C.J. Burright's Blog, page 24
August 13, 2014
Stephanie Haefner – Author. Boy Band Nerd. Disneyworld Fanatic.
You’re invited to join me at Geeks today with my special guest, author Stephanie Haefner, who shares how she gets her nerd on.
A sexy, laugh-out-loud love story about a woman trying to save her failing lingerie business with a new product—“personal massagers” made to the specs of the spokesman of her choice! But when she falls for the first model she meets, how can she prove she’s his perfect fit?
August 10, 2014
Outlander Swooning
Hi, everyone! I’m helping sassy sister Jen Streck out today at The Dragon Blog. We’re swooning over Outlander and Sam Heughan…join us!
August 7, 2014
Thursday Giveaway
Happy Thursday, everyone – one more day until Friday! Kalila from Wonderfully Wicked is over at I Smell Sheep today, sharing five ways to kick some hiney. She’s also giving stuff away, so if you feel like winning, drop by and comment. 
freedigitalphotos.net/ nikorn
August 6, 2014
My Take on The Quest
I’m at Geeks in High School today, and you’re invited to come on over. I’m talking about the new fantasy reality show, The Quest. One word from me: awesome!
August 4, 2014
Prizes, Prizes, and More Prizes
Hey, there’s a heckuva party going on, and you’re invited. There’s something for every reading taste: YA, NA, Adult, and even Erotica for you wilder ones. Psst…prize pack 5 has my giveaway in it, in case you’re interested. What a haul of awesome reads – and I’m totally going to enter too!
LOVE TO READ? THEN THIS IS THE PARTY FOR YOU!
We’ve assembled 61 authors to offer you 10 unique prize packs full of books, swag, and gift cards. Increase your odds of winning by entering all 10 giveaways.
Watch the Dragon Blog over the next two weeks as we highlight the participating authors.
Check out each prize pack to see which authors are included.
The Sassy Summer Book Party is brought to you by the Sassy Sisters.
Follow us on Twitter for for all the latest fun!
(@macpetreshock & @jlstreck)
July 30, 2014
Help a Geek Girl Out!
I’m at Geeks today…an avalanche of books has overtaken me and I can’t decide what to read next! Help me choose!
photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/Michal Marcol
July 28, 2014
The Neverending Blog Tour – The Writing Process
I was tagged by the lovely Lisa Cresswell to participate in The Writing Process Blog Tour. Check her out – she writes fantabulous YA!
This blog tour is basically a hey, this is a short-version of my authorly self and what I’m doing PLUS here are some more fabulous authors who you might like. My memory’s a little fuzzy, but I’m 99.9 percent sure I’ve done this before, so I’ll try not to bore you.
What am I working on? Wouldn’t you like to know…heh. Okay, Beautifully Burned, the sequel to Wonderfully Wicked is roughed out and off to the CP’s. Woot-woot! I’m also editing Lured by Darkness, but now I have to decide what new writing project to take on next. I’ve got the next book in The Wicked Series in my head, but there’s also a fantasy that’s been demanding to be written, and I have no idea where that one’s going. It’s great being a pantser.
How does my work differ from others of its genre? The V’alkara and dreamcaster world I created is unique. I’ve seen other books that have people who invade dreams, but never women who can bring up images of their nightmares–or the men who breathe life into them.
Why do I write what I do? I love dark fantasy/paranormal romance, and I stick to the old adage to write what you love. Give me an anti-hero in need of redemption, a sassy girl to get him there, some fighting, supernatural stuff and a HEA.
How does my writing process work? Um…pantser? Sit down, write, and see where it takes me!
And my willing victims for next week’s posts are:
Marcus Smith: Everyone’s life is a story that can be told from many angles. This is one facet of mine. When I was very young, my mother let me stay up with her late into the night. I would sit in our study, curled up in her poncho, surrounded by old leather books, and sip mate tea out of my great grandfather’s etched gourd. She told stories of the wars our family had fought, and of kings and knights and countries long gone. She taught me the power of stories on those long late nights. One day my neighbor taught me to love fantasy when she gave me a book. L’Engle, Anthony, Cherryh, Tolkien, McCaffrey and so many more followed. With them I flew on dragons, carried baleful magic to far off lands, fought supernatural powers, and lived the melancholy of eternal elves. Then I grew up, or at least I pretended to, built a career, married the most amazing woman and started raising three more, all with a plan I hardly admitted to myself. Because who really thinks they can make it as a writer anyway? But when the hard worked for day came, I resigned. Retired. Consultant, Director, and IT gun for hire no more. Now I write full time, working as hard as I can to breathe life into the stories I have been given to tell. And I will keep telling stories until I become a story myself. And yes, my secret is out, I am and have always been—a geek.
Facebook * Website * Twitter * Geeks in High School Blog
The Sassy Sisters: Melissa Petreshock and Jennifer Streck
Melissa A. Petreshock is a full-time writer and member of the Romance Writers of America with past experience in the medical and educational fields, though she has primarily devoted her adult life to raising a family. Born and raised in Kentucky, Melissa spent a number of years in Massachusetts, living outside Boston and in Springfield before returning to her home state where she now resides on a small farm. She enjoys quiet married life and the silliness of her three children, indulging hobbies of music, Zumba, and a minor television addiction in what little free time she finds. Melissa’s interests include causes demanding social change such as mental health awareness and teen suicide prevention. FIRE OF STARS AND DRAGONS is her debut NA Fantasy Romance novel.
melissapetreshock.com
Goodreads
@macpetreshock
Though Jen denied any capacity for creativity, she got sucked into Mel’s world of writing in 2009. Two years later she fell into the abyss known as the world of creative writing, and has no desire to find her way back out. She is currently writing an Adult Contemporary Romance.
When not trapped in a cube or writing, Jen enjoys spending time with her husband and son, exploring photography, dancing at Club Vibe classes, playing with her German Shepherd, and avoiding death at the claws of ‘Psychocat’.
If you spend any time around the blog or Twitter, it won’t take long to discover all the things Jen fangirls over. If you don’t, be warned life around this Sassy Sister includes her love of Tom Hiddleston (#Hiddlestoner, #LokisArmy,#HiddlesForEverySituation), all things Avengers (#IronMan) and X-Men (#Wolverine), Game of Thrones (#Khaleesi) Hawaii Five-0, a wide array of music.
If you’re feeling brave you can find Jen lurking around the web:
Twitter (Stalk all things Jen here.)
Pinterest (Check out writing inspiration boards, fandom boards, and cool fun stuff here.)
FanFiction.net (Find her True Blood & Hawaii Five-0 fan fic ventures here.)
July 23, 2014
Ready to Wed Cover Reveal and Giveaway
Release Date: 7/22/14 – Genre: Contemporary
Don’t miss the giveaway at the end of the post!!
Just Jilted
Dakota Halifax loves to be in love. In fact, as one of Las Vegas’s premier
wedding planners, she’s built a whole career around romance. Which is why
her own wedding has to be nothing short of perfect. And then her fiancé jilts
her. While she’s waiting in her wedding dress. On a cruise ship already out at
sea.
Once back on dry land, Dakota tries to pour her heart into her business and
weekly wedding advice column, Get Ready to Wed. But how can the
heartbroken celebrate others’ true love? When she reconnects with her
childhood best friend, surprisingly sexy and all-grown-up casino bouncer
Brendan West, Dakota wonders if maybe she can fall back in love with being
in love.
But then her ex reappears, begging for another chance and suddenly Dakota
questions if she’ll ever understand love. Can someone once-burned and
twice-shy ever find her way down the aisle again?
Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Entangled
Author Bio:
Cindi Madsen is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.
Author Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads
Enter to win a signed copy of Cinderella Screwed Me Over and a $25 GC!!!
Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway
July 16, 2014
The Marvelous J.C. McKenzie
Help me celebrate with J.C. McKenzie as her debut novel, Shift Happens, goes to paper today! Woo-hoo! There’s a giveaway going on, not to mention, I coerced…er, sweet-talked J.C. into answering a few fun questions. Annnnnnd, here we go!
CJ: As a martial artist myself, I love how Andy isn’t a cookie cutter kick-ass shifter-girl. She knows her stuff. What’s the scoop on your martial arts experience?
J.C.: You picked up on that, eh? In Shift Happens, I definitely tried to bring in my personal experience and knowledge of the different martial arts forms and hope it gave Andy a more authentic edge. I mentioned several styles: Goju Ryu, Shotokan, Kempo and Krav Maga. Although I do have a bit of experience in martial arts, I can’t claim to be a master or expert in any of them.
When I was in high school I practiced Goju Ryu, a form of Karate, and earned my purple belt before moving to go to University. I was weeks away from the blue belt grading and a bit pissed because that level had all the really fun jumping (tobi) kicks in it (I practiced them anyway). In a new city (Vancouver, BC), the nearest dojo for my style was an hour bus ride away, and as a university student paying my own way, I couldn’t afford the dojo membership fees anyway. I used to practice my katas at night on the abandoned tennis courts next to my dorm, but eventually my skill and dedication faded.
Years later, my husband and I joined Choi Kwang Do (a blended style), but I didn’t enjoy it as much. I think we all remember our first loves, martial arts included. So I gave a little “shout out” to my first style!
I now live in rural Saskatchewan, so no karate skills are being honed at the moment, but I desperately want to get back into a dojo one day. *sigh*
CJ: Yep, kicking is the best part of martial arts!
CJ: Tell me more about Tristan, just a little bit, pretty please?
JC: Mmmm Tristan. The Wereleopard Alpha with the face of an angel and a sin-provoking body? That Tristan? Meeeeeow. Well, he comes back in the second book…
…And he has a secret.
CJ: Of course he does!
CJ: If you became a shifter, which one would you choose and why?
JC: Oh, good question!! I would be so torn. Flying would be so cool, and I’ve always been drawn to wolves, but I think I’d become a mountain lion, because they’re pretty badass on their own and don’t have to depend on a pack.
CJ: I admit, I was partial to Andy’s mountain lion. Nice kitty, kitty.
CJ: Would you rather be Clint’s toy or Lucien’s property…and why?
JC: Oh my gosh! Oh my! LOL! Thank you for this question. I just giggle snorted my energy drink all over my computer screen.
Er, I hope that wasn’t too much information.
I really enjoy writing Clint, but he’s a bit rough on his lady-friends. That being said, Lucien’s a total dick, would drink my blood and probably make me do worse things than his human servant. I’m going to go with Clint on this one! Plus, I’ve always had a thing for strong shoulders.
CJ: Not a choice you’d want to make in real life, right?
CJ: What are you working on now?
JC: I’m going through the edits for the contracted second installment of the Carus Series, Beast Coast and edits for a contracted short story paranormal romance set in a fictional east coast town called Lobster Cove. I’m also getting stuck into the fourth book of the Carus Series.
CJ: Yay! I’m looking forward to more of Andy’s adventures!
Favorites round:
Martial arts move: A 360 degree jumping roundhouse kick. (Also called the Taekwondo Tornado Kick. Aptly named!)
Weapon: bō staff (FTW!)
Beverage: Mojito
Book boyfriend: Too many to choose from!
Animal: Wolf
Carus Chronicles supe: Shifter!
Comedy: Big Bang Theory
Comeback line: That was mean. (I’m nothing like Andy! Usually I’m sniffling or blinking back tears if someone verbally picks on me. That’s why I find Andy so fun to write. She’d kick some ass or have a witty response.)
WHEN AN ASSIGNMENT GOES WRONG, ANDY MUST FIND OUT WHY OR FACE ETERNAL ENSLAVEMENT.
Andrea McNeilly’s job as a government agent is not asking questions, but then a routine assignment turns into a botched assassination of a Master Vampire’s human servant. Answers become a priority. Her search to discover the truth is riddled with obstacles, the largest being an oversized Werewolf who resembles a Norse god. Andy can’t afford the distraction he offers, because if she fails, she faces eternal enslavement.
Wick’s job is to monitor Andy, but he prefers more intimate activities, none of them G-Rated. His choices, however, are often not his own. His ability to help Andy is limited by his bond to the Master Vampire.
Excerpt:
A large black wolf trotted into the clearing to confront me. He had a white-tipped snout, white boots and mitts and would have looked cute had he not been the most intimidating Werewolf I’d ever seen. Standing tall and solid, power rolled off of his body. His eyes bore into mine. I sniffed the air. The strong Werewolf scent of rosemary swirled around me, strong and seductive, laced with sugar. A weird fuzzy sensation spread out from my chest. Whoa.
My other form growled low, demanding release, straining against my skin. The energy of the wolves built—layers upon layers of excitement and impatience. The air pulsated with anticipation. They could sense the imminent kill.
Let me out! My other form repeated, throwing her power against my built up walls, howling in defiance.
When the energy of the Werewolves surged, I finally released her. My wolf form flowed out fast, wiping out the feline in little more than a heartbeat. Smaller, weaker and the size of a natural wolf, a Shifter in this form was no match for a Werewolf, especially a dominant one. I had time to meet the eyes of the Alpha for only an instant before the pack leapt forward. My limbs shook. It went against every instinct ingrained within me, but I rolled onto my back—submissive.
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com.au
GIVEAWAY!!! Enter for a chance to win a signed print copy of Shift Happens (for U.S. – ebook for all you outsiders :)) PLUS, there’s a $25 Amazon gift card up for grabs! Contest ends August 6.
About the Author:
Born and raised on the Haida Gwaii, off the West Coast of Canada, J.C. McKenzie grew up in a pristine wilderness that inspired her to dream. She writes Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.
J.C. McKenzie’s Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | The Wild Rose Press| Amazon
July 10, 2014
Nightmare Studies with Lydon v’al Endrian
Lydon v’al Endrian from Wonderfully Wicked was coaxed into writing a blog post over at Urban Fantasy Investigations today. I invite you to come and see what he has to say about nightmares and their meanings. And he’s giving some good stuff away, like fuzzy socks. Winter is coming, right?
