Mary E. Thompson's Blog, page 19
May 26, 2017
#FiveOnFriday with H.O. Knight
When you get writer’s block and need inspiration, how do you get through that?
I turn to my evil twin, whom I ate while we were still in our mother’s womb. That, or my cat, Mangus.
Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?
I had a sneaking suspicion when I graduated from college and didn’t want to get a real job.
Why do you like to write about disasters?
All kidding aside, I love to put my characters in difficult situations and then see what they’re capable of. It’s interesting to watch them make decisions that change them into people they never would have become, otherwise. Traumatic events can push people apart or draw them closer, you know? I also like to imagine what life would be like if all of our modern conveniences were snatched away. Since I love flush toilets and air conditioning, I’m sort of hoping that doesn’t ever happen.
Do you ever write people you know into your books?
As a matter of fact, I do. My cat, Mangus—an 18 pound tuxedo kitty who looks more cow than cat. He was the inspiration in my Yellowstone Series for the heroine’s adored pet, Moo. Moo likes to flatter her the same way my cat likes to flatter me—by turning his butt to her face and wiggling his tail. High praise, indeed!
Any final words?
Yes! Muse of Fire, the third and final book in my YA apocalyptic Yellowstone series, debuts on Tuesday, June 6. Book 1, Life After Chocolate, is on Amazon right now for 99-cents, so if you’d like to take a low-risk look at what my YA’s are like, now’s a great time!
BLURB:Life After Chocolate, by H.O. Knight
Until that day, I’d never heard of a super-volcano…
I didn’t know how good I had it. All I had to worry about was college in the fall and avoiding Connor Falk, the guy I stupidly bared my soul to. Then the Yellowstone volcano blew. Now half the country is buried under a thick layer of ash, the temperature is falling, and crops are failing worldwide. My prepper grandfather used to be an embarrassment, but it’s his stores that keep us alive. For now our family is safe—or are we?
My name is Emmaline Dohring, and this is my story.
AUTHOR BIO:
H.O. Knight doesn’t go for billionaires with helicopters or country club fellas who sip Moscow Mules by the pool. She likes her men Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to know. She began reading romance when she was thirteen and apocalyptic fiction during college. She’s combined her love for the two genres in her Young Adult Apocalyptic Adventure/Romance (the Yellowstone Series), which is set during a catastrophic worldwide event.
Ms. Knight lives in the Mid-Atlantic with her own bad boy and dreams of one day leaving that snow behind forever.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/H.O.Knight.author
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/HeatherOKnight
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Heather-Knight/e/B01E8XDDUI/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-knight
WEBSITE www.hoknightauthor.com
NEWSLETTER: TEXT “Snow-n-Ash” to 444999 OR visit this page: http://heatherknight.net/newsletter-sign-up/
BOOKS.
All are available on Kobo, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon (links below):
The Yellowstone Series
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May 23, 2017
Love At First Fight, first kiss
I love first kisses. I can still remember my first ever kiss at thirteen. It was awkward and strange, but it was special because it was my first kiss.
I also remember my first kiss with my husband. Awkward and strange weren’t anywhere near the words I’d use to describe that kiss! I was already well on my way to falling for him by the time we kissed, something we waited for so we knew emotions and a physical relationship wouldn’t get confused. It’s been fifteen years since that first kiss, but he still kisses me the same way. Like he can’t get enough!
For Andie and Cody, their first kiss was a little like mine with my hubby. A bit of a shock, but oh so very worth the wait!
Excerpt from Love At First Fight
“Andie?”
Her eyes snapped open. He was close. Close enough that it wouldn’t take much for her to press her lips to his. He was taller than her, but she could reach with her heels on. There was no one around. No one to witness her embarrassment. No one to chastise her for throwing herself at him.
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, lingering on the strand just long enough to muddy her brain. She wasn’t wrong. She couldn’t be. Right?
She couldn’t second guess any longer. She had to know.
Andie launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck and pressing her body against his. Their lips came together with a surprised grunt from Cody. He wrapped his arms around her, catching her more than embracing her. His lips didn’t move. Didn’t respond to her attempt to kiss him. Shame melted past the desire that had filled her just seconds ago, and she started to pull back.
Then his arms tightened. A groan tore from his throat. And he took over the kiss.
One hand dipped to her waist, pressing her against him. The other cupped her jaw, his fingers tickling the sensitive skin behind her ear. His lips were warm against hers. Full. They covered hers the same way he covered her. Made her feel safe.
He tentatively brushed her lips with his tongue. She opened for him, pushing away the thoughts racing through her head saying she was making a mistake. She couldn’t play Cody. He’d learn the truth. Except when he did, he wouldn’t add to the lies like all the others.
Andie pushed away from him as quickly as she’d thrown herself at him. He didn’t get the memo so his arm was locked around her waist. She struggled against his hold until he released her.
“What…?” he asked, but she was already gone. Inside. Safe. Away from the hottest kiss of her life. The kiss that made her rethink everything she’d always known about men.
Preorder Now!
Gumroad | Kobo | iBooks
Amazon preorder coming soon. B&N and Smashwords available on release day, May 30.
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May 19, 2017
#FiveOnFriday with PJ MacLayne
The Baron’s Cufflinks is the third book in the Oak Grove Mysteries, and I keep discovering new things about my main character, Harmony Duprie. Until this book, I didn’t realize that she is afraid of flying, and that’s why she drives everywhere. I found out why, too, but you’ll need to read the book to be let in on the secret. That fear might explain her obsession with cars.
Speaking of cars, she named her red Jaguar Dolores, and her Beretta is Betsy. Harmony is also obsessed with names. She has to know everyone’s names. If she doesn’t, and can’t ask, she’ll come up with a numbering system to keep people straight in her head. So Agent 1, Agent 2, etc., when dealing with an influx of FBI personnel. Or she’ll use old favorites like Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum.
I didn’t intend it to be that way at first, but Dolores has become as much of a character in the books as any of the people Harmony encounters. She’s developed her own personality and moods, at least in Harmony’s view of things. I wouldn’t go as far as to call her Harmony’s best friend, but she certainly ranks pretty high on the list.
Fun fact- I have a second series of books called the Free Wolves. They are urban fantasy/paranormal romance. In each of the Oak Grove Mysteries, there’s a hidden reference or two to the other books. There’s also a reference to a certain dead musician I’m a fan of.
Last one- although the town of Oak Grove is fictional, I’ve borrowed heavily from my memories of real buildings and houses to “build” it. In fact, the house where Harmony has her apartment is based on the home of one of my favorite aunts. Oak Grove sits somewhere north of Pittsburgh, maybe in Pennsylvania, maybe in Ohio- I never reveal which state it’s in. That gives me a little more freedom when it comes to the law-enforcement types Harmony interacts with on a regular basis.
Blurb:What starts as Girl’s Night Out ends in murder, and Harmony Duprie is a suspect.
She’s innocent, of course, but with no alibi, the sheriff’s department won’t remove her from the list of suspects. It doesn’t help when a waitress from the bar gets beaten up and the only clue is a slip of paper with Harmony’s name on it. Throw in a rookie deputy dead set on building his reputation and Harmony must tread carefully.
But caution isn’t Harmony’s middle name and she plunges head first into danger to defend her honor.
What she finds is a web of half-truths and suspicions implicating several law enforcement agencies, with Jake, her ex-lover, stuck in the middle of it all.
Can Harmony rescue Jake and find the real culprit before she becomes the next victim?
Buy Links
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1232223538
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072P6CD3D
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-baron-s-cufflinks
Books2read Universal https://www.books2read.com/u/b5OVGp
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-barons-cufflinks-pj-maclayne/1126317718?ean=2940157511692
Author’s Bio:Born and raised among the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, P.J. MacLayne still finds inspiration for her books in that landscape. She is a computer geek by day and a writer by night who currently lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. When she’s not in front of a computer screen, she might be found exploring the back roads of the nearby national forests and parks. In addition to the Free Wolves’ stories, she is also the author of the Oak Grove series.
P.J. MacLayne can be reached on:
Facebook https://facebook.com/pjmaclayne
Twitter https://twitter.com/pjmaclayne
Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/+PJMacLayne/posts
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/P.J.-MacLayne/e/B00HVE8WZI
Blog: http://pjmaclayne.blogspot.com/
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May 16, 2017
Love At First Fight, tempting
If you’ve read Love The Wine You’re With and Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride, I know you’re waiting for Love At First Fight! Andie Young is complicated. She’s flirtatious and outgoing and confident. But there’s so much more to Andie than what meets the eye. Beneath her tough exterior is a woman who’s scared to let a man close. She knows it’ll only lead to a let down.
Cody Powell has wanted Andie for fifteen years. Back when she was illegal and off-limits. Over time, he’s learned a lot about her. But there’s still a few secrets he doesn’t know. And a few she doesn’t even suspect about him.
They both struggle to resist the temptation of being together, especially when that temptation is so deliciously on display for Andie to enjoy…
Excerpt from Love At First Fight
“Hey, Andie, right?” Kent said.
Wow, dude? That’s your opening line?
“Um, yeah. I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“I’m Kent. I’m the lead on this job.”
Cody rolled his eyes.
“Oh,” Andie said. “I didn’t realize that. Is there something wrong?”
“Oh, uh, no. Sorry. I was just wondering if I could take you out.”
“Oh, um. I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
Kent grinned broader and leaned in. “Trust me, it’s a good idea. How about this weekend?”
Andie’s eyes flashed to Cody’s. His cheeks heated at being caught listening to them, but then she widened her eyes in an obvious gesture for help. Cody cleared his throat and pushed off the edge of the truck.
“Hey, Kent. Can you check that ridge on the far side? Mikey said it might need to be tightened before we got back up there.”
Kent glanced at Andie then swung his eyes back to Cody. Cody tried to give him a sympathetic look, hoping he would take the hint and leave. Kent sighed and nodded, then walked away with slumped shoulders. Cody watched the kid go, knowing exactly how he felt.
“Thanks,” Andie said. “I hate when that happens. I feel bad, but he’s really not my type.”
Cody nodded. He tried to keep his mouth shut, but it had a mind of its own and the question burst free. “What is your type?”
Andie’s eyes snapped to his. He saw something in them that he didn’t recognize. They left his and fluttered down to his chest, still bare, then back up to his. That look he knew. Desire.
Coming from Andie.
Directed at him.
What. The. Hell?
Preorder Today!
Gumroad | Kobo | iBooks
Amazon preorder coming soon. B&N and Smashwords available on release day, May 30.
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May 14, 2017
Happy Mother’s Day
I still remember my first Mother’s Day. I was pregnant with my daughter, enough that it was very obvious I was pregnant. Everywhere we went that day people said Happy Mother’s Day to me. It was the first day it finally hit me that I was going to be a mom.
My first Mother’s Day after she was born was the weekend she said ‘mama’ for the first time. She said ‘dada’ for a long time before, but it felt like my Mother’s Day present to have her say ‘mama’ for me. Of course, she still says daddy is her favorite!
I’ll be celebrating with the kids today, but I need your help… I’m out of questions! If you have a question you want me to answer right here on my blog, send me an email (mary (at) maryethompson (dot) com) or leave a comment here.
Thanks! And Happy Mother’s Day to you moms out there!
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May 12, 2017
#FiveOnFriday with Kate Hill
5 Vampire Traditions Broken
For almost as long as I can remember, I’ve been a vampire fan. As a child, I watched Christopher Lee’s Dracula movies with my mother and enjoyed reading stories with vampire characters. I don’t ever recall finding vampires particularly scary. To me they were fascinating.
While I’ll always enjoy a good, traditional vampire story, I also love those that break tradition. My upcoming release, Fangs and Fists: Grit, features several traditional “monsters” who don’t always behave in a customary way or have characteristics typical of their kind of creature. Vampires are among them.
Today I’m sharing five ways that the vampires in Grit break tradition. Nowadays, when paranormal creatures are often accepted as heroes instead of monsters, these characteristics might not be as unusual as they were years ago.
1. Vampires are alive, not dead. In Fangs and Fists, the vampires are not corpses who rise at night to steal blood from the living. After they change, they still breathe and feel. Their hearts still beat and they can be injured.
2. Sunlight doesn’t harm vampires. Though the Fangs and Fists vampires prefer nighttime, they won’t suffer or die when exposed to sunlight.
3. They eat food. The Fangs and Fists vampires drink blood, but they aren’t limited to a liquid diet.
4. They have traditional sex. Considering Fangs and Fists is an erotic romance series, it would have been difficult if the vampires couldn’t perform in bed.
5. Vampires can’t shift shape. The Fangs and Fists vampires go through several changes when they become vampires, but the ability to shift into animals or smoke isn’t among them.
Gladiator or warrior posing with shield and sword outdoors ready for battleFangs and Fists: Grit
Coming soon from Changeling Press
After being killed in the arena and then resurrected by a demon, werewolf gladiator Grit now exists as one of the soulless. Remembering only bits and pieces of his former life, he nonetheless recognizes evil and knows he must fight for the future of his young son as well as the rest of the world.
Zari, a vampire warrior, helped Grit escape while working undercover in the tower where he had been imprisoned. She had feelings for Grit when they’d first met, but at the time he had been mated to another wolf. Now that he’s single again, they’re free to explore their feelings as they fight side by side as part of a rebellion against the demons. In the midst of war, their love grows, but danger is everywhere.
Grit still shares a psychic bond with Haylen, the demon who resurrected him. Through this link, Haylen starts to rediscover his lost humanity. Haylen offers a bargain that might save or destroy the rebellion. Whatever the outcome, Zari and Grit intend to face it together and explore the once forbidden passion between them.
About KateAlways a fan of romance and the paranormal, Kate Hill started writing over twenty years ago for pleasure. Her first story, a short erotic vampire tale, was accepted for publication in 1996. Since then she has sold over one hundred short stories, novellas and novels.
When she’s not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, spending time with her family and pets and running the Compelling Beasts Blog, dedicated to antagonists, antiheroes and paranormal creatures. She also writes under the name Saloni Quinby.
Links:
http://www.kate-hill.com/compellingbeastsblog
https://www.amazon.com/Kate-Hill/e/B002BLS7OW/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1485103167&sr=1-2-ent
http://www.facebook.com/katehillsaloniquinby
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16157.Kate_Hill
https://plus.google.com/110359814167605096582
http://www.twitter.com/katehillromance
http://www.twitter.com/compbeastsblog
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May 9, 2017
Introducing Stocky & Sumptuous
Stocky and sumptuous don’t mix… except in his eyes.Vicki Prescott knows exactly what she doesn’t want. A man. Especially one who works too many hours. She’s had one too many relationships end because she wasn’t more important than a job. She was done.
Of course, being her friend’s maid of honor means she’s constantly faced with everything she doesn’t have.
No, doesn’t want.
If it weren’t for that pesky desire to be a mom, she was certain she wouldn’t need men at all.
Hunter Campbell does not take no for an answer. He is in full hustle mode and doesn’t have time for a no. He’s so close to his dreams he can practically taste it. All the late nights, screwed up relationships, and begging for friends to take him in was finally going to be worth it. As long as he kept his eye on the prize.
And not on the sexy red head with an hourglass figure and green eyes that see right through him.
Vicki doesn’t want Hunter. Sure, he’s gorgeous, but he has workaholic written all over his three piece suit and perfect features. He’s good for some private fun, solo, but he’ll never be given access to all of her.
No matter how much her fantasies wish he’d show up and mess up more than just her desk.
Available July 11!
Preorder coming soon
Excerpt from Stocky & Sumptuous
“Friday night, what do you say?” he asked, winking at me.
“Yeah, um, no,” I answered, knowing it would irritate him, but not really caring. I barely knew him, and what I did know, I knew he was not the right guy for me. Oh, no. Three piece suit. Pressed and polished. The sexy hair that was designed to look like he’d just rolled out of bed after a hot night. Artfully sculpted beard that was so perfect it could have been tattooed on by an artist. And those eyes, those eyes made fantasies come alive with the midnight pools directed right at you.
Of course, they weren’t very happy when I turned him down.
“Why not?”
I shrugged. “You’re not my type.”
He laughed, actually laughed. “Really?” His eyes took a lazy slide down my body and back up, outlining every curve beneath my navy dress, pausing at the white button down that was cut off beneath my breasts by navy. “I don’t think I believe you.”
I shrugged again. “It doesn’t really matter if you believe me. I’ve had way too many men put me second behind their jobs. Men who look exactly like you. Professional. Put together. Workaholics. I’m not looking for another one.”
With every word his jaw ticked. I silently dared him to argue. I knew he wouldn’t, because he couldn’t, but there was a tiny part of me, the masochist, that wanted a guy who looked like him to try just a little harder. To prove me wrong.
“You don’t know anything about me, Vicki. But you’ll learn.”
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May 7, 2017
Q&A Sunday: Alphas
How did you go about creating your first alpha, Ethan? Are you surprised at the positive response of readers to Ethan? What are your plans for more Alpha characters?
Ethan was a different sort of character for me. Obviously. I’ve toyed with alphas before, but Ethan was the first one I went for this wholeheartedly. I had a vision for Ethan. I knew I wanted him to be powerful and a little edgier. He had a rough childhood and it made him hard. Dangerous.
He knew what he wanted. He wasn’t one to back down from anything. He had to be tough in order to break through Olivia’s unwavering stubbornness. I had a pretty clear vision of Olivia, so creating Ethan was all about creating a man who could handle her. An alpha was really the only option!
I am surprised by the response Ethan got. I was told to remove parts of the story where Ethan went a little more alpha, but kept them in because they felt right to me. I read a lot of alpha books to make sure I knew how they needed to act. Apparently, I read the right ones!
I do enjoy alpha males. They’re powerful and demanding and sexy and will not hesitate to tell you what they want. The Big & Beautiful series is almost finished, but I’m planning a spin-off series. And yep, they’ll be alphas. I’m excited about that series. I haven’t talked about it much, but it’s going to be a wedding series, set in Hawaii, told entirely from the alpha male’s perspective! What do you think?
Thanks so much, Jeannie, for your question! If you have a question, send me an email (mary (at) maryethompson (dot) com) with Q&A in the subject, or post it in the comments below, and I’ll answer your question right here on the blog!
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May 5, 2017
#FiveOnFriday Karla Brandenburg’s The Twins
Karla Brandenburg is the author of contemporary romance, including her award-winning paranormal MIST series. Raised on the gothic romances of Victoria Holt and the horror of Stephen King, she is an avid reader and is a member of the Romance Writers of America. Karla is a card-carrying cookie-holic, enjoys baking and travel.
Five on Friday – The Research Phase: what I learned while writing—and what inspired—THE TWINS.
I wrote this book while I was recovering from hip surgery. What I DIDN’T know was that my surgery was completely different from a broken hip, and therefore the “write what you know” part of the recovery didn’t apply to what my hero had to go through. MORE RESEARCH! Thank heaven for helpful physical therapists and doctors!
While I was recovering, I was given an app to use from the hospital. Imagine my surprise when I got a response to one of the comments I wrote as a note for my doctor! (They’d told me it was not interactive.) Visions of “You’ve Got Mail” danced in my head. I got on the phone with the app developer and learned how they’d developed it and that other applications it was being used for. Very interesting information, or at least I thought so.
After I received the “push notification” from the nurse monitoring my progress with the app—the person behind the curtain in a manner of speaking—I also interviewed her to find out what her job was like. She was very gracious and offered me a lot of information that helped me to shape the job for the character I’d created.
Palo Santo wood is protected where it grows (primarily Central and South America). Because it has been overharvested, growers have to prove that it is produced in a sustainable way. Products and scents can only be harvested from dead trees. Apparently, the scent is stronger after the tree dies. I ordered a talisman while I was writing and now own a cat carved from Palo Santo wood (did I mention I’m a cat lover?).
I wanted to get the New Orleans dialect right. After watching an episode of Criminal Minds that featured “Will,” JJ’s husband, I loved the soft, sing-song way he spoke, but I needed more to add that Cajun flavor. I hunted down You Tube videos of Justin Wilson and picked up some distinct phrases, my ear for dialects and accents tuning in to the speech patterns to apply to my hero.
Karla’s latest book, THE TWINS, is the second in the EPITAPH series.Although she vowed never to go back, nurse Siobhan McCormick returns home after two family members have died and her brother’s life is threatened. Her new job introduces her to accident victim Jared Pierce, a man whose casual charm tempts her with the same bad decisions she made in high school.
Haunted houses don’t sell, and Jared Pierce’s family sends him from Louisiana to Illinois to make sure there aren’t any ghosts lingering in his great-aunt’s house. An accident on an icy road extends his visit from a few days to a few months.
Though the house is ghost-free when Jared arrives, a violent ice storm breaks apart a tree and releases the spirits of twin boys who were buried in the backyard. Temporarily disabled by his injuries, Jared needs his nurse’s help to give the ghosts peace. There’s only one problem. Siobhan doesn’t believe in ghosts. Will Jared earn her trust and affection or will Siobhan retreat into the safety of her job?
THE TWINS is available at the following book sellers on the web:
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/6946608
iBooks: https://itun.es/us/fTs7ib.I
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-twins-karla-brandenburg/1125834000
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/705913
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-twins-21
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y22Q7RH
To find out more about Karla and her books, visit her website: https://www.karlabrandenburg.com
The post #FiveOnFriday Karla Brandenburg’s The Twins appeared first on Mary E Thompson.
May 2, 2017
Curvaceous & Captivating, reviews
Ethan is heating things up between the sheets… of the book! If you haven’t snatched up Curvaceous & Captivating yet, you’re not gonna want to miss him! Check out what Aliana said…
I finished the book in less than a day but had to stop a few times to fan myself. Ethan is my new favorite book man!
With praise like that, you’ve got to check it out! Curvaceous & Captivating is available everywhere! Grab it now!
Ebook on Gumroad | Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | B&N | Smashwords
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