From the Muse

The Odd Thing About Loss

2012-02-13T11:44:00.002-06:00

Now, I don't mean to turn the blog into a downer event, but as I sit here this morning, I'm struck by an oddity that I didn't see coming.

Bear with me while I share a story.

In 2002, my yellow lab literally brought home another dog. For weeks, every time we let him out, he'd run off into the field, disappear for a few hours and come home with a cute little collie-mix friend... who we couldn't touch.

It was like Charley was saying, "Hey, feed her too, she's my friend" to us. And to her, "They're cool people. Hang out, you'll see."

Eventually, she didn't leave. She'd hang out under our trucks, lounge in the shade beneath the trees, and followed Charley everywhere. It took four months before she would eat the food set out if she could see us within five feet of the bowl.

At the time, Charley -- who had also been a walk-on addition -- was undergoing heartworm treatments and the vet didn't want to neuter him until we had the all clear there. So you can guess what happened. The collie, who I named Hunny, started to look pregnant. Which meant she was absolutely not having puppies outdoors. So I put more effort into getting her on the back porch, and then one afternoon she followed Charley inside. A few weeks later she had puppies on my guest bed.

We gave two away, but their personalities weren't really wonderful given their mothers, so the other four stayed here. Two of which are now curled up at my feet ten years later.

About three or four years ago, I was out of town and left the dogs outside. The next morning, I went to the farm to feed the horses in the morning and Charley didn't come to breakfast. Odd for him. The dog was food driven completely. So I went about my chores and then watched Hunny, who led me straight to Charley who'd been shot but was still alive. For the two days of recuperation at the hospital, Hunny would come up to the car when we pulled in, the look on her face: "Well? Where is he?" When he came home, she was at his side constantly.

Funny thing -- Charley loved to go in the car. Hunny would never get in. She'd run behind the truck as far as she could... following her Charley.

Well a year later, Charley passed and I thought for certain Hunny would leave us too -- be that death or she'd wander off. Nope. She stayed around. We were approaching 7 or 8 years with this dog, and still could only touch her if we cornered her -- flea and tick med application, deworming, vaccinations, etc. She refused to let herself be a "loved on" dog, although she faithfully slept beneath my bed when I was in it, and on it when I wasn't.

Another dog walked-on and stayed around, and she became best buds with Rogue. Routinely, she kicked her remaining daughters in line if they misbehaved, and they outweighed her by a good 20 lbs. She treed cats (why I have so many), lugged home dead... things. And when my eldest was born, every time he cried, she was the first one in the room. Though when he mobilized, she stayed far, far away.

This year, Hunny mellowed. I figured it was old age setting in. She was at least eleven. But she would allow me to pet her whenever, she'd spend hours sitting still to have burrs and mats cut out of her fur (where previously she tensed and bolted at the snip-snip of scissors). And shock of all shocks, she began to let my eldest touch her as well.

I have to say here... Hunny was part of the family for the way she was. I accepted she didn't want a lot of human interaction, and I never put great amounts of time into coercing her. She had her place, ideosyncracies and all, and that's just the way things were.

This morning, on our first snow of the year, I let Hunny outside. I let her inside. I fed the horses and came inside to find her on the floor... no longer with us.

And I am stunned about the way her death affected me. I never envisioned that the dog who I couldn't shower with love would have such an impact when her time came. I mean, I know when my 18yr old cat's time comes, I'm going to be torn to pieces. But Hunny? I figured it would be a sad day, but at the bottom of everything... I've buried a lot of animals in my life. I've always been the one who had to take pets to the vet for the final visit, or had to make the call, or sat with them during their last moments when the vet came to our house. I'm pretty immune to all that now. A couple tears, and then it's over, and we move on.

I don't sit hours later and look at a collar and get all teary-eyed and I certainly don't blog in length about things. My critters are oddly quiet today. No little dogs chasing cats. Big dog who was having "Where do I fit into the pack" issues with Hunny is quiet. Rogue, who spent so much time with her is asleep, but pointed at the back door.

I guess it just surprises me that loss can come with so many reactions that aren't expected. While I am sad, I look up at the window she tried to chew her way out of when I didn't realize I'd left her inside, and it makes me laugh now. For years I've cursed that torn up wood and wished I could replace it. Now, maybe I'll let it stick around for eternity.

I think I'm going to get her a personazlied tag for her collar. She had one but it fell off years ago. Then maybe we'll hang her collar on my office wall. Seems like a fitting way to remember her. I'm debating saving her ashes, but I've never done that for a pet before. Seems a bit... extravagant. Maybe I'll do something with the flower bed I've been saying I'd like to build for as many years as I had the dog.

What about all of you? Do you have special ways you've remembered your lost pets? Any ideas I can mull around while I am snowed in and have to wait for that final step?

More On Immortal Surrender

2012-02-11T00:05:00.004-06:00

So you've wanted to know which knight's story is next to come...

Just look at this cover!! WHEE!

IMMORTAL SURRENDER
The Curse of the Templars, Book 2

Farran de Clare, a loyal member of the cursed Knights Templar, wants nothing to do with predestined mates. Even the Almighty won't turn him into a fool again--he'd rather sacrifice his soul. Yet in the scientist Noelle Keane, a devout atheist, Farran meets the seraph designed for him.

Ordered by the archangel Gabriel to protect Noelle, the possessor of a sacred relic that could give Azazel incredible power, Farran swears to do his duty--but in name only. Fighting an attraction that grows with each day, he's determined that he'll never pledge himself to her.

As they war over her future, their mutual passion ignites a conflict far more damning. But before Noelle will agree to eternity with him, she demands the ultimate sacrifice--his heart.

Coming, September 25, 2012

The Curse of the Templars, Immortal Surrender Release Date

2012-02-10T00:01:00.001-06:00

With Immortal Hope's release date just passing, I'm super excited about The Curse of the Templars series.

I received word from my editor at Tor that Immortal Surrender, the second book in series, will be released in September 25, 2012, not October as I previously believed.

YAY!

On that note, here's another peek at Immortal Hope. Remember, it's the first in the series. You don't want to miss where it all begins!

CENTURIES AGO,

Templar knights defied the archangels and unearthed the copper scroll, revealing the gates to hell. Cursed for their forbidden act, they forever roam the earth protecting mankind from evil. But darkness stalks them, and battles they fight bring them ever-closer to eternal damnation. One promise remains to give them salvation – the return of the seraphs.

Embittered by his purpose, Merrick du Loire must honor an ancient pact and bring peace to his cousin’s soul. When he stumbles upon history professor Anne MacPherson, he discovers she possesses a sacred artifact that marks her as a seraph. Duty demands he set aside his personal quest and locate the knight she’s fated to heal. As he struggles with conflicting oaths, Anne arouses buried hope and sparks forbidden desire that challenges everything he’s sworn to uphold.

Anne has six weeks to complete her thesis on the Knights Templar. When Merrick takes her to the Templar stronghold, he presents her with all she needs—and awakens a soul-deep ache, he alone can soothe. Yet loving Merrick comes with a price. If she admits she's destined for him, her gift of foresight predicts his death.

Award Nominee and Immortal Surrender News

2012-02-06T09:33:00.001-06:00

Hi all!

I just wanted to pop in with a couple of announcements!

First up:

I was just notified that MISUNDERSTANDING MASON has been nominated for Book of the Month (December) at Long and Short Reviews. YIPPEE!

If you'd like to help me out there, I'd dearly appreciate your vote. You can do so here:

Secondly...

Several of you have been asking, so I thought I'd put this up here.

The latest news on IMMORTAL SURRENDER will go out to my newsletter subscribers at midnight tonight (technically Feb 7). If you'd like to sign up and hear it first, you can join the newsletter here: SIGN UP!

Thank you all for your continued support -- it means a great deal to me!

Virtual Tour Winners

2012-02-04T12:41:00.004-06:00

Hi all! Before I get into the winners (which I'm sure, you really don't want me to put off any longer), I want to tell you a few things I learned about Virtual Book Tours.

1. Having two books release on the same day isn't nearly as fun as I thought it would be, after the initial 48 hours. It becomes work then.

2. Putting over 1100 names onto paper and folding them up just to draw a couple out of the pile, even with the help of the eldest demi-demon makes for a surprising way to get blisters on the pads of the fingertips.

3. Meeting deadlines in the middle of two book tours? Hah! Right.

4. There are not enough hours in one day.

5. Planning that project in the middle also? That joins the "hah right" department.

6. I did meet a lot of new faces and had some really interesting discussions. -- BONUS

7. Dust does not quite settle onto the Christmas tree as fast as I thought it might. The stockings, however, are a different story.

8. There are not enough hours in a day.

9. When your internet fails, or the devices that are supposed to connect you to it, during a book tour... then guilt settles in because you can't make appearances. And there's just no way of quite communicating that effectively either. All one can do is make daily stops into different repair shops to get the problems a) troubleshooted, and b) fixed.

10. The administrative side of book tours is not particularly fun -- ie, the part where I have to be the 'business person' not just the author stopping in to chat. "Where can I find my post? Do I have the wrong link up? Oh crap the post I scheduled to go is incorrect." Add that into 51 times of having to do that... I could definitely wait a lifetime to invest in the project a second time. Though it will occur again, before "lifetime" happens :)

11. It's amazing the tolerance level I can develop when it comes to the demidemons and the things I've learned to tune out while attending to necessary business that can't wait until the house is quiet. Simply AMAZING.

12. There are not enough hours in a day.

So... all that said... I did have a blast with the tours. THANK YOU everyone for hosting me, for following, for engaging me in conversation. I hope you'll stay in touch both via my blog here and/or via email.

Now -- the Winners**:

STRIPPED
$25.00 Amazon Gift Card -- Yadira yadkny(at)hotmail (dot) com

IMMORTAL HOPE:
#1 -- $25.00 Amazon Gift Card -- Terri M oklahomamommy0306 (at) gmail (dot) com
#2 -- $25.00 Amazon Gift Card -- Cayce cayce005(at)yahoo(dot)com

TOUR HOST AWARDS
Stripped -- Carrie Ann Ryan
Immortal Hope -- I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read

Bitten By Paranormal Romance Book Giveaway:
Signed STRIPPED -- Lexi -- eyesofblueice(at)gmail(dot)com

**
I will be contacting the above winners to verify sending addresses within the next hour. If your name is listed, and you do not hear from me, email me please -- means there's something wrong with the email address I have on file for you. If you receive the email, you have one week to confirm. Then I will choose a different winner if I haven't heard a response.

Congrats everyone!!

Book Boyfriends?

2012-02-03T00:01:00.006-06:00

Reposted from Wednesday due to Technical issues:

Book boyfriends... the acceptable means of infidelity.

You know you have one. You know you've experienced his kiss and want more. You know your heart is every bit as much his, as his belongs to someone else...

And your significant other is totally okay with you cheating for a few hours out of your life with the drop-dead sexy hero in your latest romance novel.

It can't get better, can it?

So just who have you fallen in love with over the years? The strong silent type? The naughty rogue? The agressive no holds barred lover?

I've published quite a bit and written even more, but there's one hero who outshines them all for me presently. His name is Kyle Garland. His story is A BROKEN CHRISTMAS -- which is an appropriate year-round read, not just a holiday heartwarmer.

Delta Force operative Kyle Garland divorced his wife to protect her. His top-secret missions expose him to constant danger, and his world is full of lies and deceit. But the threat to Aimee doesn’t come in the form of insurgents or bombs. Rather, his soul-deep love and the dreams he silently nurtures are her greatest hazard. When a career-ending injury brings him home for Christmas, to keep her safe he must bury his feelings and hide the monster he’s become.

Fourteen months ago, Aimee had the perfect marriage… then Kyle blindsided her with a divorce. Now, he’s coming home, and she intends to get her answers. Yet the crippled man she confronts bears scars her years of nursing cannot heal. The secret he’s hiding is tearing him apart. No matter how she tries, he keeps her at a distance, despite the love that’s still evident in his kiss. What Aimee doesn’t know is her own damaged past terrifies Kyle more than any wartime horror.

As she forces him to confront his demons, will the holiday shred the fragile bonds they share, or will Christmas complete all their broken parts?

I have to share why Kyle is my favorite too:

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

As he eased the golf cart to a jerky stop beside her car and she stepped out, he slid her a sideways glance. Walsh must have put her up to this. Damn him. Evidently he couldn’t get the message either—Kyle wanted to be left alone. But Conner Walsh had a way of screwing everything up.

How, in the name of God, could he survive living with Aimee?

“Are you coming?” Aimee called from inside her car.

More than anything in the world, Kyle wanted to tell her no. Not because he resented her too accurateassessment of his physical limitations, not because he wanted to move on and forget about her. No, he wanted to tell her she was out of her mind because the idea of going home with Aimee made him jittery.

“Yeah,” he mumbled with disgust. Coordinating cane, good leg, bad leg, and numb hand, he worked his way to his feet and limped to the passenger’s door. At least she hadn’t opened it for him—he’d have died right there if Aimee thought he was that incapable of tending to himself. His career might be toast, he might be crippled, but he was not an invalid.

And he was not hiring a nurse, damn it.

Kyle slid into the passenger’s seat with a grimace. The old pain started in his knee, worked its way up to his thigh. Muscles that had taken months to reattach and bind to bone protested the cold. Rebelled against the time he’d spent standing on the plane, just to prove to himself he could. “Why didn’t you move out?”

Aimee keyed the engine and dropped the gearshift into reverse. Looking over shoulder as she backed out of the space, she answered, “I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

“What have you been doing?”

As she shifted into drive, her foot on the brake, she gave him a meaningful look. “Searching for a job.”

“Oh.” Kyle lapsed into silence. He drummed his fingers on the center console, mentally ticking off the numerous reasons why staying with Aimee in the house they’d bought as husband and wife was a bad idea. Beyond the fact he loathed the idea of her tending to him like she might one of her former patients she smelled too incredibly good after a shower, and he didn’t know how to keep his hands off her.

Already his brain formed fantastic pictures of them in the bed, reuniting in ways that would make Hugh Heffner blush. In the kitchen, on the dining room table, lathering each other in the shower…

Like he’d just run into a brick wall, the slow burn of pleasure that crept into his blood came to a frigid halt. He let out a derisive snort. Shower—right. He couldn’t handle the shower solo, much less with Aimee’s hands all over him and soap slicking his body. His leg wouldn’t hold up, the wet tile would make him slip. Christ, he couldn’t even make love to her if he wanted to—he couldn’t feel a damn thing in his right hand. He’d be no better than a bumbling teen. All thumbs, no finesse, and a damn sight rougher than what her fragile skin could handle.

So much for that little fantasy. Aimee deserved a whole man. Not one who’d been reduced to benches in the bathtub.

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM A BROKEN CHRISTMAS
~~@~~

If you think you might fall in love with Kyle as much as I did while telling his story, comment on your favorite book boyfriend below -- what made you fall in love? Each comment will be entered into a drawing on Feb 5, for a .pdf copy of A BROKEN CHRISTMAS.

Then, check out the wonderful Book Boyfriend Blog Hop, sponsored by Reading Between the Wines and As the Pages Turn, and the fantastic prizes these authors are offering. It's a great kick-start to the Valentine's Holday!

Welcome Author, Jerri Hines

2012-02-02T02:00:00.002-06:00

Hi everyone! Today I'm very excited to bring to you one of the authors I write with at Roses of Prose, the fabulous Jerri Hines. She's going to talk about Romantic Suspense today, and show off her book, THE JUDAS KISS, available from Whiskey Creek Press.

Cathryn Blankenship has no desire for a season in London! Why on earth would her father want her to leave her home in Charles Town? Upon Cathryn’s steadfast refusal, Governor Blankenship is forced to assign a young lieutenant to watch over Cathryn on the journey and ensure his daughter’s appearance in London. Cathryn finds Lieutenant Jake Pennington the most aggravating, maddening man she has ever met...a man Cathryn soon admits she is in no hurry to see leave. But fate has other plans for her in a world she is ill prepared to enter. She descends into a place where love and betrayal go hand and hand, where greed and treachery are second nature, but moreover the threat her father believes he has sent her is awaiting her arrival. When fate tears her apart from her Lieutenant, Cathryn finds herself desolate and alone. Soon Cathryn makes fateful decisions that will eventually send her back to her home where she will have to fight for her life. And the only one that can save her is the one she believes deserted her.

The Historical Pull of Romantic Suspense

When I pick up a romance novel, I’m certain of one thing. Boy…I mean man meets woman; man wants woman; woman discovers the man is her knight in shining armor; they fall in love and live happily ever after. A happy ending. A celebration of their love. The formula has been used for years upon years. And when I’m in the mood for a light read, I greatly enjoy a good romance.

Although to be honest, I can’t write a simple romance. I’ve tried. Every time I try, the book takes a turn, a wide turn back to what I’m comfortable with- romantic suspense. I can’t help throwing my heroine into danger and more often than not in the past. Yes, I’m one of those historical romance suspense authors. I also follow a formula. Conflict. Conflict. Conflict.

Historical novels fascinate me. I’m drawn to the past. Maybe it’s the constraints society placed upon females during that period of time that pulls me to write a story. Although I have faith in the characters I create to overcome adversity, it is a challenge to weave a tale where the heroine can survive and conquer. History has a violent past. People were more likely to take matters into their own hands. In some cases, a woman caught in a situation had no where to turn. At times, society would spurn a victim. The unfairness of it all! And these women didn’t have advocates back in those days. But when I write, I remember that all the hardships my heroine must face will only magnify the love she will eventually find.

To me the suspense and tension adds to the romance making it more deeply fulfilling when you come to the happy ending. The question really becomes in any historical is how to make it fresh and original. What would make a reader pick my book up?

I believe I have opened up a door not many have taken when it comes to my Tides of Charleston series. I love the mystic of Charleston. Sweeping my characters back and forth from Charleston to Regency England adds a different dimension to the Regency romantic suspense genre. Charleston and England had close ties before the American Revolution. In the Tides of Charleston series, the books come from two different points of views. The first two, The Judas Kiss and The Promise center on a former Royal governor’s beloved daughter, Cathryn Blankenship, who stays loyal to the British crown. The last one, Another Night Falls, follows her bastard brother’s stance for the American cause.

Intrigue, love, betrayal…suspense.

The Judas Kiss is available now. The Promise is set to be released, May, 2012; Another Night Falls, September, 2012. If you like historical suspense with a touch of paranormal, I have Daughter of Deceit set to be released early February, 2012, under my pen name, Carrie James Haynes.

Well let's take a closer look at The Judas Kiss while you're here, Jerri!

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

Cathryn stepped out. The night air felt refreshing in itself. She had needed air.

“It’s about time,” a voice said to her side. She turned quickly to find Jake, smiling, waiting in the shadows. Others walked by; Cathryn politely acknowledged all, but her eyes stayed upon Jake. Reggie sauntered over slowly.

“I can cover for a few minutes,” he whispered. “Don’t tarry.”

Jake took her hand and they walked down the stairs leading to the garden. Finding quickly a bench away from prying eyes, Jake pulled her down beside him. Her hand reached his and she held it.

“Oh, Jake, please take me away,” she pleaded.

“What is wrong, Cathryn? Your grandparents?”

“No, it’s just I can’t stay in this house. Oh, Jake, I have missed you. Why can you not take me away?”

“You know the answer, Cathryn,” Jake uttered.

He reached over and gently caressed her cheek. His fingers touching her face were feather-light sending warmth through out her body. Leaning over her, he cradled her face in his hands before he kissed her. His lips pressed to hers, which he touched softly, coaxing her to respond in the same manner. Her breath caught while his tongue touched her lips, sliding deep into the cavity of her mouth.

And then his arms captured her. She lost herself in his arms. Every part of her body awakened with desire. They shared a deep, hard, openmouthed kiss that provoked something inside of her that yearned for more.

“I can’t do this anymore, Cathryn. I can’t hide my feelings when I’m around you.”

“Why then hide anything? I don’t care about what anyone thinks. I know what I feel, Jake,” she cried. “I’m miserable without you and have only survived this month with the thought of seeing you again. I don’t belong here, Jake. They haven’t paid attention to Father’s instructions. Why that detestable man just only informed me that he thinks we are to be married! I would never! They can’t make me marry that man.”

“Marry? I thought you said...Is something arranged, Cathryn?” Jake stuttered.

“Not by me or Father,” Cathryn said, startled by his reaction. “He just told me. I have no knowledge of such. I don’t believe him.”

“You are talking of Edmund.” Jake paused and pulled away. Cathryn grabbed his hand.

“What is wrong, Jake?”

He had no time to answer for in the next moment Reggie’s voice resounded through out the garden. “No, I haven’t seen her, Edmund. Are you certain she came this way?”
Jake grabbed Cathryn's hand and led her through a path toward a different entrance. Before he let go of her hand, he turned her to him, “I have to go, Cathryn. I’m sorry.”

“I can tell something is wrong, Jake,” she pleaded. “Don’t do this to me. I need you so. I love you. Don’t leave me like this. Don’t you know I won’t stop loving you even if you leave me? I can tell you think you are trying to be noble. There is no need. I will never be happy without you. What more can matter?”

“You are so innocent to the world, Cathryn,” he said, taking her in his arms once more. Her lips parted to meet his, sharing a different kind of kiss. He needed not to say the words. His kiss told all. Tears welled in her eyes for she felt his pain, hers.

“Please, don’t leave me, Jake,” she whispered as their lips parted.

“I do love you, Cathryn.” It was the last words he uttered, leaving her desolate in the garden.

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE JUDAS KISS
~~@~~

You can find out more about Jerri here:

Jerri's Blog
Facebook - Novel Works
The Roses of Prose Blog

To purchase her books go to Amazon.com and Whiskey Creek Press

Thanks so much, Jerri for stopping by the blog today! Best of luck with the upcoming release, Daughter of Deceit!

Book Boyfriends?

2012-02-01T23:58:00.001-06:00

{ Due to some technical issues on my end, this post did not go live at the start of the Book Boyfriend Blog Hop. I may not be listed as a participant in the hop (understandably) however, the contest is still valid on my end, if you comment here below. I urge you to check out the Blog Hop, anyway, if you love prizes!}

Book boyfriends... the acceptable means of infidelity.

You know you have one. You know you've experienced his kiss and want more. You know your heart is every bit as much his, as his belongs to someone else...

And your significant other is totally okay with you cheating for a few hours out of your life with the drop-dead sexy hero in your latest romance novel.

It can't get better, can it?

So just who have you fallen in love with over the years? The strong silent type? The naughty rogue? The agressive no holds barred lover?

I've published quite a bit and written even more, but there's one hero who outshines them all for me presently. His name is Kyle Garland. His story is A BROKEN CHRISTMAS -- which is an appropriate year-round read, not just a holiday heartwarmer.

The truest gifts are damaged ...

Delta Force operative Kyle Garland divorced his wife to protect her. His top-secret missions expose him to constant danger, and his world is full of lies and deceit. But the threat to Aimee doesn’t come in the form of insurgents or bombs. Rather, his soul-deep love and the dreams he silently nurtures are her greatest hazard. When a career-ending injury brings him home for Christmas, to keep her safe he must bury his feelings and hide the monster he’s become.

Fourteen months ago, Aimee had the perfect marriage… then Kyle blindsided her with a divorce. Now, he’s coming home, and she intends to get her answers. Yet the crippled man she confronts bears scars her years of nursing cannot heal. The secret he’s hiding is tearing him apart. No matter how she tries, he keeps her at a distance, despite the love that’s still evident in his kiss. What Aimee doesn’t know is her own damaged past terrifies Kyle more than any wartime horror.

As she forces him to confront his demons, will the holiday shred the fragile bonds they share, or will Christmas complete all their broken parts?

I have to share why Kyle is my favorite too:

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

As he eased the golf cart to a jerky stop beside her car and she stepped out, he slid her a sideways glance. Walsh must have put her up to this. Damn him. Evidently he couldn’t get the message either—Kyle wanted to be left alone. But Conner Walsh had a way of screwing everything up.

How, in the name of God, could he survive living with Aimee?

“Are you coming?” Aimee called from inside her car.

More than anything in the world, Kyle wanted to tell her no. Not because he resented her too accurate
assessment of his physical limitations, not because he wanted to move on and forget about her. No, he wanted to tell her she was out of her mind because the idea of going home with Aimee made him jittery.

“Yeah,” he mumbled with disgust. Coordinating cane, good leg, bad leg, and numb hand, he worked his way to his feet and limped to the passenger’s door. At least she hadn’t opened it for him—he’d have died right there if Aimee thought he was that incapable of tending to himself. His career might be toast, he might be crippled, but he was not an invalid.

And he was not hiring a nurse, damn it.

Kyle slid into the passenger’s seat with a grimace. The old pain started in his knee, worked its way up to his thigh. Muscles that had taken months to reattach and bind to bone protested the cold. Rebelled against the time he’d spent standing on the plane, just to prove to himself he could. “Why didn’t you move out?”

Aimee keyed the engine and dropped the gearshift into reverse. Looking over shoulder as she backed out of the space, she answered, “I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

“What have you been doing?”

As she shifted into drive, her foot on the brake, she gave him a meaningful look. “Searching for a job.”

“Oh.” Kyle lapsed into silence. He drummed his fingers on the center console, mentally ticking off the numerous reasons why staying with Aimee in the house they’d bought as husband and wife was a bad idea. Beyond the fact he loathed the idea of her tending to him like she might one of her former patients, she smelled too incredibly good after a shower, and he didn’t know how to keep his hands off her.

Already his brain formed fantastic pictures of them in the bed, reuniting in ways that would make Hugh Heffner blush. In the kitchen, on the dining room table, lathering each other in the shower…

Like he’d just run into a brick wall, the slow burn of pleasure that crept into his blood came to a frigid halt. He let out a derisive snort. Shower—right. He couldn’t handle the shower solo, much less with Aimee’s hands all over him and soap slicking his body. His leg wouldn’t hold up, the wet tile would make him slip. Christ, he couldn’t even make love to her if he wanted to—he couldn’t feel a damn thing in his right hand. He’d be no better than a bumbling teen. All thumbs, no finesse, and a damn sight rougher than what her fragile skin could handle.

So much for that little fantasy. Aimee deserved a whole man. Not one who’d been reduced to benches in the bathtub.

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM A BROKEN CHRISTMAS
~~@~~

Immortal Hope LAST STOP and Last Chance to Win

2012-01-31T00:01:00.000-06:00

Well, it's been a fun an exciting month with this blog tour, and I hope you've learned some exciting things both about the noble knights in The Curse of the Templars series, and Merrick and Anne from Immortal Hope.

But today's the last day, and we conclude the blog tour with Urban Girl Reader, where you can meet the last knight, Farran de Clare.

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

The winner will be posted here tomorrow.

While the tour is over, I still have plenty of things coming down the pipe and some more appearances scheduled. Check back for the latest news and additional giveaways with Immortal Hope.

Monday Pick Me Up with David Knight

2012-01-30T00:01:00.004-06:00

{The IMORTAL HOPE blog tour continues at Roni Loren's blog site today.}

Today's Monday Pick Me Up is from author David Knight! He's giving one randomly drawn commentor a digital copy of his book, I Am I: The In-Dweller of Your Heart

GIVEAWAY TODAY!

I invited David to share some thoughts with us today, and beneath his words of wisdom, you can find information on his current giveaway. (An Amazing Giveaway, I must say!)

My ‘Speaking Heart’ shares
GOD’S LOVE

Unique, brilliant, majestic, all powerful and healing, it is all and all is love. Reflect upon this statement and let it nourish the core of yourself and your ‘Self’.

You yearn and contemplate, perhaps worrying and dreading your life and life’s tasks that you yourself have set (or have been laid down for you), but we say, just ‘be’. Know that there is no commandment, instruction or rule book for you to digest, read or act upon. If you simply know yourself, your ‘Self’ and Soul, then all will work out just right, each and every day and night.

Deem that the connection is to, from, through, up, down, behind, in front, sideways, in and out as every route leads to God’s love. Everywhere, in all places and beings resides the love which was not born, but given freely to all Creation.

Realise that the sweetest smell and fragrance, the lightest touch, the brightest and most warm day of the sun (and Son), the freshest breeze, the bluest sky, the highest and most low vibration and energy are all God’s love, which is within and is everything. Therefore rejoice, bask, feel, and truly be this love.

Acknowledge and be proud to have found and walk with his love through the treadmill of life. Up the highest hills and your downward slopes, through your believed good and bad times, just follow, guide and share love that is free for you all.

As you well know, the beating heart of your physical pumps its blood to all the organs of the body so you are able to live the way you do. While this is so, God’s heart also ‘beats’ the purest love to sustain and help you to grow and know the truth of whom, what and why you are.

Hence, to feel and to acknowledge God’s love leads to understanding and the experience required for both the individual and also group Soul ‘journeys’. The emphasis of such is plain and simple and is not complicated.

The best things in life are ‘free’…this is truth, wisdom, and these words can be a springboard to so much more joy and happiness that God’s love contains, if only more of you believed in love. It is unrivalled, has no comparison and no equal. There is no division, it is ‘all’ and all is love!

A flower and a tree are all born from one seed,
And the rays of the true Sun are born out from deep need.
So you bathe and are then, engulfed in peace and also love,
His power and his grace, come from within and up above.

It is right and it is now, and it is by day and by night,
So discover and accept freely, and freely give out what is right.
No holding back, of what are both ‘within and the without’,
No laying still, a life of love, of which there is no doubt.

From roof tops or high mountains, those do seem to touch the sky,
No need to ever wonder, or cry out asking ‘Why?’
For you all have the gift, and the ‘present’ from his heart,
And ‘one’ forever is his promise… pre-sent to never, ever part.

Amen.

David Knight Website & Blog
Facebook

Purchase I AM I: The In-Dweller of Your Heart

**************
DUAL GIVEAWAY!
**************

#1) As per usual Monday Pick Me Ups -- leave a comment and be entered to win a digital copy of I Am I: The In-Dweller of Your Heart

#2)David's book is being launched on 2/2/12 on Amazon. There is an exciting contest that is in effect from now until the Launch.

There are great prizes that are involved:

* $100 gift certificate for Amazon toward a Kindle
* Two $50.00 Amazon Gift Certificates

Authors can substitute their choice of a video book review or Facebook Welcome page for the Kindle Gift Certificate if they win.

To enter, visit David's blog: http://www.ascensionforyou.co.uk/blog Please fill out the Contest form.

For a SECOND CHANCE to win these great prizes, fill out the form below!
(You may complete one task or the other, but doing both will earn you two entries)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Immortal Hope Blog Tour Stop

2012-01-29T00:01:00.002-06:00

Today you'll find me at In the Name of Books, where I'm discussing the challenges of writing Immortal Hope and meeting them head-on.

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Daily Blog Stop

2012-01-28T00:01:00.006-06:00

Today you'll find me at The Quillery, a fantastic, super classy, review site. I've been put to the test, and faced down a battery of thought-provoking questions!

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

The STRIPPED Blog Tour has concluded. The winner of the Amazon Gift Card will be announced shortly!

Thanks for following the tour and I hope you enjoy STRIPPED!

FIVE Tour Stops! Last Day for STRIPPED

2012-01-27T00:01:00.005-06:00

Today you'll find me at many places.

The first, Michelle's Book Blog, where you can meet the ever-so-charming, Templar Knight, Gareth.

When you've had your fill of him, hop over to Fallen Angel Reviews for more in-depth information about the series and Immortal Hope.

THEN, stop in at I'm Lovin' Books and learn a little about how angels and witches go to gether.

Comment at both and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop puts me overseas again, at Erotica For All.

Then, we conclude the tour with Adventure Into Romance!

Welcome, Author Leslie Soule

2012-01-26T00:01:00.002-06:00

{The IMMORTAL HOPE Book Tour continues today at My Bookish Ways, and STRIPPED is live at Kacey's Kreations.}

Good morning everyone! If any of you know me, or have been following the blog tours, you've learned I have a very, very special spot in my heart for dragons. Make that an addiction to dragons. Which means, the fantasy genre pulls me in like quicksand.

So when I saw the blurb for FALLENWOOD, I knew we had to have Leslei Soule on the blog! And I bet you don't have to wonder too much to guess what I asked her to talk about.

Yup. Dragons. Mmm -- happy sigh.

She delivered on the inquiry, and today I'm excited to be able to share her debut fantasy novel with you all.

FALLENWOOD
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Decadant Publishing
Release Date: March 2012
Pages: 194
Price: 4.99

Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 23-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders. She must destroy the Great Crystal—the catalyst for all the land’s magic. As the kingdoms prepare for war, Ash must look inside to find the power to save the world, and herself.

BUY NOW

Leslie, please tell us about these dragons!

The Dragons of Fallenwood

Hey there, everyone! This is Leslie D. Soule, and I’m here to talk about my novel Fallenwood, and about the dragons of Fallenwood in particular. I’m writing Fallenwood as a small series. In Book 1, I’ve introduced two types of dragons – the Great Dragon, Illeydra, prophet of that mystical force known as The Eternal that is Fallenwood’s divine power, and the Dragons of the Dawn. I guess these could both be categorized as “good dragons” – the kind that do things like usher in the new day and tell people about their destinies. I haven’t had these dragons destroy things or eat people or any of the things that other, ruder sorts might do. As far as dragons go, they’re fairly well-behaved.

My sequel that I’m currently writing will introduce the other sort of dragons – the “bad dragons” – the ones that go around destroying cities and eating people and causing havoc and burping loudly and such. If Fallenwood was The Wizard of Oz, Illeydra might be the Good Witch and the Crystal Dragons (I’m not giving away anything else until the appointed time!) would be the flying monkeys that belong to the Wicked Witch of the West.

With Fallenwood, I’ve re-introduced the myth of dragon teeth being planted and becoming soldiers. This is an odd, and yet very interesting myth. When I was in high school, I got to read Norse myths like Sigurd the Volsung, in which he slays a dragon, eats the heart and can hear the language of birds. These myths seem to make very little sense – why would eating a dragon’s heart give you the gift of understanding birds and not….dragons? Why would planting dragon teeth give you people and not….baby dragons? In the future, I may need to play with these ideas further. I love the idea of cute little baby dragons clawing their way out of the soil and wanting to be loved and played with. What an adorable thought.

So where was I? Ah, yes – the dragons of Fallenwood. Well, dragons are a classic ingredient of fantasy mythology and I wanted to add my own spin to them. Ordinary dragons are all well and good, but I like dragons that have jobs, like ushering in the new day and giving advice like sages. So I guess that’s what makes mine unique – I can’t even let my dragons lounge around and be slacker types. Sheesh!

Well, thanks for having me here today and listening to my ramblings. If you’d like to enter to win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble, please leave a comment with your name and e-mail address.

Before we get to the contest in more detail, let's take a look at an excerpt from FALLENWOOD.

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EXCERPT
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The dragon’s eyes glowed, for a flickering moment, with white light.

“Ash,” the dragon continued, “Welcome to Terra Illumina…or as it is more commonly known, Fallenwood.” Then a fierce roaring laugh erupted from the stone, as though the dragon thought the new name a joke. “A dark, difficult, dangerous path lies before you, Ash Kensington.”

Ash’s heart grew heavy. In truth, she knew that she was destined to some terrible, dark fate. For so long, her life was filled with sadness and doubt, and one horrible thing after another. What else can I hope for?

“But Ash, you must not lose hope. Our world needs you..."

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YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM FALLENWOOD
~~@~~

A Bit More About Leslie

Leslie Soule lives in Sacramento, California. Fallenwood is her first fantasy novel. She has received her B.A. in English from Sacramento State University and is currently working on her Master’s degree in English at National University.

Website: http://www.blogger.com/www.lesliesoule.com

Leslie will be giving away a $25 Barnes and Noble GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Enter a comment below and automatically be entered to win. Follow the tour, comment at each stop -- the more times you play the more chances you have to win!

Book Tour Two Stops Today

2012-01-25T00:01:00.001-06:00

Today you'll find me at Romancing the Book, where I'm talking about the roles of archangels in Immortal Hope and the series, The Curse of the Templars.

Secondly, I am at Grave Tells today as well! Please stop in!

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop is at Beyond Romance.

Tuesday Teaser, Special Guest, David Knight

2012-01-24T00:16:00.000-06:00

{The IMMORTAL HOPE Blog tour continues at, Manga Maniac Cafe and STRIPPED is at Roz Lee Contemporary Erotic Author's Blog }

Don't Miss the Giveaway Information!

David Knight is here today with our Tuesday Teaser, and he'll be back on Monday for the Pick Me Up. I told him he could steal the blog for a little bit to tell you about himself, and his book, I AM I: The In-Dweller Of Your Heart

I am I: The In-Dweller of Your Heart
52 Inner Dictations

Author: David Knight
Copyright: 11/23/11 by David Knight
Genre: Inspirational/Religion

I am I: The In-Dweller of Your Heart is a stepping stone for all who embark upon their own quest for ‘Spiritual’ education and guidance. So, even if you are comfortable with your own faith and religion, you may have decided to explore new interpretations and such issues on a personal or global scale.

The author David Knight has received and transcribed these passages of text in a process known as ‘Inner Dictation’. He describes this as writing from within the connection of his heart where peace, bliss, love and light reign supreme. God’s wisdom and teachings are laid out before you so you can simply choose and read whenever or whatever your heart needs or desires. They are guidelines, principles and simple directions for you to now dip your toes or dive headfirst into the waters of you’re own Divine essence.

These books will form the very threads of life’s new tapestry, each being spun into 52 lessons from, to and through our own hearts and soul’s. They are like a father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, partner or personal friend who knows you better than you can ever know ‘yourself’. Part 1 is a companion for life which does not judge, condemn or scold, but hopes to encourage, guide, console, teach and remind you of who and what you are, why you live and for what purpose too!

BUY NOW ON AMAZON

We'll let David have the floor for a minute before showing off this excerpt!

Hi Claire, lovely to be here and just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to share my book with you today.

When I was only about 6 or 7, I recall contemplating on why I was here, questioning what life was all about, and for what purpose too. During my early years I nearly died twice, the first almost drowning in a crowded swimming pool and secondly, (aged 14) falling about 30 feet down the waterfall at Glen Nevis in Scotland while on holiday with my father and brother. Each time I had asked inside my mind, “Please God…save me!”

However, it wasn’t till many years later that some strange and wonderful things started happening to me, both physically and also during dream state and meditation. I guess it wasn’t until I had actually started to ‘open’ up my heart and truly believe in the power of God’s love, that I became truly aware, also experiencing psychic phenomenon including pre-cognitions (foreseeing future events) and amazing proof of life after death.

As such, and through my own faith, I then had this inbuilt need, wanting to try and help guide people upon their own journeys too. Over time, other spiritual gifts started to materialize in my life such as healing, clairaudience and the ability to write through channelling and inner dictation.

In the beginning, it was as if a creative spark ignited inside of me, with an overwhelming feeling within that I just had to put words onto paper. These just flow, not from my mind as such, but as if coming from deep down within my heart, a connection where peace, bliss, love and light reign supreme. (I call it my speaking heart). Once I started putting pen to paper I knew it was my calling to try and help guide, heal and shine the light for many others to see their own truth ‘within’ themselves!

~~@~~
EXCERPT
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LESSON 8

GRIEF, ‘HEART-ACHE’ AND THEN JOY

Welcome. As you write the title of this passage, you may immediately think that there is a particular sequence of events that occurs. Obviously, from past experiences, you know that this is not always the case but true joy is forever and it is forever within you too.

Nothing, no one, or any ‘being’ needs to feel pain and anguish before they know joy, however it is the very nature of your mind and way of living that trick you to believe that this is so.

I have watched and felt your emotional rollercoaster of recent days. Jasper, your beloved cat who had been suffering from old age and illness would never have lived, even to recent times, without Caroline’s (and your) love washing over him during years of togetherness.

As your tears flowed and your hearts ached in distress as he slipped away, Angels and guardians who watch over all animals and creatures escorted and carried him to peace and contentment within my light that radiates for all beings. Know that he is amongst his friends and with those on the ethereal planes of vibration who know you both. They are caring for him, so he is fine and free from pain and anguish. He will be waiting for you when you yourselves are ready to Ascend and cross into your permanent state.

‘Pud’, as you often called him, lived on the earth plane until he was meant to leave. In the time when you’re grieving is most apparent, your mind tricks you. All people who feel that they lose their loved one - a relative, a friend, or pet - feel this trickery.

By now you have the experience to deal with such things as the knowledge has turned to wisdom. The love, light and acceptance of these events should now allow you to be unshaken by this or other difficult circumstances. Some may feel that it is harsh of me to suggest that you need to overcome burdens such as these more easily, but this is what I am now asking you to do.

I will never ever, ever ask you to abandon your feelings of oneness and love for another person, being, or a beloved pet. What you should continually strive to achieve is the release of your attachment. These are not the same thing. How can the devotee, aspirant, disciple, or the person looking for answers define it simply and clearly? The key is within yourselves and all it takes is recognition and remembering who and what you are, as we have described many times before.

It can be very easy to be deceived at times of stress and struggle, but these are precisely the events and occasions when your inner strength needs to prevail and let go of negativity. Accept that events are as they should be in terms of karma and right action. The struggle is to overcome feeling separate. One feels and thinks that they are divided. This is my husband, my wife, my child, or my pet. In truth they are not, for they are all you and me. All are ‘one’.

Some feel that their ‘God’ presides over them or lives in a particular place, or they may gaze upon a statue or alter which depicts in their eyes who or what I am. As stated, there is no separation so then I am all things and all things are me. I am the flower that is wilting and I am the next flower that blooms. I am the tree with no leaves and I am the tree whose blossom flies in the wind. I am the desert and the seas and I am the above and below.

As such, no one or ‘nothing’ can be alone, even in your darkest hour or the happiest moment of your life. So, if you now understand this and an event that you call ‘death’ occurs close to you, by concluding that the attachment is false, then there is no loss. If there is no loss then there is no fear. No fear means that there is no anguish or grief. Without grief you will not shed tears of pain, but rather tears of joy and celebration of a life that has enriched you and all those who come to know them.

This connection cannot be erased. Memory or even time can fade what was once so strong, but the love that is contained within two hearts cannot be destroyed by anyone or anything. Fire, water, earth or sky cannot burn, erode, bury, or elevate away. As the love was held by both hearts it cannot be extinguished, then there is no need to cry, no matter what the circumstances and events have conspired and bought to bear.

All egos must be diluted, so false thoughts cannot interfere with the process of truth. Yes, the truth is that the heart and Soul cannot ‘perish’ by any man-made event. People sometimes conclude that acts of violence by so called madmen mean that they have no heart and Soul. Know that even a ‘madman’ (a perception made on earth) loves something or someone. I explain this because it is often so difficult for you to comprehend or explain why and how a human being could inflict pain or harm upon another.

Causes and triggers, such as pride, hate, anger, and jealousy burn deep within the psyche. They lurk and hide within the shadows and recesses of the mind and body, looking for ways to express themselves. Instead, love and compassion, kindness and forgiveness need to grow within the heart. These seeds of truth can multiply and expand, touching and reaching far beyond boundaries of imagined walls; physically, mentally and emotionally. So, live with dignity and with values that have enabled you to be called a human being.

You are all so special, so strive to do and be the best person that you can be. Any job or activities that you engage in are all by-products and these, if undertaken in truth and love, are for the well-being of your fellow-man and for society.

All acts of kindness reverberate like the chimes of a bell for they echo and expand upon waves of love and light. Your hearts do not need to bear hurt and fear and they do not need to cry out for tears to fall in pain. Do not miss or despair when ‘ letting go’ of someone (or a pet), but continue to rejoice and sing their name in praise, for having the wonderful opportunity and time you had together on the plane of existence you currently reside upon. Please know that as ‘one’ I shall be:

-The boat that carries you across the ocean(s) of your emotions.
-The land you walk upon holding you upright and true.
-The wind that blows away dark clouds from your body, mind and Soul.
-The spiritual ‘vision’ to reveal the light and the Sun to radiate warmth and love in your heart.
-The hand that lifts you up from the ground when you feel you can’t go on.
-The life giving ‘water’ that will quench your thirst for truth, knowledge and for wisdom.
-The spark deep within that gives you everlasting life.
-The colours of the rainbow shining down upon your darkened days of false fear and tears.

We are one forever. Please do not grieve. Erase the heartache and pain. You are joy itself. Live it, breath it, know it and understand it. Love conquers all things that you can ever possibly imagine to fear. So do not, (for you need not), as you are nearer than near to me. I love you all. Amen

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM I AM I: THE IN-DWELLER OF YOUR HEART
~~@~~

DAVID KNIGHT was born into his current physical embodiment in 1964. He is married to Caroline and they live with their adopted cats Toby, Treacle, Spiky and Missy in the UK. In growing up he describes himself as a Mr. Average or like a 'Joe Bloggs'. Whilst earning a living in various types of work, (this ranged from HM Forces, Financial Services, a Care Assistant and also self-employment) his search for fulfilment changed from the exterior and without to the interior and within.

Spiritual education gained a greater momentum and at the age of 21 a more urgent sense of dedication as well as a new realization had set in. New evidence of and from God, were soon revealed through his life experiences. With the aid of Spirit guides and beings from the ethereal planes, the foundations were laid for all who wished to develop and experience their Hearts flame of love and light and to embark upon a unique opportunity for all soul's in this lifetime.

Website & Blog Facebook

Thanks, David, for dropping in! We'll see you on Monday!

READERS -- Remember, be sure to come back on Monday. David has a very exciting contest going on, and complete details will be available then. Trust me -- If you like books of any type, this is one contest you don't want to miss!

Blog Tour Information

2012-01-23T00:01:00.003-06:00

How Blog Tours Work...

After what's amounted to a week of having to chase down posts for one tour or the other, and hearing my author friends comment on this as well, I thought I'd explain to you, the people who come here to find out where to go for a blog tour stop, how this whole process works.

Let's skip past the whole contact, confirm, schedule date, etc. It's the author's responsibility to create material and get it to the host. Either through a third-party tour coordinator, or directly. This includes pretty much everything you see on a blog post -- answers to interview questions, guest post material, photo, bio, blurb, cover, etc.

At that point, once that material is sent off, it is really out of the author's hands. Some hosts confirm receipt of material, some don't. An author really has no idea if there's been a transmission error, or anything, unless the host communicates so. A really busy host may not even recognize there's something amiss until the last minute, or approaching the last minute, and hopefully the author can address that problem pronto if he/she is able to receive the email timely.

Unless the author has heard from the host, the author has no idea until the day of, whether there's been a problem.

And as the host is posting the material, and the author does not have access to that blog to do the posting hisserself, the author can't control whether that material gets live or not.

All an author can do (cough) is apologize to the people who've faithfully and diligently followed the tour, offered support, and may be emailing privately to inquire. He/she can also politely express some angst on a blog as well.

And then he/she can beg you to have patience and keep going with the flow.

So, I'm apologizing, I'm expressing, and I'm begging!

Thanks for all your support folks!

You asked for more knights -- I've delivered! Jump over to Lovin' Me Some Romance, and get cozy with a knight who knows the true meaning of chivalry, even if his suspicion sometimes gets in the way. Lucan of Seacourt is making a guest stop today!

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop is at Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess.

A Frightening Stop... one step from the Grave.

2012-01-22T00:01:00.002-06:00

After the exciting venture at Laura Kaye's site, today I'm over at Grave Tells, a wonderful paranormal blog. I do mean wonderful!

Stop in, be wary of the critters lurking in the dark, and say hello to be entered in the drawing at the end of the blog tour!

Stripped is off-tour for the weekends. It will resume tomorrow!

Exciting Tour Stop for Immortal Hope

2012-01-21T00:01:00.004-06:00

Today I'm super excited to be over at Laura Kaye's blog site. For those of you who aren't familiar with her, she's a fabulous author and her recent book, North of Need, is really making a name for itself! It's on my TBR pile and it should be on yours! (Not that I'm going to tell you what to do or anything. Hee!)

You should check her out, whether you're following my tour or not!

Stripped, as you know, is not on official tour on the weekends. However, I have an unrelated stop planned for today. I'm over at The Writer's Space

The Fabulous KMN Books and Blog Tour Stop

2012-01-20T00:01:00.003-06:00

Darn that pesky HTML Code that masked my fabulous writing. Darn me for not realizing it was wonky until... 2pm.

So. Here it is with much ado:

Today I'm at the incredible KMN BOOKS with Karen Michelle Nutt!

This is a great blog site, folks. Absolutely wonderful. You should check it out, even if you aren't interested in IMMORTAL HOPE.

(Gasp! How could that be?)

So jump on over there and check out Karen's blog. Right now!

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop is at Love to Read for Fun.

Welcome, Author Marie Astor

2012-01-19T00:01:00.003-06:00

{The IMMORTAL HOPE Blog Tour continues today atTote Bags 'N' Blogs . STRIPPED is featured atBook Travels.}

Today I have author Marie Astor on the blog, and I'm turning all the control over to her. She's on tour for her new book, On the Rim of Love, a contemporary romance that sounds like it's packed full of emotion.

Marie is awarding two prizes to randomly drawn commenters during her tour: a sterling silver plum quartz necklace and earring set, and a sterling silver aventurine necklace that were custom designed for the tour. (US & Canada only, please.)

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

ON THE RIM OF LOVE

Maggie Robin has been dating the irresistibly good-looking, successful Jeffrey Preston for two years. But when Jeffrey proposes marriage a week after Maggie’s college graduation, she is no longer sure if she wants to marry a workaholic TV producer.

Her doubts culminate when during a ski trip to British Columbia, Maggie meets Taylor Denton, a handsome, free-spirited big mountain skier who is the complete opposite of Jeffrey. It does not take Maggie long to realize that she has fallen in love with Taylor and she decides to break off her engagement with Jeffrey. But just when she thinks she has found the love of her life, an ill-fated misunderstanding tears Maggie and Taylor apart.

A week later, Maggie is told that Taylor has died in a tragic ski accident; yet, her heart refuses to believe in Taylor’s death. When Maggie returns to Taylor’s native town, she learns that Taylor is indeed alive, but has been seriously injured. Resolved to bring her lover back to life Maggie stands by Taylor’s side, convincing him to embrace life again.

So -- you're on stage, Marie!

~~~~~

Hi Claire, thank you very much for inviting me to the Muse to talk about my latest contemporary romance novel, On the Rim of Love.

Two years ago I went to Banff, British Columbia and was absolutely smitten with its incredible nature – the soaring mountain cliffs, the boundless snow (I was there in December), and the endless open spaces. I am always thinking of new plots for romance novels, and the moment I saw the sprawling beauty of British Columbia, the idea for On the Rim of Love started to materialize in my mind.

Now, I would like to say upfront that the town of Eagleville where the story takes place is a fictional town, as is the ski resort located in the town. Why didn’t you just pick one of the real resorts? you ask. Well, the reason being is that off-piste skiing is a big part of On the Rim of Love, as it becomes the initial point of connection between the main characters – Maggie and Taylor, so I wanted to create a ski resort with access to all kinds of ski terrain. From the research that I did, I learned that most US ski resorts do not offer lift access to wild mountain terrain and require either renting a helicopter or climbing long, arduous routs to get to wild mountain terrain. Europe, however, offers easy access to off-piste skiing – you can take a lift car to the top of Mont Blanc. However, I have never been to Mont Blanc, but I have been to British Columbia and my heart was dead set on its beauty.

So, I decided to combine the best of both worlds and create a ski resort where Maggie and Taylor could take an enchanting ride to the very tops of the mountains – I hope you’ll come along for the ride!

~~~~~

This book has fascinated me since I saw the tour announcement. I want to share an excerpt with all of you.

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

“Maggie, we have been seeing each other for a while, and now that you’re done with school, I think it’s time that we took our relationship to the next level.” Jeffrey placed a robin-blue jewelry box on the table.

Maggie stared back at him, suddenly at a loss for words.

“Go on, open it.”

Slowly, Maggie pulled on the white ribbon. Inside, was a smaller box of black velvet. Feeling Jeffrey’s expectant gaze upon her, Maggie flipped open the lid. A giant diamond glinted against the black material.

“Timing is everything, and I think that right now is the perfect timing for us, don’t you?” Jeffrey pressed on without waiting for her answer, “There are a lot of opportunities for me at the network, Maggie, and our engagement will show my father that I am a ‘reliable fellow,’ to use his words exactly. You see, my father is rather old-fashioned, and he has made it pretty clear that he expects me to settle down before he is going to entrust me with a more serious role in the company. When it comes to climbing the corporate ladder a man’s character is often judged by his personal life, and I do plan to climb to the very top.”

Maggie blinked, wondering what getting engaged had to do with timing and reliability.

“Of course, that is not the main reason why I want to marry you.” Jeffrey reached for her hand. “I love you, Maggie. We are perfect for each other. But when it comes to climbing the corporate ladder a man’s character is often judged by his personal life, and I do plan to climb to the very top.” Jeffrey winked.

“Yes.” Maggie nodded.

“I’m so glad.” Jeffrey put the ring on her finger where it dangled loosely.

Maggie’s first impulse was to explain that her ‘yes’ was directed at Jeffrey’s statement regarding the corporate ladder, but instead, she remained silent, thunderstruck by the enormous diamond on her finger: it was blindingly ostentatious - a single emerald-cut solitaire - just what a future studio producer’s wife would wear.

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM ON THE RIM OF LOVE
~~@~~

MORE ABOUT MARIE:

Marie Astor is a die-hard romantic who wholeheartedly believes in true love, which is why she writes in the contemporary romance genre. Marie is the author of contemporary romance novels, On the Rim of Love, Lucky Charm, and a short story collection, A Chance Encounter and Other Stories. Stop by Marie’s website: http://www.marieastor.com/ to sign up for book releases and events.

Marie can also be found on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection
and Twitter: @marieastor.

Books by Marie Astor:

On the Rim of Love – a contemporary romance about unexpected love. (MORE INFO)

Lucky Charm – a humorous contemporary romance about love, luck and friendship. (MORE INFO)

A Chance Encounter and Other Stories – a short story collection about love and everyday life. (MORE INFO)

Blog Tour Stop and Giveaway Site

2012-01-18T00:01:00.001-06:00

It's that time again -- time for another up-close and personal with a sexy, tortured knight. Stop in over at The Book Nympho and meet Tane du Bruiel a little more.

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop is at As the Pages Turn, a smokin' hot, fun and informative book review and information site.

New Review In and Today's Daily Blog Tour Stop

2012-01-17T00:01:00.003-06:00

Today I'm across the ocean, in Glascow, with Lesley at My Keeper Shelf. We're talking about the world building involved with Immortal Hope and the Curse of the Templars series.

Lesley reviewed IMMORTAL HOPE yesterday, and ranked it with 4 Stars. Here's a tidbit of what she had to say:

"Immortal Hope definitely has the feeling of a really good series, it reminded me a little bit of J.R Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood (which is one of my all time favourite series) where each book will focus on one warrior finding his HEA. So if you are a fan of BDB then this is right up your street."

Be sure and check out her Review while you're there!

Comment on the blog tour post and be entered to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop is at Sexy Lady, a really fun blog site for the... erotic inclined.

Amazon Gift Card WINNER #1 and Daily Tour Stop

2012-01-16T00:01:00.004-06:00

We have our first WINNER, folks!

Please congratulate Terri M!. For her participation on the Immortal Hope Blog Tour, she's receiving the mid-month prize of an Amazon $25.00 gift card.

Keep on playing, keep on commenting -- we have one more drawing left.

Today I'm over at Good Choice Reading, another fantastic review site. You should check them out beyond reading about how I blended history with fiction. They have some wonderful thoughts on equally wonderful books.

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop is at Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog, who's making an appearance over here on February 29th as well!

Daily Blog Tour Stop

2012-01-15T00:01:00.003-06:00

Today I'm at the very cool paranormal book review site, Fang-Tastic Books. Hop over and talk about your New Years hopes and hear a little of mine for the forthcoming year.

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

The STRIPPED blog tour does not run on weekends. It will resume on Monday.

Immortal Hope Blog Tour Stop

2012-01-14T00:01:00.001-06:00

If you like paranormal romance, you need to check out Dark Faerie Tales. I'm there today, talking about who was the most fun character to craft in Immortal Hope.

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

The Stripped Blog Tour does not encompass weekends. It will resume on Monday.

Immortal Hope Giveaway Blog Stop

2012-01-13T00:01:00.005-06:00

Today I'm at Wicked Lil' Pixie, another incredible review site for paranormal enthusiasts and anyone who likes a little steam in their romance! Stop in and learn why I chose the topic of the Knights Templar.

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop is at Ramblings From This Chick, where you can get a first-hand look at what it takes to be a Black Opal.

Welcome Author Joya Fields

2012-01-12T00:07:00.003-06:00

{Today's IMMORTAL HOPE Blog tour continues at Joya Fields' Blog and Sizzling Hot Book Reviews. The STRIPPED tour is live at Immortality and Beyond!}

Hi folks! As I mentioned in my first post of the day, I'm swapping blogs with author Joya Fields.

I had the pleasure of meeting Joya via Twitter (@JoyaFields) a little while back and have since really enjoyed chatting with her. She's a fellow TWRP author, and her book, LOVE DELIVERED is currently available.

But Joya has a new book coming out on Jan 19th, and she's here today to talk about BENEATH THE SURFACE.

BENEATH THE SURFACE

She’s fighting to stay independent—he’s determined to protect her no matter what…

Brooke Richards survived the earthquake that took her parents and most of her leg, but she needs time to regroup. A trip to Florida for a state-of-the art prosthesis and to visit her best friend Linda seems ideal. But the trip turns traumatic when Brooke witnesses Linda’s boat disintegrating in a fiery explosion.

Police Officer Garrett Ciavello believes the blast was intentionally set to hide something Linda found on a dive. When Brooke offers her expertise in underwater archaeology, Garrett accepts her help with the investigation. But since his fiancée’s death years ago, Garrett has become overprotective, and as they are drawn to each other, Garrett realizes he will risk anything to keep Brooke safe.

Brooke is fiercely independent. Garrett is fiercely protective. Will they heal each other’s wounds and find a killer…before it’s too late?

Joya's going to tell us a little bit about the research process involved with BENEATH THE SURFACE.

The floor is yours, Joya.

Thanks very much for hosting me today to chat about researching books, Claire. I’m thrilled to be here.

Research is fun? Heck no. At least that’s what I would have said a few years ago. Just the word “research” brings scary memories of long, hard hours working on college papers, toiling over pages of boring information, and falling asleep on my textbooks.

To my surprise, researching elements of my story wasn’t a bit boring. In fact, it was downright fun. I think it’s even one of the perks of being a writer because it forces us to learn and grow.

One of my favorite electives in college was archaeology, so I guess it’s no surprise that the heroine in my debut novel Beneath the Surface would be an archaeologist. Once I got involved in the story, I realized she was not only an archaeologist, she was an underwater archaeologist and an amputee. Two subjects I didn’t know much about.

The internet is a great place to start research, and I learned a lot about Scuba diving and amputees from web sites and blogs. I read a lot of books on the subjects, too. Yet, the best part of researching elements of this story came from the people I met and chatted with.

From a friend who Scuba dives whenever he gets the chance, I learned that a diver should never ascend faster than his bubbles when returning to the surface. At a local rehabilitation center, I learned that amputees sometimes refer to the part of their limb that remains as their “residual limb,” but they also understand that most people don’t understand what the term means. Some are insulted by the term “stump,” and others accept it. The people are what made researching this book fun. The stories, their patience with my questions, and, especially the people who persevered through tough times, helped me learn. I realize that when research is part of the journey to bring a story to life, it isn’t hard; it’s a pleasure.

Have you learned anything new lately, or had to research something? I’d love to hear about your experience.

Claire interjects -- I'm an oddball in the sense that I thoroughly enjoy researching for novels. Then again, if you take a look at this excerpt... I think, perhaps, Brooke might share a similar affinity for... ah... research. Ahem!

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

For the first time since the accident, she forgot about her leg. Forgot about all she’d lost and focused on the way he made her feel.

She knew she needed to stop him. She should find a way to resist the temptation to be with him. But for a few minutes, she could enjoy the taste of him, the feel of him, couldn’t she?

He dropped his hands to her waist and softened the kiss before trailing his warm lips down her neck. A weak cry slipped from her mouth. “Garrett,” she whispered.

She should stop this now before it got any more intense.

He lifted her chin and forced her to meet his brown eyes, smoky with desire. Heat spiraled to her middle and she caught a faint whiff of his sawdust scent.

“I…I can walk you back to your own room before I head to mine.” His voice broke as he whispered.

She swallowed hard. She couldn’t do this right now with him. Too many obstacles stood in their way. But as she looked in his somber eyes, she realized none of those complications were bigger than her need for Garrett.

“Let’s go to your room,” she said, her voice shaking. She moved her hands inside his shirt and ran them over his tight abs and chest. Heat soared through her body at the feel of him. “Together…”

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM BENEATH THE SURFACE
~~@~~

Thank you, Joya, for being here today. Your new release sounds absolutely delicious!

All, if you'd like more information about Joya and her novels, here's where you can find her:

Website: http://joyafields.com/
Twitter: @joyafields

Immortal Hope Review and Daily Blog Stop

2012-01-12T00:01:00.007-06:00

Today's I'm swapping blogs with author Joya Fields. The Immortal Hope Blog Tour Stop is at her place.

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

I'm also making a second apearance at Sizzling Hot Books, where Marissa recently reviewed Immortal Hope. She rated it 4 Hearts, and had the following to say:

"Immortal Hope looks to be a tantalizing new series that promises epic battles, strong women, amazing men and a commitment to a better world. Read it today!"

For the Full Review, click here.

Otherwise, leave a comment there too and double your chances to win. The first giveaway will be coming up very soon! And, if we get some more participants on the tour -- alert your friends! -- I'll up the rewards by doing a 3rd drawing.

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop is at Immortality and Beyond, where I'm giving you a sneak peek at an exclusive excerpt for STRIPPED, and talking about the Black Opals in depth.

Daily Blog Tour Giveaway Stops

2012-01-11T00:01:00.006-06:00

Need another up close and personal with a chivalrous knight? Stop in at Bookaholic Does Blogging and say hello to Caradoc of Asterleigh.

It's up and live! Yay!! Enjoy Caradoc, all!

Then, stop in at Book Chick City and learn about why I chose the serpents to symbolize the seraphs.

** Due to a sudden death in the family, Book Chick City has rescheduled the tour date -- TBA currently. I would like to extend my sincerest condolences.**

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop is at Seductive Musings, where you can get a first-hand look at what it takes to be a Black Opal.

And this fabulous blog is live! Laugh!

Giveaway Stops on the Blog Tours

2012-01-10T00:01:00.005-06:00

Today's Stop on the Immortal Hope Blog Tour is at Fiction Vixen. There, I'm talking about the inspiration for the novel and the series, and sharing some interesting facts about the cursed knights.

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop isat Romancing the Book, where I'm also being interviewed about STRIPPED and the naughty but dangerous, Black Opals.

Comment here as well, and double your chances to win!

Red Hot Books Remarks on Immortal Hope and Daily Giveaway Blog Tour Stop

2012-01-09T00:01:00.008-06:00

Morning all! Happy Monday. I hope your weekends were relaxing. If you're in my neck of the woods, you were spoiled with some out of season weather. I know I took advantage of it. (Which translates to: Hay Day).

Today's I'm talking about the mysterious Templar Stronghold and the real life haunted building that inspired the fictious version over at Red Hot Books, who reviewed IMMORTAL HOPE on January 2, and rated it 4 STARS.

While you can read the full review while you're there, here's a couple of clips from Jen's thoughtful analysis:

"The book was slow to reel me in. But once it did, I was hooked."

"...it was still a really engaging read. Sexy, with a lot of heart. And I will definitely be reading the next installment."

REMEMBER -- Comment on my guest post and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Meanwhile, the STRIPPED blog tour is back in gear after a weekend off.

Today's STRIPPED stop is at Adventure into Romance, where I'm also being interviewed about STRIPPED and the naughty but dangerous, Black Opals.

Comment here as well, and double your chances to win!

Double the Fun at SMEXY BOOKS, who has a review to share, and I have some intriguing thoughts to pass your way.

Praise for Immortal Hope and Dual Blog Tour Stops

2012-01-08T00:01:00.006-06:00

Today I have a Dual Stop for the Blog Tour.

First up: Romantic Crush Junkies, where I'm answering questions about IMMORTAL HOPE and the cursed Knights Templar. You want to get to know this blog site -- look at all those fantastic featured historicals! And also look -- PURPLE! (If you can't tell, I have a thing for purple.)

When you're finished reading the interview and browsing around there, drop in at Ficticious Musings, who had this to say about IMMORTAL HOPE.

"I devoured this AMAZING novel in less than 2 days. I’m still speechless. There is so much more to Immortal Hope than the cover reveals. This is definitely a must-read…must-buy for the new year. Review and Blog Tour coming soon."

I'm posting before she is, so as of right now, the review isn't posted yet. But drop in and you might know before I do! Also, you'll hear first-hand what Anne has to say about her introduction to the Knights Templar, and the handsome, Merrick du Loire.

Comment, and be entered to win an Amazon Gift Card

The Stripped Blog Tour will Resume tomorrow.

Daily Blog Tour and Giveaway

2012-01-07T00:01:00.005-06:00

Today's Stop on the Immortal Hope Blog Tour is at Paranormal Haven. I'm talking about what fascinates me about the paranormal and paranormal romance.

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Today's STRIPPED stop is unrelated to the blog tour. But please join me at the beautiful and engaging blog site, Reading Between the Wines, for a brief chat on Stripped and the Black Opals.

Immortal Hope "Amazing" per Book Passion For Life

2012-01-06T00:01:00.008-06:00

I've been published for a while, but I must confess to being addicted to wanting to hear remarks about Immortal Hope. So when reviews coming, I quickly hop over to read what they have to say. And, while I'm confessing, as this series means so much to me, I'm rather nervous when I click those links.

Book Passion for Life reviewed Immortal Hope on January 1, and I couldn't ask for a better way to start my new year.

Melanie ranked it "5", an "AMAZING" rating. Here's a couple of her remarks:

"Wow, this book was HOT!"

"I would recommend this book to fans of series like Highlanders, Dark Hunters etc. Tortured heroes with the chance of redemption from their true love, who doesn’t love a story like that?"

SQUEE! It's such a rewarding feeling to have readers really like a book!

With that said, today's Blog Tour stop is at Book Passion For Life, where I was challenged with some intriguing questions. Come join me and read the full review while you're there! Comment, and be entered to win up to $50.00 in Amazon Gift Cards.

ALSO REMEMBER

Jump on the STRIPPED blog tour and double your chances to win! Today I'm at Riverina Romantics, where I'm revealing an exclusive excerpt!

Welcome Author Brian Young {Giveaway and Blog Tour}

2012-01-05T00:01:00.010-06:00

{The Immortal Hope Blog Tour continues at Bookhounds with an interview with Declan. Tori St. Claire's STRIPPED tour continues at The Forbidden Bookshelf.}

Today I'm very excited to bring you author Brian Young and his newest release, Blood Veins. Brian is a graduate of the University of Oregon. He works as a banker and an editor for Rogue Phoenix Press. He currently resides in Oregon with his wife and daughter. To learn more about him and his published works, you can find him on Facebook.

Blood Veins

A black wave has passed over the thriving kingdom of Larista. Mysterious invaders calling themselves the Dolus have swept over the land laying waste to everything in their paths and leaving ghost towns in their wake. No one knows where they came from and no one knows what their purpose is. Tasting nothing but defeat after defeat the light of hope is fading in the kingdom; but the guerrilla forces resisting the Dolus invasion have received new information. This news has provided a small glimmer that could possibly spark into something more. Captain Maximus Rex leads a daring rescue mission deep in the Laristan forests to save the lone surviving member of the royal family.

Once freed Prince Alexander Novelle along with his friends and comrades face a perilous journey deep behind enemy lines. Their destination is Castle Varanasi. The once proud Laristan capital, gateway to heaven and salvation, lies in ruins under Dolus occupation. Mysterious assassins, underworld savages and renegade Dolus survivors stand between them the answers they seek. What they find there will shatter their perceptions and lead to unknown perils none of them are ready to face.

If you've been following me long, you already know I have a crazy passion about world building. Books, and especially series, that bring new worlds to life are the surest way to make me drool. If you like that sort of thing... just saying! Anyway, Brian is going to talk about his post apocalyptic world, and the kingdom of Larista, which sounds absolutely fascinating! Brian, take it away, please.

I have always enjoyed post-apocalyptic worlds. I like the mixture of different technologies clashing together, but when I was working on Blood Veins I didn’t want to write about the apocalypse but instead of the different people that rose up afterward. A fair amount of time has passed and the entities that have risen in the wake of the dead world have grown large enough that they are looking to their neighbor’s lands for expansion. I wanted to incorporate a little bit of house heraldry into the story. Families will end up playing a large role in the story as well. There is a lot of mystery surrounding the houses of Novelle and Knovel. Larista is only a small part of the world I want to create. Blood Veins is the first in a series and we will see much more of this world in future books.

Most of the population is at the technology level of the Middle Ages but there are a few factions that are significantly more advanced. The royal family tries to balance its use of technology with its religious responsibilities. Their neighbors however have recently changed their philosophies regarding technology and Larista is struggling to keep up. They are discovering old technologies instead of inventing them and they don’t have the production to make these technologies available to everyone, so it creates an interesting dynamic between the royal families and the common people. There are also the Sisters of Gnaritas who openly and blatantly use and invent new technology. They are decades, if not more, ahead of the other major factions in Larista.

I also wanted to create a bit of a lost world as far as the Kingdom of Larista was concerned. It is a bit of a paradise compared to other places that suffered much more during the Great War that destroyed the ancestors’ civilizations. The terrain around the kingdom seems impassable to them, combined with the religious doctrine of the kingdom, it has kept them secluded from the rest of the world. So once the secret gets out that people exist outside of the confines of the kingdom, it will turn their world upside down.

It sounds like a wonderful read! I absolutely love the cover. It's very majestic.

Let's take a closer look.

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

Percival shook his head. "It's our duty to kill that murdering, traitorous scum, Novell, and free everyone. Not just these people here today. We can't do that on our own though. We need him or no one will follow us."

Maximus cocked his head and looked quizzically at Percy. "You know both their names are Novell, right? Not to mention there's no proof Prodis is responsible for this. I doubt Alexander would appreciate you calling his brother a murdering, traitorous scum."

It was clear Percival was convinced Prodis was responsible and all he gave in response was a short grunt.

"Anyway," Maximus continued, "If Alexander is down there and we don't go in, we will have missed our best and possibly our only chance at freeing him. We go."

Percival's face went blank as he barked out, "Yes Sir."

The captain sighed, his breath showing in the crisp cold air. The rain had started to let up and it seemed the temperature had dropped another ten degrees as the chill renewed its assault against his rain soaked cold weather gear. "I hate it when you call me Sir. It means you disagree with me, or you're mad at me"

Percy gave his Captain a half grin. "First, if I can't call you Maxi and I can't call you Sir, what am I suppose to call you? Second, I do agree with you. I just know when you need someone else to voice your inner thoughts and help you sort things out. Lastly, I'll make sure everyone is ready."

Percival finished with his customary grin.

"I hate you sometimes, Lieutenant."

Percival shrugged and turned to pass the plans along to the rest of the squad.

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM BLOOD VEINS
~~@~~

Thank you, Brian, for stopping in and sharing Blood Veins.

Readers, Brian will remain on tour, talking about Blood Veins and sharing more exciting peeks into the novel. As part of this tour, he's giving away a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card to one random commentor during the tour. Post your comment, you're automatically entered. The more you comment, the more chances you have to win.

For a complete list of tour stops, click here.

Trip to the Bookstore... And the Giveaways Continue!

2012-01-04T00:01:00.006-06:00

Well, yesterday was rather... odd.

I did go to the bookstore in search of both my releases. It was a half step away from walking into straight chaos. None of the new releases were on the shelf, with the exception of Maya Banks' KGI release. The manager was less than enthused about tracking down a title I wanted to buy that was still locked up in the back room, and well... it just wasn't near as fun as it was supposed to be.

In any case, I did leave behind some signed copies of STRIPPED. Convincing the manager to find Immortal Hope? Yeah... kinda like convincing a banshee not to scream at deafening decibles.

So I'll go back in a few days. Overall, it was exciting to see my book there alongside the authors I admire!

Now, back to the Blog Tour Schedule:

Today's Stop on the Immortal Hope Blog Tour is at Rom Fan Reviews. I'm being interviewed over there and have some insight to share on The Curse of the Templars.

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop is at It's Raining Books, where I'm also being interviewed about STRIPPED and the naughty but dangerous, Black Opals.

Comment here as well, and double your chances to win!

RELEASE DAY!! Win an Amazon Gift Card - Blog Tours

2012-01-03T00:01:00.008-06:00

It's here, it's here, it's here!

Immortal Hope AND Stripped (as Tori St. Claire) are on the bookshelves TODAY!

I plan on taking my lunch hour to scope out my local Barnes and Noble. I plan on signing the copies that are in stock. And I totally plan to put one book in each of my demi-demon's hands, stand them in front of the shelves, and take their photo.

Hee hee!

In all seriousness, I've had several "release days", but this one is so special, so exciting. These two books are 'books of the heart'. Stories that I labored over more than many, that I invested myself in more than usual, and kept that flame burning, despite years of wind determined to blow it out, to see something I wrote with a major, traditional publisher, and stocked on the chain book shelves.

Let alone Wal-Mart--eegads. Thank you, TOR!

And I owe so many people for the summit of this journey. People I've acknowledged in the books, people I haven't because there just aren't words. You've made my dreams come true, and I will be eternally grateful.

For those of you who are out shopping, for those who've been shopping -- thank you, thank you, thank you! Would you let me know where you sighted my book(s)? I'd love to hear!

Meanwhile -- the blog tours continue:

Today's Stop on the Immortal Hope Blog Tour is at The Book Faery. Stop in and learn why the knights in The Curse of the Templars are "old".

Comment and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Today's STRIPPED blog tour stop is at Rachel Leigh's Erotic Romance. Rachel is interviewing me on all things STRIPPED-related!

Blog Tour x2 - Giveaways!

2012-01-02T00:01:00.002-06:00

Want a face to face meeting with Merrick du Loire?

Stop by Linda Kage's All You Need is Love, blog site, and see what he has to say about his struggle, and his involvement with Anne.

For More changes to WIN!, The STRIPPED blog tour kicks off today as well!

Stop in at Asian Cocoa's Secret Garden and get a sneak peek at my newest novel as Tori St. Claire

Both Blog Tours have chances to win an Amazon Gift Card! But you can't win if you don't comment -- stop in and double your chances!

Blog Tour & Giveaway -- Starts Today!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.002-06:00

Well, here we are! The Blog Tour Starts TODAY!

Please join me at I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read, where I'll be talking about Immortal Hope and the series, The Curse of the Templars

I will be giving away a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a second $25.00 Amazon.com gift certificate to a second randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour.

Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning! Click the Blog Tour badge (to the right) for a complete list of blog stops.

ALSO! REMEMBER - the blog tour and giveaway for STRIPPED, as Tori St. Claire, begins TOMORROW!

Immortal Hope Review and Dual Giveaway Today

2011-12-30T00:01:00.005-06:00

Another review has come in, and this one has me super-pleased! Bitten By Paranormal Romance is a wonderful blog site, and I nervously submitted my book, hoping it would do the reviewers justice.

Artemis went in, by her own admission, with a "deep sigh", as I was a new-to-her author. But she rated the book 4 Moons, and ranked it as HOT. Here's a few snippets of what she had to say:

"as the story started to unfold and the character’s complexity is revealed, did I realize just how captivating IMMORTAL HOPE is."

"I am enamored with the Templar Knights of IMMORTAL HOPE and with their bravery to endure the impending evil that steals their souls bit by bit. "

To read the full version and hear some wise words from the archangel Gabriel, check it out here.

Now -- QUICK! Hop over to Bitten By Paranormal Romance today and read about the Lure of Darkness.

I'm talking about Immortal Hope and Stripped, and why the darkness is so compelling, both in Paranormal Romance and in Romantic Suspense.

Follow the rules over there and you can win a signed copy of both Immortal Hope and Stripped!

Hope to see you there.

Immortal Hope -- Blog Tour and Giveaway Coming!

2011-12-29T00:55:00.002-06:00

First Up -- Guest Spot!!

I am so excited to be over at Jill James' blog site today. Please stop in and say hello -- she's a great lady, hosts a gracious blog, and I'd love to see you there.

Release day is almost here. Just five more days! Slowly, reviews have been coming in, and I'm beyond words at how well it's been received.

Here's a remark from Harriet at Alternative Worlds:

"The first Curse of the Templars urban fantasy is a super tale in which readers will believe in the curse, centuries old knights, demons, and a brave bookworm professor who cannot hurt a fly but carries a sharp sword." - read the full review

She had several other exciting remarks, and it was very satisfying to see the review on a site that isn't strictly romance.

Remember -- you can pre-order it now!

Meanwhile, the Virtual Book Tour begins January 1st! I'll be talking about IMMORTAL HOPE, the inspiration behind it, and giving you a closer look at the struggling knights, Merrick, Farran, Declan, Caradoc, Lucan, Tane and Gareth.

If you follow the tour, I'm giving away prizes!

I will be giving away a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a second $25.00 Amazon.com gift certificate to a second randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour.

Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning!

Click the badge to see where I'll be when.

Immortal Hope Rated 4 Books - Book Lovers, Inc

2011-12-27T00:01:00.000-06:00

There is exactly seven days until IMMORTAL HOPE releases!

Reviews are coming in, and my Virtual Book Tour is about to begin. I have, in my hot little hands, the first printed books. Oh they are so nice!!! So very nice.

I CAN'T WAIT!!

In the meantime, Book Lovers, Inc reviewed the ARC copy, and here's a couple highlights from Anna's remarks:

"From the very first pages of the story, the action is nonstop–and not only that, but the action scenes are so well written and vivid that it’s like each battle is being unfolded before your eyes!"

"All in all, Immortal Hope is a very well-written paranormal romance title set in an intricate world, whose sequel I just can’t wait to read!"

If you'd like to read the full review, it's posted here.

Happy happy happy. Stay tuned for more information ala Knights Templar as the weeks unfold!

Monday Pick Me Up - All I Want for Christmas... (Giveaway!)

2011-12-26T00:01:00.002-06:00

Super easy to win today!

The Prize:

One digital (.pdf) copy of All I Want for Christmas…Is Big Blue Eyes

The Game:

In the comments section below, share your favorite winter holiday memory this year.
Commentors’ names will be put into a hat, one winner randomly chosen.
Winner’s name will be announced in the comments section below.
Winner must email Claire to claim his/her prize.

Good luck!

Merry Christmas To All

2011-12-25T00:01:00.000-06:00

Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement this year.

I wish you the very best holiday season, the warmest memories, and the brightest new year.

My Favorite Christmas Memory

2011-12-24T00:21:00.001-06:00

I am a dragon at heart.

No, I don't breathe fire (well my demi-demons might argue that), and I don't spit acid. I do collect gems. And I wish I had some mystical power.

But beyond all that, if there's a dragon in the vicinity, I'm so there.

And that leads me to one of my favorite Christmas memories. I confess, this is a totally materialistic memory, but even now, many years later, it's very dear to my heart.

For years, years, years, I suffered through everyone buying me what they thought I wanted, and never paying attention to the things I'd mention. The last time I can recall a Christmas where I was literally squealing when I opened the wrapping paper, was as a child.

But one year, perhaps after I spent the majority of the year subtly (okay, not so subtly) remarking that just because I was grown didn't mean I had to have sensible gifts and I could still enjoy the frivolous... I found heaven under my Christmas tree.

My mother finally stopped pretending she didn't have a dragon-wanna be in her house. And somehow she managed to find everything-dragon for me. Cute little dragon figurines, dragons in snow-globes, angry majestic dragons, and even hand-painted dragon plates.

Even better -- she signed up the entire family! My aunt joined the parade of dragons, and I had a couple dragon t-shirts plus more set-abouts. And a dragon pendant. My significant other found a dragon music box and he made it doubly exciting with pairing that gift with a Merlin music box.
(Why did I let him get away? :face-palm:)

In any case, at twenty....something.... I had a kids Christmas and was able to remember the magic of my childhood. I've never received another dragon, but those gifts, those priceless treasures, are fondly displayed in a hutch, all together, all there looking at me to remind me there's magic surrounding us.

I've been able to give that joy to my children, and relive the magic of Christmas through their eyes. That's more important. And frankly, far more memorable. But I saw that photo when I was browsing for something to include on my post, and well... the dragons just wouldn't be ignored!

But speaking of Christmas Magic, this year I released a very special Christmas story. A BROKEN CHRISTMAS digs into the hearts of two wounded people, who have only one thing remaining in their lives -- love. It's a romance that I hope will touch your heart.

A BROKEN CHRISTMAS
Contemporary Holiday Romance

The truest gifts are damaged ...

Delta Force operative Kyle Garland divorced his wife to protect her. His top-secret missions expose him to constant danger, and his world is full of lies and deceit. But the threat to Aimee doesn’t come in the form of insurgents or bombs. Rather, his soul-deep love and the dreams he silently nurtures are her greatest hazard. When a career-ending injury brings him home for Christmas, to keep her safe he must bury his feelings and hide the monster he’s become.

Fourteen months ago, Aimee had the perfect marriage… then Kyle blindsided her with a divorce. Now, he’s coming home, and she intends to get her answers. Yet the crippled man she confronts bears scars her years of nursing cannot heal. The secret he’s hiding is tearing him apart. No matter how she tries, he keeps her at a distance, despite the love that’s still evident in his kiss. What Aimee doesn’t know is her own damaged past terrifies Kyle more than any wartime horror.

As she forces him to confront his demons, will the holiday shred the fragile bonds they share, or will Christmas complete all their broken parts?

Read Excerpt

What about you -- Do you have a holiday memory that somehow completed you? In exchange for your stories, I have a gift for you.

One Random Commentor will Receive Two Special Prizes:

a - a .pdf copy of A Broken Christmas
b - a .pdf copy of my Yule novella, Destined to Die

I will post the winner here tomorrow!

Meanwhile -- DON'T FORGET this is part of the RomFan Reviews Holiday Blog Hop

Handsome here, will take you to the official list of all participating authors.

If you'd like to go directly to the next host, Jacquie Rogers is sharing her memory on the 27th.

For your convienence, here's a list of all participating authors and their Blog Hop dates -- remember, everyone has prizes to share. You can't win if you don't Hop!

Bobbi Brattz December 11th
Franny Armstrong December 12th
Regina Carlysle December 13th
Elizabeth Amber December 14th
Brita Addams December 15th
D.B. Reynolds December 16th
Beth Trissel December 17th
Tori St. Claire December 18th
Amy Romine December 19th
Skhye Moncrief December 20th
Carrie Ann Ryan December 21st
J.S. Wayne December 22nd
Shannan Albright December 23rd
Claire Ashgrove December 24th
Jacquie Rogers December 27th
Keta Diablo December 28th
Anne Holly December 29th
K.D. Grace December 30th

MERRY CHRISTMAS, everyone!

Immortal Hope Awarded 4/4 Stars by Romantic Times

2011-12-23T00:42:00.000-06:00

Well, it's here -- the very first review for IMMORTAL HOPE!

I'm snoopy dancing. Romantic Times (RT) awarded it four out of four stars! (4/4) Hot damn!

I've been biting my nails, hoping and praying, and wow... I was stunned to see the rating. While the review is short (all RT's are), here's a snippet:

"The story is well researched, with interesting characters, and you’ll be sucked into the novel within the first chapter. "

Meanwhile, I've been setting up a blog tour for IMMORTAL HOPE. If you check out the badge to the right, you can find my tour dates and where you can stop in to learn more about IMMORTAL HOPE and the diverse characters.

~~~~
IMMORTAL HOPE releases January 3, 2012, but is available for Pre-Order. Purchase your copy now, here!

Inherited Damnation Release Day!

2011-12-21T00:01:00.002-06:00

Just in time for Yule--check out the third installment of the Inherited Damnation series, Destined to Die, available today!

Haunted by his mother’s betrayal, Belen McLaine surrendered to his demonic half long ago. For centuries, he’s roamed, doing all he can to corrupt those he encounters. But Belen’s life changes when a little Yuletide fun goes wrong, and the one woman he can’t stay away from is suddenly in need of his protection. Unable to cast her aside, he finds himself on a deadly path to love.

Faith Winters shared one glorious date with Belen complete with fireworks, but he stayed away until the night of her brutal attack.

As danger escalates, he becomes her only safety net. Shared passion gives way to something deeper, hotter, than she’s ever known before. Yet Faith has no idea her greatest threat is the very man who holds her heart. For Belen, even if it means hurting Faith, he must not succumb to love. If he fails, his father’s curse promises he’ll take Faith’s life.

~~~~~
Destined to Die is available at The Wild Rose Press in digital e-book format, and all major e-book retailers, including Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. BUY IT NOW!

Tuesday Teaser - All I Want for Christmas...

2011-12-20T00:01:00.001-06:00

Christmas is just five days away, and it just wouldn’t be appropriate to not include my first Christmas romance, All I Want for Christmas…Is Big Blue Eyes.

Perhaps a walk would tire him out. If nothing else, strolling past the decorated houses might help him get in touch with the holiday spirit. Amanda’s mother’s house was just down the street. He’d walk there and back. Two summers after his father passed, Lucas sent him a card telling him Mrs. Henders had passed away. Cancer had finally gotten the best of her. It would be interesting to see who lived in Amanda’s old house now.

Bullshit, Josh. You want to see her.

Had they repainted it? Did they ever cut down the old oak that got hit by lightning and split in half? Maybe another teenage girl now lived in the window near the elm’s thick branch, and he’d catch her sneaking out to meet the boy she was presently grounded from seeing. Or, maybe he’d find another boy like himself sneaking out the window, off to convince said girl out of her house because without her, Friday night was boring.

Particularly when he didn’t have football games and couldn’t see her cheering on the sidelines in that dangerously short skirt that revealed a little too much for his eighteen-year-old hormones when she kicked her foot to her ear.

He chortled.

Damn, they’d all had some good times here.

Lost in thought, he wandered down the sidewalk, walking through the few fond memories Lexington held for him. He saw grade school games of tag behind the thick-trunked, old trees; days of riding bikes up and down South Street, terrorizing Mr. Johnson by finding every rock they could and dumping them into his Koi pond; summer evenings staring up at the stars with her.

The rumble of a car’s engine brought his head up, and he slowed his pace as the silver Honda Accord touched its brakes thirty or so feet in front of him. With a crunch, it rolled over the banked snow on the curb and pulled into Amanda’s mother’s driveway.

Josh gave in to a fond smile. He’d get a first hand glimpse of who lived here now. Maybe a young couple, just starting out life, still caught up in newlywed bliss, not yet exposed to the reality of how faithless love was. They’d learn. But for a while, they’d feel like they had everything, that the whole world lay in their naive hands.

Like he’d believed until his mother shattered that innocence.

He kept walking, approaching the driveway casually, his curiosity piqued.

The driver’s door opened. A woman climbed out, toting a plastic grocery sack in one hand. Her honey-blond hair brushed the top of her shoulders, and as she walked in front of the car, the automatic headlights gave it a soft sheen.

Josh’s heart skidded to a stop at the same time his feet did. It couldn’t be.

“Amanda?” he called out, quietly.

She stopped, turning around with a puzzled expression. “Yes?” She started back toward the car’s rear end.

He hurried forward, meeting her halfway. As those blue eyes focused on him, and recognition settled into their dark depths, Josh couldn’t breathe.

Oh, God. Amanda.

Everything inside him screamed to reach out, touch her, hold her in his arms, and go back. Go back where everything was normal. Where she was so in love with him, she made him believe dreams were possible.

“Josh,” she whispered.

Nodding, he swallowed and searched for a smile. He found it, but it faltered with his nerves. Though he’d hoped, he hadn’t expected to find her here. Lucas hadn’t said anything. “Hi,” he managed.

“Hi.” She worried her free hand through her short hair, and in the streetlight, a diamond glittered on her left ring finger.

His gut turned over, clamping down tight. Someone had, indeed, been smarter and braver than he.

“I didn’t know you took over Mom’s house.”

Holding his gaze, she nodded. “It was all I had.”

Fighting down the urge to wince, he ignored the flash of hurt that passed behind her eyes. When she blinked, it was gone. But lurking there instead was something that took his breath away again. Emotion. The same kind that haunted his memories when he dared to think back on her.

The kind that went hand in hand with the words, Josh, you’re everything to me.

~~~~~~

Come back Monday for a chance to win All I Want for Christmas…Is Big Blue Eyes

Monday Pick Me Up - Destined to Die (Giveaway!)

2011-12-19T00:01:00.002-06:00

In two days Destined to Die will be available for purchase. Here’s your chance to win an advance copy and read it before anyone else!

The Prize:

One digital copy of Destined to Die

The Game:

Post in the comments section your brief thoughts about a dark hero.
Commenters’ names will be put in a drawing, one will be randomly selected
Winner will be announced in the comments section below.
Winner must email Claire to claim his/her prize

Good luck!

Six Sentence Sunday

2011-12-18T00:01:00.000-06:00

For those of you unfamiliar with Six Sentence Sunday -- authors post six sentences from a book or a work in progress.

Hoarse and thick, his voice held torment. “Wrong it may be, but I can no longer fight this. I will choose shame and disgrace if it eases the ache that consumes me.” His onyx eyes flashed with something she couldn’t recognize. It reached in deep, wound its claws around her heart, and held on tight.

Quietly, he murmured, “Touch me, Anne.”

Cursed to Kill Receives 4 Stars

2011-12-16T00:01:00.001-06:00

The first of the reviews for Cursed to Kill, the first in the Inherited Damnation series is in! This series of novellas has been very fun to write, and delving into the darkness with demons has been an entertaining venture.

I'm super-excited that the first review came in at 4 Stars.

Here's what Marissa at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews had to say:

"CURSED TO KILL is an exciting read filled with tormented lovers who must overcome their history to find true love."

"If you enjoy a steamy story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and reminds you of the value of true love, I recommend CURSED TO KILL."

If you'd like to read her full remarks, drop in on Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

~~~~~
CURSED TO KILL is available in digital format at The Wild Rose Press and all major digital booksellers including Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and All Romance e-Books.

Monday PickMeUp! Winner

2011-12-13T22:02:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Tracey, on winning this week's Monday Pick Me Up!

She receives a copy of A Christmas to Believe In.

Happy Holidays, Tracey!

Tuesday Teaser -- Destined to Die

2011-12-13T00:01:00.002-06:00

Christmas isn’t the only holiday in December. Another is Yule, and this Yule brings a magic all of its own. The third book in the Inherited Damnation series releases on the 21st. Belen and Faith have a holiday nightmare on their hands.

So with much ado, I’m bringing you a sneak peak of what they’re facing. WARNING: It is a little adult near the end.

He really liked holding her hand. The warmth of her skin filled him with the false promise that if he held on long enough he could absorb the decency she possessed.

Faith followed as he led her to the car, silent and introspective. He knew he should say something—she’d gone out of her way to entertain him tonight. But words failed each time he tried. He couldn’t get past the one thing that was firmly lodged in his throat: Kiss me, Faith.

They drove in the same quiet. Belen remained wrapped up in the conflict brewing inside him and searching for a way to bring a firm, final end to this nonsense. He answered when she spoke, but tension crackled between them with each passing block. He couldn’t say whether it was awkwardness, or just the climax of their shared attraction. Whatever caused it though, the electrified air drove him to near madness. If he could have stopped the car and run ten blocks to work the kinks out of his system, he would have.

His house was dark, save for the solitary light glowing over the threshold. At ten minutes to eleven, the oddity announced his siblings had gone out for the night. In the three months Dáire had been living with him, Belen couldn’t recall wanting his brother around. Tonight, he’d have surrendered his elemental powers to have Dáire sitting on the couch.

Even Isolde, for that matter.

Faith opened the door first, climbing out and taking a piece of Belen with her as their hands inevitably severed. He curled his fingers into his palm, closing his eyes against the sudden lance of anguish. With a deep breath, he steeled himself against what he must do, and exited the car. “Faith, I enjoyed tonight, but—”

Her lips touched his, and Belen’s heart came to a screeching stop. He remained motionless, frozen from head to toe, as her mouth feathered across his, seeking, beseeching him to acknowledge the desire that arced between them.

The tip of her tongue teased one corner of his mouth, slid along the inside of his lower lip. A low, feral groan rumbled in his throat as his arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her flush against his body. He angled his head and captured her lower lip, pulling it into his mouth, nipping it with his teeth.

Faith’s hands fastened in his long hair, her nails curled against his scalp. She kissed him with unabashed abandon, forcing him to acknowledge all the yearning he’d bottled up inside. His fingers curled into her narrow waist, and he deepened the kiss, tangling his tongue with hers like he had spent a lifetime waiting for this moment.

Maybe he had. It sure as hell felt like it. The velvety slide of her tongue was sweeter than honey. More painful than the sword that had plunged into his side when he’d taken up arms against the Romans the day the Selgovae were invaded.

And more saving than if the Ancestors had promised him a life without the darkness.

He slid one palm up her back, pressing her closer. Her breasts pillowed against his chest, her hips ground flush with his. Through the thin material of their formal clothes, he could feel the heat of her feminine center, and that warmth against his aching cock pulled another throaty groan from the depths of his soul. How he had craved her, yearned for this…

Belen’s fingers tangled in the nape of her hair, tugging the loose mass free. Long silken strands cascaded over the back of his hand, down her back, and brushed against the hand he kept fastened at her waist. He breathed through his nose, savoring the scent of almonds, the rich flavor of her mouth, the perfect way Faith’s body molded into his. She was so willing, so eager, and tonight he would…

He pulled back with a soft, protesting grunt.

Tonight he would not.

Their breaths clouded around them in the frosty night, rasping in broken harmony. He sucked in air, held it to stop the racket clamoring through his body. Then, exhaling slowly, he touched his forehead to hers. She held his gaze, turquoise eyes dark with arousal.

“You need to go home, Faith,” Belen whispered huskily.

~~~~~~

Check back Monday for a chance to win Destined to Die!

Monday Pick Me Up -- A Christmas to Believe In (Giveaway!)

2011-12-12T00:01:00.002-06:00

With the holidays upon us, there’s nothing better than a holiday romance.

The Prize:

A digital (.pdf) copy of A Christmas to Believe In, The Three Kings, Book III

The Game:

Email me the names of the other two authors who collaborated on The Three Kings series.

All entrants’ names will be put into a hat, and one will be randomly selected. I will email the winner his/her copy of A Christmas to Believe In

Best of luck!

A Broken Christmas is a TOP PICK at Nightowl Reviews

2011-12-09T00:15:00.001-06:00

Squee! I was so absolutely excited to see this review come in. Not only did it achieve 5 Stars, A Broken Christmas was awarded the TOP PICK ranking.

As I've said many times, this story is super special to me. It's an incredible feeling to have a book be as well received as it is.

Here is what Emma at Night Owl Reviews had to say:

"How do you even begin to review a story that tells about such soul-stealing pain? The problem is that the characters are real or they easily could be."

"Be sure to have a box of tissues at your side; you're going to need it."

If you'd like to read Emma's full remarks, please read the entire review at Night Owl Reviews

~~~~~
A Broken Christmas is available in digital format at The Wild Rose Press and all major digital booksellers, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Welcome, Author Jill James!

2011-12-08T00:15:00.000-06:00

Today I have contemporary romance author, Jill James with me today. I've known Jill for a while now, and am very excited to have the chance to introduce her to all of you. Her writing is vivid and evocative, full of emotion, and the love scenes will make you squirm in anticipation!

So let's start out with you, Jill. Briefly take us on the journey with you – when did you start writing, did you start in the genre you’re published in now, what hurdles did you have to overcome, etc.

JJ: My first writing was poetry. I was the stereotypical angsty teenager. I wrote stories for my kids and for myself. I finally got serious in 2004 and joined RWA (Romance Writers of America) I originally wrote Tempting Adam for Silhouette Desire. When I got back the ‘thanks, but not for us’ form letter I put it aside and worked on other stories. I wrote a paranormal romance and several other stories but Tempting Adam was still calling to me. During a workshop the wonderfully talented Candace Havens said something that just made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “You have to put yourself out there. Publishers aren’t going to walk down your street and knock on your door.” It seems so obvious now, but at that moment it was like a light bulb went off in my head, as cliché as that may sound. I had put off sending Tempting Adam to The Wild Rose Press for 2 years. What was I waiting for? I send off the required query and in what now seems like lightning fast moves I was offered a contract.

Hee hee. My first experience with TWRP was much the same -- it all happened before I could blink!

Obviously you write in the contemporary genre. Is that your favorite genre to read? Do you write in any other genres, or under any other pen names you’d like to share?

JJ: My favorite genre has always been romance. I’ll date myself here but I loved the Fabio covers. I love everything about reading a romance novel. I would love to write a science fiction or horror novel some day. I love reading those too. Right now I’m only Jill James, but never say never. Might need a new pseudonym sometime.

Shh! Don't tell anyone, I'm pretty crazy about the Fabio covers too.

Of the books you have published, do you have a favorite? If so, which one and why?

JJ: Tempting Adam, my first published novel. There is just something about the first time someone says ‘I like this. I want to buy it.’

What are your published titles and please tell us about anything coming down the pipe next.

JJ: Tempting Adam, TWRP
Divorce, Interrupted, self
Someone To Trust, self, coming soon

Speaking of Divorce, Interrputed -- everyone check out this amazing cover. When I first saw it my jaw dropped. It's stunning, Jill!

Newly-divorced Todd and Lisa Miller are stranded at their mountain cabin. There to divide a lifetime of memories, they soon are in danger from more than the anger between them. A vicious storm forces them to rely on each other to survive.

Can they trust the one person they lost belief in? Or are their hearts in danger from more than floods and frigid weather?

Let's talk about this book. I've been hearing so many awesome things about it. You took some risks with the story. WOuld you tell us about your plot development? How did the idea spur, did you have to do much research, any interesting tidbits that we should know?

JJ: In Divorce, Interrupted I wanted to explore the possibility of getting past infidelity. What if the love was strong enough to get back together and get another happily-ever-after? I know myself, I could never forgive and forget so I wondered if I could write a strong enough story to prove it could happen. My readers are saying, “yes”!

Personally, I'm glad you were brave enough to take that particular risk and broach the subject. I recall one of my earliest works involved infidelity. Everyone told me "YOU CAN"T DO THAT". It's so nice to see someone answer, "YES I CAN" -- and know that the readers are loving it.

Talking about heroes – What’s one thing about Todd that we wouldn’t necessarily learn in the book? A secret dream, an embarrassing habit, an episode from childhood.

JJ: In Divorce, Interrupted we learn the hero, Todd Miller, had a very overweight mother. Although I put in the story how he felt when she died, I didn’t really go into details about he felt to have an overweight mother. I felt the whole, ashamed and not having friends over, was overdone in stories. I wanted the readers to make their own assumptions based on their own lives.

All heroes are unforgettable in one way or another. What’s one thing about Todd that makes your heart go pitter-pat?

JJ: In the story Lisa notices her husband has changed from a middle-aged, starting to lose it, to a hottie. My heart beat a little faster as Lisa realized her husband was a hunk again.

Aww. That's so sweet :)

If Todd doesn’t have a pet in your novel, what kind of pet would best suit his personality?

JJ: Todd would have a Golden Retriever, a dog with loyalty unquestioned.

Hm. Is that a hint? Grin. In any case, you can't beat a Golden. And you're right -- loyalty unquestioned.

Moving on to heroines – Everybody has flaws. Sometimes they are endearing, other times they are annoying. What is your heroine’s greatest fault?

JJ: Lisa leaps without looking. She only saw her side of the story and cheated without thinking about the consequences until it was too late.

Without giving away details that might spoil the story for those who have not read it, could you tell us the one strength Lisa provides to Todd?

JJ: She is able to pull her own weight. She can carry her own backpack and row the boat if you need her to. She may look fragile, but she is the hero’s helpmate.

If Lisa was your daughter – what advice would you give her upon meeting Todd?

JJ: Trust him with your life. Trust him with your heart. This is the kind of man who will always be there for you.

Okay, after this rendezvous in the cabin, if we peek in on Lisa and Todd's lives ten years from now, can you give us a glimpse of what we’d see?

JJ: Their love would be stronger than ever and they might be at the lake with the grandkids but at night Todd would only have eyes for Lisa.

Again, the story sounds fascinating. And your writing is so power-packed with emotion, I can't envision this being anything but a heartwarming story. Let's take a peek at Divorce, Interrupted:

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

The wind crashed against the bay window in the front of the cabin. Lisa Miller jumped up and knocked over her chair. Her shaking hand flew to her chest. Her heartbeat pounded. “That one sounded like it went through the window.”

She peered around the doorway to the living room. She sighed in relief. The glass was still in one piece, although a large pine bough sat on the front porch. The wet needles stood out in bas-relief against the graying sky.

This had been a bad idea, she berated herself. She could’ve waited for the storm of the century to pass before she came up to the lake. Even with her husband, Todd, coming next week, she could’ve waited. A sob caught in her throat like a burr. Todd, her newly, the ink hardly dry on the divorce decree, ex-husband.

She righted the chair and fell into it. How had it come to this? She’d been in love with Todd for as long as she could remember. He’d been her first boyfriend, her first lover, and she’d been sure, her last.

Throwing her head back, Lisa stared at the ceiling. Finding no comfort in the familiar cedar logs, she brought her head down and gazed into space. Her sight unfocused, the kitchen viewed through a haze of tears she refused to shed.

Twenty years. Gone in an instant. Her abrupt decision to take her boss up on his umpteenth attempt at flirting. A nano-second to throw it all away. For what turned out to be mediocre sex at best. Todd had ruined her for any other man. He loved her with his heart and soul, and she’d trampled it for half the allotted time in a tawdry motel with hourly rates and smelly, overused sheets.

~~@~~
You have just read an excerpt from Divorce, Interrupted by Jill James
~~@~~

Mm. Yup. Emotion-packed.

Going back to you though, do you have goals you have yet to meet?

JJ: I would still love to see a book with my name on the cover on a bookstore shelf.

What do you find most difficult about your job as an author?

JJ: Discipline. That butt in chair, hands on keyboard thing. I find so many things I could do even though I am happiest putting words on the page.

Amen!

What are you reading right now? Are there any authors (living or dead) that you would name as influences?

JJ: Allison Brennan, Tess Gerritsen, and Karen Rose. I love how they blend romance and suspense together and make it look so easy.

Okie dokie, Jill -- before we wrap this interview up, would you tell everyone where we can find you?

JJ: Website: http://www.jilljameswrites.com
Blog: http://www.jilljameswrites.com/blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Jill.James-author
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jill_james

How can we sign up for your newsletter?

JJ: On my website www.jilljameswrites.com

Last but not least, where can we rush over to and buy Divorce, Interrupted?

JJ: Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/3c3fvng
BN.com: http://tinyurl.com/3o864py
Smashwords: http://tinyurl.com/3pbwmkm

Go, folks! Go grab that book. You'll fall in love too!

Thank you, Jill, for spending time with us. I hope you'll come back again and update us when Someone to Trust comes out!

Inherited Damnation Release Day!

2011-12-07T00:01:00.001-06:00

Tormented by Darkness book II of the Inherited Damnation series, releases today!

Cursed by her incubus father centuries ago, the last thing Rhiannon McLaine wants is to fall in love.

The night she delivers flowers to detective Mick Farrell, however, everything changes. Deep-seated attraction flares into untamed passion. In the morning, Rhiannon awakens to find she’s lost her heart. Now, unless she can convince Mick of her secret past, she’s destined to take his life.

When Rhiannon asks Mick to go camping with her, instinct warns him to refuse. Though he hungers for her love and the goodness she represents, he’ll do anything to keep her from discovering the darkness within his soul. Yet a weekend in the woods is the perfect place to indulge in temporary desire…until he finds himself bound against his will.

Surrounded by ancient Celtic rites and magic, can Mick see beyond Rhiannon’s duplicity and recognize her love? Or will the revelation of her true demonic nature doom Rhiannon to a mortal life alone?

~~~~~

Tormented by Darkness is available in digital format at The Wild Rose Press and all other digital e-book retailers, including Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com.

Tuesday Teaser - A Christmas to Believe In

2011-12-06T00:01:00.002-06:00

This week's teaser is from A Christmas to Believe In, Book III in The Three Kings

Maybe coming home wouldn’t turn out so bad after all. He hadn’t seen his brothers in years.

He made his way to the porch, stopped in front of the door to stomp the snow off his boots. Bells jangled as he opened the door.

A chorus of laughter greeted his ears. Alex looked up with a broad grin. But what caught Clint’s immediate attention was the flash of movement near the hearth. He glanced over in time to see a woman punch Heath in the arm. She tumbled back into her chair, giggling, then turned bright blue eyes on him.

Jesse.

“Clint!” Her excited greeting blended with his brothers’ hellos.

Her smile, however, made his breath catch. Something deep in his gut tripped as he took another step inside and Jesse eased to her feet. Long black hair tumbled to her waist, just as she’d always worn it. He’d seen those raven locks a thousand times, but they’d never shone quite like they did as she crossed the room.

To his shame, his gaze skipped down to her toes, taking in curves he’d never noticed, and a waist so tiny he could span his hands around it. She wore jeans that hugged thighs he knew were muscular. Only, five years ago, they’d just been Jesse’s legs.

Now, they belonged to a…

He caught the sweet scent of lilacs as she slipped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. Soft curves melted against his chest.

A woman.

When in the hell had Jesse grown up? She’d been thirty when they’d last spent any time together. Even as an adult, he’d still seen the tomboy she’d always been. His little sister. But damn… She felt good. All feminine.

He collected himself enough to return her hug. “I’ll be damned, Jesse. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Is that Clint?” his mother called from the kitchen.

“Yeah, Mom. I’m here.”

Jesse pulled out of his embrace, leaving his skin tingling where they’d touched. Good grief, what was the matter with him? He’d wrestled with her, for God’s sake, and hadn’t ever been affected by touching her. For that matter, they’d all skinny dipped in Longview Lake one summer. And those breasts hadn’t been anywhere near as compelling as they were beneath her light blue sweater right now.

Shoot, he hadn’t even known she’d had breasts back then.

Well, he’d known, but there was a distinct difference.

~~~~~

Check back Monday to enter and win a copy of A Christmas to Believe In

Monday Pick Me Up - Tormented by Darkness - Advance Copy (Giveaway!)

2011-12-05T00:01:00.002-06:00

To celebrate the release of Tormented by Darkness on December 7, today I’m giving away a copy!

The Prize:

One digital (.pdf) copy of Book II in the Inherited Damnation series, Tormented by Darkness

The Game:

In the comments below, post your thoughts on demons – be that related to reading about them or the “literal” being.

All commenters’ names will be placed in a hat and one will be randomly chosen by my oldest, adorable demi-demon.

I will post the winners name in the comments section tomorrow. Winner must email me to receive his/her prize.

Good luck!

Third Time's the Charm -- Another 5-Stars for Mason

2011-12-02T00:01:00.002-06:00

This one surprised me, as it wasn't an "official" review--meaning it wasn't submitted by my publisher to a review site. But for me, this is almost more meaningful, as she's a new reader, and she chose to publish a review on her own, not because it's necessarily "her job".

Here's what she had to say on Goodreads:

"My heart was breaking for them both from the very start; my chest literally hurt when they would think about each other and remember the good times and wonder what went wrong. "

"I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this story was completely different from it...and that turned out to be a great thing."

Heather in FL, Goodreads - 5 Stars

Read the Full Review

~~~~~
Misunderstanding Mason is available in digital format at The Wild Rose Press and all other digital retailers, including Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Book Tour / Giveaway - The Belle Stalker

2011-12-01T00:01:00.002-06:00

A little something different on the blog today. Author Minnette Meador has dropped in to contribute to the New Voices segment, and she's on tour with her urban fantasy thriller, The Belle Stalker! She's sharing a bit of magic with us, and combining the experience with a wonderful giveaway.

Minnette will be giving away a small Kindle ($79) plus a Portland Tote filled with goodies to one randomly drawn commenter, along with daily prizes.

She will do the drawing herself for the daily winners. (Please note: The Kindle and tote bag are limited to US and Canada only; if an international winner, an Amazon GC will be substituted)

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

The tour dates can be by clicking the banner above.

I asked Minnette to discuss the multiple genres that she used in the creation of The Belle Stalker because how she blended such a unique set fascinated me. So with much ado, please welcome Minnette Meador!

JUST A HINT OF MAGIC -- guest post by Minette Meador

She saw them: Silhouettes against the streetlights, long shadows that joined and grew into a mass that shrouded the cars and street. There must have been fifty of them, all pushing or pulling a cart, a shopping basket, or crowded with dangling bags filled to the brim. They drifted toward her, a rolling tide of ruined women. The smell of stale mortality was heavy, stagnant.

Belle gathered the rest of her strength and bolted down the street before them. The sound of broken axles, whining wheels, stomping feet and babble intensified in her ears until she thought she’d go deaf.

Her legs fell one before the other, heavy, detached. Breath wheezed into her lungs. Pulsing veins throbbed through every inch of her skin.

Then she saw it; a glimmering dazzle of lights only two blocks away. She pushed herself toward it, but the noise was too much. A vibrating wheel caught her ankles, tripped her. She hit the street hard. - THE BELLE STALKER, CHAPTER TWENTY

TODAY'S PRIZE: eCopies of Starsight I & II

Claire asked me about what inspired this story and to address the multiple genres it encompasses. I had to think about that for a long time; inspiration can come from the slightest whisper or the biggest bang. I will do my best.

I love urban fantasy and have found an even newer love, steam punk. What fun it is to read about the modern world with a hint of magic. Years ago, Piers Anthony wrote a series where everyone used magic except the poor hero. He was the handicapped one. That was my introduction to this genre and I’ve never looked back.

Over the past few years I’ve read lots of vampire, werewolf, and shape shifting books. I do love them so. However, I wanted to create something different, something I hadn’t read before. So I decided to introduce Tequelin, an ancient mythic being who has gone insane from too much contact with humans. That’s all I’m going to say about him right now. I really don’t want to spoil the surprise.

There is nothing more exciting than discovering that there is a hidden layer of something fantastic beneath the everyday humdrum. I think that’s the appeal of fantasy, sci-fi, steam punk, and urban fantasy. But even more, what really sparks my engine is watching as plain ordinary people deal with these changes, accept them, and carry on with their lives knowing they exist; I believe human beings are one of the most adaptive creatures in the universe. It’s interesting that the thought of breaking any number of the laws of physics doesn’t even faze us. We are so open to the experience.

I am nothing if not eclectic; I love romance, mystery, science, fantasy, history, comedy, suspense, and thrillers, so I decided to combine them all. The love affair between Cranston and Belle even after eight years of divorce; the overwhelming desire of Tequelin to possess Belle; the mysterious dead body left in Belle’s apartment; the overwhelming power Tequelin possesses; the chase across a city that is collapsing under the hero’s feet that takes him across the Atlantic; the hidden city beneath the city they discover.

I honestly think the real world is a jumble of crossed genres… and I believe in magic. How about you? Make a list of how many genres you live every day. You might be surprised! :o)

Thanks for stopping in, Minnette. The Belle Stalker sounds absolutely fascinating -- by the way, Piers Anthony is a special favorite of mine. I can so relate to loving his work!

Let's learn a little more about The Belle Stalker.

THE BELLE STALKER
An Urban Fantasy Thriller
by Minnette Meador

The police have done all they can, but it isn’t enough. When Belle finds the mutilated body of her lover strewn across the furniture she knows only her ex-husband, Homicide Detective Mike Cranston can stop the maniac who has been dogging her steps for over a year. The only problem is the man who stalks her...is not a man at all. Belle plays a dangerous game and only hopes that Cranston can stop the monster before it’s too late.

Read an Excerpt

BUY The Belle Stalker for your Kindle
BUY The Belle Stalker for your Nook
BUY From All Romance eBooks

For more information about Minnette, please visit her blog.

Make sure you leave a comment on this post to be entered in both the Kindle drawing and Minnette's daily freebie! And while I'm ineligible, I'll start the comments off.

Tuesday Teaser - Tormented by Darkness

2011-11-29T12:01:00.001-06:00

Tormented by Darkness comes out next week on December 7. Enjoy a sneak preview of Chapter One.

Chapter One

“Oh that’s right, we’re pretending your dead. Like we do every year when your birthday rolls around.”

Rhiannon McLaine shot a glare over the top of the flower arrangement in her hands. It landed on her brother, Dáire. He lounged in a metal folding chair, one ankle across a knee, his grin as devilish as the dark blood that flowed in their veins.

She chose to keep silent.

“How old are you now? Two thousand one hundred and ninety-nine or twenty-two hundred, even? It’s been so long since we’ve celebrated, I think I’ve forgotten.” He folded his arms over his broad chest, cerulean blue eyes glinting with wicked amusement. A casual toss of his head had his deep auburn hair dusting his shoulders.

He knew exactly how old she was. He was, to the night, exactly eighteen months older. And their polarized birthdays—she on Mabon, he on Ostara—forged bonds only rivaled by true twins of the womb. Those intimate ties made it possible for him to understand the barbs that flew from her narrowed gaze held no conviction.

His grin broadened as he kicked back, balancing on the chair’s rear legs. “Come on, sis, it’s just a camping trip.”

“I have things to do here, Dáire. Look at this stack of orders.” She gestured at a long line of hanging tickets on the wall beside her. “Homecoming is next weekend. There’s some big funeral tomorrow night, and I have a dozen out of town arrangements to put together. And Missy Soffet is getting married next Sunday too.”

Turning her attention back to the bright array of carnations, lilies and lush ferns in her hands, Rhiannon did her best to ignore the temptation of a weekend get-a-way. With the Mabon ritual so close, she was already a bundle of restlessness. Energy spiked, spirits drew closer to the veil between the realms, and the bits and pieces of her magical Celtic soul hungered for the rising power. An escape in the quiet mountains would make it easier to resist the calling, the dark desire to kill.

“So I’ll pop in next week and help you snip together all those homecoming corsages.” He paused, then cajoled, “It’ll be fun. Marshmallows. Chocolate. Wieners.”

Damn him, he knew she had a soft spot for S’mores. For just a heartbeat, she considered agreeing. Her chin even dipped. But before her head could lift and fully execute the nod, she held it in place, narrowing her gaze on a disobedient bloom. “Not going to work.”

“Cian and Miranda are going to come keep me company, but you won’t? I can’t believe my favorite sister’s going to abandon me on her birthday. My half birthday.”

Lips pursed, she tossed him a nonplussed look. “Don’t. Don’t even go there. I’m immune to your ability to influence my mind.”

He spread his hands before him, his expression innocent despite the amusement that glinted in his eyes and animated the intricate tattoo across his high cheekbones. To Rhiannon’s shame, a grin threatened to spoil her false look of annoyance. She fought the pull at the corners of her mouth and turned her back on Dáire to keep from laughing. He’d never been innocent. Not for one day out of his centuries-old life.

And resisting him, his charm, his wit, his beguiling teasing, was something she’d never done well.

“It’s my birthday. Shouldn’t I get to spend it how I want?”

“Yes, but you want to go camping. I can feel it.”

Double damn. Sometimes she wished they didn’t share the ability to sense each others’ feelings. She did want to go. She just couldn’t justify the time away from her flower shop.

Never mind that seeing her now-mortal brother, Cian, and his fiancée Miranda, made facing her reflection absolute torture. Cian had escaped the taint of their father’s dark blood, freed himself from their inherited damnation.

Rhiannon had hoped she and Dáire might discover the same blessing. But with one day left before her birthday, clearly this year wasn’t their year to experience the gift of freedom.

“Hey, ease up,” Dáire’s voice assumed sincerity. “I didn’t mean to bring you down.”

Rhiannon shook her head and pulled in a steadying breath. “I’m okay.” Just sick to death of what we are, of fighting this demonic nature of our father’s.

A shadow fell across her worktable, and a heavy hand settled on her shoulder. Dáire’s fingers squeezed gently. “Come with us, Rhiannon. I don’t want to leave you alone on your birthday, and I can’t fight the call in the city. It’s too strong anymore.”

That too, Rhiannon felt. The agitation in Dáire’s soul stirred hers. The relentless need to take life grew more intolerable each year that passed, and the Sabot nights were always the hardest. It had been a long time since she’d caved to it—since they both had. But she sensed, for her twin-like brother, this year might make him falter.

She couldn’t tell him no. Couldn’t send him off with Cian and Miranda to battle the vile half of his soul and struggle to hold on to the light their mother infused within him. She glanced at the finished flower basket, reached out to straighten the electric blue bow. “Do we have to go with them?”

The shrill peal of the phone halted conversation. Rhiannon wiped her hands on her apron, tucked her long thick braid over her shoulder and scurried to the front of the shop. “Rhiannon’s Creations, how may I help you?”

“Rhiannon.”

The gravelly voice she’d dreamed about one too many times poured over her. With it came a vision of thick black hair, a sultry mouth, and eyes that were as dark and fathomless as a starless sky. A pleasant chill crawled down her spine, and Rhiannon clutched the phone a tiny bit tighter. “Mick Farrell, how good of you to call.”

From the corner of Rhiannon’s peripheral vision, she caught Dáire leaning against the doorframe, amused smirk once again intact. Turning sideways, she sought to hide her reaction to Mick’s phone call, though no doubt, Dáire could feel the excitement that thrummed in her veins.

Mick cleared his throat. “Yeah, listen, I know it’s late notice, but…” He paused, a harsh breath drifting through the receiver. “Can you fill an order before you close?”

Rhiannon glanced at the clock. Ten till four—she still had another arrangement to finish before they closed, but Mick’s usual half-dozen “something pinks” or “something yellows” wouldn’t take more than fifteen minutes. She grinned as a chuckle escaped. “Another lady friend, huh? What happened to last week’s flavor?”

Though the question was lighthearted, a pang of envy rose on its heels. Mick Farrell was the single-most breathtaking man Rhiannon had ever laid eyes on. He was tall and athletic, fine-tuned for the rigors of his work. The touch of wickedness in his smile promised he knew how to use that muscular body for other, more pleasurable purposes. He could melt a woman with a single look. Mick also knew it. And though he flirted shamelessly with her every time he came in to pick up his flowers for his endless rotation of women, she didn’t even register on his horizon.
Not that she wanted to. The whole falling in love with him and having to kill him curse put a damper on the giddy way his fathomless dark eyes made her feel.

At his harassed sigh, a frown pulled at her brow. No smart comeback? This wasn’t like Mick. She swallowed her smile. “You want roses, carnations—or I have some really pretty fresh-cut wildflowers. They aren’t all pink, but they’re a great date mix.”

“No. No flowers. Well. Not those kind.” He sighed again, and something on the other end of the phone thumped heavily. “A plant maybe. I’m sorry this is such short notice, Rhiannon. I don’t know, what’s easy? What can you do in triplicate?”

Triplicate? Rhiannon blinked. With an hour until closing and another arrangement already promised by five, Mick was seriously pushing her abilities. But something else deepened her frown. A sense of something not quite right. Mick was never this unsure. Never so…distracted. He knew what he wanted, almost down to the type of filler, no questions asked, no reservations.

“Mick? Are you okay?” The question popped out before she could stop it.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” Again, something thumped in the background. “Look, I’m sorry, I’m a bit disorganized right now. My stepfather passed away. The arrangements are for his wake tonight. I completely forgot about flowers until someone called.”

In a small town the size of Petersville, Pennsylvania, it didn’t take much to put visitation and funeral together and realize the swamp of orders she’d received for Steve Prescott were for Mick’s stepfather. In a heartbeat, compassion rushed forth. “Oh, Mick, I’m so sorry. Yes, I can have those done for you. I’ll have to deliver them though, what time is the wake?”

“Seven.”

Rhiannon nodded as she pushed aside the bottles of herbal remedies she’d neglected to put on the shelves and grabbed a pen. “Where to?”

“Here. My house, I mean. 1327 Watson.”

She scribbled the address down and laid the pen back on the countertop. “Anything in particular?”

“You pick. I trust you.”

“Okay. I’ll stop by your house then.”

“Thanks, Rhiannon.”

“Sure thing.”

Disconnecting, she edged past her brother’s watchful gaze and retreated into the cooler where she pulled an array of muted salmon, yellow, white, and tangerine blooms. Halfway out the door once more, a pot of lavender lisianthus caught her eye, and she plucked six long-stems. She bustled back into her work area and dropped the selection into holding tanks of water.

“Mick Farrell, huh? You’re going by his house?” Dáire’s voice teased as he once again assumed his relaxed position in the chair. “Bet he’d give you a birthday present worth remembering.”

“Dáire!” Goddess help her, she wanted to scold. But that infuriating gleam to her brother’s eyes made it impossible to be offended. His intricate tattoos danced with silent amusement, and she found herself merely shaking her head, bemused.

“Oh, come on, you aren’t a prude no matter how you try to mimic our saintly sister, Brigid.”

That got Rhiannon chuckling. “Would you stop? Mick Farrell doesn’t know I exist beyond my ability to fill his flower orders. He’s not giving me any birthday present, darling brother.”

He lifted one dark eyebrow, and a smirk played at the corner of his mouth. “But you want him to.”

“Hush.” Turning, she reached into a high cabinet for a block of floral foam, glad Dáire couldn’t see the heat that rushed to her cheeks. “His stepfather died. I’m just helping out a good customer.”

“Uh huh. And what about that basket?” He inclined his head toward the one she’d finished.

“Damn! I forgot, I was supposed to get that out the door. Can you do it for me? It goes up to the hospital, room 207, Mrs. Jentzen.”

The low laugh that issued from her brother’s throat as he swung out of the chair and unraveled his rangy frame mocked her. “Keep telling yourself that, Rhi.” He rapped a closed fist over his heart with a mischievous wink. “Remember, I can sense you as easily as you sense me.”

Still smirking, he grabbed the basket and sauntered out the front door. As bells tinkled in his wake, Rhiannon stared at the lump of foam on the table before her. Helping out a good customer—Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Rhi.

If she said it enough, maybe she could actually avoid falling for Mick further and thwart the curse all together.

~~~~~~

Come back Monday for a chance to win an advance copy of Tormented by Darkness!

Monday Pick Me Up Winner

2011-11-29T09:49:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Tara Woods for winning this weeks Monday Pick Me Up -- Cursed to Kill.

I hope you all will come back and play again!

Monday Pick Me Up - Cursed to Kill (Giveaway!)

2011-11-28T00:01:00.001-06:00

With the release of the second Inherited Damnation book just around the corner (December 7), I’m giving away a copy of the first book today, Cursed to Kill

The Prize:

A digital (.pdf) copy of Cursed to Kill

The Game:

Email me the name of the Celt tribe Cian is part of. (Hint! Read the information on Inherited Damnation, in the links at the top of the page.)

I will randomly draw a name from the people who email and send the copy over. Winner’s name will be posted in the comments section below.

Good luck!

A New Cover for Yule

2011-11-25T00:01:00.002-06:00

The Inherited Damnation series follows the Celt Sabots, and book III, Destined to Die, releases on December 21st--Yule.

Check out this stunning cover, once again designed by the fabulous Rae Monet!

If that's a demon, I want my own!

Monday Pick Me Up Winner

2011-11-22T20:21:00.004-06:00

Congrats to ainfinger!

Tuesday Teaser -- Cursed to Kill

2011-11-22T12:01:00.002-06:00

Gearing up for the release of the second book in the Inherited Damnation series, this week’s teaser takes us back to book one, Cursed to Kill.

Cian opened his fingers and dropped the sandwich on the tabletop. He’d hurt Miranda. After he’d poured his soul into her, along with his tainted seed, he had shredded her to bits. He didn’t need words to tell him this – her expression said everything. Pain. Betrayal. Sorrow – all of it shone in her eyes, gutting him until he bled alongside her. It might have been easier if he had just carved out her heart.

If he ever had the chance to make this right again, he would fall to his knees at her feet and beg. She would never believe he was over two-thousand years old, that his blood was half demonic, and all the other fantastic reasons he had forced her away. But maybe, just maybe, he could find something right to say. Something that mended all the bisected bits of her heart.

Angry with his fate, frustrated with his impossible choices, he kicked the chair opposing him. It skittered across the kitchen floor, clanged into the counter, and topped sideways. The clatter satisfied a portion of his agitation.

“You’re in love with her,” Rhiannon observed quietly as she stepped into the doorway.

Cian swore beneath his breath, in no mood for his sister’s well-intended badgerings.

“That’s what this is about isn’t it? The brooding. The indecision. The inability to do anything but rage.” She moved across the room and eased into the chair at his right. Her warm hand fell on his arm, her touch soothing to his agitated skin. “Why didn’t you tell me, Ci?”

Tell her what? That their curse was ripping him in half? That for the first time in his immortal creation he loathed what he was? What they all were? He clenched his teeth and looked away from her probing blue eyes.

“Now I understand why Belen was so mad about you disappearing into your room with her.” A soft chuckle accompanied the wry shake of her head. “You have something he wants.”

“Sibling rivalry at its damnedest,” Cian muttered.

She cocked her head, watching him with keen intelligence. Perhaps a touch of higher wisdom. Cian didn’t know exactly what she latched onto, but he resented her intuition. Her ability to read him so well.

“Miranda,” she murmured thoughtfully.

He glanced sideways at his sister. Not once had he revealed Miranda’s name. Unless they’d been eavesdropping on his encounter in the hall, no one should know.

“Belen knew her name. He’s met her, hasn’t he?”

Visions of the one evening the three of them had spent together flashed before his eyes. Belen sugarcoating his voice, wrapping seduction around Miranda in attempts to draw her away from Cian. Coercion meant to entice, pleasure he would grant, all the while plotting how he intended to draw out her death.

Surprising even to himself, a low growl rumbled in the back of Cian’s throat.

“Cian, tell her.”

He slammed his palms down on the tabletop and rocketed to his feet. “Tell her, what exactly, Rhiannon? That I’ve envisioned methods of killing her that make acts of torture look like child’s play?”

~~~~~~

Come back Monday for a chance to win Cursed to Kill!

Monday Pick Me Up - A Broken Christmas (Giveaway)

2011-11-21T00:01:00.001-06:00

It's Monday again -- time to start the week with another free-read!

The Prize:

A .pdf copy of A Broken Christmas

The Game:

Post a comment, any comment, about either the Broken Christmas Teaser last Tuesday, or sound off if you have family or friends currently serving in our Armed Forces (or similar capacities).

Names will be collected, and one person will be randomly chosen by my youngest demi-demon. The winner’s name will be posted in the comments section tomorrow morning. Winner will need to email me to claim his/her prize.

A Broken Christmas Receives 5 Stars

2011-11-18T00:01:00.001-06:00

I've said it many times, A Broken Christmas is a very special story to me. It is probably my current favorite piece I've written. I hoped that it impacted readers as much as it affected me.

I'm beyond thrilled that the first review it's received came in at 5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies.

Here's what Suzie had to say:

"A BROKEN CHRISTMAS is one exceptional book! Mere words can’t express how much I fell in love with this story."

"For anyone who appreciates a book with which you will develop an emotional bond then A BROKEN CHRISTMAS is just the book to satisfy your needs."

To read her full remarks, visit Romance Junkies

~~~~~
A Broken Christmas is available in digital format at The Wild Rose Press and all major digital booksellers, including as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Monday Pick Me Up Winner

2011-11-15T16:13:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to "ainfinger" -- the winner of this week's Monday Pick Me Up!

Thank you, everyone, for playing, and I hope you'll come back next week for another chance to win.

Tuesday Teaser -- A Broken Christmas

2011-11-15T00:01:00.002-06:00

With Christmas coming, it’s time to break out the sentiment. And A Broken Christmas is a book that’s full of sentiment.

“A BROKEN CHRISTMAS is a passionate powerhouse of a story. Have the tissues ready!” ~Stephanie Cage, author of Desperate Bid

Falling into his ingrained household routine, Kyle used his cane to pull himself out of the couch and hobbled to the thermostat. He kicked it up from sixty-two to seventy-three. Multiple surgeries had changed one thing permanently—he no longer possessed a tolerance for cold. A slight chill cramped the muscles in his injured leg and spread a dull ache all the way up his spine.

When the heater kicked on, he made his way into the kitchen for a cup of hot coffee. Aimee glanced at him while she furiously beat eggs in a bowl. He lifted an eyebrow at her obvious agitation.

“Something wrong?”

She shook her head then tossed the whisk into the sink. It clattered noisily against the porcelain. Uh-huh. Everything was as right as rain.

“Thank you for the blanket.”

Aimee acknowledged his thanks with a curt nod. “Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.” She
gestured at the skillet of sausage patties. “Those are almost done.”

As a rule, Aimee liked mornings. She got up, bustled around the kitchen, dodged him until he had a chance to fully wake up. Once he spoke, however, she chattered endlessly while he sucked down coffee by the gallon and tried to make sense of what she said.

This was not his normal, smiling, aggravating, morning-person wife.

Ex wife.

He took another long sip and leaned his good hip against the counter top as she stabbed her two-pronged fork into a patty with a little too much zeal.

“Aimee, you’re killing the sausage. Care to tell me what’s on your mind?”

“Yeah.”

The way she methodically set the fork down, turned off the burner, and reached for something tucked behind the sugar canister tripped him into high alert. He knew how to read her signs loud and clear, and this one said he was in trouble. As she slowly turned around to face him, Kyle eyed the clenched fist she dragged across the countertop.

Her palm smacked against the Formica. Something he couldn’t identify fluttered to the ground and disappeared behind her long robe. Her voice rang with a hard insistence he’d never heard from her before. “I want answers.”

As she lifted her hand, Kyle stared at the pile of ripped up photographs he’d tossed into the trash.

Oh, shit.

~~~~~~

Come back Monday for a chance to win A Broken Christmas

Monday Pick Me Up - Seduction's Stakes

2011-11-14T00:01:00.001-06:00

The Prize:

A digital (.pdf) copy of Seduction’s Stakes

The Rules:

1. Answer the following question: “What are Maddie and Riley both trying to win?”
2. Email me the answer at: Claire@claireashgrove.com
3. I will put all the participants’ names in a hat tomorrow morning, and my oldest demi-demon will draw one. I’ll then contact the winner via email and send the .pdf. Winner will also be posted here.

Misunderstanding Mason's Second 5-Star Review

2011-11-11T00:01:00.002-06:00

I'm pleased as punch Misunderstanding Mason is being received so well.

Here's what Vicky at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews had to say,:

"I like just about everything in MISUNDERSTANDING MASON. The feeling of the characters are easy to get into..."

"Mason isn’t giving [Kirstin] up and his winning her back is so romantic, if a little on the nerdy side (well, he is a computer programmer after all)."

Sizzling Hot Book Reviews, Vicky -- 5 Hearts

To read the full review, GO HERE.

~~~~~~
Misunderstanding Mason may be purchased in digital format through The Wild Rose Press and all electronic booksellers, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

New Voices, Kathy L. Wheeler

2011-11-10T00:01:00.001-06:00

Welcome everyone!

Today I'm pleased to bring you, Kathy L. Wheeler, a romance writer from Oklahoma, who comes with an impressive bio in the romance industry. She's been President of OKRWA, President Elec for RWA, a member of RWA PRO, and is currently a member of the Dallas RWA as well as OKRWA's Program Director. She's got a great foundation in writing, and it's exciting to be able to share her insight with all of you.

So, Kathy, tell us a little about yourself – what genre you write in, how long you’ve been writing, what do you do in your non-writing time?

KLW: I primarily write contemporary with an element of suspense. It’s light and (hopefully) a little humorous. I started writing about six years ago. I love pro football, so in my spare time, outside of Jazzercise, reading, and karaoke, I play fantasy football. Last year was my first year to acquire season tickets for NBA Thunder basketball.

I'm impressed you are knowledgeable enough to play fantasy football. I tried once--laughable. I think my team came in dead last (perhaps beyond last) at the end of season rankings.

How did you come to the decision that you wanted to write? And, how did you determine what genre best fit you?

KLW: My first story was not a contemporary. I ran across a Google prompt regarding a spin on Cinderella, and thought, I love Cinderella, I could do this. So in a strange twist of fate, I found some deep part of me took to writing. In five and a half years, I’ve completed nine manuscripts, six of which are over 50k words. So I jumped right in—and I’m still at it.

What steps did you take to get to where you are now, and which do you think was the most important?

KLW: I was reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Chicago Star Series, and as a pro football fan, I was hooked. I started digging around and it was on Ms. Phillips website I found the first link to RWA. I joined the Oklahoma Romance Writers, whose members included, Gena Showalter, Merline Lovelace, Sharon Sala, PC Cast, Maggie Price, Janice Reams Hudson, Jill Monroe, Linda Goodnight, Jordan Dane, Brooke Taylor…well, you get the picture.

Impressive. That's a whole passel of talent to pull from. Lucky lady! I bet you had some excellent insight early-on. But it goes to show--RWA can be so beneficial.

What’s your favorite thing about being an author?

KLW: I can make my characters do anything I want…wait! They sort of take over my head. I can try to make my characters do anything I want. Wait! Nevermind, they just take over my mind. Apparently, I thrive on mind-ebbing chaos. It seems to work.

Laugh! Isn't it great having a legitimate reason to listen to the voices in your head and talk to yourself? Amazing how once folks realize you're an author they stop looking at you funny. If they only knew what happens when those voices start fighting amongst themselves... shew!

What’s the most challenging thing about being an author?

KLW: Submitting and rejection. I know. I know. It’s all part of the process. But it’s tough.
Agent: We love the idea, we didn’t love the story. Editor: Nothing
Agent: While we read this story with great enthusiasm, it just isn’t something we feel is a right fit… Editor: nothing. Agent: blah blah blah. Husband: what are you going to do? Quit writing? Of course, not. Me: Of course, not!

It is part of the process, and as authors, we repeat that mantra to everyone going through it. But it doesn't take away from the fact it is, indeed, scary and heartbreaking at times. Don't lose hope, don't get caught up in negatives. My submission log reads around 300 rejections before my agent signed me. At some point you just have to shrug and say, "Next!" right?

In three sentences or less, tell us what you’re currently working on. What makes you love this particular project?

KLW: After the death of his mother, Kenny Buford finds out his name isn’t what he thought it was. When he tries to find his father, he’s two weeks too late. He’s dead. And learns he’s inherited the majority of stocks where his father was CEO. Someone is determined to take those shares. Dead or alive.

Oooh! That gave me the chills. Nicely done!

Tell us one story related to your writing endeavors. Amuse us, make us cry, make us cringe or make us smirk – your choice.

KLW: Well, there’s the time a group of us met at Panera Bread for our weekly critique meeting and started talking about laser’s (yes, lasers—different colors, swords swinging about) The conversation took a downward, or was it upward? turn….it took about two minutes for the area to clear out…Oh, I’m not sure that’s what you meant….

Laugh! Oh gosh... I can just imagine... You probably don't want to know what I'm imaginging. My alter-ego writes erotica. Smirk. Combine that with the paranormal... yup... I can so see Panera bailing out the door.

What is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever received about writing, and the pursuit of publication?

KLW: Funny, but it comes from my husband, who is an attorney, musician, and all-around incredibly intelligent, creative man. “The time is going to come and go anyway, what are you going to do? Quit?”

Very inspiring. It's nice (and a rare treat) to have a spouse who is so supportive and who can truly understand the drive to have to write.

What would you advise authors who are working toward publication?

KLW: You can read all the books you want, and should. But until you sit your tail in the chair and write you are limiting yourself. This is a case of having to “do” in order to learn. Can you finish? You don’t know, until you do it.

Amen. 'Nuff said.

Last but not least, is there a place we can keep up with your publication endeavors?

KLW: I try to keep my website updated with links to new postings and articles and short stories I’ve written. You can visit Kathy L. Wheeler

Thanks, Kathy, for stopping in! Keep us posted on Kenny's struggle, would you? Best of luck in your endeavors, and come back soon.

Monday PickMeUp! Winner

2011-11-08T15:14:00.002-06:00

This week's Monday Pick Me Up winner is Catherine Bybee.

Sandy -- email me directly please.

Tuesday Teaser -- Seduction's Stakes

2011-11-08T00:01:00.001-06:00

Going back in time a bit, today’s teaser is from my first book, Seduction’s Stakes

Seduction's Stakes Excerpt

Stumped, he led Mister Spoilsport back into his stall, threw him some more hay, refilled his water bucket, and stared down at the end of the shed row where Maddie and Archie looked like they were saying their goodbyes. She bounced her keys in her hand and kept backing away despite their conversation.

Why was Archie staying with the horse? Where was her groom?

“Scott?” he called to the young man mucking out Jumpin Jess’ stall.

The boy poked his head out of the stall. “Yeah, Boss?”

“I’ve got some business to take care of with Miss McCleery. Go down there, and offer your services to Archie. That man’s too old to be bedding down with horses.”

For a moment, Scott looked like Riley had just asked him to put a saddle on backwards. But he snapped his slack jaw shut and narrowed his widened eyes as he cleared his throat. He bobbed his head. “Sure thing.”

Riley knew Archie wouldn’t accept. He’d sleep near the horse out of devotion and duty. Just as Riley would have if Scott weren’t with him. Still, it made Riley feel a little better about seeing a respected trainer sleeping in a stall, to know he’d offered.

As Maddie backed farther away, Riley jogged down the row after her. Behind him, Scott’s boots crunched against the fine gravel. Passing Archie, Riley tossed the esteemed trainer an acknowledging nod and hurried on into the parking area. “Maddie?” he called out.

She stopped, but it took her a moment to turn around, as if she debated whether she would or not.

Scared rabbit, he mused.

When she did turn to face him, her bright smile sent whatever he’d planned on saying into oblivion. It went straight to his gut, turning it over on itself. “Where’s your groom?” he managed. Brilliant. Yet another stupid question that made his inability to think entirely too obvious. What was it about this woman that erased his ability to function beyond cave-man intellect?

Her puzzled expression said she hadn’t anticipated that question either. With a slight frown she answered, “He’s flying in tomorrow. He had some things to take care of.”

Riley slowed to a stop less than a foot in front of her and shoved a hand in his jeans pocket, doing his best to appear casual. “Archie’s staying with your horse then?”

She nodded.

“Why don’t you let me take you to your hotel. Leave Archie your truck in case he gets cold out here. He’s too old to be sleeping in barns.” Better. His voice sounded indifferent, almost confident, to his ears.

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. With a little laugh, her gaze skated across the narrow alley to her truck. When she looked back at him, her eyes flickered with apprehension. He cocked an eyebrow, waiting for her answer.

“Ah,” she stammered.

He’d have laughed if she didn’t look so damned cute gnawing on her lower lip. As it was, the nervous gesture only reminded him of what a delightful little mouth she had. His gaze fastened on it as he added, “I’ll bring you back in the morning.”

She shook her head. “I better not. I’m not so friendly in the mornings, and I have to pick up my groom and Sybil at the airport, first thing.”

A grin tugged at his mouth as a chuckle threatened to escape. She’d been pleasant enough the other morning, but he sensed she wouldn’t be glad he pointed it out. “You don’t have to say a word to me in the morning,” he coaxed. “I’ll bring coffee, and we can pick them up together.”

Her gaze fell to her hands, and she turned her keys over, and over, studying them.

Convinced she’d find yet another reason to refuse him, he goaded, “C’mon now, Maddie. You aren’t afraid of a six mile truck ride with me, are you?”

~~~~~~

Check back Monday to win a digital copy of Seduction’s Stakes!

Monday Pick Me Up (Giveaways)

2011-11-07T00:01:00.000-06:00

Also starting a new Monday routine – Contests. They won’t always be for a book. But this week we’ll start there. And we’ll make this one super easy.

The Prize:

A .pdf copy of Misunderstanding Mason

The Game:

All you have to do is leave a comment below. Names will be entered into a hat. My eldest demi-demon will select one, and I’ll post the winner here in the comments section tomorrow morning. That person will need to email me to receive his/her prize.

Amazing New Cover

2011-11-04T00:01:00.001-05:00

Keeping up the momentum from Halloween, I'm super-excited to share information on the second book in the Inherited Damnation series, and a gorgeous new cover.

Tormented by Darkness
Inherited Damnation, Book II

Cursed by her incubus father centuries ago, the last thing Rhiannon McLaine wants is to fall in love.

The night she delivers flowers to detective Mick Farrell, however, everything changes. Deep-seated attraction flares into untamed passion. In the morning, Rhiannon awakens to find she’s lost her heart. Now, unless she can convince Mick of her secret past, she’s destined to take his life.

When Rhiannon asks Mick to go camping with her, instinct warns him to refuse. Though he hungers for her love and the goodness she represents, he’ll do anything to keep her from discovering the darkness within his soul. Yet a weekend in the woods is the perfect place to indulge in temporary desire…until he finds himself bound against his will.

Surrounded by ancient Celtic rites and magic, can Mick see beyond Rhiannon’s duplicity and recognize her love? Or will the revelation of her true demonic nature doom Rhiannon to a mortal life alone?

Tormented by Darkness will release on December 7, 2011.

New Voices, G. Aliceson Edwards

2011-11-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

Welcome, everyone, to your Thursday installment of Voices to Pay Attention To!

This week, I'm bringing you someone I've worked closely with over the years, a mentor in many ways, and someone who is an absolute treat to call friend. She's past-president of Heartland Romance Writers, she works her tail off in her real life, and even when life throws her curveballs she always manages to make someone laugh.

Welcome, G. Aliceson Edwards

What were some of your first experiences with writing?

GAE: You sometimes hear the term, “It came to me as natural as breathing.” That’s what the art of storytelling in both the verbal and written forms are to me. I was raised in a small rural community in a town that featured two main streets, no stop signs, and could be cut off from most of the rest of world if the creek was out. My teachers in the art of storytelling were my “sly as a fox” overall-wearing family members and the men who sat on benches outside the feedstore or bank that you passed by on your way to the post office or grocery store for your free candy bar. Our town never had much true excitement. Somebody’s new truck or relatives from out of town, or the burning of a barn were our town’s big events and they had to be presented in such a way as to spellbind the listener. And I was. Spellbound.

I must stop here. Everybody back up and reread that paragraph. In one brief introduction, she's painted an incredible visual. If I could write like that...

I hate you, G. :)

Why did you decide to become a writer, yourself?

GAE: My childhood dream was to become a reporter and travel the world. However, when I reached the age to do this I was married with two small children. Instead I became an English, Speech, and Theatre teacher in the public school. I loved this profession because it enabled me to use my storytelling abilities to travel the world with my students through literature.

I will be around fifty when I can retire from teaching. I want to find a career allowing me to continue working with books and literature. I thought of writing.

I have always loved the art of writing. Like other true writers I have dabbled throughout the years. I have the requisite old notebook with my first and only handwritten romance novel. You know the kind where love burgeons between the “handsome, displaced corporate city dweller” who finds he cares for the “raised in the country and proud of it” school teacher. Did their romance make it? Yes, right under my bed in a storage box never to see the light of day again.
But I have been writing some works during my years as a teacher. Homecoming skits galore and plays for my students to perform. I even went through the “angry at the world” blogger phase, published a more entertaining travel blog about my trip to England, as well as, maintaining a blog to keep my bi-costal family up to date with pictures and written summations of our lives here in Missouri.

One day with retirement options still looming I realized I had to commit to writing if there was to be a future in it for me, so I searched online, found a local writing group, and resolved to attend a meeting.

Then what happened?

I sat in the car in the parking lot the day of the first meeting as I tried to convince myself to go inside. Yes, I can face down over a hundred eighth graders daily and work in a job never fails to get this response, “You couldn’t pay me to do what you do!”, but I very nearly drove away those big, bad writers!

Finally I shakily gathered myself together and went in the building to my first meeting. How relieved I was to find friendly and welcoming people who were willing to share their knowledge on writing craft and publication. Then I went to another meeting and another and starting working with some critique groups.

That floors me, G. Of all the people I know, I never would have thought you were that worried... I'm so glad you've become a leader for the rest of us.

Other than getting in the building the first day, what were some of your other challenges or successes?

GAE: The all too real specter of self-doubt has been my greatest nemesis. I am very self-assured in my work and with my family, but I suffered terribly from fear that I was not a good writer. Additionally, I think I was typical of new writers in that I wasn’t too patient with myself as I was learning the process.

I also had to learn to say “no” to protect my writing time. I still struggle with the demands of my life interfering with the joys of my writing.

I consider the opportunity to travel to conferences over the past years to have been tremendous boost to my personal motivation and to my writing abilities. Once I meet actually my favorite authors at conferences and get over my fangirl hyperventilating, I have found authors to be very helpful to the novice writer.

Yes, they are. Many were to me, and that still amazes me so many people with so many obligations were willing to listen to a newbie.

What do you write?

GAE: After trying unsuccessfully to write a humorous suspense novel, I decided to tackle what I know best-The Young Adult market. After twenty six years in the classroom, I know what students want in a book and do not want. Recently there was the focus on paranormal and fantasy, but I have noticed more and more students are interested in mystery or suspense novels. This genre has always been a favorite of mine since I read Lois Duncan’s Down a Dark Hall in fifth grade. I still read quite a bit of this genre and recommend books to my students frequently.

The book I have out on submission is a middle grades/young adult thriller, Mirror Images, based on the life of Marty Jamison, who along with his twin brother Max and his girlfriend Kayla, is simply trying survive high school. The lives of these teenagers prove the point that being young is much more stressful than adults remember. They are dealing with death and desertion and alcoholism and the true minefield of the teen years…Dating! When a serial killer begins drowning the little girls of the town and one of these three characters is accused of the crimes, loyalties are tested and hard choices have to be made.

One unique technique I have used is to start each chapter with a short except of what is going on in the killer’s mind or testimony from other individuals about the crimes. These excerpts give insights and foreshadow upcoming events. I have seen this technique used before and it heightens the reader’s need to keep going forward in the book.

Sounds interesting--really very interesting. Well, actually, considering I've read some of it, it's terribly interesting and the tactic works wonderfully. Could you share an example?

GAE: Sure. This is how Mirror Images begins.

This one was harder to kill than the others. You would think a skinny little second grader wouldn’t be so hard to drown. I mean really! The other ones it was just hit ‘em in the head with a rock, smear a little blood, on the pool’s edge, and then roll ‘em in the water.

None of this fighting to the top stuff. And I can’t be waiting around forever. Sun’s coming up and I need to get home before I’m missed.

Time to take the plunge. Literally.

That IS intense, but what would you say to parents who might object to such a dark subject as serial killings?

GAE: I would say parents have every right to object to any book topic for their own child. I consider it to be the responsibility of every parent to review what their child reads. If they feel my novel is not appropriate for their child, then take it away from them.

However, I would also point out that my novel, Mirror Images, doesn’t glorify the serial killer. I wanted this novel to help the teens who do read it to realize that even though they are sometimes thrust into difficult situations not of their own making, they ARE able to make choices.

Sound advice, and really the truth of teen-life. So many get caught up in not standing on their own two feet. It's great to have someone bringing that to the forefront of YA Minds.

What are you working on now?

GAE: I am currently researching and plotting for my next YA work tentatively called, Pretty Little Monsters. In it a group of students are learning to deal with a variety of tragedies that have left them with missing body parts, disfiguring scars, or other visibly transforming illnesses.

I got the idea from my own students who have had to learn to live with unplanned and unpleasant transformations that have left them struggling to find their place in a group of people who focus on having perfect bodies. I hope I find a way to communicate some the inner courage I have seen these students exhibit over the last twenty six years. Many of these students could have given up, but instead, chose to live useful, vibrant and happy lives.

Another focus for me right now is setting up some writing events for both students and adults to help support them achieve their writing goals for next month’s Nanowrimo contest. People can check out a free joint writing and creativity event my colleague, Julie Brunner, and I have planned at my blog, http://thewritewaygalicesonedwards.blogspot.com

NaNoWriMo is an excellent opportunity to feed the creative mind and inspire authors. Excellent job, G.

Finally, what is your favorite part about being an author?

GAE: I would have to go back to a quote I often hear in conjunction with teaching. It involves the idea that people touch more lives than we ever realize. To me, this is what books do. Everything I read is an example of how someone had an idea and put it into words to share with others. Then someone shared those words with others or used it for a basis to write their own words. That exchange of and building of ideas is what makes me spend hours in my recliner, dressed in my pajamas, glass of tea at my side, and computer on my lap. I want to continue to touch the lives of those around me, and being an author gives me that opportunity every time I tap the keys.

I love that--once again you've inspired me.

Thank you so much, G., for stopping in and talking to us about YA, about your projects, and sharing your insight. Do come back when Mirror Images is published!

Teaser Tuesday - Misunderstanding Mason Sneak Peak

2011-11-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

I’m starting a new event on Tuesdays – Teaser Tuesday. For the most part, it will be excerpted bits from my novels. But now and then I’ll change things up just to keep it interesting.

And, since Misunderstanding Mason has been received so well, I thought I’d start there.

Misunderstanding Mason Excerpt

At ten fifteen the next morning, Kirstin stumbled through the damp grass to her—make that to Mason’s—back patio door. It stood open, the heavy scent of bacon grease and fried eggs wafting out to blend with the lingering chill that drifted off the nearby lake. Her stomach rumbled.

She pushed the door open and fled the cool morning air. The last thing she expected to see, however, was Mason still at the skillet, dressed in only his boxer-briefs, his hair as disheveled as if he’d just rolled out of bed. For him, ten-fifteen was going on lunchtime. He was up and moving like clockwork, at five, even on the weekends. By the time she found the ability to confront morning, he’d taken a run around the lake, showered, and managed to crank out three good hours of design.

He glanced over his shoulder at the same time he flipped an egg. “Morning.” He gestured at the coffee pot with his head. “It’s fresh.”

Doing her best to ignore the broad expanse of his muscular shoulders and the way jersey cotton
hugged his tight butt, Kirstin trudged to the coffeepot. She plucked a mug off the cup-tree in the
corner and filled it to the brim. Slowly, she turned around, sipping the piping hot brew as she leaned against the countertop. Her gaze traveled over Mason’s backside, untamed butterflies stirring in her stomach.

The last time she’d been up for his definition of breakfast had been in that tiny apartment. She’d
forgotten how simply amazing he looked in the morning. How incredibly nice it was to wake up to the flutter of her heart when she realized she’d succeeded where no other woman had. She won Mason. Without even really trying. They’d met through a friend, and from the night he phoned to ask her out a week later, they’d fallen into each other naturally. Yet, it had never failed to make her pulse skip when she stopped to acknowledge plenty of other women had flitted through his life, bending over backwards to convince him to stick around.

She’d been lucky. He stuck for five years. Five incredible, frustrating years.

Realizing she was staring, and he couldn’t possibly be ignorant to that fact, she cleared the
cobwebs of sleep from her throat. “You’re quiet.”

He tossed her a lazy grin and gestured at her coffee cup with the spatula. “How many is that this
morning?”

Her brow furrowed. “My first. Why?”

“Your inner bear doesn’t sleep until after two.”

Was she really that bad in the mornings? She’d never enjoyed getting up, true. But by the time she had coffee in-hand, she was usually sociable as long as it wasn’t some ungodly hour of morning.

“I’m fine,” she mumbled as she took another sip.

“You’re better after two.” Turning, he passed her a plate filled with two eggs, wheat toast, and three slices of bacon. “And even better with something in your stomach.”

Kirstin blinked. Uncertain what to make of that remark, she accepted his offered breakfast and moved to sit at the small table near the wide bay window. Did it really take two cups of coffee to shed her morning grumpiness? How could Mason know that, if she’d never stopped to count?

Keeping with his conviction of silence, he joined her at the table and took the seat across. As he dunked one corner of his toast in his coffee, he used his free hand to spread open the morning paper.

While he read, absorbed in the business headlines, she picked up her fork and stabbed into her eggs. Gooey yolk spread over her plate—heaven. Three bites and the cramping in her stomach eased enough she didn’t feel the need to shovel in food. She looked up through her eyelashes and studied the lines in Mason’s face.

Fine wrinkles set in around his eyes, the only hint he’d turn thirty-five this year. Grey hadn’t set into his dark hair, and though stubble shadowed his chin, his face still held boyish youth. He looked tired.

Probably up late working on some new game.

Typical Mason.

With a soft sigh, she scooped up another bite. This time, when the flavor soaked into her tongue, she stopped chewing at the subtle taste of garlic. Her mouth watered in an instant. Eggs without garlic just weren’t eggs. They were poor substitutes, flat and otherwise unexciting.

That Mason still knew how she preferred her eggs despite the fact they hadn’t shared breakfast in years, wasn’t lost on her. The discovery ranked right up there with his comment about the recliner—and caused the same uncomfortable tightness around her lungs. In one hasty gulp, she downed the rest of her coffee and scooted out of the chair to refill her mug.

Mason didn’t notice when she bought new clothes, but he remembered how she liked eggs. Weird. Too weird.

“Mason?”

The paper rustled. “Hmm?”

“What’s my favorite color?”

~~~~~~

Come back Monday for a chance to win, Misunderstanding Mason.

Halloween Spooktacular Ends Today

2011-10-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

This is your last chance folks to win super prizes and possibly a NOOK from The Romance Studio.

Stop right now and hop over to the Party Site, see who’s doing what, and jump into the discussions.

I’m giving away a copy of my new release, Cursed to Kill to one lucky winner as well.

Cursed To Kill
Inherited Damnation , Book 1

It was either kiss her or rip out her throat.

The words his mother had written so infuriated his demonic nature, Cian couldn’t combat Miranda’s innocent interrogation. Each benign question she asked stoked fury he couldn’t control, and as he looked at her, he had been possessed by the stark need to kill. Instead, he fed the beast inside the only other satisfaction it would have – a dose of unchecked lust.

Miranda froze beneath the assault of his mouth, her shoulders rigid, her spine stiff as an iron rod. He was being too harsh, too inconsiderate. If he wanted her participation – and goddess above, he needed it to temper the hunger of his dark spirit – he needed to find a measure of control.

Easing far enough away he could look into her eyes, he let go of the fierce hold he had on her neck and dropped his hand to her shoulder.

Confusion filled her big brown eyes, but behind the unspoken questions radiating there, an ember of desire glowed. That solitary coal gave him encouragement. If he played this right, he could walk out of here and she would still be alive.

For tonight, at least.

He could return after his birthday, when he had fulfilled the words written in his mother’s hand-drawn runes.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

Drawn to the delicate length of her neck, Cian stroked his thumb over the strong pulse alongside her throat. Savage thoughts flickered again, filling his head with visions of wrapping his fingers around her throat. Telling him it would satisfy his soul, even more than making love to her would, if he slowly choked the life from her fragile, mortal body.

Purchase Cursed to Kill now

Good luck and I hope to see you there!

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com

New Releases! Just In Time for Halloween!

2011-10-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

I love, love, release day, even though it's often a great deal of work. I love it even more when it falls on or near my favorite holiday, Halloween.

Particularly if it involves spooky stories and things that go bump in the night! And when I get to launch a new series.

Which means this Halloween release day is perfect!

So, with much, much ado, you can find these two novellas currently available in digital format:

~~~~~

Cursed to Kill
Book I, Inherited Damnation

One of eight children born to an ancient Celtic priestess and sired by a demonic incubus, Cian McLaine suffers from a centuries old curse. Though his immortality allows him to enjoy the pleasures of mortal life, he is plagued by the desire to kill. As long as he doesn't fall in love he can keep the compulsion at bay.

When Cian walked into her rare bookstore months ago, Miranda Phillips never imagined she'd lose her heart to the handsome playboy. Her reward for doing so was abandonment. Cian left as mysteriously as he appeared, in the middle of the night with no explanation, no goodbye. Now he's back, and passion flares just as hot.

But Cian has secrets. If Miranda is to survive, she must uncover the truth and free his darkened soul.

To read more about the Inherited Damnation Series, and to discover the next two exciting books to follow, please visit my website:

~~~~~

A Broken Christmas
Rated 5 Blue Ribbons, by Romance Junkies

The truest gifts are damaged ...

Fourteen months ago, Aimee Garland had the perfect marriage—until her husband blindsided her with a divorce. Now, he’s home and she intends to get her answers. Yet the crippled man she confronts bears scars her years of nursing cannot heal and the secret he’s hiding is tearing him apart.

Delta Force operative Kyle Garland divorced his wife to protect her. His top-secret missions expose him to constant danger, but the threat to Aimee doesn’t come in the form of insurgents or bombs. Rather, his soul-deep love and dreams he silently nurtures are her greatest hazard. When a career-ending injury brings him home for Christmas, he must bury his feelings and hide the monster he’s become.

As she forces him to confront his demons, will the holiday shred the fragile bonds they share, or will the spirit of Christmas heal their broken hearts?

Both novellas may be purchased at The Wild Rose Press.
They are also available for your Kindle at Amazon.com.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

~Claire
http://www.claireashgrove.com/

CONTESTS - Free Books!

2011-10-28T00:01:00.001-05:00

Adding to the Release Week Excitement, and the Holiday Spooktacular, I have a couple things to share.

I've joined several other authors in Halloween Extravaganzas where you can win all kinds of new books this weekend. And I do mean all kinds. Loads. Lots of opportunities and little "work" required!

Stop One:

Pop over to The Romance Studio, October 28-31, where Paranormal Romance authors are talking about their characters that go "boo" in the night and giving away free stuffs. There's also a grand prize drawing for a NOOK.

If you'd like to snag a copy of Cursed to Kill, I'm holding a giveaway there as well. Come and join the Spooktacular fun!

Stop Two:

When you've finished there, stop in at Goddess Fish and Long and Short Reviews, for their Haunting Halloween Weekend, where they're giving away all kinds of gift cards you can use for a book of your choosing. Check out the latest from your favorite author, or find a new voice you adore on October 28-29th only.

Enjoy, folks, and may your Halloween be Frighteningly Good.

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com

New Voices, Derek the Daring

2011-10-27T08:52:00.005-05:00

Welcome everyone! Today I have a treat, an interview with one of our rare treasures, the male romance writer. Derek's studied his craft meticulously, and has a lot of unique insight to share. He's a hoot to talk craft with too! Very enjoyable guy who knows his stuff. In the interest of keeping his professional associations separate from his writing endeavors, I've given him a strong and knightly name :)

So with that said, let's hear what he has to say.

Tell us a little about yourself, Derek – what genre you write in, how long you’ve been writing, what do you do in your non-writing time?

DTD: I am totally drawn to historicals, and have been working on a couple of Scottish historicals set in the 14th century. I have written stuff off and on since grad school, have published a couple of articles in other areas of interest, but have only been at fiction a little over a year. I am a long time musician and martial artist. Married with 4 beautiful daughters.

I hear you write good fight scenes with that martial artist background too. Hint folks, if you have the chance to talk shop with Derek on physical combat, listen up!

How did you come to the decision that you wanted to write? And, how did you determine what genre best fit you?

DTD: Great question. A fiction writer bothered me off with the direction she took her story, and it gnawed on my brain for weeks. I came up with alternative storylines, characters, scenes playing out in my head, etc. I finally wrote it down just to get some relief from it. However, that was like the dam breaking. Now, stuff like that won't leave me alone, no matter how much I write. As far as genre, I like so many, but have read you need to try to stick with one at first. I have some Scottish heritage, and that is a place that calls to me.

I have a new appreciation with Scotland myself, although I've always been a fan of the early British heritage. I must agree, if you're writing about it, it's calling to you. And I think all of us can agree we've read that book. Maybe not that specific one, but one that hits the same authorial nerve.

What steps did you take to get to where you are now, and which do you think was the most important?

DTD: Well, I am the kind of person who, when getting into a new endeavor, tries to learn everything I can about the topic. I have taken a dozen or more online workshops in the past 3 months, and am signed up for a few more. Plus, I have plowed through many of the books on the required reading list for authors. Regular attendance at the two RWA local chapters, involvement with two online chapters, and active participation in a weekly critique group. All those things seem to be whipping me into shape, though not as quickly as I would like. I can probably blame my gender for that. Of course, I continue to read voraciously (average a novel per day) and write a bunch. Not sure about what is most important. Writing is the easy answer, but now that I know more about craft, my writing needs less clean up than it used to.

What’s your favorite thing about being an author?

DTD: I love the creative challenge. I have always had a creative mind, and it is a hoot to be able to make something out of nothing but a silly idea in my head. Besides, it beats the heck out of watching my KC Royals get beat, or killing bad guys on xbox.

I think Dyann Love Barr might argue the xbox comment, but I whole-heartedly concur about the Royals! Writing is so much more satisfying. But hey, with the Royals as our model... at least we're prepared for rejections, yes? Poor team. But what can you say... expectations are set. Smirk.

What’s the most challenging thing about being an author?

DTD: Two things. First is balancing all the elements I know that a well written story needs. There are so many things to take into account. The other is to not give in to pedestrian writing and write fresh. Twist cliches and make them new, or to come up with a line that touches people.
In three sentences or less, tell us what you’re currently working on. What makes you love this particular project?

DTD: Scottish Historical Romance set in the 14th century. Our heroine with mixed English/Scottish heritage is fleeing deep into Scotland after her family is killed and her home burned by an unknown English noble. I love this project because I have a kick ass heroine who is a composite of a couple of female martial artists I have trained with over the years. She can definitely hold her own, and you will not read of her skills anywhere else. Oops, that was 4.

Laugh! The sign of a true writer. 150 words or less? Okay... I have room for 300. Your story sounds very fascinating. I'm not sure I've read one with a heroine who's skilled--truly skilled--in hand-to-hand. Give her a deep motivation for revenge...mmm sounds yummy!

Tell us one story related to your writing endeavors. Amuse us, make us cry, make us cringe or make us smirk – your choice.

DTD: My poor critique group. Even though I managed to get both a Bachelor's and Master's degree, I never learned how to write in the way one needs to for this industry. The ladies in my group have showed great patience and kindness, as they take me out to the woodshed for my weekly whipping. However, my participles dangle a bit less often, and I use fewer commas than I did before. Maybe there's hope!

What is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever received about writing and the pursuit of publication?

DTD: Keep writing and don't be afraid to ask, as writers are some of the most generous people around.

Absolutely, and romance writers top that generousity.

What would you advise authors who are working toward publication?

DTD: No clue. I'm not there yet.

Last but not least, is there a place we can keep up with your publication endeavors?

DTD: I write a blog article at least monthly at Bttrfliesz Are Free

Thank you, Derek, for stopping in today. I wish you the utmost success in your endeavors, and I hope you'll pop back in (even in disguise), and let us know how things are progressing.

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com

Welcome, Author Naya Jayne

2011-09-29T09:31:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone! We have another voice in publishing here with us today, author Naya Jayne. She’s a member of Heartland Romance Authors with me, and I’ve had the pleasure of previewing the book she has out now, Blue Aspen. It’s an engaging, memorable read.

So, Naya, can you tell us how you started writing, and how you decided writing was “for you”?

NJ: I began writing around age eight. My first work was a children’s story about a fat cat who freed other pets and solved various problems. I wrote lots of stories in my youth, but I didn’t have much support at home. In fact the home team preferred that I stop writing. I think that has been my biggest hurtle. My husband and my best friend are my supports now, but aside from that I don’t really have much.

Blue Aspen is a paranormal story – is this your favorite genre to read? If not, what is?

NJ: Romance in all of its categories, is my favorite genre to read. Fantasy, SF, horror, and Christian are the genres I write in. As far as other pen names, I’m pleading the fifth.

For those who aren’t familiar with your work, do you have other titles available as well?

NJ: Blue Aspen is currently my only published title. I’m in the process of seeking representation for my second novel, Forbidden Forest.

Well, let’s talk about it, in depth then! (Drum Roll)

~~@~~
BLUE ASPEN
~~@~~

When seventeen-year-old Dulcee Elders' mother embarks on a road trip from their home in California, Dulcee knows something odd is about to happen. Her suspicions are confirmed when they arrive at Uncle Jack's house outside of Durango, Colorado. Without another word, Dulcee's mother is gone, and Dulcee faces life with her reclusive and wealthy uncle in a looming rural mansion.

Dulcee has suffered from insomnia ever since her father died more than ten years ago. But once at home at Uncle Jack's, inexplicably Dulcee now can sleep; sleep brings not only strange and intricate dreams, but a dream lover. For now, Vincent Sands is only the silhouette of a man, but when Uncle Jack leaves town for business, Dulcee's dream world and reality collide. Once she is alone, the silhouette is no longer content to remain only in her dreams.

When Dulcee is asleep, Vincent can give her anything she wants, even the ability to talk to her dead father. Inevitably, Vincent must leave when Uncle Jack returns. Dulcee experiences the high price of loving Vincent-an addiction rivaling that of any hard-core drug. Desperate to bridge the gap between them, Dulcee faces a crucial decision that carries irreversible consequences.

~~@~~

So, tell us -- Where did the idea come from for Blue Aspen?

NJ: I began working on Blue Aspen when I was fifteen. I would put it down and pick it up but I didn’t begin writing it seriously until I was 24. I had lots of psychology research to do before I could write the second half of the book. It surprised me to learn the importance of dreams in psychology. All of the dream sequences in Blue Aspen are filled with subtle meaning, and are far from random.

What about Vincent, your hero? Are there tidbits you can share? He’s a very intriguing man.

NJ: There is a lot you don’t learn about my hero, Vincent. The very last line of the book reveals his true identity. One thing you might not know about him is that he is a chameleon of sorts. Many, many women have loved him, but his love for my heroine, Dulcee, is the first real love he’s ever experienced.

What’s one thing about him that makes your heart go pitter-pat?

NJ: Vincent is sexy and mysterious, but the thing about him that makes my heart go pitter pat is his super natural ability to burn you up inside.

If he were to have a pet, what sort would he own?

NJ: Vincent doesn’t have a pet in the book but I can easily envision him with a sleek black wolf by his side.

Ah, yes, so could I! Very fitting.

Moving on to heroines – every great hero must have one. What would you say Dulcee’s greatest fault is?

NJ: I would say Dulcee’s greatest fault is her inability to think objectively about her future and the consequences of her decisions.

What strength does she provide to Vincent?

NJ: The strength Dulcee provides Vincent is also a great weakness because she becomes the one thing he cannot let go of. Every other woman has been dispensable.

If Dulcee were your daughter, what advice would you give her on meeting Vincent?

NJ: I’m not quite sure what advice I could give Dulcee, if she were my daughter. I might tell her to stay away from Vincent, but how do you stay away from someone who can enter your mind?

If we were to take a peek into Dulcee and Vincent’s future, where would they be 10 years from now?

NJ: I can’t tell you what you’d see in Dulcee and Vincent’s future. It would ruin the sequel.

Oh – teaser! That’s no fair! But after reading the first, I can say I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Let’s go back to you for a minute. I know writing has changed my life, and I’ve heard that from so many authors – how would you say it’s changed yours?

NJ: Writing has changed my life in so many wonderful ways. I believe everyone has their “thing”. That one thing that they are meant to do, that gives them happiness and a complete feeling of rightness. That’s what writing is for me. I HAVE to have a creative outlet. I’ve tried many types of art but when I write everything clicks and I can assuage the excess of images swirling in my head.

What are you reading right now? Are there any authors (living or dead) that you would name as influences?

NJ: I’m currently reading Scribbler of Dreams, by Mary E. Pearson. I would say every author I read has an influence on me in one way or another, but Angela Carter, Patrick Suskind, Nora Roberts, and Meredith Ann Pierce are a few that have a strong pull over me. Strange mix, I know.

What has surprised you the most about being a published author?

NJ: The thing that has surprised me most about being a published author is the publishing industry. Being a writer is one thing. Venturing into the shark infested waters of publishing is something different. Writing and publishing have an odd love/hate relationship.

That’s sure the truth! It definitely takes a strong spirit and strong spine to succeed in the publishing industry. Great insight to share!

Thank you so much for dropping by today. Everyone, go check out Blue Aspen – it really is memorable and Vincent can make you melt.

Meanwhile, Naya, please tell everyone where they can do that? (Check out the book that is.)

NJ: Tenayajayne.com is my website and also the home of my blog. You can also follow me on twitter.

Anything else you’d like to share?

NJ: I’d like to thank all of the readers out there. And I’d like to thank Claire Ashgrove for the opportunity to be on her blog.

You’re most welcome. Come back anytime! Before we close, I’d like to share an excerpt from Blue Aspen with everyone.

~~@~~
BLUE ASPEN EXCERPT
~~@~~

Patricia Verell hadn’t cried in years. She held people at a distance and trained herself to not care much for them. For a woman, she was decidedly emotionless. But on this night, she most certainly did cry.

It was after hours at the hospital, the halls were quiet, and the mentally disturbed all tucked safely in bed. Patricia cloistered herself behind the door that bore her name and title and sat hunched over her desk, trying to heal herself. The tears running from her eyes collected at the tip of her nose before they fell onto the notebook in front of her. Everything she had been so proud of was turning into a throbbing pain inside her head.

Patricia looked around her office, trying to figure out why she suddenly hated it. It was a nice office on all accounts, the best furniture, a large window, a whole wall of bookshelves. But the walls—the walls were oppressing. Covered with large frames of degrees and awards, her name was plastered everywhere. But could theses gilded pieces of paper tell her who she really was? Could anyone? She was known to her friends as Pat, and to everyone else as Dr. Verell. Since she only had two friends, it seemed to her that she had no real first name at all.

This wasn’t why she was crying.

Down the hall and through the corridor was a long row of identical doors, heavy steel doors with little reinforced glass windows. Capsulated behind the third door on the right side was a seventeen-year-old girl, Dulcee Elders. Dulcee was crying, also. The two women were connected in ways that neither understood. Even the reason why they were both crying was connected, one cried because she had lost the other because she had found. They were both in a prison and were about to battle over the means of escape. It seemed to Dr. Verell that she had the upper hand, the power of a doctor over a patient. But Dulcee’s madness was the vehicle that she longed to climb into and go for a ride. Dr. Verell was riddled with weakness. Weak with wanting, weak with jealousy. She had found the very thing she wanted, but it already belonged to someone else.

The day Dulcee was committed, a battered notebook was confiscated from her. Every page was filled with the girl’s writing. When Dr. Verell was assigned to Dulcee’s case, the notebook had been given to her. After reading it, she asked Dulcee what it was.

“My autobiography,” Dulcee had answered plainly.

It was not an autobiography, however. It was not a diary or a journal. It was the intricate hallucinations of a schizophrenic with post-traumatic stress.

It was a love story.

Dr. Verell had been nonplused with the hurtle before her. How was she to give Dulcee the best therapy when she was a case like no other? At first Dr. Verell had been diligent, caring, but jealousy crept in, and her concern had vanished. It vanished not only for Dulcee, but for her other patients as well. The quality of her work was disintegrating. All she cared about was the notebook. Dulcee’s fantasies had fueled some of her own, but these fantasies were only giving her frustration.

Dr. Verell wiped her eyes, looking down at the notebook, now spattered with tears. On the cover, Dulcee had drawn a heart with the name Vincent written inside it. She slowly traced each letter with her fingertip…longing, such terrible longing. She sighed heavily before opening the cover, once again to be swept up into Dulcee’s fantasy.

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