August 2018

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Sunday, August 26, 2018

WeWriWa: When a Kiss Isn’t a Kiss . . . and a Sale continues!


A soldier without a cause, Marchand has searched for something to fight for, not expecting it to be for his life against the lost and seemingly helpless young woman he rescues. But Nicole is not an ordinary female. The same violent nature that sent her fleeing her home when she discovered her father’s curse, runs through her veins and demands to be fed . . .

Marchand wasn’t sure what happened. One moment she was all clinging vulnerability and the next, her purpose shifted aggressively, grasping fingers beginning a hard, kneading pressure along the muscles of his back and shoulders while her supple body pressed against him. He almost pulled away—not because he didn’t like it, but because it was such an unexpected change. 

Her breathing stroked along the side of his neck in light, panting whispers, his own held suspended then gusting out in an explosive sigh when he felt the first soft brush of her lips there, just below his ear, followed by the lingering rasp of her tongue. Her fingers had come up to rub along his jaw in a demanding passion, then clamped with a paralyzing sharpness into the cording on the other side of his neck. In a brief spike of surprise, he realized he couldn’t move . . .then he didn’t want to. He forgot about struggle, about making love to her, or even of how to respond to what she was doing, lost, hypnotized by the seducing caress of her breath upon his throat. Beneath the urgent press of her mouth, his pulse was lulled into a seductive sluggishness. He was aware of his eyes closing, of the world darkening, thinking, Mon Dieu, am I going to swoon? 

Suddenly, Nicole shoved away from him, forcing him to scramble for balance and shake his head, trying to free his mind from its odd lethargy as she cried, “No,I won’t, I can’t.”



   

Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series.

A Wicked Legacy . . .

Terrified by her unusual strength and frightening urges, Nicole Radouix’s sheltered country life is shattered when she discovers her family’s secret— she’s the daughter of a mortal mother and vampire father. Stricken, she flees to the seductive lure of the city to discover the truth about who and what she is. But the turmoil of post-revolution Paris is no place for an innocent.

A Wild Desire . . .

Finding herself under the protection of noble ex-patriot Marchand La Valois, Nicole is pulled into deadly underworld struggles, both political and vampiric. As their passions ignite, Marchand soon realizes the lovely Nicole is more predator than prey and may be more of a threat than the unruly streets outside.

An Unthinkable Dilemma . . .

Desperate to control her dark desires, Nicole accepts an offer of guidance from a hypnotic enemy, ensnaring both her and Marchand in a dangerous web of centuries’ old revenge. To escape their deadly nighttime games, Nicole must embrace her immortality. But will it cost her Marchand’s eternal love?


“A treasure trove of unearthly delights! Readers will want to induct Ms. Gideon into the vampire storyteller’s Hall of Fame!”—Romantic Times

“An extraordinary, moving and sensual tale of supernatural love powerful enough to defy death. Nancy Gideon is a bright artistic star of epic proportion in the supernatural galaxy. Five Star!”—Affaire de Coeur

A fast-paced, surprisingly believable look into a dark and mysterious world where only the greatest of loves can flourish!”—The Literary Times

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ 

She can’t . . . but she must! And therein lies the struggle. MIDNIGHT TEMPTATION is still on SALE for only $0.99 until the end of the month. It’s risk worth taking . . . if you dare.

AND another special offer! My first audio book has just been released (the first one I’ve ever listened to while approving the final version, and now I’m hooked!)


SWEET TEMPEST, a sexy Regency-set historical written under my pen name, Lauren Giddings, is FREE (along with another audio book of your choice-double bonus!) by subscribing to Audible. Give a listen to the sample on Amazon. What do you think? I have a handful of free codes for downloads if anyone is willing to plug in and post an honest review on Audible. As an audio virgin, I’d really appreciate the feedback!

I think I’m ready for September next weekend, how about you, Fellow Warriors?


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, August 19, 2018

WeWriWa: A Forbidden Taste of MIDNIGHT TEMPTATION (and a Sale!)


As I’ve often said, you can’t keep an undead hero (or heroine!) down. That’s particularly true of Nicole LaValois in MIDNIGHT TEMPTATION, an innocent miss whose strange proclivities are explained when she discovers a devastating family secret she flees in denial. Alone and innocent in dangerous post Revolution France, she’s taken in by a bohemian group of friends, placing them all in unexpected danger from the threat that stalks her and the truth tormenting her. Take a taste . . .


Lying beside him, longing for his closeness as much as she feared it, Nicole remained awake until the early dawn hours, listening to the sounds of her companions’ slumber and to the night music of the city beyond. She found it difficult to sleep, her system attuned to those dark hours where energy pulsed in the Paris streets. The cool breeze beckoned to instincts she didn’t understand. She lay next to Marchand, watching over him, not daring to touch him, her desire for him growing as severe as the constant hunger threading through her veins.

What had begun to attract her appetite was not served upon a plate. It throbbed, a rich and forbidden temptation, through those around her.

As she lay there at night remembering the taste of Marchand’s blood, that secret contemplation horrified and fascinated. She could feel his heart beating even though they weren’t touching, could hear it sending those rivers of delight through his body with every soft thrum. The taste . . . ambrosia, whetting a desire like none she’d known. 

The desire . . . for more.


   

Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon's Touched by Midnight series. 

A Wicked Legacy . . .

Terrified by her unusual strength and frightening urges, Nicole Radouix’s sheltered country life is shattered when she discovers her family’s secret— she’s the daughter of a mortal mother and vampire father. Stricken, she flees to the seductive lure of the city to discover the truth about who and what she is. But the turmoil of post-revolution Paris is no place for an innocent.

A Wild Desire . . .

Finding herself under the protection of noble ex-patriot Marchand La Valois, Nicole is pulled into deadly underworld struggles, both political and vampiric. As their passions ignite, Marchand soon realizes the lovely Nicole is more predator than prey and may be more of a threat than the unruly streets outside.

An Unthinkable Dilemma . . .

Desperate to control her dark desires, Nicole accepts an offer of guidance from a hypnotic enemy, ensnaring both her and Marchand in a dangerous web of centuries’ old revenge. To escape their deadly nighttime games, Nicole must embrace her immortality. But will it cost her Marchand’s eternal love?

“A treasure trove of unearthly delights! Readers will want to induct Ms. Gideon into the vampire storyteller’s Hall of Fame!”—Romantic Times

“An extraordinary, moving and sensual tale of supernatural love powerful enough to defy death. Nancy Gideon is a bright artistic star of epic proportion in the supernatural galaxy. Five Star!”—Affaire de Coeur

A fast-paced, surprisingly believable look into a dark and mysterious world where only the greatest of loves can flourish!”—The Literary Times

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ 

Revisiting this book makes me remember how much I adored researching historical settings, this one so close on the heels of the first time I saw Les Miz on stage (still my favorite!). As if the times weren’t dangerous enough . . . throw in a freaking vampire-in-training! MIDNIGHT TEMPTATION is one of my pet projects, with a cast of characters I couldn’t get enough of (thank goodness they’re immortal!). If you haven’t taken a taste of the Midnight series, this $0.99 exotic sampler of setting, scares, sexy villains and noble heroes will whet your appetite. 

MIDNIGHT TEMPTATION is on sale through the end of the month and I’ll be sharing from it again next weekend. Bon appetite!

Happy Dog Days of Summer, Fellow Warriors and Happy Writing and Summer Reading!



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, August 12, 2018

WeWriWa: Not What He Pretended . . .


Don’t you hate it when things are going great, you’re sure he’s the one, and then you start asking yourself . . . The right one . . . what?

Ophelia Brady was looking for a dashing knight to rescue her heart from loneliness. But is her hero a wolf in knight’s clothing? Hard to ignore as evidence begins to add up to something supernatural in this excerpt from PRINCE OF DREAMS . . .

“Thank you for being my knight.”Her hand rode the wide curve of his smile. 

“My pleasure.” 

Forcing herself to turn away, she climbed up into the cab, his palm cupping her elbow for a steadying boost. When she looked back with a smile of thanks, the gesture froze. 

The harsh dome light played over his features, revealing details not apparent in the shadowed room or under the cloud-covered moon. On his brow, beneath his strong jaw, there on the jut of his clavicle, small smears of blood told a different story of how he’d dealt with her attacker. 

As she shut the door between them, part of her gloried in the evidence of aggressive action. Another part trembled, recalling the image of red eyes and sharp teeth. 

Her knight was not what he pretended to be.


Final revisions off to editor, so I’m taking a breather from the job and the book as the Grandguy stops in for a week of unabashed spoiling. Pinball, movies, the zoo, Oh My! Can’t wait. But first, off to visit your teasers . . .

Happy almost back to school! Happy Writing, fellow Warriors!


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, August 05, 2018

WeWriWa: Becoming a Revisionary . . .


PRINCE OF DREAMS is back from my BETA readers (Huge shout out “THANK YOU!” to Sandra, Elizabeth and Alexa! You ladies are da bomb!) who all caught the same whoopsies (two I anticipated, one that was a total “Doh!”). Now to make good in final revisions and send to my trusty editor.

Today I’m sharing an early excerpt from PoD . . .


As Ophelia undressed in her bedroom, anticipating a long, hot shower, the three cards she’d pulled earlier that evening fluttered to the floor. The first, representing her Past Influence, was the Two of Wands, a card of duality, crossroads, and choice, a couples’ card of partnership, not of lovers—an accurate summation of her frustrated hopes for romance right up until earlier that night. Beneath it was that blazing Knight of emotion and relationships, her rescuer, Kip Terriot. Even now, the card vibrated with the same feelings fluttering about her chest. She hadn’t looked farther than that passionate card until now, to gage the forecast for her future. 

The third card lay face down on satiny hardwood. Phe reached for it, pausing, hand hovering inches above the jewel-tone back, almost pulling away, spooked by an uncomfortable vibe, until chastising herself, she flipped it over. 

The Tower, a once tall, mighty structure violently torn asunder and crumbling, the symbol of shattered beliefs, shaking a previously stable world to its foundations. 

A life destroyed by a suddenly revealed truth . . . 

Was Kip Terriot about to literally rock her world?


Ooooh, stuff’s about to get unreal!


I’m sitting here listening to an endless chime from my phone of e-mails bouncing as undeliverable. After an exhausting and frustrating week contacting all my vendors, promo folk, card carriers and organizations to notify of a change in my e-mail after being deleted from my MSN account, let me be a cautionary tale – back up your stuff! Double, no, triple bag those things you take for granted – like your important e-mails, your mailing lists, your contacts, your website data etc. Nothing is permanent in the ether-world. This from the School of Hard Knocks.

Have a prosperous writing week, fellow Warriors!



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, August 01, 2018

IWSG: Danger! Writing Pitfalls Ahead!


This month’s Insecure Writers Support Group question is: What Pitfalls Would You Warn Other Writers to Avoid on Their Publishing Journey? A no-brainer for me – Insecurity - the heart of our blog gathering. Writers are solitary beings, lost in our own thoughts within our own worlds, safe and secure and strong . . . until we venture outside. The second we step into the vast unknown of other opinions, we tend to lose the very thing that makes our words so valuable – our individuality. Newbie writers (and a lot of times, even we old dogs) tend to be slaves to doubt when we leave our own private realm. We compare, compete and worst of all – comply. We join critique groups, submit to contests for feedback. Desperate to please those to whom we entrust our words, especially in our early formative years, we think their opinions are correct and thus, we must bend to them. That results in a flurry of rewriting to please every suggestion until we lose the original passion for our project. It becomes a collaborative of every vision but our own. In trying to appease everyone else, we lose the one thing that makes our work unique – we lose OUR voice.



Now, I’m not saying don’t submit your work for outside input. There’s not a writer among us who can’t learn from the opinions of others. But we need remember that they’re just that 
 opinions  and opinions, though valid, are NOT absolute (even when it comes to our editors!). It takes strength as a writer to pick and choose what’s best for our project, and by the same token, maturity to accept that our every creative choice isn’t perfect.

The biggest pitfall for writers – in my opinion – is not valuing the ownership of our ideas. No one sees things the same way. No one sees through the same lens of experiences. What makes us unique gives our writing its beauty, and though we all could use a tune up or a touch up, we’re behind the wheel of our creativity, so don’t leave the driving to others. Steer your own course once you know the direction you’re taking. Give suggestions due consideration. Take what works – FOR YOU – and graciously set aside that which doesn’t. You don’t need to argue your decisions or apologize for them. You take them to benefit your work, not to make it into someone else’s.

Hone your voice, fellow IWSGers, and sing out loud and proud to the creative tune only you hear. Countless others will enjoy listening to the unique music you make.



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 August 1st posting of the IWSG will be Erika Beebe, Sandra Hoover, Susan Gourley, and Lee Lowery!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Twitter hashtag is #IWSG