Showing posts with label New Voices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Voices. Show all posts

Welcome Author, Meggan Connors and Giveaway!

8 Comments Posted by Claire Ashgrove Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 5:30 AM

Please welcome author Meggan Connors to the blog today, and her new Western Steampunk Romance.  Did you hear that?  I'll say it again.  Steampunk.

 Everybody squeal with me.  (And for you just visiting the blog today, I'm a huge steampunk fan.)




She's about to become a pawn in a brutal game between nations... 

The American Civil War has raged for more than ten years. The outcast daughter of a famous inventor, Jessica White has struggled to salvage what little remains of her life. Then, one cold winter night, the lover she'd given up for dead returns, claiming the Union Army bought the plans for her father's last invention. But he's not the only one who lays claim to the device, for the Confederacy wants the invention as well. Both sides will kill to have it. 

...And only he can save her. 

As an agent for the Union Army, Luke Bradshaw is a man who will use whomever and whatever is at his disposal in order to complete his mission. An attack by Confederate soldiers ensures that Jessie will turn to him for help, but Luke can't help but wonder about the secrets she keeps--and if those secrets will ultimately prove fatal.




~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

Her cheeks heated and she sniffed. “I wouldn’t try the patience of my very generous benefactor, if I were you. I might also mention a bath could make your presence a little more tolerable. You’re lucky I didn’t sic Muha on you.”

Luke looked at the wolf, who thumped her graying tail in eager canine devotion. “You wouldn’t bite me, would you, old girl?” Scratching her head, he caught Jessie’s eye. “See, she still loves me.”

“Well, that’s one of us.”

“Right.” He dug into the pocket of his vest, removed a small, folded envelope, and extended it to her. “I brought you something.”

The paper trembled, and it took Jessie a moment to realize his hands shook.

She folded her hands in her lap. “I don’t want anything from you, except your promise that tomorrow you’ll leave and you won’t come back.”

“Can’t promise you that, but I can give you this.” He shoved the envelope at her.

“Don’t overstay your welcome, Bradshaw.”

“I always do.”

A nervous laugh escaped before she could stop it, and she took the letter from Luke’s outstretched hand. It was well worn and wrinkled, the edges charred, as if it had been rescued from a fire.

She ran her hands over the paper, and she sensed smoke and the heat of flames.

With shaking hands, she opened the envelope. She wasn’t sure what she had expected to find, but it wasn’t this. It wasn’t a photograph and a flood of memories.

Two young men. Union soldiers. Luke, clean-shaven and an older version of the boy she remembered, smiled broadly at the camera, his free arm around the shoulders of the young man standing next to him.

Gideon. His black hair and eyes, skin and high cheekbones showed the native blood he and Jessie shared. His mouth was set in a somber line, but she recognized the mirth in his eyes. Luke had never failed to amuse her brother.

On the bottom of the photograph, written in Gideon’s strong, precise hand, was, Me and Luke. October 28, 1867.

The day he died.

She put the photograph down beside her and turned to the second piece of paper, and her throat tightened as she began to read.

Jessie,

We leave for South Carolina today. Luke and I are assigned to different airships, but we’re both expected to be there by this afternoon. We don’t expect much resistance. There are rumors the Rebs have developed a weapon against our airships, but I’ve been working on something with Pop’s blue silver alloy. If it works, the Rebs will never be able to take us out of the sky. I only wish Luke were on my ship.

Don’t worry about us. Any day now, and we’ll be back where we belong. Luke sends his love. I’ll take care of him for you—don’t you worry. You take care of yourself and Pop.

–Gideon

The letter they’d received from Gideon’s commanding officer had assured her father that her brother had died quickly when his ship had plummeted to the earth and burst into flames. She had pretended to believe the lies for her father’s sake.

She traced Gideon’s words with the tip of her finger, trying to feel some remnant of her brother’s presence in the strong lines of his penmanship. New pain built in her chest when she realized her efforts were futile—his energy wasn’t there. His letter contained his words, but no trace of him.

“I always meant to come back.” Luke’s voice sounded rough. “I walked all the way back to the crash site, looking for him or something of his. I was given this. I’ve carried it ever since. I always meant to give it to you.”

She set the photograph in her lap. She memorized this last image of her brother, dressed as a solider with his best friend by his side.

Luke put his hand on her shoulder.

She flinched. “Don’t. You should have sent this when you found it.”

He dropped his hand. “I wanted to give you the letter in person.”

“Go away.” The words came out strangled.

“Jessie—”

“I wish you had been the one to die that day.”

This one small memento of her brother ripped her open and tore out her heart all over again. The pain was as raw as the day she’d learned of his death.

“You have no idea how many times I’ve wished the exact same thing.”

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FOR JESSE'S WAR
~~@~~



~GIVEAWAY~



Meggan will be awarding a silver pocket watch pendant and a cameo choker, and a signed paperback copy of The Marker, her historical romance to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US/CANADA ONLY). So don’t forget to leave a comment and follow the tour.  The more you comment, the better your chances of winning!

Complete tour dates can be found here.





About The Author:


Meggan Connors is a wife, mother, teacher and award-winning author who writes primarily historical and steampunk romances. As a history buff with a love of all things historical, she enjoys visiting both major and obscure museums, and reading the histories of the Old West and the British Isles. She makes her home in the Wild West with her lawman husband, two children, and a menagerie of pets. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found hiking in the mountains, playing in the snow, or with her nose in a book. Favorite vacation destinations include the sun-kissed hills of California, any place with a castle or a ghost (and both is perfect!), and the windswept Oregon coast.

Links:

Website: http://www.megganconnors.com

Twitter: @megganconnors






~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

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Welcome Author, Marie Astor and Giveaway!

5 Comments Posted by Claire Ashgrove Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 5:00 AM



Good morning, everyone!  Please welcome Marie Astor, and her new book, To Catch A Bad Guy!



To Catch A Bad Guy
Marie Astor


Janet Maple’s stellar career ended with a layoff and her boyfriend of five years told her that he wants to be just friends. When she lands a job at one of New York’s premier boutique investment firms, Janet begins to hope that her luck is finally turning for the better. Not only is she happy with her new paycheck, but things also seem to be looking up on the personal front, as the company’s handsome attorney expresses keen interest in Janet. However, her euphoria is short-lived, as Janet soon discovers alarming facts about her new employer’s business tactics. When her boss dismisses her suspicions as groundless, Janet finds herself confiding to a cute IT engineer, Dean Snider. The closer she gets to Dean, the more Janet is tempted to break her rule of not dating co-workers, but what she doesn’t realize is that everything she knows about Dean, including his occupation and even his name, is a lie.

Dennis Walker is a top-notch white collar crime investigator who will stop at nothing to put culprits away. When an opportunity for an undercover assignment at one of New York’s premier boutique broker dealers comes up, Dennis jumps at the chance, adopting a persona of geeky IT engineer, Dean Snider. While he may be an ace at his job, years of experience fail him when Dennis meets Janet Maple and finds himself torn between his professional obligations and his personal desires. Will he have to choose between his feelings and duty, or will he find a way to satisfy both?

Marie is sharing an exclusive excerpt and hosting a give away today.  Let's jump right in, shall we?


~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

“Hello there.”

Janet turned around at the unexpected sound of a male voice. 

“Hi.” Janet remembered the IT guy she had found in her office the day before. It was impossible to forget him. She had never seen anyone who was so incongruously good-looking and clumsy at the same time.

“It’s Janet, right?” The IT guy focused his blue-gray eyes on her. “I’m Dean.”

“Yes, I remember,” Janet lied, making a mental note to commit Dean’s name to memory. “Do you work on this floor?”

“Yep.” Dean nodded. “My desk is on the trading floor – this way if any of the traders need help, I can be summoned to their rescue.”

“Sounds terribly important.” 

“It is.” Dean puffed out his chest. “Not really.” He shook his head. “The other day I had to explain to a guy that his monitor was black because he forgot to turn his computer on.”

“Oh…” Janet laughed a bit louder than she intended. “I’m sorry.”

“Is that your oatmeal?” 

“Yes. I’m sort of on a diet,” Janet blurted out.

“I think it’s about to run over.” Dean reached for the microwave and popped it open just as the oatmeal was about to topple over the rim of the cup. “Here you are.” Dean set the oatmeal on the kitchen counter. “And if 
I may add, you don’t need to be on a diet, Janet.”

“Thanks.” Janet blushed – was Dean flirting with her? If he was, she could not say that she minded it, except for the fact that she seemed to have forgotten what it was like to flirt with a cute guy. I’m sort of on a diet. Nicely done. And Dean was not even that good-looking; he was just mildly cute. What was going to happen to her if she were up against a real stunner? Would she unravel completely and blabber uncontrollably? 

“Well, Janet, have a good one. I’ve got to get back to my charges. Who knows, while I was away, all kinds of disasters could have struck – knocked-out power cords or coffee spilled on keyboards.” 

“Sounds serious. Good luck.” Janet grinned. “And thanks for rescuing my oatmeal.”

“You’re welcome, Janet.” The corners of Dean’s mouth lifted in a smile as his eyes met Janet’s for a moment. “I’ll see you later.”

“Bye,” Janet mouthed. Thanks for rescuing my oatmeal. She just brimmed with charm and mystique this morning. Enough with this nonsense, Janet snapped at herself. Her third day on the job, and instead of focusing on her work, she was flirting – correction -- miserably failing at flirting – with idle IT guys, and, how could she forget, lascivious attorneys. Her awkward encounter with Tom Wyman still made her cringe. Well, it takes practice to get better at things, Janet reasoned, so perhaps she should practice on Dean Snider for now.

Back in her office, Janet looked over the chart of Bostoff Securities’ corporate structure that Tom Wyman had given her yesterday. There were about ten different entities. The structure seemed odd to say the least, but Tom had cited a specific business purpose for each entity. His reasoning had made perfect sense when Tom had been explaining the set-up to Janet, but the moment he departed from her office, leaving a trail of masculine cologne, questions began to stir in her mind.

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM TO CATCH A BAD GUY
~~@~~


Giveaway!!

Marie will be awarding custom designed semiprecious jewelry pieces to five randomly drawn commenters during the tour.

Prize 1: Citrine quartz and prehnite sterling silver necklace
Prize 2: Red agate sterling silver necklace
Prize 3: Onyx sterling silver bracelet
Prize 4: Smoky quartz sterling silver earrings
Prize 5: Blue quartz sterling silver earrings

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

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Marie Astor is the author of contemporary romance novels This Tangled Thing Called Love, Lucky Charm, On the Rim of Love, romantic suspense, To Catch a Bad Guy, and a short story collection,  A Dress in a Window. Marie is also the author of young adult fantasy adventure novel, Over the Mountain and Back.

If you would like to learn more about Marie’s writing, please stop by her website: www.marieastor.com or visit her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection


Social Media Links:

Website: http://www.marieastor.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4665230.Marie_Astor

Twitter: @marieastor


~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

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Welcome Award-Winning Author, P.M. Terrell & Giveaway

7 Comments Posted by Claire Ashgrove Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 5:57 AM

Good morning, everyone!  Please take a few minutes to welcome Award-Winning Author, p.m. terrell, who is sharing her new book with us, Dylan's Song, and going to talk to us a little bit about my favorite place--Ireland!


Dylan's Song
by: p.m. terrell


Dylan Maguire returns to his native Ireland with psychic spy Vicki Boyd. Their mission: to locate and extract a CIA Agent who disappeared in Dublin while on the trail of a known terrorist. But when Dylan receives word that his grandmother is dying, he is plunged into a past he thought he’d left behind forever. His mission and the dark secrets he’d sought to keep hidden begin to merge into an underworld that could cost him his life. He must now confront his past demons and the real reason he left Ireland—while Vicki harbors a secret of her own.






* * *
Suspense Magazine says, “p.m.terrell’s writing is powerfully written and masterfully suspenseful; you have to hang on for the ride of your life.” Midwest Book Review says the Black Swamp Mysteries series is “page-turning action, unforgettable characters, breathtaking descriptions and unexpected plot twists.” And syndicated reviewer Marcia Freespirit says the series is “riveting, spell-binding, sexy and intense!”
* * *

So tell us, p. m.,  Why Ireland?

WHY IRELAND?

My father was always deeply involved in our genealogy so I learned from an early age that my ancestors had immigrated to America from Ireland and Scotland. When my mother’s brother journeyed to Ireland and found that their roots also originated in Ireland, it cemented my affinity for the Emerald Isle.

But a few years ago, I began to plunge into my Irish heritage in more detail while writing Songbirds are Free, the true story of my ancestor, Mary Neely, who had been captured by Shawnee warriors in 1780 near Fort Nashborough (now Nashville, TN) and held in captivity for three years as a slave before she was able to escape and find her way home. She was Scot-Irish, one of my father’s ancestors, who had made the difficult journey from Ireland to make a new way of life in America. The result for Mary Neely and her immediate family was disastrous: both her parents, William and Margaret, were killed by Indians in separate raids, as well as her youngest brother. Only two out of ten children survived past the age of 35.

It captivated me how they could have left the only home they’d ever known to move to a country they had never seen before. Their descendants now number in the hundreds if not thousands, many of whom contacted me after the publication of Songbirds are Free and the subsequent book, River Passage.

When I began researching the plot for Vicki’s Key, the second book in the Black Swamp Mysteries series, it was important for Vicki to fall in love fast and hard for what she thought was “the perfect man.” Of course, no one and nothing is perfect, which added to the plot in that suspense/thriller. I researched what women thought of as the perfect man and discovered the number one most loved accent in the world is the Scottish; the second is the Irish and the third is Australian. I decided on an Irishman because the cadence is softer and more melodic than the Scots and they have a reputation for being good-natured, happy and humorous. I also knew very little about Australia to fill in the backstory of the character.

Dylan Maguire was supposed to make an appearance in only one book but I must have been a bit too good at making him “the perfect man” because the editors said he HAD to remain as a main character throughout the entire series. He’s by far the most beloved character I’ve created to date. He had come to America to care for an aging Laurel Maguire in Vicki’s Key and his background had remained mysterious through the first few books. I knew at some point I would have to take the reader to his homeland to discover the real mystery behind his desire to leave all he’d ever known to come to America.

I fell in love with the Irish backdrop so of course there will be more mysteries set there in future books.


See -- I'm not the only author who is enchanted with Ireland.  And I have to agree with p.m. on the Irish accent.  Mmm!

Let's take a peek, shall we?

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

“Why are you so adamant about not going back?” Vicki said. “I don’t understand.”

He strode to the back door. With his hand almost on the knob, he stopped abruptly and turned around to face them. “The flight is a hundred hours long.”

“It’s six hours,” Sam said.

“I’ll have jet lag for weeks!”

“Two days, tops.” Sam’s voice was becoming quizzical.

“Are you afraid of flying?” Vicki asked.

“No!” he bellowed. He opened the kitchen door. “The weather there is atrocious!”

“I can’t believe you’re acting like this is such an inconvenience for you!” Vicki shouted.

“In me whole life,” he said as if he hadn’t heard her, “it’s rained once.” He held up his finger. “One time!”

“Really?” Vicki said. “Once?”

“And it’s lasted for thirty years!” With that, he marched outside and slammed the door behind him.

Vicki and Sam stared at the door for a long moment without speaking. Then she turned to him. “I’m at a loss here.”

He continued staring at the kitchen door as if he hadn’t heard her.

“Do you know why he doesn’t want to see Ireland again?” Vicki asked.

“He can’t refuse a mission,” Sam said quietly. “You can’t pick and choose your missions in this line of work.”

Vicki turned to stand directly in front of him.

“Do you know,” she said in a stronger voice, “why he doesn’t want to see Ireland again?”

He looked at her as if seeing her for the first time.

“You know, don’t you?”

He looked away from her. His eyes roamed the kitchen as though he was searching for something. Vicki stood her ground until he said, “No. I have my suspicions; that’s all.”

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM DYLAN'S SONG
~~@~~

GIVEAWAY - p.m. also has a fabulous giveaway today.  She will be awarding a Celtic Knot Necklace to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  Look at this pretty trinket!

To be entered to win this prize, leave a comment below, and follow the tour, commenting as you go.  The more you enter, the better your chances of winning!  Complete tour schedule can be found here.





About the Author:

p.m.terrell is the award-winning, internationally acclaimed author of more than 16 books. Vicki's Key, one of the first books in the Black Swamp Mysteries series, was one of five finalists in the 2012 International Book Awards (Mystery/Suspense) and 2012 USA Best Book Awards (Mystery/Suspense.) River Passage, an historical work based on her ancestor's migration to Fort Nashborough in 1779-1780, won the 2010 Best Fiction & Drama Award. The Nashville (TN) Metropolitan Government Archives determined it to be so historically accurate that they entered the original manuscript into their Archives for future researchers and historians.
 
Prior to becoming a full-time author in 2002, terrell founded and operated two computer companies in the Washington, DC area. Her clients included the United States Secret Service, CIA, Department of Defense and federal and local law enforcement. Her specialty is in the areas of computer crime and computer intelligence. Her experience in these areas have greatly influenced her books' plots.
 
She is the co-founder of The Book 'Em Foundation, whose slogan is "Buy a Book and Stop a Crook" and whose mission is to raise awareness of the link between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates. She founded Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair, an annual event to raise money to increase literacy and reduce crime.
 
For more information on Book 'Em North Carolina, visit their website  or stop in at their blog.
 
p.m.terrell's website is www.pmterrell.com and her blog is www.pmterrell.blogspot.com.
 
She can be found on Twitter @pmterrell, and on Facebook here and on her author page.


A Goddess Fish Promotions Tour Guest




~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

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Fantasy Friday with DiSemblance and Giveaway!

2 Comments Posted by Claire Ashgrove Friday, March 8, 2013 at 6:07 AM

Good morning everyone!

It's Friday again and you know what that means.  Time for Fantasy Friday!!

This week I'm bringing in author Shanae Branham, and her book, DiSemblance.


DiSemblance
ISBN: ISBN-10: 1477527761
ISBN-13: 978-1477527764
Genre:  Techno-thriller 
Subgenres: Sci-fi, suspense, mystery, paranormal


Jason Tanner lives between two worlds. Problem is, only one is real.

As a computer prodigy, Jason has spent his life with limited social contact due to his father’s secretive work on a hologram machine that can create digital immortality. When his father is murdered and framed as the Comfort Killer, Jason is targeted as the killer’s new fall guy. Having spent much of his youth living in the virtual world his father created, he must now go on the run if he is going to save himself, his brother, and the beautiful girl next door.

An exciting, action-packed ride to a future happening today, Shanae Branham's modern techno thriller is the perfect exhilarating adrenaline rush for a technosavvy generation. Expertly weaving cutting-edge technology with almost unbearable suspense, she crafts a wild, white-knuckled thriller that pushes the boundaries of science. Full of intensity and extraordinary vision, DiSemblance attacks the senses as it challenges the mind and imagination.

“Branham does a brilliant job creating suspense….She ramps up the tension by keeping readers guessing over the identities of Jason’s foes and about how Jason’s situation ties in with the hunt for the killer.”

“Jason’s love for his father and his motivation to find out what happened to him are particularly refreshing.”

“The characters of Jason and Isaac are … cool enough to rise to the occasion … making readers feel like they are rooting for real young men.”~  Jill Allen, Clarion Review (4 Stars)

Buy Today At: Amazon

A Bit from Shanae:

Dissemblance
 ~ The state of being disguised or concealed behind a false appearance ~

Why write about the invention of a hologram machine?

As a mother of six children, I have been concerned about the negative affects too much television, video, and computer games can have on my children. This apprehension led me to explore digital reality as the subject of my first young adult techno-thriller novel, DiSemblance. I wanted to play with the idea that there can be a point where digital reality can become so real that you lose track of where you are. 


…If you like the Matrix, or things of that genre, you’ll enjoy this book. It has that ongoing theme of uncertainty, where neither the characters nor the reader know what’s real. The plot is highly engaging and well paced. The murder investigation blends well with the science fiction aspects to create a clever resolution. Reading to Penguins

Shanae is giving away three print copies of DiSemblance throughout her book tour.  Enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About the Author:

I am a professional writer with a bachelor's degree in creative writing and a minor in grammar. I have also attended several years of classes and workshops in screenplay writing at the Los Angeles Screenplay writer's Expo.

I love suspense thrillers and am a master at plot and character development. I enjoy stories with happy endings. I promise all my readers that when they put one of my books down or walk away from one of my movies, they will be enthused with excitement and joy. This does not mean there will not be some sad parts, because you have to feel the bitter in order to understand the sweet.

I was born and raised in a small town in Idaho. I am the second out of six children. When I was in my early 20's my mother was killed by a drunk driver. This one incident drastically changed my life. I have always had a passion for reading and writing fiction. Owing to a life long struggle with Dyslexia, early teachers discouraged me from pursuing a career in writing.

As I have spent over twenty years wrestling with my language disabilities-turning them into professional writing skills, God has honed my insatiable passion into an incredible vision.

My Christian upbringing has instilled within me the belief that "...with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). This has sustained me through the hard times. Because of my language disability, I have had to learn the structure of the English language like other people learn math - building block upon building block.

I am grateful for this experience because it developed in me a skill and love for diagramming sentences, which unfortunately is becoming a lost art.

I want my life to be a living testament that with God's help anyone can achieve their worthwhile dreams. What God requires is the humility to change, a childlike teach-ability to learn, and the patience and persistence to practice and work until their weaknesses are transformed into strengths.

Keep in Touch Via:  Goodreads  |  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter








A Bewitching Books Tour Guest



~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

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Welcome Author, Megan Erickson

0 Comments Posted by Claire Ashgrove Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 6:11 AM

Good morning everyone!  I'm very pleased to bring a friend to the blog today.  Megan has her book, Anchor Me out today.  I was lucky enough to be a part of this book's development, and Megan has a natural gift with writing.

Anchor Me
Contemporary Romance


Jillian Banner is adrift.

Her brother, Gabe, had been her anchor since she was 13. But now he’s dead, leaving behind a pregnant fiancée and a business under investigation by the IRS. She is alone, having left the only man she ever loved under a haze of betrayal.

Mark Chambers spent the summer trying to get over the loss of Jillian. Now that he also lost his best friend, Gabe, he’s barely keeping it together. He never betrayed Jillian, but he can’t tell her the truth, even if it was all for her. He made promises, and those promises go beyond the grave.

In mourning, Mark and Jillian tentatively restart a relationship, throwing their support behind the mother of Gabe’s child. As the owner of an aquatic store, Jillian takes on her hardest challenge yet, helping a business partner sell captive-bred seahorses.

But just when Jillian begins to trust Mark again, she finds the men in her life built walls of lies to protect her. To stay afloat, Jillian has to learn what she wants, what she needs and how to be her own anchor.


I asked Megan to put together a blog post for today.  Here's a bit about her inspiration.

I read Tiffany Reisz's The Siren this year, and one of the characters, a ruthless book editor, says, Don't write what you know, write what you want to know."

As a writer, I'm so fascinated by that line. Because in all my creative writing courses in high school and college, I've always been told to "write what I know." But when I really think about it, isn't that kind of boring? I don't want to sit down and write a bunch of words that are already in my head, words that I already know. I want to create. I want to let my characters do their thing and decide my plot for me.

The idea for Anchor Me came years ago when my brother and his wife announced she was pregnant with their first child. At the time, I had no children myself and I was so stoked for a niece or nephew. But, my mind trailed in the next couple months, and I began to think of the "What ifs." What if something happened to his wife, or his child, or HIM? The thing is, I didn't know. I had no idea what would happen. But I thought it'd be interesting to explore it, and that was the seed from which Anchor Me grew. 

Of course, I drew from my own experiences. The main theme of the novel is that we all have an "inner seahorse," which is the hippocampus in our brain. The hippocampus is named after seahorses, because of its shape, and is responsible for our sense of direction. The main character, Jillian Banner, owns an aquatic store. I worked for years in a pet store and have maintained my own home aquariums. So, while I definitely drew on "what I knew," I never raised seahorses. I had to research them extensively, which I found really rewarding and fun.

As for the relationships in the book, I drew from my own experiences, as a wife, sister, friend. But it took a lot of soul-searching to explore how those relationships would alter if tragedies that occurred in my book happened in real life.

Overall, I learned a lot from writing this book. Of course, I learned about the writing craft itself, but I also learned a lot about myself. And as a writer, that was one of the most rewarding things to me. 

I'm currently working on a New Adult series now, and that Tiffany Reisz quote is constantly in the back of my mind, whispering, making me push myself not to fall back on what I know, but instead, to write what I want to know.

Let's take a peek at Anchor Me!

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~



Jillian muttered a farewell. Mark exhaled, and she finally raised her eyes. He looked at her steadily, and she quickly darted her gaze away, searching for something to do to keep her mind busy. Ah yes, algae scraping the 220. Clearing her throat, she eased out from behind the counter and grabbed the algae magnets. She plunged one into the water on the inside of the tank and caught it with its match on the outside. Slowly, she moved her hand across the glass, taking the magnets with her.

“Hey,” he said quietly to her back. “Sorry to just show up. Didn’t think you’d take my calls…” Mark’s deep voice trailed off. That voice. His voice.

She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she looked at him. His dark brown eyes looked almost black, reflecting the dark shapes in the water. He wore the expressionless mask he was so good at donning.


“You could have just sent a card. Or flowers,” Jillian said quietly. The fog in her head became thicker, and she felt light-headed. She struggled to think when she’d last eaten. She faltered and put her other hand on the tank to brace herself.

He moved toward her with his hand out. It was probably just a gut reaction on his part, but she instinctively took a step away, and he stopped abruptly. Hurt flashed in his eyes. He glanced at his hand—stretched out to touch her? Catch her? He pulled it back and scratched the side of his head over his ear, ruffling thick, dark brown hair out of place.

That hair. His hair.

He steeled himself and hardened his face. The muscles in his jaw twitched with restrained irritation. “I wanted you to know I am really sorry about Gabe. I honestly can’t believe it happened and…I’m really torn up about it.”

Jillian’s ears burned with heat, and she knew her forked tongue was next. “Well, I’m so sorry to hear you are taking this so hard,” she snarled through clenched teeth. The sting of tears threatened as they always did when her anger rose, but she knew none would fall.

He sucked in a breath, and then he spoke slowly, his voice thick. “That’s not fair.”

She remained silent.

He took a deep breath. “This isn’t…I didn’t know…You know what, sorry. I thought coming here and offering my condolences was the right thing to do. But apparently not. Fuck it.” He held up his hands and began to walk toward the front door.

His words slashed at her. He only swore when he was angry, and any extreme emotion was rare for him. Her heart ached, and she knew she should say something. She wanted to, but her voice caught in her throat. She pulled away the magnet. The one inside the tank plunked down into the gravel. Grit swirled up from where it landed.

She turned to face the front door and opened her mouth in the same instant Mark whirled around and opened his.

“Okay—”

“You know—”

They both stopped and stared.


~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM ANCHOR ME
Available on Amazon for Kindle and in paperback.  BUY HERE!
~~@~~

About the Author:


Megan began writing stories as soon as she learned how, and her first tales were of her childhood pet -- a deaf cat with dandruff. She thinks it's safe to say her writing and subject matter have come a long way since then. After covering real-life dramas as a journalist in college and her early 20s, she decided she liked writing her own endings better and switched to fiction.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, son and two cats. When she's not tapping away on her laptop, she's probably listening to the characters in her head who just.won't.shut.up.

For more, visit her website or follow her on twitter @_meganerickson





~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

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Welcome, Author Shannyn Schroeder!

6 Comments Posted by Claire Ashgrove Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 5:00 AM

**Oh my gosh, folks.  I'm so embarrassed.  I got so totally involved in sharing the BOOK with you, that I completely and utterly neglected to put in Shannyn's guest blog.  I'm horribly embarrassed.  But I guess, if a good book gets me that excited, worse things can happen.  Post has been modified now.**

Happy New Year, everyone!

I'm really pleased to bring you Shannyn Schroeder today, and her debut book, More Than This.  I read what was sent over to me as a tour host, and must confess, it sucked me in very quickly.  Enough that I went to Shannyn's website and read a really long excerpt she has posted there.  You should check it out.  It's published by Kensington, and I downloaded my own copy a few minutes ago.

I'll say this again:  You should seriously check out this book! The characters pop, and Ryan has already melted my heart. Those of you who follow my guest author Thursdays know I don't often publicly recommend a book-take me seriously, please.

So, the details:

More Than This
Shannyn Schroeder


When a lonely teacher teams up with a handsome bartender for some outrageous acts, they both get more than they bargained for…

Learning her ex-husband is going to be a father, Quinn Adams is determined to have a baby of her own—without the partnership of a man. But her sister and friends believe she needs to focus on herself first, and step out of her comfort zone by completing a list of adventures. Challenge number one is to go on five dates within two weeks. After a few disastrous attempts, Quinn’s ready to give up—until sexy bartender Ryan O’Leary offers his assistance.

Ryan has always been the dependable one in his family, often at his expense. But lately, he’s been longing for a life—and a woman—of his own. The woman he has in mind is Quinn. Though it seems all she wants is friendship, Ryan can’t ignore the explosive chemistry he feels between them. In the hopes of becoming closer, Ryan offers to help out with Quinn’s list. But when she asks him for a serious favor, he’s afraid it will jeopardize his chance to become more than friends.

The First Meeting

When I was first asked to write about my hero and heroine’s first meeting, I had a bit of panic. Although I had an image of their first meeting, it doesn’t appear in the book. I would have to write the scene and I worried that I wouldn’t be able to jump back into the world I’d left when I sent in my final revisions. So I sat on this blog post for a long time. Then finally, I let my mind wander back to imagine the first time Ryan laid eyes on Quinn…

Ryan O’Leary left his office with the intent of checking in with Mary before heading to his other bar, Twilight. What he hadn’t expected was to see a crowd of people standing at the bar at four-thirty in the afternoon. Where the hell did all these people come from?
            He made his way behind the bar to help Mary pour drinks. As if reading his mind, his manager shrugged at him and pulled another beer. About twenty people, more than half of which wore red shirts, lined up waiting for drinks. There must’ve been some conference or something nearby. He served drinks one by one and people filtered away to nearby tables and into the back to play darts.
            Mary could handle the rest, and Ryan was about to leave when a pretty brunette took a stool across from him. One more customer wouldn’t make him late. She sat stiff and uncomfortable, but she wore the same red shirt as everyone else, so she obviously belonged to the group.
He slapped a napkin on the bar in front of her. “Hi, what can I get for you?”
She started and looked over her shoulder. He waited patiently with a smile for her to return her attention to him.
When she did, her cheeks were slightly pink and she tucked a lock of her chin-length hair behind her left ear. Her voice was almost as weak as her smile as she spoke. “Um…a frozen strawberry margarita?”
“Is that a question or an order?”
“Can you make me one?”
“Sure can.” He turned to fulfill the order and watched the woman from the corner of his eye. She interlocked her fingers and braced them against the edge of the bar.
Ryan placed the drink in front of her and extended his hand. “Ryan O’Leary. Nice to meet you.”
She glanced at his hand like it was a foreign object and reluctantly shook it. “Quinn Adams.”
“So, Ms. Adams, what’s with all the red shirts?” He leaned forward on the bar and hoped she’d do the same, but she kept her distance.
She tugged at her short sleeve as she crossed her arms. “Oh, school spirit day. We all work at Jones High School. We go out for a drink every Friday after work and someone suggested we try a new bar.”
Lucky him.
“What do I owe you for the drink?”
“It’s on the house. Welcome to O’Leary’s. Hopefully, you’ll become a regular.” He smiled again, with the grin that worked on every woman, and watched the pink rise in her cheeks. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually witnessed a woman blushing.
“Thanks.”
He wiped down the bar and carried on small talk with other teachers, while keeping an eye on Quinn. She drank quickly and didn’t talk to anyone.
At one point, a tall blond man spoke to her. She shook her head and then slid from her stool. She hadn’t finished the drink, but tossed a dollar on the bar. He hurried back to her spot.
“Something wrong with the margarita?”
“Not at all. It was very good. I’m just heading out.”
“Will you be back next Friday?”
She glanced at the group around her. “Probably.”
Then she treated him to a smile that was as quiet as she was, but brightened her face. For a brief moment, she relaxed as she looked into his eyes.
“I look forward to it.” 

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~


“What’s up? Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“It’s only been a week.”

“I’ve gotten used to you stopping by more often.”

“I’ve been working. The end of the year is a busy time.” This was the third time she’d seen him since the kiss, and he’d said nothing.

“What’s this?” He tapped her calendar.

I guess we’re still ignoring the kiss. “I’m trying to choose the best day to play hooky.”

Ryan’s laughter rose above the noise of the milling crowd. “You need more help than I thought. Sweetheart, a hooky day isn’t something you plan. You just do it. You don’t think about work. The day is supposed to be fun.”

Quinn groaned and thumped her head on the table. “I can’t do that.”

“Didn’t you ever cut class?”

Quinn raised her head. “No. Perfect attendance all four years. Eight if you count college.”

His crinkly-eyed smile returned. “Oddly, I’m not surprised by that fact. If you’re not comfortable with it, why are you doing it?”

“Remember the list Indy and Kate created for me last week?” You know, the night you kissed me senseless one minute and moved on to a bimbo the next?

He nodded and she continued, “The first item on the list is to play hooky.”

“Playing hooky should not be stressful. Everyone does it. Lighten up. Pick a day and have fun. Your students will survive without you. Most of them have played hooky and can appreciate it.”

She slammed her calendar shut. “Okay. Monday it is, then.”

He shook his head again. “Not quite spur of the moment.”

“Hey, I’m a work in progress.”

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM MORE THAN THIS
~~@~~


GIVEAWAY!  So, more than a good book, Shannyn has a super give-away with her release.  Shannyn will be awarding a 15" x 12" Pampered Chef flat baking stone (similar to the one her heroine uses) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US only).  She'll be awarding a Keeper Kase (to keep your autographed book cover flats in) with an autographed cover flat from "More Than This" to one commenter at every stop (US only).  Follow the tour, the more you comment, the better your chances of winning!  Complete tour dates can be found here.


About the Author:


Shannyn Schroeder is a former English teacher, who now works as a part-time editor while raising her three kids.

Even though she wrote from high school through college (mostly poetry), she’d never considered a career as an author. Writing fell by the wayside as she focused her energy on creating lesson plans and new and fabulous ways to torment her teen students. One group in particular dubbed her “The Torture Master,” a title she carried into motherhood.

After the birth of baby number two, Shannyn resigned from teaching and fell in love with reading romance novels. She read so many books so quickly that her husband teased, “If you’re going to read so many damn books, why don’t you just write one?”

So she did.

That first book is safely buried on her hard drive, but the process set Shannyn on the path to professional author. She came to reading romance later than many, but lives for the happy ending because real life can be depressing. She writes contemporary romance because she enjoys the adventure of new love.

In her spare time, she loves to bake cookies and watches far too much TV, especially cop shows. She is recovering from her Diet Coke addiction, fears putting her foot in her mouth on social media, and has a renewed appreciation for the bad girls of the world.

Web site: http://www.ShannynSchroeder.com

Twitter: @SSchroeder_

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~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

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Welcome Author, Jerrie Alexander

13 Comments Posted by Claire Ashgrove Thursday, December 20, 2012 at 9:30 AM



Hi everyone!  Power outages about here on the homestead with this winter snow blast - our first of the year. But the upside is, it's beginning to look a lot like...

Anyway, please welcome Jerrie Alexander to the blog today.  She's talking about her book, The Green-Eyed Doll, which I think would be a great choice for a new Kindle or a last-minute holiday add-on!

The Green-Eyed Doll


Catherine McCoy is running from her past. She's been on the move for a year, hiding the secret and guilt in her heart. When she lands in small-town Texas and meets Sheriff Matt Ballard, he ignites a flame she thought lost forever.

Matt has scars of his own. He left the big city after an undercover operation went bad and his partner was killed. Now, as Matt hunts for a serial killer who paints his victims like porcelain dolls, Catherine becomes a safe haven for him. Two tortured souls finding comfort in each other's arms—until he uncovers her secret, and their bond of trust is broken.

When Catherine disappears, Matt races to find her, fearing the murderer has found his next green-eyed doll. But the killer has a surprise coming. Catherine will fight to the death before she'll be a victim. But will her determination be enough?

Jerrie's brought Matt and Catherine to the blog today to talk about their Christmas plans.  Let's see what this exciting couple is up to!

Claire, thank you for inviting me over. I appreciate the opportunity to introduce you and your readers to Catherine McCoy and Sheriff Matt Ballard. If everyone's comfortable, let's get started.

Jerrie: "Tell us about this year's Christmas plans."

Catherine: "Christmas time in Texas can mean light snow, sheets of ice, or 70-degree days. Thank goodness, it's cooled off enough to kill a few mosquitoes. We're getting a tree this weekend."

Matt: "That's correct, and maybe you can help me convince her there's nowhere around here to cut our own tree! We can buy one right off a lot here in town."

Catherine: "Stop that. People will think you're a scrooge. We have tree farms, so what if they're not close by." She drops a hand on his knee and pats. "Don't you want a fresh tree for our first Christmas?"

Matt: His gaze drops to his leg. "I want you to be happy. So, if we have to drive a hundred miles to get the right tree...so be it."

Catherine: "See, he's not gruff all the time."

Jerrie: "Will you have family over?"

Matt: "Both our parents are gone," he answered quickly. "Catherine's brother sent his regrets. The only family I have is Catherine and Benedict," he said with a chuckle.

Catherine: "That's Matt's dog. He follows him everywhere." She brightens, and her green-eyes sparkle. "Ash Hunter isn't blood family, but he'll join us for the holiday. He helped save my life. Oh, that reminds me. I have to buy him a gift."

Matt: Matt made a scoffing sound. "You saved yourself, but it will be fun having him visit. He's a good friend."

Jerrie: "What's for lunch Christmas day?"

Catherine: "I'm a decent cook." She glanced at Matt, waiting until he nodded his agreement. "We're having old-fashioned turkey and cornbread dressing. My mama's recipe was simple and delicious. Matt's requested sweet-potato pie, which means I'm on the hunt for an easy recipe. You wouldn't happen to have one. Would you?"

Jerrie: "I do. I'll email it to you. Have you bought presents for each other?"

Matt: "Can't tell you with her in the room. She's already about to pester me to death." He leans close and whispers, "New eel skin boots and a weekend in San Antonio."

Jerrie: I whisper back in his ear, "Your secret is safe with me."

Catherine: "Awe. No fair." She crinkled her nose at Matt. "I'm a last minute kind of shopper, but I have a couple of special things in mind."

Jerrie: "So you're staying at home?"

Catherine: "Absolutely. We remodeled the inside of Matt's house. He did the carpentry, and I shopped for furniture. Got decorations for the inside and out while I was buying."

Matt: "It will be a small, quiet Christmas, but I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be than at home. The crowd will grow in time. Someday the yard will be full of kids." He rested his hand on Catherine's stomach. "Right?"

Catherine: "Right." Her smile was a cross between impish and angelic.


Sounds lovely, quaint and romantic all at the same time! Thanks for stopping by, all!  Let's take a peek at these two in action.

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

“Not to be nosey, but do you have any clues? You know...leads?” She turned and leaned back against the counter. 

Sitting in the chair, wearing a black Go Rodeo T-shirt, jeans, and alligator boots, the last thing Matt looked like was a sheriff. Bull rider? You bet. Maybe a cattle rancher. But the one question about the murders changed his demeanor and posture. The shift from sexy, adorable hunk to serious, defender of the public was instantaneous. Catherine was back to licking her lips.

“I wish I could say yes. Truth is every female in the county is in danger. Married or single, it doesn’t seem to matter. I believe both women knew this man. Maybe not friends, but they recognized him. He could be the mailman, the guy at the gas station, anybody.”

“Even JC?” He’d befriended her, and she hoped Matt’s answer was no.

“Maybe.” He dragged his hand across the dark stubble on his face. “He had a relationship with Julia Drummond, and he knew Annie.”

“You’ll catch him. I know it.” Her gut coiled at the thought Matt had been injured. Should she ask about the scar? They’d discussed a few personal issues, but the last thing she wanted was to push him. “Can I ask something that’s none of my business?” 

“Sure. Coffee’s not ready.”

“The scar on your back. What happened?” He shifted his gaze away from her, and his shoulders stiffened. She regretted giving into curiosity. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have asked.”


~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE GREEN-EYED DOLL
~~@~~

Jerrie is holding a giveaway today, folks!   Jerrie will be awarding a $10 Barnes and Noble CD to a randomly drawn commenter at the end of each week, and a $20 Barnes and Noble GC to one randomly drawn commenter from all comments during the tour, awarded at the end of the tour. 

Follow the tour!  The more you comment, the better your chances of winning!  Complete tour dates may be found here.


About the Author:

A student of  creative writing in her youth, Jerrie set aside her passion when life presented her with a John Wayne husband, and two wonderful children.  A career in logistics offered her the opportunity to travel to many beautiful locations in America, and she revisits them in her romantic suspense novels.  

But the characters went with her, talked to her, and insisted she share their dark, sexy stories with others.  She writes alpha males and kick-ass women who weave their way through death and fear to emerge stronger because of, and on occasion in spite of, their love for each other.  She likes to torture people, make them suffer, and if they’re strong enough, they live happily ever after. 

Jerrie lives in Texas, loves sunshine, children’s laughter, sugar (human and granulated), and researching for her heroes and heroines. 

Keep in touch:  Website  |  Blog  |  Twitter  |  Facebook


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~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

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Welcome Author, Laura Hawks

0 Comments Posted by Claire Ashgrove Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 5:00 AM

Good morning, everyone!  Please welcome Laura Hawks to the blog today!  She's going to tell us about her new book, Demon Kiss -- which I thought sounded really intriguing!  And she sat down for an interview as well, to give us some more insight to her characters, the novel, and herself as well.

Grab your morning coffee and enjoy!


Demon Kiss
Paranormal Romance

When her family was murdered, Clarissa found her life altered. As the new guardian for a very powerful gem that could change the very fate of the Earth and its inhabitants should it be lost, she willingly accepted the responsibilities to keep it safe.



A demon named Xon was after the abilities the gem would afford him should he get his hands on it.



Azamel protected the world from demon kind. A demon himself, he was appointed judge and if need be, executioner to protect the various races that roamed the Earth. Now he had to hunt Xon and prevent him from obtaining a stone that could give him the edge he would need to rule, but to do this Azamel would have to work with a young wolf who had a chip on her shoulder. Could he succeed in time to save both of them... before it was too late? Or would Clarissa's mistrust doom them all?
Available At:  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble
~~~~~

 So, Laura, 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.

 L.H.  I actually went to college to get a master’s degree in US History, Ancient Civilizations and Native American History. I achieved these in 2007. I had planned on writing Native American history books and had even started some research. During this time, I also was starting up a role playing game on Facebook based off of a series of books. This outlet really gave me a chance to expand my imagination as well as practice my writing skills. While working out of town, I was on a train to Agawa Canyon in Ontario, Canada. It was a rainy day and few people left the train, but I have been there so often and enjoy the lush forestry as well as the peacefulness of the area, I headed out to hike the trails.

 Something clicked while on that walk. I had started thinking of a story for my role playing group, and realized it would make a better novel. I think I wrote the first three chapters in my head just walking on those trails. When I returned to the train, I sat down and wrote them out. I guess you could say, I have been really writing since. I realized during that walk, I could do Native American History, Mythology and add a good dose of fiction to it as a whole. This is the realm of where I would like to see my future books go.

 My biggest hurdle, I feel is this whole industry. I sometimes feel like I am blind walking around feeling my way with everything since there is so much about this business I do not know or understand. I am still learning and am thankful to my publisher for her immense understanding and guidance in this new venture. I know in time, it will be old hat and I can just focus on my stories, but in the meantime having that guiding hand is always a great assistance.

 Obviously you write in the paranormal romance 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?

 L.H.  I really like Paranormal Romance, both to read and obviously to write. As I am a new author, I have not had a chance to explore other genre’s but will consider it at a future time. Therefore, I have no other pen names to share.

 However, as to what I love to read, it really depends on my current mood. I still enjoy history books, horror, science fiction, mysteries, true crime and short stories by O’Henry; but I admit, paranormal romance, of late, has captured my foremost attention.

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

 L.H.  (I laugh) Yeah.. Demon’s Kiss.. cause it is the only one I have published as a novel thus far. I do have a story published in the anthology, Fairly Freaky Fairytales... my contribution is Snow White and the Seven Cannibals. I admit I am partial to that one as well, since the Prince is based off of a real life friend.

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

 L.H.  Published, I have Demon’s Kiss and a story in the anthology Fairly Freaky Fairytales, the specific story is Snow White and the Seven Cannibals.

 I am currently working on a sequel to Demon’s Kiss called Demon’s Dream and the story that I wrote as a result of the walk in Agawa Canyon will be completed shortly. Working title for that is Hope Eternal.


Let's talk a bit about Demon Kiss.  Tell me about your plot development?  How did the idea spur, did you have to do much research, any interesting tidbits that we should know?

L.H.  My plot revolves around the Gem of Avarice... a stone that has been protected for eons by one family. Its an idea I have been playing with for a couple of years and in truth, no longer remember where the idea stemmed from. When I had the opportunity to write a story, the Gem was what sprung to mind. I did not do much research for this book, other than in looking at the Native American Myth of Wendigos. I do readily admit that this story was a result of consulting with a very dear friend about some of the logistics of the male psyche. He was very willing to help give me the male perspective on occasion and we had a great time discussing ideas. I am forever grateful for his assistance.

Every romance has a swoon-worthy hero. Let’s talk about yours.  What’s one thing about your hero that we wouldn’t necessarily learn in the book?  A secret dream, an embarrassing habit, an episode from childhood.

L.H.  Realized from the book, one will discover that he has kept himself isolated from any personal connection. In the sequel, you will find out why... but I will say he was really hurt and betrayed by those he thought he loved and trusted. His secret dream to find someone who can love his demon half that he could really, truly trust.

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

L.H.  For me, it is that he is finding his heart opening up again after eons of being alone and the innocence he portrays as realization dawns on him that he is caring for another. Physically, its those cold blue eyes that peer into one’s very soul.

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

L.H.  Hmmm, that is a tough question. Do Dragon’s count?

On this blog -- ABSOLUTELY!

Changing gears a bit, how about your heroine?  Everybody has flaws.  Sometimes they are endearing, other times they are annoying.  What is your heroine’s greatest fault?

L.H. She blames herself for words that can never be retracted. How many times have we heard the saying, don’t say anything you might regret because you might never have the chance to take it back or make things right. You will learn in the sequel that she made this mistake and will carry that burden with her forever

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

L.H.  Her compassion.

If your heroine was your daughter – what advice would you give her upon meeting your hero?

L.H.  She has a hard time trusting... and for good reason. My advice would be to go with your heart and gut not your mind.

If we peek in on your hero and heroine’s lives ten years from now, can you give us a glimpse of what we’d see?

L.H.  Yes. Read the sequel to find out *Smiles*

Nice answer!  Very well done -- grin.

Let's go back to you, the mind behind everything for a little bit.  As a writer, what is your greatest strength?

L.H.  Coming up with ideas for stories

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

L.H.  Finding the time to really sit down and write.

What has surprised you the most about being a published author?

L.H.  Everything. Its really a whole new world, but I am still surprised people like to read and LIKE my book. It is validating.

In your opinion, what is the hardest part of writing a novel? Why?

L.H.  The original thought and coming up with a title. I am horrible at naming things.

Okie dokie, Laura.  Thank you so much for stopping in today.  Readers -- check out Demon Kiss, I'm really liking the sound of this one.



About The Author:  
I have always been interested in writing in some form or other. A few years back, I was involved with and then ran a Star Trek Interactive Writing Group which was successful for a number of years. Yes, I am a trekker and proud of it.

Then a few years back, I got my Master's Degree in Ancient Civilizations, Native American History and United States History.

It was at this time I got involved in role playing on FaceBook, which gave me ample opportunities to grow and hone my writing ability.

A published friend encouraged me to write my own book, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Stay in touch with Laura via:  Facebook  |   Laura's Website





~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

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"Victorians used the term 'limbs' as a euphenism for legs, which were thought to be so sexually exciting to a man, even a glimpse of a table leg could incite him to sexual frenzy. Table skirts were invented to prevent any unnatural unions between men and furniture."
~(History Channel International)

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