Kim Iverson Headlee's Blog: Book Musings from the Maze of Twisty Passages, page 22

Celebrating the Winter Solstice in Dragon Knight's Shield by @m_morganauthor #MedievalMonday

Today's Medieval Monday installment on The Maze features the newest of Mary Morgan's Dragon Knight novels, Dragon Knight's Shield , forthcoming 1/8/2016!

Synopsis:
Angus MacKay, leader of the Dragon Knights, failed his brothers and his clan upon the death of his sister. Now he must fight the darkness of despair tempting his soul. Back on Scottish soil, he comes face to face with Deirdre who can wield a sword as mightily as his warriors, and he takes her captive. Yet, with each passing day, the fire dragon inside him roars to claim the one woman fate has destined for him.

Famed mystery writer, Deirdre Flanagan, is unprepared for the next chapter in her life. On a vacation to Scotland, she steps through the mists and enters into a skirmish alongside a Highlander. However, the fight has only begun, and now she must battle Angus as well as evil in order to claim the love of this Dragon Knight.

Will their love be powerful enough to shield them from danger, or burn them to ashes?

Pre-order from Amazon!

Excerpt:
Several other minstrels picked up their lyre and harp and started to play as the feasting began.

“Would ye care for the venison, Deirdre?”

“Gosh, yes! I’m starving.” Feeling a bit lightheaded, she inhaled the aroma of the meat mixed with onions. “Smells divine.”

As she scooped up a portion with a piece of bread, she closed her eyes, savoring the flavors. Upon opening them, she found Angus staring at her. Taking his finger, he wiped away some of the juices on her cheek and licked them off. Feeling the heat prickle her face, she reached for her mug and downed its contents.

Chuckling softly, he continued to focus on his own meal.

When she could eat no more, she spied a dark looking dish near Cormac. She nudged Angus. “What is that?”

“Ahh…’tis a favorite of mine. Plums in wine and spices. Would ye care to taste them?”

“Of course.”

Stretching forward, Angus brought forth the dish. Dipping his finger in the bowl, he held out the plum in front of her.

“Umm…you don’t expect me to lick the fruit off your finger?” Deirdre looked around, thinking all eyes were on them.

“Dinnae worry, just taste.” The husky burr of his voice causing her nerves to tingle with excitement.

Slowly, she ate the delectable fruit from his finger. “More,” she demanded.

“Ye are bonny to watch,” he whispered against her ear. Swiping an even bigger piece, he literally shoved two fingers into her mouth. This time she trailed her tongue along his fingers and heard him growl.

Cormac coughed, and she quickly turned away. Another minstrel started to play a lute as he strolled among the tables. His song was one of lost lovers and Deirdre became entranced by his singing. Approaching their table, he paused, letting his fingers glide over the strings.

His eyes met hers as he sung, “The wisdom of the lovers’ hearts can be lost within the reason of the mind—forever adrift and never to be found again.” His last words of the song struck a chord within her, causing her heart to ache. How foolish she had been.

As she watched him slowly walk away, she felt Angus’s hand covering hers. When she looked into his eyes, she knew without a doubt that love had truly claimed her heart for the first time in her life.

***
Those who aspire to greatness
must first learn servanthood. All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Raging Sea: Reckonings . Please enter often, and good luck!

Gawain gets more than he bargained for in Ch 9/Sc 1c of RAGING SEA by @KimHeadlee #amwriting

Graphic overlay (c)2015 by Kim Headlee. Saturday excerpts from Raging Sea go on hiatus for the holidays after today and will resume on 1/9/2016. I hope you enjoy a merry Christmas, a happy New Year, and whatever other event you're celebrating this season!

To tide you over while waiting to find out whether or not Gawain gets to keep his head after this excerpt, I invite you to download a copy of Raging Sea: Reckonings , which is free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription or Amazon Prime membership.

Previous excerpts of Raging Sea 
Chapters 1–6 in Raging Sea: Reckonings  Chapter 7: Sc 1 | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4 | Sc 5a | Sc 5b |
Chapter 8: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 9: Sc 1a | Sc 1b |
Raging Sea Chapter 9, Scene 1c©2015 by Kim HeadleeAll rights reserved.
Morghe gave an exaggerated groan. “Please, my lords and ladies. This is a wedding, not a council chamber. My wedding, for those of you who seem to have forgotten that fact.” She stood, beckoned to the servant who was holding the platter bearing the victor’s haunch, and instructed him to deliver it to Lady Caitleen. While the man walked around the long table, Morghe leaned across it to give her own goblet to the Scotti woman, which the latter took with a nod of thanks.

“Brave warrior, accept this gift from my hand as but the smallest token of my esteem for your skills.” Lady Caitleen hefted the haunch from the platter and deposited it into Gawain’s outstretched hand.

The political sword-rattling had not dampened his appetite, and he tore off a generous mouthful. The salty skin crackled, and the flesh beneath was tender and juicy and hot, just as he preferred it. He closed his eyes for a moment of pure appreciation as he chewed and swallowed.

He inhaled Caitleen’s earthy-sweet scent as she sidled closer to him, and he opened his eyes. A soft smile adorned her lips. The boar’s haunch felt heavy in his fist, and he abandoned it on the table. Caitleen’s smile widened as she pressed the goblet into his hand. His fingers touched hers for a moment before she released her hold. He felt a lower part of him stir awake in response.

“May this victor’s cup refresh ye as nothing ever could,” she said.

God, she was so very beautiful… and so very married.

Gawain murmured his thanks. He prayed that the mead was potent enough to kill his lust and drained the goblet in one pull.

She moistened her lips. Her smile shaded from radiant to sultry. She glanced at Fergus, who returned her look with a smoldering one of his own. “And may this kiss remind me husband to perform better in your rematch.”

No stranger to a woman’s mouth, Gawain had never felt such an arousing kiss in his entire life. She nibbled his lower lip. The moment his mouth widened, she slid in her tongue to twine with his. She stepped closer, pressing her body to him and shifting her hips in a tantalizing rhythm.

His engorged senses reeled. Reason fled. He enveloped her in a crushing embrace and deepened the kiss, matching her rhythm and reveling in the mounting ache that would soon find release…

A woman’s scream startled him. Rough male hands dragged him back. Chest heaving and hair swirling about her head like a flame unbound, Caitleen was glaring at him while trying to hold closed her torn bodice.

Gawain blinked. Her appearance made no sense. What in hell did I do?

“Ye attacked me, monster!” she shrieked.

Did I speak those words aloud?

He shook his head, as much to clear it as to deny her claim. The room wouldn’t quit spinning. He wanted to bend over, but the Scotti warriors gripping his arms held him fast. Nausea clawed at his stomach. The entire feast hall had erupted into a cacophony of shouts and outcries, most of which were directed against him.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—”

Gawain’s protest was cut short by Fergus’s fist to his jaw. Gawain stumbled back against the warriors, who tightened their grips. His vision fractured into needles of light, and the hall spun even faster. He closed his eyes and would have sagged to his knees if his captors had let him.

“Chieftain Urien, you and all your guests be witness to this heinous assault upon me innocent lady wife,” Fergus stated. “I demand his head.”

***
Those who aspire to greatness
must first learn servanthood. All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Raging Sea: Reckonings . Please enter often, and good luck!

Cinderella Countdown: The Thin Person Inside by @RochelleWeber contemporary romance

The Thin Person Inside By Rochelle Weber  Genre: contemporary romanceKristen Jensen, a Navy veteran, is at the end of her rope. She weighs almost three hundred pounds, and she’s becoming a cripple. Desperate for help, she asks her VA therapist if she can go into treatment with the addicts and the alcoholics. In treatment, Kristen meets Sean Wesley. She melts when she sees his black hair, blue eyes and perfect body, and assumes the only reason he’s speaking to her is that she’s the only other person in the room. She has no clue, at first, who he really is, or what a rock star could ever see in her.


Sean thinks it’s tragic that a pretty girl is trapped inside such a huge body, and when she shares her story, he’s impressed by her openness and honesty. She’s the bravest person he’s ever met, sitting with her fruit and salad surrounded by people eating the day-old pastry donated by the local bakery. He finds himself drawn to her, but she’s had decades to build her layers of defense. Sean Wesley went into the snack room to help himself to coffee and a roll. He’d probably gain weight while he was here without his personal trainer and weight room. He’d been a fat kid—always the last to be chosen for games, and stuck in right field when he did play. He’d been saved from a life of obesity by a growth spurt in his late teens, a judge who gave him a choice between jail and the Marines, and switching addictions from food to booze and then cocaine.

By rights, Sean shouldn’t be at a VA facility. Celebrities like him usually got sober at places like the Betty Ford clinic or Hazelden. Actually, he’d come from Betty Ford, but he’d still felt shaky so his manager, Don Nelson, had done his homework. Danville, Illinois, was in the middle of nowhere. The program was different, based on Rational Emotive Therapy, and Sean was a veteran. While he made too much money to be treated at the VA, there’s money and then there’s money. Sean had money—the kind that opens doors and breaks down barriers. The kind that makes even the Federal Government say, “We’ll see what we can do,” and then do it.

So here he was in the middle of a cornfield in bum-fuck Illinois at a shabby old VA hospital. An enormously obese woman came into the snack room interrupting his reverie, and Sean thought, That could’ve been me. What a shame—she’s so pretty.”

* * * *

Kristen noticed the table of goodies and the drop-dead-gorgeous man perusing them in the break room when she went in there to put her lunch in the refrigerator.

“Want one? I heard they send ’em over every morning. I guess they’re yesterday’s leftovers.”

That’s right. Offer sweets to the fat lady. She managed a tight grimace. “Thanks, but I’m here because I’m a food addict.” She held up her orange.“I’m Sean.” He prob’ly wouldn’t give a fat chick like me a second look anywhere else. Still, what is it about men with black hair and blue eyes that makes me go all mushy?

“Hi.”

“I’ve heard of food addicts, but what makes ya call yourself that?”

“When my kids were little, I left them without a babysitter while I went to the store and wrote a rubber check for ice cream and M&Ms. I’d say I’ve been about as desperate for my fix as any addict or alcoholic.”

“Wow! Yeah, I guess so.” He held the door for her as they exited and then followed her into the Day Room. MoBInterested in helping with the release tour for the Cinderella Treasure Trove tour (January 1-7, 2015)Sign up here.

***
Those who aspire to greatness
must first learn servanthood. All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Raging Sea: Reckonings . Please enter often, and good luck!

Happy Birthday, My Sweet Baby Girl Who Now Reviews Books! #MFRWOrg

Photo (c)12/7/2013 by Kim Headlee.
Enigma Bookstore, Astoria, NY. The Business of Writing is kicking off the holiday hiatus by celebrating the birthday of my youngest! 

Jessica is in her second year studying Marine Science, with an interest in coral reef preservation. She is an avid reader, writer, and poet, has created art for two of my novels (all the character glyphs for Snow in July , and two for Liberty ), has had Snow in July art incorporated into two of the illustrations for King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court , and has begun her own book review blog called Of Books and Pen . She cross-posts her reviews on Goodreads and Tumblr.

Jessica welcomes authors' queries for reviewing e-books, print books, and audiobooks, but she will not read:
HorrorEroticaAny fiction written predominantly from the villain's perspectiveAny fiction centering on rape, incest, pedophilia, BDSM, bestiality, and other themes of this nature.For more information, please visit her submission policy page.

She has yet to read any of my novels, even those for which she provided art—but that's okay; it took her older brother until he was well into his 20s before he read (and discovered that he liked) my books. :D


Please join me in wishing Jessica a very happy birthday!

The Business of Writing will get back to business on The Maze
Wednesday, January 6, 2016.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year,
and I hope you enjoy whatever else you celebrate. :)
***
Those who aspire to greatness
must first learn servanthood. All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Raging Sea: Reckonings . Please enter often, and good luck!

Everyone wins with #FREE download RAGING SEA by @KimHeadlee Arthurian legends #ASMSG

It's that time of the month again on The Maze! 

No, not that time (LOL!), but time to announce the winners of my latest contests (already notified):

"ALL call me Queen. Most call me 'The Wise.'
No man dares call me 'le Fay,' lest he die."
King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court
Hardcover & paperback editions now on sale! Liza O: an audiobook download of The Color of Vengeance .L.A.M.: a set of autographed note cardsWendy C: an autographed copy of King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court
Please join me in congratulating these fortunate folks, and thank you all for your interest in and support of my work.

It's also time to offer my newest release, Raging Sea: Reckonings , as a FREE Kindle download—but hurry; snag your copy today!!
Synopsis:
Those who aspire to greatness must first learn servanthood.
 
Stripped of kin, clan, country, and even his identity for having failed the most important woman in his life and her infant son, Angusel begins the arduous task of rebuilding his life and reclaiming his honor. The path he treads is fraught with uncomfortable revelations, unexpected reconciliations… and unavoidable reckonings.

Free Kindle Worldwide 12/15/2015;
always free with Kindle Unlimited and Amazon Prime subscriptions!

***
Final hours to enter this giveaway for an autographed copy of
King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court !

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***
Those who aspire to greatness
must first learn servanthood. All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Raging Sea: Reckonings . Please enter often, and good luck!

Celebrating the mannor lord's return in The Saxon Bride by @AshleyYork1066 #MedievalMonday

Today's Medieval Monday installment features an excerpt from Ashley York's The Saxon Bride .

Synopsis: In war torn England the battle lines between Saxon and Norman are clearly drawn.

Rowena Godwinson, the sole remaining member of the defeated royal family, stands proudly against the Normans that would trample them underfoot. Her nobility and grace,  however, make her an ideal pawn in King William’s play for power with the Saxon people. When he decrees she marry a powerful Norman knight, her subjugation appears to be complete. Can she hold firm to her Saxon heritage and refuse to give in to his advances?

John of Normandy is rewarded for his service and loyalty with land, titles and a Saxon beauty for a bride. John balks at the marriage, driven by the secret guilt of knowing Rowena's father died by his sword

As their people look to them for guidance and peace, can John and Rowena find a love that unites all of England?

Buy Links:
Facebook    Amazon      BarnesandNoble      Apple     KOBO   


Excerpt:
Her response to his looks was quite disconcerting. She cleared her throat."How do you find your manor after your long absence, my lord?"

John eyebrows shot up. She hadn't meant to find fault...or maybe she did.

"I was taken aback to find you do not care for the stores and such. Is there a reason you refuse to act as is your right as my wife?"

Her mouth opened slightly at the lie. "My lord, I have been given no such leave. Your king replaced me as chatelaine on his first visit here."

John searched her face before correcting her. "Our king."

"Yes." Rowena dropped her gaze. A slip of the tongue.

"You would accept this position then?"

She looked up but hesitated, not wanting to overstep her bounds. "It would give me great pleasure to be in charge of the running of the castle."

"Then run it you shall."

Rowena nibbled at her lip to hide her smile. Since the Normans had come, no one obeyed her unless they wanted to. The king had never come to meet with her but instead with those he had put in charge of her. Now John was giving her back her rightful place. Things were progressing better than she had hoped.

The young girl, Sarah, had replaced Ruth and was in front of the table offering a basket of almond-stuffed dates dripping with honey. Rowena returned her genuine smile. She was a lovely child. Serving the lord and lady was a big responsibility.

Offering the sweets to the new lord, Sarah's face fell as he declined with a shake of his hand.

"Oh, yes, please." Rowena hurriedly accepted the sweet. Sarah beamed in appreciation and moved on to the next table.

Rowena put the treat to her mouth and took a small bite. The honey smeared her lips. Quickly, John was leaning toward her, pulling her close. He licked her lips before kissing her. He was so tender that she was moved by the gesture and leaned into him, wanting the kiss to continue.

The burst of applause from those present in the hall surprised Rowena. She smiled in answer when they separated at last. Not all present looked happy with their display of affection. Noticing John had not yet moved away, she realized he was waiting for another kiss. She kissed him chastely. He frowned but pulled back.

The young man on her left caught her eye. He sat against the wall, his clay whistle on his lap. He had a small smile and looked at her expectantly. It was Cedric, the performer. Too shy to come to the table himself, he was apparently hoping Rowena would intervene on his behalf. She did not disappoint. Trying not to smile at his bashfulness, she turned back toward John.

"My lord…" Catching him unguarded, she was taken aback by the look of sadness she saw there. It passed so quickly, she wondered if she had imagined it.

"My lady?"

A ripple of delight washed over her at the title. She glanced away to hide her pleasure.

"Our performer tonight is a bit shy and hoping you would enjoy hearing his songs," she said. "He is very good. Will you address him?"

She tipped her head slightly indicating the man.

"Please." John smiled warmly at the performer and stood, facing those in hall. "Friends and visitors, let us rejoice in the blessing of music that God has given us by listening to…" realizing he didn't know the man's name, his composure fell slightly and he looked to Rowena to complete the introduction. "Rowena?"

"Cedric."

"Cedric." John lifted his cup.

Applause broke out with murmurs of excitement as the man stepped into the middle of the hall. A sudden hush fell like a blanket over the hall in anticipation of the entertainment as Cedric produced one long note from his whistle then cleared his throat. No longer the shy young man, he took over the music with confidence, having nothing more than his voice and a whistle.

Lifting his strong, clear voice, he told the story of the fallen soldier. He had been killed by an arrow and left to die alone by his companions. While he suffered the inevitable, it was a fallow deer that came to be with him. The story was enchanting and one of Rowena's favorites. She brushed away a tear and clapped enthusiastically. Cedric blushed as he bowed low. Next taking up his whistle, the pleasant music increased the peaceful mood that fell over the hushed crowd.

John wiped at her cheek, his touch light. "That song brought tears?"

Rowena dipped her head, shrugging a shoulder. "I think it is a lovely story. ‘Tis all."

"Ah, my wife has great sentiment." He took her hand in his. "I will remember that."

***
Final hours to enter this giveaway for an autographed copy of
King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court !

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***
Those who aspire to greatness
must first learn servanthood. All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Raging Sea: Reckonings . Please enter often, and good luck!

Urien reveals a secret in Ch 9/Sc 1b of RAGING SEA by @KimHeadlee #amwriting

The people inhabiting what is now known as Scotland are largely descended from a Celtic race who once had inhabited Ireland. These folk landed on and near the Kintyre Peninsula beginning some time in the latter years of the AD fifth century, and gradually spread inland from there.

The reasons for this migration have been lost to us, but in my Dragon's Dove Chronicles series I attribute them to a combination of warfare with another race, and the economic pressures of a population increase.

And I couldn't resist adding the political twist, revealed in today's excerpt, that Urien invited the Scots onto his lands as yet another dig at Arthur and Gyan.

Previous excerpts of Raging Sea  Chapter 7: Sc 1 | Sc 2 | Sc 3 | Sc 4 | Sc 5a | Sc 5b |
Chapter 8: Sc 1a | Sc 1b | Sc 2 | Sc 3a | Sc 3b |
Chapter 9: Sc 1a | 
Raging Sea Chapter 9, Scene 1b©2015 by Kim HeadleeAll rights reserved.

Amid the roar of mirth, as Gawain stepped up to the dais to claim the traditional victor’s meal of honey mead and the boar’s haunch, a Scotti woman joined him. Her beauty—in particular, the way her full breasts strained against the fabric of her silver-embroidered black bodice, bulging above it as if they might win free at any moment—made him forget any questions he might have had about her intent.

“My lady?” asked Urien. “How may we be of service to you?”

Gawain marveled at that response; three days of feasting and bedding his wife seemed to have done much to mellow the chieftain’s humor. This was just as well, he mused, since he would gut Urien if any harm ever came to his aunt at her husband’s hands. Then Arthur could have what was left.

The Scotti woman opened her stance so her words could carry to the crowd too. “I be called Caitleen, and this fine lad”—she laid a hand on Gawain’s shoulder and glided her fingertips down his arm, igniting a trail of tingles beneath her feather-light touch—“has bested me husband in a fair match. In keeping with the traditions of our people the Scáthaichean, Chieftain Urien, I request the boon of presenting his victory meal.”

Urien appeared to ponder her request as he took a pull from his gold-embossed silver goblet. He commanded a refill from the maidservant standing behind his chair, and saluted Fergus’s wife with the full goblet. “Fairly spoken, Lady Caitleen. I am pleased to grant this request… to the wife of Clan Moray’s newest ally and neighbor.”

All the guests seated at the high table swiveled their heads toward Urien. All but Morghe wore a frown. A glance at the feasters sitting at the lower tables revealed their abrupt disinterest in the food.

Arthur’s sharp, “Ally?” was almost drowned by Gyan’s querulous, “Neighbor?”

Urien laughed. Morghe beamed. Merlin and Ygraine looked thoughtful. Niniane, seated beside Merlin, closed her eyes as if in a brief prayer.

To Gyan and Arthur, Urien said, “Indeed. Ceding a few hundred hides of Moray land to Fergus’s clan is but a small price to pay for lasting peace with the Scots.” Smiling, he nodded toward Lady Caitleen. “That is to say, the Scáthaichean.” Her smile broadened.

Gawain couldn’t miss the emphasis Urien had placed upon the word lasting. To judge by the deeper frowns, neither had anyone else.

“And who shall pay the price when these—Scáthinaich”—Gyan used the Caledonian equivalent rather defiantly, Gawain thought—“outgrow their few hundred hides?” She lowered her eyebrows. “Argyll?”

Urien slapped his hand over his heart. “Chieftainess Gyanhumara, you wound me. I possess their profound assurances that they shall be model tenants. Don’t I, good my lord Fergus?”

“Aye!” thundered the man who was foster brother to one of Arthur’s most dangerous enemies. Fergus, who had donned his fine tunic while his wife had been presenting her request, grinned at Gyan. “The chieftainess should well recall that I be a man of me word.”

“I pray that your word has gained in value since the last time I encountered it,” she said. Arthur’s brief but consternation-laden stare went ignored as she busied herself with her goblet. Gawain bit his lip to hide his grin.

***
Enter this giveaway for an autographed copy of
King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court !

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***
Those who aspire to greatness
must first learn servanthood. All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Raging Sea: Reckonings . Please enter often, and good luck!

Cinderella Countdown: Savage Cinderella by @pjsharon YA/NA romantic suspense

Savage Cinderella By PJ Sharon Genre: YA/NA romantic suspenseEighteen year-old Brinn Hathaway has survived alone in an abandoned cabin in the High Country of North Georgia since she was a child. If her life is lonely and less than complete, at least she is safe from the man who kidnapped her, held her captive, and left her for dead in a shallow grave in the mountains. She believes that her parents are dead, the police are her enemy, and that if she returns to the world, her tormentor will find her. With the help of some unlikely friends, she has what she needs to survive, but is surviving enough?
Life takes a turn when a young nature photographer, Justin Spencer—in pursuit of the fabled Wild Child—captures her on film. While chasing the story of a lifetime, Justin is injured and Brinn comes to his rescue. The two build a tentative friendship, but with his own violent past, an abusive alcoholic father, and a mother he couldn’t protect, he must decide if proving himself is worth betraying the trust of the girl he has vowed to help.
Trust is a commodity that Brinn has been unable to afford. Can the kindness and gentle touch of a stranger break through the wall she has built around her heart? After half a lifetime of living in isolation and fear, Brinn must decide if leaving the safety of her remote cabin is worth the hope—and danger—that may await her. She pushed away the tendrils of fear that snaked along her skin. The flesh on her arms rose as if chilled, despite the steamy water. Being alone had kept her safe and alive. Now, her life of exile felt like a prison sentence she longed to escape. It was now or never. If she wanted to be a part of Justin's life, she knew she would have to try to be a part of his world. A glimmer of hope, a desire for more, sparked inside her. A future filled with possibility lay ahead.
Brinn stepped out of the deep tub and dried off. The dripping water soaked the plush bath mat beneath her feet, the cool air bringing another shiver along her flesh. Abby studied her silently. Brinn pulled the towel tighter around her shoulders, uncomfortable with the scrutiny.
“Do you remember much about it?” Abby asked tentatively as she averted her eyes.
“What?” Brinn knew what her friend was asking but pretended otherwise. She clamped her teeth together to stop them from chattering. The warmth of the hot water quickly receded and the cold of her nakedness took over. She slid the towel lower to cover the scars on her thigh. The pity in Abby’s eyes gnawed at the tight knot in her stomach.
“You’ve never talked about what happened when you were little. Do you remember much about your life before the mountain?” Abby wrapped a thick soft bathrobe around Brinn’s shoulders and led her to the bed, sitting down beside her.
“Not really.” Brinn said quietly. She did not want to have this conversation. It would be hard enough to face the world again without dredging up all those old feelings and awful memories. “It’s in the past,” she said, lifting her chin in defiance. “I want to concentrate on the future for a change.”
Abby nodded agreement and smiled a little sadly. “I understand. But if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.” She gave Brinn a one-armed hug and grinned up at her. “Let’s get you dressed.”
Happy to let the topic go, she watched as Abby rummaged through her closet, throwing dresses onto the bed and piling shoes into a heap on the floor. “Take your pick.” She said, coming to stand.
Since Abby was shorter and had more curves than Brinn, Abby thought it best to stay with something flowy and simple. They settled on a knee-length sun-dress that gathered under her breasts, with thin straps and a tiny floral print. It was a little short on Brinn's long frame, but the small pink and yellow flowers gave her a radiant glow. The outfit was finished off with a pair of strappy sandals that left her newly trimmed and painted toes open to the air and hanging slightly over the edge of the small shoes. 
Brinn clomped back and forth across the room. “Can’t I just wear my boots?” 
“I don’t think so.” Abby grimaced as she put Brinn’s old clothes and boots into a bag, holding each item by two fingers as if disposing of a dead fish. “You’ll get used to them. Try to walk like a lady. Take smaller steps. Keep your feet closer together,” she coached until Brinn figured out that walking in heels was similar to crossing a stream on slippery rocks. If she pointed her toes and stepped softly, she managed slightly more grace than a waddling badger. 
Once she mastered the treacherous footwear, Abby sat her down on a small cushioned stool and ran a brush through her hair. The idea of being in the city among crowds of people had her fidgeting on her seat. Despite the queasiness in her stomach at the prospect of what was to come, the long brush strokes soothed her nerves. 
“Everything will be fine, Brinn. Relax,” Abby said confidently. She brushed on some pink blush and drew lines underneath each eye with a dark pencil. “Look up and stay still,” she said. Next, Abby dabbed a tar-like substance on her lashes, nearly putting her eye out as Brinn blinked uncontrollably.
“Is all of this really necessary?” Brinn asked, annoyed.
“It will all be worth it; trust me.” Abby continued painting on eye makeup and lip gloss until Brinn squirmed with impatience. “Voila,” she said, standing back and admiring her work.
With her hair blown dry and teeth brushed to gleaming, Brinn was ready. The girls marched into the hallway and stood in front of a long mirror. Abby stepped to the side and peered around her friend. "You look amazing!"
Brinn stared at her reflection, not believing her eyes. She reached up and touched her hair. It was neatly parted down the center and hung in long layers of silken strands on either side of her face, draped like a lace shawl over both shoulders. She sniffed the midnight black feathers that slipped through her fingers. The strands were shiny and smooth, smelling of soap and honey. Her face was darkly tanned, her nose freckled, but the pinkish glow in her cheeks gave her an undeniable radiance. Eyes the blue of summer skies stared back from the mirror, the lashes long and lustrous. Her shimmering lips tasted like sweet berries.
The outfit her friend picked out was the most beautiful article of clothing she’d ever worn. The soft material caressed her skin, bringing to mind Justin’s touch and setting her nerve endings on fire. What would he think if he saw her like this? Her heart fluttered against her chest and warmth pooled in her belly. Would she ever get used to these strange sensations that happened every time she thought of Justin?
When Abby had suggested that she shave the hair from her legs and under her arms, she thought her friend was going too far. But seeing the skin on her legs shimmer, soft and smooth as a shiny leaf, made Brinn’s lips turn up at the edges in a satisfied smile. She examined her reflection in awe. Then the image blurred as tears stung her eyes and cascaded over the brim.
“Don’t cry; you’ll ruin your makeup.” Abby rushed to grab a tissue. “Are you all right, Brinn?” 

Taking the tissue and dabbing the happy tears away, she smiled and sniffled, “I’m...pretty.” MoBInterested in helping with the release tour for the Cinderella Treasure Trove tour (January 1-7, 2015)Sign up here.

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Those who aspire to greatness
must first learn servanthood. All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
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— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Raging Sea: Reckonings . Please enter often, and good luck!

The Business of Writing: The Audiobook #MFRWOrg #ASMSG #RLFBlog

One must die. Refusal is not an option.
The Challenge by Kim Iverson Headlee.
Audiobook is FREE with Audible trial! With a manuscript sold to a traditional publisher (Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, etc.), the author usually must sell all rights—including the right to produce ancillary editions such as the audiobook—and then sit around hoping and praying that the mass-market paperback does well enough to convince the publisher to publish the novel in other formats.

Not so in this day and age of independent publishing, thank heaven!

In 1997, when the first edition of my novel Dawnflight was having its contract negotiated with Simon & Schuster, their boilerplate stipulated the purchase of a lot of rights, including foreign translations and the production of an audiobook edition. I have to admit that the prospect of having my work in those other formats was exciting. However, Simon & Schuster never exploited those rights, so when the 1999 mass-market paperback edition went out of print in 2004, those rights reverted to me as well.
Duty wages war against love on the
battlefield of opposing cultures and agendas.
Dawnflight by Kim Headlee.
Whispersynch to your Kindle copy!
The novel in all formats lay fallow until 2012, when I decided to overhaul it and release it as an official second edition in print as well as e-book. My e-book coding mentor introduced me to the unique joys of audiobook production via Amazon's Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX), and although I am aware of other audiobook production services, I have never looked back.

The ACX audiobook production process.
A book's Rights Holder—author or publisher—visits http://www.acx.com/ and signs in with his/her existing Amazon account.Once logged in, "claim" the book via ACX's "Add Your Title" function (top right corner of window). This performs a search of the Amazon product catalog to retrieve available editions.Stipulate whether the audiobook will be self narrated.Fill out all the requisite information about the title, including: Production payment type: Royalty Share (50-50 split of net royalties paid to Rights Holder and Producer; i.e., the Producer bears all risk for production) or pay some agreed-upon amount upon completion of the project (i.e., the Rights Holder bears all the risk). In rare cases, ACX will deign to pay the producer a fee even though the Rights Holder has stipulated a royalty-share contract; this happened for my e-book coding mentor with her first audiobook, but not for any of my titles thus far, and of course it's not applicable for self-narrated titles.Distribution: Exclusive (distribution to Audible, Amazon, and iTunes only, which yields a 40% net royalty for the title) or Non-exclusive (distribution to Audible, Amazon, iTunes, and anywhere else of the Rights Holder's choosing; 25% net royalty). The 40% or 25% amount is what is split with the Producer in a royalty-share production agreement.If the audiobook is not to be self-narrated, the type of voice desired (male or female, age, narration style, accent, etc.) may be specified, in addition to genre and other details.Upload an audition script (or not, if you're narrating your own title, and skip the next step too). The ideal audition script will feature a particularly dramatic moment from your book that includes dialogue for the main character(s) so that you can evaluate the prospective narrator's emotional and vocal range. It should be no more than 750 words (i.e., a maximum reading time of about 5 minutes).

If you upload a longer script, don't be surprised if the candidate doesn't read it all! In the comments section, do specify details such as the characters' ages and accents, and expected pronunciation of unusual names or words, to give candidates the best chance of recording a great audition.Either wait for a Producer (i.e., narrator) to submit an audition, or search for suitable producers and contact them via ACX's messaging system. The latter entails listening to posted clips and can be very time consuming.

I have done the proactive approach for only two producers, and neither of them answered me. If you have had luck with this approach, leave a comment to let me know!Once the Rights Holder receives an acceptable audition (or not, if self narrating), then the process of recording and approving audiobook chapters begins! If you're not doing your own recording, this phase consists of waiting for the Producer to upload a new segment, listening to the segment, and providing feedback. The length of this phase is usually a direct correlation to the length of the source material, although I recently had to officially cease production on a project because the Producer fell ill and couldn't complete it.

For all of my completed projects, I elected to manage them on a chapter-by-chapter basis, and I developed an Excel spreadsheet as a tool to identify specific problem areas as well as communicating positive feedback. Like any type of artist, most vocal artists take great pride in their work and welcome feedback so that both parties are happy with the production.

I do not recommend waiting to listen to the Producer's work until after all files have been delivered because of the sheer amount and variety of issues that can crop up, some of which may "ripple" throughout the rest of the production. It is far better for everyone involved to keep on top of the process at every step along the way.Upon final approval of all chapters, and uploading of the cover art and retail sample (a 3-5 minute excerpt), the Rights Holder (and Producer, if they are in a royalty-share agreement) waits for ACX to perform an internal quality-control audit of the audiobook.

For the 2013 editions of Dawnflight and The Color of Vengeance , the internal ACX audit took about a month between my acceptance of the files and ACX's release of the audiobooks into retail channels.

With The Challenge , I elected to enter into a per-finished-hour upfront payment agreement (rather than royalty share; see below for explanation) with an ACX Certified Producer, and the internal audit was completed in less than two weeks—with the Thanksgiving holiday smack in the middle. Whether this speed increase was due to hiring a certified producer or not, I cannot be certain, but obviously it didn't hurt. And I scored a few extras, such as special voice modulation effects, in the bargain. :) Wait another week or so for the title to cross-populate into Amazon and iTunes catalogs, and begin the distribution process to other sites (CD Baby, etc.) manually if you've chosen non-exclusive distribution.
Choosing the right Producer for your audiobook.
Vengeance was the only burial gift he could bestow.
The Color of Vengeance by Kim Headlee.
Audiobook is FREE with Audible subscription!If you have a bestselling title, you want to delve into crowdfunding, or you are otherwise wealthy enough to drop $5K or more on paying someone else to produce your audiobook, you can investigate these high-end independent producers in this article published in BookLife, the news outlet produced by Publishers Weekly for independent publishers.

Otherwise, decide upon the type of voice you're looking for, establish your ACX budget, and—literally—hope for the best.

Paying for production entails a unit called the "finished hour." For planning purposes when setting up your book to receive auditions, ACX estimates one finished hour to be 9300 words of text.

Once the book is recorded and uploaded to ACX, then the actual production cost is calculated to be the sum total in hours and minutes of all files multiplied by the agreed-upon per-finished-hour (PFH) rate. Producers with a presence in ACX stipulate their minimum accepted PFH rate, though it may be open to negotiation. If you do elect to negotiate, whether you're a Rights Holder or a Producer, keep in mind that ACX's offer-rejection letter sent to the other party may sound final but really isn't, and submit (or accept, if you're the Producer) a new offer.

My 135K-word manuscript for Dawnflight was estimated to be 14.5 finished hours… and the final production weighed in at 17.7 hours. If I had hired an ACX-certified producer for that project, at $200 per finished hour (a typical rate for that level of production experience), I'd have been on the hook to pay more than $3500!!

That is the kind of math to be aware of when making your audiobook title setup decisions. Producers registered via ACX (whether certified or not) may elect to be paid in the following PFH increments: $0-$50, $50-$100, $100-$200, $200-$400, and $400-$1000. A thousand dollars per finished hour will usually get you a team of male and female voice artists, musical interludes, sound effects, and the whole shebang. Cue the crowdfunding! The $0-$50 end will probably yield a bare-bones basic production, perhaps by someone just starting out in the narration business; in that case, you're probably better off stipulating the royalty-share production arrangement and seeing if you can attract a producer with a higher experience level.

Getting reviews.
If you think it's hard to get your e-book reviewed, just wait till you enter the wild & woolly world of audiobooks. To get you started, here are a few sites to contact:
99 Audiobooks http://www.99audiobooks.com/contact (no review policy stated; submit your query via their "contact us" form).Audiobook Fans http://www.audiobookfans.com/review-policy/. Audiobook Jukebox http://audiobookjukebox.squarespace.com/solid-gold-reviewer-program/ -- and you don't have to use your Audible download codes if your audiobook is listed here, which is a fabulous deal.Audiobook Review http://audiobookreviewer.com/review-policy/ (sci-fi/fantasy only)Books For Ears http://booksforears.com/contact-us/ (no review submission policy; just contact them with your query) If you have a story about any phase of the audiobook production process, leave a comment to share with us all!

Best of luck in all your publishing endeavors. :)
***
Enter this giveaway for an autographed copy of
King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court !

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Those who aspire to greatness
must first learn servanthood. All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Raging Sea: Reckonings . Please enter often, and good luck!

Cinderella Countdown: Wishful Thinking by Lynette Sofras @ManicScribbler

Today on The Maze I welcome fellow author, Twitter, and Triberr network member Lynette Sofras with her Cinderella story, Wishful Thinking!
Wishful Thinking By Lynette Sofras  Genre: contemporary romanceA high-speed blow-out in the fast lane of a busy motorway! Miraculously, Jess and her young son escape almost-certain death. 
Then, like another miracle, Jess encounters Christian Goodchild, pop idol turned Hollywood A-lister and a man most women only ever meet in their dreams. Both are touched by the enchantment of the moment - leaving them longing for more. 
But Christian is enmeshed in a relationship so damaging that Jess doubts their love can survive in the glamorous but complex world of celebrity. Could it all turn out to be just wishful thinking? "But I can't. I haven't…" She stopped herself from uttering the clichéd words about having nothing to wear, no matter how true they were. She certainly had nothing to match up to Christian's attire and doubtless those of the rest of his guests.
"It doesn't matter to me how you look," he told her. "Just throw anything on. I want you to enjoy the fun."
But I wouldn't enjoy it looking like Cinderella in her rags, she thought, trying to suppress her irritation. Only a superstar would think what he was asking was so simple. Or not think at all. And then she felt selfish. But it was out of the question, he must realise that.
"It's kind of you, but, it's just not possible."
Christian blew an exaggerated sigh and shook his head, looking defeated. "I was afraid you might object, which is why I brought a bit of the party to you, just in case." He handed her the champagne and flowers. She led him into the tiny sitting room, hastily clearing away Ben's mug from the coffee table and casting nervous glances around her as she indicated for him to take a seat. He looked so out of place in her humble surroundings that she wanted to apologise, but stopped herself.
"I'll go and tuck in Ben and be back with you in a moment."
She put the flowers in the kitchen and rushed into her own bedroom next to Ben's to brush her hair before hurriedly adjusting her make up. It was a good thing she'd put some on that afternoon at least, because they'd been to a small tea party at a neighbour's flat where one of Ben's little friends lived. What a vastly different kind of party there must be at Christian's house, she thought, applying a few careful sprays of her favourite Dior perfume, a Christmas present from her father. Imagine her at such a party. If only he could have given her some notice to find something glamorous to wear and a babysitter for Ben, although on New Year's Eve, the likelihood of that was too slim to consider.
When she returned to the sitting room, carrying the roses now crammed into a rather smaller vase than their elegant stems deserved, Christian stood looking at a small Ansel Adams' poster on her wall. He turned towards her as she re-entered the room, thanking him for the flowers.
"I really am sorry for just turning up like this. I literally discovered where you lived an hour ago, got straight into the car and drove here. It occurred to me that if I phoned first, you might try to put me off coming. I wasn't sure if you'd want to see me."
"Not want to see you?" She shook her head in astonishment as she placed the vase on the table. She'd thought of nothing else but seeing him again, though she'd hardly dared allow herself to admit that, or to expect it to happen. And here he was now, looking too magnificent for words and leaving her feeling tongue-tied and awkward.
He moved towards her, their gazes locked together. Their lips came closer, and she felt hers begin to tremble. She breathed in his cologne or aftershave; a heady aroma of citrus with exotic spicy undertones, earthy, sexy and intoxicating. The tremor in her lips spread to her whole body and when his lips finally touched hers, she released a soft moan of longing and utter capitulation. His touch was gentle; their lips making the barest contact at first as if they themselves were hesitant and shy about getting to know each other and this fired her desire almost to fever pitch. He scattered a few exploratory little butterfly kisses around her mouth, as if begging permission to take her completely, before claiming her mouth in a deep and passionate kiss.
How long the kiss lasted, Jess neither knew nor cared. She lost herself in the ecstasy of the exquisite moment, the sheer bliss of the sensuous touch of his lips, soft yet firm against her own. I've wanted this not just since that night in the snow; this is something I've wanted forever. Her body seemed to melt in his arms, creating the sensation she might disappear altogether, and if she did, she wouldn't care. She'd lost all control over her will. She was just there, in his arms, responding to his kiss and it was the most perfectly right, the most magical experience of her whole life so far.
At length he pulled away, but in slow motion, while he continued to search deep into her eyes, his own luminous and large. "That was unfinished business. It had to be done," he whispered. MoBInterested in helping with the release tour for the Cinderella Treasure Trove tour (January 1-7, 2015)Sign up here.

***
Enter this giveaway for an autographed copy of
King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court !

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***
Those who aspire to greatness
must first learn servanthood. All this month, you are invited to...
— Follow Kim on Twitter
— Follow Kim on Pinterest
— Subscribe to Kim's YouTube channel
— Leave a comment on any page of The Maze, especially if you have done the Twitter, Pinterest, and/or YouTube follow
...and each action this month is good for one chance to win an e-book copy of Raging Sea: Reckonings . Please enter often, and good luck!