When I invited Joan C. Curtis to stop by on her book tour I asked if she had any guidance for authors. This post is not only original, but also much needed for an introvert writer, such as myself – Thank you. Schmoozing Tips for Writers Most writers prefer to work at their computer in their home offices and never step out the door. In today’s digital world that dream can happen. Most of us rarely leave our computer safe environments. Unfortunately if we do not learn the art of schmoozing, either through our social networks or face-to-face, our hermit-style world will not lead to success. On the flipside there is nothing worse than the author who is constantly hawking his or her book. You meet them and the first thing they do is tell you about this wonderful book they wrote. So, what’s a person to do? We must get out of our caves and start to schmooze, but we shouldn’t overly sell our books? In today’s environment schmoozing has become an art. Whether you are a newly published author or building a freelance writing business to be successful, you must learn how to communicate in a way that builds rapport. Ask your most successful salesmen if people buy from strangers. They’ll tell you that people buy from people they know and trust. They don’t have to know you very long, but they must feel they can trust you enough to buy your book or purchase your writing service. According to Susan Roane, in How to Work the Room, the word schmoozing comes from a Yiddish word that means to make prolonged, friendly conversation. It does not mean trying to sell your product. It does not mean hard sell (hawking your book to every Tom, Dick and Harry you see). In building relationships, you take that first step toward trust. The schmooze isn’t sleazy. It’s a comfortable, sensitive interaction. Let’s look at some tips for face-to-face schmoozing, say at a conference: · Break the ice. Introduce yourself in a way that is light. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t try and sell yourself or your book in the first five seconds. Be open and honest about who you are and what connects you to the event you may be attending. Give the person you’re meeting something which will engage them. “I’m here because I’m a writer and I’ve just published my first mystery. So what brings you to this event?” · Listen. Pay attention to what the other person says. How do they introduce themselves? How are they connected to this event? Ask open, non-threatening questions. Use humor when you can. “I’ve been her for ten minutes and I can’t wait to leave. What about you? Are you comfortable at these things?” · Look for a connection between you and the person. Do you like the same sports? Do you live in the same town? Do you both like to travel? · Talk about up-to-date current events that are non-political. Try and find common ground through pop culture or things that are happening in the world or relevant to your community. Steer away from controversial subjects even those that are only controversial within that company or environment. If push comes to shove, talk about the conference. “Which workshops are you going to?” · Don’t always be the one to “tell” the story. Instead, be the one to encourage the other person to tell his/her story and listen attentively. It’s always more fun to be the one telling the story. Laugh even if you’ve heard the joke before. You could even ask the person, “So what do you write?” · Watch practiced schmoozers. Pay attention to what works for you. What kinds of things engage you with someone else? Who are the people you’re drawn to and what do they do? How do they connect with you and with others? Schmoozing is a practiced art. The more you do it, the more comfortable you will become. When you start out, do not expect to win friends each time. There will be some people you won't connect with. That's fine. Move on. There is always someone else, standing alone, just waiting for your gracious handshake and hello. The Clock Strikes Midnight is a race against time in a quest for revenge and atonement. This is a story about hate, love, betrayal and forgiveness. If you found out you had only 3 months to live, what would you do? That’s the question Janie Knox faces in this fast-paced mystery full of uncertainty and tension that will surprise you until the very last page. Hiding behind the façade of a normal life, Janie keeps her family secrets tucked inside a broken heart. Everything changes on the day she learns she’s going to die. With the clock ticking and her time running out, she rushes to finish what she couldn’t do when she was 17—destroy her mother’s killer. But she can’t do it alone. Janie returns to her childhood home to elicit help from her sister. She faces more than she bargained for when she discovers her sister’s life in shambles. Meanwhile her mother’s convicted killer, her stepfather, recently released from prison, blackmails the sisters and plots to extract millions from the state in retribution. New revelations challenge Janie’s resolve, but she refuses to allow either time or her enemies to her stop her from uncovering the truth she’s held captive for over 20 years. EXCERPT: “Daddy, when I get my kitty, can I name him Davy?” she had asked, yanking Marlene’s Davy Crockett mug full of M&M’s from her grasp. The colorful candy spilled all over the backseat of the car. “Mama, tell Janie to—” “Janie, behave,” Daddy said, admonishing her for an instant with his eyes from the rearview mirror. “Malcolm, look out—!” Mom screamed. Janie slammed into Marlene. Pain. The world tumbled topsy-turvy. The mug flew across the interior of the car, colors of the rainbow falling all around her. Then, everything went black. When she opened her eyes, Mom’s blood-streaked face rose in front of her out of the darkness. “Wrap your arms around my neck, honey.” Mom lifted her from the wreckage. Janie clutched her doll by the dress while the rain beat her curly hair flat. Marlene stood on the side of the road. “Try to walk,” Mom said, toppling her from her arms. Her head pounded and blood trickled down her leg. She leaned on her good leg and limped in the direction of her sister. “Mama, where’s Daddy?” Marlene asked between sobs. Mom took Marlene’s hand and yanked her forward with Janie in tow. Marlene lurched back toward the smashed Oldsmobile with smoke billowing from its hood and a big tree lying across the roof. The Davy Crockett mug lay shattered by the back tire. “Daddy! We can’t leave Daddy!” Marlene yelled, picking up pieces of the broken glass. They had left Daddy that day and piled into an old Chevy pick-up truck with a bashed in headlamp, belonging to a man with carrot-red hair. Mom pushed them inside the truck and ordered the man to get help. But by then it was too late for Daddy. It was too late for all of them. AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Joan Curtis authored four business books published by Praeger Press. She is also published numerous stories, including: • Butterflies in a Strawberry Jar, Sea Oats Review, Winter, 2004 • A Memoir Of A Friend, Chicken Soup for the Working Woman’s Soul, 2003 and Flint River Review, 1996 • Jacque’s Story in From Eulogy to Joy, 2002 • The Roommate, Whispering Willow Mystery Magazine, April 1997 • A Special Sort of Stubbornness, Reader’s Digest, March 1997, • My Father’s Final Gift, Reader Digest, November 1994 Her first place writing awards include : Best mystery manuscript in the Malice Domestic Grants competition, best proposal for a nonfiction piece in the Harriette Austin competition, and best story, Butterflies in a Strawberry Jar in the Cassell Network of Freelance Writer’s Association. Other Books: Hire Smart and Keep ‘Em: How to Interview Strategically Using POINT, Praeger Press, an imprint of ABC-Clio, Santa Barbara, CA 2012. The New Handshake: Sales Meets Social Media, Praeger Press, 2010, an imprint of ABC-Clio, Santa Barbara, CA Managing Sticky Situations at Work: Communication Secrets for Success in the Workplace, 2009, Praeger Press, an imprint of ABC-Clio, Santa Barbara, CA. Strategic Interviewing: Skills for Savvy Executives, 2000 published by Quorum Books, Greenwood Press. “I write about characters who remind me of myself at times and my sister at times, but never fully so. My stories are told from a woman’s point of view. Characters drive my writing and my reading.” Having grown up in the South with a mother from Westchester County New York, Joan has a unique take on blending the southern traditions with the eye of a northerner. She spent most of her childhood in North Carolina and now resides in Georgia. Links: website: http://www.joancurtis.com Blog: http://www.joancurtis.com/blog Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/joanccurtisauthor Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/joancurtis That headline sounds like something from a science fiction movie, but this is exactly what happened. In 1783 a chain of craters known as Lakagígar, or the craters of Laki, erupted. Although the Laki eruption is well known in Iceland, it is not widely known across the rest of Europe. I’ll get to the reason for this later, but first let me tell you how it all started. On 6th June 1783 the Laki fissure erupted and continued erupting for six months. A fissure is a chain of craters that explodes in a line. The Laki fissure is massive, being approximately 23 kilometers long and 1000 feet wide. Although there was an enormous amount of lava with this event I don’t believe the flow had a great impact on the population of Iceland. To put this event in perspective in 1991 Mount Pinatubo erupted. It blasted so much debris into the atmosphere world temperatures dropped by approximately one degree, affecting global weather systems for years. Every three days Laki spewed gas and debris equivalent to the Mount Pinatubo eruption. Laki created 120 million tons of sulphur dioxide, which was blown across Northern Europe. The poisonous cloud was reported in Bergen, Prague, Berlin, Paris, La Harve and by 22nd June 1783 it had completely engulfed England. That summer was unusually hot. Although this was not caused by the eruption it worsened the effects. British naturalist Gilbert White described that summer in his classic Natural History of Selborne as "an amazing and portentous one … the peculiar haze, or smokey fog, that prevailed for many weeks in this island, and in every part of Europe, and even beyond its limits, was a most extraordinary appearance, unlike anything known within the memory of man. "The sun, at noon, looked as blank as a clouded moon, and shed a rust-coloured ferruginous light on the ground, and floors of rooms; but was particularly lurid and blood-coloured at rising and setting. At the same time the heat was so intense that butchers' meat could hardly be eaten on the day after it was killed; and the flies swarmed so in the lanes and hedges that they rendered the horses half frantic … the country people began to look with a superstitious awe, at the red, louring aspect of the sun." When the cloud mixed with the moisture in the atmosphere it transformed into sulphuric acid rain, destroying crops. Laborers working in the fields dropped dead when the gas combined with the moisture in their lungs, melting them. (It must’ve been a horrible way to die.) Iceland was devastated. Between a third and a quarter of Iceland’s population perished either from the effects of the eruption or the famine that followed. (Reports vary, but at least 10,000 people died.) In England, it is estimated that 23,000 people died between June 1783 and February 1784, when the eruption stopped. And it is believed that a further 8000 died because of the devastatingly cold volcanic winter and the resulting famine. Of course an eruption of this size had a huge impact on global temperatures. In North America the Delaware River froze at Philadelphia, the harbor at Charleston, South Carolina froze and the Mississippi froze at New Orleans This was a cataclysmic event that effected a large portion of the population so why is so little known about it outside Iceland. I can’t really speak for the other countries in Northern Europe, but in England, newspapers of the time only catered to the rich and literate. Not the poor farm laborers who were dying in the fields, they didn’t seem to matter so, it wasn’t reported. There are scholars who blame the French Revolution of 1789 on the Laki Event. This makes sense when you consider that global temperatures were affected for years, causing food shortages, particularly in Europe. It is hard not to remember the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokul, which caused a halt in air traffic across Northern Europe for several weeks. By Icelandic standards this was a relatively small eruption. The president of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, addressed the world, warning European officials that they should prepare for future eruptions. At the time of the 1783 eruption England’s population was estimated at 6.5 million, today it is approximately 56 million. If the same poisonous cloud were to cover Europe today how much worse would the death toll be? More family for Christmas? Scott Walker doesn't have time for a relationship. The sexy mechanic has career ambitions, not to mention a mother and three sisters to take care of. The last thing he needs is Carrie Jameson, the beauty he never forgot, arriving in Templeton Cove over the holidays with some unexpected news. Scott still finds Carrie irresistible, and he's not one to shirk responsibility. Scott's issues with his own dad make the prospect of parenthood a minefield. But if he and Carrie can overcome their fears, this Christmas could bring them the best gift of all. About Rachel
Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance and a further three in 2013. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013, followed by a second in January 2014 and the third is released Jan 2015. Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, and was selected to mentor the Superromance finalist of So You Think You Can Write 2014 contest. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England. She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you! Links: Website Blog First and foremost, my goal with each book is to draw my readers out of their real worlds and so fully immerse them in my story that they hate for my books to end. Living in the fictional world I create should be as wonderful an escape for my readers as it is for me while I’m writing the story! As a writer, I also strive to remain fresh—to create new situations and challenges for myself. I refuse to write the same premise again and again. Indeed, over the thirty years of my career, I’ve written under more than one name and in more than one genre, partly because that’s what kept me published but also because I have a hard time pigeonholing myself as an author of any particular type of book. It’s a liberating thing to evolve into different genres and find out just how far you can stretch your abilities and your imagination! Resilience and flexibility have gotten me where I am today. I used to have the goal of reaching a big bestseller list, yet experience and a lot of writer friends have taught me that attaining that sort of recognition is almost totally out of the author’s control and depends upon how much push a publisher gives the book long before its pub date. So now, if I make a bestseller list, great. If I don’t, I’m a success every time an editor offers me another contract and every time a reader chooses to buy my book—and I consider it another level of success when a reader takes a moment to tell me how much she/he enjoyed my story. One nice thing about a writing career is that I can work from home—or on my iPad, wherever I go—with a flexible schedule, and I can keep writing well into advanced age if I choose to. After all, Victoria Holt was still writing when she died on a cruise ship at 87, and Barbara Cartland wrote until she was well into her 90s. My final writing goal is to keep putting words on the page for as long as I enjoy doing it. When it’s time to move on to something else, I’ll go forward with a joyful heart, knowing the years I spent writing were an experience many, many people envy. Naomi is giving away a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card to one randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter. All you have to do is scroll down to leave a comment for the author, and then enter the rafflecopter. You can also click on the banner above to follow the tour and enter at each stop. Romance is in the air during the fall wedding season in the Amish community of Cedar Creek. But while one loving couple prepares to tie the knot, Amanda and Wyman Brubaker’s large family faces a threat from outside their happy circle…and must learn to pull together. Recently wed Amanda and Wyman Brubaker are thrilled that their children from previous marriages have blended together to form a strong family. But when the construction of Wyman’s new grain elevator is delayed, making the project more expensive than anticipated, Amanda’s determination to rally the kids into taking on work to improve the family’s finances comes into conflict with Wyman’s sense of responsibility as head of the household…. Meanwhile, as James Graber and Abby Lambright prepare for their long-awaited nuptials, folks gather from far and wide. Amanda’s nephew Jerome has long been smitten with James’s sister Emma and wants to seize this chance to woo her. But Emma’s been burned once and is twice shy of trusting the fun-loving, never-serious Jerome. As Emma and Jerome struggle to understand each other, and find the courage to make a leap of faith, the Brubakers face a bigger challenge than they first anticipated and begin to discover just what it means to fight…the Amish way. Available at The book Depository Amazon Barnes & Noble B-A-M Chapters IndieBound Powell’s Kindle Nook Kobo iBooks Excerpt “It’s been way too long since I hitched up a sleigh,” Jerome said as he lightly clapped the reins on Sparky’s back. “I don’t think this one’s seen the snow since Uncle Atlee passed, and that’s a shame. Are you warm enough?” Emma burrowed deeper beneath the quilts Jerome had draped over them. Now that she was settled on the plush old seat, leaning into Jerome as the sleigh tilted slightly on the downhill lane, she felt happier than she had in a long time. The full moon was beaming down from a blue velvet sky dotted with diamond stars, making the snow-blanketed pastures glimmer all around them. “I’m cozy. And I’m having a really gut time,” Emma replied with a contented sigh. “Night rides are the prettiest, especially now that the wind has died down.” “Jah, it’s a perfect evening,” Jerome replied softly. “I’ve been hoping for more time alone with you, well—since the day we went shopping, Emma.” As she thought back to that day she’d spent trying to escape Jerome’s attentions, Emma let herself relax . . . allowed the breeze from the accelerating sleigh blow away her former objections to the handsome man who was driving it. The clip-clop of Sparky’s hooves on the snow-packed road settled her heartbeat into its rhythm while the warmth they shared beneath the quilts soothed her after a day of surprising guests and revelations. “Denki for giving me another chance, Jerome,” she murmured. “You were right at the wedding. I’ve missed out on a lot of opportunities to go out and have fun.” AUTHOR Bio and Links: Drawing upon her experiences in Jamesport, the largest Old Order Amish community west of the Mississippi, longtime Missourian Naomi King writes of simpler times and a faith-based lifestyle in her Home at Cedar Creek/One Big Happy Family series. Like her series heroine, Abby Lambright, Naomi considers it her personal mission to be a listener—to heal broken hearts and wounded souls—and to share her hearth and home. Faith and family, farming and frugality are hallmarks of her lifestyle: like Abby, she made her wedding dress and the one her mom wore, too! She’s a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and when she’s not writing, Naomi loves to travel, try new recipes, crochet, and sew. Naomi, whose real name is Charlotte Hubbard, now lives in Minnesota with her husband and their border collie, Ramona. www.NaomiKingAuthor.com https://www.facebook.com/NaomiC.Kin Today I have a special guest, Barbara Edwards. Barbara is a talented author who has generously agreed to share some of her knowledge with us. And I personally want to thank her; this post has been very useful to me as I work on my editing. Rewrites are a vital part of the editing process. I’m constantly learning new methods from more experienced writers although I’ve published six books. I’ve found certain things that help me to tighten my story. I studied Jayne Anne Krentz’s way of describing her hero after being knocked over by her intro line that ‘In the door stood two junk yard dogs, one was a man.’ It’s been a few years since I read this and I’m sure I misquoted, but close enough for my explanation. In the book she goes on to say he’s strong, loyal, protective. I realized that this was a technique many authors use to keep their hero in character. For example, if you say your hero moved like a jungle cat, then it is wise to carry on the tagging with graceful, lithe, strong or other tags that keep that idea simmering throughout the book. I noticed many new authors don’t take advantage of this tool to strengthen their character and the readers interest. In my book Ancient Blood, I used not only my hero’s name, Cole, but his description as a werewolf to make his character more appealing. His teeth parted in a ferocious grin, he growled, he is strong. His hair is black as coal. Try making a list of descriptive words and sprinkle them through your work. Cat-like can bring sleek, purred, stroked. Use your creative talent to add more. Excerpt from my new release Ancient Curse: Evil never dies. And this time it wants Rainie Gamble. More than her life, it wants her soul. The artifacts she handles come from every era and she can read their past with a touch. After her Father’s deceit, she’d lost her beloved career until Thomas hired her to inventory his new estate. She is acutely aware these items ooze evil. Her attraction to Thomas grows despite her resolve to never trust again. Thomas Broquette needed Rainie for more than her psychic ability. She could bring her father into his reach and Thomas needed him to return the stolen paintings in Mason’s estate. He needs Rainie’s help to destroy the evil things Mason left behind. Then he realizes he needs her for much, much more. She needs to trust him despite his lie. Their love is her only hope of survival. Please visit, friend or follow me. I love to hear from readers Author Website: http://barbaraedwards.net Blog Site: http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com Available at The Wild Rose Press The Wild Rose Press offers its books in multiple formats for your convenience. Sweet romance with a dash of humor, a touch of mystery, and a hint of magic. Just yesterday, the Authors of Main Street, re-released their CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET, a collection of eleven heartwarming, holiday stories. A 2013 Amazon #1 bestseller, now only 99 cents. I love all the stories, but A LIGHT IN THE CHRISTMAS CAFÉ is one of my favorites, because it was my very first completed novel. A LIGHT IN THE CHRISTMAS CAFE An almost perfect evening can be easily ruined by a profession of love. Moonlight streaming through the windows, the café’s comforting aromas, a nearly overflowing dining room, delicious food, poetry…and Claude. Deirdre knows she has to stop him, but she doesn’t know how. In Lake Vista, a small resort town tucked in the California foothills, Deirdre finds that there are more questions than answers. And Claude is the least of her problems. In LA, Deirdre’s perfectly constructed life made sense—a lucrative, albeit boring, career and an adoring boyfriend. But when her beloved grandmother tumbles down the stairs, Deirdre returns to Lake Vista and picks up the apron strings at Rosie’s café. Temporarily. Running her grammy’s café is more complicated than Deirdre could have ever imagined. Despite a food thief, a haunted house, a matchmaker and a handsome stranger, Deirdre believes her old, safe life can still be salvaged. Until she sees a mysterious light in the café’s attic. A light, that like her, doesn't belong. In addition to the anthology, the Authors of Main Street have also compiled a FREE companion book of holiday decorating tips. Here’s mine: GENEALOGY FAN CHART Some will say it's not a craft, per se, but I made my own fan chart and I love it, even if it's merely a fill in the blank sort of project. No sewing, paints, or glue required. Using a ruler and compass, it's pretty easy. My chart goes back 8 generations and you can see it athttp://kristystories.blogspot.com/2014/10/ancestors-love-letter.html I used a computer to print out the words (not the names, you'll have to do that by hand) and then took it to Staples to have it copied on a nice sheet of paper. (I don't have a copy machine this size.) But, if you don't want to draw your own fan, you can find one already made at https://familysearch.org/blog/en/printing-fan-chart/. This is the same site where you can research your ancestors. There are also a number of charts you can find online, just google genealogy fan chart. But I have to warn you once you start you may become addicted and end up with a chart like the one my husband’s grandmother made that goes all the way back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. ABOUT KRISTY TATE Kristy is the mom of six incredibly brilliant and beautiful children, and the author of several novels. Although many of her novels have won awards and have ranked on Amazon's top 100 list, Kristy has yet to realize her lifelong dream of owning a Schnauzer farm. Kristy studied English literature at Brigham Young University and at BYU's International Center in London. For updates on Kristy's upcoming novels, please visit her blog at kristystories.blogspot.com BOOKS BY KRISTY TATE Stealing Mercy: The night before the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, flames spark between Mercy Faye and Trent Michaels, leaving the life they know and the city they love in ashes. (Seattle Fire, book 1) http://amzn.to/1shBnum Rescuing Rita: When Christian rescues the kidnapped Rita and witnesses a triple murder, he realizes that it’s a lot more interesting to hold a feisty actress than a hand of cards. But is she worth joining the cast until the ultimate final curtain? (Seattle Fire, book 2) http://amzn.to/1wydeoH Ghost of a Second Chance: With the help of her grandmother’s ghost, Laine Collins unravels the mystery of her grandparents’ marriage and is forced to face a question of the heart—Can love live even after it has died? (Rose Arbor, book 1) http://amzn.to/1u1scCG The Rhyme’s Library: Blair Rhyme discovers crazy Aunt Charlotte’s dead body amongst the boxes of want-nots and what-evers in the library’s basement. Unfortunately, when she returns to the library with the police Charlotte is gone. Desperate to prove that she doesn’t share her aunt’s mental illness and that Charlotte really has been murdered, Blair tangles with a former lover, a disturbingly handsome stranger and a wacky cast of Rose Arbor characters. (Rose Arbor, book 2) http://amzn.to/1zwTyDP Losing Penny: A cooking show diva in hiding. A literature professor writing genre fiction. An admirer who wants more than the tasty morsels a cooking hostess is willing to share. A dangerous recipe for romance in the town of Rose Arbor. (Rose Arbor, book 3) http://amzn.to/1qqerZ2 Beyond the Fortuneteller’s Tent: When Petra Baron goes into the fortuneteller’s tent at a Renaissance fair, she expects to leave with a date to prom. Instead, she walks out into Elizabethan England, where she meets gypsies, a demon dog and a kindred spirit in Emory Ravenswood. Can Petra and Emory have a future while trapped in the past? Or is anything possible Beyond the Fortuneteller’s Tent? (Beyond, book 1) http://amzn.to/1yZRzoz Beyond the Sleepy Hollow: With a collection of the writings of Washington Irving in her hand and a prayer that the same nine-pin playing ghosts that gave carried away Rip Van Winkle will give her drink of their ale, Petra Baron heads into another time defying adventure Beyond the Hollow. This is the second book in the Beyond series, where Petra is reminded that love is always timeless.http://amzn.to/1yZRzoz Beyond the Pale: After their encounter with the Headless Horseman in the Sleepy Hollow cemetery, Petra Baron and her immortal boyfriend, Emory Ravenswood, find themselves thrust into the bustle of modern-day New York City, where the dangers are both living and dead.http://amzn.to/1tdQEvv Hailey’s Comments: A sassy but shy advice columnist flees to a sparsely populated island in the Puget Sound seeking peace and refuge, but instead finds mystery and romance.http://amzn.to/1s6jmxY A Light in the Christmas Café: In LA, Deirdre’s perfectly constructed life made sense—a lucrative, albeit boring, career and an adoring boyfriend. But when her beloved grandmother tumbles down the stairs, Deirdre returns to Lake Vista and picks up the apron strings at Rosie’s café. She believes her old, safe life can still be salvaged. Until she sees a mysterious light in the café’s attic. A Light, that like her, doesn't belong. Or does it? http://amzn.to/1tdQEvv Stuck With You: When Andie breaks Whit’s glasses, he offers to forgive her debt if she’ll pose as his date to his brother’s wedding. It's the perfect mixture of business and pleasure, until business threatens to get in the way of a happily-ever-after neither Andie nor Whit could have ever imagined. http://amzn.to/1vKW56P Today, I’m participating in a blog hop along with my fellow writers from the TransCanada Romance Writers. The challenge was to post eight words, eight sentences, or eight paragraphs from one of your pieces, published or unpublished. I’ve chosen to post eight sentences from my upcoming release A woman of Love. It's the second novella from the Honour, Love and Courage series. Lady Annabel Peters sat in the open-top carriage and realized she had left it too late. She should have escaped yesterday.
“Really Annabel, I don’t want you to give your left eye. All I’m asking is that you go in there and do what comes naturally.” Lord Elliott Peters, her husband of two months, sat opposite her, smoothing his waistcoat against his flat, toned abdomen. A lock of blond hair fell across his brow, accentuating his startling, blue eyes. He claimed all he had to do was crook his finger, and besotted society women swooned, but she couldn’t imagine it. His grotesque personality obliterated any physical beauty he possessed. For a full list of participating authors with links to their sites please visit TransCanada Romance Writers Blurb Wealthy computer genius Graham Winters is in love with a woman who won’t join him for a stingy cup of coffee. How can he prove he’s nothing like her jerk of an ex if she won’t give him a chance? Then he spots her at a BDSM club and devises a plan. During the day, he’s “that damn geek.” At night, he’s the masked Dom known as The Wolf. When it comes to her love life, Lucy Sanchez has one rule—no geeks. Not even rich, good looking geeks. She’s attracted to Graham but rules are rules. Besides, she has her wolf, the mysterious Dom who makes her blood sing. Then she’s invited to a fairytale event at Pleasure Manor and this Little Red Riding Hood plans to enjoy every delicious moment with her big, bad Dom. Excerpt “I’m taking you to dinner tonight. In the city.” He sat on her desk, which she now found endearing rather than annoying. She set her purse into an empty cabinet and lifted a brow. “You’re telling me?” He shrugged. “If I ask, you’ll say no.” “I have plans.” With The Wolf. He tipped her chin up. “Cancel them.” His lips brushed hers, then he deepened the kiss. Lucy’s insides clenched at the feel of his warm mouth against hers and the taste of coffee with a hint of caramel, his favorite kind. She closed her eyes, her lips moving with his. His tongue dipped into her mouth, and she moaned, leaning into him. Then he broke the kiss and walked away. Lucy gaped at him. Her insides melted, and that familiar longing zeroed in on her center and pooled between her legs. Damn. She was attracted to her geek. Very attracted. Too bad he wasn’t her wolf. Now, if Graham were as good as her wolf in bed, she’d have found the perfect man. She sighed. Yep, too bad. So what now? Two dates, two men equaled complications. Her lips turned downward tightly as she got to work. She loved her wolf-lover, but their relationship was not completely satisfying or fulfilling. Not rounded and balanced. Graham, on the other hand, was open. She knew who he was, shared many common interests, and most of all, Graham didn’t have any secrets. What she saw was what she got with him. In a way, she preferred that to the mysterious and secretive. “All right,” she said. Graham glanced up, his eyes unfocused. “Huh?” Realizing three hours had passed, and he was totally immersed in Geekland, Lucy wadded up a sheet of paper and tossed it at him. “Come back to earth, Graham. Dinner. Date. You. Me.” His eyes cleared, and a huge grin lit his entire face. His blue eyes shone with pleasure. “Great.” His smile slipped into a frown when she stretched her arms and back. “You tired? Need to stop?” “Yeah, need to cancel my plans for tonight and stretch my legs. Want to walk outside with me?” His grounds were beautiful. Calm and restful with formal groupings, waterfalls, and a small forest that reminded her of the woods surrounding Bryce’s mansion, the woods where she and her wolf had played and strolled. She shook off the memories. “Give me ten. You can go explore the house if you want. I forgot to give you the tour.” He grinned. “My bedroom is up the stairs, straight ahead.” Lucy had been dying to see the rest of the house, and yes, that included the man’s bedroom, but she rolled her eyes for good form. Didn’t want him to know how eager she’d been to see the upstairs. “Okay. Twisted my arm.” About Sydney St, Claire Sydney St. Claire is the pseudonym of Susan Edwards, author of 14 Historical Native American/Western/Paranormal romances and the author of the popular “White” Series. Sydney loves writing and sharing stories of love, happiness and dreams come true with her readers. She credits her mother for her writing success. Encouraged to read as a child, she always preferred happy endings which meant romances were her favorite genre. Sydney takes her readers into the world of erotica romance where her characters come together in explosive passion as they solve life’s problems and find true love along with the best sex our hero and heroine have ever experienced. Sydney’s office is quite crowded with three dogs at her feet and five cats to keep her company while she writes. Three cats always insist on beds on her desk, barely leaving enough room for her monitor and keyboard. Life gets fun when all five insist on supervising… When not writing, she enjoys crafts of all sorts including quilting, sewing, cross-stitch and knitting. She and her husband of 30 + years are avid gardeners. He takes care of the veggies, and Susan is in charge of the ‘pretties’. Her medicine wheel garden is in a contact state of war: flowers vs. weeds. Sadly, right now the weeds are wining… While writing, she listens to a wide variety of music. Her current favorites are Blackmore’s Night and David Lanz. Contact Sydney at: Email: Sydney@sydneystclaire.com Trailer: http://youtu.be/F-O0tWqMrGM Website: http://sydneystclaire.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sydneystclaire Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sydneystclaire Blog: http://sydneystclaire.wordpress.com Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/sydneystclaire Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sydneystclaire/ Andy must solve a mystery and escape her shackles before her employment is terminated...or her life Book Specs: Series Name: Carus Series, Book Two Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Editor: Lara Parker Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor of DCA Graphics Theme(s): Shapeshifters and Vampires SubGenre(s):Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Rating: Spicy (PG13) Keywords: Shifter, Werewolf, Vampire,Wereleopard, Assassin,Vancouver,Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Page Count: 330 Word Count: 76410 Digital Price: $4.99 Print Price: $16.99 DigitalISBN 978-1-62830-671-2 Print ISBN 978-1-62830-670-5 COPYRIGHT © 2014 by J. C. McKenzie Blurb: Sometimes the greatest danger comes from within… When Master Vampire Lucien Delgatto threatens her potential mate Wick’s life, Shape Shifter Andrea “Andy” McNeilly will employ a den of witches, a bedazzled thong, and her ability to shift into multiple animals to meet his demands. She plans to keep Wick safe—even if she’s not speaking to him. Lucien’s unwelcomed control over Wick's life has thrown Andy into a whirlwind of emotions. Though Wick vows to do whatever it takes to earn Andy’s forgiveness and win back her trust, it may be too late. This recent conflict awakens something within Andy, an animal she’s never learned to control. For hidden beneath all her forms is a beast whose anger and brutality rivals none. And she’s pissed. Excerpt: Letting my falcon drift close to the surface, my eyesight sharpened. A dark figure moved in the brambles near the deer path ahead of me. About to step closer, something tugged at my senses. Come to me, a voice echoed in my head. I froze. An overwhelming urge to walk into the forest on my right consumed my body. I hadn’t felt anything like this since… Since I was fourteen, and walked into the forest to meet three feras. Sweat beaded on my brow and the bridge of my nose. I wiped it away, while fighting the compulsion to move. Come to me, Carus. Leaning forward, I tried to locate the animal. A branch snapped, and my attention darted to where the sound originated from. The forest hummed with the sound of summer insects. My heart beat loud and heavy in my chest. Underbrush rustled. There! A flash of orange. Pop! A sharp sting, much like a rubber band on bare skin, radiated across my right butt cheek. I yipped and jumped three feet in the air. Whirling around, I found Wick with an ear-to-ear grin and his paintball gun resting over one of his shoulders. If he had a leg propped up on a recently deceased moose, he’d look like a hunter from a photo. “Tagged you,” his whiskey voice crooned. Beast Coast Book Trailer About the Author: Born and raised on the Haida Gwaii, off the West Coast of Canada, J.C. McKenzie grew up in a pristine wilderness that inspired her to dream. She writes Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. J.C. McKenzie’s Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | The Wild Rose Press | Amazon |
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