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L.A. Kelley's Blog, page 22

December 2, 2014

Author Sydney St. Claire: From Historical to Erotic. Life is Change. Growth is Optional. Choose Wisely

Wealthy computer genius Graham Winters is in love with a woman who won’t join him for a stingy cup of coffee. How can he prove he’s nothing like her jerk of an ex if she won’t give him a chance? Then he spots her at a BDSM club and devises a plan. During the day, he’s “that damn geek.” At night, he’s the masked Dom known as The Wolf.
When it comes to her love life, Lucy Sanchez has one rule—no geeks. Not even rich, good looking geeks. She’s attracted to Graham but rules are rules. Besides, she has her wolf, the mysterious Dom who makes her blood sing. Then she’s invited to a fairytale event at Pleasure Manor and this Little Red Riding Hood plans to enjoy every delicious moment with her big, bad Dom.

(Enter to win a What Happens at the Castle Stays at the Castle giveaway at the bottom)
LIFE IS CHANGE, GROWTH IS OPTIONAL, CHOOSE WISELYAnonymous
We’ve all heard two things to rely on in life are death and taxes. Well, for writers, there is another.  
Change.  
The publishing world is constantly changing. Editors come and go and we all know that what one loves, another may hate. Marketing changes. What is hot and selling today might be yesterday’s news tomorrow. The best book you’ve ever written won’t matter if no one is willing to buy it or read it. This is a very fluid industry and not for the faint of heart! We are required to keep up with what’s new, what’s not and be prepared to change with the times. Or be left behind.
If we accept our industry is always shifting and changing, then writers/authors must be prepared not to just ride those winds of change but to grow, even if it means reinventing to keep pace with the world and our own needs.
While writing my White Series (Written as Susan Edwards), I felt as though I was slogging through muck. Each word, each scene was a struggle. I loved the characters, loved the story, but something was happening to me as a writer. I was growing and changing yet my White books were not. At least not much.
My books always had a bit of the mystical with the use of visions, gifts of sight and other aspects of Native American culture. As the series grew, I wanted to explore the mystical aspects of Native American beliefs and go deeper yet my books were historicals, not paranormals. Suddenly, I had a choice: continue to fight the change or give in and grow as a writer.  
I allowed myself to change and wrote the Summer of the Eagle. It’s still a Native American Historical but I let the paranormal world bloom. And I had fun. I loved the book, the characters, the writing. The change my writing attitude was a wondrous feeling. I knew then that as a writer I had to let myself grow.
Several years later, I’ve gone through more changes. My publishing house went under, leaving me out in the cold, harsh world. Historical romances took a dive, the economy was bad, and once again, change was upon me. I decided to try work for hire writing erotica, something I’d never done. I discovered that not only could I do it, but I was good at it. So I wrote my own erotica story, created the Once Upon a Dom series and took on a pen name (Sydney St. Claire) in order to sell in this totally new genre.
Now I’m having a blast writing a fun, light-hearted fairy tale theme series and all because I was willing to do whatever it took to get published again. Good things happen when we give ourselves permission and the freedom to grow and change. Even now, my ear is to the ground as I consider how best to revive my Susan Edward’s name. Historical romances have returned, or so I hear. Am I ready to embark on a new series? Do I want to try paranormal contemporary? So many choices. So many changes waiting for me. I just have to embrace.
No matter what we write, how well we write it, we change because life is change. However, growing as a writer is completely up to us. We can resist, refuse, or embrace. We can listen to our inner voice or ignore it. The choice is ours.  
Most people do not like change because it’s scary but I have always embraced change whether it is a new home or rearranging my house or even a new job. Change freshens my life. It is a renewal of heart, mind and soul--a breath of fresh air to chase away the stale and stagnant.
Life is Change. Growth is Optional. Choose Wisely. My challenge to you: Look for change. Find it. Embrace it. Then grow with it for I believe if you do this, you’ll have the ride of your life on that wonderful, exhilarating, and oftentimes crazy roller coaster called Life.
Except from Once Upon a Dom“I’m taking you to dinner tonight. In the city.” He sat on her desk, which she now found endearing rather than annoying.
She set her purse into an empty cabinet and lifted a brow. 
“You’re telling me?”
He shrugged. “If I ask, you’ll say no.”
“I have plans.” With The Wolf.
He tipped her chin up. “Cancel them.” His lips brushed hers, then he deepened the kiss.
Lucy’s insides clenched at the feel of his warm mouth against hers and the taste of coffee with a hint of caramel, his favorite kind. She closed her eyes, her lips moving with his. His tongue dipped into her mouth, and she moaned, leaning into him.
Then he broke the kiss and walked away.
Lucy gaped at him. Her insides melted, and that familiar longing zeroed in on her center and pooled between her legs. Damn. She was attracted to her geek. Very attracted. Too bad he wasn’t her wolf. Now, if Graham were as good as her wolf in bed, she’d have found the perfect man.She sighed. Yep, too bad. So what now? Two dates, two men equaled complications.
Her lips turned downward tightly as she got to work. She loved her wolf-lover, but their relationship was not completely satisfying or fulfilling. Not rounded and balanced. Graham, on the other hand, was open. She knew who he was, shared many common interests, and most of all, Graham didn’t have any secrets. What she saw was what she got with him. In a way, she preferred that to the mysterious and secretive.
“All right,” she said.
Graham glanced up, his eyes unfocused. “Huh?”
Realizing three hours had passed, and he was totally immersed in Geekland, Lucy wadded up a sheet of paper and tossed it at him. “Come back to earth, Graham. Dinner. Date. You. Me.”
His eyes cleared, and a huge grin lit his entire face. His blue eyes shone with pleasure. “Great.”
His smile slipped into a frown when she stretched her arms and back. “You tired? Need to stop?”
“Yeah, need to cancel my plans for tonight and stretch my legs. Want to walk outside with me?” His grounds were beautiful. Calm and restful with formal groupings, waterfalls, and a small forest that reminded her of the woods surrounding Bryce’s mansion, the woods where she and her wolf had played and strolled. She shook off the memories.
“Give me ten. You can go explore the house if you want. I forgot to give you the tour.” He grinned. “My bedroom is up the stairs, straight ahead.”
Lucy had been dying to see the rest of the house, and yes, that included the man’s bedroom, but she rolled her eyes for good form. Didn’t want him to know how eager she’d been to see the upstairs. “Okay. Twisted my arm.”
BIO Sydney St. Claire is the pseudonym of Susan Edwards, author of 14 Historical Native American/Western/Paranormal romances and the author of the popular “White” Series. Sydney loves writing and sharing stories of love, happiness and dreams come true with her readers. She credits her mother for her writing success. Encouraged to read as a child, she always preferred happy endings which meant romances were her favorite genre. 
Sydney takes her readers into the world of erotica romance where her characters come together in explosive passion as they solve life’s problems and find true love along with the best sex our hero and heroine have ever experienced.
Sydney’s office is quite crowded with three dogs at her feet and five cats to keep her company while she writes. Three cats always insist on beds on her desk, barely leaving enough room for her monitor and keyboard. Life gets fun when all five insist on supervising…When not writing, she enjoys crafts of all sorts including quilting, sewing, cross-stitch and knitting. She and her husband of 30 + years are avid gardeners. He takes care of the veggies, and Susan is in charge of the ‘pretties’. Her medicine wheel garden is in a contact state of war: flowers vs. weeds. Sadly, right now the weeds are wining.While writing, she listens to a wide variety of music. Her current favorites are Blackmore’s Night and David Lanz.
Where to find Sydney St. Claire           Email:              Sydney@sydneystclaire.comTrailer:           http://youtu.be/F-O0tWqMrGMWebsite:          http://sydneystclaire.com                        http://susanedwards.comTwitter:           https://twitter.com/SydneystclaireFacebook:        https://www.facebook.com/sydneystclaireBlog:               http://sydneystclaire.wordpress.comGoodreads:     https://www.goodreads.com/sydneystclairePinterest:         http://www.pinterest.com/sydneystclaire/
Buy LinksWild Rose press:  http://bit.ly/1xB319E Amazon http://amzn.to/1CbSmTt  Nook  http://bit.ly/108m27I
CONTEST: WHAT HAPPENS AT THE CASTLE STAYS AT THE CASTLE TOTE BAGa Rafflecopter giveaway
Prize includes:
Tote Bag
Mug
4GB Flash Drive
Lighted Key tag
Once Upon A Dom Pen
What Happens at the Castle Notepad
Assorted other goodies

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Published on December 02, 2014 00:30

November 30, 2014

November 29, 2014

Another giveaway on day six of The Naughty List Blog Hop....

Another giveaway on day six of The Naughty List Blog Hop. 

Sweet Southern Home          http://sweetsouthernhome.net/

The Naughty List (The Naughty List is on sale now until November 30 for 99 cents at all e-retailers)


Naughty List Links
Amazon:
  http://www.amazon.com/Naughty-List-L-Kelley-ebook/dp/B00EUFPM1S/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1411750609&sr=1-3&keywords=l.+a.+kelley
 B&N:
  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-naughty-list-l-a-kelley/1117675721?ean=2940149033386
Apple ibooks

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 Google Play
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Kobo

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Published on November 29, 2014 05:46

November 27, 2014

Book Review for Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan



Jim Gaffigan is a funny guy. Known for his standup routines, he often includes commentary on food. So what are his qualifications to write a book on the subject? Nothing, really, unless you count the admission that he’s a little fat.
 
Like a pound of crispy bacon the book is deliciously satisfying. Gaffigan explores why we love food, what we love, and how much more of it can we stuff into our pie holes without falling into a coma. He covers the whole gamut of eating from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, to regional cuisine, fast food, fine dining, the intricacies of airport cuisines and, oh, that hated kale.


The chapters are short and read more like an expanded collection of essays. If you have ever listened to his comedy routine, some will be familiar. I didn’t find the book less enjoyable for that as it contained plenty of new material and some more background added to the old. For those who are familiar with Gaffigan’s act, his standup includes a memorable bit on Hot Pockets that launched him to comedy circuit stardom. My favorite observation is that Hot Pockets always comes in a box of two; one to eat and regret and the other to leave in the freezer until you move. As Gaffigan says, “I’ve never eaten a Hot Pocket and then afterward thought, I’m glad I ate that. In the book he offers not just more funny riffs on Hot Pockets, but also explains how he developed the routine. He accepts its popularity as a blessing and a curse, admitting if he were to keel over today his obituary would, no doubt, describe him as the Hot Pockets’ comedian.
He expounds on our quirky eating habits around the country with the Jim Gaffigan Food Map. It’s not exactly Rand McNally, but it works. Regions are divided into areas such as Seabugland (pretty much all of the East Coast), Eating BBQland (Southeast/Parts of Midwest), Mexicanfoodland (Southwest to Texas), Coffeeland (Pacific Northwest) and others. My favorite is New Orleans as Food Anxietyland. Gaffigan admits to an angst that comes over him every time he steps into the city. Where should he eat? What should he eat? The decisions are endless. Should he go for French, Cajun, Creole, beignets? I feel your pain, bro. I, too, have agonized between a po’boy and muffaletta and ended up getting both. 
The book is great fun and loaded with pictures of his wife and family. Frankly any man with five kids deserves props for that alone. Despite his adventures in junkfoodland the Gaffigan’s sound like a very healthy, loving bunch. I’d share a meal with them anytime
*****
Excerpt from Food: A Love Story
People are nicer in the South. They are. Even when they are rude they are polite. Maybe it’s the singsong of the southern drawl, but even a “Y’all can go to hell” from a Southerner sounds friendly. “Well, thank you kindly. Y’all can go to hell, too. An’ y’all come back now, y’hear?” People in the South are nicer, but they are slower. I don’t mean they are slower intellectually, I mean they just move slower.
FIREMAN: You have to get out! Your house is on fire!
SOUTHERN GUY: All right. All right. I’ll leave. But first I have to drink me some sweet tea. Then I’ll deal with that pesky house fire.
 Biscuits and Gravy
I think I’ve identified why people in the South behave in such a nonchalant manner. It’s the biscuits and gravy. Everyone in the South seems to move like they’ve just had two helpings of biscuits and gravy. They are moving like you might after Thanksgiving dinner. You know when you are uncomfortably full but pleasantly satisfied as you drag yourself over to the couch for a nap. That is how everyone below the Mason-Dixon Line moves in everyday life. I really believe it’s the biscuits and gravy. The feeling you have after eating biscuits and gravy is identical to the feeling of chaining a bowling ball to your foot. 
More amazingly, people in the South are eating biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Yes, breakfast. They aren’t coming home drunk late at night slurring, “I’ll eat anything.” They are waking up thinking, Time for cement!

*****
 I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

 
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Published on November 27, 2014 00:30

November 26, 2014

Day Three of The Naughty List Blog Tour

Another giveaway on day three of The Naughty List Blog Hop. 
Fiction Zeal:  http://www.fictionzeal.com/


The Naughty List (The Naughty List is on sale now until November 30 for 99 cents at all e-retailers)


Naughty List Links
Amazon:
  http://www.amazon.com/Naughty-List-L-Kelley-ebook/dp/B00EUFPM1S/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1411750609&sr=1-3&keywords=l.+a.+kelley
 B&N:
  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-naughty-list-l-a-kelley/1117675721?ean=2940149033386
Apple ibooks

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 Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/L_A_Kelley_The_Naughty_List?id=qWpIAgAAQBAJ&hl=en
Kobo

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-naughty-list-10
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Published on November 26, 2014 05:57

November 25, 2014

November 24, 2014

November 21, 2014

November 17, 2014

Stop One on the blog tour for One Enchanted Evening. Ente...


Stop One on the blog tour for One Enchanted Evening. Enter to win a free copy. 

http://www.joydfanning.blogspot.com/
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Published on November 17, 2014 05:25

November 16, 2014

Author Blair McDowell: Where Do Plots Come From?

Coming soon from Wild Rose Press...
Recently widowed, Lacey Telchev is on a whirlwind chase around Europe running from mysterious thugs, and trying to solve a mystery through clues left by her late husband. She encounters a handsome stranger along the way, but is he helping her or is he too just using her to find her husband's secret?
As writers we’re frequently reminded that we must pay attention to pacing in our stories, that we must “keep the story moving”. I like a fast-paced tale as well as the next reader, and as a writer, I know I should be getting on with the story. But I like to stop and smell the roses. I love setting a scene. I like painting verbal pictures. In Romantic Road my heroine finds herself pursued down the Romantische Strasse in Germany, through 14th century walled towns, to Salzburg, then the beautiful lake district where The Sound of Music was filmed, and finally to a terrifying climax on the shores of Hungary’s Lake Baleton.
When I describe the lakes of the Salzkammergut or the dark medieval towns of Germany or the vineyards in the countryside of Hungary, I draw on years of being in these places. The route my heroine follows is one I have driven many times. Romantic Road is almost as much about my on-going love affair with these settings as it is about the lives and loves of my characters.
As a reader, I enjoy the stories of Donna Leon, set in Venice exuding the atmosphere of that incredibly lovely city, and of Andrea Camillieri, whose Sicilian settings leave one feeling dry and dusty, yet immersed in the stark beauty of that remote part of Italy. Or M.L. Longworth’s stories set in Aix en Provence, where one can almost taste the wine. I often find myself rereading descriptive passages in these books just for the sheer joy I take in reading any really good writing.
When engaged in my own writing, description and setting are vitally important to me. I love to travel, and for years I’ve kept detailed journals that I refer to frequently as I write. When I find myself in an intriguing or particularly beautiful or historic place, somehow characters suggest themselves. And once they have, their story unfolds, often very completely, in my mind. In a sense, the setting and the characters tell me the story.
With Romantic Road, the seeds of the story first occurred to me three years ago when I spent some time in Rothenburg, on Germany’s old Roman Road, the Romantische Strasse. The tall forbidding walls surrounding the town, the fourteenth century houses crowded close together, the cobblestone streets and old fashioned lamp light, all cried out for a heroine in distress pursued by unknown assailants, and of course for the right hero to help keep her safe. It was just the kernel of an idea, but it wouldn’t leave my mind until I created a plot around it and started writing in earnest.

The following is an excerpt from Romantic Road.******************“Where is it? Just tell us where it is and you won’t get hurt.” The taller man loomed over her, his face expressionless, a mask.
“Where is what? What are you talking about? Who are you?” Lacy began to be annoyed. That was better than being scared. “Can I see your badges again?”
The second man stared hard at her though dead-looking flat grey eyes. “Mrs. Telchev,” he said, his voice low and menacing, “we mean you no harm. But you must tell us where he hid his manuscript.”  
They knew her name? Icy tentacles of fear slipping down Lacy’s back. She shook her head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
At that moment the red and white lights of a state police vehicle rounded the curve coming toward them. Seeing the blocked road it stopped. Two uniformed officers got out and approached the two parked cars.
“You’re blocking the road. What’s the trouble here?”
The taller man spoke.  “No trouble, Officer. Sorry about the way we’re parked. I’ll move the car immediately. The lady was pulled over here and we just stopped to see if she needed help.”
He flipped open his wallet and showed the officers the same ID he’d shown Lacy.It seemed to mean something to the policemen.
Lacy opened her mouth to say something and then thought better of it. What could she tell the police? These men wanted a manuscript from her but she didn’t know where it was? Or what it was about? Or even if it existed. That it involved her dead husband? No. She wouldn’t say anything. Not until she knew more.


To find out more about Romantic Road or the writings of Blair McDowell visit  http://www.blairmcdowell.com/Romantic_Road.html  
Amazon Author's Page

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Published on November 16, 2014 12:23