled passageways. Home to hundreds of women, it required a complex administrative structure.
The most powerful figure in the Seraglio (after the Sultan) was . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:
https://historyimagined.wordpress.com/2015/08/21/the-seraglio-world-of-women/
September 10, 2015
Friday Features Anna Durand Intuition
Is
Anna Durand
Author of
Intuition (Psychic Crossroads, Book 2)
Anna Durand is visiting with us today and sharing about where writers get their ideas for their novels. We have t-shirts that were gifts that have printed on them “Be careful what you say, you may end up in my novel.” That might be true but we think Anna has a little different spin on where ideas come from. So we’re turning our blog over to her.
Project Star Gate: Not a Movie, But the Real Psychic Crossroads
Ever wonder where writers get their ideas? While we often say ideas “pop” into our heads unbidden, the truth is a bit more complicated. I read a lot. I read about subjects that may seem irrelevant to romance writing, but I’ve gotten my best ideas from information I picked up here and there, tidbits of trivia I never thought would turn into anything. Then one day, the strange factoid I read about in a magazine coalesces into a genuine story idea—one that “pops” into my brain as if by magic.
Here’s a great example. Years ago, I read an article in a magazine—I can’t even recall which one—about a recently declassified government project. Yawn, you might say. But hang on. This project, dubbed Star Gate (way before the movie of that name), spent 25 years and $20 million researching the viability of psychic espionage. The article described the various techniques employed by psychics, focusing on one particular method called remote viewing. It’s supposed to allow psychics to view and describe locations they’ve never visited or seen in photos. I recall the way one test subject described what he experiences when he uses his abilities. He said his mind traveled to a star-filled void he called the matrix, a place where all knowledge, past and present, exists at once.
This article stuck with me. I’ve always had an interest in weird things, and remote viewing definitely qualifies as weird. I don’t know if the ability is real, but I love the idea of it. Years later, the information I gleaned from that article resurfaced in my brain as an idea for a romance novel. It would be called Willpower, and would become the first book in the Psychic Crossroads series.
By the time I wrote Willpower, the movie The Matrix and its sequels had become sensations. Remote viewing plays a key role in the stories of the first two books in the Psychic Crossroads series. I loved the idea of a mysterious place where psychic powers come from, but I didn’t want to call it the matrix. After much thought, I settled on the Crossroads. My version of the Project Star Gate matrix became more than a star-filled void where all knowledge resides. I envisioned it as stars with lines connecting them, like a network of roads in the darkness—a crossroads of psychic energy, and potentially, infinite knowledge.
Who knew an article about a controversial government program would inspire a paranormal romance novel? You never know where ideas will spring from, which means you’ve always got to be on the lookout for information to nourish your brain. I still read about weird things—including strange government projects, bizarre scientific facts, mysterious archaeological discoveries, unusual news stories, and so much more. Stories ideas don’t pop out of the blue. They grow from a constant, voracious curiosity about the world around you.
A little bit about the author:
Anna Durand is an award-winning writer, a freelance librarian, and an audiobook addict. She specializes in sexy romances, both paranormal and contemporary, featuring spunky heroines and hunky heroes. As a member of Romance Writers of America, she volunteers for two of its chapters—as membership chair for Hearts Through History and social media chair for Outreach International. In her previous life as a librarian, she haunted the stacks of public libraries but never met any hot vampires hunting for magical books. Check out her Spunk & Hunks blog for more about the strange research that inspires her stories.
Where to find Anna:
Website: http://www.annadurand.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheAnnaDurand
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaDurandFiction
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/annadurand
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Anna_Durand/
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.com/author/annadurand
About Intuition (Psychic Crossroads, Book 2)
Torn apart by their haunted pasts, Grace Powell and her fiancé David Ransom are struggling to reclaim their passionate bond and build a normal life — one without danger and paranormal powers. But David can’t renounce his obsession with hunting down Karl Tesler, who abducts and tortures psychics. David endured Tesler’s tactics himself, but despite what Grace believes, he’s not out for revenge.
Tesler covets her unprecedented abilities and her mysterious connection to a source of limitless psychic power. David will do anything — even abandon and lie to her — to protect Grace from Tesler.
With a psychic stalker on her trail, Grace charges into a desperate mission to uncover the truth about David’s obsession. But Tesler’s agents are closing in on her, and a terrifying new enemy is rising…
As events drive Grace and David toward a battle of epic proportions, they must risk everything — their relationship, their lives, and even their souls — to defeat an enemy who wields unspeakable psychic power.
Excerpt from Intuition
Grace slapped the phone onto the table. She slumped onto the bed on her back, folded her hands over her belly, and shut her eyes. Tension tugged her muscles taut. Thoughts swirled in her brain. If she couldn’t block out the anxiety, she’d never tap into her powers. Drawing in a deep breath, she let it out bit by bit. Relax. Picture the target.
David. His face glimmered in her mind as if lit by heaven’s own glow.
Her mind snapped free from her body. She floated in nothingness for a second, and then whoosh. She rocketed up through a dark tunnel into a field of blackness dotted with stars. Her mind drew lines between the lights, sketching out the connections between places and events and psyches in the crossroads, the ethereal source of all psychic power. A white line stretched out toward a pinpoint far away. The star pulsed. David. She’d found him.
Grace hurtled toward him through the darkness into the light, smashing through it into another tunnel. Psychic gravity hauled her downward, closer and closer to her destination. To David’s mind. His presence cascaded over her, through her, penetrating deeper with each second, overwhelming her with warmth and love and belonging.
She tumbled out into the world. Shapes blurred into each other. Up, down—her senses struggled to separate the two. Precious seconds ticked by until her mind acclimated to the change. It shouldn’t have hit her so hard. Something was different this time, but she couldn’t deduce what.
Solid earth supported her feet. Though she lacked a physical form, her mind conjured an image of her body that behaved like the real thing. She turned in a circle, inspecting her surroundings. Trees loomed overhead. Green moss squished under her feet. The sun blazed behind the treetops, its rays puncturing the shadows below. This made no sense. She watched David walk into the terminal. He should’ve been in the air, not down here in the woods. Down where? She’d figure that out later. First, she must find David.
She stopped. Her heart thudded. A dozen feet away, David crouched in front of a thick pine tree. Facing away. Hands bound behind his back. Ankles bound too. Head tipped up. Grace zeroed on the object of David’s attention. A man, engulfed in shadows. His face obscured.
She tiptoed closer. Still couldn’t see.
The stranger swung his arm up. His hand. He clutched something. A shiny, metal object. He hoisted it higher. A knife.
Intuition is available from:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/dp/B00XK88MB8
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anna_Durand_Intuition_Psychic_Crossroads_Book_2?id=neQ9CQAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/intuition/id994541318
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/542368
September 8, 2015
Wednesday Special Spotlight Sizzle in the Snow
Shines on
Sizzle in the Snow
A Soul Mate Christmas Collection
Today we have a special announcement.
Our novella Kissing Santa has been selected to appear in a Christmas collection of stores. Our story will be appearing along with six other authors from Soul Mate Publishing.
The authors and story titles are:
Beth Carter SANTA BABY
Amy Deason SECOND CHANCES: A CHRISTMAS STORY
Crystal Firsdon ‘TWAS THE CRAZY NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
C.D. Hersh KISSING SANTA
Kim Hotzon THE SNOW BIRD
Ryan Jo Summers TAMED BY CHRISTMAS
Tina Susedik OPERATION SANTA
Keep checking our blog for more Sizzle in the Snow information about the upcoming release. More information coming in October.
Stay tuned for a chance to win prizes. There will be a grand overall prize of a Christmas stocking filled with fun stuff worth approximately $100.
September 7, 2015
Tell Again Tuesday Is being an Author a business?
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.
Accounting 101 – Is being an Author a business?
By Angela Christina Archer
I think the biggest question new authors have when they are finally published is: “Am I, now, the owner of a small business?”
The answer is …
For the rest of the blog go to:
http://angelachristinaarcher.com/2015/08/03
September 3, 2015
Friday Features Samanthya Wyatt
Welcomes
Samanthya Wyatt
Visiting with us today is author Samanthya Wyatt. She has agreed to share a little bit about herself, her writing, and background. So, welcome Samanthya.
Thank you Catherine and Donald for having me on your blog.
Hello everyone.
I write hot, sizzling romance. All I ever wanted was to see my book sitting on a shelf in the book store. I married a military man, traveled the world, raised a family and then we settled in the Shenandoah Valley. Once my children were grown, I decided it was time to act on my dream.
As a beginner, I had so much to learn. I joined RWA, took workshops and gained a wealth of information. I grew as a writer. When I finally finished my first historical romance, I was thrilled to send it off with the hope, like everyone else, I wanted to be published. I entered contests. In 2013 The Right One, the first of my historical trilogy, finaled in The Golden Rose Contest.
Even though my first love is historical, I also write contemporary romance. I signed my first contract with Soul Mate Publishing in 2013. Since then “Something More”, a contemporary, the setting is in New York City, and two historical books have been published, with two more coming out this year. After those, I have a Fireman Series planned. Who doesn’t love a hunky fireman?
The third book in The One and Only Series comes out next month. Each of my books have a beginning and a romantically satisfying end for my characters happily ever after. Nothing left hanging.
Let’s take a minute to talk about “Series”.
Before ‘series’ became popular, I remember reading a few romance books that mentioned a familiar character, or was related to a character in another book. Catherine Coulter and Janelle Taylor were two of my favorite authors who wrote books where the heroes were friends, or brothers—some sort of relation mentioned in their next book. Whether or not they were books of a series, I loved the idea of a connection and recognizing a familiar name.
So I thought it would be nice to write a series of books where the characters knew each other. Introduce a few familiar characters in my own books where each hero/heroine would have his or her own story.
Some works in a series can stand alone—a stand alone book is basically one that gives the full story—a beginning and an end. Within each book, references are made to characters in the other books of the series, or to past events. Some books involve a family, a group of brothers, or a group of friends. Each book in the series is of one individual of that group. Some of these do not necessarily need to be read in a particular order, however some are more satisfying if they are.
Then there are the series where one set of characters story is spread throughout several books. Their characters go through drastic changes, make references to past events spreading over a long period of time. The story begins in book one with a hook ending or the story is not completed, and you must buy the next book to continue the story. These books must be read in order to learn the complete story.
My own preference is for any book in a series to stand alone. Which basically means each book should be enjoyable in its own right with a beginning and an end. Satisfying or not, happy or not, the ending should be the end of a book.
Series? Love them. Definitely a reader’s personal preference. Personally—each book should be enjoyable and without the reader being forced into a possibly unwanted purchase.
THE ONE AND ONLY SERIES
See how it all began with Book 1 – Morgan’s Story
Find out what happened to Kat’s brother in the thrilling sequel, Book 2 – Stephen’s Story
If you liked the introduction of the duke, now read Book 3 – Giles story.
Coming October 14th
A dangerous lord’s warning sparks devastating results
One impulsive kiss to prove the young girl flirted with danger shakes Giles’ firm resolve. The young American is wild and reckless, and before long he realizes, she’s too much to handle. He surrenders. A duke must adhere to his duty. His title demands his home is in England. Tormented with longing for the woman who branded his very soul, he forsakes nobility and returns to claim the love he has carelessly thrown away.
A girl’s determination triggers a woman’s desire
From the first moment Alexandria saw the duke she knew he would be hers. Determined to get the man she wants, she devises a plan, curbs her reckless nature, and presents the proper lady his nobility requires. The interference of her brothers disrupts her amours pursuit, yet the feisty girl seduces the lord with a woman’s passion, and brands the duke hers forever.
As for my own books, I hope the reader will like my stories enough to make the decision if they want to purchase another book. That is why each book in any of my series will have a beginning and definitely an end. Each book in the One and Only Series contains a love story with its own hero and heroine. In the first book of the series, “The Right One”, Katherine’s brother is missing. Book two, The True One, is Stephen’s story—why he was gone for two years, what happened to him, and a love story all his own. And now—book three. The third book in the series, The Only One, is about Giles. He was introduced in the first book as Morgan’s best friend—the duke. In the second book, he is asked to rescue Kat’s brother, Stephen.
I write because I enjoy it. And because I hope to give someone else the pleasure of a romance. Whether you want to escape reality or just live in the moment of fantasy, I hope you will enjoy a few hours of reading one of my books.
From NIGHT OWL REVIEWS:
“Personally I think this is everything in reviewing a book as throughout my reading I could feel the author’s heart and emotions driving the heroine in this story and this writing style is not only unique but so refreshing.” Lwynters
For the full review, visit: http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Reviews/Lwynters-reviews-The-True-One-by-Samanthya-Wyatt
With this review from Night Owl Romance, I’m thrilled to see I’ve accomplished my goal. All my characters are fictitious. Although, I have taken real life experiences to achieve the emotion for my heroes and heroines.
Thank you for visiting and sharing your time with me.
To find Samanthya:
Please visit her website: http://www.samanthyawyatt.com/
You can also find Samanthya Wyatt on facebook, goodreads, amazon, Soul Mate Publishing, and Night Owl Reviews. Google to find more info and blog posts and review sites.
Current works published:
Buy Links:
Thursday Threads Lost Distinction Rachel Sharpe
Welcomes
LOST DISTINCTION
Author
Rachel Sharpe
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Blurb: “It all started with a favor…”
When private investigator Jordan James agreed to search for the missing son of a U.S. Ambassador, she didn’t realize she was walking into a case one hundred years in the making. The deeper she delves into this unusual assignment, the more shocking, and the more dangerous, it becomes. With time running out and lives at stake, Jordan must race to identify the culprit of an elaborate plot while also uncovering a far more personal truth too intimate to ignore…
“LOST DISTINCTION” Available Now on Amazon! http://www.amzn.com/B00Q5OGCS4
LOST DISTINCTION EXCERPT
“So, when was the last time you saw Arthur?” I asked as the guys cheered when one of Stuart’s sons scored a touchdown with George’s help.
Michelle stared past the men. “I guess the last time I saw him was at Easter. Since Mr. and Mrs. Cross couldn’t make it back from London in time, we went over to Stuart’s house in Falmouth. I was surprised to see him there.”
“Why? Does he usually avoid family holidays?”
She clapped when Rick carried one of the twins over the “goal line” for a touchdown. She looked back at me and shrugged. “To be honest, I haven’t seen Arthur many times in all the years I’ve been married to Eddie. He lives and works in Middletown but just always seems too busy to come around. Eddie never gave me specifics, but I think Arthur tries to stay away from his family for some reason.”
“He didn’t say why?”
“No,” she shook her head. “Can’t say I blame him…”
I found myself more confused every time I learned more about this situation. As I sat there, I considered all the things I knew as fact. First, Arthur Cross was missing and had been missing for several days. Second, his family was concerned enough about his disappearance that they felt it necessary for his parents to fly in from London, but they did not want to involve the police as it might generate unwanted publicity. Third, they were going to a lot of trouble pretending like nothing was wrong.
I looked across the yard and saw the Crosses watching their children and grandchildren with absolute enjoyment. The last thing I knew was by far the most troubling fact of all. As I sat there, it became crystal clear that this family was hiding a secret. What I didn’t know at the time was how great the secret was and how many lives its revelation would affect, including my own.
LINKS
“COLD AMBITION” Available Now on Amazon! www.amzn.com/B00L2OLQPG
“LOST DISTINCTION” Available Now on Amazon! www.amzn.com/B00Q5OGCS4
“RETRIBUTION” Coming this Fall from Soul Mate Publishing!
Where to find Rachel:
Website: http://www.rachelsharpe.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorrachelsharpe
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RachelCSharpe
