April 2017

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Sunday, April 30, 2017

WeWriWa: Heat of the Moment


In case you were worried about poor lovelorn Amber after last week’s excerpt, I thought I’d better assuage all concerns that her miserable, lonely lot will remain unchanged. In fact, after several failed sparks, things seem to be heating up nicely here in Chapter 10 (though you know how quickly that might change depending upon what’s thrown on the fire – kerosene or sand!) and the impossible might be within reach . . .


What was she so afraid of, that compared to the specter of his former lover, she wouldn't be enough?

No more time to angst over it as he keyed his door and guided her inside the darkened room, a switch flooding the gigantic space with painfully bright illumination, leaving no dark shadows or alcohol fog to disguise who was beside him.

Rico shed his coat and helped with hers, turning away to hang them up when he asked, "Can I get you something, a drink, something to eat that's not cake frosting?"

Amber moved quickly, before courage failed her, twining arms about his neck, whispering, "Just you," as she pulled him down to her parted lips.

Coats dropping to the lush carpet, his hands touched lightly at her waist as they kissed slowly, deeply. As indescribable pleasure zinged through her, he lifted just far enough to read the urgency in her dark eyes, murmuring gruffly, "Okay then."

He bent to take her mouth again, his clever tongue getting involved, blowing all her circuits of self-control with its aggressive play. The taste of him - bourbon with a birthday cake chaser - strong, sweet and irresistible, like him. His hands got busy, pulling loose the ends of her good silk blouse, smoothing over bare skin like a steam iron, hot yet careful not to linger anywhere long enough to burn. Too late . . . she was already on fire.


Time for things to take a turn for the better or is she just holding onto a dream? Since I’m waxing ‘80s sentimental lately, here’s the tune she’s playing, but I’m not convinced that one’s on his playlist.


. . . (Sorry, wandered off for a moment thinking of Dean Winchester in Supernatural) . . . Back to our heroine. Will she go after the dream or let it, and him, go? And even if she does, will he be content to leave? Off to Chapter 11 to see, as soon as I find out what you’ve been doing!

In the meantime, get the down-low on our hero’s fiery love triangle in PRINCE OF POWER, Book 2 of the “House of Terriot” series, and while you’re at it, go for some last minute chances to win with PRINCE OF POWER and the Spring Fling Scavenger Hunt.


The grand prize is a $100 Amazon Gift Card. There will be over 90 winners. The prize pool is $850!

Night Owl Reviews Web Hunt

Spring is in the air and it's time to start hunting for flowers, books and spring related words. The event is open from April 12th to May 3rd.

34 AUTHORS
OVER 90 WINNERS
$850 IN PRIZES
Grand Prize: $100 Amazon eGift Card
$50 Amazon eGift Cards (2 Winners)
$25 Amazon eGift Cards (3 Winners)
$10 Amazon eGift Cards (30 Winners)
$5 Amazon eGift Cards (55 Winners)

All Amazon cards will be purchased via the Amazon.com website. This contest is open worldwide. Void where prohibited.



Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.


Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

WeWriWa: A Cinderella Story


While you're reading this latest excerpt, I'll be in the last day of my MMRWA Retreat from Harsh Reality writers' weekend and, hopefully, far beyond mid-Chapter Nine of PRINCE OF FOOLS (at least, one hopes!). The plan is to enjoy the camaraderie, the fabulous meals, the hot tub, and inspiration provided at our yearly escape at the lush Bay Pointe Inn on Gun Lake, MI. The job is to squeak in some solid computer time during breaks and early morning write-ins. So, while I'm here, suffering for my art (snort!), here's a look at the night-to-night thankless job of the heroine in Book 3 of my "House of Terriot" dark paranormal shape-shifter series. 


Amber buffed the bar top to a mirror-like shine, motions brisk, leaning into the job with a fierce concentration, a thankless job because no matter how glossy she made it, the underlying scars and countless rings would soon reappear to spoil the perfect look she tried to maintain. Frederick Terriot was like that surface. Though dazzled by the shine, she knew what lay beneath, and no matter how hard she worked to change that fact, the damage had already been done, the flaws she tried to overlook forever marring what she longed to embrace. 

Rico was a dark storybook prince to her Cinderella barmaid. Behind that careless grin and sad eyes lay what his clan made him: rich, deadly, proud, thoughtless as well as vulnerable, and as far above her and her dreams as his soaring mountaintop to her bayou. Men like Frederick Terriot didn’t truly see females like her, not as equals, not as feeling, wanting, sharing partners. He used them for the moment to fill a need, not a permanent void, not because he was cruel or insensitive, but because of who he’d been raised to be. 

And that would never, ever change, no matter what she hoped, no matter what Mia Geudry vowed, no matter what those soft, seducing lips might promise. 

Her heart carried more wounds than her body, her mind not quite as many as her soul, yet still, foolishly, she might have taken a chance on this once in a lifetime prince if she were the only one at risk. But she had more to protect than just herself.


I think she needs a hero - one with a glass slipper.

Back to the keyboard. I might be late, but I plan to make the rounds to see what everyone else is up to.

Happy Writing and (FINALLY!) Happy Spring! And a Happy Big Three Ohhhhh to my youngest!



Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.


Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

WeWriWa: Steamy Windows

If the cover isn't enough to give it away, Colin Terriot, my PRINCE OF POWER, is hot stuff, and his attraction to Mia Guedry, the frustrating negotiator for a rival clan, has been on a slow, steady burn since Book 1 of my "House of Terriot" series (the an acronym being H.o.T., which believe it or not, wasn't planned!). Keeping the fire stoked for 460-some pages was a challenge they were more than ready to rise to, even when other obstacles (including a love triangle that continues to cause friction in Book 3) got in the way, right down to the final pages that end up where many a relationship begins . . . in the back seat. (Edited for 8-10 line limits).

Add a little Tina just to set the mood and enjoy!



He’d dreamed of doing Mia Guedry in the backseat of the T-bird since the moment he caressed that sleek red leather interior with his gaze, but now that he had her straddling his lap, her lips soft and expressive upon his own, a quick rush to the finish was the last thing on his mind. 

His hands kneaded her rear, finding the firm curves irresistible, just like the bountiful spill over the top of her bra that he adored with the stroke of his tongue. The low purr of her contentment was as sexy as the T-bird's well-tuned carburetor. 

He'd left the radio on and began singing along with Steve Miller's “New Kind of Love,” taking the words about being ready to settle down to heart as he crooned, "So c'mon pretty baby, we're gonna raise a family." 

"We still have to figure out how to build a strong platform our clans can trust and get behind." As her fingers worked their way down the buttons of his shirt, she lifted so he could skim the snug denim down her legs and warm her bare skin with the chafe of his palms. 

"I've got an idea about that." 

"What is it?" 

"I've got other ideas I need to express first." When she rocked her hips, he gave that sassy grin and promised, "This is just the first of many."


To fuel the flames, PRINCE OF POWER  is one of the sponsored titles included in Night Owl Reviews "Spring Fling" scavenger hunt!



The grand prize is a $100 Amazon Gift Card. There will be over 90 winners. The prize pool is $850!


Night Owl Reviews Web Hunt

Spring is in the air and it's time to start hunting for flowers, books and spring related words. The event is open from April 12th to May 3rd.

34 AUTHORS

OVER 90 WINNERS
$850 IN PRIZES

Grand Prize: $100 Amazon eGift Card
$50 Amazon eGift Cards (2 Winners)
$25 Amazon eGift Cards (3 Winners)
$10 Amazon eGift Cards (30 Winners)
$5 Amazon eGift Cards (55 Winners)

All Amazon cards will be purchased via the Amazon.com website. This contest is open worldwide. Void where prohibited.


Happy Spring, y'all!!


Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.


Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Night Owl Reviews Spring Fling Scavenger Hunt

Hi Readers!

I've got a treat for you. I'm one of the sponsors of the Night Owl Reviews Spring Fling Scavenger Hunt.

During this event I'm going to help you find some great new books. Make sure to check my featured title Prince of Power, Book 2 in my "House of Terriot" dark shape-shifter series out along the way.


The grand prize is a $100 Amazon Gift Card. There will be over 90 winners. The prize pool is $850!


Night Owl Reviews Web Hunt

Spring is in the air and it's time to start hunting for flowers, books and spring related words. The event is open from April 12th to May 3rd.

34 AUTHORS
OVER 90 WINNERS
$850 IN PRIZES

Grand Prize: $100 Amazon eGift Card
$50 Amazon eGift Cards (2 Winners)
$25 Amazon eGift Cards (3 Winners)
$10 Amazon eGift Cards (30 Winners)
$5 Amazon eGift Cards (55 Winners)

All Amazon cards will be purchased via the Amazon.com website. This contest is open worldwide. Void where prohibited.

Sunday, April 09, 2017

WeWriWa: Feels Like the First Time


They say you never forget your first time . . . Mine was back in the early '80s when I got an unexpected call from Carin Taylor Richman in New York saying she wanted to buy my book . . . and to see anything else I had written. That first book, which I'm proud to say went into a second printing, was my first real learning experience, and now, as I'm getting it ready to go back into print and, for the first time, e-format with Tell-Tale Publishing, I realized how much I'd learned in the last thirty years.

SWEET TEMPEST was written as a long, sexy historical set during the Regency period, before sexy Regencies became wildly popular. Zebra published it in their traditional Regency line which was mostly made up of standard chaste Georgette Heyer fare, so mine was a Zebra in a pony corral. I mean it wasn't like I was trying to keep it a secret! From the first chapter, and this first newly edited excerpt I'll share, the heat index was already rising . . .

"Now, sir, to business," she began brusquely. "Why are you keeping me here? Since you have admitted your intent to kill me, I don’t think you to be a soft-hearted reformer, and since I am for the most part still decently clad, I assume your motives are not of a depraved nature—unless you were waiting for me to be a more responsive victim to your lusts . . . so, what is it then?"

"Gad, you are famous," Connor laughed, leaning back in his chair to ob­serve her as he smiled. "What a delightful creature you are."

Tempest didn't share his amusement. "I am waiting, sir. I demand to know your purpose."

His lazy stare warmed with humor and a deeper, more intimate heat as he told her bluntly, "I should like you to be my mistress."

Her eyes went wid­e in shock.


That was the beginning of a long, prolific career with Zebra, writing regencies as Lauren Giddings (my first pen name!), historicals and contemporaries as Dana Ransom, and finally a vampire series under my own name. Now that I have the rights back to all of them, I've gotten to enjoy (and edit!) them all over again. Belle Books rereleased the contemporaries and vampire books. Tell-Tale is bringing out my two Regencies, and I've not yet decided how to handle the historicals.

In the first chapter of SWEET TEMPEST, my POV was all over the place, the voice passive, the participles dangling (and I hate it when they do that!), but I still loved the story of the spoiled, bored aristocrat whose life is turned upside down when the daring highway man he shoots during a robbery turns out to be a lovely young woman he takes under his wing . . . and eventually under his covers. I'm going through it with a more sophisticated eye (one hopes!) and am looking forward to the August release. And the other thing that needs updating . . . that cover!

Have you pulled out any of your old works and attempted to breathe new life into them? How did that work out for you? Too much work or a learning experience? You can let me know how I did in August!


Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.


Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

Wednesday, April 05, 2017

IWSG: A to Z? OMG!

April launches a curious frenzy called the A to Z Blog Challenge. The rules are simple and sound fun: Blog every weekday starting with a topic that begins with A and ultimately ends with Z. The purpose is to network, get exposure for you and your blog, and for your books. Awesome! Unless you're like me. This kind of organized event, like NaNo, creates a panic in my creative soul that totally paralyzes me.

Maybe it's my ADD with OCD rising that rebels against the frantically paced structure of producing a vast amount of product that will not end up between page one and page end of my W-I-P. Maybe it's the fact that between writing for publication, social media, and my 8-to-5 job and accompanying drive time, I'm already working 15 hours between 4:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. every weekday (I know, I'm such a sloth I take an hour for dinner - that I prepare - and watch 1 or maybe 2 hours of TV a day and average about 6 hours of sleep) and use the weekends to write for at least 8 more hours, do the weekly blogs I'm committed to writing, promotional events, and actually venture out to buy food and go to a monthly writers' meeting. The time and active brain cells it would take to think up, execute and then pay my VA to put 26 posts on my blog, plus the stress of finding time to visit and comment on other blogger's posts for that entire month, because that's something I'd feel compelled to do, . . . I know I'm a Gemini, but I'm only one person and that person likes to occasionally sit down at the table and sleep for a few hours.

Maybe this is something I'll jump into with enthusiasm when I retire from the work force. Other writers seem to thrive on the chaos of activity, love the experience, and reap benefits from it. But it's not for me, not now.

Write On, I say! Write on in your own ways that work for you! Isn't that why being a writer is such a fabulous occupation? There are opportunities out there for everyone to stimulate productive juices and fit individual needs, styles and desires. But me, I'll be finishing the first half of the next book in my "House of Terriot" dark shape-shifter series, not adding to my already overloaded plate by fretting about what starts with R or X.


Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!


Twitter hashtag is #IWSG 

IWSG awesome co-hosts for the April 5th posting will be Christopher D. Votey, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Fundy Blue, and Chrys Fey!

Sunday, April 02, 2017

WeWriWa: Pick a Side


Sometimes forced down time is the best time to get inspiration flowing. During a four- hour (!) layover in Chicago on my way to the Tucson Book Festival, from 6-10 am, I pulled out my laptop in the Cubs Bar at O’Hare over a really good breakfast and a gallon of coffee to get up close and personal with Rico Terriot in my next book in the “House of Terriot” shape-shifter series. PRINCE OF FOOLS may be his nickname, but Rico is nobody’s fool when it comes to laying it on the line, which is what he finds himself doing in this scene at a somewhat seedier bar than I was in, down in New Orleans where he’s being courted for his talent as a warrior by the locals.

“You stood for us against your family . . . why would you do that?” 

“Just because we share the name doesn’t mean we all agree on our intentions.” 

“Which are?” 

“Have you met us?” Rico laughed. “We tend to think we can use, buy, take or control everything we see to our best advantage. Your location is a transportation advantage, a crossroads to our territory and a water highway into that of our enemies. My brother may speak a good line about for the good of all, but what it comes down to is for the good of our people, same with the Guedrys. If this becomes a battleground, none of us are going to protect you over our interests, that’s all I’m saying. You need to protect your own.” 

“Show us how.”


The game’s afoot and the stakes are high for our hero in this chance to prove himself to his clan, his lady love (once he realizes that’s what she is!) . . . and mostly to himself. I’m approaching the end of the first quarter (of the book) and the ball is in his hands. Let’s hope he doesn’t fumble.

Where have you found unexpected writing time in the strangest of places?


Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.


Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.