tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675344501242976672024-02-18T21:52:51.343-08:00Mandi's Paranormal Romance BlogThis blog is for discussion and feedback on paranormal romance novels, new releases coming out, and just fun stuff.Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-4357798379490286552013-08-03T03:00:00.000-07:002013-08-03T03:00:03.355-07:00Juliet Chastain is Celebrating Her Hot New Release - Vampire Cowboy!I want to welcome Juliet Chastain to my blog today! First, let's take a look at her super hot cover:<br />
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Wow! I absolutely LOVE your cover, Juliet. Now, let's have some info about you as a writer and what you have cooking in the works of your writing: </div>
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Juliet: <span style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">As soon as I learned how, I became a voracious
reader. My mother had to go with me to the library every week because otherwise
the librarian wouldn't let me take out more than three books at a time and that
wasn't nearly enough.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In sixth grade, inspired by one of my most treasured
possessions, a wall calendar with photographs of kittens, I wrote a sad story
about a couple of kittens. The tragic tale made me cry but got me an “A” from
my teacher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Along the way, I switched focus, so to speak, and became a
photographer. But here I am, after fifteen years of photographing fashion,
writing again. This time my stories have lots of steamy romance and happy
endings. No kittens no sad tears.</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Writing is hard work, but I suspect that's the
case for a professional at any job. From my years as a photographer I learned
that if you want to be a pro in that field, you have to be creative and productive
no matter how you feel. I was paid to take beautiful, interesting photographs.
It didn't matter if I didn't feel inspired that day, I still had to produce
that kind of photographs—and I did, no matter what. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Same goes for the writing. Inspired or not, I
must sit down and start tapping away. What I don't have with the writing is the
energy of working with other people to nudge me along—no models, stylists, make-up,
hangers-on, whatever. It's just the computer and me—and the computer is simply
a tool, like the camera. I am all alone trying to find my way through—or to—a
story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I start off with an idea or two—a whole scene
maybe or just a small piece of one and a character. I can't seem to find the
plot before I write the story, so I have to bumble along, bumping into a walls
now and then or finding myself at a dead end. It can be frustrating but I have learned
to allow myself to do those things as part of the process of writing a story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In some ways the most challenging thing is to
get my butt to the chair in the morning and start writing. I used to swim year
round in an indoor pool that was unheated. It was really hard to get in that
water in the winter and I never got used to doing it. It's that way with
writing the first draft. It's so hard getting started and I never get used to
it. But just like when I'd done the first ten or twenty laps in the pool, once
I've been writing for a bit, I don't want to stop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Another difficult thing is when I'm in the
middle of a story and suddenly I don't know where I am going with it, and I
can't imagine what comes next. Very demoralizing. That’s when I start thinking
that I really have no business doing this, that its hopeless etc., etc. The
best thing for me when that happens is to get up, do some little non-writing
thing and then come back and work on something else for a day or two. Often
when I get back to the piece with the problem I know what to do. It just needed
to percolate in my unconscious for a while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">****************************</span></b><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">My latest story, Vampire Cowboy, my first e-book
with Ellora's Cave, is a Quickie—you
could read it in an evening or two. It's a </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Century; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">19th century western featuring a smooth-talking vampire who is looking
to get a little wild on his way out West.</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;">One bad hand of cards stranded Eliza on a failing
ranch in the middle of nowhere. She’d do anything to sell the ranch and make
her way back to the city, even seduce the handsome stranger who rides into town
and expresses an interest in her land.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Century; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> It’s been hundreds of years since anything has
caught Daniel’s interest. He doesn’t expect much in the two-bit dusty town he’s
passing through to change that…until he sets eyes on the sassy, stubborn Eliza.
A look ignites their chemistry and soon enough a shared dinner is tossed aside
for more carnal delights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Century; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Eliza and Daniel both have plenty of reasons to
keep their affair to a single night, but the sex between them takes temptation
to a whole new level. Now every time they try to walk away, they’re reminded that
some cravings can never be satisfied.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Century; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A Romantica® western historical erotic romance
from Ellora’s Cave Available now from: </span><a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/vampire-cowboy.html"><span style="color: #be0006; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Century; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Elloras Cave
eBooks</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Century; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> | </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Cowboy-ebook/dp/B00DEK1TGW/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371254805&sr=1-4"><span style="color: #be0006; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Century; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Century; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> | </span><a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-vampirecowboy-1222755-139.html"><span style="color: #be0006; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Century; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">All Romance eBooks</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Century; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Okay, seriously, a smooth talking vampire wanting to get a little wild out in the old West? Definitely a must read for every type of romance reader out there! </div>
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Thanks so much for taking the time to visit Juliet! Happy writing :)</div>
Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-60909722010921778062013-03-02T00:30:00.000-08:002013-03-02T00:30:00.718-08:00Highlander's Hope By Collette CameronI want to welcome fellow author, Collette Cameron, to my blog today. She has a wonderful new Highland Romance coming out in April!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_Pn_vYQqQysoeDYujTg4V4oCetyj2-6B2hZ8q0UbFv3vB4sHTvqnhkkMjIzYX3K9FZXsWE7iiIeNfVBFyZpJY9-Ol11DDvKu1kBC1rkGkDfK-JTvxmiVbfS0KhyphenhyphenZ5UCYQoX8Ph9Dxzs/s1600/Collette+Cameron+Highlander's+Hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_Pn_vYQqQysoeDYujTg4V4oCetyj2-6B2hZ8q0UbFv3vB4sHTvqnhkkMjIzYX3K9FZXsWE7iiIeNfVBFyZpJY9-Ol11DDvKu1kBC1rkGkDfK-JTvxmiVbfS0KhyphenhyphenZ5UCYQoX8Ph9Dxzs/s640/Collette+Cameron+Highlander's+Hope.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Highlander's Hope: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Not
a day has gone by that Ewan McTavish, the Viscount Sethwick, hasn't dreamed of
the beauty he danced with two years ago</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">. He's determined to win her heart and make her
his own. Heiress, Yvette Stapleton, is certain of one thing; marriage is risky
and, therefore, to be avoided. At first, she doesn't recognize the dangerously
handsome man who rescues her from assailants on London's docks, but Lord
Sethwick's passionate kisses soon have her reconsidering her cynical views on
matrimony. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">On a mission to stop a War Office traitor, Ewan
draws Yvette into deadly international intrigue. To protect her, he exploits
Scottish law, declaring her his lawful wife—without benefit of a ceremony.
Yvette is furious upon discovering the irregular marriage is legally binding,
though she never said, "I do." Will Ewan's manipulation cost him her </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">new-found</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> love? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a sneak peak excerpt from Highlander's Hope!</span><br />
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<b style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Highlander's Hope Excerpt -
Carriage Scene</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Peeking at
him from beneath her lashes, she reached up to straighten her bonnet. It hung
askew off the side of her head, like a giant drooping peony. She shoved it back
into place but the moment she removed her hand, it flopped over once more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">The
stranger's unrestrained laughter filled the carriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">“Oh, bother
it all.” Yvette’s patience with both her rescuer and the silly bonnet were at
an end. She had no choice but to remove the dratted thing to reaffix it.
Several strands of hair tumbled to her shoulders when she removed the cap from
her head. Suppressing a shriek of annoyance, she placed the hat beside her. She
then set about securing the wayward curls. Pinning the last strand in place,
her eyes met those of her companion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Momentarily
forgetting her unanswered questions, she stilled, as did the world around her.
The air hung suspended in her lungs. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her stunned
gaze riveted on his face. “You exist?” Her voice was husky with awe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Raising an
ebony eyebrow, a flicker of humor softened the nobleman’s features. “So it
would appear.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">A voice,
deep and dark, caressed Yvette’s heightened senses. She stared. Her gaze roved
across his handsome features returning, as if compelled by some unseen force,
to his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Those eyes<i>. </i>Fringed by thick lashes, the
mesmerizing turquoise pools gazing back at her sent her senses reeling in
recognition. Her mouth dropped open. No, it couldn’t be. “Am I dreaming?” Giving a quick shake
of her head, she lowered her eyelids for a moment. Lud, but she was befuddled.
"Who are you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great sneak peak, Collette! Now, here's a little info about this amazing author: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0N842kwDdNspmynv0X7o2TjVuEBex8CIB4ZM92pMr_3Cp12c4zzclf5HmtAyp0w4G4_8golWeNCdSNvStCfeu6Wf-qFvZSmQg5trT69_BLGBj7NCU9rxmzVLGG6M5PX88hU-fIDvrju8/s1600/Wendy+Herrington+pen+name+Collette+Cameron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0N842kwDdNspmynv0X7o2TjVuEBex8CIB4ZM92pMr_3Cp12c4zzclf5HmtAyp0w4G4_8golWeNCdSNvStCfeu6Wf-qFvZSmQg5trT69_BLGBj7NCU9rxmzVLGG6M5PX88hU-fIDvrju8/s320/Wendy+Herrington+pen+name+Collette+Cameron.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Okay, <span style="line-height: 200%;">I've asked Collette a few questions about what makes her tick as an author, here's what she had to say: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.)<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->When
did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?<span style="color: #444444;"> The
truth? It was when I sat down to write a
book one day and discovered writing was more fulfilling to me than anything
else. With the exception of the hubby
and kids of course. . . Oh, and teaching. I do like that. . . most of the time!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.)<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->What
type of genre do you write in?<span style="color: #444444;"> I write historical
suspense, Regency era. I fully intend to branch out from Regency, but even if I
start writing other genre’s I think I'll always continue to write historical. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.)<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->What
inspires you to write in this genre?<span style="color: #444444;"> I adore that
time period. Actually anything from the Georgian to Victorian era fascinates
me. My house is very Victorian inside and out. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.)<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Where
to you get your ideas for your writing?<span style="color: #444444;"> They
usually start out as a single idea, a scene that pops into my mind. . . often
when I'm in the shower. Go figure. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5.)<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Who
are your favorite authors and why?<span style="color: #444444;"> I don't have any
favorites. I like so many, it would be unfair to name just one or two. I will
confess though that I named my daughter after Brianna in "The Flame and
The Flower" by Kathleen Woodiwiss. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6.)<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->In
your opinion, what key parts of a story make it great?<span style="color: #444444;"> I
appreciate humor in what I read and write, and I Iike it when the readers know
something the characters don't. It's like they are my co-conspirators. I also
appreciate unexpected twists and unusual customs or facts introduced through
the storyline. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7.)<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->What
activities do you undertake for inspiration?<span style="color: #444444;"> Am I
supposed to engage in activities? Oops.
Seriously though, I have so many ideas jotted down in my "Writing
Bible" right now, I'm not looking for anymore inspiration. And, this might
strike some people as odd, but when I need a solution to a plot problem, or
need an unusual idea to incorporate into my story, I pray about it. I feel so
clever when an answer pops into my head. . . divinely inspired you might say. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8.)<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Do
you belong to any writing communities, or critique groups?<span style="color: #444444;"> I am a member of RWA, Rose City Romance Writers, The Beau
Monde, Faith, Hope, & Love, Inc., Savvy Authors, World Literary Cafe, Facebook's Author and Book Lover's Group, and
Romantic Fiction-For Readers & Writers of Romance. I am part of The Beau
Monde's critique group, have three critique partners, and four beta readers.
Plus, I belong to several author/reader groups. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9.)<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Do
you have a day job?<span style="color: #444444;"> I do indeed. I am a substitute
elementary teacher. Right now, I'm finishing out the year as a long-term sub
for third grade. The kidlets love it when I tell them stories. I had a class do
an author interview of me recently. Some of the questions were what you'd
expect: "How long does it take you to write a book?" "When did
you start writing?" "How many pages are in your book?" When I
told them about 400, one little guy got this horrified look on his face and
said, "No pictures? Just words?"
I was also asked, how much I weigh, how old I am, and if I slap myself. No,
honey, I don't write <i>that</i> genre. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10.)<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--> If you could do it over again, what aspects of
the writing/submission process would you change before becoming published?<span style="color: #444444;"> I didn't have any critique partners for my first novel. I
believe if I had, I wouldn't have had complete so many drafts to make it
publishable. I'd also have researched basic manuscript formatting, and read
more books on the craft of writing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11.)<span style="line-height: 115%;"> What is the title of your upcoming/newly
released novel, and where can we find it?</span><span style="color: #7030a0; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 115%;">HIGHLANDER'S HOPE is my debut novel. It is scheduled to be released through
Soul Mate Publishing in April 2013. It will be available as an Ebook through
Soul Mate Publishing's website, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. The print novel
will be released a few months later</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Here's Collette's Bio:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-pagination: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">A life-long Oregonian, Collette Cameron was born and
raised in a small town along the northern Oregon coast. Today she makes her
home in a rural community, 30 minutes west of Portland. Her Victorian farmhouse
sits on a one-acre certified wildlife habit, interspersed with a plethora of
gardens: English, rose, butterfly, rock, water, and of course, vegetable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">A voracious reader of romance since her teens, she
even named her daughter after a heroine in her favorite romance novel. An enthusiast
of times gone by, and anything related to romance, she writes Historical
Romance, with a dash of inspiration, a pinch of humor, and a liberal portion of
suspense. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Having dabbled in interior decorating in her youth,
Collette returned to school, graduating summa cum laude from Oregon State
University, and went on to obtain her Master's Degree in Teaching. She is
member of Romance Writers of America, Rose City Romance Writers, The Beau Monde,
and Love Faith and Hope, Inc., and a whole slew of other author/writer groups. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Some of Collette's favorite things include unique
blends of coffees and teas, trivia, Cadbury Milk Chocolate, inspirational
quotes, and scented candles. Her Christian faith, husband, three adult
children, and five miniature dachshunds round out her life quite nicely! When
she's not teaching or writing, she is a content and copy/line editor for an
Ebook publisher, enjoys amateur photography, bird watching, gardening, interior
decorating, rock-hunting, boating or fishing on the Columbia River, and reading
of course. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">To connect with Collette, please visit
www.collettecameron.com/ or http://blueroseromanceblog./ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Here are some more places to connect with Collette: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Book URL:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">
http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/meet-collette-cameron/highlanders-hope-by-collette-cameron/<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">This
is not a "buy" link. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">My Links:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Web
site: http://collettecameron.com/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Blog:
http://www.blueroseromance.com/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Facebook
Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/collettecameronauthor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Facebook
Page: http://www.facebook.com/collette.cameron.5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Collette_Author<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Google+:
https://plus.google.com/?gpsrc=gplp0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Linked
In: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/collette-cameron<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/colletteauthor/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Soul
Mate Publishing Author's Blog: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13595899-collette-cameron<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy writing schedule!</span></div>
<br />
<br />Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-75336989471101039352013-02-23T11:40:00.000-08:002013-02-24T19:46:20.171-08:00Bizarre Life of Sydney Sedrick Free!!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Like paranormal romance? Looking for a great new series to ready? Bizarre Life of Sydney Sedrick on Free on Kindle Today and Tomorrow!!!</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-39F-CcBiSdijB4hQFMZW09Q9esn_JZqW2Sk1OEBvzOTWU940hRwV-lQEI6ijZrtY9nhY01m7tR4lS13-3gJuQWop5uIE4-mnyXuGsvbWribSrBkwrDCxyQaEeETeuoYAccUmEfi7Jq8/s1600/bizzarelifeof_72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-39F-CcBiSdijB4hQFMZW09Q9esn_JZqW2Sk1OEBvzOTWU940hRwV-lQEI6ijZrtY9nhY01m7tR4lS13-3gJuQWop5uIE4-mnyXuGsvbWribSrBkwrDCxyQaEeETeuoYAccUmEfi7Jq8/s640/bizzarelifeof_72dpi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here's the Link: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
http://www.amazon.com/Bizarre-Life-Sydney-Sedrick-ebook/dp/B005VHKYA8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1361646442&sr=8-2&keywords=bizarre+life+of+sydney+sedrick</div>
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Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-85883045939752081752012-10-17T17:52:00.000-07:002012-10-17T17:59:46.449-07:00Halloween - The Best Holiday of the YearHalloween is questionably the best holiday of the year. As a paranormal romance author, this time of year is a great time for inspiration to create steaming hot romances involving the sexiest vampires, were persons (to be politically correct, even in fiction) demons and the latest craze; the fae.<br />
To celebrate Halloween, I'm posting the first chapter of Betrayal Bites, the 2nd full-length, paranormal romance in the Tales of Sydney Sedrick Series. Fanged Fury, Book 3, is set for release in 2013. Hope you enjoy and have a fun and safe holiday!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOloLqA8zaNhlP5LMhq9OK557DlMTRg3GDYpmCVKk2jigyICGBAg4Byegb_qD8fAmstQJt8KjB2GXy-TwQvy7NsPsLofB31VqN4PwJX8eYdfXjcMpfV3jv3wWCNduOqPPPvoZ8IukvPvs/s1600/BetrayalBites_850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOloLqA8zaNhlP5LMhq9OK557DlMTRg3GDYpmCVKk2jigyICGBAg4Byegb_qD8fAmstQJt8KjB2GXy-TwQvy7NsPsLofB31VqN4PwJX8eYdfXjcMpfV3jv3wWCNduOqPPPvoZ8IukvPvs/s400/BetrayalBites_850.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
Excerpt:<br />
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sighing while I dusted the stone and glass
figurines throughout the store, I had hoped the mundane tasks would help
distract me from the anticipation of the mailman. Kieran, leader of the local
vampire coven, was sending out his invitation to the Blood Rites Ball. The
purpose in having the ball was to see who would next be elected to watch over
the Selected. Since I am the Selected, there was a lot at stake, considering my
life and overall well-being hung in the balance. It was possible whoever my new
babysitter was might decide to imprison me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Not everyone believed the Selected should be
allowed to walk around of her own free will. Actually, there were a lot of
people, vampires, werewolves, demons, and rogues who felt the Selected should
be kept in a gilded cage her entire life, or to be executed. They felt the
potential threat of the Selected’s powers was too high.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Needless to say, the upcoming events of the
Blood Rites Ball had me on pins and needles. The thought of not being invited
had me feeling like a furry lump had taken up permanent residence in my gut. If
someone else was going to make decisions with such an impact on my future, I
thought it would be nice to have them do it in my presence. Kieran said the
ball was planned for tomorrow night. He hadn’t mentioned if he put me on the
invite list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While debating which would be better, to go
or not to go, the door chimes jingled, signaling the arrival of either a
customer or Dale, the mailman. I turned around with a smile on my face to see
who it was. The moment reality struck at what my eyes saw, the smile dropped
off my face and pain set into my chest like an icy hand had wrapped itself
around my heart and had given it a good squeeze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blake, the sexiest man to ever have walked
the earth, stood in front of me holding his right arm with his left hand. His
chest heaved as he struggled for air. Blake was a werewolf who had extra speedy
healing abilities, so whoever or whatever hurt him had to be very strong and
very dangerous. The dark red blood staining the front of his shirt and caking
the right side of his neck made me nauseous and light-headed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Blake!” Running past him to the front door,
I threw the deadbolt lock into place. It would be very hard to try and explain
it if one of my customers walked in and spotted Blake with blood smeared all
over him. I raced back to inspect his wounds. He must have lost a lot of blood.
My Selected senses hadn’t alerted me to his presence before he walked through
the door as it should have. Usually, they kicked in when a vampire or a
werewolf entered a five hundred foot radius around me. That included outside
the walls of buildings, and my senses seemed to be growing stronger every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even though Blake bore such serious wounds, I
couldn’t help but appreciate his wild dark-brown hair that hung just past his
shoulders. Typically Blake didn’t look so disheveled like he did at that
moment. Looking toward him from the door, his amber-gold eyes bore into mine.
He was in a lot of pain. I could tell by the way he winced as he moved. Sighing
in dismay, I watched his backside as he stumbled over to the couch on the far
side of the store next to the fireplace. He dropped down, groaning in pain as
he landed on the cushion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It didn’t bother me that his boots had
dragged in remnants of the slushy snow covering the streets outside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blake had a fine backside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My center throbbed to by caressed by him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Where did that come from?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Sydney, I was attacked by a demon, and not
just any demon. She was a Judge.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Judge? What’s a Judge?” Could my life get
any more bizarre? Not long ago, I discovered that vampires and werewolves
existed. Oh, and I found out I was the Selected, which meant everyone wanted me
to be on their side because according to some old prophecies, I was destined to
be some kind of savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blake groaned in pain, bringing me back to
the present. My life was a little overwhelming at times. Blake resituated himself
on the couch in such a way to avoid putting pressure on his injured arm and
shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Please explain to me what you meant by
‘Judge’. I’ve never heard you use that term before.” A chill ran down my back
as I gently put my fingertips on the pulse point near his wrist. His heart rate
was beating a bit fast, but not too fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Judges are demons assigned to the king of
the vampires. They do his bidding, uphold vampire law, and execute punishment
to misbehaving bloodsuckers when Kieran and his Knights can’t. Someone owed the
vampire king big, so they negotiated the Judges’ contract to be servants of the
king.” Blake closed his eyes and took a guarded deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My mouth dropped open. There were royal
vampires? No one ever mentioned that fun fact before, not even Aunt Judith. In
all the discussions we’ve had, neither Blake nor Kieran had mentioned them
either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A knocking came from the front door,
startling me. If the Judges came after Blake at the store, there was little I
could do to protect him. I highly doubted if they followed Blake that they’d
bother with the consideration to knock. After seeing Blake injured and hearing
about demon assassins, I was on edge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A shadowed figure passed the window.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dale’s face peered through the glass. He
looked around to see if anyone was in the store.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I cracked the door open to keep Dale from
seeing Blake, drenched in blood, on the couch. Dale’s knit hat was dusted in
fluffy white snowflakes and his cheeks were bright red from the chill in the
air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Dale, now’s not really a good time, the
stock delivery guy just dumped a huge order off, and I have to deal with that
before opening the store. You can just give me my mail from here, okay?” I
squeezed two fingers through the door and waited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Miss Sydney, is everything all right?” He
repositioned his big mail carrier’s bag to sit more on his side to allow him to
get closer to the door and a better peek inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I put a friendly smile on my face to reassure
him that everything was on the up and up, but from his expression, he wasn’t
buying it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Everything’s just fine. I’m busy, that’s
all.” I didn’t want to be rude, but I really needed to go hold pressure on
Blake’s wounds. He hadn’t stopped bleeding yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Miss Sydney, I think it would be best if you
let me in to take a look around and make sure for myself that you’re all
right.” Dale wasn’t budging. What was with this town? The people that lived
here in Kenosha all seemed to have taken the same medication that made them
super bossy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A little more sternly, I said, “Everything’s
fine, Dale. Really, I’m just busy. That’s all, now give me my mail, and you can
be on your way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dale was a really nice guy, and it was clear
he was just worried. He didn’t deserve the harshness in my tone of voice, but
Blake really needed me. Hopefully, Dale would get over my rudeness, but it
wasn’t like I’d ever be able to explain to him the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dale’s eyes narrowed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Miss Sydney, if you got one of them
abnormals in there, maybe I can help. The abnormal’s blood stinks all the way
out here. You see, not many people know this about me, but I’m a healer, Miss
Sydney.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What do you mean by abnormal?” Did Dale
really know? I was coming to believe that maybe I was the only one in the city,
before I was bitten, that didn’t know vampires and werewolves existed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I know all about them dang vampires and
werewolves. They’re everywhere around these parts, and well, my granddaddy
taught me a few tricks. Sydney, I know you’re different, special. Well, my
family has a special streak in its blood, too.” Dale leaned his head closer to
the door and whispered, “You see, we got some fairy blood running in us, and we
can heal people with our hands. Plus, I got some supplies in my bag might be of
some help.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">His sincerity made me smile. Dale looked at
me with such genuine concern. Before making a decision on whether to let him
into the store or not, Blake called out in pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Decision made.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Fine, but you have to promise you won’t tell
anyone about what you see. You said that I’m special. You’re right, and I have
a temper to match. So don’t betray me, Dale. If you do, you’ll have a lot of
abnormals pissed and looking for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dale came into the store. The snowflakes
melted into his clothes the moment the fabric hit the warm air. He went
straight for Blake. Very carefully, he removed Blake’s shirt to see where all
the blood was coming from. After cleaning Blake’s chest and face with a cool
washcloth from the storeroom in back, Dale made a quick diagnosis and set to
work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Blake, these gashes look like you’ve been
attacked by a fire demon.” Awe and disbelief was written across Dale’s face as
he said it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blake looked from me to Dale. Suspicion
darkened his gaze as he assessed the mailman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You’re right. It was a fire demon, and she
wasn’t happy to see me. How do you know about fire demons?” Blake attempted to
sit up straighter on the couch, but Dale patted his knee in reassurance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Wait, what? The fire demon that did this to
you is a female?” It was pretty hard to believe a female of any sort could beat
Blake in a fight. He was one of the strongest and fastest werewolves in his
pack. His strength came straight from the pack leader himself, Blake’s father.
Whoever this fire demon was, she must be pretty nasty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dale fidgeted where he knelt on the floor in
front of Blake. The talk of demons and werewolves seemed to make him
uncomfortable. Placing my hand gently on his shoulder only made him squeak in
surprise. The mailman was wound more tightly than me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blake must have seen Dale’s uneasiness
through his fidgety movements. “Ah, yes. I have heard of your family. You don’t
have to involve yourself in our business. We know who you are. My pack
appreciates what your people do. We’d be fine if you wanted to stay out of the
war. We don’t mind that you keep tabs on us. I’m sure your knowledge will come
in handy one day when we need it most.” With the recognition of Dale, and what
he stood for, Blake sat back against the couch. His body seemed to relax a
smidgen. Apparently, he didn’t see Dale’s knowledge of his pack quite as
threatening as I would have thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There was a clear understanding between the
two men. To my dismay, neither one of them bothered to explain it to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Okay, enough secretive, behind-the-scenes
action going on. I must say I’m getting pretty tired of it. Dale, help Blake
with his injuries. Blake, start explaining what is going on, right now.” Blake
stared at me. I could tell he was hesitating because he didn’t know how much
information he should divulge to either of us. If he knew what was good for
him, it would be all of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dale nodded and dug around in his
mail-carrier bag. When he found what he was looking for, he brought out a
leather pouch and a small clear vial filled with a blue liquid. He busied
himself adding yellow powder to the liquid making a paste that smelled like
fresh lemons. He then applied the green-colored concoction to Blake’s chest
wound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The manipulation of tissue made my stomach
churn. The pressure Dale was applying to the wound with the applicator caused
more blood to leak through the tissue and drip down Blake’s toned abs, soaking
the waistband of his jeans. Ordinarily, such things didn’t make me swoon.
Seeing someone important to me injured and in pain was a whole other ballgame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blake’s face tightened and he clenched his
jaw as Dale packed the paste into the deep gash created by the fire demon’s
attack. Dale used his fingertip to push the paste into the jagged parts of
Blake’s flesh until the wound was completely covered with the green substance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Sydney, a few members of my pack and some of
Kieran’s Knights have been doing recon on the compound where you were taken by
the lightning demons a few months ago. There has been abnormally high activity
buzzing around the place, so we’ve been watching who’s been coming and going.
It seems the rogue vampires and werewolves are amassing a small army.
Unfortunately, it looks like they have recruited more demons than we originally
thought.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“So, that’s why the fire demon attacked you?
Because she found you watching the compound? That doesn’t make any sense if
she’s really a Judge, like you said.” I thought Judges were supposed to punish
naughty vampires and not attack innocent werewolves. I didn’t understand what
had started the fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He shook his head and continued to explain
while Dale made a makeshift sling out of clean towels from the storeroom to
secure Blake’s arm. Luckily no customers had arrived on my storefront’s door
wanting to do some shopping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The fire demon wasn’t one of the demons from
the compound. I actually interrupted her recon mission. When she spotted me,
she mistook me for the enemy, attacked first, and asked questions later.” It
was obvious from Blake’s tone that he was impressed with the fire demon. To my
surprise, his admiration of the female who attacked him sparked some serious
jealous feelings on my end, and I could feel the tips of my ears burn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“So, she attacked you for no good reason? Who
is her boss?” It wasn’t like a fire demon’s boss would really take a complaint
from a human very serious, but her hurting Blake pissed me off. Maybe the awe I
saw in Blake’s eyes when he spoke of her ticked me off, too. I was the Selected
with powers of my own. Problem was, my powers were taking their own sweet time
developing and getting stronger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Sydney,” Blake said as he sat up on the
couch. He moved his shoulder a bit and nodded thanks to Dale for his efforts.
“The fire demon isn’t just an ordinary demon. She’s a Judge.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“But that doesn’t make any sense, why is a
Judge even here? Aren’t they supposed to be watching over the king and his
family?” The pieces of the story weren’t falling into place in my very confused
mind. Blake didn’t seem all too surprised to run into the demon, only
impressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blake nodded as he spoke to both Dale and me.
“I’m not sure what the Judges are doing in town. She mentioned that it had
something to do with the Blood Rites Ball Kieran is hosting tomorrow night. The
vampire royals are planning on attending. That’s the only explanation I can
think of for having the Judges in town. Usually, they are very close to the
king at all times. It’s not the first time we’ve run into one, but they’re
pretty rare, and there’s always a royal around that they are protecting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dale stood to repack the supplies into his
overly large bag. His secret history surprised me. One day I would make him sit
down and tell me all about how his family is involved with the war between the
vampires and werewolves. Did Dale and his family have a side they were on? I
never would have thought he had special healing powers. He’d never bothered to
mention that before, even though he came into the store six days a week and
personally hand delivered me the mail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Before leaving, Blake said that he heard the
rogues talk about Ley Lines and power points. The compound was situated over a
demonic power point, an energy vortex that allowed the rogues to call forth
demons from the Underworld. Once the demons were called forth, they were
obligated to complete a task before being set free upon our world. The Judge
was tracing the Ley Lines to the compound that originated from the underground
royal palace located a few miles outside of the Kenosha city limits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Blake, so the rogues are calling forth these
demons, making the demons beholden to them, but what for? What sort of task do
they plan on making the demons perform before they are set free?” My mind was
running wild with the possibilities. The rogues seemed to be focused on
creating mayhem and destruction among all the vampires and werewolves. They
also wanted to live without the rules the Elders and the leaders of the
werewolf packs instilled upon them. They wanted to be their own bosses, but
right now, they weren’t strong enough to carry out their goals without help
from beings stronger than them, such as demons from the Underworld.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My guess was that’s what they wanted to use
the demons they were calling forth for; they wanted to rid themselves of any
governing body that hindered their lawless lifestyles. Could the rogues demand
the demons, as their price for free passage into our world, to kill all the
coven and pack leaders? I hoped not. Having out of control vampires and
werewolves running amok would be madness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We’re really not sure yet, but it’s looking
like they have something planned for the Blood Rites Ball. The Judge I ran into
also believes that. Sydney, you should really reconsider and not go.” Blake
used every opportunity to try talking me out of dealing with the vampires. He
knew my obligations to them were just as important to me as my obligations were
to the werewolf pack, but he didn’t like it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dale decided at that moment to hand me my
mail. On the top of the stack sat a crimson-colored envelope. After opening it
and pulling out a piece of paper made from thick card stock, I studied the
blood-red ink glistening off the bright white paper. Blake leaned over my
shoulder to see what had made me stop short. A grumble came from his throat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Sydney, I’m telling you that you should not
go to that ball. The rogues are clearly brewing up something, and we don’t know
what it is. It would be safer for you if you were far away from that ball.
Having the Elders, members from the royal family, leaders from other covens,
and the Judges all in one place? That’s going to be a very target-rich
environment. If the rogues are going to make their move, the ball would be the
perfect place and time to do it.” Blake’s forehead crinkled in frustration. I
knew that look. He was going to say anything he could think of to try and talk
me out of going.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“How are they even going to know where it is?
Kieran put right on the invitation the location of the ball will be disclosed
one hour before it is to start. The rogues will have a pretty hard time putting
their plans in action if they don’t even know where the ball is going to be.” I
put my hands up when Blake began to interrupt me. “Don’t worry. There will be
plenty of people there to make sure nothing happens to me.” Blake didn’t need
it pushed in his face that Kieran, the leader of the local vampire coven, made
it his personal responsibility for my protection and safekeeping, so I kept
that fun fact to myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blake roughly readjusted the sling Dale made
for his injured arm. “You hanging out with the bloodsuckers is bad enough.
Having to sit around while you’re surrounded by the worst of them is going to
drive me nuts. I’ll have Morris contact Kieran and figure something out. I’ll
have him see if there is anything my pack can do to help with the security
detail of the ball. Helping them keep you safe would be better than sitting on
my hands doing nothing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The concern in his gorgeous, bronzed-gold
eyes made my heart melt. Even though he insisted we were meant to be together,
no matter how much I wanted to run into his arms and accept his mark, it
wouldn’t be a good idea. Having a werewolf for a boyfriend would surely piss
the vampires off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Being the Selected meant having to stay
neutral and not divulge secrets of one side to the other. In the recent past,
the vampires and werewolves were able to work together to rescue me from the
lightning demons, but that was pretty much the extent of their working
relationship. Otherwise, they tended toward hating each other, both wanting to
rule Kenosha for their own selfish needs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With my being the Selected, I was the only
one able to fulfill both of their prophecies that would enable them to dominate
the other. If I gave my blood freely to the vampires, it would allow them to
walk in the sunlight. If I mated with the heir to the werewolf pack, and a
child was conceived, then that child would have complete control of their change,
no longer being prisoner to the moon phases. That child, my child, would then
be able to infect all werewolves through their saliva. Once that happened, all
werewolves would be able to change on a whim. That would give them the
strength, speed, and healing capabilities to wipe out the vampires.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As the Selected, it was my decision who I was
going to help. I’ve decided to help both the vampires and the werewolves, by
not fulfilling either of their prophecies. Neither species deserved to lord
over the other. The decimation of the covens or the packs wasn’t an option in
my book, so neither one would get any assistance from me on the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I had to go to the Blood Rites Ball no matter
how bad Blake wanted to keep me away from it. Since I received the invitation,
my presence became required and expected. My worrying about being invited, or
not, was over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The last time Kieran had thrown a small
gathering for the vampires, Aaron, Kieran’s second hand, had explained that if
I didn’t show up, Kieran would personally come and find me. I didn’t
particularly care for Aaron. He was an uptight, overbearing, jerk of a vampire,
who thought he could boss me around, and he did it while wearing a fancy suit.
Aaron had made it quite clear when he’d come to the store prior to the last
gathering that Kieran’s invitations were to be seen as a summons, not a
request. I had no choice but to attend the ball, not unless I wanted to be
hunted by a very old vampire that I’d personally offended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">No, thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’d go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Well, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Betrayal Bites :) I have enjoyed creating the complex supernatural world Sydney has been thrust into all while being pursued by the sexiest werewolf in town. </span></div>
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Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-38847236426962975212012-10-01T00:30:00.000-07:002012-10-01T00:30:00.825-07:00Winter's Magic by Cynthia Gail - new release contest!<br />
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Thank you for inviting me to join you and your fans today.
I’m so excited to finally reveal the cover to my debut novel, <i>Winter’s Magic</i>. It’s the first in a
four-book series called <i>Music City Hearts</i>.</div>
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It’s kind of ironic that I decided to keep the cover under
wraps until my contest launch, because I’m rarely able to keep secrets. When I
was in grade school, I was the daughter who snooped around in closets before
Christmas, trying to find out what my presents were, before Mom had time to get
them wrapped. Maybe that’s why I love to read romance so much. I can enjoy the
story – all the ups and downs, the tears and laughter, breakups and black
moments – without anxiety, because I know the end is always happily-ever-after.<br />
So, the wait is finally over. Today is October 1<sup>st</sup> and
I’m kicking off a month-long contest with the unveiling of <i>Winter’s Magic</i>:</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bEwNuOpfQwAJ0Qbl4KS4rdf-QRP9BQhGtC6MGEFpD9n2MApoDXF4rTG7-ceA9CXaD_WbsFAhclBh_t8DguI4pfH54s071WphwPCTPfWFmBaaWWCb6BmdUw9eDED0JnEr9d8zdR4Bk64/s1600/WintersMagic2_850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bEwNuOpfQwAJ0Qbl4KS4rdf-QRP9BQhGtC6MGEFpD9n2MApoDXF4rTG7-ceA9CXaD_WbsFAhclBh_t8DguI4pfH54s071WphwPCTPfWFmBaaWWCb6BmdUw9eDED0JnEr9d8zdR4Bk64/s320/WintersMagic2_850.jpg" width="199" /></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bEwNuOpfQwAJ0Qbl4KS4rdf-QRP9BQhGtC6MGEFpD9n2MApoDXF4rTG7-ceA9CXaD_WbsFAhclBh_t8DguI4pfH54s071WphwPCTPfWFmBaaWWCb6BmdUw9eDED0JnEr9d8zdR4Bk64/s1600/WintersMagic2_850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Back Cover Blurb:</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bEwNuOpfQwAJ0Qbl4KS4rdf-QRP9BQhGtC6MGEFpD9n2MApoDXF4rTG7-ceA9CXaD_WbsFAhclBh_t8DguI4pfH54s071WphwPCTPfWFmBaaWWCb6BmdUw9eDED0JnEr9d8zdR4Bk64/s1600/WintersMagic2_850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Owner of La Bella Vita, a
five-star day spa nestled in the affluent suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee, Beth
Sergeant knows her elite clientele first hand. She attended their private
schools. She was even engaged, although briefly, to one of their most
recognized bachelors. But she never fit in to their social-elite world.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bEwNuOpfQwAJ0Qbl4KS4rdf-QRP9BQhGtC6MGEFpD9n2MApoDXF4rTG7-ceA9CXaD_WbsFAhclBh_t8DguI4pfH54s071WphwPCTPfWFmBaaWWCb6BmdUw9eDED0JnEr9d8zdR4Bk64/s1600/WintersMagic2_850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;">After losing his parents
to a car accident at a young age, Nick Chester was raised by his grandfather,
the wealthiest man in Nashville. When he chooses to socialize, he has a
never-ending list of exclusive events and beautiful women vying for his
attention. Yet he never lets himself forget that everyone has an agenda.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Beth can’t resist Nick’s
charm and accepts an invitation to dinner, despite her deep-seated
insecurities. She proves she’s nothing like other women Nick's dated and learns
to trust him in return. But just as the last of their resistance crumbles and
true love is within reach, challenges from Nick's past threaten to destroy
everything and force Beth to reveal her most guarded secret.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Did you catch that? There’s a secret!<o:p></o:p></div>
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But I’m not going to tell you what it is. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I can’t. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I won’t.<o:p></o:p></div>
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No matter how hard it is to keep it inside, I have to make you
wait until October 24<sup>th</sup>, when <i>Winter’s
Magic</i> goes on-sale, so you can read the book, meet Beth and Nick, and
experience their story first-hand. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In the mean time, I’m hosting a fantastic contest. All you have to
do is follow <a href="http://cynthiagail.com/">my blog</a> or like
my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/CynthiaGailRomance">Facebook</a> page (you
receive an entry for each) and you’re automatically entered in the drawing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The prizes? I CAN tell you what those are: 5 copies of my ebook, a
$25 Visa GC, and a $50 Visa GC. Oh, and of course lots of swag. <span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(If your name is drawn and you’ve already
purchased my ebook, I’ll give you one copy of any ebook from the Soul Mate
Publishing website.)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
But that’s not all. Join me at my launch party, November 2<sup>nd</sup>
from 3pm – 6pm EST, on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/CynthiaGailRomance">Facebook</a>. We’ve got lots of games lined up – each with more
great prizes. And at the end of the launch party, we’ll announce the winners of
the October drawing.</div>
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So, tell me - Do you peek or wait?<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=767534450124297667" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=767534450124297667" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
Okay, the temptation is huge, so I can't say if I do or not :)<br />
<br />
Congrats on your upcoming release and I can't wait to read all the novels in this series!</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Feel free to visit Cynthia's website, if you leave a post, let her know who recommended you :)<br />
<br />
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<div id="yui_3_2_0_7_1348968238296599">
<i id="yui_3_2_0_7_1348968238296598">Winter's
Magic</i> coming October 24th from Soul Mate Publishing</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_7_1348968238296602">
<i id="yui_3_2_0_7_1348968238296601">Spring
Surprise</i> coming 2013 from Soul Mate Publishing</div>
<div id="yui_3_2_0_7_1348968238296605">
<a href="http://cynthiagail.com/" id="yui_3_2_0_7_1348968238296604" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CynthiaGail.com</a></div>
</div>
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Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-35337791663073815672012-09-29T01:00:00.000-07:002012-09-29T01:00:06.009-07:00Adrienne Clarke is Celebrating Her New Release - To Dance in Liradon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHlCwJ9Id1vfuy8MJPAT09dVCptNWT-68XYP3FKuZtIY7hr7IB6rh9DPw0a2McWKGG3y9DBt-V4pyY3SbpLXMl4eQ1gV0aKGA8lQr5DD3-G8xW0HorAfZ2digtBY6NFNfCpjauV3IjV4/s1600/AC+-+cover+art.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHlCwJ9Id1vfuy8MJPAT09dVCptNWT-68XYP3FKuZtIY7hr7IB6rh9DPw0a2McWKGG3y9DBt-V4pyY3SbpLXMl4eQ1gV0aKGA8lQr5DD3-G8xW0HorAfZ2digtBY6NFNfCpjauV3IjV4/s400/AC+-+cover+art.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
Please welcome one of my Soul Mate Sisters, Adrienne Clarke, as we celebrate the release of her new novel! Thanks so much for visiting today, Adrienne, and I have to say that I absolutely love your cover! I'm a huge Fae fan, can't get enough of it, so I can't wait to read your new release :)<br />
Please join in with Adrienne and find out what inspired her to become a writer!<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Courier New";">Writing
and the Unlived Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Courier New";">People
often ask me what attracted me to writing. My usual answer is that I loved
reading so much writing became a natural extension of that passion. Equally
powerful, however, was the feeling that writing allowed me to see and do things
I couldn’t experience in my real life. When I was little I used to spend hours
in my mother’s walk in closet hoping to find the way into Narnia. I stopped
doing this when I discovered writing was a more heady and satisfying way to
transport myself to all the magical places I longed to visit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Courier New";">I’d been
dreaming about the setting for my novel <i>To</i>
<i>Dance in Liradon</i> long before I sat
down to write it. Although I’d never been to Ireland, I’d devoured so many
Irish fairy tales, ballads, and mythical retellings that the Ireland of my
imagination had become as real to me as my own small Canadian town. Of course, the
real Ireland is very different from my fantasy world of Liradon, but I was greatly
inspired by Irish tales of the Sidhe or ‘Fair Folk,’ as I refer to them in my
novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Courier New";">Brigid,
the heroine of <i>To Dance in Liradon</i>,
is a perfect example of my living vicariously through my characters. Although I
always dreamed of becoming a writer I had another passion as well, ballet. I
loved everything about it, the music, the costumes, the artistry, and most of
all the mysterious, often tragic, and fairy tale like stories. I wasn’t good
enough to become a professional dancer, but the dream remained, and when I
began thinking about Brigid I knew she would be a dancer; someone whose body
tingled “with the familiar urge to dance until she felt her very soul
underneath her feet.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Courier New";">Brigid’s
love of dance fitted beautifully with Irish faerie mythology where dance and
music are considered the special gifts of the Fair Folk. One of the scenes from
the novel has Brigid competing for “the cake.” The dancers take their place in
the ring and dance around and around in a circle showing off their fancy
footwork until they can’t take another step. The last dancer standing wins a
beautiful cake festooned with ribbons and meadow flowers, and more importantly,
the distinction of being the best dancer in the village. I discovered this
early form of competitive dancing in my research of Irish culture, and I knew I
wanted to include it in the novel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Courier New";">If I have
a wish for <i>To Dance in Liradon</i> it’s
that readers have the feeling of being transported to another time and place.
That like Brigid, they enter the world of Faerie, and in spite of all their
human ties, a part of them never wants to leave. I think that’s what the best
stories do, take you somewhere you long to go, even if you didn’t realize that
place was for you until you started reading about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Courier New";">Despite
my best efforts, sitting in wardrobes, hiding behind oak trees, and leaving gifts
of milk and soda bread<b> </b>(faeries have
a fondness for soda bread), I’ve yet to meet a real fairy. I haven’t given up
hope though. My daughter, Callista, is convinced they’re biding their time
waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves. “Faerie’s are quite haughty
mommy,” she told me recently, they don’t come out for just anyone. I suspect
she’s right. In the meantime, I shall continue to read and write about faeries,
and hope that one day when I least expect it, one of the fair folk will make their
appearance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Courier New";">Here's where you can find out more information about Adrienne and her upcoming events: </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><a href="http://www.adrienneclarkewriter.com/">http://www.adrienneclarkewriter.com</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">And here is where her novel, To Dance in Liradon, can be purchased: </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><a href="http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/" target="_blank">http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/</a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><a href="http://www.barnesandnobles.com/" target="_blank">http://www.barnesandnobles.com/</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Thanks again, Adrienne, and I wish you nothing but success in all your writing adventures!</span></span></div>
Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-91850103414094440882012-08-29T16:24:00.001-07:002012-08-29T16:25:54.038-07:00Bizarre Life of Sydney Sedrick - Now in Print!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuT66KqmpD77u96xgjxgxYaB8Dcs4u6-FwiL44mIxRQZrfzA5Gma0yftg9arxHHClTXjv41tKWFaSlOBljm4eduyJTncUmNSUVDRKkzL13TiTZ1sqXRoS1uEvL2eppWLBF7aiAxPk-HI/s1600/bizzarelifeof_72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuT66KqmpD77u96xgjxgxYaB8Dcs4u6-FwiL44mIxRQZrfzA5Gma0yftg9arxHHClTXjv41tKWFaSlOBljm4eduyJTncUmNSUVDRKkzL13TiTZ1sqXRoS1uEvL2eppWLBF7aiAxPk-HI/s320/bizzarelifeof_72dpi.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Bizarre Life of Sydney Sedrick, Book 1 in the Tales of Sydney Sedrick, is now officially available in Print through:<br />
www.barnesandnoble.com<br />
www.amazon.com<br />
www.soulmatepublishing.com<br />
<br />
Here's the back cover blurb:<br />
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After a rogue werewolf attack triggers her latent powers as the Selected,
Sydney Sedrick is reluctantly dragged into a war of vampires and werewolves,
both battling for total species domination. Each try to use her as their pawn
and are willing to use any force necessary to gain control of her special gifts.
For her protection, Sydney is armed with only her grandmother's journal and
Blake, the sexy werewolf who insists they are meant to be together. In order to
succeed, Sydney must embrace her destiny and join the battle to protect both
sides from genocide. Caught between two very different worlds, belonging to
neither, Sydney is forced to risk it all, or lose everything and everyone she
holds dear.</div>
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Betrayal Bites - Book 2 in the Tales of Sydney Sedrick is now available on ebook</div>
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Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-23365272195997252072012-07-10T02:00:00.000-07:002012-07-10T02:00:06.864-07:00The Delphi Bloodline by Donna Del Oro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmy4rSEVa2knEXgX_uPayQYdCSRbQhyiEwPaUOTLmK7tH0dhvPQskUH3gVGcurkTQweubwJdnuQ9ZkVvLNKLS3Bw3YSE1kzhmANT5lIedunK7angq3r1NyVcV3m-wxHKHy6FmeZFTbsZw/s1600/Bloodline+blog+tour+buttone+1st.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmy4rSEVa2knEXgX_uPayQYdCSRbQhyiEwPaUOTLmK7tH0dhvPQskUH3gVGcurkTQweubwJdnuQ9ZkVvLNKLS3Bw3YSE1kzhmANT5lIedunK7angq3r1NyVcV3m-wxHKHy6FmeZFTbsZw/s320/Bloodline+blog+tour+buttone+1st.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'd Like to welcome Donna Del Oro to my blog today!</div>
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Donna, what inspired you to write The Delphi Bloodline? </div>
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Behind THE DELPHI BLOODLINE: My Personal Research into ESP
Phenomena</div>
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By
Donna Del Oro</div>
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It started
with my cousin. She was a full-time, practicing psychic. People came from all
over California for her “readings”, at which she claimed an approximately 85%
accuracy. One day, while in my 40’s, I decided to get a reading from her. Extremely skeptical—although I’d known her
all my life and knew she wasn’t a con artist—I arrived, fully expecting a lot
of lucky guesses on her part. An hour
later, I left dazed and confused. How did she know that my husband and I were
deliberating over which of two investment opportunities to take. We hadn’t
mentioned this to anyone, not even anyone in my family or my husband’s. The one my cousin advised against—and which
we didn’t take, fortunately—ended up in bankruptcy a year later. There were
other revelations that day that proved true in the months to come.</div>
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And so, I
became intrigued by this strange phenomena known as ESP, or sometimes psi.
Whatever you called it, it was known as “extrasensory perception”. My cousin
claimed to be a “clairvoyant”, or able to “see” what most humans cannot see.
Her insights into people, their health, and other personal facts were amazing
to me. People in my family both welcomed and dreaded her phone calls. It was
often: “You’ve got diabetes,” “You have a cancerous tumor in your bladder. See
a doctor immediately”, “Your appendix is infected. Get yourself to a hospital
now!” One close friend of the family received one of her calls. She told her
that her brother was dying of cancer and that this friend should call him as
soon as possible. The friend insisted that her thirty-five year-old brother was
perfectly healthy and they’d just spoken days before. However, my cousin
persisted and prevailed, even over objections of the friend’s brother. Two
weeks later, the friend’s brother called back. He’d seen a doctor, had gotten a
series of tests, and his prognosis was grim. He died a year later after a
valiant battle against cancer.</div>
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When I
probed my cousin, she explained the genesis of her visions and revelations. As
a child of eight, she began having dreams. Some occurred at night while she
slept, while others happened as daytime visions. A recurring vision puzzled her but one day it
suddenly made sense. Her parents—my aunt and uncle—had announced that they were
moving to Hollister, California and had just bought a house with property
attached. My cousin “knew” what it looked like and proceeded to describe it to her
parents, who hadn’t shown pictures of it to anyone. What she described, from
the house to the trees, driveway and outbuildings, matched the place her
parents had just put a down payment on.</div>
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After that,
the family believed my cousin to have a gift from God. That experience prompted
me to open my mind and begin a thirty-year exploration into ESP. What I’ve
learned has convinced me that clairvoyance does exist, and that perhaps to some
extent, precognition. Many people have incredible, intuitive abilities and many
share this gift with others, at no intent of monetary gain but simply a desire
to help others. A poll cited in the Journal of Parapsychology showed that at
least sixty percent of Americans believe that they have had at least one
psychic experience in their lives.</div>
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The
difference between a true psychic and a charlatan, or someone who uses trickery
and seeks profit or notoriety? Only one
does it for monetary gain. True psychics, as do the psychic women in THE DELPHI
BLOODLINE, share their gifts quietly and gratuitously.</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> Like
my cousin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEUbH7lRhupS6l9J-8bfNTr3BtXD2gAI3UtDRS5pinGP3I4BkQ4RJLrpnLUcb-NDOHCjzMBvM6EGWMyAasL3A4Xc04Czh4FLbfW9jyMY6NVFeS8k-WD0g49JXO94UJXwInP_FrGX8jLI/s1600/bloodline+author+pic+last" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEUbH7lRhupS6l9J-8bfNTr3BtXD2gAI3UtDRS5pinGP3I4BkQ4RJLrpnLUcb-NDOHCjzMBvM6EGWMyAasL3A4Xc04Czh4FLbfW9jyMY6NVFeS8k-WD0g49JXO94UJXwInP_FrGX8jLI/s1600/bloodline+author+pic+last" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Okay, I'd definitely listen to your cousin!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Now, can you tell us a little about your novel, The Delphi Bloodline? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ84x4gb6GyrGb7G_EsFlELTuLgT4lRbJVx0TVkoVI6N_L2TIE_W5UtSHFGps_HyXCx1WyR1Le7c7uUUAJM0YYfxxiaS-KpxUU3uUpMIIrHnJthtHb2DJYPlr9xNWxOPZ_cysvf7dZ7l4/s1600/blood+line+book+cover+2nd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ84x4gb6GyrGb7G_EsFlELTuLgT4lRbJVx0TVkoVI6N_L2TIE_W5UtSHFGps_HyXCx1WyR1Le7c7uUUAJM0YYfxxiaS-KpxUU3uUpMIIrHnJthtHb2DJYPlr9xNWxOPZ_cysvf7dZ7l4/s1600/blood+line+book+cover+2nd.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Present day descendants of the
ancient, psychically powerful Delphi bloodline face the threat of extinction
when an evil tycoon hunts them for his own nefarious intent, a global spy
network.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">When artist Athena Butler, the modern-day
descendant of a powerful, ancient bloodline of psychic women, realizes she’s
the target of mysterious and dangerous kidnappers, she gets help from strange
sources—the spirit of an ancient ancestor and a handsome man who claims to be
one of her bloodline’s Guardians. Her mental powers and his brawny skills keep
them one step ahead of the mastermind behind these kidnappers. Until the time
when an FBI task force decides to use Athena as bait.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Sounds like a great read, Donna!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Now, let's get a sneak peak into your novel :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Maybe you’re too focused on that
homicide case,” Athena stressed. Her mother had no idea the danger she was
putting herself in. First-hand experience had taught Athena that working with
the cops was a dangerous business. Let them do their work and solve their own
cases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m done with all that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her mind darted back to the vision
in her dream. She took a deep breath and steadied her voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I saw you in your car, Mama. You
stopped to get out. A black car pulled in front of you and another one—a long
white one—blocked you in back. There was a woman driving the car in front and
she was with men who had guns. Someone grabbed you and carried you to the
white car. I could smell salt water and then they took you away. Some place far
away. And then I was in the mountains, the Sierras, searching for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Athena bent over, clutching the cell
phone, her lifeline to the one person she loved most in the world. Her
stomach cramped into a hard ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was silence. “Mama, go home,”
she repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Okay, Thena, I’m turning back
toward the freeway. The harbor shops are on my left. Remember that eight-sided
tower, the one with a great view of the harbor and breakwater. The octogon
tower. You remember going there on your last visit here, don’t you?”<br />
More silence followed then as an image sprang to Athena’s mind. Yes, they’d had
lunch there…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her mother gasped loudly. A
screech of brakes, metal crunching, glass breaking. Her mother cursing a blue
streak in her native Italian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What happened, Mama? Are you all
right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yes, dear. Just a stupid fender
bender. Merda! Daniel’s going to throw a fit. My second one this year! I’m
getting so distracted with these cases—not paying attention to what I’m doing.
I swear this car pulled right in front of me, cut me off. It’s not my fault
this time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More angry muttering followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Dio, I really smashed up that rear
end! Thena, I’ll call you right back as soon as I exchange insurance
information with the driver. Be right back, Thena.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Mama, don’t get out of the—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The line went dead. With a
cry, Athena sank to her knees on the cold, tile floor. Shivers of dread rippled
through her. Her mind went numb with panic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">For God’s sake…Think! Get help!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This sounds like a great read, Donna, can't wait to get my copy! Best wishes in all your writing adventures and thanks so much for visiting on my blog today :) </span></div>Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-64887806640857038942012-07-01T17:26:00.000-07:002012-07-01T17:26:16.612-07:00Sizzling Summer Reads Party July 1 - July 31<a href="http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php">http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php</a><br />
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Okay all you romance lovers and paranormal fans who just can't get enough, you have got to check out the Sizzling Summer Reads Party over at The Romance Reviews blogsite. Over 400, yes, that's 4 times 100, authors and publishers are giving away great prizes! There are games to play and points to rack up, so go on over and get started! Personally, I love the match game with all the cool covers :) Good luck, hope you find some new authors/novels that you can fall in love with. Happy reading :)Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-57148964275424071362012-06-20T11:44:00.000-07:002012-06-20T11:44:30.792-07:00Where to Draw the Line: Romance vs. Erotica<br />
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In honor of the release of my second novel, Betrayal Bites - yes, release date is today! - I decided I wanted to delve into the discussion of when a novel is categorized romance, and when it's slapped with the label of erotica. Personally, I think I write romance, and there's always heavy paranormal elements to it. But then I got to thinking, maybe what I write could be considered erotica? I mean, if a love scene is built up to, and then the big 'penetration experience' is missed or only implied, that's considered romantic, right? I've begun to think that's no longer the case. While writing Betrayal Bites, I have to admit, my goal was to make the reader want to go and find their lover and go at it, I wanted to make the reader so hot they had to do something about it ;) Is that erotic? I don't think so. For me, and how I look at my writing compared to others, well, I think the best way to look at it is if there is penetration, fine, still romantic, but the inclusion of toys, and I'm not talking to pain inducing kind in the BDSM novels that are now rampant in the top sellers' lists, I'm talking stimulation toys, 'enhancing' items that help explode one's level of pleasure they experience during love play, now that's erotic.<br />
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Because today is a big release day for me, I wanted to also include the back cover blurb for Betrayal Bites, available at www.soulmatepublishing.com, and amazon and BN.com in the next few days!<br />
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Blurb: Sydney Sedrick, cursed with the powers of the Selected, is monitored by the vampires and werewolves who covet her abilities to rid the city of one another. Sydney receives a summons to attend the Blood Rites Ball, an Elder vampire ceremony to determine her fate. The Midwestern Werewolf Pack demands her loyalty, while Blake, the heir to the wolf pack, is adamant she is his life-mate, meant to be together, forever. To make matters worse, an insider is betraying the vampires, leaking information to the rogues, who want Sydney dead.<br />
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<br />Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-68406691319162121452012-06-07T02:00:00.000-07:002012-06-07T02:00:03.406-07:00For The Love Of A Gypsy Lass - by - Juliet ChastainGreetings, fellow romance readers and writers. I am in the middle of writing a series of short stories called Gypsy Lovers. One has been released and more to come each month. These are sexy 99-cent novellas, set in the Regency period about Gypsies and the English men and women love them.<br />
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I wanted to do some stories in which totally inappropriate, culturally, and socially mismatched men and women find love together. I've always been fascinated by the Romani people, Gypsies, who for a thousand years traveled around Europe and were very separate from, and often despised by and even persecuted by, the people among whom they lived.<br />
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A Proper Lady's Gypsy Lover is available at Breathless Press! <br />
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Amazon <br />
All Romance eBooks and at many e-book stores<br />
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For Love of a Gypsy Lass will be released soon and available as above<br />
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To learn more about upcoming stories or about me: julietchastain.com While you're there, check out my other short romances: The Captain and the Courtesan and The Cry of the Wolf. You can also find me on www.facebook.com/JulietChastain or Twitter@julietchastain<br />
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In the first book, A Proper Lady's Gypsy Lover, we have Lady Lucy-Ann who is a hellion. She does not want to be a proper lady although her relatives require it. What she wants is to roam free and swim and fish and ride astride. And most of all she wants to be with her childhood sweetheart the handsome Gypsy, Liberty Wood. Liberty is the caring kind of man who will do anything for the people he loves, but he's also a gambler, a horse trader, and an adventurer. Of course, he adores Lucy-Ann but is a totally unsuitable suitor.<br />
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In the second book, For Love of a Gypsy Lass, we have a bored-out-of-his-skull English nobleman, Lord Harry Beresford who has simply had it with his luxurious and dull existence and the noble and dull ladies he is supposed to court. He falls hard for an itinerant Gypsy singer called Talaitha Grey. He assumes she can be easily seduced by his wealth and prestige, but to his surprise she's not the least bit interested in any of that—although she is, against her will, attracted to the man behind it all.<br />
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Somehow these characters must find their way to happily ever after—and they do so in unexpected ways.<br />
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<br />And Thank you Juliet for taking time out of your very busy writing schedule! Can't wait to see what's coming next!Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-17765279673525139962012-06-01T02:00:00.000-07:002012-06-01T02:00:07.290-07:00Effective Dialogue Tags by Ann MontclairI have a problem. I like dialogue tags. Why simply “he said,” “she said,” when he can “shout,” “aver,” “repudiate” or “concur”? <br />
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My editor taught me this simple lesson. The more complicated the dialogue tag, the more the author is telling not showing. In fact, she believes no dialogue tag is the best dialogue tag. It should be clear from what is being said who is saying it and how.<br />
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‘“I don’t care about you,” he frostily declared before exiting the room.’ is better as ‘”I don’t care about you.” His shoulders rose as he inhaled sharply, turned his back, and strode out the door.’<br />
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The first way tells, and the second way shows. Big improvement, huh?<br />
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I love big, fancy, complicated words. Being a professor, they are my cache, my favorite currency. But if my reader needs a dictionary to read my book, I’ve failed. I can expound in the classroom, but in my novels, I have to be clear, concise, and evoke emotion. And since frustration is not what I’m after, the fancy dialogue tags had to go.<br />
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If you read my newest book, you’ll see I’ve learned her lesson…well, almost learned it anyway. I’m a work in progress, and I hope as time goes by, my writing and my stories get better and better.<br />
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Ann’s latest book is One Wet Summer <br />
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Maura Fields loves her uncomplicated, independent, single life, but things quickly change when a summer vacation opens the door to an unexpected world of passion and desire. Wealthy Savannah hotelier Ben Driscoll had his playboy lifestyle upended when his ex-wife died, entrusting him to care for their daughter—a child he sequesters and vows to protect from future heartache and disappointment. Can the wall Ben has built around his heart withstand the assault from the intriguing, beguiling Maura, or will it crumble, leaving him vulnerable to the undeniable attraction and unbridled need to make her his own?<br />
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One Wet Summer is available at--<br />
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Musa Publishing<br />
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<a href="http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=285">http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=285</a><br />
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Amazon<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Wet-Summer-ebook/dp/B008600R6S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337956948&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.com/One-Wet-Summer-ebook/dp/B008600R6S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337956948&sr=1-1</a><br />
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All Romance ebooks<br />
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<a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html">http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html</a><br />
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Please visit her at <a href="http://www.annmontclair.com/">http://www.annmontclair.com/</a><br />
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Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AnnMontclairFanPage">http://www.facebook.com/AnnMontclairFanPage</a><br />
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Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/AnnMontclair">https://twitter.com/#!/AnnMontclair</a><br />
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Ann, thanks again for taking time out to visit my blog today, I absolutely love your discussion on dialogue tages! Great tips from a great author :) Can wait to read One Wet Summer!Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-58053240936246777182012-05-22T17:13:00.000-07:002012-05-22T17:13:00.875-07:00Knee Deep - Jolene B Perry - New Release Blog Tour<br />
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Thanks for stopping on my blog today, I know how busy it can be with a new release, can you tell me a little about Knee Deep?<br />
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Knee Deep Summary<br />
Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.<br />
Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.<br />
Sawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both. <br />
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Here's a post from Jolene about her writing experience:<br />
Sometimes a story is more personal than you expect it to be.<br />
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I read an article in an online newspaper that talked about the YA books coming out that year which dealt with abusive relationships.<br />
I'd part mapped one out a while back, and thought maybe I'd work on it - all evidence that the market had just gotten an influx of them didn't sway me the way it should have…<br />
The more I wrote in the story, the more personal it became.<br />
I was not ever hit by my boyfriend in high school. He never screamed and yelled at me - though I heard him trashing his room a few times when I left after an argument, and he didn't hesitate to show me when he was pissed about something.<br />
He'd pick fights with me over the phone and hang up, knowing it meant I'd sneak out to "straighten things out."<br />
There was one really horrible night with him that I'd blocked from my mind for a long time, that I remembered when I was writing, so I used it.<br />
I see these cases my husband talks about with women who are beaten and bruised and making up excuses and going back over and over. One ended in murder a couple of weeks ago. A case my husband will be prosecuting when it goes to trial.<br />
The abuse story I told is nowhere near that dramatic, but so much of Ronnie's story was mine. WAY more than I realized while I was writing it. When I got to the end, and started writing down the parts of her story that were real (I always do this for my author site), I realized more and more how much of me was in that girl.<br />
I stared at my computer screen in shock.<br />
I had one of my best friends, who was a guy, who I shared more with than I probably did to most of my girlfriends - (like Luke from Knee Deep) and a boyfriend I'd known since I was a kid (like Shawn from Knee Deep) And I felt this draw to my boyfriend, only because I'd known him for so long, not because we really had anything left in common.<br />
I felt more like I was stuck in this relationship, and didn't even realize I didn't want to be there until I visited a friend in college and saw how much more LIFE was out there. It was just that the idea of this one person had been in my head for way too long. <br />
And where did I end up? Married to the best friend.<br />
People talk about writing what you know, and then talk about keeping yourself out of your books. But you know what? I KNEW that situation - and I know I'll get some bad reviews (like you always do - ESPECIALLY when you tackle a tough topic) that are going to say that Ronnie's actions weren't believable.<br />
But here's the thing - I told her story, the best way I knew how. Ronnie's reactions with pieces of my truth. And there are some drastic differences, but there are also some startling similarities. So, to me, Ronnie's actions were completely and totally understandable.<br />
And that's the story of how Knee Deep came to be. <br />
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Okay, I want more! Here's more from Knee Deep, check it out!<br />
My front door opens. “Hello?” Shawn calls. <br />
“In here!” I say back. Suddenly this feels weird. Why would this feel weird? This is just what happens when one of us is stuck at home. Why would today be any different? But my heart’s beating against the inside of my ribs, trying to tell me this is different. <br />
Luke scoots away from the couch. Does he feel it too? That maybe him and me hanging out alone for the day might not have been the best idea? <br />
Shawn steps through the hallway and scowls when his eyes meet mine and then pass to Luke. This shouldn’t be a big deal. Except...I’m so stupid. I was just thinking how I needed to make Shawn’s life outside of his house less stressful, and part of me knew it was weird that Luke was here without Shawn. I thought it, and did nothing. But again, it is just Luke. <br />“What’re you doing here?” Shawn asks. His dark eyes fix on Luke. <br />
“I figured you’d be here, man.” Luke stands up. “It’s like we always ditch together, right?” <br />
Romeo and Juliet kissing in the pool on the TV screen probably isn’t helping anything. Maybe Shawn won’t notice, or maybe it’s just sending my heart into crazy flutters because this tension between Shawn and Luke and, I guess, me, is happening during the most romantic scene of the movie. <br />
“Uh, I don’t know.” Shawn’s still scowling, his brows pulled low and his jaw tight. <br />“You would’ve hated it,” I say. My eyes catch his, but his are as black as his mood seems to be. I’m so stupid. Why did I have to let Luke stay? <br />
“Yeah, maybe.” Shawn’s narrowed eyes go from Luke to me, back and forth, as if judging the situation. Really? What did he think could possibly happen between Luke and I? Even if this is suddenly on my top three ‘most awkward moments’ ever. I can’t even think about what the other two might be. Maybe I’ve just found number one. <br />
“Romeo and Juliet all day.” Luke laughs, but I know him well enough to see he’s trying really hard to be relaxed. His shoulders are too stiff, and his normal stance is too rigid. I wonder if Shawn sees it too. “Guess I’ll leave you two alone.” Luke’s trying hard to keep his voice light. <br />
“Yeah.” Shawn has yet to return Luke’s smile. “I almost never see my girl anymore.” <br />
It’s like I’m on the edge of my seat, tension pinpricking every part of me. I’ve never seen Shawn like this. <br />
“Well, I should get my ass to rehearsal anyway.” Luke gives Shawn a friendly pat on the shoulder before heading outside. <br />
I don’t watch him go. My eyes are on Shawn, trying to figure out what to expect next. <br />
"What the hell was that?” His sharp gaze is now pointed directly at me.<br />
to the side, trying to be relaxed. “It didn’t seem like a big deal this morning.” Maybe if I play it off as nothing Shawn won’t be so mad. He knows Luke and I are friends. No big deal, I tell myself again. But I don’t know if I’m trying to convince myself or Shawn. <br />
“Was he here when we were texting?” he asks. His voice may be low, but not in a good way. It’s low in a way that makes him sound like he’s past the edge of reasonable anger. <br />
My body’s screaming for me to take a step back, which makes no sense. This is Shawn. My Shawn. “No.” But I’m weakening by the second, almost shaking inside. His jaw tightens again. <br />
It was as I remember, and dread fills my chest. “He got here as I sent my last one.” Is that bad? Good? <br />
“And you didn’t think to tell me? What the hell is that?” <br />
I jump at the sharpness of his voice. Shawn doesn’t need this stress. I know this. I reach forward to put my arms around him. We just need to hold one another for a minute, then it’ll all be fine. <br />
He stops me, grabbing my arm—hard—just above my wrist. <br />
“This is not okay.” His jaw is set. <br />
“Hey.” My voice shakes. My body shakes. I’m actually scared of Shawn for the first time ever. I jerk my hand once, but he tightens his grip...impossibly tight. My lungs can’t pull in a breath; there’s just not enough air in the room anymore. “Shawn, you’re hurting me.” He can’t mean to hurt me. He can’t. <br />
His face is stuck in a sharp scowl. <br />
“He’s your friend.” My voice is crying. I want to try and pull my shaky arm out of his grasp again, but I’m afraid to; he’s squeezing so hard. Tears are hot against the back of my eyes, threatening to spill over. How would you feel if I spent all day with some chick?” The words come out as angry spit from between his teeth. <br />
I open my mouth to answer but can’t, the lump in my throat has taken over. All I can think about is that I need to find something to say so he’ll let me go. Some way to get the air through my throat to form words. “It’s just Luke,” I plead, sucking in a breath. <br />
“Whatever.” He throws my arm back at me, turns, and walks out the door, slamming it hard behind him. My body jumps at the sound. <br />
I stumble backward onto the couch. I’m like a leaf battered about in the wind. Nothing’s working right. I need to sit. Normally I’d run after him, but I have no idea what to expect. And I’m afraid. Of Shawn. <br />
He’s never been that way before. Ever. He’s moody and particular, but this seems...extreme. I’m cradling my wrist with my other hand, afraid to look at any possible damage. It hurts to move it. What just happened here? How did it happen? <br />
It’s like there suddenly must be something fundamentally wrong with the universe. But the TV’s still on. My house looks normal and quiet. I’m still breathing, but Shawn, my Shawn, just hurt me. Lying down seems so anti-climactic, but I can’t bring myself to do anything else. <br />
When Juliet realizes Romeo’s dying the sobs take over, and I pull my knees to my chest as if making myself smaller will somehow dull the pain. <br />
It doesn’t. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxhEen8a7dTQVXglpb0hzDXguc4lpAF8g-0esOcwb6cgAiIoIVc2hrg40xcZTuGijT_cVCr7fCWTN03233MIuEiumLZp0jqJz_kCs4dVEXiZmu-ETCDh_tMxIHeBFWM96rG-Nvcg_n60/s1600/KD+author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxhEen8a7dTQVXglpb0hzDXguc4lpAF8g-0esOcwb6cgAiIoIVc2hrg40xcZTuGijT_cVCr7fCWTN03233MIuEiumLZp0jqJz_kCs4dVEXiZmu-ETCDh_tMxIHeBFWM96rG-Nvcg_n60/s1600/KD+author.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here's a little about the author:<br />
Jolene Perry's Bio:<br />
Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.<br />
After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible. - Wow, Jolene sure if a busy lady :) <br />
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She is also the author of Night Sky and The Next Door Boys.<br />
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Here are some cool websites to check out to learn more about Jolene and her new release!<br />
Knee Deep web site:<br />
<a href="http://knee-deep-book.blogspot.com/">http://knee-deep-book.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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Knee Deep Twitter hashtag:<br />
#KneeDeep<br />
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Knee Deep GoodReads page:<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12987551-knee-deep">http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12987551-knee-deep</a><br />
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Jolene Perry's Facebook:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002038196677">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002038196677</a><br />
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Jolene Perry's Twitter:<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/JoleneBPerry">https://twitter.com/#!/JoleneBPerry</a><br />
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Jolene Perry's Website:<br />
<a href="http://www.jolenebperry.com/">http://www.jolenebperry.com/</a><br />
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Jolene Perry's Blog:<br />
<a href="http://www.jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com/">http://www.jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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Jolene Perry's GoodReads:<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4944599.Jolene_B_Perry">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4944599.Jolene_B_Perry</a><br />
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Tribute Books website:<br />
<a href="http://www.tribute-books.com/">http://www.tribute-books.com/</a><br />
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Tribute Books Facebook:<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176</a><br />
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Tribute Books Twitter:<br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks">http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks</a><br />
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Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186</a><br />
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Okay, where can we buy your book?<br />
Kindle Buy Link - 2.99$<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XW8JLK/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tributebooks-20">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XW8JLK/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tributebooks-20</a><br />
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Nook Buy Link:<br />
<a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=dcSBhG3Rj8w&subid=&offerid=239662.1&type=10&tmpid=8432&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fknee-deep-jolene-perry%252F1110433794%253Fean%253D2940014556149">http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=dcSBhG3Rj8w&subid=&offerid=239662.1&type=10&tmpid=8432&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fknee-deep-jolene-perry%252F1110433794%253Fean%253D2940014556149</a><br />
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<br />Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-75553121891430888392012-05-21T18:31:00.001-07:002012-05-21T18:31:48.009-07:00Vampires, Werewolves, or Demons, who's hottest of them all?In honor of my blog poll that I have just now realized has been closed (hence my wondering why no one was voting) - well, I've clicked enough option on my blog and the poll is officially open! I need to know what floats my dear readers' -heart pounding, body flushing, tingles all over what do I want to read next - literary boats? <br />
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I thought we could go over the options. <br />
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Number 1? Vampires, oh my! and oh, yes ;)<br />
Vampires have their pluses, they are immortal, hello! Who doesn't want to spend forever with their oberly hot honey? They have plenty of time of gain some major financial stability, too, so that's a plus.<br />
On the downside, there is the drinking blood thing, which is not the best diet to have to be on. Also, I'm a sun worshiper even though I burn annoyingly easily. <br />
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Number 2: Werewolves.<br />
I'll concede to the fact that the casting director for the True Blood series has done a fabulous job, so 2 of my images are of two of their characters, great job, ladies across the world squee in happy dances every Sunday night.<br />
On the pluses for werewolves, their lives are extended, if not immortal, and they are seriously toned. Have you ever seen an overweight werewolf? No? Me either. So, you can bet werewolves that you read about have sculpted, um, everything.<br />
Now for the not-so-attractive attributes to this species: well, they tend to eat meat, and that's okay, but they don't cook it before they consume it. Have you ever smelled old hamburger meat? Not such a scrumptious odor, and worse, what if your honey would want to give you a big smack on the lips with old blood all over their chest and/or lips?<br />
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Number 3 is demons: Well, I don't know much about them but have been enjoying new reads. Demons, especially hot male demon hunks, tend to be shrouded in mystery, their powers are endless, or at least that's what they want you to think, and they know things about your body that you didn't even know.<br />
The downs? Well, demons aren't from this world, and they usually come forth from, well, you know, that dark sulfur reeking pit from down below, um, somewhere, where humans aren't aloud, unless of course the big bad has some use for them.<br />
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So... I need your help! I'm looking for answers about what readers are into and what they would like to see on the books shelves for their next purchase, whether that be at the bookstores or on an e-reader.Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-11807476149286461042012-05-14T10:21:00.000-07:002012-05-14T10:21:35.697-07:00Book card designs, I can't decide...Authors use their imaginations to create fantastical worlds and characters that live in these worlds and interact with one another in such a way that the authors' readers experience theses amazingly crafted realities so that they feel they are in the moment of what they are reading. The time comes after an author gets published not once, but twice, and promo items need to be designed. Don't misunderstand my dilemma, it's a great dilemma to have :)
I need to figure out while designing book cards for Betrayal Bites, book 2 in the Sydney Sedrick series, would having both book covers on the front be nore eye-catchy than just one? Need input :)Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-13585914218983146412012-04-25T04:20:00.000-07:002012-04-25T04:20:01.433-07:00No Remorse Author - Mary Bast<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYhV2A90GJdgXXFykp4mRa__ueGir3lr4sUfPTQSk21tP_-MAAN5odMd4GHQIcfRHEMxT-7qYiV-GHBe6zY-boMmupJIlcHTYiqJERDdB8EHCrqunqefcbx3rasItwVIB2GCzQQLDJqM/s1600/no+remorse.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 256px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729180527353513314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYhV2A90GJdgXXFykp4mRa__ueGir3lr4sUfPTQSk21tP_-MAAN5odMd4GHQIcfRHEMxT-7qYiV-GHBe6zY-boMmupJIlcHTYiqJERDdB8EHCrqunqefcbx3rasItwVIB2GCzQQLDJqM/s320/no+remorse.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Thanks so much for being a guest on my blog today, Mary.<br /><br />Can you tell us a little about your release, No Remorse?<br /><br />Due to her unusual birth, Amber has abilities no other werewolf has ever possessed. On the run since childhood, the lone wolf avoids contact with other werewolves at all cost, continually moving, constantly looking over her shoulder and always alone.<br />Everything changes when Amber saves a werewolf from the mere brink of death, Blake, the only werewolf to ever protect her. Love blossoms, but not without tribulations when Amber realizes she must help her new pack rescue a member who is being held hostage by a rival pack.<br />Warring with emotions of going from lone wolf to the pack leader’s mate, Amber must decide if she is willing to risk Blake’s life to know true family and friendship despite the fact that the Council is hell bent on locating her and will stop at nothing until she is found. Will Amber’s special abilities be enough to keep everyone safe?<br /><br />That sounds like a fun read, can you tell me a little about yourself?<br /><br />MaryLynn Bast is a Texas native who is currently living it up in Las Vegas. Bast writes paranormal fantasy romance because it allows her imagination to run rampant, permitting the characters of her stories to obtain abilities not possible in the real world, or is it? MaryLynn is married to Patrick, has three children, three step children and enjoys traveling the world.<br /><br />Considering I live in the chilly state of Wisconsin, Las Vegas sounds nice right about now!<br /><br />Now, here's a teaser from Mary's release, No Remorse - <br />They were already moving when the third shot rang out from the trees, again missing his intended target as the two wolves sprang apart. Their sensitive ears heard the muffled curses as the rifle jammed on the attempt to shoot a fourth shot. They heard the leaves rustling wildly as the shooter scrambled from his hiding position and began running through the thick bushes, running for his life.<br />Blake and Amber ran faster. They ran silently, making a wide circle and came at the gunman from opposite sides. They watched the man struggling to get through the thick brush, not making it very far. The leaves covering the hidden roots and the thickets hindered his escaped. The roots, as well as the tree limbs, appeared to reach out and tear at him when he tried to run away, causing him to stumble with each step he took.<br />Amber pushed her senses out into the forest, seeking other wolves in the area. Other than the ones who ran into the yard to help the boy, she and Blake were the only ones in this part of the forest. Amber’s mind sought Blake’s.<br />He’s alone, Amber informed him while they stalked the man from opposite sides.<br />Don't kill him, we need him alive, Blake told her when he saw her bare her large canines. She stalked towards the terrified man and gave a low guttural growl.<br />The man held the useless gun in front of him like he thought it would keep him safe, “Oh, man, oh, man, oh, man.” He stammered frantically looking from side to side when he saw the large growling wolves advancing menacingly towards him. He backed up, tripping over more of those blasted branches, barely catching his balance before he fell.<br />Amber feigned a run at the man and he swung the butt of the rifle at her. She veered out of the way before it impacted with her side. Blake's wolf seeing that the man was trying to hurt his mate lunged.<br />The wild swing took him off balance. In his haste he had miscalculated and felt himself tip. He watched as if in slow motion as the largest wolf he had ever seen came straight for him. The black and gray muscular wolf landed squarely on his chest, causing him to lose the grip on the gun when he landed hard on the ground. The man felt the massive weight of the wolf slamming him to the ground, forcing the breath from his lungs. The gunman fought to breathe while staring in horror at the wolf’s teeth that were bared in a snarl, spittle dripping from its snout onto his face.<br />We need him alive, remember? Amber reminded him, laughingly. Her adrenaline was pumping and she could hear the man’s heart as it beat an erratic pattern in his chest. She could hear him struggle to breathe as Blake's solid frame pinned the man to the ground. It would be easy to step forward and rip the man’s throat out.<br />Sensing her train of thought, Blake swiftly shifted and sat with his knees on the man’s chest. Shifting back to his human form had distracted Amber long enough to interrupt her thoughts of tearing the man’s throat out. He heard Amber’s laughter once again in his head, following where her eyes were looking. Glancing down at himself, he realized that he was sitting on top of the man in all his glory.<br />Blake shot an amused look at Amber and would have laughed himself if the situation were not as severe as it was. His wolf still raged at him to kill the man who had shot at them, who had endangered the woman he loved. He sent a calming push to his wolf to assure it that his mate was safe.<br />“Can I trust you not to eat him?” Blake asked her out loud, for the benefit of the man on the ground more than anything. When Amber growled her response, Blake chuckled and quickly jumped to his feet.<br />The man was frozen in terror, not daring to move as the black wolf came closer. He stared wide-eyed as it curled its lip and bared its teeth at him and continued emitting a low menacing growl.<br /><br />Now that sounds like something I'd enjoy reading!<br /><br />Here is Mary's contact information for following/stalking/and finding out more about her and her upcoming projects.<br /><br />Facebook:<br /><a style="OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1333926440125243" href="http://www.facebook.com/MaryLynnBast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/MaryLynnBast</a><br /><a style="OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1333926440125245" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/MaryLynn-Bast-Heart-of-a-Wolf-Series/290060734343947" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/pages/MaryLynn-Bast-Heart-of-a-Wolf-Series/290060734343947</a><br /><a style="OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px" href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/276906255723856/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/groups/276906255723856/</a><br /><br />Website:<br /><a href="http://www.heartofawolf.com/blog-tour-dates.html">http://www.heartofawolf.com/blog-tour-dates.html</a><br /><br />Blog Tour Contest Rules:<br /><a style="OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px" href="http://www.heartofawolf.com/contest-rules/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.heartofawolf.com/contest-rules/</a><br /><br />Twitter:<br /><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MaryLynnBast">https://twitter.com/#!/MaryLynnBast</a><br /><br />Amazon.com for print and ebook: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marylynn+bast&x=0&y=0">http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marylynn+bast&x=0&y=0</a><br /><br /><div>Youtube book movie trailer:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTAozXT4r2o">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTAozXT4r2o</a><br /><br /><div>Plus, you don't want to miss her Goodreads book give away: <br /><div>Goodreads Giveaway:<br /><a style="OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13560382-no-remorse" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13560382-no-remorse</a> <br /><br /><div>Thanks again Mary for taking the time to be a guest on my blog, best wishes to you and all your future writing projects :) </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4bCDwBDps71mWF5jO3Nm-e7doXEgXKOLskW9Ppgk77vF6p30ng-HEIDcKWJ3-rOHDh8JG2uZv7pDHkc0-qOea8j3cck8LhD48hyphenhyphenXBjF-tGfMNDNXq-TKMIh9HOfC9J2Vdi-el1T9z9E/s1600/Mary%252520Bast.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729181828189251730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4bCDwBDps71mWF5jO3Nm-e7doXEgXKOLskW9Ppgk77vF6p30ng-HEIDcKWJ3-rOHDh8JG2uZv7pDHkc0-qOea8j3cck8LhD48hyphenhyphenXBjF-tGfMNDNXq-TKMIh9HOfC9J2Vdi-el1T9z9E/s200/Mary%252520Bast.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-85912368383478469882012-04-23T04:00:00.000-07:002012-04-23T04:00:05.181-07:00New Release - A Proper Lady's Gypsy Lover by Juliet Chastain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IgrJZrAm6q1YjPwyDXbsBNbkyWznP9rPX-FfF8Fhl2HCMhqEzb4JGKfVWPTAQ60FXkcYXYDH7GI_Q5Uja3IU-uuUHkS4eJenqVD5amr8W9AnZlnH2miGd0J-FINTtswEkK8aSpH-3HM/s1600/Gypsy+Lover+cover.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732880367249477570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IgrJZrAm6q1YjPwyDXbsBNbkyWznP9rPX-FfF8Fhl2HCMhqEzb4JGKfVWPTAQ60FXkcYXYDH7GI_Q5Uja3IU-uuUHkS4eJenqVD5amr8W9AnZlnH2miGd0J-FINTtswEkK8aSpH-3HM/s320/Gypsy+Lover+cover.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I would like to welcome the wonderful author, Juliet Chastain!</div><br /><br /><div>Thanks so much for being on my blog today. I just love your cover! Can you tell us about your inspiration for this latest release?<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Hello fellow Romance fans. I'm here to explain my obsession with Gypsies.<br /><br />I've always been very curious about Gypsies—Roma or Romani, as they call themselves, Those rather mysterious people came from India to Europe about a thousand years ago and lived a wanderer's existence and kept to their own ways for generations.<br />My fascination began when I was a small child in Africa. One evening my dad was driving somewhere with me and we passed a little Romani fair, a few lights in the darkness, music, some horses, a little merry-go-round. Very enticing to a small child who lived on a farm in the middle of nowhere. I wanted desperately to go to the fair, but my dad said we couldn't and that he believed Gypsies were thieves.<br />Indeed the next morning all out chickens were gone, every single one and the dogs hadn't barked and no one had heard a thing. If you know anything about chickens you know you can't just pick them up and tiptoe away because they'd start squawking and pecking you like mad. My parents were not pleased, but I was thrilled. It was often my job to feed the chickens, and I was rather scared of them. But mostly I was awed. How had the Gypsies done that? It seemed magical.<br />Now I am in the middle of writing a series of short sexy stories featuring Gypsies during the Regency period. There will be one coming out every month or two with Breathless Press.<br /><br />Here's the first story in the Gypsy Lover series, A Proper Lady's Gypsy Lover:<br />Forced to become a proper young lady, Lucy-Ann Spencer rebels against the rules of high society to claim her freedom and her Gypsy lover. <br />Dragged off to London kicking and screaming, Lucy-Ann Spencer refuses to become a proper young lady. Despite her aunts' insistence, she spurns the suitably titled and wealthy men who court her, longing instead for the Gypsy lad and the freedom she once loved. Liberty Wood never forgot the girl he adored years ago, but now that she has become a proper, silk-clad member of high society while he lives by his wits, he knows that they can never breach the gulf between them. Can Lucy-Ann convince him otherwise? <br />Here is an excerpt:<br />Lucy-Ann scrambled to the window, tempted to climb out had the carriage not been moving so fast.<br />“Liberty,” she screamed. “Liberty, help me!” She leaned out as far as she dared while her aunts cried out to her to be careful. Aunt Emily took hold of her waist.<br />Lucy-Ann saw him, Liberty Wood, on his brown mare with the white forelock, riding hard after the coach.<br />“Liberty,” she called, leaning out yet a little farther, causing both aunts to shriek. Aunt Louisa took hold of her legs and called to her to come back inside. Lucy-Ann watched Liberty slowly close the distance between himself and the carriage.<br />“Halt!” she called to the coachman. “Halt!” The coachman pulled on the reins, slowing the horses.<br />“No!” cried Aunt Louisa. She stuck her head out of the opposite window. “No, “ she cried out. “Move on as fast as you can, Elijah. You must outrun that highwayman or beat him off.”<br />The carriage picked up speed again, swaying precariously, but Liberty had caught up. He’d always said the mare was the fleetest thing on four feet.<br />Leaning on the neck of his horse, his black hair flying behind him, Liberty smiled grimly at Lucy-Ann as he passed the carriage. The mare pulled up beside the carriage horses. Lucy-Ann realized his intention was to come up beside the lead horse, take hold of the beast, and bring the carriage to a halt.<br />“Actually,” she heard Aunt Emily say, her voice quivering, “I’d prefer to go more slowly. This is dangerous.”<br />“You’ll have to beat him off, Elijah,” Aunt Louisa ordered at the top of her voice. Lucy-Ann saw the coachman nod and reach for his long whip.<br />“No!” Lucy-Ann screamed. “Please, no.”<br />The coachman stood and, holding onto the thong, swung the long handle of the whip, catching Liberty in the face, causing him to somersault off the mare and into the mud at the side of the road. The carriage almost careened off the road as the aunts screamed and clutched each other. When it stabilized, Lucy-Ann tried to climb out of the window, but her aunts held her back. Eventually she collapsed on the floor of the carriage, weeping uncontrollably.<br /></div><br /><div>Where can we buy your books?<br />You can buy this story at. <a href="http://www.breathlesspress.com/category/author/juliet-chastain">breathlesspress</a> While you're there, check out my two short romances: The Captain and the Courtesan and The Cry of the Wolf.<br /><br />To learn more about upcoming stories or about me: <a href="http://www.julietchastain.com/index.html">julietchastain.com</a> You can contact me at <a href="mailto:juliet@julietchastain.com">juliet@julietchastain.com</a>. Or on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JulietChastain">facebook</a> .Or follow me on<a href="https://twitter.com/JulietChastain">Twitter</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmt9DujXShjRrej5bNWs7FqSjK9yaBWi_MkXFpLDzqN9yakLfC8wpNHY0BVE6TWSJJzLj3P_JLrch2tPIUBv2BY39nfRmSOaHbadjFScPC0BOJAkYFIcMV9es7L_9vylcIdrb4-HUS6k/s1600/Gypsy%252520Lover_banner.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 46px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732881398849391074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmt9DujXShjRrej5bNWs7FqSjK9yaBWi_MkXFpLDzqN9yakLfC8wpNHY0BVE6TWSJJzLj3P_JLrch2tPIUBv2BY39nfRmSOaHbadjFScPC0BOJAkYFIcMV9es7L_9vylcIdrb4-HUS6k/s320/Gypsy%252520Lover_banner.jpg" /></a><br />Thanks again for visiting today! Best of luck with your releases :) </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-10700782103778184972012-04-16T18:49:00.002-07:002012-04-16T18:52:41.239-07:00New Cover Alert! Betrayal Bites coming Soon!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkvuOU8tsAheKADtjL6x6E7linSKudq2kyr4AzmQYrs8MsZQlZBqoEPYv-rhHiBSJIkpL3FxAUG9Hbs_gsihynQFExOP7DPHuCig5pclypjZKSGHFk2U4qljwDL56JO4A-nqFB_tHVcU/s1600/BetrayalBites_850.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732181531450655666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkvuOU8tsAheKADtjL6x6E7linSKudq2kyr4AzmQYrs8MsZQlZBqoEPYv-rhHiBSJIkpL3FxAUG9Hbs_gsihynQFExOP7DPHuCig5pclypjZKSGHFk2U4qljwDL56JO4A-nqFB_tHVcU/s400/BetrayalBites_850.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Well, the wait is over, I just recieved the cover art for my next release, Betrayal Bites, Book 2 in the Tales of Sydney Sedrick!!!! </div><br /><br /><br /><div>Here it is, take a look, I totally love it :) </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-35160904934828617802012-04-12T04:00:00.000-07:002012-04-12T04:00:15.870-07:00Who Would You Choose if Your Novel was Made Into a Movie?First of all, I'm excited to say I'll be starting the editing process of Betrayal Bites, Book 2 in the Tales of Sydney Sedrick, Yay!!! Even more exciting is that another release date is soon in the making! Happy dancing right now.<br />Okay, down to business. I thought long and hard on how to connect more readers to my writing, give them a sort of 'vision' as to the characters I write about. So... I went through fun Google pics and selected pictures of who resembles my characters, take a look and let me know what you think!!!<br /><br />First off is Sydney Sedrick - she's the feisty heroine in my paranormal romance series about the Selected who gets thrown into the middle of a political and violent war between the local vamps and weres. I would pick the actress Emma Stone, she so could play the part of Sydney!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQiLOBCCMhPk1Rt5Im7PgHAPcZgUwCfDl5V2WOlPpNiqTEaUWSAbwajCOCvUUJGC8Jb6qdYKQs8SsaduicU2o___Jum_t3gbalmG3dierUELW4uYRnPBQ-coqzIAopXQ3_75EaZdbJfM/s1600/Emma+Stone+blog+pic.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730314197636380626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQiLOBCCMhPk1Rt5Im7PgHAPcZgUwCfDl5V2WOlPpNiqTEaUWSAbwajCOCvUUJGC8Jb6qdYKQs8SsaduicU2o___Jum_t3gbalmG3dierUELW4uYRnPBQ-coqzIAopXQ3_75EaZdbJfM/s200/Emma+Stone+blog+pic.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Next I have to give an image for Blake, the heir to the local werewolf pack, and the wolf who insists Sydney's his life-mate - not sure of the name of the guy in the pic, but I don't think it much matters ;)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGBn4aIbl1Q_c0CZgK-fXb0l24WdStq8Vges2r7T96O6-XIV-MOmS4SNYd19W2FC1kxIoY7b9l7P9Fzp0EAp0NPjBgX4MYEOtO5cdfDPIeeDbF8PJFWIjkh84Vk-tM0y7AuOVeFkkdAs/s1600/Male+model+for+Blake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 145px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730314977600132018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGBn4aIbl1Q_c0CZgK-fXb0l24WdStq8Vges2r7T96O6-XIV-MOmS4SNYd19W2FC1kxIoY7b9l7P9Fzp0EAp0NPjBgX4MYEOtO5cdfDPIeeDbF8PJFWIjkh84Vk-tM0y7AuOVeFkkdAs/s200/Male+model+for+Blake.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Of course I have to mention Kieran, a major player in the war as the leader of the Kenosha vampire coven:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZM7sCBLB6lXdRGRq48Sa-6eZ0-7iVK1V_ePNcUqdiOysKRdTm6IYy_XRzmewImnsd2TnEc4ykXjuwzr-0oJ1JCQfaYsBCqR7AurCUDhAhB8eqfdIXZCZ4mYmNuSzMQSAuuiI3yPCsw8/s1600/Model+pic+of+Kieran.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730315462315426898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZM7sCBLB6lXdRGRq48Sa-6eZ0-7iVK1V_ePNcUqdiOysKRdTm6IYy_XRzmewImnsd2TnEc4ykXjuwzr-0oJ1JCQfaYsBCqR7AurCUDhAhB8eqfdIXZCZ4mYmNuSzMQSAuuiI3yPCsw8/s200/Model+pic+of+Kieran.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Last but certainly not least, here's who I'd have play Andras, the Lightning demon who is a major bad guy from the Underworld betrothed to another character's sister, who I'm not going to say. I can't give everything away! You'll have to read the book, and hopefully someday be able to see the movie(s). Hey, one can dream, right?<br /><br />Anywho, I'd chose Alexander Skarsgard to play the big bad. He's not bad looking, that never hurts in casting an actor, but I've seen a few of his acting works and I'm attracted by his ability to draw in the calm yet intimidating and powerful presence of one who owns a great deal of influence over others. His voice and body language while acting submits exactly what I'd envision a powerful lightning demon would be like.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHa2vRKMqWrx-QRV5401c10jzkEzbnp0iYQKUiXd60gpemWVZ3EjbDvu4MOTD6soRLz8M4ZD0aPPnoCWmbMAY3Xyqajr8ZlwTwx1qz92THYx545xVpUzq9mdd9i7uZTgXF9xQv6ck54w/s1600/AS+blog+pic+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730316268050165570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHa2vRKMqWrx-QRV5401c10jzkEzbnp0iYQKUiXd60gpemWVZ3EjbDvu4MOTD6soRLz8M4ZD0aPPnoCWmbMAY3Xyqajr8ZlwTwx1qz92THYx545xVpUzq9mdd9i7uZTgXF9xQv6ck54w/s200/AS+blog+pic+1.jpg" /></a>Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-26309871809234190492012-04-02T04:00:00.000-07:002012-04-02T04:00:07.015-07:00YA Author - Amy Lignor Spotlight<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkc5Nsgx-twQpFQsRhBBWhf_B0ZLYPI-FoCso3y_MySQVDUvwNL7YeE3Gdr-RDWxb3EbcS5HoBs4QcGfy0c0ZL4jin8jel5iZ8Wu8CWGFShzojBSw6w8gBsQvqibQqxQU6GZUBDU6jV0/s1600/amy+lignor+blog+tour+banner.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 83px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706922288029037522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkc5Nsgx-twQpFQsRhBBWhf_B0ZLYPI-FoCso3y_MySQVDUvwNL7YeE3Gdr-RDWxb3EbcS5HoBs4QcGfy0c0ZL4jin8jel5iZ8Wu8CWGFShzojBSw6w8gBsQvqibQqxQU6GZUBDU6jV0/s320/amy+lignor+blog+tour+banner.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eljilDCiMebV6kbv7FpE0StSj673zHd5KrFAOQiiHlvi0PD62AHe-jzxyL70pgOZTGNQTt0GlXR_9QKrcPX26tNajSFUy0SsXx8yOuhcNdC-db7MJazjDZGnVRBAc-Z4fAJhZbZ8xzE/s1600/until+next+time+cover+art.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 207px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706922940929366434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eljilDCiMebV6kbv7FpE0StSj673zHd5KrFAOQiiHlvi0PD62AHe-jzxyL70pgOZTGNQTt0GlXR_9QKrcPX26tNajSFUy0SsXx8yOuhcNdC-db7MJazjDZGnVRBAc-Z4fAJhZbZ8xzE/s320/until+next+time+cover+art.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />From ‘Fanged Ones’ to ‘Winged Ones’ – YA is Starting to Fly!<br /><br />As all readers and movie goers know right now, young adult books, television and movies are the end all and be all of entertainment. When you look back, it really was Mr. Potter with his owl sidekick and two best friends who turned the literary world upside down. In 1998, there certainly was no big ‘cry out’ in the world for a boy whose Aunt and Uncle loathed him enough to make him sleep in a cupboard underneath the stairs, but when you look back over a decade, you can certainly see that this one character WAS needed to offset a world that constantly talks about war, economic horrors, job deprivation, and other equally hideous subjects. We needed a hero - we still need them. And they were suddenly provided by the YA world.<br /><br />The best heroes of 2011 were the ones who literally “sucked” us in and made us dream of the dark and mysterious; as well as the wounded ones needing a girl to understand them, or needing to save said girl so that their hearts could be full. (Although, no one has explained to this author quite yet why vampires would have such huge hearts considering they’re dead and their hearts don’t beat anymore.) BUT, that’s the world of fiction. There are many that have gone to the top of the heap. Some are coming to your screens – some may be coming to screens soon – and there is one that has entered the fray in early 2012 that is getting some serious feedback! (YAY!)<br /><br />This writer sat down with a group of young ladies and young men ranging in age from sixteen to twenty-one (but, there were Mom’s there as well who had input, seeing as that these YA titles are just as important to them). The conversation was beyond interesting, as they narrowed down their list to what they feel were the best heroes written. These characters got to them. Without Edward, who didn’t materialize again except on the big screen, there were a few other fanged ones for your enjoyment.<br /><br />Michael Glass has a huge following. From the series, The Morganville Vampires, which is a series of YA novels written by Rachel Caine. Michael’s mysterious disappearances – vanishing by day and corporeal at night, drew readers in. In this state, Michael could draw power from the house itself, but he couldn’t actually leave the house to protect his friends. What to do? He became one of the fanged ones, and this tremendously responsible, mature and charming young boy captured many a female heart.<br /><br />Hush, Hush, written by Becca Fitzpatrick is another that was talked about A LOT! Written from the perspective of Nora Grey, this young girl finds her life in danger when she becomes involved with Patch – a fallen angel with a dark connection to Nora. Patch is one of those heroes that is the heart throb, yet he is often described as a boy scout, and his kind and noble manner definitely makes readers swoon.<br /><br />City of Bones was the first in The Mortal Instruments series written by Cassandra Clare. Set in New York, this series has received some considerable praise from all the major bestseller lists and literary magazines, and a big reason why is Jace Wayland. Jace is a Shadowhunter, orphaned at a young age by the murder of his father, who now lives with the Lightwoods and Hodge Starkweather at the Institute. Golden hair, eyes, and skin make him popular with girls. Yes, he is a bit arrogant, but is a very kind and thoughtful person underneath. Clary Fray is the ultimate heroine in this set of novels, but Jace is the one who really gets hearts a-pumpin’.<br /><br />Dimitri Belikov came from the mind of Richelle Mead and her Vampire Academy series. Dimitri is known as a ‘Russian god’ to readers – dedicated, loyal, and a fierce warrior, this six-foot-seven hero is sent to Portland to bring Princess Lissa and Rose Hathaway back to St. Vladimir’s Academy. Although first being described as anti-social, he captured females hearts and the film rights have been sold.<br /><br />What’s up with 2012, you ask? Until Next Time is the angel/warrior team that reviewers, readers, and bloggers have been giving 5-star reviews to, quoting all over the internet and, very simply, making me beyond proud. And the cover - oh, that cover - has been put up as ‘Shelf Candy’ on many blogs around the internet. A smoking romance, trials, tribulations, history, and plot twists that don’t follow anything that has been seen before. And this is one romantic love triangle that you won’t figure out. J<br /><br />Although the fanged ones are still beloved, the conversation among this group turned to discovering some real angels out there who simply want to fight for the rest of us, proving that the ‘winged ones’ may just take the podium away from the ‘fanged ones‘ in 2012.<br /><br />So from a boy wizard came fanged ones, an Overlander, a Shadowhunter, a stunning team named Matt & Emily who spark the internal fires, and more on the way! If you ask me, old Mr. Potter did a darn fine job!<br /><br />Until Next Time, Everybody.<br />Amy<br /></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ldF4XxK2gQt1ZKYmlfmVltpE91xCmLzcRsi1R7D5bfD519G-RQl3VY55BGhzt81Kg00PRy4a3ZF_HmO5DUheuxKcZh_gMoQG7v9NFQaZDKKmux2jKA4Lq5qP-vXyGRE-TGEXGe0mUus/s1600/amy+lignor+statue.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 172px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706923206936974546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ldF4XxK2gQt1ZKYmlfmVltpE91xCmLzcRsi1R7D5bfD519G-RQl3VY55BGhzt81Kg00PRy4a3ZF_HmO5DUheuxKcZh_gMoQG7v9NFQaZDKKmux2jKA4Lq5qP-vXyGRE-TGEXGe0mUus/s320/amy+lignor+statue.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#993399;">Amy, thanks so much for taking the time to write this wonderul article. </span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#993399;">Amy's novel, Until Next Time, can be purchased: </span><br /><br />The Angel Chronicles web site:<a href="http://www.the-angel-chronicles.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.the-angel-chronicles.com</a>The Angel Chronicles Facebook page:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/The-Angel-Chronicles/168932393209654" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Angel-Chronicles/168932393209654</a>Until Next Time GoodReads page:<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13319888-until-next-time" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13319888-until-next-time</a></div><br /><div>Amy Lignor's Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/alignor" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/alignor</a>Amy Lignor's Twitter:<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/HelloWritersAmy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/#!/HelloWritersAmy</a>Amy Lignor's Website:<a href="http://www.thewritecompanion.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.thewritecompanion.com/</a>Amy Lignor's Blog:<a href="http://hellowriters.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://hellowriters.wordpress.com/</a>Amy Lignor's GoodReads:<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5222068" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5222068</a>Tribute Books website:<a href="http://www.tribute-books.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.tribute-books.com</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Now, let's take a look at what Amy's novel is about: </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></div><br /><div>Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book 1 Summary<br />How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Okay, this sounds like a seriously good read! Enjoy everyone, and to Amy, I wish you the best with your writing!</span></div>Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-29260820725089401402012-03-26T04:00:00.000-07:002012-03-26T04:00:05.742-07:00Amber Rose - Author - Sanya's Nights -<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjJt0RGbR6vcHAVagybJ5xQqNVu1QOAiNPG5fsNrqtJi7FZVi1_ka0cX969ZYgm24miBcXr1yi34NDS2Np2DRxAsUuV3WywF5oYVDdYK6e3l3bEvjFMvpOjffwY1VqkT2NzW6dKl1-u4/s1600/sanya%2527snights.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 211px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722135490389848162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjJt0RGbR6vcHAVagybJ5xQqNVu1QOAiNPG5fsNrqtJi7FZVi1_ka0cX969ZYgm24miBcXr1yi34NDS2Np2DRxAsUuV3WywF5oYVDdYK6e3l3bEvjFMvpOjffwY1VqkT2NzW6dKl1-u4/s320/sanya%2527snights.jpg" /></a> I'd like to welcome Amber Rose to my blog today!<br /><br />Let's have a look at the first chapter of her novel, Sanya's Nights<br /><br />SANYA’S NIGHTS<br />by<a name="_GoBack"></a><br />AMBER ROSE THOMPSON<br /><br />CHAPTER ONE<br /><br />Sanya watched the curtains bluster outward. Or was it inward? They were moving towards her and away from the open window. She always pondered these types of questions when sleep despised her presence. As far as she was aware, there were no Gods or Goddesses of sleep to offend, but she wondered if some sort of sacrifice was in order anyway.<br />She lifted her wrist grudgingly to see what time it was. On the final ascent of her wrist she remembered she'd ditched the watch hours ago with a nice toss towards the far wall. She'd gotten tired of knowing how few hours for sleep she still had to grab before her alarm clock blared. Speaking of which, where had she hidden her alarm clock this time? Oh well, she'd remember soon enough when it went off in its hideously soul piercing call of doom.<br />Drumming her fingers on her stomach, she pinched at her satin night slip. It clung to her in an annoying way. It felt more like a mourning shroud than something sexy and alluring. Not that anyone was here to take in the way it draped over her perky breasts, dipping just slightly into her cleavage, suggestive of hidden contours ready for exploration.<br />Deciding whether to take it off or leave it on was her next predicament. Moving would show defeat in the eyes of sleep. Did she want to admit she'd been a failure at sleep again? Not that being frozen in nearly one place led to blissful sleep. Damn, life questions were too much to face alone, in the dark when too exhausted to sleep. Of course had she been able to sleep any of the previous nights she wouldn't be exhausted.<br />Sanya put a track mark of teeth down her lower lip. There was still the remnant of her cherry lip gloss. It was wrong, just wrong that no one else's teeth or tongue was wicking away the last taste of cherry for her. Life wasn't fair.<br />Here she was in an expensive night slip, her hair freshly washed and conditioned for lively buoyancy, according to the label, and she had the dorm room to herself. This wasn't even taking into consideration her kickass body from being on the gymnastic team.<br />Her mind harkened back to class earlier in the day about the fall of the Roman Republic and Caesar's antics. Maybe it was time to relive history and go and conquer a sex slave for her. Caesar never had a cold tent at night. Now thousands of years later she was living with indoor plumbing and heat but her mattress grew cold.<br />She punched her mattress for its insolence in only supporting her and sat up. It was time to go and hunt for a man. If Caesar could do it, so could she. She had Roman blood in her on her father's side after all. An army wasn't in her arsenal, but her legs could slay by shape alone and her slip did leave a lot of body available for eyes to prey on.<br />The flimsy covering of her sensitive parts could easily be shoved out of the way by insistent hands. Battle ready she was. Now she just needed an available cock to soothe her tired limbs by and thereby be granted the blessing of euphoria induced sleep. Now that would have been a great Roman name for a woman. Euphoria.<br />Sanya jotted down that idea in her brain so she could bring it up in class and watch the men try to refrain from squirming and her teacher play with his suspenders. She did notice he played with his suspenders a lot when she opened her mouth or walked by him to find a place to sit. Suspenders were a great guide into the lower regions of a man's anatomy. Men should wear them far more often than they did; she rationalized while shifting her legs off the side of the bed and getting to her feet.<br />Shoes and slippers were unnecessary. At this time of the night, the only place she was going to find a captive was in the TV room at the end of the hall. Maybe, if luck was going to bless her, like it often had Caesar, a poor pitiful, male soul would be watching TV instead of faking sleep. A poor pitiful, male, soul that didn't have a Macedonian war-prone, girlfriend hidden away would be even better. But she was desperate and would deal with any ignited war flames later, after she'd had her conquest and was satiated.<br />Giving her hair a toss to undo any damage lying down had done, she slipped quietly over the carpet out of habit. Not that her roommate came back much. Bitch. How dare Allison be more successful in bed.<br />At the door she turned the nob and listened. It was one thing to go half naked into a room that might be empty, but she really didn't want her floor masturbating to her image if she wasn't going to get any action out of it.<br />Outside sounded empty, so she shifted into the hall and left the door ajar behind her. An exit plan was always a smart move history taught, and she prided herself on being a fast learner who could apply history to daily life.<br />Sanya opted for silence over speed and proceeded down the hall under as much stealth as a poorly clad body allowed for. She certainly wasn't going to fade into the institutional off-white paint should somebody's door open.<br />She now stood pressed against the TV room's doorframe, her neck craning around the open door to see what exploits lay in wait. Ah, the gods of sleep might not look kindly on her, but clearly the priestesses of sex did put in a good word for her. One, lonely, soul was contained by the room. And it was a man. Cock be with her.<br />The guy's back was to her as he slumped down in the sofa angled for prime TV viewing. Either he was asleep or her gymnastics were coming into use. Had she wanted, she could have leaped onto the sofa right now, but she needed her prey alive, not in the ER from a heart attack.<br />Hair style was too college male to help in identification so she crept closer. Not that it really mattered who he was, but it seemed polite to at least know who she was about to confront.<br />It was the shirt that eventually gave it away. Only one man that she could remember was married to grey plaid shirts and khaki pants, and that man was Xander. For his sake, she hoped the name was short for Alexander and not something his parents had intentionally done to him. It was almost as bad as misspelling women's names to make them sound cuter. How emasculating.<br />Xander was room number four-zero-four. Sanya brought up from her internal filing system in case she decided to start marking territory later. You never knew when sex would turn to civil war on campus.<br />He still was comatose.<br />Sanya looked up at the TV. The sound was too low to hear, but it was clearly a nature show about the less than moralistic sexual practices of ducks. Interesting nighttime choice but then again at this unholy hour the choices were probably limited since the TV didn't pick up cable stations.<br />Sanya approached as close as she dared before he might notice her presence looming over him. "You know, males have to impress the females with their looks and prowess before a female will consent to sex without force in the animal kingdom."<br />She knew it wasn't entirely true, but it got the point across and proved he was alive and breathing as his body stuttered in a failed jump then fell back onto the sofa.<br />"Don't worry." She leaned over the sofa and grabbed onto his shirt collar. "I don't expect much from you tonight. You can just lie there and let me do all the work. I just need you for your cock."<br />Xander started to open his mouth.<br />Sanya placed a hand over his mouth. "Shh, don't blow this for me by talking. Like I said, you playing dead is fine by me, and I really don't think you want an audience, do you? Or are you into that sort of thing?"<br />Sanya's hand shook his head back and forth for him. "Good, but depending on how well you please me we can negotiate that for another night."<br />In a well-practiced move out of context of absent normal gym equipment, she let go of Xander, grabbed hold of the sofa's top edge, and jumped up, legs out wide in a split. One hand came up and let the other pivot so her legs whipped around and she came down with enough force to pin Xander under her as she faced him.<br />Xander's eyes fought for which would out bulge the other as his diaphragm let out all the air his lungs had stored up. He actually began to cough and wheeze.<br />"Now really pull yourself together. I can't have you going emphysema on me when I'm this close to fucking you. I'll even let you come if you want though that is a side issue to my own orgasm. I'm that considerate a person." She cocked her head to the side and smiled while her thighs tensed to show him what he was up against.<br />She leaned forward and cupped each of his shoulders to push him back into the sofa. "You learn only so much from nature shows. Sometimes you have to get in field experience to really know what life is like."<br />Xander sat paralyzed under her.<br />"Come on, I've seen the way all the other guys look at me. You can't deny you wanted to fuck me, and here I am. So let's do this nice and quietly." Her off hand slowly released its clasp.<br />Xander's mouth opened but nothing came out.<br />"You know." Sanya pondered his mouth. "Men are best when not talking. It's not like I can believe anything that comes out of your mouth anyway. And certainly no one you tell this too will. So really it's best you shut up before you even start."<br />Xander's mouth hung open for a moment then shut.<br />"Much better, and I like how well you follow directions."<br />Xander's eyes finished dilating.<br />"Now this is how we're going to play this out." Sanya patted his shoulder. "I'm going to get that dick of yours out for inspection. If I like what I see, I'm going to mount you and pump up and down until I'm dripping wet. Don't even think of moving those hips of yours. This is my pole vault and routine. I don't like competition when I'm in it for the win. Got it?" She waited to see if his head would bob. "Good."<br />Watching him, she assessed the body under her, a bulge propping up his pants and hitting at her unclad pussy.<br />"Well now, that's more like it. I was beginning to think you were calling me ugly, and that would make me angry and much less inclined to let you have any pleasure from this. I don't like being put down. I get cranky." Sanya twitched her nose.<br />In answer, his cock butted her through the khakis, and he quietly groaned.<br />"Aw, does the poor cock want freedom? Are you being pinched?" She pressed her free hand down on the bulge to push it between his legs. Those very legs fought against her, but she didn't relent until she saw him biting his lip to the breaking point.<br />"Wimp." She slowly let the bulge spring back.<br />She flicked her finger at the bulge and laughed as it contracted away then rammed right back into stretching his pants towards her. "Aw, how cute is that. So ready to come out and play. I like that." She smiled and squeezed the bulge between her palms, trying to get her palms to meet up.<br />Xander's ass pressed into the sofa, but his cock and bulge stayed where it was, trapped in her grip. He choked back a growl which made her try again to press him flat like an iron.<br />"Remember who is in control here. You know that's me, right?" She let up on the pressure then intensified it in one last offensive strike.<br />Xander tried to bob his head without moving his legs or torso.<br />"I knew I liked you. You're a fast learner. I see that as a sign of respect." She let the captive cock go and watched the bulge lash about like a caught fish deprived of water.<br />"Hmm, button or no button? Do I just go for the zipper? If you try to squirm away you get trapped by your own clothing, maybe even snag your tender self on the ends of the zipper?"<br />Xander closed his eyes.<br />"Fine be that way. Cower in the darkness of your own oblivion." Sanya pulled down the zipper ignoring any reticence the tines or fabric had. Her hand darted in and snatched at the cock through the fly of his boxers, yanking it out of cover.<br />The legs under her tensed and stayed that way.<br />"Does this make you a scaredy pants?" Sanya laughed, ignoring the fact Xander didn't join in with the merriment.<br />A hand flat to his chest helped her rise up so there was enough of a gap between them that she could stick the tip of his hard cock into her. Lubrication was not an issue.<br />She ignored any tightness that might have appreciated a slow procession. Accompanied by a mutual grunt, she bore down on him with one swift push that buried him deep within her.<br />Now she was back to the split on top of him and a large smile on her face. Her eye lids fluttered and her throat relaxed into a sigh. "This really is so much better than sleeping pills."<br />Xander didn't answer, but one eye did open to snatch a look at her before closing<br />"You ready for my routine? You do play an important part. Equipment should never be taken for granted. Someone needs to oil and care for the wood." She snagged his lip between her thumb and pointer to dissuade talking back. "You might want to grab onto the back of the sofa. I'll be miffed if you slide and disrupt my mount."<br />Xander's hands flew up to the top of the sofa and latched on clamp-like.<br />She wrapped her hands around his shoulders, her trimmed nails digging into his shoulder blades and back of neck. The shoulder blades were cloth protected, but the neck was bare skin with a smattering of curly hair to ensnare.<br />Sanya tested her mount, seeking the point of balance as her hips rotated and rocked back and forth, bending and twisting him in her so he touched all the good parts. At the slightest hint he might be making a sound, she let up on one hand to slap him across the cheek then returned to her normal position.<br />Base of her palms rammed under his collar bone as she started to push up and down. Her legs used the friction of the sofa to help in the ascent and then slide out as she started slowly then revved up, pummeling his balls with each premeditated crash down.<br />To prevent a cramp from forming in her hands, she released the kinks with a slap to each side of his face. Her glazed eyes didn't catch his expression as she went back to her shoulder crush on him.<br />His cock grew harder, pressing down on her stretched perineum. She reveled in the pressure and pressed down on his thighs with her ass, wishing she could take his balls inside her too, but liking the way they squirmed against her as she let gravity win momentarily.<br />Need built with each twitch of his cock, refusing to listen to her admonitions of being still. The animal was alive and she wanted to tame it back, make it beg for mercy, beg for release. Her hips swayed in a gentle back and forth motion, but her control began to ebb away. The animal inside her was ready for the kill. She could smell him now wanting her and it ate away at her control.<br />Her hips upped the speed and ferocity of hitting into his stomach. Clit against hairy balls and groin sent her close to the edge. Part of her wanted to hold on a bit longer, but her body had other ideas and overruled desire for lust.<br />Hips were on autopilot, knowing just how to jut back and forth to force his body to please every bare piece of pussy that grabbed at him. Her muscles seized his cock and her clit ignited into sparks that travelled up her spine and shot out her head.<br />Euphoria had started with the first wave.<br />Her fingers dug into his neck, pieces of his skin building up under her nails. Her torso rotated, forming a cyclic oval with his cock locked inside. She twisted and bent him to her will, her need, as she squirmed to get her clit as satiated as her g-spot. Bending towards his chest, she angled his cock right up deep inside to the spot that crested her over on a second wave of spasms that left her drenched inside and out.<br />Loosing cohesion, her body slumped onto him, spine and muscles no longer enough to keep her erect. As her head eddied in and out of consciousness she realized he was no longer erect either.<br />With the last hint of arm strength she levered herself up enough. "Get out of me."<br />Xander shakily moved his arm and with robotic motion and pulled himself out limp.<br />Sanya retracted her legs and slid down him, landing with a gentle thump on the floor. Using his knees, she hauled herself up onto faltering legs and looked down at him.<br />Nodding, she shuffled out of the room, trying to get her night slip back in place over her thighs. She tugged at the hem to get it covering enough ass and thigh to be hallway legal. It was time to finish off the night with sleep.<br /><br />Wow, that was a great chapter, making me want to read more!<br /><br />Where can we find your book?<br />Amber -<br /><a href="http://shop.renebooks.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=amber+rose+thompson">http://shop.renebooks.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=amber+rose+thompson</a><br /><br />Okay, now where can we, your reader fans, connect with you?<br /><br />Amber - you can follow my blog at: <a href="http://amberrosethompson.wordpress.com/">http://amberrosethompson.wordpress.com/</a><br /><br />Are you on any other social media outlets?<br /><br />Amber - You can follow me on twitter @BDSMErotic and find me on Face Book as Amber Rose Thompson<br /><br />Amber, I want to say thanks so much for being on my blog today! Best wishes :)Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-1692180581365267032012-03-24T12:26:00.001-07:002012-03-24T12:26:46.129-07:00Shiela Stewart's Book Cover Lovers: Cheryl Yeko<a href="http://bookcoverlovers.blogspot.ca/2012/03/cheryl-yeko.html?zx=7c0a1aac0f9b8528">Shiela Stewart's Book Cover Lovers: Cheryl Yeko</a>Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-72810520132892254132012-03-21T04:00:00.001-07:002012-03-21T04:00:01.348-07:00Juliet Chastain - Cry of the Wolf<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXh4LsSEIKfXjM7oa-QWCvRiH2KkXbDsCqP6duJVzrgePC7PTvHnUNO2hEKAPe2Yjd3dqOErKEsYaQG9_G6DVrux-hPbqH-WLe8ZdUDAMYx1lPnfvIMAuXIgd6cSpyPshbrYAY9rUWT60/s1600/captainandthecourtesan.TIF"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 456px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 77px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719557758420527890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXh4LsSEIKfXjM7oa-QWCvRiH2KkXbDsCqP6duJVzrgePC7PTvHnUNO2hEKAPe2Yjd3dqOErKEsYaQG9_G6DVrux-hPbqH-WLe8ZdUDAMYx1lPnfvIMAuXIgd6cSpyPshbrYAY9rUWT60/s320/captainandthecourtesan.TIF" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0spETQiMFyz5JvPCr2tYaa5Br4w8OWu0SYpvgzMO3hHICX2g251FGrt9X_ccQqUM4MUhixzjzYksniH75GF3QCBg872r26D317zBwwwVidMH75ku03kPO1ynTpCIqcvTdvPgAlrtDa4/s1600/CryoftheWolf200x300%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719556986429952210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0spETQiMFyz5JvPCr2tYaa5Br4w8OWu0SYpvgzMO3hHICX2g251FGrt9X_ccQqUM4MUhixzjzYksniH75GF3QCBg872r26D317zBwwwVidMH75ku03kPO1ynTpCIqcvTdvPgAlrtDa4/s320/CryoftheWolf200x300%255B1%255D.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Please welcome Juliet Chastain to my blog today, I'm so happy to have you!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>So, give us a tease of what Cry of the Wolf is about:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>When the powerful wolf who catapults into her life changes into a passionate man, Laura is too shy to show her love for him—or is she?<br />Big, powerful, dangerous, he’s the alpha wolf. He is also a man. She’s Laura, shy human farmer. He’s passionately in love with her. She doesn’t know he exists. But when he catapults into her life, rescuing her from her two vicious neighbors and turning into a hunk named Michael, she is overwhelmed with desire for him.<br />The heat between them rises although Michael, fearing she would be repulsed by his dual nature, says nothing of his passionate feeling for her, and Laura is too shy to reveal her ardent craving for him. Unless they summon the courage to open their hearts to one another, they will lose each other forever.<br />99cents at Available at:<a href="http://amzn.to/znt24L">Amazon </a><a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-cryofthewolf-728025-140.html">All Romance eBooks </a><a href="http://www.bookstrand.com/cry-of-the-wolf-0">Bookstrand </a><a href="http://1placeforromance.com/romantic-fiction/cry-of-the-wolf/prod_7035.html">1 Place for Romance</a><br /><br />Here's a taste of this amazing read: </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br />A bitter cold crept into him and the pain was excruciating yet the woman, the beautiful sweet-faced woman whom he had been watching for months, the woman whom he had been longing for, caressed and murmured to him, comforting him with her soft, soothing words. Her deep blue eyes looked at him with tenderness and pity while he was a wolf. As a man, women paid him lots of attention and as a wolf, female wolves looked on him with favor, but this had never happened. Not in all his life had a human being acted kindly to him when he was a wolf.<br />He suppressed a groan. Was he close to her at last, the woman of his dreams, only to die miserably in the snow at her feet? She stood above him now, removing her clothing. She’d said something about covering him to keep him warm. He whined softly. She was even more beautiful up close than he had imagined she would be. The sight of her opulent naked body above him in the moonlight overwhelmed him with all too human desire and shook his very being. He felt himself suddenly ablaze with passion—the passion of a man. He felt himself begin to transform and, in the grip of his all too human emotions, he could not stop himself.<br />He heard her cry out in surprise. She had seen him change from an animal to a man. Now she would know him for the monster he was and would run screaming from him. No way she’d ever want him the way he wanted her. His dreams of human happiness were just dreams and nothing more. He closed his eyes, hoping he would die soon.<br />“I don’t understand, I—I—this is impossible,” she stuttered. “It’s like out of a book! I...I must be dreaming. I have to be dreaming. This cannot be happening...”<br />Then she spoke in a firmer voice. “No, as insane as this is, it’s real—at least I think so. But even if I am dreaming, I’m not going to let you die. I don’t know what you are, but I’m going to do everything I can to help you.” He felt her hand gently touch his forehead. “You are so cold.” Her warm breasts brushed against his chest as she leaned over him, trying to position something—her robe—under him, between him and the snow. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Check out Juliet's website for more information on her and her books: <a href="http://www.julietchastain.com/">JulietChastain.com</a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thanks Juliet for being on my blog today, I wish you the greatest success in your writing projects!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-18293207637748073422012-03-19T04:00:00.000-07:002012-03-19T04:00:00.805-07:00Why Write About Vampires by Ashlynne Laynne - Author Spotlight<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPDT-7XqG0mgwFX7zi_ebuR-RofssGKjxC1tEYZCzX-rIDw99d_tq0IP91fcw-hO9irKzBI43Nj4bUZVgvOdtigieqF6xhhPXANGZJrXiNSeU-YwCYwEZzEupTvxyVhDdYA19RvD4D9E/s1600/Progency.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 201px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706204767576279906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPDT-7XqG0mgwFX7zi_ebuR-RofssGKjxC1tEYZCzX-rIDw99d_tq0IP91fcw-hO9irKzBI43Nj4bUZVgvOdtigieqF6xhhPXANGZJrXiNSeU-YwCYwEZzEupTvxyVhDdYA19RvD4D9E/s320/Progency.JPG" /></a> The New Breed of Vampire<br /><br />Why write about vampires?<br /><br />I've been obsessed by horror movies since I was very young. My grandmother took me to see Creepshow at the dollar movie, when I was nine. The dollar movie has long been gone but that day spurred my love of the horror genre.<br /><br />I'm a horror fanatic. I'll watch anything—slasher, cheesy b rated, zombie, vampire, witches. You name it; I will or have already seen it. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">I'm the same way, Amy :) </span><br /><br />My upcoming series is about a family of vampires and one within their family who is different, yet the same. Ascher is a half-bloodling (half-human and half vampire). His skin possesses the warmth of a human's yet he lives off blood, is pale and immortal like his family.<br /><br />I and other authors are bringing forth a new breed of vampire. Passing are the days of the cold-blooded, garlic fearing, cross avoiding fiends of old. The new blood is tougher, meaner, and faster. They fall deeper in love than any of their predecessors. These guys have the gentle touch of a feather but will tear an enemy apart with the same hands. They're as passionate about their clan ties as they are about the women who stir their blood. - <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Can't wait to ready about this hot new breed!</span><br /><br />They're bold, sexy warriors with hearts of gold.<br /><br />Never one to conform, I believe that it’s within an author's rights to create his/ her characters and their worlds. Vampires are things of myth, so no one knows what they would actually be like. They are subject to their creator's interpretation.<br /><br />I subscribe to the fact that vampires are pale and blood drinkers. I'm a purist in believing that they are cold-skinned and burn in sunlight. I'm not one to believe that vampires are emotionless, evil fiends who sleep in coffins and plan the demise of us warm-blooded humans.<br /><br />The humanization of the "undead" makes for interesting and intense love stories that suck the reader in and fuel the imagination.<br /><br />And really...why is it so hard to believe that a vampire might have the emotional capacity to love as much as a human? They were like us once and surely felt the full range of emotions during that time. So, why wouldn't that carry over into immortality?<br /><br />With the Twilight craze, True Blood and the Vampire Diaries (all of which I think are fabulous) vampires have taken on a sexy, new persona, becoming objects of longing, lust and sexual desire for young and older women alike. And who could blame us? I mean...if a vampire that looked like Ian Somerhalder wanted to bite me, I wouldn't say no.<br /><br />He wouldn't need his vampire mind control for me to comply.<br /><br /><br />About Ashlynne Laynne:<br />Ashlynne Laynne has always had a soft spot in her heart for vampires but grew tired of the garlic fearing, sun loathing creatures of old. An avid horror movie fan, she tends to enjoy media and music that is of a younger, more eclectic nature. This was the catalyst for her writing The Progeny. The vampire/witch pairing is unique and different when most books pair vampires with werewolves.<br />The infinite possibilities, for such a wickedly unique couple, intrigued her. There is no shortage of romance, steam and surprises in The Progeny. These books are for adults and contain adult sensuality and themes, but minimal profanity. She loves writing on the edge and teetering between the erotica and romance genres. She thinks of Ascher and Shauna as the damned version of Romeo and Juliet.<br />She’s currently working on book two of the series entitled Blood Bonds. In her spare time, Ashlynne enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her family. Ashlynne juggles the hats of wife, mother, full time employee and part-time writer, hoping to write full time one day soon.<br />Ashlynne lives in North Carolina with her husband and teenage son.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Now let's get a glimpse of The Progeny<br /></span>At its core, The Progeny is simply a story about a man and woman who fall in love, and the fact that he’s a half-blood (half-human, half vampire) and she’s a Wiccan human are secondary factors. It started as research about the Salem witch trials, some rough sketches of a special family heirloom that my guys would wear and two names—Ascher and Shauna. In the beginning, of the book, Ascher is grumpy. Frankly, who could blame him? He’s engaged to seal to Ursula—a cold and careless vampire who wants nothing more than to get her hands on a bloodstone— and he feels conflicted about his existence.<br />All of that changes when he meets Shawnette McCutchin. She’s beautiful, intriguing and possesses some of the most potent blood that he’s ever smelled. A war immediately begins inside Ascher. He craves Shauna’s blood just as much as he craves her body and the closer they get, the harder it is for him to control his urges. After Ascher calls off the sealing to Ursula, the trouble begins. His family’s peaceful period ends when Ursula’s army attacks the Rousseaus. Kidnapping, some steamy love scenes between our hero and heroine and Wiccan rage complete the plot. <br /><br /><br />Ashlynne appreciates and loves to hear from her readers. Connect with her:<br />Twitter: @qlane<br />Facebook: Book Page- <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Progeny-Series-by-author-%20%20%20Ashlynne-Laynne/129418917161599">http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Progeny-Series-by-author- Ashlynne-Laynne/129418917161599</a><br />Author Page- <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Ashlynne-Laynne/118945981513261">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Ashlynne-Laynne/118945981513261</a><br />Author Blog: <a href="http://ashlynnelaynne.blogspot.com/">http://ashlynnelaynne.blogspot.com/</a><br />Email: <a href="mailto:ashlynnelaynne@aol.com">ashlynnelaynne@aol.com</a><br /><br />Buy Links<br />Amazon Kindle: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Progeny-ebook/dp/B0074535P6/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328127665&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.com/Progeny-ebook/dp/B0074535P6/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328127665&sr=1-1</a><br />Barnes and Noble Nook: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-progeny-ashlynne-laynne/1108540255?ean=2940014108355&itm=1&usri=the+progeny+by+ashlynne+laynne">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-progeny-ashlynne-laynne/1108540255?ean=2940014108355&itm=1&usri=the+progeny+by+ashlynne+laynne</a><br />Smashwords: <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/128489">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/128489</a>Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767534450124297667.post-27293387755226123042012-03-13T18:32:00.003-07:002012-03-13T18:39:24.914-07:00Kinect - Exercise<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7edILPEjoyozOtEnkVBmSlxibVb_l7G7l1Lu5E8ANKjnxyDma9PY200zH0BWn1DJWo7DDCUGm9t-jKqF3CxrztboFVw1J84oLj34bb3Gh8uOLZ9I-_zGpW6hOFSV7fHQ1SYu2hsDPpQ/s1600/BEP+kinect.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 168px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719559749603719570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7edILPEjoyozOtEnkVBmSlxibVb_l7G7l1Lu5E8ANKjnxyDma9PY200zH0BWn1DJWo7DDCUGm9t-jKqF3CxrztboFVw1J84oLj34bb3Gh8uOLZ9I-_zGpW6hOFSV7fHQ1SYu2hsDPpQ/s320/BEP+kinect.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>To be honest, I'm not a fan of weight lifting. To me, there's no fun in pumping iron. I can't argue that by doing so I'd probably see great results in toning my thin string-bean arms and the calves hanging from my legs that refuse to shape up no matter what I do. But I knew I needed to find something that I enjoyed in terms of exercising, because that way I'd be more likely to stick with it. So, I got a kinect. My dear sister owns a Wii and we've had great fun at family gatherings dancing to tunes from the current Country singing great, along with doing the Monster Mash. I bought the Kinect because I already had an xbox 360 - yes, I am an avid gamer - and bought the Black Eyed Peas dance game. I can't get enough, I've danced and danced. You wouldn't believe how easy it is to break a sweat trying to get the coveted 'S' grade, proving that you have moves. My newest game, Dance Central 2, is a bit more difficult, or it could be that I haven't spent enough time on the Easy level. Yep, I jumped right in thinking that all my time spent on Alien difficulty for the BEPs would make for an easy transition to the medium difficulty on my new game. Not so much. But I'll keep at it, because it's fun and something I can enjoy as I burn those calories.</div>Mandi Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10555908981323865837noreply@blogger.com0