Sunday, November 30, 2014

Thankful Author- Meg Bellamy



November 30, 2014
THANKFUL AUTHOR BLOG ROUNDUP
Featuring Meg Bellamy


Things I'm grateful for:

1.  My family
2.  Good health for me and all my loved ones
3.  The many blessings of my life
4.  Being a writer
5.  Friends



Welcome Meg, we save the best for last here. Can you tell me three words that describe yourself starting with A, B, and C?

A – Artistic
B— Bookworm
C -- Creative

 What are your three favorite things?

Just pick three?  Did you mean specifics or general?  I chose general, but will narrow my choices down if need be. 
Books , Paper, Fiber – fabric and yarn

Music is a big influence on my writing. I have certain songs that inspire each chapter, or the whole book. What helps to inspire you?

There is one piece of music that has been inspirational for me since high school – a long, long time ago. That is “Scheherazade” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. In addition to being beautiful music, “Schererazade” is very much the story of a story teller. Perhaps that’s why the music is so meaningful to me.

When not writing, what can you be found doing?

Cooking and baking; looking at recipes in magazines and cookbooks. Right now, since DH and I are getting ready to move, I’m going through my stuff and trying to winnow it down – not my favorite process.

If you could spend the day with any celebrity, who would it be?
I’ve got it down to two chefs, both based in England --- Yotam Ottolenghi, whose latest cookbook was my request for my recent birthday gift from DH; and Nigella Lawson, who seems very bubbly and enthusiastic and has written some great cookbooks. Of course, I’d expect them both to cook for me – or maybe to let me cook with them?

As you might have guessed from my interview responses, food and cooking are very important to me. The same is true for Donna Byrne, the heroine of Starts with F. 



“It’s your kid’s wedding, not the end of the world.”

Actually, Armageddon is a pretty mild description of professional cook Donna Byrne's complicated dealings with her ex on the eve of their son's wedding. Desperate to comply with her son’s request for a temporary truce between his parents, Donna joins a Nuclear Nuptials support group—other pre-wedding moms with toxic exes. To her surprise, the group is a great community. As a bonus, Donna meets the gorgeous instructor of the forgiveness class the group enrolls in.

Max Leiter, a Sir Galahad type with issues, is kind, caring and really hot. A widower who's as committed to his daughters as Donna is to her son, Max is there for Donna when she needs him. Arrested on trumped-up charges for the attempted murder of her ex, Donna is out on bail when she attends her son's wedding, with Max as her escort. He not only helps Donna through her ordeal but learns he's not meant to be superman. Together they get through the tough stuff—still holding hands when all their dreams begin to come true.

Starts with F is the first book of the Nuclear Nuptials series -- loving parents dealing with impossible situations as they gear up for their children's weddings.

Excerpt:

“Mother of the bride?”
“Groom.” Donna smiled at the bridal shop saleswoman, then frowned. “I’m not sure about this color.”
“Aubergine is very popular for September weddings,” the woman chirped.
“Eggplant’s for eating, not wearing.”
Donna’s older sister Jeannette, who’d come along for moral support, tsked. “Aubergine. I keep telling you you‘ve got to start thinking outside the kitchen.”
The saleswoman nodded in agreement with Jeannette and pointed toward the dressing room. “The seamstress is ready for you.”
Maybe inviting Jeannette along wasn’t my brightest idea. Donna trudged to the mirrored alcove, stripped and groaned. Those frustration pounds…
“Suck it in, sweetie.” The seamstress pinched Donna, earning a glare.
“I am.” Any harder and she’d faint.
“Hmm. Better not to force the zipper. I’ll let out two seams in the back. That’ll cost extra.”
What else? I’m already triple over budget for the wedding.
Jeannette’s forehead creased with concern. “Are you sure you can’t get that up? Sometimes a new zipper can be stiff.”
“Of course I’m sure,” the seamstress snapped. “I’m in this business thirty years. With delicate fabric like this silk… If she doesn’t want alterations, she could try Spanx—industrial strength. Maybe a large shawl.” Her eyes gleamed with doubt and schadenfreude.
“Spanx is a good idea, but a shawl would detract….” Jeannette moved in. “Let me try.”
The darn thing will tear, and then where will I be? Donna put her hands up in a stop gesture and sighed. “Leave it. I’ll pay.“ Then, since nothing ever resisted when Jeannette insisted, the reluctant zipper whined and surrendered.
“There, that works. We’ll take the dress as is.” Jeannette grinned with satisfaction. Never mind Donna’s strangled circulation. She gasped with relief when Jeannette slid the zipper down.
The seamstress, mouth pursed in a grim line, muttered to herself as she repacked the dress.
Back in her sister’s black Mercedes, Donna thought out loud. “I could slash calories between now and the wedding.” Two months without comfort food. Piece of cake, so to speak. Her son’s wedding was worth it.
“You still have the daily food spreadsheet I gave you, right?” Jeannette easily steered through San Francisco’s mid-day traffic. “If you use it, you’ll do fine. You’ll look gorgeous. Knock Patrick’s eyes out, make him sorry—”
Donna snorted at the direction her sister’s words were taking. “Yeah, right. We’re so far from that…. Did I tell you the latest?”
“No. What’s up?”
“Keith made his father and me promise we’d be civil to each other until after the wedding. Sheesh. Talk about mission impossible. But a promise to my son—”
“That is hard to believe. How did Keith get the two of you to agree to anything?”
“Threats to have us banned from the wedding—I think he was kidding, but he scared me into saying yes. We both took the pledge, though The Prick’s word isn’t worth bubkes.”
Jeannette sniffed in refined indignation. “In principle, I agree. Still, you shouldn’t descend to his level, like when you call him The Prick. You set the tone and your ex will have to follow, if he doesn’t want to look bad.”
In what alternate universe? Donna envied her sister’s innate optimism, or was it a talent for self-delusion?
“Maybe you can press the point, talk Patrick into showing good faith by withdrawing his claim to your recipes—the ones you adapted from Grandma’s. He’s made more than enough money off our family.”
Donna sputtered from sheer frustration. “You actually think he’s going to do a one eighty and cave after being hard-nosed for the past two years?”
“Your only son’s wedding is a special time.”
 “Reality check. The recipe dispute is on hold until after the wedding, but that’s because of me. My dear ex would leave it on hold forever if I didn’t keep bringing it up. The status quo suits him. Not me, but with wedding expenses, I can’t afford a new lawyer and I fired the old one.”
“Why do you do this, Donna? You know I’d be happy to help you pay for someone top-notch.”
Donna shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, but you’ve done more than enough. I’ll pay for my lawyer.”
“Why’d you fire the one you had?”
“Zero results. After the wedding, I’ll get back on track.” Time to change the subject. “Did I tell you I’ve started looking for a publisher for my cookbook?”
Jeannette’s brow furrowed. “Aren’t you jumping the gun—getting a publisher before you have clear title to the recipes?”
Maybe not the best conversational choice after all. Donna waved a dismissive hand. “No. It takes forever for newbie authors to break in. Work goes into a slush pile and then you wait. And wait. I’ll own the recipes long before I get an offer.”
“I always say, first things first.”
Of course she does. “We have different styles.”
“Speaking of which, do you have accessories to go with the dress?”
“What do you wear with eggplant? Parmesan?”
“Aubergine. You’ll be wearing aubergine. And I saw gorgeous silver evening sandals—they’re even on sale. They’ll be perfect…“

BUY LINK


  MEDIA LINK



Saturday, November 29, 2014

Thankful Author- Mickey J. Corrigan



Novembr 29, 2014
THANKFUL AUTHOR BLOG ROUNDUP
Featuring Mickey J. Corrigan


My Thanks:

Wow, where to begin? There's so much to be grateful for this year. There are all the usual things I too often take for granted: good health, loving family, wonderful home and rewarding work. Terrific friends. A safe place to live and no war, hunger, or violence in my personal life. How lucky I am to be able to sit here and say that. I should never take any of this for granted. Ever!

Then there are the special things I am grateful for this year. My wonderful publishers. My amazing editors. My fellow authors who are so supportive and enthusiastic. Writing is an isolated act. It can be tough to make yourself stay on track. Writing is hard, but selling books is even more difficult. We need each other to make this happen. To provide moral support and marketing assistance. We get one another because we are all struggling with the same issues. Reaching our readers. Making that happen while we still find the time to write.

I am so grateful for all the help I get from my fellow writers. People like Angela. Book reviewers and bloggers. I am also thankful for my writing group, Ink Well. My writer friends, who give me honest feedback. My early readers, including my husband and son, who laugh at my jokes and tell me my stories are worth reading.

And I'm thankful to people like you. Readers, writers, and supporters of the literary arts. You are the best. Thank you. And have a wonderful holiday!



                               

Bio:

Mickey J. Corrigan lives and writes and gets into trouble in South Florida. She publishes with pulpy presses with names like Breathless, Champagne and Bottom Drawer. Recent books include the edgy novellas in the Hard Stuff series from The Wild Rose Press (Whiskey Sour Noir, Vodka Warrior, Tequila Dirty and the free read Mai Tai Guy); and the thriller Sugar Babies. Her short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in Akashic Books, ELJ Publications, Big Pulp, Flash Fiction UK, Deep Water Literary, Every Day Fiction, Red Fez, and elsewhere. Salt Publishing will release the dark New Adult novella Songs of the Maniacs any day now.

Links:



BLURB:

A coming of age story, Red Hot Blues looks at growing up in the fast lane.

By the time she's sixteen, Telluride Marshall is tired of running away from bad men with her sex kitten mother. On the road from Maine to Florida, Tellie tries to talk sense to Kittie about the stolen Porsche and the thousands of dollars taken from her abusive ex. Mother and daughter are destined to clash—and to share some wild ride adventure.

Release Date: December 17, 2014
Genre: mainstream fiction, women's lit, YA
Length: Novella
Heat rating: mild
ISBN: 978-1-62830-652-1
Price: $1.99

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Thankful Author- Jana Richards


November 27, 2014
Thankful Author Blog Roundup
Featuring Jana Richards

What I'm grateful for?

Definitely for my family. My husband and my two daughters mean everything to me. I’m grateful for good health. I have a few aches and pains, but all in all, nothing worth complaining about. And I’m grateful to be living in a country (Canada) where I’m free to pursue any career I want, I can voice my opinions without fear, and I can live in peace.




Welcome Jana, tell me three words that describe yourself starting with A, B, and C.

This is way harder than it looks! I came up with the following:
A – affectionate because I think I’m a warm, friendly, caring person. At least I like to think so!
B – buoyant because I’m resilient and flexible. I think you’ve got to be in the business of publishing.
C – conscientious because I’m hard-working, dependable and honest. That’s probably way more than you wanted to know, but I’m sticking with it!

What are your three favorite things?

Coffee, warm, sunny days, and my dog Lou.


How much is your character like you?

My character Dani, from ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, is like me in that she struggles with self-image. Both of us have weight issues, and both of us use humor to cover our feelings. I also made her a loyal friend, and a loving daughter and sister; I hope I share that with her. Dani is also very different from me in that she took some drastic measures to change the way she looks, something I’ve never considered doing. In that way, I think she’s stronger and more determined than me! Here’s the blurb for ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID:
Dani Dipietro has always considered herself an ugly duckling in a family of swans. She's the bridesmaid her friends count on, but never the woman any man wants for his bride. So she plays the funny girl and guards her emotions, and her secrets, closely.
When Zach Morrison was dumped at his wedding, Dani was there to help him through the humiliation. A year later they meet again and once more Zach needs her help. To fend off the unwanted attentions of his former fiancĂ©, he asks Dani to pretend to be his girlfriend. They play their roles a little too well, and make believe turns into reality. But their relationship comes crashing down around them when Zach's trust issues cause him to accuse Dani of cheating. Telling the truth means that Dani will betray a friend, something she will never do. But keeping her secrets means she may be destined to remain a bridesmaid forever. 

Will there be more books in your series, or can you tell us about any previous books?

ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID is the third and final book in my Left at the Altar series. Each book begins with someone being left at the altar, and follows their journey back to love. I know that doesn’t sound like humorous material, but the books combine some laughs with the painful moments. 


HER BEST MAN: Sarah Stevens experiences a bride's worst nightmare; being dumped at the altar. When she goes on the Caribbean cruise meant to be her honeymoon in order to lick her wounds, she discovers her ex-fiancé has sent his brother, Will Marshall, the former best man, on the cruise as well. Everyone on board thinks they're newlyweds, and Sarah is too embarrassed to set them straight. How is she supposed to share a tiny cabin with a man she barely knows? How is she supposed to pretend that she and Will are on their honeymoon? Even worse, how can she keep from falling in love with him? Sarah discovers the best man for her really is the best man.




THERE GOES THE GROOM: Eight years ago Tony left Olivia at the altar. He was sure she didn't really want to marry him. Now he's back, and they're forced to work together.
Coming home isn't easy for Tony, because his father wanted him to work at a trade instead of going off to college. Their relationship is still unsteady. Even before Tony's return, Olivia began questioning the depth of her love for her fiancĂ©, a man she chose because he was safe and reliable. Yet, the last thing she wants is a loveless, faithless marriage like the one her parents suffered through. 
When Tony, who never stopped loving her, insists her fiancé is the wrong man for her, Olivia sets out to prove him wrong. But the sexual chemistry between them is still strong, and so are her feelings for him. Even so, how can she break her engagement, hurt her fiancé as she was once hurt? And how can she trust Tony not to abandon her as he did before?
If anyone does the jilting this time, she will.
Was there any particular inspiration for your characters or story?

Years ago, someone told me a story about a wedding his friend went to. Everyone was gathered in the church for the ceremony when the groom suddenly called a halt to the proceedings and said there would be no wedding. He told them if they looked under the pews they’d discover the reason why. And then he left. When my friend’s friend looked under his seat, he found an envelope taped there containing pictures of the bride and the best man in bed together. Though my friend’s friend swore the story was true, I’ve always had my doubts about its veracity. But the writer in me wanted to use it in some way! 
I started thinking about what it would be like to be dumped at the altar. I can only imagine the heartache and humiliation. Some research showed me that broken engagements are not uncommon. Infidelity might be the cause in some cases, but fear of commitment is the more common reason. One partner may get cold feet and decide they aren’t ready for marriage, at least not to their current partner. Most of the time, the breakup happens well before the day of the wedding, but I wanted to explore the emotions and the humiliation of someone who’s been dumped at the very last minute. How do they learn to trust again? Could they ever find their way back to love? It was fun, and at times heart-wrenching, to write this series. 

Thanks for having me Angela!



EXCERPT:

The door swung open, and for a moment Dani could only stare. Zach Morrison stood holding the door and looking even more handsome then he had a year ago. She’d learned from Fiona that he’d be here, that they’d be paired together in the wedding party. But even though he’d had a starring role in her fantasies for the last year, she hadn’t expected her insides to go all mushy at the sight of him.
Finally, she remembered her manners and held out her hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Zach.”
He took her hand and held it tightly. “It’s nice to see you, too. In fact, I’m really glad you’re here.”
Her mouth went instantly dry. “You are?”
“Yeah.” He squeezed her fingers, the look on his face intense. “I know we don’t know each other well, but I have a favor I need to ask you. A really big favor.”
“Okay.” She couldn’t imagine what kind of favor he’d want from her. “Why don’t I come inside and you can tell me about it.”
He looked furtively over his shoulder. “I haven’t forgotten your kindness when I saw you last. My mother told me how considerate you were to her and Camp as well. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. But I really didn’t do anything.” Her heart pounded so hard she was sure he could hear it.
“It meant a lot to me. Listen, there’s not much time. I wanted to ask you–”
“Zach! Who’s at the door?”
Dani started. She knew that voice. Chantal.
Zach visibly shuddered at the demanding tone in his ex-fiancĂ©’s voice. His blue eyes implored her.
“Please, play along with me. I’ll make it worth your while.”
“What?”
“Daniella, help me, please!” he whispered.
How could she say no to a handsome man asking for her help?
“Okay, but–”
Before she could articulate a question, he pulled her into his arms, his mouth descending on hers. Dani was too shocked to object. For a full ten seconds she remained rigid and unyielding. Then she relaxed slightly, sighing at the sweet sensation of his lips touching hers. Her hands seemed to move on their own accord, first exploring his muscular chest, then winding around his neck. Her body trembled as it molded itself against his.
“Dani? Is that you?”
Chantal’s voice doused the pleasant awareness. She stepped back with a jolt, shocked that she’d been so intimate with someone she hardly knew. She cringed. And in front of an audience, too.
Zach put his arm around her waist, pulling her against him and kissing her cheek. “Just follow my lead. Please,” he whispered urgently in her ear. Dani looked up into his eyes and saw his desperation. Without thinking, she gave an imperceptible nod. He grinned and turned to face Chantal.
“I was just saying hello to Daniella.”
Chantal looked her up and down. “Since when do you say hello to Dani by sticking your tongue down her throat?”

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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Thankful Author- Loreen Augeri


November 26, 2014
THANKFUL AUTHOR BLOG ROUNDUP
Featuring Loreen Augeri

What I'm Thankful For

I am thankful for my supportive husband and my two wonderful daughters.




Bio

Loreen Augeri has always liked to read and write. As a young child, she created stories featuring a young girl and her loyal horse. Riding was her favorite pastime.
 She started reading historical romances when her children were babies. When her youngest daughter started school, she decided she wanted to write a novel. At first, to see if she could, later as a hobby, and then seeking publication. Joining Romance Writers of America and her local chapter helped in the process.

Loreen lives in Massachusetts with her husband of 33 years and her two adult daughters. When she is not reading or writing, she enjoys walking, dancing, and spending time at the beach.
You can find Loreen on her ...




Blurb

Captain Morgan Danvers sets sail to rescue his brother, kidnapped by pirates. Fearing he will become like his father who abandoned him, he has cut himself off from his emotions. Then a willful stowaway crashes into his life, awakening dormant feelings and firing his lust. Soon he finds his all-important honor threatened, for even though he is betrothed to another, he is drawn to her against his will.

Arianna Pemberton hides in a barrel she thinks will be loaded on her brother's ship but lands on Morgan's brig. Her father has forbidden her to sail, and this is her only course of action. Unwilling to allow a man to control her, she is determined to make her way as a seaman, a profession she knows and loves. But when Captain Danvers discovers her deception, he refuses to permit her to prove herself. As she struggles to convince him, unwanted passion emerges, jeopardizing her plans for independence.


Excerpt

Throwing open the door to his cabin, he pushed her inside, entered, and slammed it shut. He remembered doing this once already today. He hoped this time would be the last. Morgan folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the door.

She stood defiantly before him as her perfect, seductive chest rose and fell in a swift rhythm. From the quick trip down here, fear, or anger, he couldn’t tell. She acted the opposite of every female he had ever encountered.

“Now, let’s get a few things straight. I run this ship. I am the captain. I am king on the Sea Dragon. You obey my rules. And the first one is, you go where I tell you and stay there until I command otherwise.” A paper from the top of his desk floated to the floor, reminding him of her other infraction and possible spying. “And you never, ever, touch my belongings.” He swung his arm in a wide arc. “This is not how I left my cabin. Return it to its previous condition.”

“But—”

“Quiet!” he roared. “I am not finished. You will remove those clothes and dress as a female should.” He stalked toward her.

She instinctively stepped back.

He snatched the cap off her head, and sunshine spilled out. Ensnared by her golden beauty, he stilled and pictured her hair unbound, enveloping her curves, enveloping him. He shook himself. Her allure would not save her. He was immune to feminine charms. Morgan shoved the wool cap at her, and she caught it in her hands. “Women do not wear these.”

“Are you finished?” She stood straight and tall. All five feet of her.

He nodded.

“I’m sorry I made a mess of your cabin, but you left me no choice. I needed to find a way out.”

“Why? I explicitly stated you were to remain. I even locked you in.” His gaze searched the cabin. “How did you escape?”

“I used the key.”

“How did you get it?” A sudden thought struck. “From Mark? Is he the one who let you out?” Morgan spun toward the door to summon the boy. She grabbed his arm to stop him, and a shocking sizzle shot through him.

An indrawn breath escaped her. She immediately released him and clasped her hands together in front of her, the knuckles white, her arms tense. “He had nothing to do with me leaving the cabin. It was all my idea.” The words tumbled from her mouth.

Morgan strove to ignore the tingling sensation running up and down his arm and to summon back the anger that had seeped from him. He held out his hand palm up. “Give me the key.”

She brushed blonde wisps of hair from her face. “I don’t have it.”

“Where is it?”

She hesitated. “At the bottom of the ocean.”

Lost Honor is available in e-book and paperback from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble online.
 Buy links can be found on my website www.loreenaugeri.com


Amazon e-book

Amazon paperback


The Wild Rose Press e-book

The Wild Rose Press paperback

Barnes and Noble e-book


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Thankful Author- JC McKenzie


November 25, 2014
THANKFUL AUTHOR BLOG ROUNDUP
Featuring JC McKenzie

What I'm thankful for:

I'm thankful for continued good health, my supportive husband, and my awesome son. I'm also grateful for my fans, fellow-writers, friends, and family. Lastly, I'm appreciative for three publishing contracts this year.




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.

Contact Information:

Website: 

Blog:

Facebook Page:

Twitter Page: 

Amazon:

Goodreads: 




Andrea McNeilly's job as a government agent is not asking questions, but then a routine assignment turns into a botched assassination of a Master Vampire's human servant. Answers become a priority. Her search to discover the truth is riddled with obstacles, the largest being an oversized Werewolf who resembles a Norse god. Andy can't afford the distraction he offers, because if she fails, she faces eternal enslavement. 

Wick's job is to monitor Andy, but he prefers more intimate activities, none of them G-Rated. His choices, however, are often not his own. His ability to help Andy is limited by his bond to the Master Vampire. 

Facing many trials and challenges along her path to redemption, Andy learns the value of her freedom might be set too high.

BUY LINKS:




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.

Release date TBA



After her fiancé dumps her and her beloved Aunt Jenny goes missing, Willa Eklund travels to Lobster Cove with a broken heart to search for Jenny while running her bookstore. When a mysterious man visits the Shucker's Booktique on a stormy night drenched in rain and covered in mud, Willa's heart melts under his stormy gaze. She wants Lon and the answers he may have, but he also has a secret. Can Willa trust him?

Lon Devlin is a Tempest, a water sprite who can only take a human form during stormy nights. He rides the waves, lives by the tides, and nothing can hold him down, not even a beautiful woman. When he visits his mortal friend, he discovers she's missing and her intriguing niece has taken her place. He wants Willa, but he also wants answers. What happened to Jenny?
  
BUY LINKS:




Monday, November 24, 2014

Thankful Author- Mary Gillgannon

November 24, 2014
THANKFUL AUTHOR BLOG ROUNDUP
Featuring Mary Gillgannon

What I'm Thankful For

I am thankful for my family and friends, I don’t think I would be able to appreciate or enjoy them as much if it wasn’t for the other thing I’m very thankful for—writing.




Before I started writing fiction, I struggled with depression. Nothing severe, mainly a vague feeling of unhappiness and dissatisfaction. Writing changed that. Not only did writing books give me a purpose and concrete goals, the creative process itself seemed to change me. When I am in the hyper-focus state of writing, everything falls away and I become calmer, less stressed and more optimistic. It’s like the perfect drug with few side effects (Well, OK, my house isn’t nearly as clean as it should be!)

I’ve published fifteen books, all set in the past. I love the gritty details of the medieval and dark age time periods and the brawny warrior heroes who inhabit them. When I started my latest book, Call Down the Moon, it was also originally a historical romance. But somewhere in the process of writing it, I realized that while my story started out in the past, my characters didn’t stay there. Before I knew it, they’d ended up in contemporary Denver.

It turns out that Irish warrior Connar and his beloved Aisling didn’t get their happily ever after back in ninth century Ireland. But when it doesn’t work out for them in the past, Connar uses magic to follow Aisling to the future so they can have another chance together. But once there, he has to cope with the dark forces that have followed him from the past. And Aisling, now Allison Hunter, has to deal with the terrifying visions she experiences whenever she’s around him. Because Allison doesn’t remember her previous life. Which means Connar has to get her to fall in love with him all over again. 



 EXCERPT:

The nine Sisters danced upon the hillside. Light from the Seed Moon revealed their long flowing hair—raven black, blood red, gold and silver. It shone on their nakedness, young and old flesh shaped into the flowing lines of the Earth Goddess herself. Their bodies gleamed as they writhed and whirled, calling on the Ancient Ones.
Aisling stood in the center of the circle of women. Whorls of black and crimson marked her breasts and belly, while serpent shapes encircled her arms and ankles. Her skin felt heavy, as if the patterns covering her had substance, as if they were not merely dyes from earth and plants. Her body tingled and her nipples felt hard. Her lower belly and thighs burned with a heat that defied the cool night air.
Aisling took a deep breath. Her night. Her initiation. Although she had watched the Sisters dance many times before, she had never been part of the circle. She feared the gods would not speak to her. Even more, she feared they would pronounce for her some future she could not endure.
The dance grew more frantic. The women wove in and out, a ribbon of pulsing flesh. They formed circles within the circle. Three sets of three, the sacred number. The whirling dancers bound Aisling in place in the center of the magic. The tension built. The night air crackled with energy, fierce as lightning. Their voices rang out in eerie exhortation and they ended the dance with arms stretched to the sky, long hair streaming down their backs.
A few heartbeats passed. Then they approached Aisling and guided her to the fire on the other side of the hill. As she reached it, Aisling turned and saw her companions’ sweat-slicked faces, lit by the orange gold flames. They looked weary, empty. Maebbina, the oldest, took Aisling's arm firmly and guided her to a caldron near the fire. "Look," she said. "Look in the scrying bowl."
Aisling bent over the cauldron, heart hammering. She stared at the oily surface shining in the firelight. At first, she saw nothing. Nothing but blackness, the reflection of flames and her own face. She knew a sharp disappointment, mingled with relief. The magic didn't work. Everything was real and ordinary. She stiffened as something in the orb of liquid began to swell and grow. There was another light there, softer, grayer. Silver instead of the gold of the fire. It was filled with shapes. The sheen of armor and flash of weapons caught her eye. "Warriors," she murmured.
The women near her whispered with excitement. Aisling watched as the shapes in the cauldron grew nearer, filling her vision. The warriors were all around her. She could hear the clank and rattle of their weapons, smell the scent of them. Dust and sweat... and man. Their long hair flowed over their shoulders. Their hands stood ready on their weapons. Their hot breath covered her.
One of them grasped her wrist and fixed her with a piercing look, his eyes like the glowing green depths of a shadowed forest pool. "Aisling, my love," he whispered.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Call Down the Moon, the first book in the Soulmate series 
Available December 29 from The Wild Rose Press

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Thankful Author- Katherine Grey


November 23, 2014
THANKFUL AUTHOR BLOG ROUNDUP
Featuring Katherine Grey

What I'm Thankful For

What I'm most thankful for is my family. I've suffered the sudden death of a loved one along with some of life's other hardships the last few months and my family has made getting through the difficulties a bit easier to bear. They've been there to listen and help me get through the day when all I really want to do is stay in bed with the blankets pulled over my head and pretend the world doesn't exist.




Blurb:

Known only as Lazarus to the band of cutthroats and thieves he leads, William Prescott will do anything to find his missing sister, even blackmail a fragile young woman into helping him. But he never plans to fall in love with this mysterious woman with a troubled past. 

Haunted by the memories of war, Olivia St. Germaine wants nothing more than to live a normal life. But when her brother, a doctor, suddenly leaves town without a word, she is forced to use her medical knowledge to help an injured man who puts her life in danger. Can she keep herself safe as she tends Lazarus, or is her heart more vulnerable than she realizes?



Excerpt:

“If you don’t leave, I shall have Jennings call the constable.” Olivia headed for the door.

“And how will you accomplish that?”

She halted in mid-step.

“Yes, I know there are no servants in residence.” Lazarus sauntered closer. “Did you play the benevolent mistress and give them the night off?”

Eager to keep him at a distance, she scooted around him and stood at the end of the bed. “What do you want?”

“What do you think I want?”

“Why don’t we dispense with the games, and you just tell me?”

Lazarus closed the space between them in two strides. He pushed her backward onto the bed. Olivia bounced against the soft mattress. She dug her elbows into the thick counterpane in an effort to scramble backward away from him.

Grabbing her ankles, he pulled her toward him in one quick jerk. He leaned over her. His hand closed over her hip, freezing her in place. The warmth of his hand burned through her clothes to her skin.

Feeling truly terrified for the first time since he’d announced his presence, she searched his gaze for some kind of sign this was all a great joke. No, it was no game. His eyes were as hard and cold as glass. “What do you want?” she repeated, her voice a near whisper.

“Stop asking questions about me. Forget you ever heard the name Lazarus.”

Buy Links & Contact Info





Bio Information:

At the age of four, Katherine pestered her mother to teach her to read. From that point on, she spent the most of her childhood lost in the pages of one book after another. Soon she began writing stories of her own, populated with characters doing all of the things she was too shy to even contemplate doing herself. 

A chance meeting with another author led Katherine to seriously pursue a writing career. Her debut novel, Impetuous, was released by The Wild Rose Press in August 2011. 

Katherine lives in upstate NY with her family though she threatens to move south at the beginning of each winter season. 



You can contact Katherine on 



Twitter - @AuthorKayGrey

 Amazon Author page - http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PMMHUO