Showing posts with label blogger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogger. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Breathless Press New Releases & Give@way!


Breathless Press Releases

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About Breathless Press:


Breathless Press is an e-book publisher specializing in Romance and Erotic(a) stories.

Our mission statement is simple: To provide the opportunity for readers to connect with romance authors through the purchasing of quality e-books at a low price.

Starting in the summer of 2009, Breathless Press came into existence. Since then, we have been producing top end romance and erotic stories for valued readers to enjoy.

Our Goal?

Breathless Press is an electronic publisher of paranormal, erotic, and mainstream romance, releasing one to three e-books a week in a variety of downloadable formats. It is Breathless Press' mission to provide readers with quality romance books in electronic formats and to raise the standard in e-publishing.

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Salvaged by J. S. Marlo




The discovery of a submerged Model T blurs the line between dream and reality, exposing a young scuba diver's past and threatening her future.
Star Fisher refuses to let the scar marring her face dictate her choices or the dreams haunting her nights affect her life. A skilled scuba diver and underwater investigator, she assists in the salvage operation of a sunken Model T, but will it reveal its secrets?
Captivated by the feisty diver, captain Hauk Ludvikson struggles against his attraction as they explore the old automobile linked to the unsolved disappearance of a rich heiress. As past crimes create new ones, he must decide if he wants to protect Star or protect his heart.
With danger lurking under and above the water line, Star fights for her future—a future she may not salvage twice.



Excerpt:
Hauk left the cabin and stepped onto the twelve-foot deck. According to his watch, Arnie and Fisher had been down less than ten minutes.
The oxygen tanks lined up against the storage bin beckoned to him. He grabbed the closest one and peered at the gauge. 1,700 pounds. Enough air for a short dive. Wanting to witness what had prompted Fisher's request, he geared up and dove in.
The wetsuit didn't completely insulate his skin from the colder water he encountered fifty feet below. With darkness surrounding him, he trusted the guide rope to lead him to the site as he continued his descent. Minutes later, through the shadowy waters, Hauk spotted his two divers. Arnie floated above a lamppost, and Fisher knelt on the lakebed in front of the wreck.
An object was in Fisher's hand. He swam toward her to get a better view, but the mysterious object disappeared into her bag, and she glided away from him before he had a chance to satisfy his curiosity. A few flutter kicks behind her, Hauk stretched out his arm with the intent of tapping her shoulder. Her hand swiftly swept across her belt, and a glint of light from the lampposts reflected off her glove.
She spun around. Eyes glazed with fear, she swung her arm. Sharp reflexes allowed Hauk to deflect the blow, but they didn't prevent her other hand from sneaking past his defenses. He inhaled sharply.
A silver blade, shining in the light, pushed against his hose, ready to sever his air supply with the flick of her wrist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taming the Outback by Ann B. Harrison


Libby is set on taming the outback as she takes over Quincy Station, but can she tame her rough neighbor, Nathan's, hardened heart as well?
Nathan Miller rattles Libby's nerves more than she cares to admit. He is the one person that stands between her and the family home that has been left to her. So why then does the man stir her up to such an extent, her body pulses with the need to have him? They do nothing but clash and snap at one another, and he makes no bones about the fact she shouldn't be Quincy's Station's new owner, but back in the city where he thinks she belongs.
Having had an unpleasant clash with a "city girl" once before, Nathan does not think Libby has it in her to stick it out. He refuses to give in to his urges. But when Mother Nature brings chaos to Quincy Station and threatens Libby's children, he'll either be proved right in his assumptions or find his barriers taken down by a stubborn woman and her kids.

Excerpt:
The four-wheel drive truck pulled up behind her, and the driver's door opened. She couldn't see the occupant until he stood right in front of her, towering over her in the dim light. He was dressed in dusty work clothes and jeans, which sat snugly on broad hips. A thick cotton work shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows showed off strong, tanned arms. An old, worn hat was pushed down over short hair, hiding his face as he stood looking down at her.
"Are you okay?" he asked in a deep voice that rolled over her, triggering something familiar deep in her brain.
"No, my car overheated, and now it won't start." Libby sighed as she followed him to the front of the vehicle.
He shone a flashlight at the hood and told her to release it. He lifted it and stuck his head beneath. Muttering and cursing drifted back toward her ears. He slammed it back down and turned to her.
"You have a broken radiator hose," the stranger said. "The top one has completely blown, and the bottom one is on its way out. Don't you check your car at all? It's a bloody mess under that hood."
"My car runs fine normally." Libby straightened her spine. LSo much for country charm; Mr. Personality, you aren't. "But thanks for looking at it anyway. I won't hold you up any longer."
"Testy little thing, aren't you?" He pushed his hat back on his head as he came closer to her, his face barely visible in the fading light. "We don't leave women on the side of the road out in this country."
"What are you doing here?" Libby asked as she recognized the lawyer who had made such an impression on her at Aaron's.
"I live here. The question should be what're you doing here?" He sneered before walking away from her.
"I think you know the answer to that question. It's such a shame our first encounter is enough to upset you." Libby kicked at the dirt, knowing her softly spoken words had gone unheard.
At least he's easy on the eyes; pity his attitude isn't as nice.
***
Leaning on the back of his dust-covered truck, Nathan pulled his mobile phone from his pocket and punched in a number. He glanced over at Libby pacing back and forth while he waited for someone to pick up.
He'd known she was due soon, but he didn't expect to meet her out on the highway, broken down.
"Tom, it's Nathan, I'm out on the side of the road at the highway end, just before the turnoff. I think I have something which belongs to you." He grimaced as he looked back toward the women watching him. "You had better bring the truck out. Yeah, sure, I'll wait with her. Don't be too long. She's a little bit fiery. Sure, 'bye."
"So..." he drawled, walking back to stand before Libby. His heart was thumping, and a thin sheen of sweat was making his face heat up as he let his gaze run over her body from her pert nose to her long, bare legs. He noticed the blush on her cheeks while he scrutinized her under the flashlight beam. Damn you, Uncle Aaron. Cute and fiery. Too dangerous out here. If circumstances were different, or even another time and place, he could get attached to this woman—at least, physically. "You're the city chick who's going to take Quincy Station into the black, eh? I wonder if you know what you're taking on, sweetheart?"
"Don't you 'sweetheart' me, mate. It's Libby. Libby Holland, and yes, I am the city chick who's taking over my great-uncle's farm." She glared at him in the torchlight.
"Do you have a problem with that?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finding Baby J by Lorraine Nelson

One lonely woman, a doctor afraid of commitment... Will finding Baby J help them find each other?
Shana Davis knows what it's like to be unloved and unwanted. Her childhood involved being shuffled from one foster home to the next. One night, as her shift at Mercy hospital comes to an end, she hears a forlorn, mewling sound and finds a newborn baby boy left in a dumpster. The abandoned baby appeals to her soft heart and her immediate attachment to the child—dubbed Baby J—leads to her spending a lot of time in the Maternity Ward in the company of the handsome Dr. Daniels.
Dr. Kagan Daniels is heart-sore and commitment-shy due to his failed marriage and past experiences with selfish, cold-hearted women. But he sees a gentle, caring soul in Shana and is drawn to her. Despite his reservations, he realizes he wants to get to know her better and finds excuses to spend time in her company.
Having always wanted to be a daddy, Kagan adopts Baby J. As he and Shana grow closer, Shana feels she's found her own private heaven. She has Baby J and the man of her dreams. What more could a woman want?
But a conniving woman, a manipulative mother, and a man from Shana's past threaten to come between them. Will the lies spewed by others separate them forever? Or can their love win out over all?

Excerpt:
Kagan held her hand as he guided her into the house. They walked through the foyer to ascend the magnificent staircase leading to the second story. Once there, he preceded her into his personal suite of rooms. The main area had a bay of windows opening out unto a balcony. The view overlooked the back lawn and gardens, which meandered down to the river where a boathouse and dock were just visible in the moonlight.
"Your home has such beautiful views."
"Nothing compares to the beauty of you. I especially like looking at you as I undress you, exposing that gorgeous body, one piece of clothing at a time."
Kagan matched his words with action, starting with her sweater, looped casually around her shoulders. He gathered her into his arms for a deep, passion-filled kiss. She felt that melting sensation that happened every time he kissed her. Her insides fluttered and took wing before settling into a delicious knot of anticipation. She stroked her hands down his chest and felt the ripple of firm muscle, enjoying the opportunity to explore his body more fully. Her inhibitions completely deserted her. Though he hadn't said the words, she felt he was making a commitment to them as a couple and not just playing the field.
He led her to the bed where he continued to strip her bare. Night had fully descended, moonlight reflecting off the water, illuminating the room enough so they could see each other.
She struggled with the buttons on his shirt, shaking so much from anticipation, her hands refused to work properly. In her haste, she ripped the remaining ones free and delighted in running her fingers through the coarse chest hair; the texture so different that when she rubbed her breasts against him, tingles went straight to her groin. Heavenly days! The sensations this man evoked in her were rocking her world.
Naked at last, they fell to the bed in a jumble of arms and legs, laughing, kissing, and caressing each other. She'd never thought of sex as fun, only as a necessity to consummate a relationship, but this sense of sharing and bonding between them filled her with a glorious awakening of her power as a woman. She delighted in arousing him, of being able to turn him on with the merest look or touch, as he did her.
Soon, all playfulness disappeared in the passion of the moment as their bodies joined together, working toward a common goal, that of pleasuring each other to fulfillment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Devil’s Match: The Devil DeVere, Book 4 by Victoria Vane


Blurb:
Once burned twice shy... but when old flames come together...passion reignites...
When burned once... Arriving in London as her goddaughter's chaperone, Baroness Diana Palmerston-Wriothesley wants to avoid her erstwhile lover at all costs.
Once nearly consumed by passion, four years has reduced the former inferno to bitterness and ashes.

By an old flame... A world-weary master of seduction, Ludovic "The Devil" DeVere is bored with his chosen life of debauchery.
When Diana's charge disappears, she is forced to seek help from the devil's lair, and their mutual desire reignites with undeniable ferocity.

Fire is best fought with fire... While DeVere is hell-bent to have her back for keeps, Diana is equally determined to bring him to his knees...by acquiring some sensual secrets of her own.

Excerpt:
"What the devil is it, Winchester?" Lord DeVere snapped at the appearance of his majordomo. "I thought I communicated quite clearly that we were not to be disturbed."
The flushing servant diverted his gaze to the ceiling in an obvious effort to ignore the ongoing orgy. "But there is a lady to see you, my lord. She is most insistent."
"Another one?" Lord Malden chortled. "By all means, have him send the baggage in. Damn me, DeVere, but you are well supplied."
"I am, indeed," DeVere answered. "It is a most amicable arrangement with Madam Hayes, but I had not requested another." DeVere gave another long, lazy pull on the stem of the hookah proffered by his scantily clad companion and cast a sadly indifferent gaze at the temptress who enthusiastically sucked his cock.
The servant flushed. "You misapprehend, my lord. This lady—"
"Will not be turned away." Diana stepped boldly into the room.
Ludovic almost laughed aloud. For there she stood, as if he'd conjured her. Although a black veil obscured her face, he could have identified her proud carriage and sultry voice among a hundred similar women. In all of his six-and-thirty years, he had never allowed a woman to get under his skin, but this one had infected him with an infirmity for which he had yet to find a complete cure.
Oh, he'd sought balm for his condition, all right. In Paris, he had soothed his raging fever with opera dancers, and in Italy, the finest Venetian courtesans had served as a temporary unguent. Following in the footprints of the ignoble Baron Baltimore, after whom he had capriciously chosen to model his life, Ludovic had sojourned to the East in an endeavor to satiate his sybaritic senses in every possible way. But still, his symptoms—the hollow sensation, the emotional detachment as if he were sleepwalking through life—inevitably returned.
Though his pulse had quickened at the very sight of Diana, he addressed the woman kneeling between his legs with an air of careless indifference. "Put your playthings away, my pet, for we have an unexpected guest."
Stepping closer, Diana addressed him with icy hauteur. "So this is what you have reduced your life to, my lord?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Baronet’s Blackout Bombshell by Raven McAllan


Blurb:
Your past has a habit of catching up with you. Bare-assed, climbing a wall, would be one of those times, naturally.
Chrissie thought her humiliation was complete when Baronet Archie called off their engagement. However, meeting him again, when she is attempting to break back into her temporary residence, takes embarrassment to new heights. Will he turn her in to her boss or do the gentlemanly thing and look the other way? Archie has never forgotten his little bombshell. Being so visibly reminded of her attributes makes him determined to atone for his past mistakes.
There is nothing quite like a war going on to remind you that life is short and there for the taking. Can Archie convince Chrissie he's here to stay, or will circumstances drive them apart once more?


Excerpt:
"For Christ's sake, Archie," Chrissie burst out, forgetting Archie had no idea who she was, "stop gawking like a barrow boy at my bits and pieces and help me down! Can't you see I'm stuck here?"
"Oh, er, well, now, then. Right, oh...But you'll owe me. And do I know you?"
Bugger! Chrissie realized the darkness might hide her identity, but not her body, which he obviously enjoyed seeing. The thought made her go very warm and wet.
"Well, not all of me. No," she said in her normal upper-class manner. She forgot the sloppier accent she had deliberately cultivated so as not to seem out of place or snobbish. Her parents may be, but both she and Merle were much more in tune with normality.
In the dim light from the almost covered headlamps, she watched Archie move to stand right under her, his gait uneven. Had he been injured and she not notified? She held her breath as he stood still, looked her up and down, found where her skirt was caught, and swiftly and surely unhooked it. Thank goodness her face was in shadow.
Taking his time and with a very obvious sigh of great satisfaction, he helped her slide down his body. First her legs and then her behind, rubbed over his erection. Chrissie's skin tingled, and she began to sweat. His cock was hard and thick. She could feel that even through his trousers. It sent all sorts of hitherto unknown feelings thorough her, and she wanted to twist around and rub it up and down her mound. Whether to increase or end the strange sensations between her legs, she was not sure.
As her feet hit the ground, Chrissie tensed. Could she make a run for it? Would he even recognize her in the dark?
He must have guessed what she intended to do, because he took a firm grip of her shoulders, and spun her around as he grabbed her behind and pulled her firmly against him, his erection throbbing between her legs.
Chrissie's own legs opened involuntarily. Her skirt still hitched up around her waist, there was very little between her now-moist, curls and his throbbing cock. It was a contest of who was the most aroused.
There was no room for thought. Archie's moved his hand to that sensitive spot between her legs. There was a ringing in her ears, and she started to shake as he pressed her bud. Just the way she liked it...
Chrissie whimpered.
"You like that, don't you?" She felt Archie move his fingers and slip one inside her.

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Stealing the Sheriff’s Heart by L.B. Shire


Blurb:
Sheriff Corban Culley came to Becker's Ridge to set roots and make a good name for himself. He never expected to risk it all to save Miss Amelia Grey, the woman who stole his heart.
Sheriff Corban Culley is hot on the heels of an outlaw who just robbed the local stagecoach. He captures the hooded bandit easily enough, but what he finds under that cover will change his life forever.
As of late, Amelia Grey has been threatened, bullied and blackmailed. In her desperation to save her kidnapped brother and her family's ranch, she's forced to make a tough decision. After falling for handsome lawman Corban Culley, she spent months finding ways to cross his path. But she hadn't expected their next encounter to be with her on the wrong side of the law, and him needing to risk his reputation to save her family.


Excerpt:
Amelia leaned forward, and attempted to hide the grimace on her face. Her ribcage was tender from where Corban had crushed her into the hard ground with his body. The pain was endurable compared to the extreme displeasure that crossed his features each time their eyes met.
She wished she could crawl into a cave and hide. By the look on Sheriff Culley's face, she could tell she was in big trouble.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked again. His features were dark and drawn in an unhappy frown. This wasn't how she'd envisioned herself ending up in his arms.
"I'll live." She lowered her gaze to the ground. She'd hoped for weeks to catch his eye, along with every other single, eligible woman in town. To her delight, the sheriff had chosen her, above all the rest, to spend the evening with at the barn dance. She'd been ecstatic with his offer.
A woman couldn't have asked for a more handsome date. His collar-length chestnut hair curled about his ears under the wide brimmed cowboy hat he wore. His warm brown eyes were confident, and lit up when he smiled. And he smiled a lot—at her. She'd relished the power of his strong arms around her and then to her great joy, he'd kissed her with a passion that had sent sparks clear to her toes. She'd been left breathless. Her body ached for something more she didn't comprehend.
For weeks after the dance, she'd made excuses to return to town. The supplies she'd forgotten, visits to the ladies of the church. All in hopes to catch a glimpse of him. She found he preoccupied her every thought throughout the day since that first kiss.
To her delight, she'd been able to catch his eye at a recent church social. They'd strolled arm in arm by the creek that passed through town, and she'd kissed his cheek and flirted with modest intent. He remained chivalrous, to her dismay. She'd hoped he would kiss her with the same passion he'd shown her at the dance.
Even if she'd ruined any chance of winning Corban's heart with this robbery, she could trust that he'd at least help her save her brother. He was the sheriff after all.

Breathless Press will be awarding a $20 Breathless Press GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a $10 Breathless Press GC to a randomly drawn host from the tour. Be sure to comment at all the stops along the way to increase your odds!



Happy Reading,
Happy Writing,
Krystal Shannan

Friday, August 24, 2012

Fabulous Author Friday ~ Elysa Hendricks

Please help me welcome Elysa Hendricks to the blog today! So excited to have her back with us sharing about her new book!


Without further ado......



Tell us a little about yourself.

Well, I've been writing for over twenty years, which means I must have started when I was about five? Yep, that's about right, since once I hit thirty I started deducting a year from my age every other birthday. Then again, I'm not so good at math. Well, anyways, I've been writing for a long time and creating stories in my head for even longer.

Besides being an author I'm a wife of many, many, many years - more than the twenty I've been writing. I'm the mother of two wonderful young men. Actually, according to my math (counting on my fingers and toes) they're older than I am.

Did you always want to be an author?

I've always been a storyteller, spinning tales in my mind, but I didn't actually think about writing an actual book until the Christmas Eve my sister-in-law passed away. My husband and nine-year old son took my mother-in-law and went to Arizona for the funeral, leaving me home alone with our younger son. After putting him to bed I sat down to write what I thought would be a short contemporary romance. Strangely enough it turned out to be about a winged telepathic alien who stows away aboard a passing space craft. At that point I realized I wanted to write stories set in different worlds.

What is your favorite part of being a writer/author?

Being able to play God with my characters and their worlds. Unfortunately, it turns out all my characters are atheists.

Tell us a little about your book.

In THE SWORD AND THE PEN when his fictional creation, warrior woman Serilda  appears in his living room, Brandon Davis, an author of sword and sorcery novels, discovers that his characters are atheists too.

THE SWORD AND THE PEN was inspired by a combination of things - the Keenan Wynn Twilight Zone episode A World Of His Own, the TV show Xena The Warrior Princess and the movie Stranger Than Fiction. If your fantasy became reality, what would you do?

Oooooo... sounds fun!

What was your favorite part of the book?

I think the scene where poor Brandon finds himself surrounded by the things he fears most - women and small furry animals.

Rate your story in terms steaminess?

Probably comes in at about 7 out of 10 on the steaminess scale. There are several explicit love scenes. I'd rate it PG-13. 

THE SWORD AND THE PEN

Amazon Link:

If your fantasy became reality, what would you do?

It was time. After penning ten popular sword-and-sorcery novels, Brandon Alexander Davis was ready to move on. Ready to stop hiding in his fictional world. Ready to start living a real life. There was just one problem: as he plotted the noble death of Serilda D'Lar, his fictional creation, complete with mile-long sword, skimpy leather outfit and badass attitude, appeared in his study.

Was she nothing more than a crazy fan, or had Brandon finally cracked?

This warrior woman whom he knew so well, so strong yet vulnerable, was both fantasy and reality. She was an invitation to rediscover all he once knew--that life is an incredible, magical journey and, for love, any man can be a hero.


Excerpt:

"Yeeek!"

At first Brandon thought the shriek was an electronic whine that came from his computer. Panic threatened. When was the last time he'd backed up his files? It had been during that bad electrical storm three months ago when he'd almost lost everything, the same time his writing troubles began. Fortunately the freak power surge from a lightning strike only fried his monitor; his CPU hadn't been harmed. He should have learned from the experience, but writer's block had driven him past rational thought. The idea of losing what little work he'd managed to accomplish these last few weeks made him choke in fear. He scrambled to hit Save.

"Hell, no! Roark doesn't deserve a chance to defend himself. And even if he did, I'm not stupid enough to give him the opportunity to skewer me. That's something Donoval the Honorable would do."

At the sound of the familiar yet condemning voice behind him, Brandon whirled. He slipped off his chair and landed hard on his tailbone. Pain shot up his spine and blurred his vision.

"What?  How did you get in here? And who the hell are you?" He stared up at the woman and gulped. The sword in her hand pointed straight at his heart.

"You know damned well who I am."

The woman didn't sound happy-- and didn't look sane. She loomed over him. Her attire, a short, tight leather skirt, a leather bra, and knee-high boots left a lot of skin exposed to his view. The smell of leather, fresh air and warm woman teased his nostrils.

"What are you?" She poked him in the arm with the tip of her sword.

"Ow!" He scooted back, nearly under his desk.

"Warrior? Priest? Sorcerer?" She crouched down to rest on her heels, and stared at him. The position put her full breasts nearly in his face. "Definitely not a warrior." She pinched his arm. "You have muscle, but not enough to wield a sword in battle. No courage, either. Priest? Unlikely. They don't fear the sword. Only their god makes them cower.  Wizard? Perhaps, but not one of any power, or else I'd be at your feet. So…you're the wizard's assistant most likely." As if satisfied with her conclusion, she rose to her feet.

"Get up. I'll not harm you. I wish to speak to your master. He and I have business to discuss."

Brandon eyed the woman warily. Though her speech and clothing were odd, she sounded and looked extremely familiar. Why? Was she a crazy fan he'd somehow communicated with before?

To be honest, she bore a striking resemblance to Serilda, if shorter. She was five feet seven or eight inches, rather than six feet, and she was less buxom and had softer features than the character he'd ultimately developed. Actually, this woman was more like how he'd envisioned Serilda originally, when he'd introduced her in Donoval's second book: an extremely feminine woman forced to survive in a harsh world by denying her nature. Hillary had convinced him that in her own books Serilda needed to be stronger and have more sex appeal, hence the height and the bigger chest. The change hadn't sat well with him, but the public-- men and women-- loved her, and the books had hit all the bestseller lists. As a result, he had a thriving series, a pending movie deal and cash in his once empty bank account. Success was hard to argue with.

Despite the trampy clothing and hard scowl, she was attractive. Short reddish blonde curls framed an elfin face. Dark lashes fringed large, cat-like green eyes. Sun-kissed skin covered high cheekbones, and her lips, though currently set in a hard line, were full and red.

"I said get up!" She grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet.

He was surprised that, when he stood, he topped her by a good six inches and probably outweighed her by sixty pounds. That size difference gave him a bit of confidence, but the nasty-looking sword she held with such self-assurance negated it. One could never trust the actions of a crazy person.

"Who are you?" She looked him up and down then seemed to dismiss him.

He pulled himself to his full height and stared down at her. "Brandon Alexander Davis. This is my home."

Unimpressed, she laughed. "Brandon? What kind of name is that? Bran is what I eat to ease my bowels."

Heat crept up Brandon's neck. Being compared to a laxative made him angry, which helped push fear away. "Who the hell are you? And what are you doing here in that ridiculous costume?"

"Who I am and" -- she paused, and two spots of color stained her cheeks-- "what I wear is a matter I will discuss with your master. Where is he? Has he run to hide from me? It will do him no good. I'm determined to find him and solve this."

"I don't have a master. I live here alone." Damn! Why had he told her that? He eased back from the lunatic toward the phone. Could he hit speed dial for 911 before she skewered him? Then what? Even if he succeeded, it would take the police a good fifteen to twenty minutes to reach his isolated home. Could he wrest the sword away from her before then?

His size would be an advantage, but even standing at ease, the woman radiated strength and skill. The odds seemed against him. To win he'd have to hit her-- hard-- and he doubted he could bring himself to do so. The lessons of chivalry his grandmother had taught were too deeply ingrained. In that way, he and Donoval were of one mind. No matter how greatly provoked, men didn't hit women.

Although, the thought of wrestling with this woman was appealing.

"No master? Do not lie to me." The lunatic's fingers flexed around the hilt of her sword.
"Why would I lie?" he snapped. "It's obvious your beef is with someone else. If I knew who and where he was, why would I protect him?"

"Because you're a coward. A powerful sorcerer inspires fear if not loyalty in his minions. But you should fear me more than him," she warned.

"There is no him! I'm the only one here. And I'm not a coward." Being called one triggered something inside him. Having phobias about crowds, insects and small furry animals didn't make him a coward. Not really.

She gave him a thoughtful look. "Is it possible? Are you the one?"

"The one what?"

She ignored his question and studied him. Her intense perusal made him squirm.
"Why didn't I see the resemblance?" she murmured.

"What resemblance?" He didn't like the turn of this conversation. Come to think of it, he hadn't liked the original direction, either.

"To Donoval. You are him-- in form at least." A bit of fear crossed her features, though anger quickly erased it. "I'm loath to believe it, but you are the wizard. Did you construct me so you could play God in my world? Does it give you pleasure to toy with me?"

"What the hell are you talking about? Play God? I'm just a writer trying to make a living. I write stories for people to read and enjoy. It's just entertainment."



LOVE the excerpt!

When did you start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I started writing that Christmas Eve and finished the first draft of that book three months later. Of course, then I spent the next three years learning how to write. That first book now resides under my bed guarded by killer dust bunnies. During those three years I wrote two western historical romances - THIS HEART FOR HIRE and HER WILD TEXAS HEART. Both of them are now available as ebooks.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Oh, I just send my muse to go pick ideas off the idea tree in my backyard. Actually, my inspirations come from everywhere - the news, books, movies, TV, conversation overheard in the grocery store checkout lane - everything I see, hear, taste, touch and smell triggers the What If response in my imagination.

I love the idea tree!

Do you plot and outline or do you just write?  Plotter or Pantser?

I used to say I was only a Pantser, but have realized that while I might not rigidly plot or outline my stories before I start writing them, once I've started I have to sit back and figure out where things are going before I can finish. So while I start off writing into the mist at some point I have to stop and check my GPS.

Can you tell us a little about the process of getting your first book published?

I sold my first book, a western historical romance called RAWHIDE SURRENDER (now available as THIS HEART FOR HIRE) to one of the first ebook publishing houses Hard Shell Word Factory. The process involved submitting my manuscript via email, which back in 1998 was revolutionary. The offer came via email as well. No first call for me.

Do you have another book in the works?

Right now I'm working on a contemporary adventure romance. TANGO IN PARADISE is set during a revolution in a small South American country. The heroine is an idealistic school teacher, the hero a jaded mercenary.

I'm also working on several other projects: another sci-fi adventure romance in my Star Chronicle series and a series of romances featuring a matchmaking cat.

A friend and I have also written a humorous mainstream fiction book together. GRANNIES AND TRANNIES: VEGAS OR BUST is The Golden Girls meets The Bird Cage on a wild, wacky and heartfelt road trip to Las Vegas to rescue a friend from the Mob. We're shopping it around to agents.

What advice would you give new authors?  What have you learned about the business?

 As far as advice - read, a lot! And write even more. Finish a book. Submit to publishers. And while you're waiting to hear write another book and another and another. The best and only way to learn the art and craft of writing is to write.

What I've learned is that I don't know what I don't know. Right now the whole of publishing is changing so fast it feels like a roller coaster ride and no one knows where it'll end up. But I think this is one of the best times to be an author.  The opportunities are there. You just have to reach out and grab them.

Boxers or Briefs?
For me or for my hero?
For me - white cotton, granny panties.
My hero - Commando. (Easier access)

ROFL!

Pizza or hamburger?
Definitely a hamburger or better yet a juicy rare steak.

Beer, Wine, or mixed drink?
Mixed drink - frozen Marguerita

If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be?  Would you write or read there, or do something else?

On a tropical beach with cute cabana boys bringing me my frozen Margueritas and shrimp cocktails. I'd keep busy with a bit of swimming, napping, some writing and reading, as well as a whole lot of other stuff.

(Character Questions)
What were your first impressions of each other?
Brandon: She nearly scared the life out of me, but at the same time I never felt more alive.
Seri: Well, at first look I found him to be a bit of a coward, but first impressions can be deceiving. When the time came Brandon has more courage and strength than any man I've ever known.

What’s your favorite characteristic of each other?
Seri: I love his sense of humor. He makes me laugh at the most inappropriate times.
Brandon: Seri is the strongest, most courageous person I've ever met. She's taught me how to live life rather than just endure it.

What are your plans for the near future?
Seri: Learn how to be a woman in Brandon's world rather than a warrior.
Brandon: Make sure Seri never regrets she gave up her world for mine.

As a Thank You to anyone who leaves a comment I'm offering a FREE ecopy of my contemporary small town romance COUNTERFEIT LOVE. All they have to do is email me at: elysa@elysahendricks.com and I'll send them the Coupon Code for the FREE download.

Readers please be sure to visit Elysa@




Thank you so much for being my guest today! I know we all enjoyed getting to hear about your new release!

Hugs,
Krystal Shannan

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Tricks to Control Pace - Scene and Structure #9

This has been a hectic week for me. Getting ready to go back to work and teacher staff development..... if you've ever taught, I don't need to say more, LOL. If you haven't, well it usually consists of lots of sitting and listening to rules and procedures. Usually stuff you've heard every year for years! Occasionally they will throw in something new or fun, but it's rare.

It has been hard for my daughter to adjust back into a daycare schedule. We were so spoiled sleeping in during the summer. I miss her knocking on my door in the morning and snuggling in bed until we were ready to get up and greet the day.

But I digress.... You really wanted to know the tricks didn't you. Hold on to your britches, LOL. I'm getting there!

Have you ever read or been writing a book and felt like your eyes barely crept across the page? Where the pace of the book nearly had you ready to roll your eyes and toss the kindle on the bed and take a nap?

What do you do when your manuscript is moving the speed of snail slime? I usually have a fight break out *giggle* or my favorite thing to do (my critique partner would tell you) is have the heroine kidnapped! I seriously enjoy a good kidnapping. Maybe I'm just a sucker for watching the hero rescue the heroine....

So last week we talked about SEQUELS (The thoughtful, can be extended, have summary in them, and therefore are slow-reading). SCENES are the exciting, conflictful, densely packed with action and dialogue, and therefore fast-reading.

Techniques to Speed the Story

  1. Check your WIP for places where a sequel connects two logically progressing scenes. You might be able to eliminate the sequel completely and just let the two scenes butt up against each other.
  2. Check for places where maybe you don't need an introspective sequel, but maybe just a "Three hours later...."  or "In Chicago, at the downtown Hilton...." Short, sweet, to the point and a lightning-fast transition to the next scene. 
  3. *WARNING* Don't use the same kind of transition twice in a row.
  4. If you find yourself with a really long introspective sequel, ask yourself if everything is necessary. Does your character really have to recount everything we just experienced over the last ten pages.... *yawn* Sometimes it works! But a lot of time it just pulls the parking break on the pace of your WIP.
  5. Did you summarize a scene into a sequel that could have been really exciting if you'd written it out? Go back and write it in to help build more momentum.
  6. Look at all your scenes and decide if there's anything extra you can add to raise the stakes.
  7. Check your timing. Maybe you gave your hero too long to react to the disaster. Perhaps you can move up the timeline and create new action right away.

Pacing is usually a constant worry for most writers. If your problem isn't slow pace, just do the opposite of the above tips -add sequels, lengthen sequels, cut down scenes, or eliminate them and summarize into a sequel, give your character breathing room, lengthen timeline...etc.

"...in my experience of teaching fiction technique in the university classroom for more than two decades, novice novels that fail because they move too slowly outnumber those that move too fast by a margin of about 10 to 1." - SCENE AND STRUCTURE 
Jack goes further and explains what he considers the most obvious reasons.
1) Many beginning writers unconsciously shy away from presenting conflict just as they shy away from conflict in real life. Few of us like the emotional discomfort of a nasty fight in real life, and there is a danger that we might try to dodge conflict in our fiction, too, for the sake of "comfort."
2) Many beginners focus on the interior life of the character's thoughts or feelings, failing to understand the reader's yearning for outside action of some kind, played onstage in the story "now."
3) Most beginners start out with little concept of how many plot events (scenes) it takes to construct a story of 60K or more and then try to up the word count by padding it with sequels.
4) Writing scen conflict is hard, both in terms of handling the terse writing style involved and in terms of the emotional fatigue such writing brings upon its creator.
5) Too many beginners want to be "poetic" or "philosophical," so they write overblown sequels to wax rhapsodic about character emotion, or bombard us with their profound ideas.

Happy Writing
Happy Reading
Krystal Shannan

 
 
 

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Restoring Love - Marissa Dobson - New Release




When Danielle Bradworth inherits a house from an Aunt she barely knew, her life is changed forever. Family secrets and a threatening potential buyer for a house she doesn’t want to sell could equal disaster for Danielle.

A handy man living in the groundkeeper’s cottage could do more than restore the house to its former glory. He could also restore her heart … but will she let him?
 
Buy links: Kindle ~ Smashwords
 
Excerpt:
Lost in her memories, she didn’t hear or sense Mason come up behind her until he reached around the front of her and rolled the paint roller up her shirt.
“What the …” she hollered, jumping back into him.
He wrapped his arms around her so she wouldn’t fall. “I told you, just you wait and see,” he whispered against her cheek.
She twisted her head to look up at him. She wasn’t sure what she would have said, but before she could say anything, he kissed her. The unsaid words died on her tongue. His kiss was full of heat and need. Oh, finally . . . .
She turned in his arms, meeting his kisses with her own desire. The paint roller dropped to the floor, but neither cared. They were lost in the heat of each other. Until the doorbell rang . . . .

Friday, August 17, 2012

Fabulous Author Friday ~ Amanda Browning


Welcome to Fabulous Author Friday with Amanda Browning!

Without further ado....

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a twenty-seven year old author of paranormal fiction. I’ve always loved anything paranormal and I am an avid collector of the unusual. I live in southern Indiana with my husband and children, and I adore stargazing on clear nights. I loved writing when I was a kid, but I always wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. Last year, my husband got me a kindle and when I came down from the resulting reading binge and was complaining about having nothing to read, my brother told me, “So write something.” I sat down that night to plan my book and haven’t looked back since.

Did you always want to be an author?
From the age of eight, I wanted to be a surgeon. I had an extensive plan in place. After I had my first child, the idea lost all its appeal. I wanted to be with my kids, not working hundred hour weeks. As an adult, I didn’t think of writing professionally until I submitted a short story for publication and it was accepted. I have been writing nonstop for almost a year now, and I don’t think I will ever give it up.
What is your favorite part of being a writer/author?
Talking to people who’ve read my work. It makes me feel like a rock star when someone tells me they liked my book. It is the most amazing feeling to be able to entertain others with my imagination. I absolutely love it.

Tell us a little about your book.
Birth of the Nyxian is a paranormal romance with so much more than romance. It centers around a human named Harlow and an eight hundred twenty year old vampire named Aiden. Aiden is different from most vampires in that he was turned by force. Hades, who sent his daughter, Lilith, to create vampires in ancient Greece, cannot control vampires who did not willingly surrender their souls for immortality. Harlow and Aiden have to fight for their right to be together as they are trapped between gods, not-so-mythical creatures and a network of supernatural minions bent on turning them over to Hades. Birth of the Nyxian is the first book in The Immortal Choice series. Book two should be out in the spring of 2013.



Excerpt:
As I spun to see who was there, I ran right into the massive chest of the man who had interrupted my reverie.  He appeared startled that I’d noticed him, since he hadn’t made a sound.  But, oh boy, was I glad I’d turned around. 
Even in the dark, he was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.  He was probably also a serial killer, but I couldn’t seem to get my mind past, oh my God! Look at that magnificent male specimen!
After a moment, I stopped staring and realized that however gorgeous he may be, this guy had still snuck up on me in the dark.  I took a step back and to the side, trying to give myself an avenue of escape if needed.  He stepped forward and to the side to block me, causing us to circle each other.
“So, does it take practice to sneak up on women in the dark like that, or is it just your way of saying hello?” I asked with more bravado than I felt.
His skin was very pale; seeming almost luminous in its lack of color.  He smiled and I saw a flash of white teeth in the dark.  I couldn’t see well, but it seemed like something was off with his front teeth.  I felt a shiver of unease slide down my spine, but I ignored it.
“If you’re so worried, why haven’t you run?” he asked with a predatory glint in his eyes as he stepped closer. 
His voice was deep and smooth as it seemed to stimulate all the nerve endings in my body.  That voice was made for whispering sweet nothings into a lover’s ear and I had to force myself to focus on the fact that this guy had snuck up on me in the dark with God knows what in mind.
“Yeah, because turning my back on a stranger to run stumbling through the dark seems like such a great idea,” I replied with a little more snark than I had intended.  Despite my apprehension, even with my brave words, I didn’t back away from him. 
He laughed and I was stunned by the musical quality the sound held.  His voice had completely captured my attention.  It triggered a response within me that I couldn’t define. 
Well, maybe I could: my mind was filled with some very vivid images of the things he might want with me.  Part of me wanted to get closer to this man, despite the possible danger. 
As if he could sense my thoughts, he stepped closer and I raised my hand to keep some space between us.  My hand pressed against his chest and, instead of the warmth I was expecting, I felt the chill that his body gave off, even through his clothes. 
His closeness brought his scent with it, and for a moment I was adrift on a wave of sensual pleasure, the likes of which I’d never experienced.  He smelled like cedar, fresh air, rain, and man.  I was overwhelmed by the sheer masculinity of his scent. 
“Look into my eyes,” he commanded. 
I couldn’t help myself from obeying to see the expression they held.  I wanted to get a better look at the eyes that went with that amazing voice.  I couldn’t really see the color, but they seemed dark and were definitely intensely focused.  That intense focus was aimed at me, but I couldn’t figure out what he wanted.
Then I came to my senses.  Something wasn’t right about this man, and I was just standing there staring at him.
“Hi, I’m Harlow, and I’m trying very hard not to be weirded out right now,” I blurted out nervously.
He raised an eyebrow, as though he was surprised.  He then looked almost sad.  “I didn’t want to kill you, I wanted only to feed.  But since my compulsion hasn’t worked, I’m left with no choice.  I simply can’t risk it,” he said, with that voice I found so enchanting. 
This close, when he spoke I was able to see his mouth better, and something about his teeth still bothered me.
Dammit! I thought.  I knew he was a serial killer!  Why are all the good looking ones crazy?
He touched my cheek with the palm of his hand, stepping closer and giving me a perfect view of his face.  After barely a moment, several things clicked in my head at once.

·       His skin was ice cold.
·       He was deathly pale. So much so, that he seemed to glow; even in the dark.
·       He commanded me to look at his eyes as if he expected me to obey. 
·       He said since his compulsion didn’t work he was going to kill me!
·       He was unnaturally alluring. Even after he said that he was going to kill me, I was drawn to him. 
·       Those teeth; the canines were long and razor sharp.  Oh crap, he had fangs!
Then it hit me. “Holy shit!  You’re a vampire!”
I paused to take a breath. I was excited and terrified all at once.  He looked shocked that I’d said that, but seemed even more stunned that I was smiling and not running away screaming.  But running away never even occurred to me.
Now that I was actually meeting a vampire, I sure as hell wasn’t walking away, (not that he would let me.)  I loved vampires!  Ever since I was a little girl, sitting up at night, watching scary movies with my dad, many of them being about vampires. 
I read constantly, mostly supernatural fiction, vampires being a favorite of mine.  This was a dream come true for me, well, it would be if he hadn’t just said he was going to kill me.
            I’d always believed in vampires.  Not fanatically or anything, but I knew there were things in this world that I could not explain.  I just thought that somewhere in the world, it was possible.
“Wait!  Please, if you’re going to kill me anyway, will you answer a few questions for me first?  I’ve loved vampire stories since I was a little girl.  I would willingly feed you and keep your secret, but if you must kill me, at least tell me about you first.  Now that I know you’re real, I have to know more.  Consider it my last request,” I said with a grin.
He looked thoughtful, and I took hope from the fact that I wasn’t already dead.  At least he was only thinking about killing me, something I knew him to be capable of in a matter of seconds if he so desired.  Damn, talk about a bad situation.  But I tried to be a silver-lining kind of girl. 
Of all the ways I imagined my death, vampire was only on the crazy list, but hey, so was zombie.  It was a lot better than some of the ways I could have gone out.  I’m a klutz, so I could have easily tripped and broken my neck falling down the stairs. 
“Please?” I said.  “We can stay right here, you feed from me and then we talk.  I’ve always believed.  Everyone that I told laughed at me, but I didn’t care, and eventually just stopped telling people.  If they don’t believe than they don’t deserve to know.” 
Ok, that was maybe taking it too far.  I’d only ever told a few friends that I actually believed in vampires as an adult.  Yes, they laughed at me, but it was during a conversation where they admitted that ghosts exist.  The likelihood of lycanthropy and the best strategies for survival of the zombie apocalypse were also discussed.
The mystery vampire man looked at me for a long time before speaking.  “This is highly unusual.  I’ve never had a human react to my true self with anything but fear.  Are you not afraid you will be killed in my company?”
“Well, I hope I won’t be, of course.  But if that’s what it has to come to, I don’t have any family that will miss me, I live alone, and have no pets.  This is a chance to actually learn something important.  I can’t pass up the chance to learn more about vampires.” 
I let out a nervous laugh, “I’m kind of a nerd, and knowledge is my thing.  If you let me walk away now, I would be tortured by the chance I had passed up.  I know that sounds like a dumb reason to risk my life, but it makes sense to me. 
“Besides, if you really wanted to kill me, I couldn’t stop you.  I figure you already said you had to kill me, might as well try to entertain you and stay alive,” I said with a nervous chuckle as he continued to gaze at me with those intense, dark eyes.
“And you would be willing to let me feed?” he asked quietly.
“Yes.  I would.  Everyone needs to eat, though I would prefer that you didn’t kill me,” I said with a sly smile.  It looked like he may actually answer my questions.  I was scared, but I was definitely more excited.  “Which, I suppose, makes me completely insane.”
He chuckled.  “Then I shall answer your questions.  I find you intriguing.  I’ve never met a human with such a thirst for knowledge, even at their own peril.  Would you be more comfortable here, or is there somewhere we can go?” he asked.



When did you start writing and when did you finish your first book?
I started writing last November and I finished my first novel, Birth of the Nyxian, in February. It was published in May.

Where do you get your inspiration?
I get inspiration from everything. Music, movies, books, tv, even pictures. I particularly like the fantasy art pages on facebook. Most of the pictures there just beg to have their stories told.

Do you plot and outline or do you just write?  Plotter or Pantser?
Definitely a plotter. Even if I’m only taking five minutes to jot down key points I want to make sure I include, having something to refer to makes the writing flow so much easier and faster. I carry notebooks everywhere and I have them stashed all around the house because I never know when an idea will hit.

Can you tell us a little about the process of getting your first book published?
When I started my first book, I didn’t really ever expect it to get published. I stopped writing after the third chapter when life got in the way. A few weeks later, I read and loved a book written by Candy Crum that was suggested by a mutual friend. I contacted her on facebook to tell her I loved her book and we started talking. She told me about a short story contest she was holding for paranormal horror stories. I was stricken with an idea for the vampire origin story I was using for my novel and I sat down and wrote the story that night. She accepted the story for publication and encouraged me to finish my novel. Over the next few months, she helped me polish it for publication and continued to encourage me. If it weren’t for her, I may never have finished it and found such enjoyment in my new career. Now, I have a growing collection of published work and much more planned for the future. 

What book have you most recently released?
My most recent release was Stolen Soul, a short story prequel to Birth of the Nyxian that details how Aiden was turned into a vampire.

What was your favorite part of the book?
My favorite part of Stolen Soul was the end. I took what is merely a few sentences in the full novel and turned it into a separate story. It ended with hope and I know what happens directly afterward, and that is my favorite part of Birth of the Nyxian.

Rate your story in terms steaminess?
There’s not much steaminess in Stolen Soul, but there are some pretty steamy parts in Birth of the Nyxian. Not erotica steamy, I have other stories for that, but intense, romantic scenes between Harlow and Aiden.

Do you have another book in the works?
I have several. So far, I have at least four short stories that will be published this year, a novella that is almost finished, the sequel to my novel, and an erotic novel I’m working on. As well as around a dozen short stories I have planned or in progress.

What advice would you give new authors?  What have you learned about the business?
Edit, edit, edit! The publishing industry is brutal, especially for indie authors. People will tear your work apart for minor problems. After you’ve done a few rounds of edits, check it over again. Have friends and family read it to catch mistakes too. And EVERY author needs to have someone they trust to talk through ideas with. It will make a huge difference. If this person knows your story and your characters, they will be a priceless asset to any author.

Boxers or Briefs? Boxers
Pizza or hamburger? Pizza
Beer, Wine, or mixed drink? Wine

If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be?  Would you write or read there, or do something else?
Ireland. My entire life, I’ve wanted to see the land there and talk to the people and explore the history. I would most definitely visit Carrickfergus Castle outside Belfast, where part of my novel is set.


(Character Questions)
What were your first impressions of each other?
Aiden: I thought she was a tasty snack until she turned around and my compulsion didn’t work. Though she was scared, she still was brave enough to stand up to me. When she figured out what I was and didn’t run away screaming, I thought she must be wither insane or a gift from Nyx.
Harlow: At first, I thought he was a serial killer. I guess, he kind of is, or at least used to be. Even when he was talking about killing me, he was courteous. When I figured out he was a vampire, I was thrilled! He simply fascinates me.

What’s your favorite characteristic of each other?
Aiden: Her open mind and loving heart. She accepts me as I am and loves me despite my flaws.
Harlow: His knightly tendencies. With him, chivalry is undead, and I can almost know what it would have been like to know him as a human.
What are your plans for the near future? 
Aiden: I eagerly look forward to teaching Harlow more about the life I lead and having the time to immerse myself in her love without the hindrance of Lilith dogging our every step.
Harlow: My life has been such a dizzying blur of chaos for a while now, I just want to relax and bask in the glow of our new life together. I have a lot to learn about vampires, and I do so adore learning, but mostly, I plan to enjoy time with my love.


Great interview, Amanda! Thanks so much for being my guest today.

Signed Paperback copy up for grabs and lots of swag! Be sure you leave your email addy and a question for Amanda. Contest will continue for a week from today. 

Also please visit Amanda@

Twitter: @ImmortalChoice