Puppy Love

What do we want from relationships?
I think most of us want someone or something that make us feel good about ourselves, that make us feel like we are the center of someone's universe. Do you have someone that makes you feel that way?That you are their center, their core. A significant other? A daughter? A son? A parent? A sib? A friend? Often times relationships start that way, but somewhere along the line they fizzle out. The newness wears off. The effort is no longer put forth. Budgetary concerns, time and distance strain it. Too often we end up feeling secondary to almost everything, other people, sports, jobs, etc. I think that's why animals are so important in our lives. They give us unconditional love. It doesn't matter to them if we aren't at our best, have gained a few pounds, aren't sterling conversationalist or dress to impress.
Maybe there's something to be said for puppy love after all.

With us today is Charlene Wilson, author of Cornerstone Deep. Welcome, Charlene. Tell us about your current project.

Right now, I’m working on Fostered Souls. It’s book two in the Chronicles of Shilo Manor series, Cornerstone Deep being book one. Where Cornerstone Deep laid the foundation, Fostered Souls dives deeper into the obsession the Nemesis has with the heroin and the relationship between him and the hero. Families are united, albeit dreadful for some, truth from the past threatens peace, and revenge proves to be more dangerous than expected.

Are you a plotter or a pantster?

I guess you could call me a plotter to an extent. Though my characters tend react to the situation in their own, my muse and I plot out what the storyline will be. There are times, however, that the characters just won’t cooperate and we have to adjust the flow a bit.

Do you have critique partners or work alone?

I have some very helpful critique partners. I find having extra eyes on the work helps iron out the wrinkles. I read over my manuscript so many times that things get missed and my dear friends with the clear minds spot holes or repeated information.

What is your zodiac sign and what characteristic of your sign aids you as a writer?

My zodiac sign? My sign is Aquarius. I heard somewhere that Aquarians were like the absent-minded professor. Hmm, yes, that pretty much sums me up. Lol. But, I guess my sign’s main characteristic that would help with my writing is creativity.

Tell us something that would surprise us about you.

Being a romance writer born on Valentine’s Day may not be surprising. But to be shy about it? It’s surprised some.

What books of yours are currently for sale and where can a reader buy them?

Cornerstone Deep is available in paperback an e-book formats at Amanzon.com and Class Act Books. My website, http://charleneawilson.com can keep you posted of future releases and where to find them.

Thank you, Sandra, for having me here today.

~*~

Cornerstone Deep

Excerpt

She stepped onto the sidewalk and looked around. Humor faded. Vapor loomed over the empty streets like phantoms gathering warmth from the asphalt. She briskly rubbed her sleeves. The slight warming did nothing to ease her insecurity. Street lights blinked on but offered little comfort as the newscaster’s announcement flooded her mind. “After much deliberation, the new curfew of 2024 has been set into place. Lord Kyle Dressen, Grand Marshal of the courts, announced the bill’s passing, and urges all to adhere as strict measure will be taken to ensure vandalism of the East Side is eradicated.”

What a ridiculous notion. The impoverished East Side getting aid from the lawmakers. Yet now, unease filled her. Her co-workers’ gossip on the matter didn’t help her anxiety. An apprehensive tone caught her voice as she repeated the warning. “Curfew breakers will never be seen again.” Her whisper sent mist through the chill. She wished she hadn’t spoken.

Anna hurried across the open court and down an adjacent street. Awnings rustled in the wind. Neon signs that once invited late-night commerce hung dead behind barred windows. Her rushed steps echoed through the air.

She looked to the sky. A blanket of stars covered the firmament. She’d worked too late. Again. “God, I’m not going to make it.”

Her steps quickened, and she caught her breath as she approached the shortcut through the park. The wide corner entrance stood closed. The ancient stone griffin perched high on the gateway glared down at her. She shook the bars with disbelief. “When do they ever lock Shilo Park?” Scanning the long gates that fortified the urban green, fear clutched her stomach.

“Anna.”

She whipped around. The sound was like a whisper to her mind yet clear as if spoken. Her gaze intensified as she studied the shadowed pavement. Beneath the dim light of a street lamp, dense smoke billowed and rose, taking the form of three men. Her throat clenched. “What…in…the…world!” She spun around and ran.

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones', Julia Barrett's, Molly Daniel's and Anny Cook's.

Cassandra's Eyes

She always did take everything in,
Possessing as she does
The power to gaze upon our landscape
And find a port of entry that is
Hidden to the rest of us.

She takes it all in,
Every calamitous exhale,
Every furtive misgiving,
Every desperately hushed moan.
She takes it all and sets a torch to it.
And waves the roasting embers in front of us,
Intending to sear our cataractic vision.

She thinks she can reach
Through our blurry headed
Notions and find some insight,
Some purpose, some justified end
For all the meanness that
Permeates our vision.

She finds us wearing disguises
Carefully constructed to reveal
The dry river bed of our tears,
The ragged bark of our tongues,
The slick porcelain of our skins.

Cassandra sets her sights on next week
And goes about her business of grinding optic lenses.
Such optimism can only be the
Result of chronic reverse miosis.
Mike Cox

And don't forget the blogs at: Amarinda Jones', Julia Barrett's, Molly Daniel's and Mona Risk's.Links on right.

Post-Christmas

Well all the two-legged guests have left. Christmas was cut a bit short because of the weather. My son and his wife were going to NY for the holidays and had to leave before brunch because of the weather Christmas day. Then my brother and his significant other left directly after the brunch because of the weather.
I had my lovely daughter for an entire week. One which passed much too quickly. We dropped her off at the airport today. She was headed for Minnesota and 40 inches of snow. Burr...Since, she was flying she was limited on what she could take back. She did, however, manage to cram all her chocolate in her carry on:) I will miss her and miss having my own personal chef. I'm the nuke queen. I'll nuke a vegee entree and call it dinner. My daughter is a bit of a gourmand. While she was here I quickly got spoiled. She fixed one Thai meal, a blackberry cobbler and for Christmas dinner homemade tomato soup and gourmet grilled cheese on sourdough bred with pears and caramelized onions. She even notched up the scrambled eggs:) I probably won't eat as well again until her next visit. Miss you, baby girl.
Now we just have my son's dog and cat, along with our six cats and dog, which has been quite exciting.
But enough about me, how did you spend Christmas? Hope it was wondrous.

Don't forget the great blogs at Amarinda Jones', Julia Barrett's, Molly Daniel's and Anny Cook's places.

Another White Christmas in NC

I was going to load the rest of the pics but my camera died. sigh.
Heading outside to help the hh shovel.


Don't forget the great blogs at Amarinda Jones', Julia Barrett's, Anny Cook's and Molly Daniel's place.

Merry Christmas

Wishing each and everyone a Christmas filled with wonder, close friends, family, and delight.

Richard Whitten Barnes

With us today is Richard Whitten Barnes. Welcome Richard. Tell us about your current project.
I’m about ten thousand words into a thriller about a terrorist attempt to sabotage the Great Lakes shipping locks between Lakes Superior and Huron. I’m toying with the idea of a series for my heroine and the area of Northern Ontario.

What will I as a reader like best about your hero?

My heroine is a 47 year old divorced cop, recuperating from being wounded on the job. She returns to her childhood home on St. Joseph Island, Ontario, where her old beau still resides. I like her and I hope you as a reader will for the same reasons.

How will women identify with your heroine?

Like all of us, she has doubts about herself, her relationships, even her motive for returning home. Her need to live on her own terms clashes with her feelings for a very independent man.

Is your muse currently sitting on your shoulder or is she illusive?

She’s off somewhere now, waiting for me to be done with promoting two books, both published since November of last year.

Who is your favorite author?

Don’t really have one. I like the sparse writing of Stephen King and Elmore Leonard. Recently read two books by Markus Zusak, an Australian writer with a bit of a flair.

What books of yours are currently for sale and where can a reader buy them?
THE FAIRCLOTH REACTION – on most book seller websites; www.iuniverse..
THE CORYDON SNOW – www.wings-press, Amazon, etc.
BRINK – (Feb. 2011) – www.wings-press.com
All of the above are linked to my website www.richardwhittenbarnes.com



BRINK
By Richard Whitten Barnes

BACK COVER BLURB:
Ben Posner is at the top of his scientific career when a change in CEOs drastically affects his lifestyle. Before anyone realizes, Ben is using alcohol to cope with his problems. This downward spiral finds him homeless and eventually rescued by the woman he has secretly loved. Together they begin to patch his life back together, only to face a charge of murder.

Warning-Explicit Language
EXERPT
The blow came as he was crossing a narrow alley that bisected the block. He never saw the clenched fist with the tattooed fingers emerge from the darkened alley to hit him on the back of the neck.
“Dropped him like a stone, the long haired one complemented the bearded one, as he dragged Ben back into the alley.
Ben groaned, rolled over onto his hands and knees in an effort to get up. A vicious kick to the ribs dissuaded him of that.
“Get his wallet,” Longhair said.
A tattooed hand with I-R-O-N spelled out on the fingers was already extracting the wallet.
“Get his keys.” Fingers instructed. “Mother fuck!” he hissed. “The shit ass’s got fourteen bucks!” he expertly removed the Wells Fargo debit card, ignoring the Visa card. “Get him up!”
Longhair grabbed Ben, who was throwing up, under the arms, and stood him up, face pressed against the bricks of the building.
“Okay, Honolulu, can you hear me?” Fingers asked Ben, who nodded.
Ben’s debit card was pushed in front of his eyes, the tattooed fingers now in view. Ben hesitated. Fingers nodded to Longhair who brutally bashed Ben’s face into the bricks. Blood spurted from his nose. Pain shot through his left cheek bone.
“I ain’t gonna ask you again, Honolulu,” Fingers instructed.
Ben believed him. Uh … three, three, two … uh, four, one.”
Fingers nodded to Longhair an Ben was released. He fell into a rain puddle, rolling over on his side.
“Three, three, two, four, one,” Fingers repeated. “Better be right, ‘cause we come back, and whack you if it ain’t.”
Long hair kicked hard at Ben’s exposed stomach, then at his kidneys when Ben doubled over.
Benjamin Posner, PhD. in physical chemistry, esteemed scientist and lecturer lost consciousness in a filthy puddle of water in an Oakland alley. He did not hear the engine turn over or his Toyota Camry speed away. It began to rain again.

~*~

Don't forget Amarinda Jones', Julia Barrett's and Molly Daniel's blog.

Poinsetta Myth and Legend

This beautiful flower originated in Mexico. Around it myths and legend abound.
The myth that has recently been busted is that they're poisonous. Until just a few days ago, I thought they were poisonous. In fact, you can still find them listed on some animal poison lists. If an animal ingests a whole plant it can make them sick but its not fatal. The label of poisonous originated when a young girl was misdiagnosed with poisoning from a poinsettia in 1919.
The poinsettia was named for Mr. Joel Poinsett, an ambassador to Mexico, who was quite taken with the plants and sent them to his greenhouse in South Carolina.
Legend has it that a poor child had nothing to give Christ on his birthday but a bouquet of weeds and when he approached the altar the weeds were transformed into brilliant crimson blooms.
The Aztecs used the leaves for dye.
And today...we give them to friends to let them know we care and place them on our mantel and marvel at their beauty.
Happy Holidays.

Don't forget the great blogs at Amarinda Jones, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels

Francis P Church

The last two posts are my favorite paragraphs from Francis Church's famous editorial published in The New York Sun on September 21, 1897 in response to young Virginia O'Hanlon. She had originally ask her father if Santa Claus was real and her father responded, ' if you see it in The Sun its so.' So she wrote to the Sun and asked 'Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?'

Francis Church answered her letter. He was a lead editorial writer for The New York Sun, a paper owned by his brother. Mr. Church was also a war correspondent during the civil war. Church was born in 1839 and died in 1906 without any children.

What amazes me about his reply was that it contained so much heart. This was no cut and dry editorial. He must have had unshakable faith in the innate good of mankind to respond as he did. And how can you do anything but believe after reading it?


Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels.

Yes Virginia

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Francis P. Church

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels.

"Yes, Virginia,

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished."
Frances P. Church

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels.

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. Norman Vincent Peale


Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones and Julia Barrett.

24 Shopping Days Till Christmas

Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents.
Louisa May Alcott

Its December 1. Where are you with your Christmas Shopping?
Just starting?
Almost done?
Finished?
Or waiting till Christmas Eve?
I'm embarrassed to say I've barely started. I just haven't been bitten by the Christmas bug. We don't even have our tree up yet. blush blush. Hope you're doing better than I am.

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones and Julia Barrett.

Coming In January

Being a Werewolf hunter leaves little time for estrogen or emotion.

Why do I say this? Because I’m currently in a very odd situation, odder than normal.

My name is Jolene Sayer. I’ve hunted Were’s with my father since I was thirteen. He’s a good dad, just a bit distracted. His first and foremost responsibility, as he see’s it, is hunting Were’s. Same goes for me.

Some people think being a Were hunter is weird. For me it’s perfectly normal. What I see as odd is my attraction to the hunkalicious Braden Knight. Why? I think he’s a vampire.

Don't forget the great blogs at Amarinda Jones and Julia Barrett.

Blogging at...

Today I'm blogging at:
Charlene Wilson's
and
The Book Boost
If you have an opportunity, please drop by and say 'hey'.


And don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones and Julia Barrett's.

My Breasts Paid for Thanksgiving Dinner

In a manner of speaking.....
Actually its not as titillating as it sounds, quite the contrary. We've got a great cancer insurance policy through work and once a year they'll send a check if you've had your yearly or your mammogram. I got my mammogram--everything was fine I might add--and got my check in time for shopping for Thanksgiving dinner.

What are you doing for your Thanksgiving meal? I'll be taking care of the traditional side. The happy hubby has volunteered to do the turkey. Thank goodness. I've been a vegetarian for over twelve years now and each year it gets harder and harder to fix that poor turkey for the carnivores in my family. My daughter and her special friend will be fixing wonderful vegetarian dishes and dessert. So we're set.

To each of you, have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for your friendship.

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Julia Barrett

Sunday's quote

Men don't get cellulite. God might just be a man.

- Rita Rudner


Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Julia Barrett

Sandy Lender fans

If you're a Sandy Lender fan or just like dragons, please stop by www.downtownya.blogspot.com and say hey.


Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Julia Barrett

SUNDIAL contest winner

And the winner is.....Doreen.
Congratulations, Doreen.

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels.

AuthorIsland

Greetings.
I'm blogging today at www.CyberLaunchParty.blogspot.com. If you have an opportunity stop by and say hey.

The SUNDIAL contest ends today at 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time.

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels.

Make Yourself Necesary

Make yourself necessary to somebody~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels.

Books and Music

"Through literacy you can begin to see the universe. Through music you can reach anybody. Between the two there is you, unstoppable."

Grace Slick

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels.

CLOSURE

With us today is Rie McGaha to chat with us about her new book CLOSURE.

Welcome, Rie.

Tid Bits by Rie McGaha

My publisher has described CLOSURE as "Gruesome," and she said the manuscript was accepted just so she could see exactly how twisted I really am! I can laugh at that because I suppose there are a few gruesome scenes in the story. However, I didn't write that particular story to be gruesome or twisted. I wrote the story to kill off my ex's and to put some old ghosts to rest.

In my youth I didn't always make good choices or the right decisions. I was hard headed, determined to do things my own way, and stupid. What a combination! But it was the '70's and the sixties hadn't quite faded, the war in Vietnam wasn't over, and the hippie movement was still going strong. Peace and love prevailed among the under forty crowed. Make love not war. Don't bring me down, I think I'm comin' on. Marijuana, cocaine and LSD were abundantly provided, and usually free of charge. Sex was no big deal and changing partners occurred more often than changing underwear. If anyone actually wore underwear back then.

Being a little younger than most of my peers didn't seem to matter, although there were plenty of older women who watched out for me and plenty of older men who chose to ignore the fact I was underage. I did lie about my age but anyone with half a brain could have seen I was nowhere near nineteen. In retrospect, I doubt any of us had half a brain because everyone was usually high. Ahhh, the good ol' days when drugs were legal and had no negative effects!

But I digress. (Pausing for a moment to remember the days…although there is a period of time I have difficulty remembering at all). Moving on…CLOSURE has some very dark moments, especially the chapters about the killer. And the murder scenes I suppose. Some of the book comes from personal experience, some is pure imagination, and some is my way of burying my own past and getting closure for myself. I killed my ex's. And I have to say it was so much fun.

Being a drug counselor in a prison on a unit with 120 men and me the only female, gave me a unique perspective into the minds of criminals. Being the ex-wife of a criminal who robbed banks and spent much of his adult life in prison really taught me what the "con" in convict meant. I was also the ex-girlfriend of another criminal who was the worst kind of person and I won't even go into what he put me through here, but let's just say, I really enjoyed killing him off…in the book of course. I would never think of such a thing in real life. (Pausing to think about it and smirk a little bit).

Hmmm, I can't imagine what Ellen, owner/publisher of Champagne Books was thinking when she said "twisted"…

BLURB:

High in the hills above Albuquerque, New Mexico Detective Zachariah Ellison arrives at the scene of a murder, and not just any murder, but one that definitely falls into the “gruesome” category even for a seasoned cop like Zach. When another body is found murdered in much the same fashion, Zach knows he’s got a serial killer on his hands, and to top it off he’s got an assistant district attorney hounding him about the case. As Zach tries to investigate the crimes while sidestepping nosey Amy Logan, a third body is found and Zach hasn’t a clue as to whom the perpetrator might be.

Amy Logan has worked hard to put herself through school and pay for law school on her own and now that she’s secured a position as assistant district attorney in Albuquerque, she’s determined to do everything she can to be the best prosecutor this office has ever seen. And as if luck was following her, she’s been assigned to the biggest homicide case the city has ever seen. The only problem she’s having is the homicide detective who’s leading the investigation—Zach Ellison.

EXCERPT:

EXCERPT FROM: CLOSURE Champagne Books

"Zach, the body just arrived down here. Thought you'd want to be here for the autopsy," Pete said when Zach answered.

"On my way." He put the phone on the base, and then picked it up again. If Amy wanted information on the case, he'd just give it to her. He dialed the number from the card she'd left him, waited for the automated service, then punched in the extension.

“Amy? Zach here. The body just came in to the morgue. I'm going down—want to join me?” He looked at the phone in his hand and grinned. Amy hadn't even bothered to hang up on her end before he'd heard the door of her office slam.

Taking the elevator down, he pushed open the double doors that led to the morgue, and entered the autopsy room where he put on a face shield and paper apron. Ron was standing by the table with Pete, already wearing the protective gear.

"What do we have here?" Zach asked, putting on latex gloves.

"Just about to start, but I have to tell you, Zach, I've never seen anything like this. Damn, this is morbid—even for me," Pete said, shaking his head.

Ron nodded. "I've been in homicide for ten years,

Zach. I can't believe this one."

"Yeah, let's get on with it," Zach said and took a breath. He hated autopsies as well, but they were a vital part of finding evidence, and at this point he needed all he could get.

The doors opened again as Amy walked in, still out of breath, and all three men looked up. Zach thought she must have run the entire three blocks from her office.

“This is Amy Logan, D.A.'s office,” Zach said and made introductions. “There's an apron and a face shield on the shelf,” he told her and pointed. “Put them on.”

She nodded and when she was wearing the protective gear, she made her way to Zach's side and stood staring wide-eyed at the body on the table.

Pete took photos of the body—the penis in its mouth,

a close-up of the face, and of particular areas like the leather band around the throat. He removed the penis from the mouth, and photographed the teeth. Moving over the body, he photographed the bruises and burn marks on the upper torso, and the ligature marks on the ankles and wrists. The body was on its side because of the baseball bat protruding from the rectum, and he photographed that as well.

"Okay. I'm going to pull this out first, so I can turn the body,” he said at length. “It's not going to be pretty."

Pete grasped the handle of the bat with one hand and placed a gloved hand on the corpse's hip and pulled. The bat didn't budge. He grasped the bat with both hands and twisted it to the right, then braced a hand against the hip again and pulled harder, but it still wouldn't budge.

He looked up at Zach. “Want to give me a hand here?”

Zach blew out a breath and walked around the table while pulling on a second pair of gloves. No, he thought, I definitely do not want to help on this one.

He held the body in place while Pete twisted the bat back and forth a few times and then pulled slowly. It made a loud sucking noise and when the bat finally came out, blood, water, feces, and pieces of intestines gushed out after it, splattering onto Pete and Zach both, and then splashed noisily onto the floor at their feet.

"All righty then," Pete commented, and held up the sawed off bat, looking at Zach, then showed it to Amy and Ron.

Amy made a sound that wasn't quite a scream as she turned and ran to the sink, and heaved her lunch into it.

Zach took a deep breath and shrugged as he looked at Ron and Pete. He went to Amy, pulled paper towels out of the container, wet them and handed them to her, and left the water running in the sink so she could clean herself up.

What's Your Reading Pleasure?

How do you read your favorite books? Paper? Computer? E Reader? Or listen to an audio?
I've been a paper girl for more years than I care to mention. For me its a lot easier than reading off a computer. I wanted a hand held device but there always seemed better ways to spend my money. You know how that goes:) I won a Nook this year at Romanticon and I read my first book on it: Ms. Julia's Persephone. I was stunned. Its amazingly comfortable to hold and read and its addictive. The only thing that disappointed me was that there wasn't a built in light in it for night reading.
So tell us, what's your favorite way to read? Great minds want to know:) And if you read with a hand held, which one do you prefer?
Have a great weekend!

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels.

Just a reminder

CONTEST: For a chance to win an autographed copy of SUNDIAL, a 'seeing' pendant and a $10 starbucks gift card just leave a comment and mention SUNDIAL. The contest will be running till 5 p.m. Nov 14th.

Without warning, he exploded into her senses. One moment she was driving alone down a busy intersection, the next he was there. A stranger with black hair, dressed in clothes of another era. But most frightening of all, he had no substance.

"Oh, my God!" Sarah screamed as she slammed on the brakes. "Oh, my God. Oh, my God!" she sobbed.

The brakes squealed as steel-belted radials dug into asphalt.

Her cat Monet, riding in the passenger seat, went skidding across the seat and onto the floor.

Sarah had a brief impression of a tall, sleek stranger. He was standing in the middle of the road, his arms outstretched. And she could read his thoughts as clearly as if he'd spoken. Saura. The word whispered through her mind, a bastardized version of her name. Her hands gripped the steering wheel and her whole body went rigid as she tensed for the impact...and drove straight through him.

Available at classactbooks.com in paper or e.

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels.

Daughters of Persephone

I just finished this sci-fi fantasy and highly recommend it for fans of this genre.
Ms. Barrett has a strong writing style and well-developed characters. She takes you on a journey filled with action and steamy romance.
Her main female character, Aja Bokinan, manages to remain sensitive while being mentally and physically powerful, the Thousand Year Empress who has grown to adulthood in exile.
Kyr Aram is a sexy smuggler and resistance fighter.
The passion between these two is both intense and destined to last.
I find Ms. Barrett to be a talented writer and think you will too.
Persephone can be purchased at Resplendence, Amazon, and All Romance.

Author Sherry Gloag

With us today is Sherry Gloag who has just had a new release THE BRAT. And let me add it sounds like a great read.

Welcome, Sherry. Tell us about your current project.

I started writing The Brat early in 2008. My heroine, Gina Williams, gave me her name first. Then she told me what she did, and why it meant so much to her. She told me about the child, Benedict Kouvaris, she replaced in Anna Kouvaris's house, and how much she hated him and why.

She insisted I give him this name. I still don't know why. (His mother's name changed during the edits.)

Are you a plotter or pantser?

More pantser than plotter, but occasionally I find that as I finish one chapter the 'plot' for the following chapter is clear in my head. When that happens I make notes at the bottom of the bottom of the current chapter I'm working on, then move them to the new document when I start the following chapter.

After a couple of months of solid writing I ground to a halt and all the characters went AWOL. I got on with other projects but kept mulling over ideas for the rest of The Brat. In November I did my stint in NaNo and finished one story and to complete my word count brought out The Brat again. Whether or not it was vanity on their part, when Ben and Gina discovered I posted their excerpts in my NaNo writing page they came back with a vengeance. I didn't finish The Brat (including edits) until February 2009. My first attempted submission to Mills and Boon was rejected. I was sharing my disappointment with a friend and she almost dared me to try again. So I did. Again it was rejected but with such warm advice and suggestions I followed them up and late in 2009 The Wild Rose Press said 'Yes.'

Do you have critique partners are work alone?

I am a member of the most amazing critique group on line. There are about half-a-dozen members at any given time and their comments vary amazingly, giving a huge perspective to work with when rewriting.

What is your zodiac sign and how does it aid you as a writer?

Pisces. I often say 'I meet myself coming the other way'. Pisceans are dreamers so it helps in my writing, because I am a dreamer.

Tell us something that would surprise us about you.

Hmm. LOL. I can no longer eat chocolate. I love it, but I have become intolerant to it.

What books of yours are currently for sale and where can we buy them?

The Brat is my debut novel and can be ordered at Wild Rose Press as of October 1st. (Link not yet available)

Also at:

Amazon.com,Amazon.co.uk, Barnes&Noble,Baker & Taylor, Bertrams, The Book Depository and other outlets after October 1st.

www.sherrygloag.com

Blurb:-
Gina Williams has a secret and prays it is buried with her childhood persecutor, Em Kouvaris, as discovery will ruin her reputation as a famous children’s author. She soon discovers the son, Ben Kouvaris, new owner of her publishing company, has uncovered her past and is making demands. Will he ruin her career if she doesn’t comply?
Ben Kouvaris is blown away by the unknown beauty at his estranged mother's funeral, and when his father demands he marry, immediately, to secure the family business, he knows just who he wants as his temporary bride. But can Ben persuade Gina to trust him?

Excerpt: The Brat – Excerpt Two – Chapter Two

A voice from the grave filled her mind to the exclusion of everything else. “No one cares about a guttersnipe like you. You’re nothing but a snivelling little brat. You have no past and no future. You are no one and never will be. Your place is here, for you have nothing else to aspire to, and nowhere else to go.”

More than two decades later the words still fuelled her ambitions to achieve. They still goaded her into proving to herself and others that she could succeed. Her aspirations and dreams propelled her need to prove herself.

“Watch it, luv!” A hand yanked her back from the curb. “You got a death wish or som’it?” The blast of a car horn jerked her back against her rescuer.

“Oh!” Gina gasped. “I wasn’t paying attention…”

Her voice trailed off. Her memories stole her concentration. “Thank you.” She eased her arm from within his grasp and held out her hand. “Your quick actions saved my life.”

“Think nothing of it.” The man touched his cap, stepped back, and soon disappeared in the crowds. Shaken more than she cared to admit, she looked around and entered a nearby coffee shop.

She fought the ghosts from her past and wrestled them back into that black box in her mind she’d kept locked for almost two decades. With the exception of her agent and best friend, Liz, she’d never shared her secrets, and Liz didn’t know the half of them, just enough for Liz to realize her children’s adventure stories evolved from her childhood fantasies.

Contest:

Sherry has lots of fun prizes. To win one simply go to her blog: http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/, where she left character revelations all through September. Decide which character revelation you connect with and leave a comment on this blog.

The prizes include a PDF of Meditative Serenity, The Brat Note Cards, and signed bookmarks from the UK.

Just When You Thought It Was Over...

I'm blogging at CoffeeTime's November Brew.

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels.

Schedule on Halloween

• 

Today I'm at Hywela Lyn's Halloween Blog. If you have an opportunity stop by. Its all kinds of fun. (Julia Barrett, I'll be looking for you:)

What are you doing for fun on Samhain? We went into the mountains last night to look for the mysterious Brown Mountain lights. We didn't see them but the sky was so beautiful it took my breath away...or maybe that was from the elevation. Anyway it was amazing. Have you ever heard of the Brown Mountain lights? They are a phenomena. Lights appear on the horizon and travel into the sky, some describe them as orbs, some say they come in colors. No one has yet figured out where they come from or what causes them. Anyway, enjoy your Hallow's Eve.

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Anny Cook, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels.

Schedule Oct 30

• I'm blogging today with Eppie finalist, Cindy Spencer Pape. If you have an opportunity, please stop by.

Don't forget the great blogs at: Amarinda Jones, Ashley Ladd, Anny Cook, Julia Barrett and Molly Daniels. Links on right at bottom.

Contest: For a chance to win a copy of SUNDIAL, a Starbucks gift card and a 'seeing' pendant just leave a comment and mention SUNDIAL.

As Sarah Miles drives down Eighteenth Street, a stranger materializes in front of her car. She throws on her brakes, braces for impact and…drives straight through him. For a brief moment, his voice filled with quiet despair echoes in her head. “Saura.Saura.” Then he’s gone. Later that day, Sarah discovers the SUNDIAL and her incredible journey through time begins.

Schedule

I'm blogging today with Ms. Molly Daniels. This is a great blog to learn more about other authors and their up and coming works.

All Work and No Play, etc etc

My roommate, the fabulous Kate Poole, and myself with the Cave Men at Romanticon.

Schedule

Today I'm at my friend Julia Barrett's who has been not only kind enough to host me but follow this tour as well.

Schedule

I'm blogging today at Misc. Ramblings. Its a fun blog with lots of 'free stuff' links. If you have an opportunity drop by.

Schedule

I'm at Linda Rettstatt's today. If you stop by, you may want to check out her book, NEXT TIME I'M GONNA DANCE. All her royalties go to fight cancer.
Thanks to the kind folks that are keeping up with this tour.

Schedule

I'm blogging today at Class Act Books.

Sundial

Sundial, a time travel romance, is released today at classactbooks.com.

With us today is Sarah Miles, heroine of Sundial. She has graciously agreed to an interview. So let’s get started.

Interviewer: “Welcome, Sarah. Thanks for joining us today.”

Sarah: “My pleasure.”

Interviewer: “How does it feel to be one of the premiere painters in the country?”

Sarah: “Wonderful. I’m unbelievably lucky. I get to do what I love and get paid for it.”

Interviewer: “And paid quite well, I might add.”

Sarah laughs. “Yes. Quite well.”

Interviewer: “This is a little off topic, but what’s your thoughts on time travel?”

Sarah: “A year ago I would have said time travel always makes for a great story. Now…”

Interviewer: “Now?”

Sarah takes a deep breath. “Time travel exists.”

Interviewer: “And how do you know that?”

Sarah: “I’ve traveled back in time.”

Interviewer: “Oh come on. You can't be serious.”

Sarah: “No really.”

Interviewer: “How?”

Sarah: “As you know, I predominantly paint gardens. My niece, Meghan Ryan who is also a painter and a good one, I might add, and I were painting in a garden when we discovered an ancient sundial. I remember reading the inscription. It said ‘Fate cannot be altered’. Then I touched it and poof.”

Interviewer: “Poof?”

Sarah: “Poof. All of a sudden I was in this vortex of whishing wind, being whirled round and round then the bottom fell out and I was dropped down.”

Interviewer: “Dropped down where?”

Sarah: “In the middle of the battle of San Jacinto.”
Interviewer: “San Jacinto! Did you meet Sam Houston?”

Sarah smiles: “Oh yes. What a sweetheart. He is, was, the most amazing man.”

Interviewer: “So why do you think you were taken back in time, Sarah?”

Sarah: “To find Jesse Adams.”

Interviewer: “Jesse Adams. That name sounds familiar.”

Sarah’s face softens as she smiles. “Yes, I imagine it does. Listen, I’m on a bit of a tight schedule. I’ve got to go.”

Interviewer: “Wait, aren’t you going to tell us about Jesse Adams?”

Sarah’s face lights up. “Only that he’s waiting for me. Thanks for having me. Goodbye.”

Interviewer: “Thanks for stopping by. Goodbye, Sarah.”
Interviewer: “Hmm, I wonder… just who is Jesse Adams.”

~*~

Without warning, he exploded into her senses. One moment she was driving alone down a busy intersection, the next he was there. A stranger with black hair, dressed in clothes of another era. But most frightening of all, he had no substance.

"Oh, my God!" Sarah screamed as she slammed on the brakes. "Oh, my God. Oh, my God!" she sobbed.

The brakes squealed as steel-belted radials dug into asphalt.

Her cat Monet, riding in the passenger seat, went skidding across the seat and onto the floor.

Sarah had a brief impression of a tall, sleek stranger. He was standing in the middle of the road, his arms outstretched. And she could read his thoughts as clearly as if he'd spoken. Saura. The word whispered through her mind, a bastardized version of her name. Her hands gripped the steering wheel and her whole body went rigid as she tensed for the impact.

~*~

CONTEST: For a chance to win an autographed copy of SUNDIAL, a 'seeing' pendant and a $10 starbucks gift card just leave a comment. The contest will be running through noon of Nov 14th. I'll have the drawing and post the winner that evening.

Please welcome good bud and author extraordinaire, Cindy Spencer Pape. Cindy tell us about your current project.

I just sent a steampunk romance called Steam & Sorcery, off to my editor at Carina Press yesterday, so now I need to start working on something new.

Cindy, I know you're a blogger. Do you blog everyday?

I blog most days, but not all. I like to chat with my readers & friends, post pictures, and have author guests drop by.

What do you do to promote your books?

A little bit of everything. Besides blogging, I try to stay active on a handful of yahoo loops, Facebook and Twitter. I do ads on review sites and occasionally in magazines. Carina Press has a forum on e-Harlequin.com that I try to remember to visit occasionally.

Does music beckon your muse?

Music keeps me moving. I go crazy without some kind of background noise.

If so, what type of music?

A mix of folk and rock, heavily weighted toward Celtic. The faster the music, the faster I type, so Celtic punk is a real favorite.

What’s your preference, doing dishes by hand for a week or writing a synopsis?

I’d write the synopsis. They’re not really all that bad…

Where can someone go to buy your books?

Website: http://www.cindyspencerpape.com/
Blog: http://cindyspencerpape.blogspot.com/
Newsletter group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cspapenewsgroup/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CindySPape
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000270304390

Check out my two new releases this month:

Just for Jess (Immortal Cravings #3)
Release Date: Oct. 5, 2010
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

Buylink: http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8720-50-just-for-jess.aspx

Blurb:
Vampire Jessamy Maitland is a classic workaholic, until her friends team up to buy her a weekend with the incredibly sexy vampire Dermott McMahon on his luxurious private island. Dermott is determined to get Jess to kick back and relax, so he’s enlisted the help of three lion shifter friends.

* * * * *

Motor City Witch (Urban Arcana Book #2)
Release Date: October 4, 2010
Publisher: Carina Press
Buylink: http://ebooks.carinapress.com/9FA8421E-7235-456D-ABF3-174B4C1ACA81/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=6B85B3A2-3E88-4734-A98C-3EA23B6CD294

Blurb: She’d left magic behind.

Once upon a time, Elise Sutton had been a powerful witch and paranormal enforcer. Once she’d been madly in love with Fae lord Aidan Greene. But when Aidan had considered his duties more important than their relationship, the love affair ended badly. Shortly after, while on the hunt for a rogue demon, Elise was brutalized and almost killed. Months later she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. To protect her child—and her heart—Elise decided to live a nonmagical life.

Until she meets Aidan again, and he assumes Dina is his daughter. When Dina is kidnapped by a racial purity movement, Elise turns to Aidan for help. The icy facade she has built around herself shatters at Aidan’s touch. Together they have to hunt through the human and faery worlds to find Dina...and to discover whether or not they have any kind of chance at a happily ever after.