Toni Decker's Blog: Toni Decker Books, page 3
September 14, 2015
Cover Reveal ~ ILLUSION ~ @Lea_Nolan
It’s cover reveal day for Illusion by Lea Nolan. This is the third book in the Hoodoo Apprentice Series, and I am so excited because all three books are getting gorgeous new covers! Check it out!
Title: Illusion
Author Name: Lea Nolan
Release Day: October 5th
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
About Illusion:
New school. Cross-country move. Broken heart. If only these were Emma Guthrie’s worst problems as the first day of her sophomore year dawns. Instead, she must battle a trio of enemies—human and spectral—who may or may not have joined forces against her. All while pretending to be over Cooper Beaumont, her ex-boyfriend and true love, to shield him from her arch-nemesis’s revenge.
Worse, when the fight escalates, Emma is tempted to use the black magic she’s always fought against, endangering her own soul. As her enemies close in, join forces, and fight with new and dark magic she’s never seen before, Emma must finally harness the power within her to fulfill an ancient prophecy, defeat a centuries-old evil, save her family, and reclaim the only boy she’s ever loved.
CONJURE: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
CONJURE:
Be careful what you search for…Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry–hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.But when a strange girl bent on revenge appears, demon dogs become a threat, and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before the last days of summer–and her friends–are lost forever.
ALLURE: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
ALLURE:
Worst. Summer. Ever. Emma Guthrie races to learn the hoodoo magic needed to break The Beaumont Curse before her marked boyfriend Cooper’s sixteenth birthday. But deep in the South Carolina Lowcountry, dark, mysterious forces encroach, conspiring to separate Emma and Cooper forever. When Cooper starts to change, turning cold and indifferent, Emma discovers that both his heart and body are marked for possession by competing but equally powerful adversaries. Desperate to save him, Emma and her twin brother, Jack, risk their lives to uncover the source of the black magic that has allured Cooper and holds him in its grip. Faced with the horror of a soul-eating boo hag, Emma and Jack must fight to resist its fiendish power to free Cooper long enough to join their strengths and face it together, before it destroys them all.
Exclusive Excerpt:
A screech echoes through the woods. The sound is like a nail scraped against tin and raises the tiny hairs on the back of my neck. It’s the unmistakable caw of a crow. Spinning, I search the dimness for the source. Before my eyes can focus, a glossy black shadow bursts through a sheet of Spanish moss draped on a nearby live oak.
Shrieking, I cover my head with my hands and duck, then dart toward the path that brought me here. The bird pursues, flapping its large wings and gaining ground fast. With a whoosh, it swoops from the sky and slams into me, sinking its talons into my arm. I scream, then thrash around, trying to knock it loose. Its spiky nails clamp deeper into my flesh.
“Get off her!” Cooper’s voice booms.
Tears, the very best kind, surge. I’ve never been so happy to have him near. “Help!” I lamely shake my arm again, but the psychotic bird hangs on.
Cooper’s feet pound against the dirt as he races toward me and my winged assailant. As he draws close, the crow squawks, then jams its beak into my scalp, yanking out a clump of hair.
Pain, brilliant yellow and blinding, flashes across my vision. I wail, overcome.
“Emma, duck.”
I drop to my knees. Something hard thumps against the bird, launching it into the air like a golf ball from a tee. Its piercing caw bounces across the clearing. As the bird soars into the moonlit sky, it attempts to beat its wings, but something’s wrong. Only one of its feathered sides extends. Midair the shiny black crow stalls then careens back toward the earth. Just as I’m sure it’s headed straight for us, the lame wing unfolds then beats furiously to avoid what is sure to be a deadly collision. Veering off, it follows a wobbly flight path toward the shadowy forest.
Cooper tosses a long, heavy stick onto the ground, then reaches for my hand and pulls me to my feet. “Are you okay?” His wide hands clutch my arms as his eyes search mine.
“I—I think so.” My voice shakes as I work to process all that’s happened in the last few minutes. My temperature drops as shock sets in. Was it real, or just an immensely screwed-up dream? One glance at the slick streak of blood dripping down my skin confirms my new wound, though I can’t tell how bad it is until I see it in the light.
Grabbing me close, he wraps his strong arms around my back. The heady scent of his Cooperness swirls around me, filling me with familiar warmth that heads off my shock. My thoughts zoom to the red stain that has likely already smeared his polo. “I’m bleeding.” I try to pull away.
“I know.” He grips me close, like he’s fallen from a ship and I’m the only life preserver.
“But it’ll get it on your shirt.” A tear streams down the side of my face.
He pulls away, just enough to meet my gaze. “Who cares about my shirt? I thought I lost you, Emmaline.” Brushing his thumb against my cheek, he wipes away the salty liquid.
“But you didn’t. You saved me.”
“I was almost too late.” His voice is breathy and so full of despair it nearly breaks my heart.
About Lea Nolan:
Lea Nolan is a USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance and YA. Her books for young adults feature bright heroines, crazy-hot heroes, diabolical plot twists, plus a dose of magic, a draft of romance, and a sprinkle of history. She also pens smart, witty contemporary stories for adults filled with head-swooning, heart-throbbing, sweep-you-off your feet romance. Born and raised on Long Island, New York, she loves the water far too much to live inland. With her heroically supportive husband and three clever children, she resides in Maryland where she scarfs down crab cakes whenever she gets the chance.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter
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Tagged: #amreading, #Announcement, #BookLove, #Books, #coverreveal, #NewRelease, #Paranormal, #Series, #YA, BBF
September 12, 2015
Baltimore Book Festival – Loni Lynne Edition
Meet Loni Lynne – Paranormal Romance Writer
Born in Michigan, Loni grew up all over the mid-west. From Michigan to Texas and everywhere in between before joining the Navy and meeting her Army husband. Together they were stationed in Hawaii for four years before returning to settle close to family in Maryland.
Raising two beautiful daughters, Loni went from being a domestic goddess to a writer and finally a published author when her husband gifted her with a laptop, portable hard drive and a membership to Romance Writers of America for her birthday and challenged her to, ‘finish a book by her next birthday’. She now has many stories but Wanted: One Ghost is her debut novel.
It was a dark and stormy night…
Well maybe not. But it could have been when Loni Lynne wrote her paranormal ghost stories.
What you haven’t read them yet? Boy are you in for a treat. She will be re-releasing the e-books of her Kings Mill Ghost Series with updated cover art (Stay tuned as I’m sure we’ll be highlighting their release) AND adding a previously UNRELEASED third book to the series line up. *does a (spooky) happy dance* Check out the old covers, which I still love.
The Crossroads of Kings Mill Series, will be released through Spiridus Publishing in October 2015
Wanted:One Ghost– October 5, 2015
Stuck in ghostly limbo for 238 years, James Addison can’t move on to an afterlife. After being falsely accused of treason and executed, fate’s cursed him to remain an earth-bound specter until he meets a historian sent to research his past. Distrustful of fate, Dr. April Branford wants to be taken seriously, but her unique ability to divine history by touching objects seriously compromises her credibility. Her latest assignment? James Addison, a legendary colonial ladies’ man with a shadowy past. Without much to go on, she doesn’t hold out much hope to discover the man behind the legend until the day she accidentally touches him and brings him back to life. With the help of family and ghosts from James’s past, they unravel the truth. But after falling in love and with time running out, it’s hard for April to believe in fate and a future where forever is now.
Distilled Spirits– October 12, 2015
Kings Mill, Maryland’s 200 year old, Old Town Tavern and Inn is in danger of being destroyed to make room for urban renewal. Residential tavern ghost, Millie Taylor is not about to take the news lying down. If anyone destroys her only home and sense of security, it will be over her dead body! Tavern owner, Dave Rogers hires former vice cop Sean Lightfoot’s construction company to renovate his family tavern in hopes of keeping it from destruction. When Sean digs up the tavern springhouse, he resurrects the ghost of Millie Taylor. Now he has his business to run, a tavern to renovate and a sassy, brash tavern wench who is eager to be an independent modern Millie. Mystery, suspense and romance abound as Millie and Sean fight an attraction crossing the span of time. But is Millie really alive and what’s hiding in the springhouse that haunts her?
Unsettled Graves– October 19, 2015 (NEW)
Just in time for a some great spooky read before Hallowread, where Loni will also be appearing. (Along with us!)
Immortals & Vampires & Werewolves (Oh my!)
I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore…
Of course not, silly. We’ve SHIFTED *snicker* to Dacia with Loni’s The Guardians of Dacia series. A (at present count) 4 book series that delves into a mystical world of Shapeshifters and Immortal beings. A series dear to my heart for the rich myth and legends of the Romani they pull from. I have read them all and can’t wait to get my hands on the next one!
Immortal Heat (Which is also part of September’s Cover Wars – so check it out here to vote)
Dacian Historian…
Determined to study ancient Dacian folk lore abroad, Marilyn Reddlin’s plans are cut short when she is abducted by a dark haired stranger who insists she’s in danger. The only danger she’s in is losing herself to her abductor’s inexplicable seductive energy. Draylon Conier teaches her there is more to Romania than myth and fairy tales while sweeping her into a wild adventure of paranormal mystery and intrigue.
Dacian History…
Thousands of years trying to pay back a debt, Draylon Conier is finally able to do so. Sent to capture a young, American student who is in danger while in Romania, he just has to send her back home. Easy enough for him. Unfortunately, Marilyn Reddlin is determined to thwart his every attempt—even telepathy. But there is more to her than meets the eye and the closer he gets to her, the more danger she is in, not only from the ancient immortal Dacian clans he’s trying to protect her from, but also his own sexual need.
History just got a lot harder.
They must find out what connection Marilyn has to Dacian history before Draylon destroys her when she succumbs to Immortal Heat.
Immortal Wounds (Novella)
Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone…
Vietnam never stopped for Mike Linder—and it never will. As an immortal being, Mike is doomed to face his issues of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder he suffered in combat for eternity. The darkness in the seventy year old vampire is swept away by the sweet spirited Christina Johnston who he is called upon by his boss to protect from clan enemies. But keeping his sunshine around would only lead to extinguishing her light, permanently.
His Sunshine…His Only Sunshine…
Tina Johnston always believes the glass is half full. The eternal optimist, she wants to help Mike find the peace from his horrors of war and she believes she’s the one to give it to him. Unfortunately, Mike won’t let her. Haunted by his past and suffering terrors mixed with his present, is she strong enough to endure his tortured past? Can she heal his Immortal Wounds?
Immortal Angel
Tina Johnston is left heartbroken after the man she loves, Mike Linder turns her away. She’s too young and naïve to be able to understand the immortal, Vietnam warrior who suffers from the nightmare of his past. So she decides to work for the Delvante Clan and train to be an assistant to the immortal Dacians. What she doesn’t know is that her first assignment is about to take her into a world of danger and action, in which the very people she’s learning to protect are out to hunt her down and make her one of their own.
Vietnam was forty years ago and yet Mike Linder can’t forget the horrors of the past. His struggle with PTSD has no place for the lovely, Tina Johnston. As much as he wants her out of his life, he can’t bear to be without her. What they shared the past few months is beyond anything he deserves. But when he finds she’s gone to work for his boss, Rick Delvante and is sent to infiltrate a group of rogue vampires in Germany, he is beside himself. The only thing he can do is face his worst fear and go into battle once more to bring her home safely.
But what he finds is not the woman he left behind. Is he too late to save his Immortal Angel?
Immortal Silence (Coming Monday, September 21, 2015!)
Running from vampires and finding out her daughter, Lucy is missing, is not how Major Pam Griffith wanted to return after serving her two weeks of reserve duty. She’s at her wits end and the only one she can turn to is Jack Tabor, the man who she’d spent one night with eight years ago and changed her life forever.
Jack Tabor’s quiet, immortal lifestyle is turned upside down when sexy, sassy, pain in the neck, Pamela Griffith hunts him down to help her find her mute daughter. They’ve only met recently through mutual friends but she insists they’d met before. He has the natural ability to make his victims forget so how can she remember him?
But when the Dacian vampire clan is hell bent on abducting Pamela and Lucy, he finds himself compelled to keep them safe, even if it means putting his life at stake by breaking immortal laws.
So if you need some ghostly reads or need a fix of shapeshifting, immortal love before Baltimore Book Festival, check out all Loni’s books on Amazon or over at her website. You’ll find Loni Lynne during BBF wandering in and out the Maryland Romance Writers tent (@marylandromance) and also over at the Nerd Girl/ World Domination (@Nerd_Girl_NG) with Ukazoo, the local book seller featuring Maryland Romance Writers books.
Stop by, say hi, and purchase some of her books. You won’t be sorry and she’ll even sign them for you! Loni loves meeting people, talking food and books. (Not always in that order.)
What is she looking forward to the most at BBF? “I’m looking forward to seeing all the great authors and connecting with the readers who stop in.”
And of course the important information – What’s Loni Lynne’s favorite desert?
“Favorite Dessert? Wow! Now that I am Gluten-Free, I have learned to adapt recipes but it’s a toss up between my mother-in-law’s homemade GF German Chocolate Cake and Crème Bruele.”
Now I want cake. How about you?
We hope to see you at the festival! 
Tagged: #amreading, #BaltimoreBookFestival, #BookLove, #Books, #Immortals, #LoniLynne, #MarylandRomanceWriters, #MarylandRomanceWritersTent, #MustRead, #myths, #Paranormal, #Reading, #Romance, #Series, #Shapeshifters, BBF, MRW
September 9, 2015
Baltimore Book Festival – Nancy Weeks Edition
Welcome to our next edition of the Baltimore Book Festival (BBF) (September 25th-27th) author spotlight.
In this edition, Kira presents … Nancy Weeks
Nancy is a member of the Maryland Romance Writers group (@marylandromance) and a local Maryland writer. She specializes in Romantic Suspense, hot heroes and kick-butt heroines.
In her series, Shadows and Light, (In the Shadow of Greed, In the Shadow of Evil, In the Shadow of Malice, In the Shadow of Pride, In the Shadow of Vengeance) you meet the McNeil family.
~ Meet five Irish brothers, all sworn to protect and serve – and the smart women who help them take down the terrorists gunning for their family. Lock up your heart: when it comes to love, the sexy McNeils know how to walk this beat. ~
No kidding! *fans self*
Just when you fall for one brother, another comes along to steal your heart away.
Now Toni and I have introduced you to Nancy and her amazing characters before, even the villains. In fact, she brought her villains, who don’t think they are bad guys at all (Oh YES they are), to visit our blog recently. Read the interview here, and decide for yourself.
And make sure you have you’re running shoes on.
*Looks over at Mendoza glaring at me*
It’s just a suggestion.
*Tightens my laces*
Nancy first book was also part of an anthology called Racing Heart, a collection of stories from ten romantic suspense writers.
~ The thrills – both in and out of the bedroom – never stop coming between these pages. Crank up your adrenaline while running from danger, standing strong in the face of evil, and staying one step ahead of the bad guys in these 10 fast-paced suspense stories by rising stars. ~
The best part of Nancy’s books are the sweet romances and she firmly believes in giving her characters a happily ever after. Even if she does make them work for it. The Shadow and Light series is full of suspense, tension and hot heroes. Passions simmer and flare, in and out of the bedroom, and like real siblings the McNeil brother’s don’t always agree. (Coming from a large family myself, I really loved this aspect of the series.)
I can’t say I have a favorite book, I really do love them all, but if I had to choose, a certain Special-Agent-In-Charge, Luke “Mac” McNeil, definitely holds a special place in the hot heroes department. His flash-point temper is no match for fiery Lexie Trevena’s no-nonsense fighting spirit. Together they make sparks and I still feel the burn from that hot read. Check out our review here.
Come meet Nancy at her panel – Get Their Pulses Pounding: Pacing The Romantic Suspense Novel – on Saturday, September 26th from 4 pm – 5 pm at the Maryland Romance Writers tent (see MAP). She loves meeting her readers and other writers/authors.
So if you’re looking for some good romantic suspense suggestions before BBF, I suggest heading over to Nancy’s website to find all the places to pick up her series. And for a limited time on Amazon, Shadows and Light is on SALE!
Warning, once you start, you won’t be able to stop!
If you want to buy them local, they will be available from Ukazoo Books at the Maryland Romance Writer’s tent during BBF. Check out the amazing romance line-up all weekend long at BBF and be sure to meet Nancy to get your books signed.
Hope to see you at the festival!
Tagged: #amreading, #BaltimoreBookFestival, #BookLove, #Books, #BoxedSet, #MarylandRomanceWriters, #MarylandRomanceWritersTent, #MustRead, #NancyWeeks, #Reading, #Romance, #Series, #Suspense, BBF, MRW
September 4, 2015
Giving up Back-Up Plans
I need to give up having back-up plans.
There.
I said it.
OUT LOUD. *Resists strong urge to insert a Twilight joke here*settles for posting an image.*
It feels weird to admit that I’m giving up back-up plans. Anyone that knows me has probably heard me say something along the lines of, “If *this* then *that* and if *that* then *this*.” And surely, you might say, this sounds a lot like setting up a back-up plan.
And you might be right.
But recently, I realized something. Having a back-up plan sounds suspiciously like I’m planning for failure. And essentially in planning for A to fail, I’m setting up my own expectations as such. In making a plan B, plan A doesn’t really have a chance to succeed. Telling the universe that I expect to fail in plan A, why would the universe think I want plan B to succeed either? For that matter, why would the universe think I expect to succeed at all? Which is why I’m giving up on all back-up plans!
Now, you might be saying something along the lines of, “Are you sure it’s a good idea to put so much weight into one plan? There are so many obstacles that are not in your control. How do can you possibly account for every potential obstacle in one plan?” And you’d be right again because you are so smart. *I’m super glad I have smart friends*
Instead of making a back-up plan, I’ve decided to set upon a path and leave a few forks in the road. But I won’t give up on the original path. My destination won’t be swayed. Now, I can let myself meander along the path, take a fork in the road when I have to and not get stuck by those pesky obstacles I have zero to little control over. Forget the back-up. I’m picking my destination and staying on the path, no matter how it meanders or which fork I have to take. I will go around every obstacle, leap every hurdle and push through any barrier because that destination is mine.
…..THAT DESTINATION IS MINE.
August 5, 2015
Then and Now
Doing something a little different for today’s blog post. I’m going to get all introspective. No not that the answer to life = 42 and if all else fails X = 8 (although I swear that last one works more often than should be possible).
Looking back at where Toni and I started and where we are now – just wow.
Who knew taking a two-hour, Sunday writing class would start a great friendship and a co-writing career.
I sure didn’t, but am so glad it happened.
I don’t think either Toni or I expected to learn so much during our journey or have so much fun.
There were days spent watching A Knights Tale for inspiration – well because – it’s A Knights Tale. (Don’t laugh it’s an awesome movie to get you reaching for the stars!)
White board sessions planning the books. I don’t think either of us could read this picture after we were done. Thankfully we understood it, although everything got changed anyways.
Wine.
More changes when a novella with a mind of its own, decided to become a full-fledged novel.
More wine. More caffeine. More chocolate or was it brownies…
Head bashing when we hit that “I hate this MS and want to tear it to shreds” stage.
Photo courtesy of A Knights Tale
Yeah that face. That feeling. Except magnify it by two people.
And then there were the edits, and the compromises and the “You want to do what?”
“Um, how?”
*blank stares*
Okay, there were several of these moments.
Photo courtesy of A Knights Tale
So many chats and emails and phone calls and yes, bottles of wine or coffees or Dr. Peppers that you’d need a spreadsheet to keep track of it all. (Toni probably has one somewhere. *wink*)
But we did it!
This September, IMAGES ETERNAL will celebrate its first birthday and SHOALMAN IMMORTAL its six-month milestone.
Wow.
Almost a year. It still bogles my mind with what we have accomplished.
Book 3 is in revisions with planning already starting on book 4. These two present a much bigger challenge than we’ve taken on before since the intertwined storylines complement and complicate each other. The tangled web has tripped us up a few times. But we will persevere.
That’s the beauty of writing. If all else fails…
Well okay, maybe it’s not that simple. But I do know one thing for sure…
…the journey is half the fun and it’s not over yet!
Stay tunes for more exciting posts as we get closer to Baltimore Book Festival. We will be featuring some of our local authors appearing at the festival.
Come meet us, and them, in person at the Maryland Romance Writer’s tent.
September 25-27, 2015
Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland
It’s FREE and a fantastic place to get lost in the world of books, authors, and artists.
Tagged: #amreading, #amwriting, #baltirmoebookfestival, #Books, #co-writing, #Fantasy, #ImagesEternal, #NA, #NewAdult, #Paranormal, #Reading, #Romance, #ShoalmanImmortal, #ToniDeckerBooks, #writing, #writinginspiration, BBF
July 27, 2015
Mandy’s Musical Mondays
A character from our book IMAGES ETERNAL runs a music blog. Thought it’d be fun to have her interview a few characters from Shoalman Immortal for her blog. Well, what happened even surprised us…
Mandy’s Musical Mondays
MANDY: Hi peeps – Mandy here and do I have a treat for you today. I know you have all read my blogs about the local band, Eternity, skyrocketing up the charts. If not, then get out of the cave you’re living in and catch up!
Part of Eternity’s appeal is the fantastical stage shows performed with a heart pounding sound that makes Angels weep. Did you ever wonder where they get some of those amazing pictures? Wonder no longer. I have the EXCLUSIVE story of the man behind the images used. The one. The only. Robert Shoalman. Yep, you heard me peeps, the owner of the world famous Shoalman Collection of painting is here in the studio with me. And we are going to find out how he makes emotions pound with just a glimpse of his works. Say hi, Robert.
ROBERT: Hello
MANDY: So, tell us, how did you get started painting?
ROBERT: *smirks* Actually, my Uncle introduced me to painting when I was younger. He studied under the previous own of the Shoalman Collection and showed me the beauty of art using a most unusual subject—death.
MANDY: Death. Um, were all the other subjects taken or something? I mean, really?
ROBERT: People fear death, but there is more than the horror depicted in movies. Without death, people would forget how to live.
MANDY: You sound like Kyrissa. I swear the two of you are obsessed with the subject. *grins* Or should I say with each other?
KYRISSA: Mandy behave.
MANDY: Like that will ever happen. Well, since she piped up. Meet Kyrissa Spears peeps, an up and coming art sensation herself.
KYRISSA: *laughs* not sure about the sensation part, but hi everyone.
MANDY: Is it true, Kyrissa that you are painting with Robert? It is painting that you two spend hours doing right? *waggles brows*
KYRISSA: Yes, he is teaching me, helping me expand my skills.
ROBERT: And she is teaching me a thing or two.
MANDY: Oh this sounds deliciously naughty. So body painting, or do you just finger paint?
ROBERT: I never suggested… We have not… *clear throat*Can we get back to the subject of the art please.
MANDY: Uh oh, the “glare” has come out peeps. Back to the subject at hand—Naked painting.
KYRISSA: Mandy!
MANDY: *chuckles* So, would you call the color of your blush crimson or fire engine red, Robert?
ROBERT: *Looks towards Kyrissa* I told you this was a bad idea. I am done.
MANDY: Fine, fine. I’ll stick to the boring questions *mumbles* for now. *waits for Robert to sit back down* What’s your favorite color?
ROBERT & KYRISSA (Together): Gold.
ROBERT: Like streaks of sunlight filtered through imperfect glass. Bright. Warm. Beautiful. *tucks a strand of Kyrissa’s golden hair behind one ear*
KYRISSA: Yet, its mere sight fills you with hope for a future filled with promise.
MANDY: *gag* Boy do you two need to get a room. And I do not mean my recording studio.
KYRISSA: Remind me to film you and Lucien one day and then we’ll compare gag notes.
MANDY: That’s different. Lucien is luscious. Robert is…
ROBERT: Careful.
MANDY: I was going to say artistic.
KYRISSA: He’s got a great ass too. Even you admitted that, Mandy.
ROBERT: She did?
MANDY: *squirms*That’s not what I said. And it was in passing, in general about guy’s asses. I believe I was comparing it to Lucien’s at the time.
ROBERT: Emberglow, with a hint of Lust Red in the apples of your cheeks.
KYRISSA: *snickers*
MANDY: What?
ROBERT: The color of your blush. Those would be the pigments I would use to immortalize your current look.
MANDY: They seriously have a red color called Lust?
KYRISSA: Yep! And you fit it perfectly right now.
MANDY: I hate you both.
KYRISSA: No you don’t. You just wish you did. *smiles*
MANDY: You’re right. This interview was a bad idea. *Clicks off recording equipment*
Images Eternal
Available at Amazon / Nook / Kobo
Shoalman Immortal
Available on Amazon / Nook / Kobo
Tagged: #amreading, #Books, #co-writing, #Fantasy, #ImagesEternal, #MustRead, #NA, #NewAdult, #NewRelease, #Paranormal, #Romance, #ShoalmanChronicles, #ShoalmanImmortal, #teaser, #ToniDeckerBooks
July 20, 2015
Exclusive Excerpt ~ Images Eternal
Can I say that *this* might be one of my favorite early scenes with Lucien and Mandy?? Can I? Hope so since I already said it. Hope you like it half as much as I do…
An Exclusive excerpt from IMAGES ETERNAL by Toni Decker.
“You know, Angel,” a dulcet voice sang behind her. “I don’t recall sending press invites out for this rehearsal.”
Mandy stilled. Hot breath warmed her neck. Every hair on her body stood straight up and a few curled. “And here I thought mine had just been lost in the mail.” She turned, facing the solid mass of gorgeousness.
“I would hand deliver any invite I intended you to have.” Lucien paused just inches from her and Mandy reminded herself that breathing was not only allowed, but a necessity for survival. Leaning against the edge of the bar, Lucien lifted his gaze to hers and smiled.
“Wow,” she mouthed but couldn’t be certain whether she said the words out loud or let them linger in her head. Mandy inhaled the scent of freshly shaven skin, soft and tempting. Restraining herself from reaching out to touch him, she settled for leaning in closer and letting his smell inhabit every one of her pores.
“Consider this an invite to stay.” His hand lingered in the air between the bar top and her arm. Mandy didn’t back away, transfixed on his movements until he brushed a lock of hair off her shoulder, his finger lightly trailing across her skin. Most times the move would have the perpetrator on his knees in agony. This time Mandy’s knees were the ones to shake.
“But absolutely no pictures,” Lucien whispered. “Or I’ll have Carl over there carry your fine ass right out that door.”
Laughing, Mandy hesitated. First, no way would Carl touch her. She’d have his parole officer over here so fast he wouldn’t see her ass. And Carl knew this.
Second, who did Lucien think he was? A rock star? He was barely a member of Demon Dogs, and at this rate, he’d never take them to rock star status. Not without her laying the foundation of information for the local music scene to absorb.
Third, he had noticed her ass and this pleased her a whole lot more than it should.
Mandy hugged her camera tight to her chest. No one had ever forbid her from taking pictures.
“Fine, I’ll just listen,” Mandy said. He might not want her taking pictures with her camera, but that didn’t stop her from raking her gaze over every inch of his body. The dark alley hadn’t done his hotness justice.
Images Eternal
Available at Amazon / Nook / Kobo
Shoalman Immortal
Available on Amazon / Nook / Kobo
Tagged: #amreading, #Books, #Fantasy, #ImagesEternal, #MustRead, #NA, #NewAdult, #NewRelease, #Paranormal, #Romance, #Series, #ShoalmanChronicles, #ShoalmanImmortal, #teaser, #ToniDeckerBooks
July 13, 2015
Beginnings, Challenges and Victories!
What if a painting could trap someone in time? Make them immortal for as long as the painting existed (enter Hero). And what if someone else (enter Villain) used that knowledge to curse someone into keeping them alive too?
Those were the questions that sparked the beginnings of The Shoalman Chronicles Series. We had a tortured hero, but what about his savior? Who was she? How would she save him? That’s where Kyrissa came in and where the partnership between Kira and Toni began.
Looking back, it seems ironic that a simple challenge between new friends turned into a great friendship and an amazing co-writing adventure. The challenge was NaNoWriMo. For those who don’t know what that is, you have one month to write a full-length novel (50,000 words). It became a greater challenge when we decided to enter into NaNo as co-writers for the first time as well.
Amazing doesn’t even begin to describe the journey. Both Toni and Kira love art, so incorporating art into all the stories was a no brainer (that and tattoos). Both lovers of YA and NA, what a better way than to create twenty-somethings and throw in a taste of romance and paranormal fantasy at the same time. Bingo. We have story concept.
The journey didn’t stop there though. We both liked what came out of that month long intensive writing. So much so we decided to pair up and make it a real story, a real world, a real partnership and see what happened. Toni Decker Books happened and The Shoalman Chronicles began.
Now most people take their story and run with it. We did that, but anyone who has met us will tell you, Toni and Kira don’t do things normally. We needed a break from edits and decided to write a quick novella about two of the side characters in SHOALMAN IMMORTAL.
The characters had other ideas. Six-weeks later, we had another complete novel that we both loved, IMAGES ETERNAL.
Um, now what? Did we mention the adventure aspect of our writing? We call it choose your own adventure style. So we chose to make the new book, Book 1 of the series and move the original story to Book 2. (Confused yet? We were.) Yet another challenge on the publishing journey for SHOALMAN IMMORTAL.
(What? Robert’s waited 500 years. He can wait another six months. *rolls eyes*)
Well, the journey has reached its destination finally. SHOALMAN IMMORTAL released January 16, 2015, but the adventure is far from over. We have several more books planned for the series and who know what new characters will pop up next.
When you have an Immortal to play with, the possibilities are ENDLESS!
Images Eternal
Available at Amazon / Nook / Kobo
Shoalman Immortal
Available on Amazon / Nook / Kobo
Tagged: #amreading, #amwriting, #blogging #co-writing #nosleep #writinginthemoment, #Fantasy, #ImagesEternal, #MustRead, #NA, #NewAdult, #Paranormal, #Romance, #Series, #ShoalmanChronicles, #ShoalmanImmortal, #ToniDeckerBooks
July 9, 2015
A Hard Ink Special Announcement from Laura Kaye!
comes a special announcement sure to excite readers everywhere!
Don’t miss what Laura Kaye has to say…
HERE’S THE SCOOP!
A Hard Ink Special Announcement from Laura Kaye!
As I celebrate the release last week of Hard to Let Go, the finale in my Hard Ink romantic suspense series, I’m super excited to share some more news about Hard Ink! I’m going to do another book in this series. And not just any book. I’m going to write a wedding novella for one of the couples in the series!! And I’m so flippin’ excited!!!
This is how this idea came about: I happened to see another author celebrating the release of a follow-up wedding book, and I’ve never written any follow-up stories about any of my characters—once they’ve gotten their happily ever afters in their original story, I just moved right on to the next couple.
But that author’s book got me thinking about who I would even do a follow-up story on. Who is it that would get married? My initial thoughts went right to the Hard Ink series, of course, because I’ve been immersed in this world for the past two years and absolutely adore these characters. Seriously – I know many of us have joked about the title of the last book being apropos, and trust me when I say I’m feeling that, too. I want more Hard Ink myself.
And then I had to ask – which couple? My gut instinct was to say Nick and Becca. They started the series, have been together the longest, and the personal issues they each have and struggles they each face are less than some of the other characters. BUT…
But then my brain started to think about all the other couples. And as I thought through all of them, I could make a case why any of the Hard Ink couples might be the first to get married.
And that’s where YOU come in.
I can’t decide which couple to write.
I could make the argument for Nick and Becca for all the reasons above. I could make the argument that Shane would be eager to take care of Sara in every way he can. I could make the argument that Easy and Jenna’s bond would be so tight because of the hell Easy’s come through and him having saved Jenna’s life. Marz has never wanted anything more than a family, so I could see him being eager to make Emilie his forever. Jeremy and Charlie had the bond of best friends before becoming lovers, and I could see the two of them wanting to prove the depth of their love by committing to forever. And Kat so knocked Beckett on his ass that I could see him wanting to hold her tight and, well, never let go – and finally have a family that valued him.
So, yeah, I can’t decide!
Which means you guys get to.
For real.
I’m letting you pick.
Have you read and met all the Hard Ink couples yet? If not, now’s the time!
Because between now and July 31,
you get to vote on which couple gets the bonus wedding novella.
Eeep! Can you believe it? I’m nervous! And excited! And eeep!
Whoever wins, the book will be called Hard Ever After and will release January 19, 2016. How freaking awesome is that title, by the way? I’ve been giggling over it for months! *winks* Down below, I’ve got some wedding invitations for you to share around to encourage other readers to vote for the couple you want. So grab your favorite couple’s invitations and help spread the word! You can also grab one of the smaller avatar images for your Facebook and Twitter avatars. Have fun with it and vote, vote, vote!
And I figure we should have ways for you to win prizes, too, right? After all, weddings do have gifts! So see below for two big ways to win! Now, please spread the word and vote! I cannot wait to see who I’m going to be writing about!
Thanks for reading,
Laura Kaye
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE HARD INK COUPLE HERE!
Vote by clicking on the link above and then grab the Avatar below for the
couple you chose. Change your profile pictures on social media to show who you voted for!
The Hard Ink Series
HARD AS IT GETS (on sale for $1.99!): Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
HARD AS YOU CAN (on sale for $1.99!): Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
HARD TO HOLD ON TO: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
HARD TO COME BY: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
HARD TO BE GOOD: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
HARD TO LET GO: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
Pre-order HARD AS STEEL (Raven Riders Crossover): Amazon only to start
Pre-order HARD EVER AFTER: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
Add Hard Ever After to your Goodreads
GIVEAWAYS:
TWITTER HASHTAG CONTEST, 7/9 – 7/12
Tweet about the novella, the voting, and your favorite couple for a chance to win your choice of any one signed paperback from the Hard Ink series and lots of Hard Ink swag including stuffed animals! Open to international. One winner will be picked from tweets that use each of the following six hashtags:
#VoteNickandBecca
#VoteShaneandSara
#VoteEasyandJenna
#VoteMarzandEmilie
#VoteJeremyandCharlie
#VoteBeckettandKat
Check your spelling when you tweet because I will be picking winners only from those that use one of the six above hashtags! I will announce winners from the Twitter Hashtag Contest on Monday, July 13. Feel free to keep using the hashtag after the contest closes to connect with other readers who want your favorite couple to win, too!
And don’t miss this second fantastic giveaway from Laura Kaye!
ABOUT Laura Kaye:
Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
Website | Facebook |Twitter | Newsletter SignUp
Tagged: #Announcement, #Books, #Characters, #ChooseWhoseWedding, #Giveaway, #HardEverAfter, #HardInkSeries, #LauraKaye, #Romance, #Weddings
July 6, 2015
On Co-Writing
People often ask us what it’s like to co-write a book. *chuckles* We call it “choose your own adventure”. You see, although we share a brain where our characters are involved, we have very different writing styles. But they complement each other.
Toni is one of those cheery morning people (once she gets her coffee verses blood levels regulated **hey, I resemble that**). Beginnings are her strength, thus she does her best writing in the morning. Kira likes strong endings and usually writes late at night (and yes, Kira wrote her part at midnight). Toni posts her morning chapter, which Kira finds later that night. Kira then gets to “choose” where the characters go on their next “adventure” in the story, saving it for Toni to discover and add to the next day. Read. Write. Repeat.
We each take a main character, the one that resonates with us the most, and tell our stories from alternating points of view. What makes co-writing so fun is trying to guess how (or in Kira’s case provoke) the other person into reacting in the follow-up scene and vise-a-versa. Kinda like real life. And no, Toni’s don’t always do what’s expected. Neither do Kira’s *grin*
We try to work from a story outline—Toni’s Plotter personality loves color-coded spreadsheets—but it’s loose enough to allow Kira’s Pantser personality free reign, to a point. (Okay, I admit it—the outline helps me too. Shhh, don’t tell Toni. **I heard that**) The outline usually keeps us on track. Although it’s amusing when one or both of us steal a story point for their chapter and mess up the timeline.
We collaborate online and store files where we can both access them when we move into the editing phase. We also chat and text each other constantly. Kira wakes to 5 am texts of “Oh, what if we…” and Toni gets late night chat messages of “I figured out how to fix…” There are compromises on both sides. In the end, we always manage to figure out what’s best for the story. We push each other to make our reads enjoyable (and sexy), stay true to the characters, and put out the best book we can.
They say writing is a lonely journey. When you co-write, you get to have a friend along for the adventure and you never quite know what’s going to happen next. That’s the best part!
Images Eternal
Available at Amazon / Nook / Kobo
Shoalman Immortal
Available on AMAZON
Tagged: #Books, #co-writing, #ImagesEternal, #MustRead, #NA, #NewAdult, #Romance, #ShoalmanChronicles, #ShoalmanImmortal, #ToniDeckerBooks, #writing
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