Sheri Velarde's Blog, page 6

Release Day for Quest for Redemption!

 Get a I am so happy to have Quest for Redemption back out! This novel has always been a journey, from the original writing, to being with two publishers, to now being re-edited, added to in order to give some hints towards the sequel and finally being re-released! This novel certainly has been a labor of love! I just hope readers love it as much as I do!Get a little taste below!
Price now only 3.99!
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.com/B01HPG00N8
UK:http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HPG00N8

Print Coming Soon!
Zanna stood, stunned into immobility. While with Alana, she would have to travel the human way. The thought slightly annoyed her, yet fascinated her at the same time. "I do not travel by vehicle, so I will be forced to ride in yours." She could still smell and see the fear in Alana, so she tried to lighten the mood. "You know I have never actually ridden in a car before."
"Really?" Alana seemed shocked.
"I have never had the need. I simply come and go in this world when I want. I usually arrive and leave the very spot I wish, and there is never a need for me to travel from place to place while in this realm. Not to mention I find the transportation of humans to be quite slow and cumbersome." Nonetheless, Zanna elegantly bent her long frame into the passenger side, slightly curious to see why many humans loved their cars so much. Sitting inside one, she felt rather cramped and uncomfortable, and while it was a fast means of transportation for a human, she didn't understand what was so special. Maybe one had to be human to fathom why vehicles fascinated them so.
Alana very nervously started her car and began to pull out. "Aren't you going to put your seatbelt on? We don't want to get pulled over."
"Excuse me?" Zanna had no idea what the sprite spoke of.
"The human law enforcement requires all people within a vehicle to wear a seatbelt." She pointed to the belt around herself.
As she pulled the belt and fastened it like Alana's, Zanna asked, "What is it for?"
"Protection in case of an accident. Stops you from flying through the windshield," she explained.
"How curious. You know it is completely unnecessary for me. But if it will keep human law enforcement from interfering, so be it. The less I have to deal with humans, the better."
The drive to Alana's home did not take as long as Zanna expected, especially considering she was used to arriving in places almost instantaneously. She actually found the trip rather interesting, seeing the human world in a way she had never experienced before. The tall metal buildings and the harsh exteriors held a beauty to them in their angles and order that she had never realized before. While she could never give up the open airiness of the magical realm, viewing this realm as a human gave her some insight into humans and their nature. Alana pulled into the parking lot of a very tall and nice-looking apartment building. She turned off her car and Zanna could see that she was once again trembling.
"What are you going to do to me and my mother?" She spoke so quietly that a mere human would have had a hard time hearing her.
"I am going to gather information. The more I hear about how little you know, the less inclined I am to punish you. I would like to know why you and your mother, who have magical blood, cannot enter our world. It is your birthright. If you cannot enter our world and have not been allowed those privileges of being two-natured, then I cannot punish you for not following our laws." Zanna tried to smile and reassure Alana that she meant her no harm. Judging by the look on her face, it worked. Zanna had been told before that when she smiled at humans and stared directly into their eyes they believed whatever she said. It came in handy when questioning them before erasing their memories.
Alana took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. Zanna attempted to follow, but forgot to take off the seatbelt and found herself still restrained. To her surprise, Alana giggled, and after a moment, so did Zanna. That shocked her even more. She rarely laughed, let alone giggled like a young girl. Kalan had been right saying that something was up with her tonight; she definitely was not herself.
As Alana took the lead, she said, "My mom's going to freak out that an elf is coming to our home. She always talks about how strong, powerful, and beautiful elves are. She's going to be so pleased, but mad that I didn't call to warn her that you were coming."
"I told you I mean no harm to your mother. There is no need to warn her."
"No, you misunderstand. She's going to wish she had time to clean and dress nicely for you. To make our home and herself more presentable to you," Alana explained.
Zanna was about to answer that this would not be necessary, but they had just walked inside the apartment building and a young man in the lobby, apparently leaving, walked right toward them. Alana and Zanna both stopped talking, not wanting to be overheard. Zanna also noticed that Alana's posture stiffened, and she could smell a little fear coming off her once more. She could tell that, this time, she was not the one causing the reaction. Zanna glanced and saw that Alana was blushing and peering shyly at the young man coming their way.

Welcome Author Megan Michelau!!

Cherry Newman hasn’t been home in years. Her successful career with Keystone has kept her away from her family, but a panicked phone call from her mother has her rushing home to help in any way she can. Little does she know that what she thought would be a simple investigation turns into much more. Her brothers mysteriously disappear, and she can’t help but suspect the worse. She recruits the devilishly handsome Jericho Trewes to help with her mission.
 
Jericho Trewes has been looking for a pack to call his own ever since the tragic death of his parents. He thought he’d found it with the Moores, but his whole world comes crashing down once again when the enticing Cherry Newman saunters into his life. Her questions leave him doubting everything he’s been told. She makes him believe he could have a family of his own, but at what cost?
 
Buy Links
 
Amazon: hyperurl.co/iiq16j
Kobo: hyperurl.co/jer6ln
 
Contact Links
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormeganmichelau/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeganMichelau
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Meganmichelau
Website: http://www.meganmichelau.com
Blog: https://meganmichelau.wordpress.com
 
 
Excerpt
 
“You’re going to live to regret that, Boo Boo!” Cherry ground out through clenched teeth as she lay flat on her back. The result of being tossed across the room by a three-hundred-pound grizzly shifter who was currently lumbering toward her. Cherry placed her hands on the ground above her head and brought her knees to her chest and kicked out, bringing herself to her feet into a low crouch. He hadn’t slowed, continuing to barrel toward her with the force of a locomotive. Cherry threw her leg out and swept the shifter to the mat, where he crashed to the floor, successfully knocking the wind from him.
            “Je-sus!” The bear wheezed, clutching his chest. “I’ll never frickin’ learn!”
Tucker Peters was one of her best friends, but he was also her colleague. Keystone was a shifter-run government organization that ensured that their community not only thrived, but remained protected, be it from humans or fellow shifters. Just like their last assignment; shifters were showing up dead in prominent human communities, and the evidence led them to Blackford. Caleb Marsh, also one of her best friends, had been able to gain information using local shifters, but not before a young female was taken. Turns out she was Caleb’s mate’s sister, bringing the wrath of not only her family, but the whole Blackford shifter community down on the kidnappers’ head. The ring had been destroyed and the guilty parties dealt with accordingly. No fuss no muss. Quick and lethal was the way Cherry preferred it.
“You really gotta stop projecting your planned attack.” Offering her hand, he grasped it and she pulled him to his feet. “Granted, that toss took me by surprise.” She absently rubbed the back of her neck, finally feeling the aftereffects of their sparing, and judging by the cringes Tucker expressed, she’d gave him a fair share of bumps and bruises.
Tucker dragged his hand across his face, wiping the sweat from his eyes. “How ‘bout we call it a day. We gotta meet up with Caleb and Jess in forty-five minutes at The Pint.” Lifting his arm, he gave himself a quick sniff. “I’m gonna grab a quick shower, I’d prefer not to smell like death. Kelsey’s going to be there, and I don’t want my stench to chase her away.” He turned and started toward the men’s locker room, tugging his shirt over his head in the process.
“Dude, your stench is the least of your worries when it comes to that girl.” Laughing, she turned on her heel and bolted for the women’s change room just as she felt Tucker’s bundled up T-shirt hit her square in the back of the head.
“Smartass,” he hollered.
Still smirking, Cherry grabbed a towel and headed to the showers, determined to ease the kinks in her back and shoulders. She set the temperature, stepped under the spray, and sighed in pleasure as the hot water worked on her newest aches and pains. Resting her forehead against the cool tile wall, she let the water wash over her.
The sound of her cell phone ringing snapped her out of her stupor. “Bark at the Moon” by Ozzy Osbourne happened to be the ringtone she’d set for her father, John Newman. The joke wasn’t lost on her father. He may be a stern Alpha to the Newman pack, but when it came to Cherry he was wrapped around her little finger. He always had a smile and a warm hug waiting for her whenever she came home.
Quickly, Cherry shut the water off and wrapped the towel around herself. “I’m coming, I’m coming,” she said to no one in particular. Just as she reached her locker, the phone stopped ringing. “Dammit!” Picking the phone up, she couldn’t believe she’d missed five calls, and two voicemails. Cherry’s stomach dropped, her family didn’t have a habit of phoning that many times unless there was a family emergency. She dialed her voicemail, holding her breath, and listened to the first message.
“Shit!” her mother, Jane Newman, cursed. “She’s not answering. Should I leave a message?” A deep murmur echoed through the speaker as someone replied in the background, but she couldn’t make out what they’d said. “I haven’t heard the bloody beep … wait … shit, hey honey it’s Ma,” her mother continued, “I need you to call me back when you get this. It’s about your brothers. The little turds are in trouble.” The mumbling in the background sounded again, “What? Am I supposed to lie to her? She’ll find out soon enough.” With a sigh, her mother returned to the phone. “Sorry, I’m back. What was I saying? Oh yeah, if you could call…” The message timed out and cut off her mother mid-sentence. It wasn’t like Cherry had the rest of to understand what her mother wanted her to do.
Deciding to ignore the second voicemail, Cherry punched in her father’s cell phone number and waited for someone to answer. After three rings, her mother finally answered, “Hello?”
“Hey, Ma.”
“Cherry! I’m so glad you called,” she exclaimed. “How are you?” The false happiness in her mother’s voice made Cherry’s hackles rise. She’d always been able to tell when someone was lying, and her mother was definitely putting on a façade about the whole situation. Aware she was trying to make things sound less dire then they actually were really pissed her off. Her mother always tried to protect her even though Cherry was more than capable to handle anything.
Cherry scrubbed her free hand over her face, trying to calm herself. “I’m fine Ma,” talking a breath, she continued, “You didn’t call me to catch up on my personal life, so what has Tweedledee, Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber gotten themselves into to now” Her mother’s subtle growl on the other end of the receiver gave Cherry a slight pause. She didn’t tolerate lip on the best of days, and Cherry chose a terrible time to snipe about her brothers. Her mother must be going insane with worry, and she was being inconsiderate to her feelings. “I’m sorry Ma, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It’s okay.” Her mother sighed again, the obvious weight taking its toll on her. “Sometimes it’s hard to understand what goes through their vacant heads. What you don’t understand is that it’s hard not to worry about you kids. It’s not like I can shut it off.”
“I know.” Cherry now felt thoroughly guilty. “Tell me what’s happened.” Taking a quick glance around the locker room to ensure she was alone and out of earshot, she put her phone on speaker. Grabbing another towel, she began to dry off.
“Okay, so last week Isaiah met this female wolf at The Den.” The shifter run bar in her hometown of New Haven vaguely rang a bell. “And you remember how the boys were always saying they wanted to venture out on their own.” Cherry absently nodded, even though her mother couldn’t see her. “Well, this female obviously peaked Isaiah’s interest because the next thing I know, he’s gone.”
Isaiah’s sudden departure could definitely be described as out of character, he wasn’t reckless, nor heartless. He’d be fully aware of how much this would kill their mother. Disappearing without a phone call or even a note went against everything Cherry believed about her brother. It just wouldn’t happen.
“I didn’t think anything of it, knowing that, one day, my boys would leave me, but two days ago Joesph and Ren left without a word. When I went to The Den and asked Davey if he’d seen any of them lately, he started to act cagey and scared. Told me to leave it alone and come to terms that the boys had left the pack.” Her mother cleared her throat and continued, “The thing is I can come to terms with that, but what I don’t understand is why they haven’t contacted me or your father. It’s not like them to leave without saying a word.” The worry evident in her mother’s voice.
“So, you’ve tried calling their cells?”
“That’s the other weird thing, I found all but one of their cell phones. Isaiah’s isn’t here.” Her brothers were notorious for keeping their cell phones within reach at all times. Isaiah was the worst by far. She’d be hard pressed to remember a time where he didn’t have it with him. Which at the moment would be a godsend. If he still had it on him she would be able to track his whereabouts easily enough.
“So how long have they been gone?” Cherry was all business and grabbed a pad of paper and a pen from her gym bag.
“Isaiah’s been gone for almost two weeks, and Joesph and Ren have been gone a week.”
“Is there anything else missing from their rooms? Anything else seeming out of place?” Cherry asked. Jotting down everything not wanting to miss a single detail.
“They took some clothes, but I checked their ‘secret’ cash stashes and they’re still there. Oh, and their trucks are gone too.”  Cherry could hear her mother rummaging through a room as they spoke.
“Are you in one of their rooms now?”
“Yeah.”
“You have to get out of there now.” Keystone Cherry was on the job, and she needed to gain control of the situation as soon as possible. “I’ll be there tomorrow, and their rooms have to be the way you found them. I might be able to spot something you missed. I’m going to talk with Tucker and Caleb tonight, and I’ll get a track on Isaiah’s phone. I’ll head out as soon as I can and I’ll try to be there no later than tomorrow evening.” Her mother sighed in relief. “And Ma, don’t worry. I’ll find them.”
“I know, baby girl. You’ve always been the best tracker.”
“I love you. See you soon.”
“Love you too.” With that, Cherry hung up the phone and finished dressing. She was on a mission, and God forbid anyone who tried to stand in her way.

Writer Wednesday: Reading

"If you don't have time to read, then you don't have time or the tools to write." - Stephen King (This is from memory so  his exact words might be a little different, but this is how it stuck in my mind and it is a rule that I follow and believe in!)

Even though I truly believe in this rule, sometimes I let life and writing get in the way of reading. But not this summer! I already have the books lined up for this month, only five physical books and about three or four on Kindle, including the new release by Dawn Brower that was on the blog yesterday. This summer I am going to get back into my reading groove and I am sure that will only help my writing.

What are you reading this summer? Leave recommendations in the comments!

Happy Release Day Dawn Brower!

Buy Links

$.99 through release week, goes up to $2.99 on July 19.

iTunes | Kobo | B&N | AmazonBlurb

When tragedy strikes Dani’s business partner it brings Ren back into her life. She’d thought she moved past her feelings for him, but one glance and they come flooding back.

Growing up as an orphan, Daniella Brosen has trouble connecting with other people. She has no room for anyone in her life, except her best friend, Rendall Sousa. He is the only male she’s ever loved or will love. Circumstances beyond her control tear them apart, and she has no choice but to leave him behind.

When Daniella left without a word it broke Ren’s heart. If she’d given him a chance he’d have told her how much he loved her. Dani was everything to him, but she made her choice. There was only one course of action left to him—move on without her.

As their lives become intertwined again, can Ren convince her he’s always loved her or will she push him away forever?

Excerpt“So the nurse tells me you’re Mr. Price’s emergency contact.” A voice filled the room. It was as familiar as breathing. She would have known it anywhere. It haunted her dreams and sneaked into her thoughts when she least expected it. For a brief moment she thought she might be hearing things. Had she conjured up his voice because she’d been thinking of him earlier? No, that was silly. There was no way he could actually be behind her. Dani turned slowly and blinked several times. She could feel the color draining from her cheeks. This couldn’t be happening to her. “Ren?” “Dr. Sousa, I forgot to give you Mr. Price’s chart.” A nurse with dark auburn hair and soft brown eyes bustled in and handed him a file. Ren stared at Dani and didn’t say a word for several seconds. He studied her in awkward silence. He was almost exactly as she remembered him. His hair was a bit shorter, and his blue eyes stole her breath. It was Ren. Having him near always had that effect on her. He turned toward the nurse, took the file out of her hand, and dismissed her with a nod. “Thank you, Lana.” Lana…that was the woman who’d called her office. Dani filed her name away for future reference. She was pretty, petite, and had a no-nonsense attitude. Something Dani appreciated. The nurse nodded and left the room. Leaving Ren alone with her. He set the file down and walked over to her side. The silence in the room was palpable. She had no idea what to say to him and still wasn’t completely convinced he was real. Hallucinations had never plagued her before, but there was always a first time for everything… “Dani, I didn’t realize…I should have asked Lana for a name.” Real. Definitely real. She gulped down a lump in her throat. Hell how was she supposed to deal with Ren, and Matt’s situation at the same time? This was an overwhelming emotional circumstance, and she wasn’t entirely sure she was up to dealing with it. She sent up a silent prayer for strength. She shook her head. “There was no way for you to know.” This was all too much. Matt was hurt and Ren was his doctor. How could life have set her on this path? Her two best friends—one’s life depended on the other. Was this the fate’s way of making her face her past? She cleared her throat and turned away from him. It hurt to look at him. He looked as amazing as she remembered. A golden-brown haired god with ocean blue eyes, pain stabbed in tiny pinpricks against her already aching heart. “What do you need from me?” Ren didn’t answer her. Had he remained in the room with her? She didn’t want to turn around and look, but he was forcing her to face him. Why did she have to deal with this? Normally she could handle anything… This was too much in one breath of time for her. The tears she’d been holding back were about to come crashing forward. Her breath hitched as she turned to look at him. All the love she had been carrying around for him—it was still there. He was a walking reminder of what she didn’t have. His gaze held such concern for her. “Dani, perhaps we should go to my office to discuss this.” Hearing her name spoken in his voice was almost her undoing. They’d stepped into an easy pattern of familiarity, but they knew next to nothing about each other anymore. They had a past. That was it. “Does it matter where we talk about Matt?” She looked down at her friend. “The nurse said he was sedated. I doubt he will hear any of it.” What she didn’t say was she needed the buffer. She didn’t know what she would say or do if she was completely alone with him. Sure Matt wasn’t about to jump into the conversation, but he was better than talking about the elephant in the room. Her feelings for Ren, his lack of them for her, and the fact she’d disappeared from his life so many years ago. She hadn’t even said goodbye. It would have been too difficult to face him and explain why she couldn’t be in his life anymore. Jessica needed him to devote all his attention to her. Dani would have been in the way. Leaving was the only decision she could have made. “I think you will be more comfortable there discussing his condition,” he replied softly. “I have a lot to go over with you.” Ren had always been kind. This wasn’t about her. Matt’s condition had to be more important. It was time for her to suck it up and deal with her emotional overload. Ren wasn’t going to bite her head off. It wasn’t who he was. “Fine, lead the way, Dr. Sousa.” Dani had to put up barriers and ignore her rampant emotions. He couldn’t be Ren anymore. He was Matt’s doctor and nothing more. Her feelings on the matter were irrelevant.    Social LinksFacebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Newsletter | Blog  iTunes | Kobo | B&N | Amazon

Looking for a Summer Read? Try Summer Interrupted!

It's summer time and that means time for some fun reading in the shade or by the beach (or at least I hope it does for you!). This is exactly the time of year that Summer Interrupted was written for. It is a short, fun read with a little romance, a little mystery. and a little horror! Only .99 cents and free on Kindle Unlimited! Get a taste below!
smarturl.it/qbakt4

The Joys of Dungeons & Dragons!

Recently my husband and I decided that we were going to start up our own game of Dungeons & Dragons, a way to blow off stress and have some fun. Well this past 4th of July we started our game and it was a blast! Now it has been years since either of us even thought about playing and well I never found a group before where I had been really accepted. So it is like starting all new. We loved it! Loved it! And we will certainly be playing more and more now. We are looking for some fun people who might like to join, but we are picky. We want a fun game, no one who takes it all that seriously. The point is entertainment! For the record we are playing D&D 5. And on that note, my hubby shared this with me. It's an oldie but a goodie when it comes to showing the world of role playing. lol

When 80s Slasher Horror Films is "Research"

This month I am planning on writing a fun horror novella, one that is to inspired by slasher horror films of the 1980s. To get into the spirit, to get into the mood, I get to watch 80s horror flicks for fun, inspiration and research. Sometimes being an author is great! So that is my plan for this weekend, watching as many slasher flicks as possible. So I am developing a list and I am asking for your help. What are your favorite horror films from the 80s? The campier the better. No gore is too much for me. Is it funny? Scary? Doesn't matter, I want to watch them!

So far, I am of course planning on the classics Friday the 13th, Prom Night, Halloween, and Hell Night. Now tell me some of your favorite 80s horror flicks! Consider it helping an author get inspired! Things are about to get bloody this weekend for me, in a good way! So bring on the monsters!

Wednesday Webcomic- Adventures of Eowyn and Charlie

It's time for another Wednesday Webcomic, time for a new episode of The Adventures of Eowyn and Charlie. This past weekend was a rough one for Charlie, he hates loud noises and fireworks. Luckily Eowyn was there to be a good big sister. On a side note, Eowyn is doing well and seems to have recovered from her pneumonia! Yay!

Teaser Tuesday: Quest for Redemption up for Preorder!

I am thrilled to announce that Quest for Redemption, the new and improved version, is now available for preorder on Amazon! It should be up on Barnes & Noble soon as well as Smashwords. And it will also be available in print too! In the mean time, grab a Kindle copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Redemption-Defender-Realms-Book-ebook/dp/B01HPG00N8/

Happy Fourth of July!

I just wanted to take some time today to wish my American friends and readers a Happy 4th of July! Be safe out there while you celebrate! To my non-American friends and readers, happy Monday!

Today my husband and I are celebrating by playing some D&D, board games and just hanging out and keep our pups calm! Hope everyone is having a great day!