D.E. Haggerty's Blog, page 55
February 12, 2017
Welcome to #MTW! Interview with @GraemeRodaughan ~ Author of A Subtle Agency #authorinterview #amwriting
A computer science geek who writes about vampires. Tell us what your inspiration was to write in this genre.
I don’t have a lot of nightmares, but when I do, vampires are a recurring theme. This has been true for my whole life, so I decided that I might as well write about them.The computer science geek shows up in the Techno-Thriller side of my genre mashup. I.e. Urban Fantasy & Techno-Thriller.
You were born and raised in Australia but your series, The Metaframe War, takes place (at least partially) in Boston. Why Boston? Does travel play in the writing of your books?
One of the conflicts that I write about is a three-way secret war between the Order of Thoth, the Red Empire and the Vampire Dominion. The Vampire Dominion is the dominant power and more or less operates as a secret defacto world government. I chose to position the seat of world power in Manhattan, which makes far more sense than Melbourne (Australia). Boston, Maine, and other locations around New York city figure strongly in A Subtle Agency, the first book in The Metaframe War series. I liked Boston as an initial setting because it seemed to be the ideal location to hide teams of super-powered vampire hunters.Actually, it’s a great, smaller city that is within striking distance of the main citadel of the vampires in New York, and the main Shadowstone facility at Fort Dix in New Jersey. Its location serves the interests of the story.
Describe The Metaframe War series in 140 characters (also known as a tweet).
A young man witnesses a brutal murder by two vampires. He tracks them down, uncovers a 5000-year-old conspiracy, and fights a deadly duel.
What’s the most amusing thing that happened to you while writing The Metaframe War series?
I hope that the most amusing thing is still to happen as I have another 14 books to write to finish The Metaframe War series. However, since I started writing this marathon of a series, the most amusing thing that has happened was interviewing my main character, Anton Slayne. (J).
The interview went as follows…
‘I’m sitting with Anton Slayne at Patrick O’Malley’s Irish pub just off the Boston CBD. Anton’s recently landed a gig as the main character of a new series of books, beginning with A Subtle Agency and has agreed to give an interview for my Blog.’
‘So let’s begin Anton, how did you get the gig?’
‘Well, I saw an advertisement in the Boston Mercury for a main character for an upcoming novel, they said they were looking for someone who could play a star hockey player and Boston University freshman, so I brushed up my CV and sent it in.’
‘So what happened then?’
‘Well, there was a couple of rounds of interviews, and everything seemed to be going really good. I thought, solid, I’ve got it, my first major role – no more bit parts for me.’
‘Sounds like something unexpected happened.’
‘Yeah, they asked me if I wanted to be a vampire, and I can tell you, alarm bells started ringing straight away, and I thought to myself, well there’s a big red flag. I mean, what the hell – vampires? Really?’
‘Vampires?’
‘Yeah, what I thought too. Anyway, so the old geezer who’s running the show, he said he was toying with the idea that I might be better placed as one of the vampires.’
‘Shocking.’
‘Too right, so I said to him, that no way whatsoever, I was gonna play a damn vampire. And he ruminates on my response for minutes … so I’m waiting for the old guy to make up his mind, and then he comes out and says, it will all be okay, you don’t have to be a vampire.’
‘You would have been a relieved.’
‘Sure, but I’m going, what the hell in my mind, as I thought it was a sports story, and so what is all this talk about vampires. I just didn’t get it.’
‘So, did he do anything to clarify the situation?’
‘Well, he gave me an outline of the novel, and I read it. I’m still thinking this is a sports story, right, and I’m a freshman at Boston U, right. Yeah right, so I’m looking for a hockey tournament, with me as a star player. I’m looking for a championship game with me scoring the winning goal. I’m looking for hot cheerleaders and lots of them. I’m looking for drunken frat parties and pranks and laughs and fun. …’
‘But it wasn’t anything like that was it?’
‘No, nothing like it. It was a real downer, I was some guy whose mother gets murdered in our living room, and whose father is abducted by really tough vampires. Not only that, I’ve been living in some weird witness protection and basically I’ve got enemies everywhere just looking to put me in an early grave. I nearly get killed half a dozen times in the first book, and then I see in the second book that I get shot, thrown off a cliff, and then hooded, gagged, bound and buried alive and that’s only in the first three chapters.’
‘That’s a tough gig.’
‘Even worse, my number one enemy, Chloe Armitage, who kills my mother and abducts my father, wants to use me in some plot of her own. And get this, her time on page is almost the same as mine. Hey, I thought I was gonna be the main character. What’s up with that?’
‘So what convinced you to take the job?’
‘Well, a guy has got to eat, and I was sick of playing bit parts in online computer games.’
‘It’s that simple?’
‘Yep, it’s that simple.’
‘Well, thank you Anton, it’s been wonderful to get some real insight into the inner workings of the job market for main characters.’
‘Sure, no problem.’
‘Thanks again.’
‘Cheers, hey, and thanks for the beer.’
‘It’s all good.’
Tell us about your next release. And when can we expect it?
The major characters introduced in A Subtle Agency grow in depth in the second book, A Traitor’s War. The schemes, machinations, plots and counter-plots that characterized the first book continue as lies and betrayals become a dominant tactic.
Plotter or Pantser? Why?
Extreme plotter. I spent 18 months on the design of The Metaframe War series before I wrote the first scene. I’m finding that 90% of my design survives contact with actual writing, and the rest gets obliterated by smart-mouthed characters who are growing minds of their own.I plan, because I have deeply involved spy vs spy vs double agent vs double agent vs rogue agent vs the hero vs the nemesis …I could not keep my plot straight without deep planning.
How do you react to a bad review of your book?
I am deeply upset for about twenty seconds. Then I move on.
What are the most important attributes for remaining sane as a writer?
Being willing to see writing as a journey and not a destination.
Being open to constructive criticism and advice. A willingness to make mistakes and learn from them. A good partner.
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Book title: A Subtle Agency
Series: The Metaframe War
Is the book a standalone? First in the Series
Author: Graeme Rodaughan
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Techno-Thriller
Published: 16 May 2016
Synopsis:
Anton Smith believes that he has a perfectly normal life as a first year Boston university student and star ice hockey player, until he meets General Chloe Armitage of the Vampire Dominion.
Chloe reveals that his family has been in a witness protection program for his whole life and that his real name is Anton Slayne. She then murders his mother, abducts his father and leaves him alive and hunted by her minions, the relentless operatives of the Shadowstone organization.
Anton finds both refuge and training with vampire hunter, Gang Wu and his daughter Li. They are members of the Order of Thoth – implacable enemies of the Vampire Dominion.
After a battle with a local Triad gang, Anton is discovered by Shadowstone. Gang, Li and Anton flee to a dock on the Mystic River, where a pitched battle ensues against Shadowstone and the Vampire Dominion, led by Chloe Armitage.
Will the Order of Thoth arrive in time to tip the battle in Anton’s favor, or will Chloe Armitage destroy those he loves for a second time?
About the Author
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Graeme Rodaughan was born in Maffra, Victoria and grew up on a dairy farm at Invergordon, in the Goulburn Valley, Victoria, Australia. He was educated at Numurkah and Shepparton High Schools, and later at Latrobe University where he graduated with a degree in Philosophy and a graduate diploma in Computer Science. He has always loved reading, especially science fiction, and fantasy. By day he helps define IT projects, by night he writes character driven urban fantasy. If you like vampires as villians, conspiracies and schemes, thrills and suspense, and heroes with just enough super powers to make it interesting – then you may well enjoy his books.
Stalk the Author
Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Amazon author page
February 10, 2017
I’m funny not worthless #Amwriting
Although I have categorized my two murder mystery series, The Gray-Haired Knitting Detectives and Death by Cupcake, as cozy mysteries, I often tell potential readers that my books are mysteries with a dash of romance and a heaping portion of humor. And that’s the moment I lose a lot of them. I can see it in their eyes, which sometimes even roll as they hear the word ‘humor’ as if adding humor to a novel makes me less of an author or my books less worthy. I’ve published ten books and yet people will turn away from me at a cocktail party to listen to an unpublished author talk about her work because it’s more ‘significant’. Yes, seriously.
[image error]Not all books are ‘significant’. In fact, the vast majority of books published are meant as entertainment for the masses. Nobel prize winning novels, on the other hand, are rarely best sellers. Does it matter if your book or my book is not literature? If it is meant to ‘merely’ entertain? The U.S. media and entertainment industry, made up of film and music, video game, and publishing sectors, is expected to reach $771 billion by 2019. That’s nothing to sneeze at.
Even if it was something to sneeze at – so what? Entertainment is important for our mental well-being. You may even argue it’s important for our physical well-being as well since it often calms us down. In case you missed it, the world is in a bit of a bind at the moment. Political strife within ‘peaceful’ countries is at an all-time high. Terrorism seems to be happening in new and more terrifying ways on a daily basis. Do we not need more humor in this world gone mad? At a time where a trip to a Christmas market or a night club can end in a blood bath?
And as I sat mulling over this post (because I wrote those first two paragraphs right after that party but didn’t know where to go from there), I realized something else. We are way too busy with judging people. Everyone – every single person – contributes to society in some way whether it’s by cleaning toilets, protecting prisoners, or balancing the books of a company. I refuse to believe that some people are more important than others based solely on their job description because even if you’re saving lives someone needs to clean up the blood and gore when it’s all over. I’m done with that. Who’s with me?
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February 8, 2017
Returned, the conclusion to the #HistoricalFiction trilogy from @KimberleyGLittl has arrived! #excerpt #giveaway
Returned by Kimberley Griffiths Little
After tragedy strikes on the day they were to wed, Jayden must support Kadesh as he ascends the throne and becomes king of Sariba. But with the dark priestess Aliyah conspiring to control the crown, and the arrival of Horeb, Jayden’s former betrothed, Kadesh’s kingdom, as well as his status as king, is at stake.
Jayden knows that the time to be merciful has come and gone, and that some enemies can only be halted by death. Now she and Kadesh must prepare to fight not only for their love, but also for their kingdom.
This is the final book in the epic trilogy that began with Forbidden and Banished. Jayden and Kadesh’s love will be put to the ultimate test as they fight a war to save their kingdom.
Praise for the Book
Booklist (starred review)
“At its core, this is a romance, with all the push and pull that goes along with impossible love, and Little elevates the story by creating a perilous landscape, both outward and inward, as Jayden must deal with the hardship of desert life as well as her own desires. . . descriptions of the landscape are evocative in both desolation and in beauty. Just as good is the pacing, which gets the blood pumping for both characters and readers. This will heighten anticipation for a no-doubt exciting conclusion.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Rich historical details are deftly woven into Jayden’s narration, and the dynamics of Jayden’s tribe are vividly drawn. Jayden’s story becomes as much about finding herself as it is about finding love.”
Reader: “This book took my breath away. I loved the immersive story and the rich setting of ancient Mesopotamia. The customs, traditions, and beliefs of the desert people were captivating and every time I set the book down I couldn’t wait to pick it up again. I’ve never read anything like this before.”
Reader: “Forbidden was so captivating that I awoke early in the morning, while my family was still sleeping, so I could finish the last pages of this beautifully haunting tale.”
Excerpt
A private garden had been created on top of the temple’s roof. Palm trees swayed along the perimeter. Life-size statues of the Goddess stood at each corner. A fountain sprayed, and the air was perfumed by beds of azaleas and exotic orchids along the brick pathways. Cozy furniture sat in groupings under pergolas for shade.
“It’s beautiful,” my handmaiden whispered, transfixed.
Racing to the railing, I reeled at the magnificent view. The rooftop garden sat on the southeast corner of the temple. I gazed at the ocean cliffs and the expanse of the city down below the sloping hills.
Running to the northwest corner next, I spotted the groves of frankincense orchards, banked against the valley of the Qara Mountains. I shaded my eyes, reeling at the sight of so many newly erected black-and-white tents in the foothills of those mountains.
My heart was in my throat. Too many tents to count. At least a thousand camels.
Hundreds of horses.
Horeb’s armies camped and preparing for battle.
Author Kimberley Griffiths Little
Kimberley Griffiths Little is the author of ten award-winning Middle-Grade and Young Adult novels with Knopf, Scholastic and Harpercollins, including the Whitney Award, the Arizona/New Mexico Book Award, the SCBWI Crystal Kite, the Southwest Book Award, and others. ALA BOOKLIST named FORBIDDEN, the first book in her Ancient Mesopotamian historical fantasy a Young Adult Top 10 novel for the Historical category, Romance category, and Religious/Inspirational.
Kimberley adores anything old and musty with a secret story to tell. She once stayed in the haunted tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland and didn’t sleep a wink; sailed the Seine in Paris; ridden a camel in Petra, Jordan; shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria. She was born in San Francisco but now lives on the banks of the Rio Grande with her husband and three sons.
Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 2/27/17
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Should you do a marketing push instead of a blog tour? #WriterWednesday #AuthorMarketing
A few weeks ago, I got up on my soap box (man, that thing gets used A LOT) and preached about why I still do blog tours even though they are getting less and less popular. You can read that article here. Just to be contrary, I’m now going to discuss why a blog tour isn’t always the best option for a ‘new’ release.
Let me first explain what I mean by a marketing push because there are a gazillion different ways to market your book. In this case, I’m referring to discounting your release and signing up for a newsletter service that sends news of your discounted book out to its email subscribers. And, before you ask, I don’t use BookBub. Not that I don’t want to. I’d loooove to use BookBub and I continue to try and use BookBub, but they don’t like me. *Sticks out bottom lip in pout*
As I explained in my earlier blog, I use blog tours for four main reasons: gaining a social media following, increasing the amount of Goodreads readers who add my book to their TBR, increasing the number Amazon followers, and reviews. That sounds pretty good. Why wouldn’t I always want to do that? Boxed sets, that’s why.
I recently released the three books in my Death by Cupcake series as a boxed set. This release came fairly quickly on the heels of the release of the final book in the series. For that reason, I didn’t want to do a blog tour. I didn’t want to bore book bloggers and readers with material that wasn’t new. I also didn’t want to ask for reviews of the series as that’s a HUGE ask. Instead, I’ll ask those reviewers who have been kind enough to read and review all three books separately to write a review for the series.
So, how did it go? I released the Death by Cupcake series at the discounted price of 99 cents (regular price $3.50) on Amazon as a part of the Kindle Unlimited program. The marketing push was over 6 days (I usually do a 3-day weekend marketing push, but I had some issues finding enough newsletters in which to include my set). I sold 587 books and there were 11,669 pages read. Not bad, if I do say so myself.
To compare, I did a blog tour for the release of Bring Your Own Baker in June and only garnered 31 sales during the first week of release. Obviously, this comparison is somewhat flawed as a set of novels that have been previously released and have several reviews as well as being deeply discounted can’t really be compared with a brand-spanking-new release with no reviews. But it does give an idea as to what you can expect from sales during a blog tour as opposed to a marketing push.
Why was my marketing push successful in sales compared to a blog tour? First of all, the price is sharply discounted – 70% instead of my usual 50%. Secondly, although the set is new and doesn’t have reviews, readers can take a look at reviews of each individual book. And don’t forget – the purpose of a blog tour is not to make sales. That’s just a lucky byproduct.
Should you do a marketing push instead of a blog tour? Based on the above, I’d definitely recommend it for a boxed set. I also believe a marketing push can be helpful for re-releases of previously published material. It can also be an alternative when you just don’t have the time to prepare the materials for the blog tour, although you may have to search for newsletter services that don’t require a minimum number of reviews.
February 6, 2017
Read an excerpt of Enforcer’s Price #MCRomance from @SarahRHawthorne #giveaway
In ENFORCER’S PRICE, Colt is a man looking for redemption while Krista is a single mother just trying to get by. One night together will change both their lives forever. Fans of Joanna Wylde’s Reapers MC series won’t want to miss this sensual read published by Golden Heart Finalist, Sarah Hawthorne and Carina Press!
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About Enforcer’s Price:
Title: Enforcer’s Price
Author: Sarah Hawthorne
Publisher: Carina Press
Series: Demon Horde #1
Release Date: February 6, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781488024412
A man looking for redemption
Colt spent eight months in prison for trusting the wrong woman, nearly bringing down his entire motorcycle club in the process. Now he needs to fix the MC’s cash flow problems or watch the only family he’s ever known fall apart.
Meeting Krista wasn’t part of his mission.
Falling for her could mean his destruction.
A single mom trying to get by
Krista was ready to leave hooking behind when her ex cleaned out her bank account. Stuck working to provide for her daughter, she protects herself with one rule: never get involved with someone at the club.
Not that she wants to. Sex has become a job, a means to an end.
One night together as an escape
Krista’s body wakes at Colt’s touch, allowing her to imagine a life after the MC. A future. A happily-ever-after, if only briefly. Krista brings out feelings in Colt he forgot could exist. But just as he begins to trust again, Krista’s truth is revealed – testing the very boundaries of Colt’s jealousy and faith.
Add to your TBR list: Goodreads
Available at: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Look for Rebel Custody (Demon Horde #2) & Outlaw Ride (Demon Horde #3) releasing in May 2017 and September 2017 with Carina Press!
Excerpt
“That was good, right?” He propped himself on an elbow. “You know I want you. But you gotta be up for this as well. All of it. Not just once, but something real.”
I wanted to say yes. I wanted to tell him that we were going to live happily ever after. Whatever I was doing right now could not continue. I’d lose all the business from the guys and Becky and I would be broke. But a little fling. I could have that, right? One night where I could feel wanted, cherished, loved.
I looked into his eyes and whispered, “I want you.”
It was the only thing I could promise right now. I knew he wanted more, but I couldn’t give him that. I could only give him right now.
His arms went rigid. “No. Not just want, not just now. Tell me this is more than just a quick fuck for you. Tell me you want more, or I’m going to stop.” His eyes were steel as they searched mine.
Copyright © 2017 by Sarah Hawthorne
Praise for Enforcer’s Price:
“I’ve been looking forward to Enforcer’s Price since the moment I learned the premise, and I’m happy to say that this debut novel by Sarah Hawthorne doesn’t disappoint. Edgy and real, Enforcer’s Price grabs at your heart and doesn’t let go!” — J. Kenner/Julie Kenner, New York Times & #1 International bestselling author
“I loved Enforcer’s Price. It’s a wild ride showing the gritty side of love in an MC.” — Jade Chandler, author of the Jericho Brotherhood series
“Enforcer’s Pride is a wild ride. It gets you in the feels and keeps going. It’s a dark and gritty MC romance, and I can’t wait for more.” — Jade Chandler, author of the Jericho Brotherhood series
“Enforcer’s Price is a sexy romance with spicy, cagey, and memorable characters who need to make the right choices this time around or forfeit everything. The plot is believable and has intense moments that leave the reader breathless. Hawthorne writes with passion and honesty.” — Romantic Times
About Sarah Hawthorne
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Sarah Hawthorne lives in the Pacific Northwest and drinks coffee in the winter and champagne in the summer. She enjoys writing, gardening and planning vacations. Please visit Sarah at http://www.sarahhawthorne.com.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon
Giveaway
Sarah is offering one (1) lucky winner a $25 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:
Bloggers – How easy is your site/blog to navigate? #MondayBlogs #Blogging
In my latest attempt at connecting with fellow writers and readers, I’ve been trolling the web for book bloggers and author bloggers to follow. Unfortunately, I’ve run into the same problem again and again – websites that are confusing and/or impossible to navigate. Menu? What menu?
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No menu. This is my biggest complaint. I cannot believe the sheer number of websites I discovered that only have a home page! Some add a contact page and that’s it. It took me a while to realize that I have to hit home if I want to read the blog. So, before you do anything else today, add a menu to your website. Please and thank you.
Unclear menu items. I have to confess that I’m somewhat guilty of this. I have two blogs on my website: one for my writing and just general blah-blahing I like to do and one for promoting other books and authors. I gave these blogs cutsie names: My Musings and Readsalot. So far, so good. But after trolling through hundreds of websites this past month, I realized that the menu item my musings might not be so clear after all. So I listened to my own advice (shocking, I know) and changed the menu items slightly. They now read my musings – a writer’s blog and readsalot – a reader’s blog.
Different devices. Okay, you’ve added a menu and titled the menu items in clear and simple English. What’s next? Ensure your website/blog is maneuverable on different devices. Not everyone will read your blog or check out your website on an old-fashioned computer. (Yes, apparently desktop computers are old-fashioned nowadays.) They may use a tablet or their smartphone. It’s important that viewers can still move around your website no matter the device they are using. This is easy with WordPress. You can do a preview of each blog you post in three different formats: desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
Of course, there are lots more issues to deal with ensuring your blog is easy to navigate, but it all starts with having a menu with well-defined menu items.
February 3, 2017
Read an excerpt of Butterfly Serenade by @AuthorJuliannaD #Romance
Butterfly Serenade
Julianna Douglas
New Adult Romance, Contemporary Romance
Date Published: 1/15/2017
Rose
Whore. Slut. Tramp.
I don’t want to believe the words, but they’re true. Having sex with strangers temporarily affords me the necessary control to quiet the demons from my nightmares. But each unfulfilling encounter leaves me more emotionally empty than before. I’m trapped in a dead, brown shell, unable to break free.
Until the day he walks into my life.
Colin is everything that’s good and pure–a beacon of light to my dark, lost soul. His music is a soothing balm, warming long-frozen places inside me. His kindness disarms me, making me long for more. But to have more, I’d need to reveal the horrors of my past.
And I can’t tell anyone. It’ll tear me apart.
Colin
I’ve been waiting for her all my life.
From the moment I laid eyes her, I knew Rose was my soul mate. I’m drawn to her inner beauty and yearn to show her the love she’s never known. The pain reflected in her lovely amber eyes rouses emotions deep within me, stirring the music in my soul and making my fingers take flight over the keyboard.
But Rose is a woman holding closely guarded secrets.
More than my next breath, I want to quell the haunted look in her eyes … heal her broken spirit and make her whole again. She doesn’t believe that’s possible. But I won’t give up.
Not until she lets me love her–all of her.
Warning: Contains graphic descriptions of abuse that may distress some readers.
Get a copy!
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Rose
I slide the last box of my belongings out of the back seat of Olivia’s car and close the door with my hip. For a moment, I stand there breathing deeply of the fresh pine-scented mountain air. In the distance, beyond the brick building that houses our dorm, the majestic San Francisco peaks rise up in their cloak of foggy clouds to meet a clear blue sky. It’s good to be back at Northern Arizona University. The city of Flagstaff and this school have been my haven since I left my old life behind two years ago. I don’t miss it. No one in their right mind would. It was nothing short of hell. In a way, my life didn’t really start until I moved here. It’s still far from perfect, but whose life is? At least it’s mine to live now, and no one can make me do anything I don’t want to.
Funny that I lived that old life just two short hours away from here, yet no one I used to know has ever tried to find me–or if they tried, they haven’t been successful. I’m glad. I don’t want to see anyone from that time. No, that isn’t entirely true. The only person I’d like to see again is my old friend, Emily. Other than her, I couldn’t care less. The people to whom I’m related by blood aren’t my family anymore. The only real family I have now are Olivia, her mom, Abigail, and her younger sister, Jennifer. They took me in when I had no place else to go and helped me carve out this new life for myself.
The ache in my arms reminds me that I need to relieve them of their burden. I head for the main door of the dorm. One of the girls who lives down the hall from me and Olivia sees me coming and holds it open for me. I nod my thanks, then head up the stairs for the third floor where our room is located. I’ve made this trip up and down about ten times today, unloading all our stuff. By the time I reach the second floor, the strength in my arms is flagging and my legs are screaming to end this torturous exercise. After taking a short breather at the landing, I continue plodding up the next flight of stairs.
At the sound of heavy, rapid footfalls behind me, I move to one side to allow the person who is quickly gaining ground on me to pass by. My cumbersome load bumps into the railing, causing my foot to catch on the next step. As I’m about to pitch down the stairs, a pair of strong hands catch me at the waist.
“Whoa, there! Easy,” a sexy, masculine voice rumbles in my ear.
I automatically stiffen. I don’t like being touched–especially by strange men–without my permission. Knowing he’s only trying to help, I take a deep breath and will my body to relax.
He leans to one side, and out of the corner of my eye, I can see he’s smiling.
“Are you OK?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” You can let go of me now, I resist the urge to say out loud.
“Here, why don’t you let me help you with that?” Before I can protest, he moves around in front of me and lifts the heavy box out of my hands. “So where are we headed?”
“Ah … next floor.” I point upward. “Room 329.”
He continues up the stairs with me trailing behind. The door to mine and Olivia’s dorm room is open, but before entering he calls out, “Knock, knock.”
“Hi! Did you need something?” I hear Olivia’s friendly voice coming from inside the room, but his tall, muscular frame blocks her from my view.
“Just helping your roommate with her stuff.” He lifts his arms, indicating the box.
“Oh! Well, bring it on in.”
He enters the room, and I follow.
Olivia finally sees me. “I was wondering what happened to you. You were gone for a while.”
Having placed the box on one of the beds, my helper turns around. “I’m afraid that’s partly my fault. I nearly knocked her over in the stairwell. I figured the least I could do is carry her things.”
“Thank you,” I say to one of the buttons on the front of his shirt. I can’t bring myself to make eye contact. It’s something I tend to avoid with men, unless I’m on the prowl. I’m afraid it might encourage him to do something I don’t want. Like ask me out.
“I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Colin … Colin O’Malley.” He offers his hand, first to Olivia–who introduces herself, too–and then to me.
It would be rude not to accept, so I place my hand in his. It almost completely envelopes mine, and at once, I notice his long fingers. Even though his hands are on the large side, there’s a gentleness in them I don’t expect. Now that I think about it, once I got over the initial shock of his touch, I’d noticed it in the stairwell, too. It also didn’t escape me that he’d behaved like a gentleman and hadn’t tried to “accidentally” cop a feel. He’d only held me until he was sure I’d regained my footing.
“So …” He leans down a little. “Do you have a name?”
Realizing I’ve been daydreaming, and still staring at his chest to boot, my face starts to heat. “Yeah, i-it’s Rose … Rose Harmon.”
I finally lift my gaze to find him smiling at me. He has a gorgeous, model-perfect smile with straight white teeth. And wonder of wonders, it actually shows in his sparkling eyes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen eyes quite so blue. They’re the color of the sky I just saw outside. He has dark hair, almost jet black, with an unruly lock that falls down over his forehead, giving him a rakish look. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man this handsome in all my life, except maybe a few times in the movie magazines Emily and I used to look at in the library as teenagers.
Still smiling and holding my hand, he says, “Rose” as though he’s trying out my name to see if it fits.
The sound of it coming from his lips makes my stomach do an uncharacteristic flip-flop, and for a moment I forget to breathe.
~ About the Author ~
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Julianna is a hopeless romantic and believer in fairy tales. Even as a little girl, her fondest dream was to find a Prince Charming who would sweep her off her feet. She’s happy to report she’s been married to him for twenty-two years. Although she’s been an avid reader since she was two years old, she never envisioned herself as a writer until six years ago. Now she feels like she’s finally found her life’s passion. The muses keep the ideas flowing faster than she can put them on the page. She hopes that her readers will love her characters and stories every bit as much as she’s loved creating them.
Julianna currently lives in hot, sunny Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, an adult son, a teenage daughter, a Husky/Great Pyrenees mix dog, and two cats. In addition to writing, she enjoys reading, hanging out on GoodReads, surfing the web, watching TV or movies, book shopping, and feeding her insatiable thirst for knowledge.
Stalk her here!
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Why I love Dutch men #expatlife #FridayFunday
I’ve decided I’m going to spend today’s blog unabashedly bragging about the men in the country I have adopted as home. I’m sure there are great men everywhere. In fact, I’ve had the pleasure of checking out a lot of great men all over the world. I may be just a teensy-weensy bit prejudiced, but I’m convinced the Dutch are the best. Allow me to try and convince you.
[image error]Gentlemen. I’m a feminist (and no, that’s not a nasty word), but that doesn’t mean I insist on opening my own doors and generally turn away any effort of a man to be a gentleman. I’ve been married for 20 years now – 21 in a month! – and my husband still opens doors for me and gives me a hand up when I’m seated. He also helps carry my luggage as well as the luggage of his female crew when he’s working. If I see one more man in an airport just walking along while his wife struggles to carry a baby and luggage …. Well, I won’t actually do anything, but I’ll probably curse you in several languages under my breath. Take that!
Safety. I’m not afraid to walk in my neighborhood in the dark – or anywhere else in the city center for that matter. I am, however, a woman and as such am always aware of my surroundings. If a man is walking behind me, I know and pay attention. Every single time I have been walking my by myself in the dark and glanced back to visually let the man know I knew he was there, he has either crossed the street or slowed his walk to indicate his awareness of my unease as a woman by myself. Every. Single. Time.
[image error]They know women run the world and don’t mind. We may have now have a King, but for the entire 20th Century, the royal family was ruled by a Queen. There was no need for a change in the royal succession laws. The oldest child would reign. End of. I can’t help but point out that the King has managed to produce only daughters thus far.
Women’s equality. In less you’ve been living in a hole (if so, do you have room for me and my dog?), you’ll have seen the women’s marches happening around the world. Several news reporters remarked upon the amount of men at the marches. My husband’s – as well as every other Dutch man I’ve queried about this – response? Of course, the men are there. That’s it. No qualifiers or explanation needed. Of course. Of course, the men support women and their freedoms. Of course.
I know a lot of women who believe Dutch men aren’t romantic. In fact, I know a woman who wrote a book about it! The biggest complaint? They don’t flirt. I don’t know who these women are talking to, but Dutch men flirt. My husband is a HUGE flirt. As am I, actually. Perhaps the flirting is subtler than those Mediterranean men who come off as sleazy to me. And I’ll admit if you don’t speak Dutch, you may not fully comprehend that the man is trying to chat you up. But flirt they do.
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February 1, 2017
Read an excerpt of Spooning Daisy, #romance #romcom from Maggie McConnell #giveaway
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Spooning Daisy
Maggie McConnell
Contemporary Romance (RomCom)
Date Published: June 7, 2016
Publisher: Kensington (Lyrical Shine)
~ Synopsis ~
It’s a long way from Seattle to Otter Bite, Alaska. But if one woman can survive the trip-and the locals-she just might find what her heart has been searching for. Her mango chutney is exquisite; her blueberry sauce is to die for. But right now, Chef de Cuisine Daisy Moon is a woman without a kitchen-and without a fiancé. Unceremoniously dumped from her place of business and her relationship, Daisy sells her belongings, plus a few of her ex’s, and packs her bags. Maybe smashing all the china in her former restaurant was a bad move. Stripped of her Golden Spoon for “un-chef-like” conduct, she is now blacklisted all over Seattle. Her sole job offer is from Wild Man Lodge…in Otter Bite, Alaska. Too bad Daisy can’t even get out of Dodge without incident. By the time she boards a ship for Alaska, she’s got a trail of new troubles behind her, and suddenly Otter Bite is sounding pretty good. But the vessel turns into her own personal Titanic when a series of close encounters confirms her terrible taste in men-including one very good looking bad luck charm named Max Kendall. She vows to dedicate the rest of her days to chowders and brulée. Yet even Alaska isn’t far enough away to shake the memories of the sexy shipmate who rocked her cabin-and her world. Thank goodness she’s done with surprises-but they may not be done with her…
Grab a copy!
Excerpt
His laugh was immediate. Daisy realized how ridiculous her allegation was. Max Kendall’s particular brand of woman didn’t need lies to motivate her into his bed. His women were fun and adventurous and, unlike Daisy, didn’t have impossible expectations.
“I thought we were talking about you,” he said with a dying chuckle. “But if you think you’re helping the enemy…” With his good leg bearing the brunt of his weight, he rose from the bed. Grabbing the handles on his duffle bag, he slowly stepped toward the bathroom.
“If the lights were dim and the music soft and the wine expensive.”
Max turned at the door. “And?”
“And what?”
“I don’t believe for one second that you, Daisy, would be undermined by lights, music, and wine.”
“And… if I thought you were…special.”
“And what makes a man special?”
Daisy hesitated at the fork in her road. She could give Max an honest answer or… “Well, for one thing, he’s very forgiving–”
His eyes crinkled as his grin returned.
“–And he would never use all the hot water just to prove some ridiculous point.”
“I guess I’m not the only one who has trouble giving a straight answer. See you when the water runs cold.” The bathroom door clicked shut.
“And he makes me smile,” Daisy murmured, smiling.
~ About the Author ~
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Golden Heart nominee Maggie McConnell spent her childhood overseas as the daughter of US diplomats. Attending college in Illinois, she earned a BA in Art and an MBA while working at the local humane shelter. At 26, she packed her dog and cat into a Ford truck and drove the Alcan Highway to Alaska, where she spent 23 years exploring The Last Frontier in a single-engine Cessna. A vegan and animal rights advocate, Maggie provides a sanctuary on her Arizona ranch for all creatures great and small, but her immediate family includes dog Molly, cat Sara, horses Quinn and Teena, and an ever-growing dynasty of chipmunks. Every year, like the Gray Whale, Maggie returns to Alaska.
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Giveaway
January 31, 2017
Heat up your February with Red Hots: A Valentine Anthology #romance #erotica #giveaway
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Red Hots: A Valentine Anthology
by Caitlyn Lynch + 17 others
GENRE: Romantic Erotica
BLURB:
Red Hots is a steamy collection of Valentine’s Day themed stories by 18 new and established romantic erotica authors. From a lonely lighthouse keeper’s strange encounter with a ghostly sea captain to a husband surprising his wife with a sexy game; from an alien discovering just what Valentine’s Day means to her human lover to a store owner receiving an unexpected Gift With Purchase that makes her best friend look at her VERY differently, there is something here for everyone who loves the Valentine tradition!
Grab a copy here!
Amazon
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Excerpt
From Power Outage by Caitlyn Lynch:
It wasn’t long at all before the doorbell rang; Raquel hurried to answer it. The electrician was tall, with dark hair, high cheekbones and blue, blue eyes. Stubble shadowed his strong jaw, giving him a rough-and-ready sort of look. Broad shoulders strained at the seams of his blue work shirt, which had SCOTT stitched in neatly machined letters on the breast pocket. There was a toolbelt hanging around his waist, black jeans clinging snugly to his long legs.
“Mrs. Morrison? You need an electrician?” His voice was a low, husky rumble, those incredibly blue eyes intent as his gaze swept over her, taking in her dress, her shoes, her hair and makeup before giving her a slow, appreciative smile. A little shiver of lustful anticipation rippled through her; she sternly ordered her knees not to shake.
“Yes, our power’s gone out.” She was still holding the candle, though she could see him perfectly well by the streetlights; he smirked at it and produced a big flashlight, handing it to her.
“You want to show me to your fuse box?”
She accepted the flashlight, put the candle down on the sideboard and gestured for him to follow her through to the garage, where she knew the electrical switchboard was. Walking through the house, she had the distinct impression that Scott was watching her ass, the sway of her hips as she moved.
Well, you did put this dress on for a reason, Raquel, she told herself, a little smirk of feminine triumph touching her lips.
GIVEAWAY
The authors will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
