Mandy M. Roth's Blog, page 87
April 14, 2012
Best Buy Triple Charging for Purchases
WARNING: Best Buy is triple charging for purchases and the company is aware of this glitch in system yet is NOT warning consumers at register. This is TRUE. I know. It just happened to me. Today (April 14th, 2012) I went in and made a purchase of $243.84. The terminal CC processor lagged and the clerk re-ran the card. Still lagged. Then, it required her to call in and verify the amount. She did. The purchase was then completed and she said “they didn’t give a reason why I had to call”. We left with our purchases. Curious, and fearful my debit card info might have been hacked or something else, I got to the car and logged into my online banking system only to find Best Buy had charged me $243.84 THREE times in a row, holding/deducting that amount from my available balance.
I went right back in and alerted the clerk who had checked me out. As I said it the boy clerk next to her said, “Oh yes, that’s been happening. Just had it happen the other day”. The manager came out, plastered a smile to her face and said, “Yes, Best Buy company is aware of this problem. Its happening company wide. Your money should be released/back to you next week.”
I said, “It has a hold of nearly $500 extra on my account now.”
She said, “Well, the money is not technically gone. Its just being held by your bank.”
I replied, “So, what you’re saying is Best Buy is holding nearly $500 of my money hostage?”
Continuing to smile, she said, “Um, yes, I guess they are.”
“I have the extra in the account,” I said, seething mad but maintaining a calm exterior. Mind you, I don’t consider $500 pocket change. “But what happens to someone who doesn’t and Best Buy does this to them?”
She said, “Oh, that’s already happened. We had a customer in here who was also overcharged three times and we had to call for verification on their card too, then when they realized they were charged three times they stood up here yelling at us, furious.”
I looked at my husband and I said, “What I’m getting out of this conversation is, good luck getting the hold off your money.”
I’m so disappointed in Best Buy. A company wide problem such as this should be posted throughout the store and at the registers, alerting customers of the possible glitch and letting customers decide if they want to make a purchase now or go and get cash. I can tell you I would NOT have purchased my items then. I would have gone and grabbed cash and returned.
I will keep you posted on how long/if my money is returned to me.
UPDATE: since posting this here, on facebook and on twitter I’m getting many reports in of this happening to other over the past weekend/several days. Some have gone to check their statements and have been surprised to see double or more charges. Others were alerted right away and are dealing with the same thing I am. One man was charged 10x’s for his purchase. Another is out $700 as well. Countless more. Please spread the word about this. Tell your family and your friends. Protect yourself.
The economy is in the toilet and no one wants to be “donating” money to a company that doesn’t seemed bothered by the fact their systems are glitching and doing this to hard working people. Money is hard to come by and when it is removed/held from your account without your permission it should not be addressed with a large smile and a “yes, the company is aware of the problem”. The consumer should be aware of this!
From my comments below: “I’m getting a lot of reports in about this very thing happening to others all weekend. These people don’t have the same social “reach” I do. I needed to be a voice for them as best I could. I am truly hoping the 10 k plus who read my blog monthly, the 2 k on Facebook, the 2 k on twitter and the thousands on yahoo groups spread the word. That they all warn their friends and family members. The economy is shit right now. No one can be playing games with their hard-earned money and no company should conduct biz this way.”
Post keywords to help others find it so they are informed:
consumer report, best buy, best buy overcharging account, best buy multiple charges to account, credit card, fraud
Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Snippet from Adam’s Angel (League of the Unnatural) by Mandy M. Roth
Tori swirled her tongue around Adam’s lazily. Her nipples were like diamonds against her thin shirt, digging at his chest. She made no effort to hide what he was doing to her, even though it was outside her normal behavior. She bit lightly at his lower lip and growled playfully. “Mmm, this is different.”
“Good different or bad different?” he asked.
“Very good.”
A sonic boom went off at the other end of the club, cutting off their kiss in midstream. Screams filled the air along with a plume of smoke as the wall to the club crumbled, crushing patrons in the process. The enemy poured into the club, cutting through the humans as they went. It was easy to know they weren’t on the side of good. Aside from the fact they had a rather dramatic entrance, they radiated evil.
Lars, Adam, Adira and Pike ran headfirst at the enemy. There were too many for them to stop. The enemy spilled forth onto the dance floor. Mass pandemonium broke out. Screams and fear filled the smoke-riddled air. Tori spun around wildly, getting her bearings.
One of the men grabbed Roxy and Tori struck out fast, drawing on the strength she kept hidden from everyone in her life. She knocked the shifter clear of Roxy and stepped in front of her friend as the man extended claws from his fingertips.
He snarled, sniffing the air. “I found her! The one who put our leader in prison!” His shouts drew the attention of the enemy. They looked at Tori and in the blink of an eye were charging her.
There was a quick popping noise and suddenly Adam was there, putting his hands up and tossing power around them. He made a protective bubble of sorts. The bad guys slammed into it and bounced off.
Adam glanced back at her. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine.” Tori caught a glimpse of something flashing behind Adam and had a half a second to register what it was—the sword of Kanjana—a weapon capable of passing through any barrier, magikal or man-made.
“Adam, no!” She pushed in front of Adam as the sword pierced his power and lodged into her chest. Pain seized hold of her and she staggered. Strong arms wrapped around her.
“Tori! Oh, gods, hon, no.” Adam stared wide-eyed at the sword sticking out of her chest. “It was meant for me, Tori.”
She touched his lips, silencing him as she fought to take a breath.
“Ding dong, the bitch is dead,” a feminine voice said. “That should teach the humans not to interfere in our lives. They’re nothing in the scope of things. Little ants to be squashed under our shoe when they get in our way.”
Adam’s blue gaze locked on Tori. His lips trembled as he put his hand on her chest. “I can try to heal this, Tori. I can try to—”
“Pull it out,” she whispered.
Megan Hart:Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Eliza Gayle
Mandy M Roth
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Shiloh Walker
TJ Michaels
Lauren Dane
Shelli Stevens
Jody Wallace
April 11, 2012
Elisabeth Naughton, Interview by Michelle M. Pillow
Elisabeth Naughton, Interview
by Michelle M. Pillow, www.michellepillow.com
Paranormal romance author, Elisabeth Naughton, left teaching Jr High science to write full time. Her debut release, Stolen Fury, heralded by Publisher's Weekly as "A rock-solid debut," was recently nominated for two prestigious RITA awards by Romance Writers of America in the Best First Book category and the Best Romantic Suspense category. She pens novels from her home in western Oregon where she lives with her husband and three children and when she's not writing, she can be found hanging out at the ball park and daydreaming about new and exciting adventures.
Her latest novel, ENTWINED, book 2 in the Eternal Guardians Series, released in print and ebook July 27, 2010 (ISBN: 9780505528230). It can be found everywhere books are sold.
Please join me in welcoming Elisabeth Naughton!
*****
In your book, Entwined, you delve into the world of Greek gods and ancient myths. What inspired you to write about this?
Elisabeth:I have always been a huge fan of Greek mythology and the ancient stories. When I was writing STOLEN FURY, my debut release, I spent a lot of time researching mythology for the plot. IN that book, the characters were searching for three ancient Greek relics that depicted the Three Furies, the goddesses of punishment in crime in Greek mythology. When I got done with that book, I knew I wanted to do something else that centered on the ancient stories, and because I've always loved the possibility of the paranormal world, I decided to combine the two.
When world building, did you base your story off of known myths throughout history?
Elisabeth:My world is heavily rooted in Greek mythology. The warriors in my books are each descended from one of the great heroes from the ancient myths. Zander, the hero in ENTWINED, is a descendant of the famed hero Achilles. He, like Achilles, is a great warrior who seems to be immortal. He's lived longer than any of his warrior kin, has watched kings come and go as well as those he loves. He's been injured just about everywhere a man can be injured, and yet has never taken a mortal wound. But like his forefather Achilles, he has a vulnerability. He just hasn't found it yet.
What myths or legends inspired you?
Elisabeth:I think all myths inspire me in one way or another. I love reading mythology from any culture. The Aztec myths are fascinating. Irish folklore can keep me awake for hours. And I can easily get lost in the gods and goddesses from ancient Egypt. Historians believe Tolkien pulled from many myths when he created The Lord of the Rings. Someday, I'd love to do that with a series myself.
Why do you think readers, and society in general, are fascinated by the paranormal?
Elisabeth: Well, personally, I think people are always fascinated by what they don't understand. Would I really want to meet a vampire or werewolf on the street? I don't think so, but the idea those creatures might exist is what intrigues me and many others as well. Human beings by nature are always trying to wrap their minds around things they don't understand, and the paranormal is one instance where a logical answer just can't be found, no matter how long you look. And no matter what, someone will always claim they have evidence that will probably leave you guessing even more.
What are your favorite paranormal shows, movies and books?
Elisabeth:I was a HUGE fan of the X-Files before it went off the air. I still watch it in reruns. I also enjoy paranormal romances where, even though I might get scared, I know things are going to work out well in the end.
Do you believe in the supernatural? Or are you a skeptic?
Elisabeth:I used to teach science, and I remember talking to my students about the millions and millions of stars in the universe, and the millions and millions of planets circling those stars. The probability that we are the only planet in the solar system that exists in the life zone of a star is pretty slim. That means the chance that life exists elsewhere, beyond our reach, is highly likely. Do I believe in aliens and little green men? I believe there is a lot I don't know, and anything is possible.
As for the supernatural right here on earth? Again, I think anything is possible.
Have you ever had a paranormal experience?
Elisabeth:Nothing exciting like a haunted house or being abducted by aliens. Mostly my interaction with the supernatural occurs in those déjà vu moments many of us experience. Something will happen that I could swear already happened, or it's similar to something I pictured happening. Not entirely sure what that means.
What kind of paranormal creatures do you wish you could meet?
Elisabeth:I would love to meet the characters from my books – descendents rooted in Greek mythology. They look human, act human, are, actually, part human, but have a little something extra as well.
If given the chance, would you become a character from your book?
Elisabeth:No. The hero in ENTWINED has a real issue with being immortal. Looking at the world through his eyes, it wouldn't be fun to live forever while everyone else around you comes and goes. It would be like that movie Groundhog Day, one day blending into the next with no endpoint in sight.
How would you react if you came face to face with a supernatural being?
Elisabeth:I don't think I'd believe it. Which means, hey, maybe I've already come in contact with something from the supernatural and just don't know it!
What does the future hold for the Eternal Guardian Series?
Elisabeth:The second book, ENTWINED, released on July 27, 2010 and will be followed by book three TEMPTED in February 2011. I'm contracted for two more books in the series after TEMPTED (currently untitled), but readers can expect them to hit store shelves about every six months.
Learn more about Elisabeth and her work at www.elisabethnaughton.com.Interview by Michelle M. Pillow, www.michellepillow.com
MwM Author Spotlight: Debra Mullins
Marketing with Mandy Author Spotlight: Debra Mullins
Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Avon, Tor and/or Samhain Publishing.
A: I wrote 14 historical romances for Avon Books. They were my very first publisher, and they really know what they are doing as far as publishing and marketing historical romance. I recently switched over to contemporary paranormal romances and have a trilogy I am working on for Tor involving the descendents of the survivors of Atlantis and their various cool powers. Most recently, I have been working with Samhain Publishing on the digital release of some of my backlist titles. Working with an electronic publisher is very different than a print publisher, but in good ways. Everything is done electronically, from the contracts to the communication with people at the house to payment of royalties. Print publishers still tend to do things in hard copy, which takes longer.
Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?
A: I'm not great a promotion, but I am very good at talking! I am very active on Twitter, and I try to do some guest blogging around the time of every release. I go to a lot of conferences. Sometimes I am a speaker and sometimes I just attend and sign at the bookfair. I almost always manage to get to RWA's big conference every year. I really like meeting and interacting with readers. In the end, I'm a reader, too, so we all have something in common.
Q: What is one thing you'd want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?
A: Don't get so caught up in the business of publishing that you forget the joy of writing. If you follow the joy, success will follow.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: My most recent releases are the first time ever digital publishing of three of my back list titles: ONCE A MISTRESS, DONOVAN'S BED and THE LAWMAN'S SURRENDER. All of these were first published by Avon Books, and ONCE A MISTRESS was the very first book I ever wrote. It was an RWA Golden Heart nominee back in its day, and then Avon bought it. DONOVAN'S BED and THE LAWMAN'S SURRENDER are related books. They're historical westerns, and DONOVAN'S BED was an RWA RITA nominee back in 2001. I'm very excited to have these titles coming out again, and Samhain has been really great to work with. ONCE A MISTRESS, a pirate swashbuckler, is already available (Dec. 2011 release). DONOVAN'S BED is coming out in February 2012, and THE LAWMAN'S SURRENDER comes out April 16, 2012. I'm especially excited about DONOVAN'S BED, since it's one of my personal favorites. Here's the premise: A mysterious man moves to a small Wyoming town and buys himself a ranch and a huge bed to go with it. The heroine is the editor of the town newspaper and is determined to find out all his secrets. But Donovan and Sarah are like oil and water, and when he insults her, she publishes a provocative article about his search for a wife in the paper. The article has unforeseen consequences, as every unmarried female in the area descends on the town, determined to be the woman in Donovan's bed. Watch for the sequel, THE LAWMAN'S SURRENDER, due out April 14, 2012.
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP's?
A: I just finished the first book of my paranormal trilogy. It's in the revision/editing phase with my editor now. The hero is Rafe Montana, a bounty hunter from Vegas who is descended from one of the survivors of Atlantis. He's a Seer, and his powers include the ability to see if someone is telling the truth (which all Seers have) and the ability to find anyone, anywhere. The heroine, Cara McGaffigan, is a woman who has come to Vegas to find her missing stepbrother. There are other parties chasing the stepbrother as well, and Cara joins forces with Rafe to both escape the bad guys and find her stepbrother before anyone else can. I'm very excited about this series, as I've wanted to write paranormals for a very long time.
Q: How did you get into writing?
A: In junior high, a friend of mine started writing fan fiction about Battlestar Galactica (the original), starring me and her as the girlfriends of Starbuck and Apollo. This was before the internet and before everyone had a personal computer in the house, so the stories were written in spiral notebooks by hand. Periodically she would hand me the notebook and tell me to write some. I was afraid at first. What did I know about writing? But apparently I had a knack, because she started handing me the notebook more and more, and all our friends loved what I wrote. As we got older, I started writing my own stuff, one of which was the story that eventually became ONCE A MISTRESS, my first published work. I wrote that story in seventh grade English class, and years later when I was married and home all day with a baby, I decided to try and flesh out the story into a viable romance novel. The rest is history. J
Q: How do you balance family and writing?
A: For me it is a three way balance because I still have a very demanding day job. So the question is, how do I balance family, my day job and writing? The answer: by juggling as fast as I can. I met my current husband at my day job, so we still work in the same building and we ride back and forth to work together. He's very supportive of my writing, as he has his own creative outlet in music. He sees my writing as a job, and therefore when I am on a deadline, he understands if I have to lock myself in my office for hours at a time at night and on the weekends. My children are now both college age, but I have always been writing and publishing ever since they can remember. When they were little I would write at night after they went to bed and whenever I could on the weekends when they were off with their friends. I was a single mom for a few years before meeting my current husband, but the kids' father was great about spending time with them. Every other weekend I would be completely free to write since they would be off with their dad. As far as my day job, I would often get up an hour early to get in some pages before work and then write longhand on my lunch hour. I got many a book done this way.
LINKS:
April 7, 2012
Saturday Snippet-Tracks of My Tears
Contemporary Romance
Sometimes, it's possible to forgive but never forget. Can true love conquer all?
Devan Seward is in the process of starting over—moving to the big city and doing her best to move on from an ugly past. When she waylays "Mr. Right" in the stairwell of her new apartment building, she feels an instant connection to him. There is something about the tall, dark and handsome man that leaves her feeling as if she's known him all her life. Devan no longer trusts blindly, a hard lesson learned but can't seem to stop herself from confessing things better left behind.
Chef Kurt Holland is like a rock god in the culinary world. Cooking is his passion. His restaurant, E&E, caters only to the rich and famous. When a sexy blast from the past literally falls into his lap, he refuses to retreat like he did last time. No. Seizing the moment and Devan's heart becomes his ultimate passion.
Sometimes, it's possible to forgive but never forget and the web of hurt reaches out further than most realize. Second chances at first loves and shocking revelations leave Devan and Kurt fighting not only their true nature, but outside influences as well to be together, hoping love truly can conquer all.
EXCERPT
Must be 18 years and older to read. If not, please leave the site.
Simmering Seductions
By
Mandy M. Roth
Note to Readers:
This story deals with sensitive subjects such as domestic violence, drug abuse and deception. It has explicit sex, strong language and violence against the heroine (not by hero). It also deals with issues of abuser rehabilitation, second chances at redemption, forgiveness and the fact that life is not always black and white. In many cases, it is not possible to forgive or forget. In other's it is possible to forgive but never forget. Author cautions that this book is not for all and that it is merely the creation of a character that needed to tell her story.
Chapter One
"You're going to need to move that sexy ass or I'm going to toss it onto this sofa and carry it up four floors before having my way with it."
Turning, I saw only the green leaves of the oversized fern plant I carried. Unfortunately, I knew the voice and knew its owner, Jake, would actually do exactly what he threatened to do. "Let me go first so I don't have to play 'follow dink and dork' up the stairs."
"I'm dork," Jake called out, chuckling from his end of the sofa. "Your brother can be dink."
"What's a dink?" Gideon, my brother, asked.
Jake and I laughed. I did my best to find the door handle. Although covering my eyes and finding a needle in a haystack might have been more productive. "Nothing. It's a good thing, really."
"Uh-huh. Why am I not believing you?"
Jake snorted. "Probably because you've known her for over thirty years. Now, as for you, Devan, you need to get your ass up those stairs. This thing isn't getting any lighter. I've already lifted more things in one morning than I have in ten years."
"Hey, be nice or I'll do it."
Gideon groaned. "If she breaks into song again I'm kicking your ass, Jake. Then I'm leaving. I thought she stopped all that. Now, I'm afraid to turn my television on for fear of seeing her dancing and singing with some guy in black leather."
"Hey, your little sister is a gem. Back off," Jake said, laughing. "But if you do leave, can I keep her?"
"I'd like to see you try," I said, rushing through the door. I broke out into an interesting rendition of Do Wah Diddy replacing the she's with he's and hurried through the door. I knew the staircase was directly in front of the door so I lifted the fern high in the air to watch for the first step and began to jog up them.
"Watch where you're—"
"Nope. Not stopping until you both sing along and tell me that you will miss me horribly when you leave. Next up on the jukebox is an eighties song. I'm feeling very Madonnaish. Consider yourselves warned." I went right back into Do Wah Diddy.
I made it up about six steps before I slammed into something that felt like the equivalent of a brick wall. I went backwards instantly. When two large arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me forward instead of back, I realized the brick wall was actually a person.
Before I knew it, I was being twisted around and suddenly on said person's lap and we ended up sitting on the stairs. The massive fern blocked my view of him but if the size of the arms were any indication—the person was male, definitely. I couldn't help it. I burst into laughter at the absurdity of it all.
Parting the fern, I peeked through to find a pair of emerald green eyes staring back at me. The squared face they were set in made my breath catch. This was no ordinary man. No. This man was amazing. He had a pronounced jaw and forehead, giving him that dark brooding look I liked so much. His black hair was cut in one of those stylishly messy ways. It stood about two inches off the top of his head but was cut close on the sides and back.
Taking a deep breath in, I caught the familiar scent of figwood and fruits. It was something I hadn't smelled in years and the memories it brought back made my insides flutter. Sighing was an option I was more than willing to take. As my gaze traveled over his thick, corded neck I laughed harder. "Only I would make an ass of myself in front of a living god. I am so sorry. Are you hurt?"
I leaned through the fern more and glanced down. The snug fitting short sleeved Roberto Cavalli shirt he wore drew attention to his steely upper body. I gulped as I looked down at his dirt covered groin. The flat front kakis he had on did little to hide the bulge growing quickly beneath them. "Looks really fine," I sang softly.
"Your eyes are…"
My gaze went to his as I soaked in the sound of his deep voice. It was the kind of voice I could get used to hearing whispering sweet nothings to me in the wee hours of the night. "Disturbing? Two different colors? Yeah, I know one is blue and one is brown. Sorry."
"Don't be sorry." He shook his head. "They're beautiful."
I blushed and did the only thing I could think of, I laughed. The man's eyes widened more before he too began to laugh. There was something about him that was so familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it. "Do I know you?"
He stopped laughing and tipped his head a bit, seeming to study me. Something moved over his face that looked to be shock. "You can't be her."
"Her who?" I asked between chuckles. "To be perfectly honest, since I've already made an absolute fool of myself, you make me think of The Clash. Why is that? You aren't planning on rocking any Casbah are you?"
His green eyes widened. I fought the urge to trace a line with my thumb over his full lips. It was hard. Somehow, I managed.
"So, should I stay or should I go?" I asked, giving him a smile I hoped appeared to be sexy while I continued my Clash skit.
"Stay." He shook his head slightly and smiled back. His smile was for sure sexy. "How?"
"How?" I cleared my throat. "How am I me? Or how am I her? Are all sexy New Yorkers this odd? Do you feel like you know me, too?"
The slight, stunned nod was the only answer I got out of him.
"My guess is we've crossed paths. You don't play a professional sport, do you?"
"No," he said, staring at me with an odd fascination. "Is that a prerequisite?"
Liking the man more than I should, I shook my head. "No. My list of must haves isn't too long. Not playing a professional sport is at the top."
Jake snorted. "If you can pick up a phone and order a pizza she's yours. If you can actually make one yourself, you may never get rid of her. If you're able to make anything above that you just met your future wife."
"Why thank you, Jake." I shot him a dirty look. He grinned like a schoolboy. "I always love it when my friends try to push me off on men who could be married, in a serious relationship, or not ones to pick women over men."
"If you would spend less time trying not to drool and more time looking at the guy, you'd see he's staring at you like it's taking everything in him not to touch you and I don't see any rings on his fingers."
I snorted. "Oh, like that means anything. How many times did other women have at you know who?"
"Oh, right. I forgot."
The man touched my cheek lightly and I drew in a sharp breath as familiar feelings washed over me. Closing my eyes I savored the moment.
"Devan, get off the nice man and move. This thing is heavy," Gideon said, sounding annoyed.
The man's eyes lit. "Devan?"
"Right." I nodded and stood slowly. Lifting the fern off him, I gasped. "Ohmygod, you're covered in dirt now. I'm so sorry. Here, give me those and I'll take them to the cleaners." I set the fern down on the stair and turned to face him. "Wait, umm, I didn't mean to just ask you to get naked. But I'd honestly be okay with that."
"Devan," Gideon growled out. "I get you're an adult. All I'm asking is to not be reminded of that—ever."
"Jake, do you still have my wallet?" I glanced at Gideon. "Just so you know, I'm ignoring you."
Jake laughed. "Yeah, what do you need?"
"Five hundred dollars to replace the nice man's clothing. I'm guessing he doesn't want to take a check from a lady he just met in the stairwell. The Cavalli alone is three. It's in this season which tells me the guy pays attention to fashion. I'd get into the jeans but Gideon would demand to have his eyes gouged out and I'd enjoy it too much."
Gideon coughed, not bothering to hide his shock. "People here wear five hundred dollar outfits? I was with you when you bought a dress for a dollar at a thrift store, Devan."
"The one that's brown with obnoxious orange flowers on it?" Jake asked, knowing full well it was that one.
"Yeah."
I rolled my eyes. "It's a Betsy Johnson. I saved a few hundred dollars. And how can you think brown and orange is obnoxious, Jake?" I rolled my eyes. "Ooo, I really liked the avocado green sweater I got that day, too."
Gideon sighed. "What was that? A Lou Reed?"
Flipping him off, I smiled at the sexy man and did my best to avoid touching him. It was hard. "I feel like singing Little Orphan Annie songs. Who's up for a night of that?"
"Put the sofa down. I'm going to tape her mouth shut and hide her wallet. She does not need to be spending money."
Jake laughed hard. "Stop being over protective. If the girl wants to hand the man money to replace his clothes then let her, Gideon. Don't you think she's had enough issues with having control of her own life? Stop making her out to be on the verge of poverty. She's worked her ass off to have what she does and I, for one, am damn happy to know that she doesn't need to worry about money. You know, she still hasn't accepted a penny of the, umm, other stuff."
I wanted to throw my shoe at Jake. His code words for alimony were ridiculous. Instead, I glared at my brother, already anticipating the coming argument. "And I'm not going to, Gideon, so don't try to make me."
"Milk the bastard dry, Devan. You earned the right."
"Gideon."
"Hey, you're entitled to half," my brother said, his gaze narrowed and locked on me. "Ask Jake."
Rolling my eyes, I sighed. We'd had this talk more times than I could count and I was beyond tired of it. That didn't mean he'd stop. He'd chirp about me taking my ex to the cleaners until I was dead. Of that, I was sure. "I'll pretend you didn't say that."
Gideon growled. "Fine, whatever." He nodded towards the stranger before me. "Give the guy the money and get him off the step. This isn't getting any lighter. Tell me again why I didn't let movers do this for her?"
"Because you have a guilt complex that won't quit and the very idea of your baby sister being so far away from you is killing you on the inside. And you keep running various ways to get her to come home, or move your practice up here, through your head."
I snorted. "Jake, he pushed me through the living room window when I was five. I don't think that's it. Try again."
"I did not push you. You were spinning around pretending to be a princess ballerina and hit my model car," Gideon bit out. "I just moved you away from it."
"Yeah, and right through the screen. That bush had so many wasps in it that my ass hurt for weeks. It did get me out of a few annoying recitals. Thanks for that." I glanced down at the sexy man on the step. "For reference, wasps don't take kindly to people invading their area." I rubbed my butt for effect and winked.
He just stared up at me, looking as though he was both shocked and pleased. I hoped he was both. It wasn't every day that I felt I wowed someone.
Jake laughed so hard he sounded like a seal barking. "Why didn't I know about this?"
"You did," Gideon said. "Remember the month I refused to come… err… couldn't come out and play? It was because of that."
"Mom did not ground you. She didn't have to. You were a mess. You grounded yourself. Uncle Robert talked to you for like twenty minutes about how you only have one sister." I put my hand out and started to impersonate my very Italian uncle. "Gideon, look at her. She hurts but is worried about your toy. She is a gift, a dove sent to bring us all joy and happiness. Treat her as such for you do not know when they will ask for her to return home."
"Holy shit, that's why you were on your porch crying your eyes out. You were upset you hurt her." Jake's laughter wrapped around me and was infectious.
"Worse than that," I blew Gideon a kiss, "he kept sneaking into my room at night to make sure I wasn't dead. Uncle Robert convinced him that angels would show up at any minute and snatch me up. Tell him what you did, Gideon."
"No." His grunt was heard round the world. The tiniest of blushes stained my brother's cheeks and I couldn't help but laugh.
Jake grinned and gave me a 'spill it' look.
"Gideon found a spool of ribbon from one of those overdone dresses Mom used to put me in and tied my ankle to my bed. I woke up with it wrapped around me so tight that dad had to cut it off and then point out that if Gideon did it again I could lose my leg. That only made him worse. How he became a doctor is beyond me."
"See he loves you." Jake laughed. "He dedicated his life to understanding how not to kill you."
Gideon growled again. "I would like to get this to the fourth floor and then beat the living hell out of you, Jake."
"I'll sue you," Jake offered with a flippant gesture that only Jake could pull off with such flare and style.
The muscles in Gideon's neck worked overtime. I knew if he could get his hands on Jake, he really would strangle him for a good few seconds before they were laughing and carrying on again. "And I'll fuck up the meds I prescribe you next time you're sick. How's a little birth control sound? Having issues with feminine itch? Oh, what? You have flames shooting out of your dick?"
Rolling my eyes, I put my hand out to the sexy man staring at me on the step and offered him a smile. "I'm sorry. This is what happens when you take a doctor and a lawyer too far from home. If you give us a minute to get the sofa upstairs, I'll get you what you need to replace the outfit and I'll still have this one cleaned for you."
He shook his head, taking my hand and standing slowly. Warmth spread up my arm from his touch and my nipples hardened almost instantly. "No. It's fine."
Yes, you are.
"Wonderful, can we please get this up the stairs?" Gideon smiled at me and glanced at the sofa. "You would buy this before you moved. Couldn't you buy it once you got here?"
My jaw dropped. "Excuse me but you bought that for me. You and your shadow," I pointed at Jake, "insisted on it."
"In our defense, Devan, we did break your other ones," Jake said, running his hands through his shaggy hair.
"The idea of three grown men going at it like school boys had to be a sight to see. And for the record, you three trashed my entire lower level."
Jake glanced at Gideon nervously. "Yeah, school boys."
"Gideon, tell me you didn't go all Bruce Lee on him. You're thirty-four. You could hurt yourself." I let out a soft laugh. "You already had Jake helping you out. What more did you need?"
Jake cleared his throat. "Umm, Devan, I was actually trying get Gideon under control. I wasn't helping beat the crap out of anyone. I didn't think you wanted to have to visit your brother in prison or see his career get flushed down the shitter. I can get him off of just about any charge. Murder isn't one of them."
I glanced at the sexy man. "One second." I ran down the stairs, kicked my slip-on white tennis shoes off, hopped onto the sofa and walked across it to get to Gideon. Tossing my arms around his thick neck, I hugged him tight as I kissed his cheek. "I love you even though you made my ass hurt for a week."
As I pulled back, I found his eye glistening. He nodded and kissed my forehead. "Promise you'll call every day, Devan. Twice a day even. Maybe I should get you a cell phone that you can leave on all the time. Yeah, that might work. Like an intercom or something."
Drawing back, I knew he was fighting tears and Gideon was a big guy who didn't cry. I wagged my brows as I looked him up and down. "Hey, Jake."
"Yeah."
"Picture Gideon in a prison uniform. He'd no longer need me to buy all of his clothes so he matches. Plus, he'd land a boyfriend in about two seconds." I instantly launched into Jailhouse Rock doing my best Elvis. I rotated my hips and curled my lip not caring who saw me do it.
Gideon put his hand over my mouth. I continued to sing into it, sounding muffled and still not caring. He shook his head and laughed. "Jake, get the tape. She's back with a vengeance. If she starts laughing so hard she can't breathe I'm going down to the corner bar and grabbing a beer. I might need two. No fear. She'll still be laughing when I get back."
My cell phone rang. I put my hand out to Jake who had my phone on his hip. "Devan, that ring means work, so don't panic. It's not an emergency."
"You don't say. Gee, it's only my cell phone. The one I programmed the rings into." I kept shaking my hips as I took the phone from him. I opened it. "Devan Charter."
Gideon growled. "It's Devan Seward now."
"Everyone there knows her as Charter. It's easier for her to let it stay that way," Jake said, in a hushed tone.
"Fuck easier. She is divorced," my brother snapped. "I'll put it on a billboard for her."
I pointed at him. He shut up.
"Ah, Devan, I'm glad I caught you."
The sound of Chas Martins' voice made my eyes roll. "Mr. Martins, I didn't realize we were on a first name basis now."
Jake poked my arm lightly and smiled. "Is that dickhead? Dev, if it is you have to put the guy on speakerphone. Gideon never believes me when I tell him about the lounge lizard who keeps trying to get you to work for him." He clasped his hands together and dropped to his knees. "Please, it's funny as hell. Plus, Gideon never gets to hear you be a bitch for real. The man thinks you have no spine. Show him."
My eyes bulged as I stared down at Jake. I nodded. "Mr. Martins, I'm currently knee deep in Open to Buy reports so I need to put you on speaker phone."
"Certainly, I understand how that is."
I hit the button and held the phone out. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"You can start by calling me Chas. We've known one another for over five years. It's safe to say we can be on a first name basis, Devan. I consider you a friend and friends tend to share many things, including casual conversation."
Jake grinned.
I bit back a laugh. "I'm well aware of what friends share. What I'm not sure of is the reasoning behind your call. If you are implying this is casual then I should remind you I'm on company time here." I crossed my fingers and shoved them in Jake's face. He laughed, planted a tiny kiss on them and stood quickly.
Chas sighed. "You do like to make it difficult for me. That is exactly the attitude I want my consultants to have, Devan."
"Hmm, calling competitor's top executives while they are working, to attempt to persuade them to join the team, is the absolute last sort of practice I want the company I'm with participating in. It sort of screams unprofessional. And we are all professionals here, right, Mr. Martins?"
I'd built an empire, being a Jill-of-all-trades in matters of marketing consultations. If someone had a business problem, I generally had a solution. Martins operated the same way. He provided marketing and business consultations, often placing someone in-house with the company in question.
"Call me Chas. And, Devan, you're not thinking clearly right now. This is a trying time for you coming off a messy divorce and I'd like to help ease the burden. I know we started off on the wrong foot and I'd like to correct that. I've been told you're relocating to New York. This would give us the perfect opportunity to get to know one another better. I'd hate for you to be alone. This is a big city. I can more than keep you company. I think you know what I'm talking about."
I grabbed Jake's arm and laughed hard without making any noise. It took a second but I got myself together and stood tall. "As kind as that offer is, I'd prefer to go it alone. And when I say go it alone, that covers all areas. I do not currently have a red light above my office door nor do I want one. I would strongly suggest you focus on your client's needs and not your own. As lovely as our conversations always are, I really must be going. I'm meeting with my lawyer soon. He has some rather weighty issues he'd like to get moved forward." I winked at Jake.
Chas made a noise that sounded animalistic, like one would make during intercourse. I jerked back and held the phone towards Jake who covered his mouth to keep from laughing.
"Devan, you are the only woman I know who dares to talk to me the way you do. You know that I'm more than willing to offer you the world. I'm in a position to do it. You just won't accept it. I am huge."
"Yeah, I'm sure you think so." I snickered. "Oh, wait. You were talking size in relevance to your position. Sorry, I got a little confused on where this conversation was headed. It seemed as though it was headed south so naturally I assumed something else. I really need to be going now."
"Name your price, Devan," Chas said fast. "Everyone can be bought. Everyone."
"I'm sorry."
He sighed. "Well, at least we've moved to the point you're sorry for turning me down."
I let out a soft laugh. "No, I'm not sorry for that in the least. I'm sorry that somewhere along the line you actually came to believe that to be true. Not everyone has a price. Money isn't the answer to everything. In fact, in the end, it means nothing. Have a good weekend, Mr. Martins." I shut my phone and handed it to Jake. "Why do you enjoy hearing that scum bag's spiel? Does anyone else feel like they need a shower to get his voice off you? I think my phone has been violated. It needs a bath, too."
Jake looked proud. Gideon looked like he was about to blow. "Devan Jazz Seward, men try to buy you while you're working? Hell, anytime?"
"I'd hardly call Chas Martins a man," I said, hopping off the sofa and laughing. "He's more like a good looking, walking lounge lizard. He makes my skin crawl. But, I will say, he's a looker. He knows it, too."
Gideon tried to come for me but the sofa was in the way. "Did this just start?"
"What? Men trying to own me or lounge lizards," I smiled at Jake letting him know that I loved his name for Chas, "trying to bribe me to 'work' for them? Come on, women want to date you all the time. When they find out you're a doctor they flip out and start talking marriage. Dork," I pointed at Jake, "has the same problem."
Jake grinned. "Yeah, Dink. Leave her alone. She's not given an inch when it comes to this. Trust me, he's been nipping at her heels from the word go. Hell, she was very married when he started it all."
"What the hell is a dink?" Gideon asked again.
I smiled as I slipped my shoes back on. "It's a good thing. Trust me." Turning, I ran up the stairs and ran directly into the sexy man again. He grabbed me fast to keep me from falling. I held tight to him and stared into his emerald green eyes. "Thanks. You're really coming in handy."
"My pleasure."
I couldn't pull my gaze away from his green eyes. They were gorgeous and the same exact color as Brody's. "I know I'm going to sound like a broken record but you look so familiar. This is going to bug me. I'm positive I know you from somewhere."
Jake went to take his spot at the end of the sofa. "You know, I normally do my best to encourage only half of your insanity but you're right the guy does look familiar."
Mr. Sexy smiled. "Would you like some help moving in?"
"No, we'll be—"
"Yes," Gideon and Jake said, cutting me off.
The sexy man winked at me and I damn near fell over. "I'll run up, change and come back to help." He turned to head up the stairs. "Oh, I almost forgot. I'm Kurt Holland."
"Hi, Kurt. Nice to dump a plant on you. I'm Devan Seward."
The grin that spread over his face warmed me. "Well, Devan, it was my pleasure."
I watched as Kurt jogged up the stairs. A small sigh escaped me. "I could get used to looking at that every day."
Gideon began to chuckle. I glanced back at him as he stood in the doorway holding one end of the sofa up while the other lay on the floor. "Didn't Uncle Robert tell you that when one door closes another opens?"
Before we'd left Ohio, I'd finalized my divorce and said goodbye to my family. They all knew how painful the divorce was for me and my uncle did his best to cheer me up. "Yep, he sure did."
"Ha, I bet he didn't think you'd waylay Mr. Right before he even got to the door."
He and Jake laughed so hard that I knew they'd be at it a while. I gave up and headed up the stairs to my new home.
Megan Hart:Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Eliza Gayle
Lissa Matthews
Mandy M Roth
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
HelenKay Dimon
Leah Braemel
Shiloh Walker
TJ Michaels
Lauren Dane
April 4, 2012
MwM Author Spotlight: Candice Gilmer
Marketing with Mandy Author Spotlight: Candice Gilmer
Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Lyrical Press and Samhain Publishing.
A: Both companies really are a pleasure to work for. I've been fortunate enough to release four books with Lyrical Press, and two with Samhain, with more coming.
But, it is a job, and it is work. Just because you sell a book doesn't mean the work stops. That's actually when it begins, where your terrible habits as a writer get revealed. Me and homophones do not get along at all. Not to mention the "comma addiction" I seem to have.
And while I will admit a certain amount of protectiveness over my stories (read "babies") I have found that editors really do have the best intentions with books, and they want to see the books do well, almost as much as I do. Fortunately, I have had pretty good luck with all my editors, and they have been as passionate about my stories as I have, and that always helps.
Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?
A: I do whatever I'm told, lol. No, seriously, though, I use Twitter and Facebook quite a bit, trying to post regularly from my Facebook Fan page, letting people know what I have coming out and when. I keep all my book covers and blurbs available there, as well as on my website www.candicegilmer.com.
Also, I try to do signings when and where I can—Michelle Pillow makes me, she's so bossy. J I've also done some promotions in conjunction with review sites like Bitten By Books, because they're incredibly author friendly, and are terrific about working with you to do a great release on a book.
Q: What is one thing you'd want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?
A: Write every day. Every day. Every single day. Selling is hard work, promotion is hard work, and editing is hard work. Writing is the happy, joyous part of being in the business. Savor that.
Also, I would remind them that publishing is the SLOWEST business in the world. Even with email, it still takes forever to hear from agents and publishers. It's a hurry, hurry, hurry, wait game.
So write. Write as much as you can, every day. Set a word count or page count goal. And hit it, every day. Don't take days off. The story will just go stale if you do. Just keep at it.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: My latest release, Rescuing Rapunzel, April of 2012 from Lyrical Press, started, actually, as a request from my 9 year old daughter. We had been reading the original Grimm's fairy tales, and when we finished reading the original Rapunzel, my daughter turned and looked at me and said "Mom, you can write a better story than that." So I did. It was supposed to be a short, ten page story about Rapunzel, but it wound up stretching far bigger in scope, because I wanted to know what happened to Rapunzel when she got out of the tower. There was so much more story that needed to be told.
As I worked on the story, I found that my hero, Nick, had two best friends, Penn and Bryan, and each one of them wanted their own story as well, and poof, The Charming Nobles series was born.
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP's?
A: Right now, I'm deep in my Charming Nobles series, working on both the second book, Catching Cinderella, and the sequel, Finding the Frog Prince.
Q: How did you get into writing?
A: I've always told stories. It's like a requirement in my family. Everyone tells stories. There's no short, one-liners in my family. Writing became a natural extension of that. Also, in school, I had a lot of bad grades, and I would be grounded from everything—tv, radio, books, my car, the phone, anything I enjoyed doing. So I would write my own stories to pass the time.
As I got older, I wrote fan fiction, trying to learn how to really craft a story and write dialog. Eventually, I started writing my own stories, focusing on the relationship between my hero and heroines, and a romance writer, I became.
Q: How do balance family and writing?
A: I have a really supportive family. Granted, I heard the "you better not quit your day job" a LOT before I got published, and still do, to be honest, but I wouldn't be able to do it without their understanding. Even my little three-year-old understands that "Mommy's working now." We put up the "force field" in the kitchen, blocking him access to Mommy, and that works. For now.
Also, I have probably the most awesome husband ever. He's my biggest cheerleader, and my best supporter. He's incredibly understanding when I have to work, and watches the kids when I need to hunker down and get my job done.
I wouldn't be able to do this without his amazing support. And the fact that he goes ghost hunting almost every weekend, giving me the house to myself. That's always a plus.
LINKS:
April 2, 2012
Zombies by Dr. Bob Curran, Interview by Michelle M. Pillow
Zombies by Dr. Bob Curran, Interview
By Michelle M. Pillow, www.michellepillow.com
Have you ever been curious as to how the idea of mindless zombies scouring the neighbourhood in search of human flesh began? From the walking dead of Haiti and the Caribbean that have influenced the ideas of Hollywood horror films, to the less popularized draugr of Scandinavia, Zombies: A Field Guide to the Walking Dead explores the world of the undead and the myths behind them.
Dr. Bob Curran is a writer and broadcaster living in Northern Ireland, and a cultural educator for several governmental organizations. He has approximately 38 books to his name mainly on the subjects of history and culture. His title, Zombies: A Field Guide to the Walking Dead, is currently in bookstores.
*****
Q: First off, are you now or have you ever been a zombie?
Dr. Curran: I don't think that I've ever been a zombie, at least not that I can remember. In some instances I may have worked with zombies but that's another story.
Q: In your book Zombies: A Field Guide to the Walking Dead, you delve into the world of the undead and their impact on cultures throughout history. Tell us a little bit about your book.
Dr. Curran: One of the questions which I'm always asked is – do zombies/ werewolves/ vampires actually exist? That is really not the question that intrigues me – they may or they may not –it is why should people want to believe in them? What need does such a belief answer in society? Why should they continue to fascinate us even down to today? And I suppose that's why I began to write the book. I suppose that the idea of zombies addresses certain fundamental questions about death . The underlying question is – if I die , can I come back in some form? This is, I feel, a question which appears in many cultures and it forms the basis of a number of religions . So I wanted to write a book which looked at zombies in some more depth and in some more detail than simply the slasher/zombie dawn type of way that is common in so many books.
Q: What inspired you to write about the subject?
Dr. Curran: As you may realise if you have read some of my books, I try to do as much research as I can. Any of my books in this field starts with me asking myself a lot of questions and then trying to find the answers. So I guess that the things that inspired me to write the book on zombies was he questions I was asking myself. And the basic question is "Is there something deeper here?" And there usually is.
Q: How have cultural impressions of the zombies changed throughout history?
Dr. Curran: I don't think that cultural impressions have changed throughout history – the questions about death and resurrection still remain the same – nor even have they adapted all that much in the way that, say, werewolf impressions have but the way we look at them has. In a sense in earlier times, the walking dead returned from the grave in places like Ireland to see their loved ones and to enjoy things that they had enjoyed in life. And they often returned under God's dispensation because they were blessed. Amongst the Vikings, the dead returned simply to carry on the things that they had done when alive – there was little distinction between life and death. It was writers like William Seabrook which linked some of the walking dead with the notion of zombies and voudou. Voudou is a kind of umbrella for a number of minor religions such as shango and Mama Watti. Le Gran Zombi does not specifically refer to the walking dead but to a manifestation of Damballah Wedo, one of the gods of the voudou pantheon. However, in his book Magic Island Seabrook seemed to suggest that there were dead men being raised by local houngans and mambos and sold to plantation owners as cheap labour – there seems to have been some sort of basis for this belief as the 1835 Haitian Penal Code seems to make such employment an offence. How widespread this idea was is questionable but it did exist. This has in turn become linked with alleged acts of cannibalism and has given rise to the idea of the flesh-eating zombie with which we are so familiar in the slash and gore zombie films which we see today. In this respect maybe our cultural impressions have changed a little across the years.
Q: Do you have a favorite zombie myth or story?
Dr. Curran: I don't really have a favourite zombie story. I would guess that the most intriguing stories is that of Clairvius Narcisse who in 1980, turned up somewhat dishevelled in a Haitian village and was recognised by his sister who lived there. Nothing unusual about that, except Clairvius was supposed to have died in 1960. His story was a strange one – he had been drugged by his brother using a "poudre" and had been sold to a planter on the other side of the island. He had suddenly "come to" and made his way to the nearest village where his sister had encountered him. The story is engrossing because it suggests some sort of narcotic which might be used to induce a zombie state. The tale inspired Canadian ethnographer Wade Davis to investigate further and see if he could determine the nature of the "poudre" used by the houngans and bokors or Haiti. Although Davis's findings are questionable, his book on the subject The Serpent and the Rainbow became a best seller and later a film. Perhaps it is the idea that some sort of poudre might exist which I find appealing and which probably makes the story my favourite one.
Q: What cultures throughout history have zombie myths? Are they similar or vastly different?
Dr. Curran: As I said earlier, the fundamental questions about life and death are pretty universal ones so it is natural I suppose that they appear in all cultures – though maybe not in the form that we have become used to through the medium of books and films. In Ireland, for example, the marbh bheo or nightwalking dead might be classed as zombies – they return from their graves to the places they knew in life. Some of these are the Blest Dead, who have led good lives and are permitted by God to do so, others are raised by the Devil who travel the roads in order to do harm. Similarly the "living mummies" of areas such as Mount Yodono in Japan are monks who have deliberately "mummified" themselves in order to display their holiness – this practice is now forbidden by the Japanese government. So whilst the fundamental questions remain the same, the way in which it is achieved can be different and not all zombies may take the form that we have been led to expect.
Q: How do you think zombie myths will change in the future?
Dr. Curran: It depends on how you view zombie myths. Certainly if we look at how zombies are portrayed in literature and in the cinema, I think that will change as writers and directors search for new angles with which to shock, disgust and terrify us. I think zombie literature/cinema will possibly become more extreme and more shocking. But we must remember that this counts as entertainment and depends on our view of the walking dead – folkloric zombie stories will remain as they always have. And zombies will remain a fascinating subject.
Q: Do you believe in the supernatural? Or are you a skeptic?
Dr. Curran: Once again, it depends what you mean by "the supernatural". Let me say that I neither believe nor disbelieve. I have met some very rounded and "down to earth" people who have told me some fantastic things and I have no reason to doubt them. Also many things which were once counted as "supernatural" have their base in scientific explanation today and this may be the case in the future. What the "supernatural" may ultimately be is an interpretation of our own environment in a particular way – after all this is the basis of religion . So I keep an open mind.
Q: Why do you think readers, and society in general, are fascinated by the paranormal?
Dr. Curran: I think that the answer lies in relation to the above. People are fascinated by the supernatural because it suggests that there is something more to the world that what we can actually physically see and touch. I think that this is a very fundamental perspective and forms the basis of many religions including Christianity. I think the idea of the supernatural springs from a deep-seated curiosity, a need to explain things around us and a need for reassurance that we have some form of meaning and purpose to our lives. This perspective has taken many forms – from ghosts to werewolves, vampires, zombies but basically it all springs, I think, from the same source.
Q: What are your favorite paranormal shows, movies and books?
Dr. Curran: I get very little time to sit down and watch tv or even read Most of the "supernatural" television or films that I've actually watched, I didn't really like. Everybody thinks that I should rate Buffy the Vampire Slayer but I watched about half an hour of one episode and turned it off. I went and saw The Wolf Man and liked that because it reflected the original movie. I suppose if I read supernatural literature, it's some of the classic stuff, which I enjoy. All the modern-day slash and gore does very little for me. The last film I watched was Shutter Island which I did enjoy as it was extremely well done, even though I'd guessed the ending. But I like the creepiness of the place.
Q: Have you ever had a paranormal experience?
Dr. Curran: No, I haven't had a paranormal experience. All the "uncanny experiences" I've had, I've always been able to explain. I took part in a number of radio/tv programmes on ghost-hunting and didn't see anything. There was a belief in the part of the world where I came from that only one member of a family could see ghosts and so forth and this doesn't seem to have been me. My brother though, is supposed to have seen a ghost – the spectre of an old woman who previously owned a house where he lived in England.
Q: If given the chance, would you become a zombie?
Dr. Curran: I doubt if I would want to become a zombie. I would guess that the lifestyle wouldn't appeal.
Q: How would you react if you came face to face with a zombie?
Dr. Curran: Probably run. Best form of avoidance.
Q: What does the future hold for you? Any new books in the works?
Dr. Curran: There's a lot of work still on. Two new books from Career coming out this year and next – Dark Fairies and Man Made Monsters. Also a series of books for young people coming out in England, new books coming out in both Australia and America – one on the papacy this year and one on bushrangers next Also the development of my community work which is very important to me.
Thank you for joining us, Dr. Curran!
If you're interested in checking out this, or other titles by Dr. Bob Curran, please visit the publisher website, www.newpagebooks.com. Interview by Michelle M. Pillow, www.michellepillow.com
March 31, 2012
Say Anything
Snippet from Ambient Light by Mandy M. Roth
Yates Colyer rolled onto his side, disgusted with himself as he heard the front door close. The woman leaving meant nothing to him. In fact, he hadn't even bothered to get her name. What he wanted her for had little to do with needing it so he passed. As a creature of the night, he required blood once every two months or so. At his age, blood wasn't something he was day-to-day dependent on anymore. There was a time, back when he was newly sired that he needed blood several times a day. Fortunately for him, his father had been in a position of power, giving Yates unlimited access to the town, its resources and more importantly, its warm bodies. Beggars and peasants overpopulated the area and he used to think he was doing his part to thin their numbers. They were rarely missed and on the off chance they were, no one with any kind of power paid them any heed.
Over the centuries, he learned to curb his hunger and take blood without killing the victim or donor, depending upon where and how he got it. He was a different man now, no longer killing to sate the demon within. He liked to think he had more control and more finesse. Like everything, he had to change with the times. It mattered not that he was technically still a Comte. He'd reinvented himself so many times over the course of his immortally long life that Yates no longer paid much mind to the politics of it. Throughout it all something had been missing.
It still was. What, he wasn't sure.
With his blood hunger satisfied, he thought about what else he depended upon to survive. Sex. He needed it almost daily. He craved it as much as he craved seeing the sunrise. At least with sex, he could actually obtain the goal. The sunrise would never again be. He had vague memories of his last sunset, though at the time he wasn't aware it would be his final one. He hadn't asked to be brought over as a creature of the night, another form of the many demons that inhabited the earth and beyond. He'd been sired against his will and had to learn to make the best of it.
I am far from making the best of it.
All had been well until he had found her. The mysterious woman in the magazine. The one with haunting lavender eyes and a mouth that begged to be wrapped around his cock. She haunted his every moment—awake and asleep.
Yates growled as he went onto his back, hitting his bed with his fist as he thought of how his daily sexual escapades had died almost instantly since he had seen the mystery woman's face in the magazine. Sure, he'd found beautiful women more than willing to lie with him and please him until sunrise but his cock wouldn't cooperate. It had its sights set on one woman and one woman only. She was a stranger to him. Unfortunately, Yates knew nothing more than that she was a model.
In his line of work, he met with models nonstop. Many all but beat down his door, wanting him to photograph them because he was the best. The one who had just walked out on Yates had practically thrown herself at him, offering him free rein of her body. He had tried to take advantage of the offer but his cock refused to rise to the occasion, opting instead to lie dormant as the demon within demanded to be free. If the demon couldn't fuck it or suck it, it seemed to think killing it would suffice. Thankfully, Yates had more than enough control to stop his demon from doing anything of the sort. He did, however, seem to lack the ability to kick-start his cock.
Sighing, he rolled out of bed and went to the magazine featuring the pictures of his mystery woman. It sat on a two-person table, positioned near the far end of his bedroom. He took a step toward it and scowled as he stepped on an open book. He liked his home tidy, everything in its place, and he valued his book collection greatly. The woman who had just left had insisted on leafing through various books then discarding them over her shoulder. He should have known then his dick wouldn't want to be in her. Anyone who couldn't appreciate a good read wasn't worth fucking.
He sighed.
Yates ran his hand over the edge of the circular table. It was a piece he had acquired during his time in his homeland—France. Its flame mahogany veneer had caught his eye and the tapered, fluted legs kept it. He had an eye for detail and for fine things. That was part of the reason the woman from the magazine had held his attention. The magazine was already open to the pages she graced. As his gaze skimmed over the alluring raven-haired goddess, a hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach began. She was so beautiful, unearthly so. Never before had a woman called to him as this one did. Those lavender eyes—he wanted to see them staring up at him while he rammed his body into hers.
She's my mate.
The thought nearly knocked him over. For four centuries he had lived in darkness, refusing to believe any such person existed. Could it be that by merely opening a magazine, he had finally located her?
There is only one way to find out.
More Authors:
Megan Hart:Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Eliza Gayle
Lissa Matthews
Mandy M Roth
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
HelenKay Dimon
Lauren Dane
Leah Braemel
Shiloh Walker
Shelli Stevens
March 28, 2012
MwM Author Spotlight: Allie Boniface
Marketing with Mandy Author Spotlight: Allie Boniface
Q: Tell us a little about your experience with Samhain Publishing.
A: I've published four contemporary romance novels with Samhain, my first in 2007. I've had really positive experiences with them, from the editors to the cover artists to the owner, the author liaison, the business personnel and everyone in-between. They are a very professional organization and they treat their authors well. I was a brand new author coming to them, and I definitely learned my way around the publishing business thanks to Samhain.
Q: What tips/tricks do you use for marketing or promoting your own titles?
A: I try to maintain a regular online presence (Facebook, Goodreads, publishing my own blog, guest blogging, giving interviews at romance websites, donating giveaways to various online contests) and I try to combine that with participating in events that will draw readers as well. I do in-person author events when I can (bookstore signings, craft and/or book fairs, readings, conference presentations) and publish online articles or give online workshops when the opportunity presents itself.
Q: What is one thing you'd want to tell a newer author, just coming into the game?
A: If you're in it for the long haul, be prepared to grow a thick skin and devote a lot of your own time to promoting yourself. Writing for publication is not easy; not everyone will like your work, and trends and publishers will change. Be prepared to change with them while remaining true to your own vision. Be your own biggest advocate; believe in yourself and your work. Don't let the negative experiences bring you down.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
A: Summer's Song is a sensual contemporary romance set in a small town in upstate New York. The heroine, Summer Thompson, returns to her hometown after her father dies to put his affairs in order – but then she meets super-hunky handyman Damian Knight, who's been hired to work on her newly inherited estate. That's not her central problem, though: Summer begins having flashbacks about the night her brother died – a night she has no memory of and no explanation for.
Meanwhile, Damian is in town to protect his mother and little sister from a crazed ex-husband, so falling for a woman who's only there temporarily poses more than a few complications. And when said ex-husband tracks the family down, the crazy man will stop at nothing to seek revenge.
Ultimately, both Summer and Damian have to deal with their past demons before they can find happiness together. Several readers have called Summer's Song "inspiring" and "touching" because it really deals with finding peace with the past so you can move on and find new love in the future.
Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP's?
A: I'm currently working on another small town contemporary romance (they're my favorite!) as well as a series of novellas. I have three of my print books releasing in audio book this summer as well, and I have a YA novel on the back burner, needing attention before too long!
Q: How did you get into writing?
A: I've always loved to write. I'm a full-time English teacher by day, so reading and writing is in my blood!
Q: How do balance family and writing?
A: I do most of my writing on the weekends and sometimes in the evenings. I also try to do big chunks of writing during the summer, when I'm not teaching. It's tough, no doubt, but I've found that doing something related to my writing every day (whether it's actual writing or promoting my books) helps keep me focused and motivated.
LINKS:
March 26, 2012
Dave Galvan, Interview by Michelle M. Pillow
Dave Galvan, Interview
Michelle M. Pillow, www.michellepillow.com
Founder of the Paranormal League of America (PLA), Dave Galvan, has been studying the paranormal since an unseen hand threw a book at him back in 2002. Since day one he's been enthusiastically devouring all he can on the field, and furthering his knowledge in pursuit of the truth. Since starting PLA, he's focused on investigating the paranormal in Oregon where he's "battled a demon at the Oregon Coast, faced laughing ghosts in Central Oregon, chased obscure energy signals in a house in Portland, was stalked by a full figured apparition at a local cemetery and sat in the mud while waiting for the ghost of an Native American chief."
Dave recently released his first book, Paranormal League of America Presents: Researching America's Most Haunted Locations; A Paranormal History, which details the top twenty haunted locations in the US. It can be purchased on Amazon.com.
* * * * *
Q: What inspired you to write your latest book, Paranormal League of America Presents: Researching America's Haunted Locations?
Dave:To be honest, I was getting tired of all those 'Most Haunted Places in America' lists that you see in every newspaper every Halloween. These lists are written by young journalists moving up the ladder who just get their ideas off the internet. This is similar to me writing a book about heart surgery. I know nothing about heart surgery, why should I write anything about it? It goes the same way with ghost hunting. Why should someone who has never hunted ghosts be writing about the subject? It seems to me that someone who actually has experience in the field should be the one who writes these lists
Q: What is the Paranormal League of America?
Dave: The PLA is a ghost hunting/paranormal group I co-founded in 2008
Q: Do you believe in the supernatural? Or are you a skeptic?
Dave: I walk the fine line between both. What we perceive as the supernatural is all around us all the time. However, just because someone experiences something doesn't mean it belongs in that category.
Q: Which of the locations/stories in your book are your favorites? Can you tempt us with the highlights?
Dave:There are a number of places that I found fascinating. I think the 'Old Slave shack on Hickory Hill' really piqued my interest. Here is a place where slavery was illegal, and the owner of the location was running a reverse underground railroad kidnapping humans and selling them into slavery. It is a very sad story that I hadn't heard about until I did some research in to it. When one reads up on stories like this, one realizes there are so many stories that people didn't hear about in history class.
Q: The book is dedicated to your wife. Is ghost hunting a family affair?
Dave:Not at all. My wife is a supporter of what I do, but is the ultimate skeptic. I consider myself fortunate that I married someone who supports me in such a way that I am able to take time away from my family life to research these things.
Q: Why do you think readers, and society in general, are fascinated by the paranormal?
Dave:It's the great unknown! Humans are basically explorers, if we are not trying to find answers to what we don't know, they why would we bother living our lives.
Q: What are your favorite paranormal shows, movies and books?
Dave: Karen Frazier's book, Avalanche of Spirits: The Ghosts of Wellington, is a fantastic read. I must admit I enjoy reading about anything local to me, like Jefferson Davis' The Haunted Tour Guide to the Pacific Northwest. There are haunted locations all around us, so I do enjoy reading about the ones closest to me. A great book is Will Storr vrs. The Supernatural.
Q: If given the chance to decide, would you become a ghost?
Dave:Of course!! First place I would haunt would be the Playboy Mansion!!!!
Q: How would you react if you came face to face with a full bodied apparition?
Dave:I have seen one, and what I did was freeze in my tracks, drop my jaw and stand there for about 15 minutes.
Q: What does the future hold for your writing?
Dave: I am currently working on my second book, Paranormal league of America Presents: Satan and Demons; A History of the Modern Exorcism, which I hope to have completed by April.
Q: What are your thoughts on the use of sensitives in the field?
Dave: I do believe that there are people who have an ability that I don't. On the other hand, I do believe there is a scientific theory and mathematical formula for everything in the Universe. We may not know that formula as of now, but we will. Until then, we call it 'supernatural' and 'paranormal'.
Thank you, Dave, for joining us.
To learn more about Dave, PLA, or his book, please visit him on the web at www.paranormalleagueofamerica.org. Interview by Michelle M. Pillow, www.michellepillow.com
