Marlow Kelly's Blog, page 21
March 3, 2015
The Lady of the Garter by Marisa Dillon
Researching the story
The inspiration for my story, The Lady of the Garter, came to me after a trip I took back in time one autumn afternoon. I live in Ohio, and we have one of the largest and most authentic Renaissance Festivals in the country.
I even dressed the part, and took a ride on a warhorse. I was inspired by what I saw. The jousting reenactments, danger, romance, chivalry, comedy, comradery. It was all there and I wanted to write a story about that world, as well as build a story around a period in England that would be recognizable to the readers who are also history buffs.
I love the idea of chivalry and romance mingling together. In the late 15th century, the notion of the knight in shining armor was not a fantasy, but a reality (if history doesn’t lie). And as a lover of history and romance, I couldn’t resist researching and then writing about a group of knights who have been revered and served the English monarchy for generations. The Most Noble Order of the Garter was founded by King Edward III in 1348, holds the highest order of chivalry, and is the most prestigious group in service to England. Even Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, serves as a Garter Knight today.
As a homage to King Edward, I named the squire, who becomes a knight in my story, after the Garter’s founder, but there’s more to my squire than meets the eye.
Well, as much as I like to think watching jousting matches at the Ren Fair would help me write a story that featured knights in tournaments, I realized early on, that I’d need to do something more in-depth. I was surprised to find that the Ren Fair had a book kiosk and stumbled upon a book called “Knights at Tournament,” by Christopher Gravatt. This resource was indispensable. I also interviewed a man who travels the country working as a jousting knight on the Ren Fair circuit and on the TV show, “Full Metal Jousting.” He told me what it felt like to be struck by a lance and how it impacted his body, liking putting him bed for a few days to recover after one brutal hit.
Also, when it came to getting details about the 15th Century. I had three books at my fingertips: Everyday Life in the Middle Ages, Life in a Medieval Castle, and The Lady in Medieval England 1000-1500. These resources helped me paint my pictures of medieval life and they also ensured my descriptions were accurate. Words like bailey and porticus, were imperative for the story to describe places in the castle. I also needed to know what period items of clothing were called at that time. A hauberk of chain mail and a houppelande gown, were items I described my characters wearing, helping to provide authenticity and provoke visual imagines for the reader.
Available At:
Amazon
When Henry VII takes the throne, not all are loyal to the new king. Garter knight, Sir James, is charged with bringing dissenters to justice. Determined to fulfill his vows, he’s unprepared for Lady Elena, a girl from his past he’s never forgotten.
Lady Elena defies her family and disguises herself as a squire to reunite with the man she’s always loved. She might be able to wield a sword, but she still possesses a woman’s heart.
Thrust into a world of danger and family rivalry, James and Elena face the ultimate test.
Can James avenge his father’s death and find passion, or will his Garter oaths hold him to a life of service without love?
Excerpt:
Servants began to bustle about the hall. Men offered pitchers of rose-scented water and towels. Overflowing baskets of fresh bread and pitchers of wine were placed on the tables. Elena was ready for some mead after all she’d been through. Once the king’s taster sampled the fair, he nodded to the queen. The feast had officially begun. Nudging her brother, Elena confessed, “I was ordered out of the tent.”
“What did you expect? What kind of man do you take James for?” He laughed, raising his goblet in honor of the king.
“You tease me,” she said. “I don’t like it.”
“What did you find, Edward?”
“A foul-mouthed, dirty warrior,” she complained. “Not the sweet innocent lad I fell in love with.”
William’s eyes were filled with merriment. “Lads grow into men. Men become knights.” He studied her face. “And what of your other goal?”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Becoming a knight,” he reminded her.
Elena gasped. The other squires stared as if they’d overheard her brother.
William chuckled, raising his cup again. “Long live the king.” The squires joined his salute.
Elena shot her brother a look of warning. How could he be so careless? Spirits. She rolled her eyes. “I admit it,” she said with defiance, keeping her voice low. “I want to become a knight. I’ve never kept that secret from you, but we both agreed I must serve as a squire first.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a woman who placed a trencher on the table in front of them.
“Peacock, venison, quail, and rabbit,” the wench announced, flashing a toothless grin.
William quickly helped himself to half the meat. Always selfish, he even chose the tenderest pieces of venison.
She glowered at him. “Will nothing change? I must accept the meager portions left after you claim the best?”
He licked his fingers, then leaned in so only she could hear his reply. “To these lads you’re just another squire. But I know what’s underneath those pants. So yes, you are still a female, and I get the best. Be satisfied there’s anything left for you to eat.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
With a degree in journalism, Marisa has spent many years writing for the television industry. As an award-winning producer/director/marketer, she has worked on commercial production, show creation, product branding and social media.
Marisa’s passion for writing began when her first-grade teacher read her poem aloud and posted it on the classroom wall. She soon followed up by writing plays for her neighborhood friends and hosting the productions in her garage.
Marisa has always enjoyed reading romance novels and now realizes a dream come true, writing romantic adventures. She lives in Kettering, Ohio, with her first love and knight in shining armor, James.
You can visit Marisa at: www.marisadillon.com. And you can connect with Marisa on Facebook.com/pages/Marisa-Dillon and Twitter.com/marisadillon and follow her on https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
a Rafflecopter giveaway Marisa Dillon will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/12/vbtthe-lady-of-garter-by-marisa-dillon.html
The inspiration for my story, The Lady of the Garter, came to me after a trip I took back in time one autumn afternoon. I live in Ohio, and we have one of the largest and most authentic Renaissance Festivals in the country.
I even dressed the part, and took a ride on a warhorse. I was inspired by what I saw. The jousting reenactments, danger, romance, chivalry, comedy, comradery. It was all there and I wanted to write a story about that world, as well as build a story around a period in England that would be recognizable to the readers who are also history buffs.
I love the idea of chivalry and romance mingling together. In the late 15th century, the notion of the knight in shining armor was not a fantasy, but a reality (if history doesn’t lie). And as a lover of history and romance, I couldn’t resist researching and then writing about a group of knights who have been revered and served the English monarchy for generations. The Most Noble Order of the Garter was founded by King Edward III in 1348, holds the highest order of chivalry, and is the most prestigious group in service to England. Even Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, serves as a Garter Knight today.
As a homage to King Edward, I named the squire, who becomes a knight in my story, after the Garter’s founder, but there’s more to my squire than meets the eye.
Well, as much as I like to think watching jousting matches at the Ren Fair would help me write a story that featured knights in tournaments, I realized early on, that I’d need to do something more in-depth. I was surprised to find that the Ren Fair had a book kiosk and stumbled upon a book called “Knights at Tournament,” by Christopher Gravatt. This resource was indispensable. I also interviewed a man who travels the country working as a jousting knight on the Ren Fair circuit and on the TV show, “Full Metal Jousting.” He told me what it felt like to be struck by a lance and how it impacted his body, liking putting him bed for a few days to recover after one brutal hit.
Also, when it came to getting details about the 15th Century. I had three books at my fingertips: Everyday Life in the Middle Ages, Life in a Medieval Castle, and The Lady in Medieval England 1000-1500. These resources helped me paint my pictures of medieval life and they also ensured my descriptions were accurate. Words like bailey and porticus, were imperative for the story to describe places in the castle. I also needed to know what period items of clothing were called at that time. A hauberk of chain mail and a houppelande gown, were items I described my characters wearing, helping to provide authenticity and provoke visual imagines for the reader.
Available At:
Amazon
When Henry VII takes the throne, not all are loyal to the new king. Garter knight, Sir James, is charged with bringing dissenters to justice. Determined to fulfill his vows, he’s unprepared for Lady Elena, a girl from his past he’s never forgotten.
Lady Elena defies her family and disguises herself as a squire to reunite with the man she’s always loved. She might be able to wield a sword, but she still possesses a woman’s heart.
Thrust into a world of danger and family rivalry, James and Elena face the ultimate test.
Can James avenge his father’s death and find passion, or will his Garter oaths hold him to a life of service without love?
Excerpt:
Servants began to bustle about the hall. Men offered pitchers of rose-scented water and towels. Overflowing baskets of fresh bread and pitchers of wine were placed on the tables. Elena was ready for some mead after all she’d been through. Once the king’s taster sampled the fair, he nodded to the queen. The feast had officially begun. Nudging her brother, Elena confessed, “I was ordered out of the tent.”
“What did you expect? What kind of man do you take James for?” He laughed, raising his goblet in honor of the king.
“You tease me,” she said. “I don’t like it.”
“What did you find, Edward?”
“A foul-mouthed, dirty warrior,” she complained. “Not the sweet innocent lad I fell in love with.”
William’s eyes were filled with merriment. “Lads grow into men. Men become knights.” He studied her face. “And what of your other goal?”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Becoming a knight,” he reminded her.
Elena gasped. The other squires stared as if they’d overheard her brother.
William chuckled, raising his cup again. “Long live the king.” The squires joined his salute.
Elena shot her brother a look of warning. How could he be so careless? Spirits. She rolled her eyes. “I admit it,” she said with defiance, keeping her voice low. “I want to become a knight. I’ve never kept that secret from you, but we both agreed I must serve as a squire first.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a woman who placed a trencher on the table in front of them.
“Peacock, venison, quail, and rabbit,” the wench announced, flashing a toothless grin.
William quickly helped himself to half the meat. Always selfish, he even chose the tenderest pieces of venison.
She glowered at him. “Will nothing change? I must accept the meager portions left after you claim the best?”
He licked his fingers, then leaned in so only she could hear his reply. “To these lads you’re just another squire. But I know what’s underneath those pants. So yes, you are still a female, and I get the best. Be satisfied there’s anything left for you to eat.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
With a degree in journalism, Marisa has spent many years writing for the television industry. As an award-winning producer/director/marketer, she has worked on commercial production, show creation, product branding and social media.
Marisa’s passion for writing began when her first-grade teacher read her poem aloud and posted it on the classroom wall. She soon followed up by writing plays for her neighborhood friends and hosting the productions in her garage.
Marisa has always enjoyed reading romance novels and now realizes a dream come true, writing romantic adventures. She lives in Kettering, Ohio, with her first love and knight in shining armor, James.
You can visit Marisa at: www.marisadillon.com. And you can connect with Marisa on Facebook.com/pages/Marisa-Dillon and Twitter.com/marisadillon and follow her on https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
a Rafflecopter giveaway Marisa Dillon will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/12/vbtthe-lady-of-garter-by-marisa-dillon.html
March 2, 2015
Release Day, Sale, a Book Tour and A Memory From My Past
I’m very excited to announce that from midnight tonight you will be able to buy my latest book, A Woman of Love. It will be on sale through Amazonand The Wild Rose Press for $0.99. To celebrate the release I’m going on a book tour. The stops on my tour are available under the March Book Tour and Giveaway heading in this website. Please join me.
On 1st April I’ll be awarding one lucky winner a $10 Amazon egift card, via rafflecopter.
I thought this might be a good time to share some of my memories and the reason I decided to set A Woman of Love in Berkshire and Windsor. It’s a beautiful part of the world and one I’m very familiar with, as I grew up in this area, and spent many happy days there, especially in my teenage years.
Crooked House in Windsor. Photo copyright Marlow Kelly On rainy Sunday afternoons, when there weren’t many tourists about, me along with my friends, Valerie, and Mandy, would take the bus into Windsor and go for afternoon tea. There’s a little tearoom behind this crooked house. Rumor has it that the tearoom used to belong to Nell Gwen, mistress of Charles II, and that a secret tunnel runs from Windsor Castle to the house. Whether or not this is true I never found out, but it was fun to speculate.We would sit with sniffling noses, and our fingers red from the cold. Valerie and Mandy drank tea and I ate the scones with clotted cream. We would talk about boys, school and all the inane, insensible things teenage girls talk about. Once we were warm and had said all there was to say we would step out into the rain, heading for the bus stop to catch the bus back home.
I met Valerie and Mandy just last summer. We’re all older now and our lives have taken separate directions. We’ve all had our ups and downs, but the memories of those years are still precious and always will be.
This is the Pinterest Board I made for A Woman of Love. These images helped me envision James' and Annabel's world. Follow Marlow Kelly's board A Woman of Love on Pinterest.
February 28, 2015
A Woman of Honour on the Long and Short reviews
“It’s an honor just to be nominated.” Every actor nominated for an Oscar says those words. We’ve all heard them. To be honest I’ve always thought they were a little hollow. They’re just saying because they want to win. Who wouldn’t want to win?
Well, now I know jus how they feel. My first book, A Woman of Honour is in the running for book of the Month at the Long and Short reviews and I’m over the moon.
If I win that would be great, but to be honest the competition is so tough, with so many talented writers being nominated I’m honored just to be in their company.
Now I know what all those Hollywood actors are talking about.
If you would like to vote please click here
Earlier this month I was surprised and delighted when the Long and Short Reviews gave A Woman of Honour 41/2 stars out of 5.
Click here to read their review
Well, now I know jus how they feel. My first book, A Woman of Honour is in the running for book of the Month at the Long and Short reviews and I’m over the moon.
If I win that would be great, but to be honest the competition is so tough, with so many talented writers being nominated I’m honored just to be in their company.
Now I know what all those Hollywood actors are talking about.
If you would like to vote please click here
Earlier this month I was surprised and delighted when the Long and Short Reviews gave A Woman of Honour 41/2 stars out of 5.Click here to read their review
February 27, 2015
Final Excerpt from A Woman of Love
Today, I’m going to share a final excerpt from A Woman of Love. Last week you met James Drake, the man who won her in a hand of cards, and saw him through Annabel’s eyes. Now you will get to meet James. Why has he brought her here and what are his true motives? To discover that you’ll have to read the book, but I hope you enjoy this short excerpt
A Woman of Love will be released on 4th March.
Pre-order at:
Amazon
TWRP
Maneuvering Peters into having his wife pay his debts had been easy. He had counted on the bastard to care more about money than his personal relationships. Of course, James had no intention of compromising her. He only wanted her alone for questioning. Hopefully, she would be forthcoming, and he wouldn’t have to resort to intimidation.
He led her to the library. Three of the four walls were lined with shelves, crammed with books. It smelled of old, musty paper, but it was the only room in the house, other than the bedroom, that contained furniture.
“Take a seat.” He pointed to his old, leather couch, then carried the oil lamp from the stone mantelpiece and put it on the small table next to her. She clamped her arms around her body. Her large, oval eyes stared at the light, mesmerized by the small dancing flame. She reminded him of the refugees he’d seen when he served in the Crimea, giving the impression of a woman whose world had collapsed around her. Something in his chest twisted. He wondered if she was more a victim than he had assumed.
In the flicker of lamplight her eyes looked dark, but every now and then he caught a glimpse of a lighter shade. Were they blue or green? Wisps of hair, the colour of honey, escaped their pins and trailed down her neck beckoning him to trace the strands with his lips.
Damn, he might have become an animal, but there were limits to his depravity. He would not coerce a woman into his bed, wouldn’t touch her, kiss her, and he certainly wouldn’t make love to her. He needed her cooperation and honesty and couldn’t be distracted by a pretty face with sad eyes.
A Woman of Love will be released on 4th March.
Pre-order at:Amazon
TWRP
Maneuvering Peters into having his wife pay his debts had been easy. He had counted on the bastard to care more about money than his personal relationships. Of course, James had no intention of compromising her. He only wanted her alone for questioning. Hopefully, she would be forthcoming, and he wouldn’t have to resort to intimidation.
He led her to the library. Three of the four walls were lined with shelves, crammed with books. It smelled of old, musty paper, but it was the only room in the house, other than the bedroom, that contained furniture.
“Take a seat.” He pointed to his old, leather couch, then carried the oil lamp from the stone mantelpiece and put it on the small table next to her. She clamped her arms around her body. Her large, oval eyes stared at the light, mesmerized by the small dancing flame. She reminded him of the refugees he’d seen when he served in the Crimea, giving the impression of a woman whose world had collapsed around her. Something in his chest twisted. He wondered if she was more a victim than he had assumed.
In the flicker of lamplight her eyes looked dark, but every now and then he caught a glimpse of a lighter shade. Were they blue or green? Wisps of hair, the colour of honey, escaped their pins and trailed down her neck beckoning him to trace the strands with his lips.
Damn, he might have become an animal, but there were limits to his depravity. He would not coerce a woman into his bed, wouldn’t touch her, kiss her, and he certainly wouldn’t make love to her. He needed her cooperation and honesty and couldn’t be distracted by a pretty face with sad eyes.
February 24, 2015
The Christmas Dragon/ Strings by Ruthanne Reid
When I asked Ruthanne Reid to write a post sharing her most gratifying experience as a writer, some mythology, or her inspiration, I expected her to pick just one subject. Imagine my delight when she graced us with all three.
Thank you Ruthanne and I’m sorry for causing you so much work.
Her most gratifying experience as a writer.
This is a tricky one! I find it repeatedly gratifying to open a box of my own books, or run into someone online who’s read them. However, I think if I were to pick one moment, it would be when I realized I had fanart. See, I got into writing via fanfiction; I loved other people’s worlds so much that I just had to play in them, and I honestly believe that’s the best compliment a writer can receive. Finding out that really talented folks had drawn fanart of my world just sent me onto cloud 9.
Her work is based in mythology - so an insight into her mythical world.
In sum: everything is real, but humans didn’t get any of it right. That’s okay. The People of the Mythos don’t really understand humans well, either.
My goal was to create a world that covered everything from history to mythology to most religions. In the world of the Mythos, here’s a place for every single weird thing humans have ever dreamed up, including aliens.
Combining science and magic into something internally consistent was a challenge, but loads of fun. Real-life history and archeology and science are so weird that they just lend themselves to storytelling. Crypto-archeology is one of my favorite things to study, in fact. I mean, who wouldn’t be fascinated by the Voynich Manuscript, or the Antikythera mechanism, or megalithic jars of Laos? The world is utterly strange and wonderful, and I’m thrilled to be able to incorporate that into my storytelling.
Inspiration for her favorite character.
I have to pick a favorite? Hmmm.
Fun fact: I haven’t published my favorite character yet. His name is Alex, and he’s half human, half something else – he doesn’t know what, which is kind of an issue. I’ve had him in my head since I was fourteen, and while he as a character grew with me, the only thing that’s really changed was the identity of his father. I like him because he chooses to be good even when it costs him; because he retains his sense of humor regardless of the horrors the world drops on his head. I like him because at the end of the day, he maintains a tender heart, which means he can forgive the most monstrous people – even as he is forced to defeat them. Alex is somebody I’d like to be, in many ways, and of the many characters in my books, he’s one I wouldn’t be afraid to meet.
The Christmas Dragon
Buy Links for The Christmas Dragon:
Kindle
Nook
Kobo
Google
Play
iTunes
Scribd
Oyster
Flipkart
Txtr
Smashwords
Paperback
IndieBound
Bookfinder
Powell’s
All Katie Lin wants is to get away from her family: from the magic, from the mayhem, and from the never-ending war.
Unfortunately, someone has other ideas, and sends her a box. A box that jumps.
The tiny fire hazard inside may just force her back to Wales - and right into the path of a dragon war, the Crow King, and at least one reluctant elf prince. Sometimes, running away just doesn't work as planned.
Buy Links for Strings:
Kindle
Nook
Kobo
Google
iTunes
Scribd
Oyster
Flipkart
Txtr
Smashwords
Paperback
IndieBound
Bookfinder
Powell’s
Strings
Need help? You probably shouldn't ask Grey.
A runaway Unseelie prince, Grey feeds on love - a commodity he conjures via music and magic in late-night Manhattan. It's a sweet gig, if lonely, and Grey is almost sure the dire warnings he was given about New York in December won't come true.
Then a monster from his childhood attacks in the middle of the night, and everything changes.
He survived, but he's marked, and more monsters are coming for him and everyone who survived. Grey has no plans to be a hero but fate doesn't care what he wants. Sometimes, no matter what you do, you aren't the one pulling the strings.
Excerpt from Strings
My music made a lovely magic. It was tiny magic, sure, but effective: it thickened the air and deepened the candles’ warm light, caressed the listener like intimate fingertips and teased sleeping nerve-endings toward a gently quivering wakefulness.
Go, me. I made it all happen.
Generally speaking, humans suck at love. They go into it selfishly, thinking of themselves and not the needs of the other, already planning in their little heads what they’ll do when it doesn’t work out. Idiots. Does anything else work that way? Can you learn art or become a mechanic without devoting yourself to those crafts? Can you graduate from college without paying attention to a coursework’s needs, without being willing to spend time feeding it what it requires?
Well, yes, you can, but not well. And yes, colleges have needs, too. Every living thing does.
I could help the lovelorn attendees of tonight’s bar-hop, and I had every reason to. Helping them helped me. The more they loved, the more I fed—and while humans do suck at getting love started, once it takes root in them, it grows like Kudzu. (That Kudzu-thing was one of my cousin’s ideas, by the way. Don’t look at me. I’m not a plant-wizard.)
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Indie author Ruthanne Reid writes about elves, aliens, vampires, and space-travel with equal abandon. She is the author of the series Among the Mythos, and believes good stories should be shared. Subscribe to her free email newsletter for free books and more at http://amongthemythos.com. You can connect with her on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ruthannereid), Facebook (http://facebook.com/mythos), or Tumblr (http://ruthannereid.tumblr.com), where she looks at too many kittens and Avengers blogs.
Ruthanne’s love of magic, urban environments, and deep space birthed a strange world with undercurrents of faith, magic, villainy, and heroism (along with swords and lasers, on occasion). Among the Mythos showcases aliens with all-too-human feelings, entire societies on the decline due to greed and fear, protagonists who might actually be the bad guys (or vice-versa), and endings every bit as messy as the world that creates them.
Ruthanne knows from experience that endings are messy. No matter how exotic the setting, how many limbs the characters have or what (if any) genders, the problems and questions addressed by a good story are very real, and that’s why they have power. If she has a theme, it is this: keep fighting, and keep pushing toward hope, because the struggle is worth the finish-line.
Ruthanne will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/12/nbtm-tour-christmas-dragon-strings-by.html
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you Ruthanne and I’m sorry for causing you so much work.
Her most gratifying experience as a writer.
This is a tricky one! I find it repeatedly gratifying to open a box of my own books, or run into someone online who’s read them. However, I think if I were to pick one moment, it would be when I realized I had fanart. See, I got into writing via fanfiction; I loved other people’s worlds so much that I just had to play in them, and I honestly believe that’s the best compliment a writer can receive. Finding out that really talented folks had drawn fanart of my world just sent me onto cloud 9.
Her work is based in mythology - so an insight into her mythical world.
In sum: everything is real, but humans didn’t get any of it right. That’s okay. The People of the Mythos don’t really understand humans well, either.
My goal was to create a world that covered everything from history to mythology to most religions. In the world of the Mythos, here’s a place for every single weird thing humans have ever dreamed up, including aliens.
Combining science and magic into something internally consistent was a challenge, but loads of fun. Real-life history and archeology and science are so weird that they just lend themselves to storytelling. Crypto-archeology is one of my favorite things to study, in fact. I mean, who wouldn’t be fascinated by the Voynich Manuscript, or the Antikythera mechanism, or megalithic jars of Laos? The world is utterly strange and wonderful, and I’m thrilled to be able to incorporate that into my storytelling.
Inspiration for her favorite character.
I have to pick a favorite? Hmmm.
Fun fact: I haven’t published my favorite character yet. His name is Alex, and he’s half human, half something else – he doesn’t know what, which is kind of an issue. I’ve had him in my head since I was fourteen, and while he as a character grew with me, the only thing that’s really changed was the identity of his father. I like him because he chooses to be good even when it costs him; because he retains his sense of humor regardless of the horrors the world drops on his head. I like him because at the end of the day, he maintains a tender heart, which means he can forgive the most monstrous people – even as he is forced to defeat them. Alex is somebody I’d like to be, in many ways, and of the many characters in my books, he’s one I wouldn’t be afraid to meet.
The Christmas Dragon
Buy Links for The Christmas Dragon: Kindle
Nook
Kobo
Play
iTunes
Scribd
Oyster
Flipkart
Txtr
Smashwords
Paperback
IndieBound
Bookfinder
Powell’s
All Katie Lin wants is to get away from her family: from the magic, from the mayhem, and from the never-ending war.
Unfortunately, someone has other ideas, and sends her a box. A box that jumps.
The tiny fire hazard inside may just force her back to Wales - and right into the path of a dragon war, the Crow King, and at least one reluctant elf prince. Sometimes, running away just doesn't work as planned.
Buy Links for Strings:
Kindle
Nook
Kobo
iTunes
Scribd
Oyster
Flipkart
Txtr
Smashwords
Paperback
IndieBound
Bookfinder
Powell’s
Strings
Need help? You probably shouldn't ask Grey.
A runaway Unseelie prince, Grey feeds on love - a commodity he conjures via music and magic in late-night Manhattan. It's a sweet gig, if lonely, and Grey is almost sure the dire warnings he was given about New York in December won't come true.
Then a monster from his childhood attacks in the middle of the night, and everything changes.
He survived, but he's marked, and more monsters are coming for him and everyone who survived. Grey has no plans to be a hero but fate doesn't care what he wants. Sometimes, no matter what you do, you aren't the one pulling the strings.
Excerpt from Strings
My music made a lovely magic. It was tiny magic, sure, but effective: it thickened the air and deepened the candles’ warm light, caressed the listener like intimate fingertips and teased sleeping nerve-endings toward a gently quivering wakefulness.
Go, me. I made it all happen.
Generally speaking, humans suck at love. They go into it selfishly, thinking of themselves and not the needs of the other, already planning in their little heads what they’ll do when it doesn’t work out. Idiots. Does anything else work that way? Can you learn art or become a mechanic without devoting yourself to those crafts? Can you graduate from college without paying attention to a coursework’s needs, without being willing to spend time feeding it what it requires?
Well, yes, you can, but not well. And yes, colleges have needs, too. Every living thing does.
I could help the lovelorn attendees of tonight’s bar-hop, and I had every reason to. Helping them helped me. The more they loved, the more I fed—and while humans do suck at getting love started, once it takes root in them, it grows like Kudzu. (That Kudzu-thing was one of my cousin’s ideas, by the way. Don’t look at me. I’m not a plant-wizard.)
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Indie author Ruthanne Reid writes about elves, aliens, vampires, and space-travel with equal abandon. She is the author of the series Among the Mythos, and believes good stories should be shared. Subscribe to her free email newsletter for free books and more at http://amongthemythos.com. You can connect with her on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ruthannereid), Facebook (http://facebook.com/mythos), or Tumblr (http://ruthannereid.tumblr.com), where she looks at too many kittens and Avengers blogs.
Ruthanne’s love of magic, urban environments, and deep space birthed a strange world with undercurrents of faith, magic, villainy, and heroism (along with swords and lasers, on occasion). Among the Mythos showcases aliens with all-too-human feelings, entire societies on the decline due to greed and fear, protagonists who might actually be the bad guys (or vice-versa), and endings every bit as messy as the world that creates them.
Ruthanne knows from experience that endings are messy. No matter how exotic the setting, how many limbs the characters have or what (if any) genders, the problems and questions addressed by a good story are very real, and that’s why they have power. If she has a theme, it is this: keep fighting, and keep pushing toward hope, because the struggle is worth the finish-line.
Ruthanne will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/12/nbtm-tour-christmas-dragon-strings-by.html
a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 20, 2015
Another Excerpt from A Woman of Love
This week I’m going to share a second excerpt from A Woman of Love. Annabel meets scarred war hero, James Drake. I hope you like him 
You can pre-order A Woman of Love now through
Amazon and
TWRP
She swung around, and came face to face with a demon. He was tall, and broad with long, black hair, a bushy beard, and a scar that traversed his right cheek, narrowly missing his eye. Shadows darkened his face with stark lines making him look like a man who had come straight from hell. She straightened her spine. He was a man, plain and simple. Not a demon, and certainly not from hell. She needed to keep her whimsical thoughts at bay, so she could form a plan.
“Have you changed your mind regarding our rendezvous?” His soft-spoken, polite manner seemed strangely at odds with his appearance.
“I-I never agreed to...” She licked her lips. Why was her mouth so dry? Had his intense gaze turned her into a blathering nitwit?
He clasped her hands, enfolding them in his warm touch. “You have a graze here. Did you fall?” He kissed each palm in turn, his warm breath making her quiver deep in her belly. She wrenched her hands away. Good God. Was she so starved for affection a simple touch could kindle her passion? Yes, she was. It had been years since a man had caressed her with anything close to tenderness.
If you haven’t read my first book, A Woman of Honour, it’s on Sale now for $0.99
You can pre-order A Woman of Love now through
Amazon and
TWRP
She swung around, and came face to face with a demon. He was tall, and broad with long, black hair, a bushy beard, and a scar that traversed his right cheek, narrowly missing his eye. Shadows darkened his face with stark lines making him look like a man who had come straight from hell. She straightened her spine. He was a man, plain and simple. Not a demon, and certainly not from hell. She needed to keep her whimsical thoughts at bay, so she could form a plan.
“Have you changed your mind regarding our rendezvous?” His soft-spoken, polite manner seemed strangely at odds with his appearance.
“I-I never agreed to...” She licked her lips. Why was her mouth so dry? Had his intense gaze turned her into a blathering nitwit?
He clasped her hands, enfolding them in his warm touch. “You have a graze here. Did you fall?” He kissed each palm in turn, his warm breath making her quiver deep in her belly. She wrenched her hands away. Good God. Was she so starved for affection a simple touch could kindle her passion? Yes, she was. It had been years since a man had caressed her with anything close to tenderness.
If you haven’t read my first book, A Woman of Honour, it’s on Sale now for $0.99
February 19, 2015
A Victorian Meal from Sherlock’s Scandal by Suz deMello
In Sherlock’s Scandal, Sherlock and Irene dine on roulades of salmon on braised greens, followed by a syllabub, and drank Champagne. Did I imagine a realistic meal?
The Champagne, certainly. Wine has been made in the Champagne region of France since the country was known as Gaul—i.e., since the Roman era. However, the development of the bubbly drink we now prize came rather later. The monk Dom Perignon, whose name still adorns bottles of the finest Champagne, lived from 1638-1715. But according to Wikipedia, his main focus was ridding the wine of the bubbles, which are the natural result of the fermentation process. The drink we know today was developed in the nineteenth century by the house of Veuve Cliquot, which was joined by Krug (1843), Pommery (1858) and Bollinger (1829).
The fish, also. The Billingsgate market alone sold 136,000 tons of fish annually (http://www.victorianlondon.org/food/feeding.htm) including salmon. The salmon would likely have come from “the firths and bays of Scotland,” that country having been long famed for its fine salmon. The greens upon which the roulades were served may have come from Covent Garden, “the great vegetable market of the metropolis.”
The dessert, syllabub, had been known in England at least from the sixteenth century. It’s a pudding of various consistencies—I’ve seen it thick enough to eat with a spoon, or a thinner concoction poured over fruit or cake.
If they had enough money, the average Londoner ate well even though food inspections were intermittent. However, some of the grub they fancied are somewhat foreign to our palates.
A few examples: Bloaters, a street food, was a cold, smoked herring that was eaten whole, gills and eyes included. Calves’ foot jelly—a dish my British mother made until we all rose up in protest—was also popular. Some of the tastier dishes available on the street include meat pies—pasties, which you might want to wash down with ginger beer, a perennial favorite that’s still available Here’s a little about Sherlock’s Scandal
Available at:
Ellora's Cave
Amazon
A bored Sherlock is a dangerous Sherlock. His twin vices of cocaine and sex could prove his undoing, until he meets his match in elusive, enigmatic Irene Adler. Hiding her heart, Irene deserts Sherlock in the midst of their affair. He schemes to win her back, but the lady won’t come easily to hand. Instead, she forces him to compete for honor, glory and love.
About the author:
Best-selling, award-winning author Suz deMello, a.k.a Sue Swift, has written seventeen romance novels in several subgenres, including erotica, comedy, historical, paranormal, mystery and suspense, plus a number of short stories and non-fiction articles on writing. A freelance editor, she’s held the positions of managing editor and senior editor, working for such firms Total-E-Bound, Liquid Silver Books and Ai Press. She also takes private clients. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus and Booklist, won a contest or two, attained the finals of the RITA and hit several bestseller lists. A former trial attorney, her passion is world travel. She’s left the US over a dozen times, including lengthy stints working overseas. She’s now writing a vampire tale and planning her next trip.
find Suzie’s books here:
http://www.tinyurl.com/SuzDeMello (publisher’s site)
https://www.amazon.com/author/suzdemello
https://www.amazon.com/author/sueswift
The Champagne, certainly. Wine has been made in the Champagne region of France since the country was known as Gaul—i.e., since the Roman era. However, the development of the bubbly drink we now prize came rather later. The monk Dom Perignon, whose name still adorns bottles of the finest Champagne, lived from 1638-1715. But according to Wikipedia, his main focus was ridding the wine of the bubbles, which are the natural result of the fermentation process. The drink we know today was developed in the nineteenth century by the house of Veuve Cliquot, which was joined by Krug (1843), Pommery (1858) and Bollinger (1829).
The fish, also. The Billingsgate market alone sold 136,000 tons of fish annually (http://www.victorianlondon.org/food/feeding.htm) including salmon. The salmon would likely have come from “the firths and bays of Scotland,” that country having been long famed for its fine salmon. The greens upon which the roulades were served may have come from Covent Garden, “the great vegetable market of the metropolis.”
The dessert, syllabub, had been known in England at least from the sixteenth century. It’s a pudding of various consistencies—I’ve seen it thick enough to eat with a spoon, or a thinner concoction poured over fruit or cake. If they had enough money, the average Londoner ate well even though food inspections were intermittent. However, some of the grub they fancied are somewhat foreign to our palates.
A few examples: Bloaters, a street food, was a cold, smoked herring that was eaten whole, gills and eyes included. Calves’ foot jelly—a dish my British mother made until we all rose up in protest—was also popular. Some of the tastier dishes available on the street include meat pies—pasties, which you might want to wash down with ginger beer, a perennial favorite that’s still available Here’s a little about Sherlock’s Scandal
Available at:
Ellora's Cave
Amazon
A bored Sherlock is a dangerous Sherlock. His twin vices of cocaine and sex could prove his undoing, until he meets his match in elusive, enigmatic Irene Adler. Hiding her heart, Irene deserts Sherlock in the midst of their affair. He schemes to win her back, but the lady won’t come easily to hand. Instead, she forces him to compete for honor, glory and love.
About the author:
Best-selling, award-winning author Suz deMello, a.k.a Sue Swift, has written seventeen romance novels in several subgenres, including erotica, comedy, historical, paranormal, mystery and suspense, plus a number of short stories and non-fiction articles on writing. A freelance editor, she’s held the positions of managing editor and senior editor, working for such firms Total-E-Bound, Liquid Silver Books and Ai Press. She also takes private clients. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus and Booklist, won a contest or two, attained the finals of the RITA and hit several bestseller lists. A former trial attorney, her passion is world travel. She’s left the US over a dozen times, including lengthy stints working overseas. She’s now writing a vampire tale and planning her next trip.
find Suzie’s books here:
http://www.tinyurl.com/SuzDeMello (publisher’s site)
https://www.amazon.com/author/suzdemello
https://www.amazon.com/author/sueswift
February 17, 2015
Ultimate Prey ((Book 3 Ultimate CORE) by Kristine Mason
Available at:
Amazon
B/N
When the hunter becomes the hunted…who will become the ultimate prey?
CORE agent Lola Tam has two things on her mind, quitting her job as a criminal investigator and baking a frozen pie for Thanksgiving dinner without burning it. But a midnight call forces a change of plans. Her boss and future stepfather, Ian Scott, has been kidnapped from his Florida vacation rental—along with her mother. The kidnapper’s plan? Drop Ian and her mom in the Everglades and hunt them like animals. Terrified for her mom, Lola takes the bait and travels to Everglade City, Florida where she’s determined to end the hunt before it begins.
Ryan Monahan, former Navy SEAL turned airboat captain is used to taking tourists through the Everglades, not guiding a sexy agent on a rescue mission. After spending years dealing with a past filled with guilt and regret, he needs a little action and adventure in his life—he needs to prove he could still be a hero. What he doesn’t need? Falling for a woman he has no business wanting, especially when the hunt takes a deadly turn…
Excerpt:
Lola’s point of view during the Skype call with the bad guy:
Lola grabbed a sheet of computer paper and a pen from the table, then quickly jotted, “Why contact CORE? Why not just hunt?” She held the paper up for one of the agents to see and pointed to it.
Hudson was the first to notice, and cleared his throat. “Why are you telling us?” he asked.
The man chuckled. “I love how concerned you are about your boss. But you were always blunt and to the point.” He moved around the bound couple and stood in front of them. “Here’s what I expect from all of you—nothing. Do not try and find them or me. Do not set foot in Florida. If I find out that any of you are here, I will desist with the hunt, torture the lovebirds and feed them to the alligators. Then I will come after whoever disobeys my orders. I will start with your extended families just to make you suffer. Clear?”
The agents nodded.
“I don’t believe you.” He pulled a knife from the harness strapped at this ankle, then cut the tape binding Lola’s mom’s left arm to the chair. “I honestly didn’t plan on bringing Cami into this. I was always a big fan,” he said to her mother, and took her hand in his. “It’s unfortunate that you keep bad company.” He snapped her mom’s pinky.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:Kristine Mason is the bestselling author of the popular romantic suspense trilogies C.O.R.E. Shadow and Ultimate C.O.R.E. She is currently working on her next trilogy, C.O.R.E Above the Law, along with a series of Psychic C.O.R.E. novellas—all to be released in 2015.
Although Kristine has published a few contemporary romance novels, she focuses most of her energy on her romantic suspense stories, which she loves for their blend of dark mystery/suspense and sexy romance. She is fascinated with what makes people afraid, and is famous for her depraved villains whose crimes present massive obstacles for her heroes and heroines to overcome.
Kristine has a degree in journalism from Ohio State University and lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, four kids, and two dogs. If she’s not writing, she’s chauffeuring kids, gardening, or collecting gnomes. Oh, and she makes a mean chocolate chip cookie!
Connect with Kristine on Facebook, Twitter or Goodreads. And be sure to sign up for her newsletter for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinemaso...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristineMason7
Website: http://www.kristinemason.net
Kristine will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to two randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.Follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better their chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/12/blurb-blitz-ultimate-prey-by-kristine.html
a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 16, 2015
Review of Law of Attraction by Darlene Fredette
Four stars out of Five for
Law of Attraction
Lawyer Christina Crawford has a successful career and stable financial future, but is it enough? Her world is disrupted when a routine divorce case means working with a man she never expected—or wanted—to see again. During their first meeting, she can't deny a connection still exists. Her head warns her to run, but her heart yearns to stay.
Steven Mitchell is ruthless in the courtroom, but outside those doors, his easy charm, good looks, and unlimited stream of female companions gives him an unscrupulous reputation. Six years ago, Christina saw beyond his façade, but the emotions she evoked scared him and he pushed her away. Now he wants a second chance and he is determined to get her back...even if he has to play dirty.
When lawyer, Christina, and her ex, Steven, also a lawyer, go head to head in a divorce case sparks fly. Things are complicated when they find they are both part of the same wedding party.
Steven would like nothing better than for Christina to forget his past sins and take him back.
Complications and conflict mount in this charming romance. This was a well paced; entertaining story with twists and turns to keep the reader interested. A great read. I loved it.
Available at
:
Amazon
The Wild Rose Press
I don’t normally write reviews but I’ve decided to share my opinions on the work of some of my colleagues. All the books I review I have purchased myself with my own money. I do not take review requests, and I only review books that I’ve enjoyed reading. I should point out that this is, as I said, just my opinion.
Darlene's upcoming release,
Twist of Faith
, is available For Pre-order from:
The Wild Rose Press
Amazon
Katrina has one goal—follow through on her late-grandmother’s last request, to oversee the renovation of Katrina’s childhood home. The handsome contractor is distracting, but she refuses to be swayed by his deep brown eyes and broad shoulders. A summer romance is not part of the plan. When the truth is discovered about her family’s past, Katrina fears her own future is in jeopardy. She doesn’t have faith, but the twists that lie ahead may just change her mind.
Nick refuses to accept help from anyone, until Katrina gives him an ultimatum—one he can’t refuse. Her renovation project will save his business, but puts his heart on the line. Can he convince Katrina to stay or will a promise to her late-grandmother pull her away? With a little twist of Faith, the odds may be in his favor.
Lawyer Christina Crawford has a successful career and stable financial future, but is it enough? Her world is disrupted when a routine divorce case means working with a man she never expected—or wanted—to see again. During their first meeting, she can't deny a connection still exists. Her head warns her to run, but her heart yearns to stay. Steven Mitchell is ruthless in the courtroom, but outside those doors, his easy charm, good looks, and unlimited stream of female companions gives him an unscrupulous reputation. Six years ago, Christina saw beyond his façade, but the emotions she evoked scared him and he pushed her away. Now he wants a second chance and he is determined to get her back...even if he has to play dirty.
When lawyer, Christina, and her ex, Steven, also a lawyer, go head to head in a divorce case sparks fly. Things are complicated when they find they are both part of the same wedding party.
Steven would like nothing better than for Christina to forget his past sins and take him back.
Complications and conflict mount in this charming romance. This was a well paced; entertaining story with twists and turns to keep the reader interested. A great read. I loved it.
Available at
:Amazon
The Wild Rose Press
I don’t normally write reviews but I’ve decided to share my opinions on the work of some of my colleagues. All the books I review I have purchased myself with my own money. I do not take review requests, and I only review books that I’ve enjoyed reading. I should point out that this is, as I said, just my opinion.
Darlene's upcoming release,
Twist of Faith
, is available For Pre-order from:The Wild Rose Press
Amazon
Katrina has one goal—follow through on her late-grandmother’s last request, to oversee the renovation of Katrina’s childhood home. The handsome contractor is distracting, but she refuses to be swayed by his deep brown eyes and broad shoulders. A summer romance is not part of the plan. When the truth is discovered about her family’s past, Katrina fears her own future is in jeopardy. She doesn’t have faith, but the twists that lie ahead may just change her mind.
Nick refuses to accept help from anyone, until Katrina gives him an ultimatum—one he can’t refuse. Her renovation project will save his business, but puts his heart on the line. Can he convince Katrina to stay or will a promise to her late-grandmother pull her away? With a little twist of Faith, the odds may be in his favor.
February 15, 2015
One More Second Chance by Jana Richards
Available at:
Amazon
The Wild Rose Press
Kobo
Chapters/Indigo
ibooks
Dr. Alex Campbell has an agenda—finish his contract to provide medical services in Maine, pay off his medical school debt, and head back to his real life in San Diego. But when he meets Julia, all his carefully laid plans are put in jeopardy.
Julia Stewart, Lobster Cove’s high school principal, swears she’ll never let another man drag her away from the home she loves. Her aging parents need her, and the Cove is where she wants to raise her daughter. When her mother’s illness brings her and the big city doctor closer together, panic sets in. Her marriage taught her men don’t stay.
Can she put aside the heartaches of the past and trust Alex enough to accept the love he’s offering? Or will her fear of abandonment mean she’ll send him away forever?
Exclusive Excerpt:
Alex checked his watch and rose to his feet. “I’ve got to get back to the clinic. My patients are probably wondering what happened to me.”
“Thanks for coming. I know it meant a lot to Chloe to have you here. It meant a lot to me, too.”
He stopped with his hand on the doorknob, his expression intense. “I’d do anything for you. I hope you know that. You mean everything to me, Julia.”
Her chest grew tight, and she could hardly breathe. “Don’t say that, Alex. Please.”
He stepped toward her. “Why don’t you want me to tell you how much you mean to me?”
“Because you’ll be leaving soon.”
A part of her wished she could simply run away and follow Alex wherever he wanted to go. But she couldn’t. Her life was here, and so were her responsibilities. He took her hands and squeezed tight.
“Then I’ll stay. I love you, Julia. I don’t want to lose you.”
She shook her head, trying not to cry. “I know you mean that, at least for now. But if you stay just to make me happy, you’ll soon grow to resent me. You’ll want to pursue better opportunities, and I’ll just hold you back.”
“No, that’s not going to happen. I love you.”
She couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. “I wish things could be different, but I can’t go through that again.”
“I’m not your ex-husband, Julia,” he said fiercely. “I’m not going to abandon you and Ava.”
“Is Lobster Cove really the place you want to live and work for the rest of your life? Do you honestly want to live in a town this small forever?”
He hesitated, uncertainty evident on his face, and Julia pulled her hands away from his, her heart breaking. “That’s what I thought. It’s not your fault. We just need different things.” She took a deep breath and looked away. “Thank you for helping Chloe.”
“Julia, don’t do this. Don’t push me away. I need you.”
She couldn’t breathe. What could she possibly say to that? “Alex—”
“I’m not going to give up on you, on us.”
He pulled her in for a brief hug, and Julia closed her eyes and inhaled, trying to memorize his scent and the way she fit perfectly against his body. Then he pushed away and slipped out of the room, the door closing softly behind him.
A flood of longing washed over her. If only…
She shook her head. Wishing and hoping only brought disappointment and heartache. She’d wished for Russ to be happy with her in Lobster Cove, but it hadn’t made any difference. In the end he’d left her.
She couldn’t let herself forget that.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
When Jana Richards read her first romance novel, she immediately knew two things: she had to commit the stories running through her head to paper, and they had to end with a happily ever after. She also knew she’d found what she was meant to do. Since then she’s never met a romance genre she didn’t like. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical romance set in World War Two, in lengths ranging from short story to full length novel. Just for fun, she throws in generous helpings of humor, and the occasional dash of the paranormal. Her paranormal romantic suspense “Seeing Things” was a 2008 EPPIE finalist.
In her life away from writing, Jana is an accountant/admin assistant, a mother to two grown daughters, and a wife to her husband Warren. She enjoys golf, yoga, movies, concerts, travel and reading, not necessarily in that order. She and her husband live in Winnipeg, Canada with their Pug/Terrier cross Lou and several unnamed goldfish. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.janarichards.com
Social media links:
Website: http://www.janarichards.com
Blog: http://janarichards.blogspot.com
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Jana will be awarding $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
