October 2017

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Sunday, October 29, 2017

WeWriWa: New Release! Knowing is Half the Battle!


When my eldest was in elementary school, he’d get dressed in the morning in front of the TV watching GI Joe cartoons (I’d be watching, too, but pretended not to! Cross Country was my favorite! Of course now it’s Channing Tatum . . . I mean Duke.) He’d be sitting there with one pantleg on, mesmerized (by our shared ADD!) until I reminded him to complete the task at hand. But how could I not let him finish the show because it ended with the best saying ever – “And knowing is half the battle!” True in cartoons, true in life, true in fiction. Facing your greatest fears is easier if you know right up front what you’re dealing with, as Rico Terriot declares in this snippet from my brand new release, PRINCE OF FOOLS.


"How much do you want to know?"

He and Colin were just finishing their drinks at Pat O’Brien’s when the New Orleans leader suddenly filled an empty chair, just like that, sitting between them with that disconcerting “Now you See Him, Now You Don’t” way he had about him, putting Rico’s already frayed nerves to the test as he bit out, "All of it."

Then Max turned it a notch tighter by saying, "It's bad."

He'd already known it was bad, a nightmare still terrifying mother and daughter, paralyzing them with fear and distrust – “bad” was nowhere near a strong enough word for whatever they'd gone through. 

Colin gripped his shoulder for a firm, stabilizing press, cautioning quietly, "Knowing might change things."

Rico stared at him, temper percolating as he snapped, "Change the way I look at them, the way I feel about them? What kind of shallow, self-centered son of a bitch do you think I am that anything those two suffered would be too much for me to hear about third-hand? I love them and nothing either of you can tell me is going to change that one damned bit, so tell me!"

His brother gave the back of his head a light tap and smiled at Savoie with a smug, "Told you he's a tough guy."

"He's a pissed off and scared right down to his socks guy whose gonna start throwing punches if you two don't start talking like right f-ing now!"


Forewarned is forearmed, he’ll soon find out. But is he strong enough to accept that awful truth he hears?


A dark prince to her Cinderella barmaid . . .

Rico . . . Prince in the shapeshifter House of Terriot

Reckless, hotheaded Rico Terriot seeks purpose and a sense of pride training the resentful guardians of New Orleans to defend a city besieged by a deadly outside force. Torn between his desire for his brother’s mate and the woman tied to the child of another, protecting their future happiness means denying his own on a dangerous path to redemption.

One night of stolen pleasure he didn’t remember and she couldn’t forget…

Amber . . . a single mother hiding a terrible past

Rico Terriot was the stuff of dreams . . . lately all of hers. But there’s no happily-ever-after for someone living in the shadows, protecting dangerous secrets that threaten her and her daughter. Dare she believe in a fairytale prince when he comes to her rescue, not knowing the price he’ll pay for making her troubles his own? From world’s so far apart, is love strong enough to hold them together . . . and keep them alive?

“5 Captivating Stars (or Hearts)! A stunningly raw, heart racing story that held me in a trance from cover to cover! Intense and seductive paranormal romance/suspense at its best – PRINCE OF FOOLS is another Page Burning, Must Read by an author that delivers every single time!” – Cross My Heart Reviews

It’s been a hectic release week stuffed with events and giveaways . . . and quite truthfully, I can’t wait to put all the hoopla aside to get onto the next project, PRINCE OF DREAMS, the concluding book in this mini-series. I get a date for a knee replacement this week and hope I can sneak some keyboard time in before the narcotic stupor sets in. But then again, I just ordered a lap desk for recovery time . . .

Hoping your Halloween is filled with delightful scares and lots of sweet treats!



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.

Monday, October 23, 2017

New Paranormal Release: Happy Book Birthday to PRINCE OF FOOLS!


PRINCE OF FOOLS, Book 3 in my "House of Terriot" dark shapeshifter series is now available in e-book and print formats! Pick it up today at Amazon, B&N or Kobo! If you've pre-ordered, it should already be waiting for you to start reading!



A dark prince to her Cinderella barmaid . . .

Rico . . . Prince in the shapeshifter House of Terriot

Reckless, hotheaded Rico Terriot seeks purpose and a sense of pride training the resentful guardians of New Orleans to defend a city besieged by a deadly outside force. Torn between his desire for his brother’s mate and the woman tied to the child of another, protecting their future happiness means denying his own on a dangerous path to redemption.

One night of stolen pleasure he didn’t remember and she couldn’t forget…

Amber . . . a single mother hiding a terrible past

Rico Terriot was the stuff of dreams . . . lately all of hers. But there’s no happily-ever-after for someone living in the shadows, protecting dangerous secrets that threaten her and her daughter. Dare she believe in a fairytale prince when he comes to her rescue, not knowing the price he’ll pay for making her troubles his own? From world’s so far apart, is love strong enough to hold them together . . . and keep them alive?

“5 Captivating Stars (or Hearts)! A stunningly raw, heart racing story that held me in a trance from cover to cover! Intense and seductive paranormal romance/suspense at its best – PRINCE OF FOOLS is another Page Burning, Must Read by an author that delivers every single time!” – Cross My Heart Reviews

And here's a taste of what's in-store in PRINCE OF FOOLS . . .



I'm celebrating all over with giveaways and goodies. Here are some of the places you can find me and my latest . . .


Goodreads Book Giveaway

Prince of Fools by Nancy Gideon

Prince of Fools

by Nancy Gideon

Giveaway ends November 10, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter Giveaway


This makes published release number 65! And that's not including the re-releases! Woo Hoo!!

Thanks for supporting me and my books and giving my imagination a place to run free!

Sunday, October 22, 2017

WeWriWa: Respect . . . New Release Time!


PRINCE OF FOOLS, the 3rd book in my “House of Terriot” shapeshifter series debuts tomorrow!! Squee! It seems like I’ve been sharing excerpts forever . . . and haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of this complex tale of family and loyalty. Those two things are the beating heart of my hero Rico Terriot. As a middle prince in a warrior clan, he’s never had the chance to prove who and what he is . . . until it’s demanded of him because of his unacceptable love for a secretive woman and her child, and by a city that turns the ruse he’s playing into a cause worth dying for. He has the chance to earn the one thing that’s always escaped him - respect, if he can rally the trust and support of men who have no reason to trust him. Let’s see how he does in this fiery speech (please forgive the world’s longest sentences to fit our requirement of 8-10!).


Without blinking, with his voice so flat and cold it sent a palpable shiver through each of them, Rico said, “I had the blood of a dozen grown men on my hands before I was old enough to enjoy my first female, because we never had the luxury of being children in our House. We grew up forced to fight our brothers to shine in our father’s eyes until able to turn that rage on our enemies . . . and we had plenty of rage, enough to burn down the world.

“Here in your sheltered little community, you don’t know what fear is - that cold that seizes up in your belly worse than any hunger. You don’t know what loyalty is, that unquestioning drive pushing you to leap in front of another to take a bullet without hesitation, or kind of pride that makes death preferable to disgrace, because you’ve never known a threat to your families or your clan that could tear all you love away in an instant, but you will. It will come to your city, to your comfortable homes, to crush and conquer everything you know; it’ll come from the North, and there is no place you can hide, no mercy you can beg for, and no future you’ll want for your children. That’s what’s coming, not from Memphis, not from Tahoe, but from the cold and the unforgiving who are not like us.

“You think I’m here because I get off pushing you around, and maybe I do,” he confessed with a thin smile, “but I’m also here to teach you how to save your own lives, so you can protect this city that’s valuable to all our survival, so our enemies won’t be one step closer to my family’s door, because if we can’t stop them here, they’ll devour us like a plague and if any of you think I’m just playing around, that this is a game, leave now, because shit’s about to get deadly serious.”

“You’ve seen them?” Trey asked almost in a whisper.

“No, and I don’t ever want to see them, but I know the evil they do,” he confided then smiled fiercely and promised, “I can teach you how to become a force they’ll be afraid to confront, if you’ll listen, if you’ll trust me and yourselves, because I don’t plan to die here, but I don’t know how to surrender. Will you follow me?”

And if that wasn’t a rousing enough call to action, here’s one of my favorites from the Queen of Soul. Sing it, Sister!


If you haven’t already, and are of a mind to, grab up a copy of PRINCE OF FOOLS . . .


A dark prince to her Cinderella barmaid . . .

Rico . . . Prince in the shapeshifter House of Terriot

Reckless, hotheaded Rico Terriot seeks purpose and a sense of pride training the resentful guardians of New Orleans to defend a city besieged by a deadly outside force. Torn between his desire for his brother’s mate and the woman tied to the child of another, protecting their future happiness means denying his own on a dangerous path to redemption.

One night of stolen pleasure he didn’t remember and she couldn’t forget…

Amber . . . a single mother hiding a terrible past

Rico Terriot was the stuff of dreams . . . lately all of hers. But there’s no happily-ever-after for someone living in the shadows, protecting dangerous secrets that threaten her and her daughter. Dare she believe in a fairytale prince when he comes to her rescue, not knowing the price he’ll pay for making her troubles his own? From world’s so far apart, is love strong enough to hold them together . . . and keep them alive?

“5 Captivating Stars (or Hearts)! A stunningly raw, heart racing story that held me in a trance from cover to cover! Intense and seductive paranormal romance/suspense at its best – PRINCE OF FOOLS is another Page Burning, Must Read by an author that delivers every single time!” – Cross My Heart Reviews

I’m looking for blogs to visit over the next month in my PR campaign. If you have the space and inclination to host, drop me a line. I’m really a very tidy guest!

Happy writing and Happy Book Birthday to Me!!


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.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

FALLING FOR YOU in a BIG Way . . .

I'm proud to jump on the New Release Blitz band wagon for critique partner Dana Nussio and her latest project, FALLING FOR YOU, a salute to love in small towns with ten fall-themed novellas by bestselling, award-winning Harlequin Superromance authors.



FALLING FOR YOU

When the weather cools down, hearts heart up . . .

Bonfires aren't the only things warming up the night. Curl up with a pumpkin spice latte and warm your heart with ten tales of autumn love.

Foreword by Brenda Novak

I've coaxed these ten talented authors into a cozy Q&A about my favorite time of year, so grab a pumpkin spice anything, curl up, and enjoy their toasty take on autumn.


Tara Taylor Quinn, author of “It Was You”


Is your offering part of a series you’ve written?

My novella is book 14 in a 15-book series, Where Secrets Are Safe! The series revolves around The Lemonade Stand, a very unique, resort-like women’s shelter I created off the coast of California. The books are mostly completely unconnected, though there are a few that have sequels. The novella stands alone!

Pumpkin patch or city park? Are you a country girl or a city slicker?

I am a CITY GIRL!!! I get claustrophobic in the country with no grocery story or mall close by! And yet…I just bought a house I love out in the dessert at the base of Arizona’s largest mountain range! It’s considered out of the city, but shopping is about two minutes away!

Home-made or eat out for holiday dinner?

Holiday meals are always homemade. I haven’t eaten out even once in my entire life on Thanksgiving or Christmas. I hope I never have to, but if I do, I’m sure I’ll find something good about doing so!

Having written over 80 novels, Readers' Choice winner Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA TODAY bestseller with over 7-million copies sold, and a past president of Romance Writers of America.

Heatherly Bell, author of “The Right Man”


Is your offering part of a series you’ve written?

“The Right Man” is part of the Harlequin Superromance Heroes of Fortune Valley series. Jimmy and Trish are two minor characters from Breaking Emily’s Rules, and Emily makes an appearance in the novella.

Is your location based on a real place?

Fortune, California is based on my own small town in the Bay Area.

Where’s your favorite or dream place to visit in the fall?

It’s on my bucket list to someday visit New England in the fall.

Heatherly Bell drinks copious amounts of coffee, craves cupcakes, and occasionally wears real pants. She lives in California.


Lisa Dyson, author of “Can’t Help Falling in Love”


Is your location based on a real place?

The location in Can’t Help Falling in Love, my novella in the Falling for You anthology, is Whittler’s Creek, Maryland. Although not a real place, it’s a combination of other small towns in western Maryland. It’s so much more fun to make up all the details!

Upside/downside to writing a novella?

The upside is that a novella is only a quarter of the length of a Superromance book. The downside is that it’s only a quarter of the length of a Superromance book, so there’s much less room for character development, secondary characters, and subplots.

Home-made or eat out for holiday dinner?

Definitely home-made holiday dinners. The only time I’ve eaten a holiday dinner in a restaurant was over thirty years ago when my husband and I took our oldest son to Disneyworld over Thanksgiving weekend. We ended up eating turkey at Denny’s. And the food was exactly as you would imagine!

 Lisa Dyson has created stories ever since she got an “A” on a fifth-grade writing prompt. She grew up in eastern Pennsylvania and now lives near Washington, DC, with her husband and rescue dog. She has three grown sons, a daughter-in-law, and four adorable grandchildren. Besides writing, reading, and family time, she enjoys rooting for her favorite sports teams.


Kris Fletcher, author of “If I Fall”


Is your location based on a real place?

Yes it is! Comeback Cove was heavily inspired by the town of Morrisburg, Ontario (Canada), home of one of my favorite places in the world, Upper Canada Village.

What’s your favorite autumnal event?

I've always been a huge fan of Halloween, and that appreciation is all the sweeter because that's when I met my husband.

Home-made or eat out for holiday dinner?

Oh please. If it's not homemade, why bother?

Kris Fletcher lives in central New York, but her heart and her stories still reside in her native Canada. 


Kristina Knight, author of “Outsider in a Small Town”


Is your offering part of a series you’ve written?

Yes, it is! Outsider in a Small Town is part of my Slippery Rock series, and features Aiden (twin to Adam, hero from Breakup in a Small Town) and Julia, a newcomer to Slippery Rock. Both of them are feeling a bit outside the small town circle they're finding themselves in.

Pumpkin patch or city park? Are you a country girl or a city slicker?

Depending on my mood, all of the above...but I confess, I love visiting a local-ish farm (Ramseyer) every fall to wander through the two different corn mazes, take a hayride, and sample all the apple-offerings!

Is your location based on a real place?

Slippery Rock is very loosely based on the small lake towns where I grew up in Missouri, but it's a bit farther south in the state. I drew a little from several different towns to come up with the area - and it's been so fun to write!

Kristina Knight is a bestselling author of contemporary romance, part-time swim-kid wrangler, and a very bad housekeeper. She lives on the shores of Lake Erie with her very own Knight in shining cowboy boots, precocious 9 year old, and 2 very silly puppies.


Claire McEwen, author of “Her Hometown Cowboy”


Is your offering part of a series you’ve written?

Yes, Her Hometown Cowboy introduces the hero from Wild Horses, the first official book in my Sierra Legacy series. But it's also a story that stands very much on its own.

Is your location based on a real place?

Yes! My fictional town of Benson is based on several towns just east of the Sierra Nevada. I love Bridgeport and Bishop in California and Gardiner in Nevada, and there are little bits of all these towns in Benson.

Where’s your favorite or dream place to visit in the fall?

I'd love to visit Vermont in the fall and see all the maple trees change color! But I do love the Eastern Sierras in the fall, when aspen trees turn golden.

Claire McEwen writes heartfelt contemporary romance set mainly in her home state of California. When not writing, she can usually be found digging in her garden, or playing on the beach.


Jo McNally, author of “Meet Me in the Middle”


Is your offering part of a series you’ve written?

Yes and no. The setting, Gallant Lake, is very much part of my Lowery Women series with Harlequin Superromance. Meet Me in the Middle moves away from the Lowery cousins and begins a small town series about the people of Gallant Lake (and a familiar face makes an appearance).
Upside/downside to writing a novella?

The downside for me is I love words - lots of words. I panicked at the thought of writing an entire romance with such a limited word count. The upside? Plot structure is the same regardless of length. This story came together nicely (but still barely within the limit!).

What’s your favorite “taste” of fall?

I am proudly Team Pumpkin Spice! I had some pumpkin yogurt yesterday that was delicious.

Jo McNally lives in coastal North Carolina with 100 pounds of dog and 200 pounds of husband – her slice of the bed is very small. When she’s not writing or reading romance novels (or clinging to the edge of the bed…), she can often be found on the back porch sipping wine with friends while listening to an eclectic playlist.

Dana Nussio author of “Home to You”


What does the fall season remind you of from your childhood?

Fall reminds me of going to the pumpkin patch with my parents and sister. I was notorious for always picking the biggest pumpkins that were oddly flat on one side or wouldn’t even stand up, so they would make lousy jack-o'-lanterns. Sadly, my choices were usually overruled. (Oh. So that’s what happened to me. 😊 )

Pumpkin or apple pie?


Apple, of course, especially when it’s my own recipe for Apple Amaretto Pie. Yum!

Where’s your favorite or dream place to visit in the fall?

I’m an Indiana native, so in the fall I always want to return to Brown County, Indiana, where I can get my leaf fix at Brown County State Park and then satisfy my shopping need in nearby Nashville, a little artist community with tons of cool shops. Hmm, now I want to go back.

Formerly an award-winning journalist, Dana Nussio took a sharp turn toward fiction and never looked back. She is member of the Romance Writers of America Honor Roll of Best-selling Authors.

Janet Lee Nye, author of “Finding Harmony”


Is location based on a real place?

Not entirely. Jericho Falls is a composite of all my favorite Western North Carolina small towns.

Favorite autumnal event?

The changing of the leaves. Hiking through a forest of red, yellow, and orange, breathing in the crisp air scented with pine. Heaven!

Where’s your favorite or dream place to visit in the fall?

Continuing with my love of Western NC, I'd say it is my favorite place to visit in the fall. A foliage tour of New England would be my dream place to visit.

Janet Lee Nye is a writer by day and a neonatal nurse by night. She lives in Charleston, SC with her fella and her felines. She spends too much time on Twitter and not enough time on housework. She has no plans to change this.

Angel Smits, author of “Perfect Fit”


Is your offering part of a series you’ve written?

Yes, this is part of my A CHAIR AT THE HAWKINS TABLE series. If it were in number order this would be 4 ½.

What’s your favorite autumnal event?

Growing up I LOVED Halloween. Now that I’m grown, it’s not nearly as much fun, but I still love it. We lived in the Denver suburbs, and dozens of us kids would dress up, run around the neighborhood in the freezing cold, ring door bells, scream trick-or-treat and laugh until our sides hurt. That was back in the day when the parents stayed home and gave out the candy. We’d run wild and free—and they knew we wouldn’t go far since it was almost always so danged cold!

What does the fall season remind you of from your childhood?

Fall is when EVERYONE in my family has a birthday, including me. I’m a twin, and my sister and I have always celebrated together. As kids we’d get the same gifts, have the same cake (though one for each of us), and I seldom got to watch her open her gifts as we opened them at the same time in order not to spoil each other’s surprise. It’s nice now that we’re grown to be able to watch each other! And now that there are 5 of us with October birthdays…it’s just one great big, cake-eating party!

Angel Smits lives in Colorado with her husband, two grown children and a hyper border collie mix. Her social work background inspires her characters, while improv writing allows her to torture them. It’s a rough job, but someone’s got to do it. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Just as favorite seasons end, it's hard to say good-bye to a beloved longer-length line of heart-warming stories. Sadly, Harlequin is closing the doors to Superromance, but be sure to watch for these authors in other contemporary venues. FALLING FOR YOU is a parting gift to a wonderful family-friendly imprint. Take it to heart, and take it home for the holidays.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

WeWriWa: A Family Affair . . . Spooktacular Prizes and Some Sexy Stuff


A season of tricks and treats has descended - A dirty trick in my Weekend Writing Warriors snippet along with treats in the giveaway above (more on that below!) and on the blog I'm visiting today.

First things first, Sunday is the day for weekly dining on tasty word snacks of just 8-10 sentences from my fellow Weekend Writing Warriors. I'm following up the thread in last week's post from PRINCE OF FOOLS (only a week and a day away from its debut!!) where Cinderella barmaid Amber James is confronted with her prince's relatives -alone!- when he sends her and her daughter to their Lake Tahoe compound for safety while he and his brothers get rowdy in New Orleans. Leave it to the Terriots to take the Fun out of Dysfunctional with this less than warm fuzzy greeting . . .



"A half-breed nobody with a human's brat a Terriot princess," Rico's sister-in-law sneered, "in what world would that happen? He can screw you, he can shack up with you, we don't care, but don't think that we'll let you pollute our family with your kind, because Cale will forbid it."

Humiliation trembled on the edge of shock because she'd thought much the same about her and Rico together . . . but Evie . . . Evangeline was no one's brat!

"Who in their right mind would want to be a part of what you are," Amber snapped with a sharp bite, "so over-weaned, over-privileged, and over-inflated with your own importance? Being a Terriot is no prize, it's a detriment to everything I believe in. Do you know how hard your brother-in-law had to work to get me to consider being with him, to being worthy of my daughter?"

"Ladies."

Cale's quiet intrusion separated them as if two cats hanging over the same clothesline.

Fawn meekly bowed her head, whispering, "My king."

Amber stood frozen, readying to bear the brunt of his temper at her less than flattering attack, but it was Fawn who drew his lethal admonition of, "Don't suppose to guess what I know or think, because what I know is we do not treat our guests with such disrespect in my name unless we want to live up to Ms. James' rather harsh opinion that I, for one, want to change before my brother, your prince, returns."


Boom! Nuff said. At least until next weekend!


For a sweeter offering, I'm joining my fellow bloggers and BookHounds for a Spooktacular Hop from now through Halloween. I'd love to tuck a $10 Amazon gift card into your treat bag so sign up (and take some extra chances, too!). Make sure to follow along the Hop to see what my neighbors are handing out!



a Rafflecopter giveaway
Now, for my final treat . . . I can't see the words "sexy stuff" without picturing Colin Terriot strutting his! My PRINCE OF POWER is rocking a Sexy Sunday Snippet guest blog over at Lady Smut (Squee! I'm on a blog with the word SMUT in it!)  These fun and frisky ladies sent me the invite c/o writer pal Isabelle Drake. Drop by to say Hey! Do some window shopping through their saucy books (and buying! Halloween is a time for some eye candy, too!). Thanks for inviting this vanilla author to add some extra spice, ladies!!

Just a reminder that the tremendous giveaways continue with more Halloween Spooktaculars from Bewitching Book Tours and Night Owl Reviews. Follow their graphics on my sidebar to join in the fun!

Happy Haunting!!


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, October 08, 2017

WeWriWa: If The Slipper Fits . . .


As an English major in school, one of the things I dreaded was the theme paper. What’s the underlying thread running through this piece of literature that ties it up in a neat bow? Little did I know I was prepping for that equally dreaded question from editors: High concept. If I was pitching PRINCE OF FOOLS (and what else are we doing when trying to reach readers by shilling our books like a P.T. Barnum of fiction?), my fast ball would be “A Cinderella Story: Wrong side of the tracks meets man of her dreams,” i.e. a Cinderella barmaid to his dark prince. A difference that seems insurmountable, at least in her eyes, in today’s 8-10 line snippet between the hero and heroine.

"I'm not good enough for you, Rico. Your family knows it and so do I. My father was a poor excuse for a man, my daughter's was human, and I work in a bar and struggle to pay my bills and put food on the table. You're a prince, your line is pure." 

He was quick to argue, "Colin bonded with Mia and she's a Guedry!" 

"She's of a royal house, Frederick, and I'm from the poor house. There's a huge difference." 

"Did Cale say something to you?" he demanded, features reddening with fury. 

"He didn't have to. I don't want Evie broken under than kind of scrutiny, to not think she's as good as everyone else."

So far, there doesn’t seem to be a way for them to meet in the middle, at least not to Amber’s thinking. What’s it going to take to change her mind? I guess we’ll have to find out next week.

In preparation for the upcoming release of PRINCE OF FOOLS, I’m doing some fun promo to introduce myself to new readers – Hey, I’m not above luring them in with bribes of fabulous prizes! So, I’m participating again this year in Night Owl Review’s Hallopalooza Scavenger Hunt. If you’re looking for some new-to-you authors or just in it for $1,000 worth of goodies (no shame in that!), the Hunt runs from October 12th - 31st.


Hope you’re having a Spooktacular October so far. Happy Writing!!


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, October 04, 2017

IWSG: Yes, It's Personal!

Happy Insecure Writers Support Group Day!! We at IWSG have been encouraged to show our spirit by posing with IWSG memorabilia. Mine is being included as one of the authors in the IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond compilation of industry-savvy articles. I'm so proud of this FREE reference e-book for writers either tiptoeing into or trying to break out in our crazy business. If you don't have it, download it!


Our optional IWSG question for October is: Have you ever slipped any of your personal information into your characters, either by accident or on purpose? Of course! That's one of the best things about being a writer! Want to get even with that ex? Make your heroine a ball buster. Want to conquer your fears? Push your plot into the danger zone and have your intrepid characters kick butt. Want to escape the tedium of your 9-to-5? Travel to places unknown (or even non-existent!), relive your most humiliating moment and this time, come out on top, make out with the best man at your wedding rehearsal, say those words you always regretted holding back. It's hard not to let our personal and professional lives, experiences and attitudes leech into our creative ooze when we explore fiction by reanimating the things we've done . . . or always wish we had but didn't, crusading for what we believe in and defeating the evils that darken our pasts. We put a bit of our heart and soul and experience into everything we write, but that can go both ways. 

Sometimes, our writing spills over into our personas. We can get lost in the words and worlds we imagine. When writing my Dana Ransom westerns, I've been caught demanding that my boys eat them there peas! Or when penning Regencies, speaking with a very proper accent. And don't get me started on the occasional influx of naughty words after spending too much time with some of my male bonding shapeshifter heroes. So, I guess you could say my characters and I learn from each other. But sometimes, it's just a story about a man and a fish, not some metaphorical transference or societal commentary. Just a man and a fish, no matter what your 8th grade English teach told you. Now, the man becoming a cockroach . . . that's something all together different!


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. 

The awesome co-hosts for the October 4th posting of the IWSG will be Olga Godim, Chemist Ken, Jennifer Hawes, and Tamara Narayan!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Twitter hashtag is #IWSG

Sunday, October 01, 2017

WeWriWa: You Don’t Know Me . . .

That feeling you get when your book is edited and ready to leave the nest . . . 


Next stop, PRINCE OF FOOLS to readers’ hands . . . well, after a detour to my trusty assistant, The Novel Difference to get it sized up and tucked between its sexy covers. Though chafing to dive into Book 4, I’m busily planning promo for the release date, just 22 quickly ticking down days away. To keep myself from hyperventilating, I’m bringing you the rest of last week’s scene. We left poor down-and-out Rico supposedly adrift in the comforting care of the solicitous Amber who is trying to bolster his battered ego after he claims, “You don’t know me, always looking for something in me that’s not there, and why is that?”

“I do know you,” Amber vowed, her fingertips brushing the bold angle of his jaw. “You’re strong and kind and loyal to those you love, and if you have a fault, it’s caring too much about them and not enough about yourself.” 

Rico held himself still, fighting the desire to push into her palm for more undeserved praise and affection. She’d supply that and anything he asked for, he could tell by the lambent heat in her stare and the longing in her caress. He’d taken advantage of it once out of weakness and vowed not to do so again. 

“I’d rather you not stop by for a while.” 

Her remembered words supplied the necessary strength of will to stay his unpleasant course. 

Fitting his hand over hers to gently but firmly guide it away from where he didn’t dare let it linger considering what he had to do this night, Rico tore his gaze from those trusting pools of plenty to the three figures at the door. The three who’d chatted him up at the bar.

Game on.

Hmmmm. More to him and this scene than meets the eye! I wonder what Rico’s involved in. I love a surprise, don’t you? Let’s hope Amber does.

Happy October, all!! And happy writing!!


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