Michelle M. Pillow's Blog, page 49

Countdown to Christmas!

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS

Christmas Countdown

 

Don’t shoot the messenger, but as of today we have 42 days till Christmas. I know right? Where has this year gone, we are only 2 weeks away from Turkey Day! Yikes!

So let’s really get down to business. What are YOU wishing Santa will bring? I myself would love something sparkly and pretty in the form of a bracelet…but other then that I’m pretty easy to please. Books are always a “go to” present in my household, or Amazon giftcards; they will never go to waste.

Let’s make a list! What are your top 5 books you are wanting for Christmas? Here’s mine:

1. Tessa Dare – Say Yes to the Marquess (This one releases December 30th!)

2. Dragonbane – Sherrilyn Kenyon (not out till next year, might have to pre-order)

3. Kiss of Christmas Magic Box Set – Our own Ms. Pillow is in this one! (only 99 cents for all those books)

4. Captivated by You – Sylvia Day (I don’t know, I just have to read it)

5. The Heist – Daniel Silva (My guilty pleasure, the Gabriel Allon series… A girl has needs)

 

Now what’s on your top 5 WISH LIST for Christmas?
Comment below…

The post Countdown to Christmas! appeared first on Pillow Talk Blog.

Kiss of Christmas Magic Box Set – Released

Kiss of Christmas Magic
NEW RELEASE! 1312 pages, 20 authors ONLY 99 CENTS!

 

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…except for the hot werewolf in a Santa hat come to seduce you while you read…

Treat yourself to a winter wonderland of shapeshifters and vampires, elves and fairies, ghosts and other paranormal creatures!

Twenty brand-new novellas of Christmas magic from some of the stars of paranormal romance will brighten your holiday with candy cane kisses and hot toddy loving. Spend your long winter nights with otherworldly alpha males where true love always wins the day and the spirits of the season are naughty AND nice.

Amazon US

Amazon Non-US Search: B00OVG6HFG

Kobo

Nook

iBooks

 Includes Everlastingly by Michelle M. Pillow

How do you find something that you don’t know is lost?

On the run from her attackers and battered by a winter storm, Maura O’Brian battles her way through the snow, desperate and alone. She stumbles upon what she believes to be a secluded, abandoned farmhouse where strange voices are be more frightful than what awaits outside. The signs keep pointing to the same person–Jack. His very name fills her heart with such intense longing she’ll do anything to find him.

Is Jack real or simply her fevered imagination hoping for a miracle?

Featuring

Eve Langlais – Caribou’s Gift

This former soldier isn’t about to play the part of a reindeer in a parade–until he spots the hot single mom in charge of it.

Aubrey Rose & Molly Prince-Alpha’s First Christmas

When Natalie discovers that the Scraptown Pack has never celebrated Christmas, she decides to convince their leader, her mate, Hutch, to do something about it.

Deanna Chase – Kissed by Temptation

Ordered to a holiday sorority party by the angelic council, Mati’s night turns from bad to worse when a demon appears to take a new angel recruit to Hell.

Mandy M. Roth – Hunted Holidays

Holidays suck—Dani would rather spend her time enforcing paranormal law on the streets of Chicago.

Michelle M. Pillow – Everlastingly

On the run, Maura seeks refuge in an abandoned farmhouse, where the signs keep pointing to Jack, whose very name fills her with longing.

Angie Fox – A Ghostly Gift

When a spirit stirs up trouble in her friend’s holiday shop, Verity and her dead gangster friend discover a mystery a eight decades in the making.

Mimi Strong – Love Singer

A struggling musician discovers she’s a witch who can cast spells with her songs. Or at least that’s what her sexy professor says.

Viola Rivard – Lost in Winter

A young woman and her niece take shelter with a handsome, enigmatic bear shifter and his cub.

Michele Bardsley – Bear Witness

When Gretchen goes on the run with her murdered sister’s baby, only Rafe has the skills to keep her safe from the superhuman hunters who want her dead.

V. M. Black – A Heart in Winter

Lady Marston is dying—but a mysterious doctor claims that he can save her life. At what cost to her love and her family will come the cure?

Lola St. Vil – Dangerous Distractions

An angelic proposal goes awry in a most unexpected way.

Terah Edun – Witches Shall Rise

Witch. Daughter. Queen. Katherine is a witch with a problem, the holidays have come up, and she knows bad blood with the fae shall rise.

Jessa Slade – Blood Deep

A reporter searching for her missing mother finds a doorway to a realm where only a 700-year-old vampire can make her believe what she sees…and feels.

Chloe Cole – Home for the Howlidays

In a story of homecomings and second chances, Niklaus returns to the town–and the woman–he swore he’d never see again.

Cristina Rayne – Shadows Beneath the Falling Snow

A single touch by the powerful elven king Kirion could reveal a secret Princess Miriel and her family have desperately kept for centuries.

Shawntelle Madison-The Hunter’s Moon

Kaden will do anything to protect his pack, including saving a dying werewolf hunter. But Cynthia would rather take him down than become his mate.

J. S. Hope-Lords of Misrule

Reporter Alessandra “Alex” Donati is in Venice, hot on the trail of a group that celebrates a much older – and much darker – festival that the typical Christmas holiday. She thinks she’s ready for anything, but the reality of the ancient rites – and the passions they provoke – might just be too tempting to resist.

Carina Wilder-Christmas to Bear

Aria heads to the Wolf Rock for a quiet Christmas. But an encounter with the polar bear shifter Lucian turns all those plans upside down.

Dawn Michelle – Cold Winter’s Bite

Hunter has found the perfect girl to be the guest of honor at his holiday getaway. But can he sink his teeth in her before she sets her claws in him?

Jessica Ryan – Breaking the Stag

Celeste is alone and trying to pick up the pieces of her life when she meets a mysterious and sexy stranger who has been there her entire life.

The post Kiss of Christmas Magic Box Set – Released appeared first on Pillow Talk Blog.

Kiss of Christmas Magic Box Set – Everlastingly

 

Kiss of Christmas Magic Box Set

20 STORIES FOR 99 CENTS!

Yes, you read that right. Happy Holidays!

This includes my story

Everlastingly by Michelle M. Pillow

On the run from her attackers and battered by a winterstorm, Maura O’Brian battles her way through the snow, desperate and alone. Shestumbles upon what she believes to be a secluded, abandoned farmhouse where strangevoices are be more frightful than what awaits outside. The signs keep pointingto the same person–Jack. His very name fills her heart with such intenselonging she’ll do anything to find him.

Is Jack real or simply herfevered imagination hoping for a holiday miracle?

Amazon US

Amazon Non-US Search: B00OVG6HFG

iBooks

Nook

Kobo

Eve Langlais – Caribou’s Gift 

This former soldier isn’t about to play the part of a reindeer in a parade–until he spots the hot single mom in charge of it.

Aubrey Rose & Molly Prince – Alpha’s First Christmas

When Natalie discovers that the Scraptown Pack has never celebrated Christmas, she decides to convince their leader, her mate, Hutch, to do something about it.

Deanna Chase – Kissed by Temptation 

Ordered to a holiday sorority party by the angelic council, Mati’s night turns from bad to worse when a demon appears to take a new angel recruit to Hell.

Mandy M. Roth – Hunted Holidays

Holidays suck–Dani would rather spend her time enforcing paranormal law on the streets of Chicago.

Michelle M. Pillow – Everlastingly

On the run, Maura seeks refuge in an abandoned farmhouse, where the signs keep pointing to Jack, whose very name fills her with longing.

Angie Fox – A Ghostly Gift

When a spirit stirs up trouble in her friend’s holiday shop, Verity and her dead gangster friend discover a mystery a eight decades in the making.

Mimi Strong – Love Singer

A struggling musician discovers she’s a witch who can cast spells with her songs. Or at least that’s what her sexy professor says.

Viola Rivard – Lost in Winter 

Lost in the snow-locked mountains with her niece, a young woman finds hope in a handsome, enigmatic bear shifter.

Michele Bardsley – Bear Witness

When Gretchen goes on the run with her murdered sister’s baby, only Rafe has the skills to keep her safe from the superhuman hunters who want her dead.

V. M. Black – A Heart in Winter 

Lady Marston is dying–but a mysterious doctor claims that he can save her life. At what cost to her love and her family will come the cure?

Lola St. Vil – Dangerous Distractions 

An angelic proposal goes awry in a most unexpected way.

Terah Edun – Witches Shall Rise 

Witch. Daughter. Queen. Katherine is a witch with a problem, the holidays have come up, and she knows bad blood with the fae shall rise.

Jessa Slade – Blood Deep 

A reporter searching for her missing mother finds a doorway to a realm where only a 700-year-old vampire can make her believe what she sees…and feels.

Chloe Cole – Home for the Howlidays 

In a story of homecomings and second chances, Niklaus returns to the town–and the woman–he swore he’d never see again.

Cristina Rayne – Shadows Beneath the Falling Snow

A single touch by the powerful elven king Kirion could reveal a secret Princess Miriel and her family have desperately kept for centuries.

Shawntelle Madison – The Hunter’s Moon 

Kaden will do anything to protect his pack, including saving a dying werewolf hunter. But Cynthia would rather take him down than become his mate.

J. S. Hope – Lords of Misrule 

Reporter Alessandra is in Venice chasing the story of her career, but she isn’t prepared for the passion and excess of the Saturnalia Festival–or the gorgeous cult leader Sebastian Assante.

Carina Wilder – Christmas to Bear

Aria heads to the Wolf Rock for a quiet Christmas. But an encounter with the polar bear shifter Lucian turns all those plans upside down.

Dawn Michelle – Cold Winter’s Bite 

Hunter has found the perfect girl to be the guest of honor at his holiday getaway. But can he sink his teeth in her before she sets her claws in him?

Jessica Ryan – Breaking the Stag

Celeste is alone and trying to pick up the pieces of her life when she meets a mysterious and sexy stranger who has been there her entire life.

The post Kiss of Christmas Magic Box Set – Everlastingly appeared first on Pillow Talk Blog.

Seductive Saturday- Lasagna

Hello again. This week we’re doing a family favorite of mine. My son calls this Garfield Food. lol  I’m sharing my lasagna recipe because ….well because I always loved my mom’s growing up and for years I asked her for her recipe and the response I always received was “I don’t have a recipe”. So back in May of 2001 my mom finally moved back home to help me out with my daughter who was just turning a year old. I asked her one day to make her lasagna for us. So she went to the store and got everything she needed that I didn’t already have. I watched her do her magic while my daughter was watching a Disney movie. Probably Beauty and The Beast, it was her favorite at that time. Anyways, I decided to try to recreate my mom’s lasagna and invite a few friends over that had had hers before so that they could tell me if it tasted the same to them. I got so many compliments. I was actually told that mine was better than hers. Shhhhhh……..we won’t tell her that because I still think hers ROCKS. I wanted to share this recipe with you just in case you need and no one will give you theirs.  I hope you all enjoy my recipe as much as my family does.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb browned and drained hamburger meat

1/2 lb browned and drained Italian sausage

1 box lasagna noodles (you’ll only need about 9)

1 large jar of pasta sauce

3 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped

1 medium sweet onion, finely chopped

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary

1 jar/can mushrooms stems and pieces (optional)

1.5 lbs shredded mozzarella cheese

1 large container of cottage cheese

1 small container of ricotta cheese

Directions:

Preheat over to 375* F. Spray a large baking dish or cake pan with non-stick spray. (I’ve been known to make this in the bottom of a deep broiling pan). Spread about a 1/2 cup of the plain pasta sauce in the bottom of the pan. Set aside. Now, in a medium or large sauce pan mix the pasta sauce with the cooked meats, spices, onions and mushrooms. Stir well and let simmer for about 5-10 mins. Now, line the lasagna noodles in the bottom of the pan side by side. Spoon pasta sauce over the noodles. Spoon small amounts of the ricotta and cottage cheese over the sauce. Then spread a nice amount of mozzarella cheese over that. Repeat the noodles, sauce and cheese layers 2 more times (or more if you have a REALLY deep pan). On the last layer you place the noodles down over the mozzarella cheese, add the meat sauce and a final generous layer of mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and bake for about 45 mins. Remove foil and bake for about another 15 minutes. The noodles should be nice and soft and the cheese should be golden brown and bubbly. Let cool for about 10-15 mins. Using a long serrated knife cut the the lasagna into even squares and serve with a slice of garlic bread and a small tossed salad.

 

 

The post Seductive Saturday- Lasagna appeared first on Pillow Talk Blog.

1312 pages, 20 authors, ONLY 99 CENTS!

Kiss of Christmas Magic – 20 Author Antho

Did you see? Did you see? The page count updated.

1312 pages, 20 authors, ONLY 99 CENTS!

Preorder it. Seriously. Go. This is a limited time holiday sale.

Limited Time Holiday Bundle Featuring 20 New York Times, USA Today, and National Bestselling Authors!

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,

not a creature was stirring…except for the hot werewolf in a Santa hat come to seduce you while you read…

Now on sale at Amazon US and other fine online retailers!

 

The post 1312 pages, 20 authors, ONLY 99 CENTS! appeared first on Pillow Talk Blog.

Feature & Follow Friday #FF

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by two different hosts,  Parajunkee  and  Alison Can Read ! This meme is here for bloggers to gain new blogger friends and followers.

Question of the Week:   

Craziest thing you’d be willing to do for an ARC you are dying to read (aka what would you doooo-ooo for that ARC you want? *think of the Klondike Bar music*) – Suggested by A Great Read


When you go to a few conventions a year you tend to get quite the stock pile! But there’s a few books that I might stalk an author for…or shamelessly harass.


To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:


(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers Boarding With Books
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
If you’re new to the Follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!



LET THE FOLLOWING BEGIN! 

The post Feature & Follow Friday #FF appeared first on Pillow Talk Blog.

Michael Schwartz, Interview

Michael Schwartz, Author Spotlight

Dream Symbology Dictionary

Michelle M. Pillow, www.MichellePillow.com

Author Michael Schwartz’s goal is to help people “regain their health on a multiple of levels, including physical, material, social, spiritual and emotional,” which he does daily in his role as the President of Michael’s Naturopathic Programs. One part of his teachings deal with the interpretation of dreams, which he has laid out in his recently published third book, Dream Symbology Dictionary. It is currently in ebook and print from Inner Health Books.

Why are dreams important?

Schwartz: They are guidance. They help you understand which pattern of behavior is at work and where you are in the cycle of its unfolding. Knowing that you can change the outcome so that your personal history does not repeat.

What does it mean that they are “the royal road to the unconscious?” 

Schwartz: When you understand the symbols your mind uses to communicate with you it’s like being on a highway with green lights all the way to Knowing.

Why should I care about my unconscious mind?

Schwartz: It is the real you. It is what motivates you toward heavenly or hellish experience. It drives you to fulfill your subconscious concepts of who you think you should be.

Why do symbols occur in dreams and what are symbols about? 

Schwartz: Symbols are the living language of the mind. They are your personal emotional associations with events from your life.

What are the most important symbols people should watch for? 

Schwartz: Their own. Once you have the ability to read and understand symbols there seems to be a tendency to read others. Can you give me samples of dream interpretation?

The following is an example of the process:

Step 1: I was driving in my car on the way to work when a dog jumped out in front of the car.

Step 2: I was driving in my car on the way to work when a dog jumped out in front of my car.

Step 3:

I =myself, driving=operating my expression

car (type)=expression (solid, stable)

work=communicating, dealing with people

dog =companionship, of a temporary nature

jumped=uncontrolled move, unable to sustain for long

in front=ahead of me, the future

car=expression

Step 4: In expressing myself while working with people today, there will be feelings of a need for companionship. This may cause me to make some kind of uncontrolled move relating to the future, thus it may affect my communications with others.

Now that you have gone through the dream, experience or vision, you are ready to work with the energies of the day. You now know what Concepts and attitudes will be at work in your life, affecting your perception, understandings and your ability to evaluate correctly. Also, ask yourself what are the emotional overtones of the dream. Those will be the dominant emotions you will be dealing with in communicating with others and in expressing yourself. “Know what is in thy sight, and what is hidden from thee will be revealed to thee. For there is nothing hidden which will not manifest” Gospel according to Thomas pg. 5 10-14).

I can never remember my dreams. Is there a way to help me remember? 

Schwartz: One easy technique is to tell yourself as you are falling asleep “mind, mind remember my dreams when I brush my teeth.” This is an example of one of the many things that you can use as a trigger.

It is best to use something that you do everyday upon waking or shortly thereafter. The very best is to have a trigger that will help you remember while you are still lying in bed. It will also be helpful to keep a pad and pen by your bed so that as you remember you can write it down. In that way even the smallest detail will not be lost.

Does what you eat affect your dreams? Also, does what you read or watch before going to bed affect your dreams? 

Schwartz: Yes in both cases. You could have dream where you are a refining facility and produce gas all night long. As for reading and watching something there is always the possibility that it along with the day’s activities will stimulate a particular concept and that will get the ball rolling.

What kind of things can I expect to learn from interpreting my dreams? 

Schwartz: How to achieve what you want and how to avoid the internal energies that will work against you getting it.

Do you interpret nightmares differently than dreams? 

Schwartz: Yes, faster. Symbols are symbols. Nightmares are the result of suppression and now your mind NEEDS you to understand.

Why do you think readers, and society in general, are fascinated by the unexplained?

Schwartz: We are driven to understand so that we can master the material plane.

Do you believe in the supernatural? Or are you a skeptic?

Schwartz: Of course I believe because I know we are Supernatural beings. The issue is not all of us know how to manifest it.

What is your next book project?

Schwartz: The Universal Teachings. These are the guidelines that help humanity be the spiritual beings they are without following the ways of man.

To learn more about Michael Schwartz and his work, visit www.innerhealthbooks.com ; www.thesymbologist.org

 

 

The post Michael Schwartz, Interview appeared first on Pillow Talk Blog.

Have you added the Pillow Fighters Group to your Facebook Group Favorites?

Pillow Fighter Fan Club: Have you added the Pillow Fighters Group to your Facebook Group Favorites? Its EASY!

First way: In the group next to Notifications (the . . . button) in the drop down pick favorites.

Other way: on left side of your FB “stuff” you’ll see Groups. Put cursor over Groups and you’ll see MORE option pop up. Click it.

Then to the right of your groups you can add some to your favorites lists

The post Have you added the Pillow Fighters Group to your Facebook Group Favorites? appeared first on Pillow Talk Blog.

Be sure you’re seeing your favorite authors on Facebook

Be sure you’re seeing your favorite authors on Facebook

Facebook is ever-changing and so is the way they show readers who like my Author Page my posts. To be sure you’re being shown my posts (or at least up your chances) be sure to do the following quick steps on Facebook.

1. Go to my Author Page

Michelle M. Pillow Author Page on Facebook

2. Click on the LIKED button up top. You will see a drop down menu that says Get Notifications and Add to Interest Lists. Check both of these. If you already have interest lists set up, add me to the one that works. If not, its easy. Go to step 3 now and I’ll show you how.

3. Select NEW LISTS

 

4. Select Me as an option and be sure “I’m” checked. Hit NEXT

5. Now name your new list. Hit DONE.

The post Be sure you’re seeing your favorite authors on Facebook appeared first on Pillow Talk Blog.

Anatomy of a Book Cover

What makes a good book cover? 

I’ve outlined a few of my favorite things above: Man Chest, Sexy 6 pack abs, beautiful bi-ceps and Kilts! Kilts are always a winner for me, I’m partial to a good Highland Romance cover.

But what do you look for in a Romance cover? Do you like to see Men on your covers? Couples? A Woman?

My biggest pet peeve is when the cover does absolutely nothing to help you know what’s on the inside of the book. Haven’t you ever purchased a book because you LOVED the cover, only to discovery what lies beneath is so not what you wanted to read.

This happened to me. I bought a book by a well known author, the beautiful cover looked so amazing and contemporary. But when I read the book, it was a historical romance! (disclaimer: I love Hist. Romance) I think this must have been a marketing angle, and it worked. The cover was similar to other 50 shades type covers, and I took the bait.

But I think no matter the gender on the cover, it’s the feeling you get when you see it. A good cover can transport you into the book before you ever turn that first page.

Tell me in the comments below what you look for in a book cover?

Or your favorite Michelle Pillow book cover?

 

Find them all here: http://michellepillow.com/browse-title/

The post Anatomy of a Book Cover appeared first on Pillow Talk Blog.