Thank you!

On June 16th, the Many Shades blog will be closed.
The authors thank you for your readership and hope you will come visit them at their personal sites via the links to the left.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A Glimpse Into A Work In Progress – Part 3

posted on the behalf of Lynn Crain ~

Here we are in month three of my creative process. When I started this story I wanted to produce something smart and humorous. But alas, all is not well in the kingdom. And that doesn’t mean something bad has happened, no in my opinion it is something that is quite good and different. So good in fact I wrote over three thousand words on this section alone.
Needless to say I have a completed first chapter which puts me one step closer to my goal of submitting three chapters and a synopsis to an agent. Let me just mention one thing here…even though I am developing this book section by section…it is better when you read the complete product to get the full impact of what I have done. That way you can see how it flows and moves, almost as if it’s liquid. A typical question regarding this would be, how do you know you’ve done that successfully and I will try to answer you.
For me, I have to read the story out loud with a red pen in hand. Sometimes I read it to myself while I’m alone in the office. Sometimes, like with this one, I have my DH read it and then I read it out loud to one of my best friends, Brenda. Only when I read something out loud do I get the sense of flow and it doesn’t matter if that read is only to myself or not. Each author has their own special technique but for me, it is the only thing that works because I need to feel the rhythm of the story. I can only do this when I read out loud.
But let’s look at our progress so far. Last month we talked about how I went from what I thought was a pretty good beginning to the next step where I begin to develop the characters and the plot. I’ve given you the basics of Aeryn and Logan’s past relationship but not much of the ‘what really happened’ stuff. Up to this point, you haven’t really seen Logan, you’ve just heard about the stud.
So, in this next section of the story I’ve got to establish a few things. One is that I have to give you a real sense of the hero. I have to make you think he’s as sexy as Aeryn does. And frankly that’s a tall order since I am looking at him through her eyes. The reason I say this is because what’s sexy to me may not be sexy to all of you or even Aeryn. This is where an author shows his or her skill and since I’m trying something new, I’ll be pulling out all the stops. Most authors are a little bit in love with their hero and I am no exception as well as the fact that most heroines have a little bit of the author in them.
Another thing that is important in my mind, is that I’ve got to give you a glimpse into their past relationship. I don’t want to reveal everything at once but do it slowly one layer at a time just like an onion. I always thought that was one of the great things in the movie Shrek when they talked about the layers of an onion because that’s exactly what I try to do. Otherwise, you’ll get something that I call information dump.
That’s when an author dumps all the information on you at once, leaving nothing to really reveal in later sections of the book. For me, that is a definite no-no as I have no need to read the book further if I know everything.
I have uncompleted books that I have stopped writing because of the information dump syndrome. Suddenly, I know everything about the book because I’ve dumped all the information at one time. At that point, for some reason, I don’t have a burning need to complete it because I already know everything there is to know. And this is one of the reasons that I don’t usually complete a synopsis before the third chapter.
Sure, I want to know where my book is going and how it’s going to get there. BUT I don’t want to know all the minute details because that’s the fun part of the journey, creating those details. Now, I don’t write all books this way. When I’m working on an epic fantasy romance or a sci-fi romance for instance, I need to know those little details so they don’t get lost in the telling. With my contemporaries and my paranormals, as long as they aren’t fantasy based or sci-fi based, I want to find out the details as I’m writing and not before.
So let’s see if all my attention to flow, rhythm and detail has worked. Without further ado, here’s the next section of ‘Where’s My Underwear Anyway?’ and I hope you enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.


Monica glared at his back and turned a concerned face toward me. “Don’t worry, not much really happened.”
“Define not much.”
She closed her eyes and grimaced. “You were alone with him for ten minutes at the most. Swear.”
I stared at her.
Oh my god, it had included a table and ten minutes alone with Logan? I closed my eyes and wondered what the hell I had done that put me on a table and at the same time made me lose my underwear. I swallowed hard. I hadn’t been that drunk since I was that graduate student exploring the world. True, my life had been boring as hell recently as no man had been able to really hold my attention. I had actually received the nickname of ‘the love ‘em and leave ‘em lawyer’ of the firm.
Hell…I was more worried about the alone time with Logan…I knew what I would have done drunk or sober with that man. But while my body might had been touched in ways it craved, it certainly hadn’t been fucked.
I sighed. Monica had been bugging me for months as to why I couldn’t form a relationship with any local yokel. I realized now it probably was because I didn’t want to form any kind of relationship with anyone but the stud. But he had to be out of my reach as I was sure he was married and had that wonderful life he had always wanted. Without me.
****
Rubbing my chin, I looked at the underwear which now took center stage on my desk. I hadn’t shaved since yesterday nor had I been to my apartment. I still couldn’t believe my luck. Or maybe I should call it my bad luck. Walking through the old digs, I just happened to look in a window to see her dancing on a table in her usual spendor. I had to shake my head to clear it as I wasn’t sure at first it was her. But it was her. Tall, leggy and the all American blonde. Who could forget that body or that woman?
Aeryn Delancie. The woman who had filled my nights as a young man. The one who had filled my thoughts ever since. No one had been able to eradicate her out of my mind or my heart to this very day. Sure, I had had plenty of relationships and those relationships had all fizzled out because nothing compared to Aeryn. Or rather nothing compared to what Aeryn did to me and with me.
I had always figured that she had left me because she didn’t really like me. But since Monica and I had kept in touch through Christmas and birthday cards, I some how knew that wasn’t the case. Something had been done or said to make her change her mind and I never knew what it was for sure even though I had an idea. It was one mistake I would always regret.
I was surprised to find them both in Edinburgh since I had thought Monica would have called. Once the incident was over, she then explained that they had just finished their conference and she planned to track me down this very week. So it was just a fluke that I hadn’t known they were there. Still, last night’s scenario ran through my mind as I sat there fingering her underwear.
I had stood next to the table, watching her twirl her underwear on her finger as she did a suggestive little dance on the table at the corner pub. The men were flocked there as they could see the promise of her body under the short dress. Looking up at her, my blood started to boil.
“What do you think you are doing?” I questioned more harshly than I intended.
Turning droopy blue eyes my way, she smiled brightly as if she had just seen a new toy. “Entertaining everyone. Don’t you want to be entertained, Logan?”
I let out an angry sigh. Entertaining wasn’t quite what I had in mind for this evening originally. I supposed I could say I was on the prowl. Now that plan lay in shabbles around me as I knew nothing but Aeryn would give my body satisfaction. “Not like this, Aeryn.” I growled at all the cheering men and reached up for her.
She pulled back. “Not so fast big boy. What do I get in return?” she slurred, still looking incredibly sexy but I realized she was incredibly drunk. And I also knew that this was totally unlike her. I had followed her career in secret and was amazed at just how much control the woman exerted over herself and her courtroom battles. I wondered if the woman who had given her all to me, both physically and mentally, still existed within that hard exterior shell she worked to keep in place. Monica said…well…Monica had said a lot of things over the years.
Ignoring her, I pulled her down to the boos and hisses of the crowd. I just hoped I wasn’t going to have to fight all these men for her. Glaring most of them down, I reached for her arm praying that the big bloke next to me would give way once I had her on the ground.
“Hey,” she said and smacked me lightly. “Gentle, I’m sure I can be broke.”
At that moment all I could think of was one of the wild fillies on my farm in the highlands. I highly doubted any one would break this woman but I was sure she could break me. “This is totally inappropriate behaviour even for you,” I sneered.
Smiling, she leaned into me. “Do you know how much that accent turns me on? I mean it really turns me on, Logan. It’s more refined now but I still love it.” Licking her lips, she pulled me closer, licked my ear and continued to whisper. “Tell me what you want big boy, I already know how to give it to you.”
I glanced around again, pulled her underwear out of her hands, put it in my pocket and shoved her toward the back hall not caring what anyone thought. Thank god, I had known Clancey for years and he wouldn’t mind if I used the office. Slamming open the door, I pushed her inside and shut it against the outside world.
“Hey.” She glared at me. “You don’t have to get pushy.”
I stood before her seething, my body rock hard. There was only one way that this would end. I just had to decide if now was the time and place. I had taken Aeryn drunk before but we had both wanted it then. It was as if we couldn’t get enough of each other. To be honest, we screwed like rabbits. But this time, I didn’t know what she really wanted. “Just what in the bloody hell did you expect to accomplish with that little display?” I took a step forward as she took a step back.
I could tell she was nervous as she chewed on her lip a little. “I was looking for something I hadn’t had in a very, very long time.” She inched ever closer to the desk.
I knew it would take very little to bend her forward or backwards over that massive piece of furniture as she wanted taking as much as I wanted to take her. I took another step forward and she squeeled, turning quickly and landed on that afore mentioned desk, her sexy ass up in the air.
And as much as I wanted to, I knew I couldn’t resist it one little bit. Sliding in close, my large hand caressed that supple piece of flesh. Yes, I had taken her there and still wanted to do so, but for now caressing would have to do. I ran my fingers up her slit from front to back, rubbing the inner folds firmly. She moaned her response and pushed into my hand.
Leaning over her, I continued to fondle her and lay my body over hers. If she hadn’t seen my bludge out there, she certainly felt it now. Nibbling on her ear, I knew that this could end wonderfully or I would be in pain for quite a while. Kissing her neck, I gently humped her ass, the only thing separating my cock from her cunt was my clothes.
“Logan,” she whispered with a passion filled voice. “Where the hell have you been?”
Reaching her hand up behind her, she grabbed my hair and pulled hard. In the past, sometimes it was rough and tumble, others is was slow and sensual. This time I just wanted to stick my dick in her because I needed some satisfaction and I needed it now. Still, I didn’t know if getting what I wanted would give her what she wanted.
“Aeryn,” I whispered back and continued to kiss and caress her body. “What exactly do you want?”
“The missing pieces,” she answered softly and pressed against my fingers. Moving slightly away from her, I let my fingers slide into her folds once again, finding that hard little nub that she tried hard to forget. Pinching gently, I realized what I really wanted to do was lick and kiss that area until her flesh throbbed like mine did.
Moaning, she pushed her body against my hand as I firmly swirled her clit, leaving no spot untouched. I knew it would only take me seconds to get her off if I really tried and decided it would be better if I did her first before allowing my body to completely make me an insane man. Her body dripped for me as I leisurely pulled and plucked her from every available angle.
“Logan,” she stated breathlessly. “No one has ever touched me like you do.” She pushed and ground her body against my hand. “And no one ever will.”
Pushing against me, her hips danced with my fingers until more than not, I caressed her clit. I just had to have a taste. Getting on my knees, I pulled her back until she was totally bare to me. Leaning in, I let my tongue roam her inner recesses, savory the musky yet sweet flavor of her body. It was like a fine whiskey, smokey yet biting. Realizing that I would never be able to manipulate her from her backside like I wanted, I stood and flipped her over not caring where I scattered the contents that had been lying on the desk.
Her eyes had turned an almost midnight blue as I looked at her. She had this sexy little summer number that matched the underwear in my pocket exactly. Running my hand over her clothed breast, first one then the other, I rubbed them gently into frenzied peaks. She grunted and reached for me, pulling me down to her lips and biting my lower one ever so gently. Running her tongue over it, she seared my mouth with hers leaving tingles in her wake.
“I can taste me on you.” Her eyes searched my face and I wish I knew what she looked for because I would do anything in my power to provide it.
“You know it only gets better.” Kneeling in front of her I drug her ass to the edge of the desk, looking up at her lust filled eyes as I pushed her upper body down to the large surface. “There’s nothing I like better than going down on you.”
“You’re just amazing,” she said and arched into my body.
Licking her from stem to stern, I concentrated on her clit, making her wiggle and squirm. However, I couldn’t resist her empty orifaces and plunged my fingers in her vagina making her arch off the desk in pleasure.
“Oh, my god!” she cried. “I never thought I would feel this way again.”
I couldn’t help but smile. There was still hope. Working her clit with my mouth, and working the rest of her with my hand, I swelled even more knowing I was about to make her come like never before. They say that a woman’s orgasms get even more intense as they get older…something I had not thought about until this moment…and I was about to find out if what they said was true. By this time, her legs were over my shoulders and her hands gripped my head as every stroke brought her closer and closer to fulfillment. Her breathes were getting short and panty now, I knew it would be any second.
“Logan, harder now,” she cried and shoved her crotch even more into my mouth. Gently, I bit down on her clit and she went tumbling over the edge. As usual, she bit her finger to keep from screaming.
“You didn’t have to be quiet, you know. No one can hear us.” I rested my chin on her lower abdomen as she gently swirled my hair.
“Old habits,” she whispered and yawned. “Thank you…very…”
Her voice trailed off and I knew that my chances had been reduced to zero for the night. I watched the even rise and fall of her chest, one hand poised on her breast, the other in my hair. Rising, I stood and watched her for a moment before picking her up and retreating the the nearest chaise in the room. Sitting down I pulled her close and leaned in to take in the scent of her hair. Closing my eyes, I did something that I swore I would never do for this woman again.
I cried.
I was thankful that Monica took another five more minutes to show up. And show up she did. Knowing that moisture hung on my heavy eyelashes, I warned. “Not one damn word.”
Throwing her hands up in defense. “Have I said anything in the fifteen years since we’ve been back in the States?”
“No.”
“Logan, you’ve got to tell her,” she pleaded.
“No.” I stared at her as I cuddled Aeryn. In retrospect, maybe it should have been Monica I’d fallen in love with but it wasn’t. And I wasn’t about to beg for this one to come back to me.
Monica sighed. “You two are the most pigheaded people I know. You know you belong together.”
“She’s got to want to come back to me and then explain to me why she left in the first place.”
“That’s hardly fair, Logan. You know why we both left. I wish to God I had never allowed that one little deception. It was wrong and you know it. If you wanted her that badly, you knew where to find us.”
I kissed Aeryn’s forehead and pulled her even closer. “She wanted to be free, Monica, free to persue her destiny she said. I had to give her a reason.”
“That’s bull and you know it.” Monica peered at us and her eyes went wide. “Did anything happen? I mean…geez…she’s in your arms practically nude.”
“Aeryn got what she wanted before she passed out…why do you think she still has her dress on?”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Nothing a cold shower won’t cure. Or maybe a warm one and a hand.”
Her cheeks flashed pink. “Too much information, thank you.”
I laughed. “I want to know how a woman of forty still blushes?”
Frowning at me, she stuck out her tongue and it was as if we were twenty-five again. “Look, we’ve got to figure out what to do.”
“I have some questions first.”
She swallowed hard. “Okay, ask them.”
“What are you doing here?”
“We’re here for a conference in International Law.” She looked away.
“You weren’t going to contact me, were you?” I watched Aeryn’s best friend squirm.
She turned back to me and licked her lips. “Actually, I was. I just hadn’t figured out what I was going to tell her.” She motioned her head to the sleeping woman in my arms.
“What do you mean?”
“Logan, I’ve never got her to talk about you in fifteen years. The only thing she’ll ever even refer to you as is ‘the stud’ and it’s hard pressed to get that much out of her. She is very tightlipped where you’re concerned.”
“Surely, she dates.”
Monica let out a very unladylike snort. “Occassionally, and more often than not it doesn’t go past the first one.”
“Sex?”
“I personally think she loves her vibrator more.” Her eyes practically bore a hole in mine.
I know that surprise was etched upon my face. “So that’s what she meant,” I murmured.
A gentle knock could be heard and Clancey walked in. “I’m lockin’ up for the night. I’ll wait till you’re finished.” He retreated just as silently as he arrived but not before I saw a look exchanged between him and Monica.
“Are you and he…?” I left the question unfinished when I saw her nod her head. “I see.”
“I don’t think you do.”
Caressing Areyn’s back gently, I looked at her. “Explain it to me then.”
“Aeryn really never left Scotland, she really never left you.”
“How can you even say that?”
“Logan, can’t you see? She never allowed anyone closer than you were. When we left, it was as if a part of her was left behind. She cried for weeks.”
I listened to the soft lilt in her voice because I didn’t want to hear what she really said. “You’re starting to sound like one of us again.”
“I could only be so lucky.”
I could see that there was something truly bothering her. “Monica, just what is it?”
“I don’t want to be alone any more, Logan. But I’ve got to see Aeryn settled too. I just can’t leave her alone. Why do you think I faenagled her to come to this conference?” She leaned against the desk, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked a little said and forlorn as if she were in the midst of a great dilemma.
And it became crystal clear. “You wanted to set us up.”
“No…I wanted you both to go back where you belong…together.”
I looked down at the woman sleeping in my arms again and caressed her beautiful face. It was obvious that the sex would be just as good if not better. But how would I ever get her to love me again?
Monica was biting her lip. She was a good friend. I only hoped that Aeryn understood just how good. Standing, I began to walk to the door. “Open it for me, I might have something that might work.”
Carrying my precious cargo, I put her down in a chair with arms and placed her head and hands on the table. I made her as comfortable as I could and turned to both of them. “She’s going to have a hell of a headache when she wakes up in the morning.”
Monica nodded in agreement. “And she’s gonna be pissed that she can’t find her underwear.”
I smiled slyly. “I know. You can tell her ‘the stud’ has them.”
Monica started to chuckle. “You are devious.”
“Well, it might get us something we both want. You want me to see her again and I want to prove to her that we can make it.”
She smiled broadly. “That sounds wonderful. What are you doing now days? We never got around to really talking about anything in our Christmas cards.”
Now it was my turn to look surprised. “I own Braxton Enterprises.”
Her mouth hung open. “As in multi-million dollar Braxton? The music biz, the airline, the soccer team?”
“That’s me.”
“Oh, bloody hell,” she whispered.
“It’s okay, really.”
“Maybe. But I think that her next lawsuit is going to be against you.”
That gave me an unexpected jolt. “We’ll just have to work it out. Right now, I’m taking her underwear and I’m going to frame them to put over my desk. I think you know what to do.” I turned and looked at Clancey. “Clancey, you remember where my apartment is, don’t you?”
“Aye…I do…the fancy one on Royal Mile?”
“That would be it. Do you have something I can write on? I don’t want her to know I’m the head Braxton yet.” He handed me a napkin and a pen.
“Sorry, chum, it’s all I ‘ave for paper.”
“It’ll do.” I wrote down my address and phone, realizing there would be some adjustments I’d have to make there to hide who I was just a little bit more. “Call me when she’s on her way.”
With that I had walked out and wandered back to my office about five blocks away. Sunrise had seen me still at my desk with her underwear. That warm shower looked better and better.

Okay, now my secret is out. I plan to do a book in first person but from both the heroine and hero’s POV. I hear it’s been done before but I personally haven’t read anything like this as I haven’t gotten much reading time recently. See, I have this compelling need to write and I’m going to ride that wave until I get tired. LOL!
In this section, and probably all the sections which have Logan’s POV, I’ll have my husband read them since I’m not a man and don’t really know what’s going on in their heads at all. I can’t presume to because I’m a woman. But I can write about it as long as I can consult the DH. And thank goodness he’s around. He’s already had me tweak a few things because he’s flat out told me that a man wouldn’t think like I had written Logan at all for the first round. That’s the joy of having the DH and of research.
Next time we’ll talk about how I’m going to get Logan and Aeryn finally together. Will their first real meeting in fifteen years be hot and explosive, or cold and angry? At this point I’m leaning a little toward both. I’ve already clued you into the fact that Logan does not want to reveal all he is and we all know that will lead to problems. Ah, let the angst begin!
And forty year old angst is just as hard on you as when one is younger except in my experience, it can hit you a little harder. I know that Aeryn is up to it. But this is where the saggy middle can start but it’s my job to prevent it before it can happen.
I hope you are enjoying this look into my creative process. This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this and it’s fun!
I want to wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year! May all your writing goals and resolutions come true!

Lynn

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Too Many?

How many WIPs are too many? I don’t know about other authors, but sometimes it feels like my head is overcrowded! Lol I usually have two or three stories that I will work on at once. They are usually different genres because I tend to be a mood writer. I also consider myself to be an eclectic writer because I don’t stick to one genre and I like to try new things to test myself and make my writing better. For example, right now I’m working on my first, first person story and my first m/m/f and a m/f paranormal. See…eclectic. lol

Of course this does not count all the stories I just have a few hundred words on or the three stories that are finished that I just need to self edit so I can turn them in or even the two stories I’m collaborating on. Is it this hectic for everyone?

Another problem? Just because you’re writing 3 stories does not mean the other ideas will stop. At least not for me. I was watching my husband’s band one night and the act after him looked like an 80’s hair band, but that isn’t what got the idea going for me. It was the fact that the singer and guitarist used the same microphone. I kept wondering if the two would kiss and a story idea came to me. Good thing I had my PDA with me so I could jot down a couple notes. Another idea came to me as we were driving along listening to a favorite CDs of my husband and this one song came on about finding a body and being afraid it would be pinned on the singer. I don’t have much written down on this one because I haven’t tried my hand at a suspense mystery yet and I figure when I’m ready to start writing I’ll listen to the song over and over again. It looks like it could be next on my list.

I did find a new trick to help me with my writing. I do a character study on my two main characters and find pictures that I like for them so I have something to refer to if I get stuck. I only do these on the stories I’m actively working on and then I use them for promo! Now I’d be in trouble if I tried this for all my WIPs! lol

I know I talk about this a lot, but last year at this time none of these ideas where in my head. I didn’t have characters and I sure didn’t know that they talked to you! Once I opened that door there was no closing it. Now I can’t even think of a time where I don’t want to be writing.
So…how many is too many? I guess I’ll say there are never too many because what if I run out! Now that would be a horror story I don’t want to write.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Time Stand Still in Perfect Moments

Time Stand Still in Perfect Moments

Artist: Rush ~ Song: Time Stand Still ~ Album: Hold Your Fire
I turn my back to the wind ~ To catch my breath ~ Before I start off again. ~ Driven on without a moment to spend ~ To pass an evening with a drink and a friend I let my skin get too thin ~ I'd like to pause ~ No matter what I pretend ~ Like some pilgrim ~ Who learns to transcend ~ Learns to live as if each step was the end ~(Time stand still) ~ I'm not looking back ~ But I want to look around me now~ (Time stand still) ~ See more of the people and the places that surround me now ~ Freeze this moment a little bit longer ~ Make each sensation a little bit stronger ~ Experience slips away ~ Experience slips away ~ I turn my face to the sun ~ Close my eyes ~ Let my defenses down ~ All those wounds that I can't get unwound ~ I let my past go too fast ~ No time to pause ~ If I could slow it all down ~ Like some captain, whose ship runs aground ~ I can wait until the tide comes around ~ (Time stand still) ~ I'm not looking back ~ But I want to look around me now ~ (Time stand still) ~ See more of the people and the places that surround me now ~ Freeze this moment a little bit longer ~ Make each impression a little bit stronger ~ Freeze this motion a little bit longer ~ The innocence slips away ~ The innocence slips away... ~ Summer's going fast, nights growing colder ~ Children growing up, old friends growing older ~ Freeze this moment a little bit longer ~ Make each impression a little bit stronger ~ Experience slips away ~ Experience slips away... ~ The innocence slips away


This past weekend one of the movie channels we have did an 80’s movie marathon and it got me thinking about memories of the past – how I met my husband in the early 80’s; learned to play the flute, sax and piano; solidified my dream of becoming a writer... I planned on doing this blog about a stroll down 80’s lane since I’m a child of that era ~ one who loved the new wave music and heavy metal hair bands, but then we popped in a DVD and watched the movie Star Trek: Insurrection. A bit of script caught my ear:
Anij: Have you ever experienced, a perfect moment in time?
Captain Picard: A perfect moment?
Anij: When time seemed to stop, and you could almost live, in that moment.
Captain Picard: Seeing my home planet from space, for the first time.
Anij: Yes. Exactly. Nothing more complicated than perception.
Anij: ...We've discovered that a single moment in time can be a universe in itself, full of powerful forces. Most people aren't aware enough of the now to even notice.
(quote found on:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120844/quotes)
So then I decided to do this blog about perfect moments in time and ask – have you had any?
Me? I’ve had a few actually. The first that came to mind was when I was in Germany ~ traveled there with a study abroad group in the early 90’s. It was night time and I was up on the roof of the dormitory (there was an outdoor patio and indoor TV area up there) standing outside and listening to Rush on my Walkman. As I gazed at the stars above, the street lights below and fireworks in the distance, Time Stand Still played through my headphones. (I wrote in my journal that Time Stand Still would be the theme song of my trip abroad.) It was a beautiful evening, enhanced by a wonderful song, and I could have stayed in that peaceful point of time forever. The next instance I remembered was when a group of us were in the dormitory bar, playing cards, drinking German beer, and listening to Rush. I was in foreign country, had my beer and cigarettes, my favorite music played in the background and very content and happy I thought, “Ah, what more could a young person want.” I also had a moment when a friend and I went to Milan for the weekend. We had a balcony off the room we rented and it was lovely sitting out there in the late afternoon, sharing a bottle of wine and looking out over the red roofs of the city. Then this past summer I experienced another moment. My husband (whom I’ll have been married to 15 years on Jan 15th), sisters and I were out on the back deck of the cruise ship watching a golden sunset over the water. It was so nice to witness it with people, true friends, who love, understand and accept me no matter what state my attitude, mood or health status might be in. I was relaxed and not worried about anything. We were the only ones on the patio at that time. Being with them in the calm and quiet of nature for me was a perfect moment and for a few minutes I believe time did stand still for us.

Here’s to 2009. May it be better than 2008 and may you all have perfect moments in which time stands still.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

I'm Loving Twitter!

Once in a while you come across something that completely transforms your life. It brings delight to your days while at the same time making everything so much easier. For me this latest find was Twitter.

What is Twitter you ask? It’s a relatively new way to communicate on the web. Like a mini-blog of sorts, you write a very short passage and share it with your network. What’s even more fun is you can do it from the comfort of your computer or even your phone.

I first got turned on to the trend thanks to the Smart Bitches Blog. They talked about Twitter and even used it during the Romance Writer’s Convention this year to keep their followers up to date. Curious, I checked it out.

I soon became hopelessly addicted.

I now find myself chained to my computer as I look for new people to “follow” on Twitter Land. You would be surprised at the people you could find. Barack? Biden? Yup, they both Twitter or at least someone does under their name. Either way, I thought I should follow them. Just in case.

Then I find it a dire necessity to tell my followers how I feel about everything. And I mean everything. The new cereal I tired this morning was awful. Got to Twitter about it. It’s cold outside and my dog is mad. Must Twitter and tell. I am watching the latest release on DVD and am really enjoying it. Twitter time.

Next I found I could “personalize” my Twitter page. I spent countless hours, trying to decide which of my book covers looked best spotlighted on my page. Angelic Desires won out because my harpy’s wings look so pretty against the black background.

Then I had to look at everyone else’s updates to see how their dogs, cereal and movie adventures are going. Of course I have to add my comments back to them with the usual, LOL, WTG and ROFLMAO. Can’t leave any of my Twitter pals hanging.

In the meantime, back at the homestead, the kitchen is a mess, the kids are running around hungry, the dog needs a bath, my writing isn’t getting done, but I don’t care. Why? Because I’m Twittering and it’s so much fun.

You can find me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/StephaniHecht. And just to show that everyone needs Twitter, even archangels who are half demon and have a chip on their shoulder, one of my characters has one too http://twitter.com/CamLehor.

Hope to see you there!

-Stephani

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Please forgive me



I apologize for not writing today. My very best friend lost her dad today after a grueling three days in critical care. I will be back next week. For now I just can't find the words to write. He was a wonderful man.


AP Miller

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Mele Kalikimaka

By A.J. Llewellyn

It is my happy task to be blogging today, Christmas, which just happens to be my most favorite day of the year. I pine its passing each year like the loss of a friend and I secretly tick off the months until it rolls around again.
I am in Hawaii where everybody says Mele Kalikimaka. It doesn't matter what religion you are or even if you do not believe in God. Mele Kalikimaka is said by everybody and it fills the islands with joy and hope.
As a little boy, I sat on Santa Claus's knee one fine sunny day in my native Australia and when he asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I asked for my very sick mother to be able to get out of bed and spend Christmas with me.
I remember the sad look on his face. As a kid, I thought, 'okay he's working on it!' As an adult I know now that he simply did not know how to respond.
He must have listened though because my mother rallied and gave me and my brothers the most wonderful Christmas. I remember waking up to stacks and stacks of wrapped gifts and later, we had Christmas on Bondi Beach. My mother died three months later but for me Christmas will always be the time of smiles and sunshine.
I think this is one of the reasons I love Hawaii so much. It's very much the holiday time I remember. Sunshine, not snow. In Australia, everybody when I was a kid said Merry Christmas...it was not about religion, it was a state of mind.
Since I arrived on island last week, I have been struck by how strongly the tradition of greeting everybody with Mele Kalikimaka has stuck.
Before the missionaries came here there was no Christmas but there sure was plenty of Mele - song. The Hawaiians are musically driven people. So the name they were given for Merry Christmas is the Song of Hope and Joy.
Isn't that a beautiful way to greet someone you know - and someone you don't?
At this time in our world, we need more songs. We need hope and joy. As I prepare to go watch my brother's beautiful children opening their gifts I have one sadness only. That my beautiful mother never got to see what a wonderful parent my brother is or that she never got to hold the children.
I hear her music in their voices and I see her lovely face in my niece's. She is still with us.
My brother went berserk at me this week when he saw the massive box of goodies I shipped here for my nieces and nephews. But look who's talking,
Nobody spent more time furtively shopping at Ala Moana Mall than he did. Last night for the first time ever, he told me remembers the last, great Christmas we had with our mother and how being here somehow makes him feel her spirit on the wind.
He picked out the brightest, shiniest wrapping papers he could find because that's what he remembers of that Christmas. The wrappings. Not the gifts. It's all I can remember too!
I feel my mother here, and I feel hope and joy here every single day.
So today, the last time I can say this to you this year, I wish you Mele Kalikimaka. It is my motto. It is my creed. I wish you all songs of love and I wish you hope and joy.

Aloha oe,

A.J.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Season's Greetings

When trying to figure out just what I would write today, I found myself in a dilemma. Yeah, I could write the usual about my writing but this is the time of year to make it more personal.

The star on top of the Christmas tree symbolizes the ‘Star in the East’ and that has meaning for everyone of the Christian faith. But for those of you who aren’t of that persuasion, it might not mean as much to you. But personally, I think the star represents something totally different.

I believe that a star means a search, a path or a guiding light. Every one of us as writers search every day for an idea, confirmation to research, guidance within our craft, within our lives. Each of us needs and wants a guide, a helper in this quest. We are so very fortunate to find each other in a world where friendships, good friendships can be so very hard to find. A.J., C.R., Jambrea, Stephani, Erin and A.P., you all bring such joy and happiness to my life I just can’t see myself without you anymore. I am part of the ‘we’ and I am so grateful we have each other and wish only the best for you.

And to you the readers, we wouldn’t be at all. There would be no stories to tell, no one to want our novels. We adore you and while we might not say it enough, we do. You are special to us in a way that is immeasurable.

I want to wish each and every one of you the very best that this holiday season has to offer no matter what you believe. Just promise me one thing…believe in yourself…believe in your writing. You are all very special to me and I will cherish you always.

Lynn

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Happy Holidays

Usually the holiday season is full of traditions. My Christmas usually means scheduling a date for my Step-Mom and Dad’s Christmas get together. Then on Christmas morning my in laws come over for breakfast, and then around 2pm we go to my mom’s house. It usually works out fine, but this year Christmas might be a little different this year for my family. On Friday an ice storm blew through Indiana causing a big chunk of my county to be without power. It is now Monday as I write this and we still have no power. They are telling us that it might not be until Wednesday around 1:00pm, but they are also telling us that the power company is working through Christmas. This does not leave me much hope of our power being on anytime soon. We are luckier than most because my parents still have power. So this year we will probably be at my parents. Something new for my son. We will try to keep everything fun and my in laws will probably come to my parents as well. It will still be special and that is all that matters. I made sure to have Santa leave the presents with me so my little P man will not know anything different.

My son is happy. His cousins have been at my parent’s house as well and he loves having kids to play with. Me, I’m ready for my power to be back on and I’m thankful I only have one child. Lol
You know when they say it happens in threes? I’ve had all three of mine this weekend. First the power went out, then my parent’s power went out, next our car wouldn’t start and now I’m sick. I’m now ready for the positive. We got those as well. My parent’s power wasn’t out that long and my brother in law fixed our car.

Enjoy your family this holiday season and remember to be thankful for all the positives in your life. That way when something bad happens you can remember all the good.

Monday, December 22, 2008

To Soap or Not to Soap

To Soap or Not to Soap

No, I’m not talking about what you do in the shower, but what you watch on television. You know, those day time or night time shows called soap operas.
I have to admit I’ve watched Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless on and off for years and since I’m currently in the ‘on’ stage the news that Days might be ending soon bothered me. Then I read that Sony picked up Days so the show is safe for about another year and a half (it’ll run into 2010 but to save money they have to get rid of veteran actors like power couple Marlena and John) but still. When I say I’ve been watching them for years, I mean it. In the early 70’s I remember sitting on my Grandmother’s living room floor and watching DOOL with her on an old fashioned tv set ~ the kind that was made with wood and was another huge piece of furniture. This was back when it was only a half hour show. ("Days of our Lives," which will celebrate its 11,000th episode in January 2009, first premiered as a half-hour drama in 1965 and expanded to an hour 10 years later.) Then in the early 80’s I started watching Y&R along with Days when I was home sick from school. Also in the 80’s I began watching Santa Barbara and was happy that it came on in the afternoon so I could catch it everyday after school. I watched SB from the first day it started till the day it ended in 1993. [Robin Wright Penn (Princess Bride & Forrest Gump) first achieved fame from being on that soap.] I was never a General Hospital fan and could have cared less about Luke and Laura’s wedding. Back then I would have said give me the power couples of DOOL any day. Then comes the late 80’s and early 90’s… this was my first ‘off’ period. Not only was I working full time and going to college and had no time to watch them but the writing got super cheesy. Marlena possessed by the devil? Come on. And Stefano was up to his antics again and got a crazy lady, who thought he was Elvis, pregnant. Ugh. Then in the late 90’s I had a serious health problem that kept me home for awhile and over a couple of years I caught up with the goings-on in Salem and Genoa City again until I went back to work full time and entered another ‘off’ period. Then came the beginning of 2006. I have satellite television and there’s a channel called Soapnet. So I check it out. DOOL & Y&R on in the afternoon and evening? Cool! I have TiVo. Even better. I started watching Y&R again because of the snippets of commercials promoting the murder of some character and it piqued my curiosity. Days I started watching again because I was trying to figure out who Chelsea and Zack were. Now I record the shows and watch them when I want, which is a good thing because if I don’t like a storyline, I can just fast forward right through it.
I watch the soaps not only because I grew up with these characters but also as part of my research – chemistry between characters (love how Rafe and Sami & Stephanie and Phillip are attracted to each other), how antagonists work, what’s cheesy and what’s not (wish DOOL would take a lesson or two from the writers at Y&R), etc.
What happens if soaps do come to an end? I’ll be a little sad for a tiny bit, like I was when SB ended and when I finished reading Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series, because these have been a part of my life for many years. But that 'grief' won't last long. After all there are other shows I can get my research and hunk fix from. Like MVP, a show that revolves around the lives of hockey players and their SOs, as long as they bring it back for season 2…
Do you watch soaps? If so, what and do you have a favorite character and/or story line?
=)
P.S.
If you’re interested about the term ‘soap opera’ check out:
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/S/htmlS/soapopera/soapopera.htm

Sunday, December 21, 2008

An Angel's Christmas

As a Christmas present to my readers, I thought I would give you all a glimpse of Christmas at the angel warrior’s compound. Enjoy!

-Stephani Hecht

An Angel's Christmas


“You know, maybe this isn’t a good idea,” Michael protested as he pulled on the back of Cam’s shirt to make him stop.

Cam heaved one of his suffering sighs as he turned around to give his uncle a bored look. Or at least Michael thought it was a bored look. Half-incubus, Cam always wore dark glasses to hide his demon eyes, so he couldn’t read his gaze. But, he knew his nephew well and he could tell Cam was annoyed, bored and a bit amused too. They were standing in the middle of one of the angel warrior compound’s long hallways and all around them various angels were rushing around. While some of them nodded their heads respectively at Michael, most were too busy with holiday plans to give him notice.

“Look,” Michael tried to reason. “The last thing a group of angel warriors wants is their Chief to show up at their Christmas party. They’ll be too self-conscious to relax and have fun if I’m there.”

“You’re their uncle.”

“Yeah, but they didn’t know that until a few years ago.” Michael ran a hand through his collar length, shaggy, dark blond hair. “Your brothers and sister still see me as their Chief first.”

A young female empath ran over and handed Cam a candy-cane. He gifted the angel with one of his trademark smiles before he thanked her. The female giggled and ran away as fast as her feet would allow. Michael worked hard not to roll his eyes. While his followers look at him with fear and respect, the empath’s worshiped their leader, Cam.

“I’m going to be honest with you here, Uncle Mike.” Cam opened the candy cane and licked one end. “I kind of promised Ana you would be there and there is no way in hell I’m going to disappoint my only sister.”

“She only invited me out of some twisted form of family obligation.”

“Maybe she invited you because we actually want you there.” Cam threw out a cocky smile, which was in direct correlation to his usual spiked hair and arrogant swagger. “I see it as we can do this one of two ways. One, you come willingly with a smile. Two, I get my seven brothers to help me drag your ass there. Either way you are going to that party.

“You wouldn’t dare,” Michael growled. “You may be the leader of the empaths, but I’m still your Chief. All angel warriors answer to me.”

“Not on Christmas,” Cam countered. “Today you’re just Uncle Mike and all bets are off.”

There was a stretch of silence as Michael weighed his options. Never in all of his immortal life had he celebrated Christmas with anybody. Usually he patrolled for demons or holed up alone at home. To actually entertain the idea of spending it with others was foreign. Hell, to think that others actually wanted to spend it with him was even more foreign.

“Fine,” he conceded. “I’ll go, but only for a few minutes.”

“See.” Cam beamed as he threw an arm around Michael’s shoulders. “That wasn’t too hard. Who knows, you may actually have some fun.”

Somehow Michael doubted that, but he let Cam lead him to Ana’s quarters. Once they got there he hung back while Cam knocked on the door. When Ana answered it, Michael observed how much she looked like her mother. Her long blonde hair was pulled back with a large red bow and her blue eyes were nearly sparkling with excitement.

“Did you bring him?” she asked.

“He’s right behind me.” Cam jerked his thumb over his shoulder.

Michael stepped closer so she could see him. “Hi Ana, thank you for asking me over.”

He could see the crowded room behind her. Not only were all his nephews present, but so were all their friends, mates and God knew who else. Taking a step back, Michael was prepared to search for a graceful way to bag out. Then he saw the ecstatic smile on Ana’s lips and knew there was no way he could disappoint her.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” she said as she reached up and gave him a hug.

“Of course I came.” He squeezed her back. “There is no other place I’d rather be.”

“Don’t worry,” Ana whispered before pulling back. “All the guys are under direct orders to treat you just like any other family. Today you’re not our Chief, you’re just Uncle Mike.”

“So I heard.” He smiled over at Cam.

“Come on inside.” Ana tugged on his hand and urged him forward.

Ana got him a drink and ran off to mingle with the rest of her guests. Michael situated himself in a corner and tried to be as inconspicuous as possible. Surprisingly, it had been easy to do. Aside from a, “Hey it’s Uncle Mike!” and a, “Uncle Mike is here!” the clan acted like he was just one of the gang.

“Michael, you came.”

Startled, he looked up and saw Rachael standing in front of him. As always, his reaction to the female archangel was instantaneous. His gut clenched, his heart rate skyrocketed and his cock grew so hard it hurt. She was wearing a tight red skirt, with white boa trim and a long-sleeved matching top. Completing the look were thigh-high stocking and red stilettos. Her long, raven, curly locks were free and spilled over her shoulders and her deep, blue eyes were snapping with amusement.

“Ray, I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said in a choked voice. He hoped to hell she didn’t notice his slip in composure.

“My brother is Ana’s mate,” she reminded him with a smile. Michael notice, not for the first time, how cute her dimples were. “Of course I’d be here.”

Michael wondered if she would still freely smile at him if she knew how many sleepless nights he spent thinking about her. Wanting her. Would she still talk to him if she knew that she and she alone brought alive needs and desires he’d long thought dead?

“Hey, look at that!” Cam called from across the room. “Uncle Mike and Ray are under the mistletoe.”

Blushing Michael looked up and saw that they had indeed ended up under some mistletoe. Heart hammering, he tired to think of a graceful way out of this mess, but none came to mind. Then he realized that was because he didn’t want to get out. He’d often wondered what it would be like to taste her lips and now that he had a chance damned if he wasn’t going to take it.

Burying one hand in her soft curls, he cupped the back of her head and brought his mouth down to hers. A soft gasp escaped her parted lips right before he claimed them in a soft, gentle kiss. Even though every part of him was screaming to give into his hunger, he held back and took his time.

Then she gave a little moan and started to kiss him back, her hands wrapping around his neck. Ray parted her lips in invitation and he took it, slipping his tongue in to sample the sweetness inside.

Heaven. He’d found Heaven on Earth and it was in her arms. Even though he knew he could never claim this female as his own, he allowed himself this one moment because he didn’t have the strength to deny himself. Ray deserved more than him, better than him.

A cough and someone clearing their throat reminded him they had an audience. Michael reluctantly pulled back and stepped away from her. Ray looked as stunned as he felt. Her eyes were glazed over with passion and her full lips were swollen from his kiss.

“Sorry, I forgot myself,” he muttered.

“We both did,” she responded, brining her fingers up to her mouth.

“I got to go.” Yeah, he had to go quick before he did something really stupid like telling her how much she meant to him.

“Don’t go on my account. We could—“

“I have guard duty. I promised Uriel I would take his shift so he could spend some time with his family.” Feeling every inch the coward he was, Michael retreated to the door. “Merry Christmas, Ray.”

“Merry Christmas, Michael.” He took exactly two steps before she added one last zinger, “By the way, how long do you think you’re going to be able to deny what’s going on between us?”


All material copyrighted by Stephani Hecht 2008

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Happy Holidays!




On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week we had snow in the Mojave Desert. It was such a nice feeling that really made the holidays a bit more special. I started making gingerbread cookies after I hand made all the tree ornaments with my mother-in-law several weeks ago. This weekend it's time to create the gingerbread house.

When my daughter was small we always used to watch the snow falling then go outside to shovel and make snowmen and snow angels. Not far from our home was a golf course where the neighborhood kids would sled ride. The snow was waist high back then. The best part was making the cookies, drinking hot chocolate and decorating the house.

The smell from the pies,and cookies would last for days. The fresh scent of pine was the final touch.

Christmas Day was always my favorite. Opening up the presents, going to church and having the family for dinner. After Christmas we would take the train in to NYC to see the tree in Rockefeller Center while all the people were skating in the rink below. It really brings the spirit of Christmas out in everyone.

I'd love to hear some of your favorite memories. Until then Have a safe and joyous holiday. And to all my Jewish family and friends...have a Happy Hanukkah!


AP Miller

Thursday, December 18, 2008

A Parent's Revenge

By A.J.Llewellyn

There is a long tradition of hooliganism in my family. I am ashamed to admit it, but having two Greek-born parents did not prevent me from inheriting the 'impassioned gene during my tender years growing up in the harsh, rough-and-tumble land of Australia.
My father, a self-taught, self-made man, was somebody who found parenthood thrust upon him. When my mother's cancer invaded her body by the time I was five and she was bedridden, I became his sidekick. I was his little buddy, the Gilligan to his his boat's Captain. In later years, I became his usually unwilling co-conspirator.
My father is an erudite, elegant guy until you take him to a soccer match. If the Greek soccer team is losing he goes berserk and at one memorable match when Sydney Olympic was flailing against the Italians, he jumped over the guard gate and punched the umpire. The fact that the umpire was a good friend was apparently of no importance in his moment of fury.
There is only one other place where he lets it er...all hang out. Greek night clubs.
The mere strain of a bouzouki turns my dad into a raving love lunatic.
Last night, my dad and I went to a local Greek restaurant and there was a trio playing. Naturally a woman was involved. My father's silliness truly emerges when a woman is in the vicinity. This woman was a famous Greek singer who was visiting L.A. and performing for a few nights.
If you have never been to a Greek restaurant or nightclub perhaps you are unfamiliar with the custom of breaking dishes.
I could not believe the waste I witnessed last night as countless (albeit, cheap) dinner plates were brought out by the box load and smashed at her the feet as she warbled away in Greek. She was obviously used to having stuff chucked at her. I noticed she dexterously edged away shards of glass as she sang. And the dishes continued to mount.
At one point before she took a break, the dishes were up to her well-toned thighs.
The worst offender was my dad who, in an apparent effort to outdo another old fart across the room, kept indicating to the waiter to bring out more dishes.
Just having been laid off from my movie studio job (Thank you, pending Screen Actors Guild strike!!) all I could think about was the cost of all those dishes.
The man across the room eyed my dad with such venom, my Greek grandma would swear we'd just been cursed. He whispered to his own waiter and the malicious smile that formed on that waiter's lips even made my dad take pause.
The waiter emerged from the wine cellar a few minutes later, struggling with a box that he almost dropped getting to the stage. The singer never skipped a beat (if you can call it that) and barely glanced down to see that it was full of champagne bottles.
Her only acknowledgment was when the waiter popped the cork on a single bottle and hurried away from the stage. Only then did she nod at her benefactor. My father was busy perusing the menu to see how much his lust rival had plonked down for his offering.
"Ten grand," my dad breathed. "She's not that good!"
Somehow, in spite of the money the other guy spent, the singer chose to meet my dad first and came to our table for a glass of wine. She and my dad flirted shamelessly for so long that I started to whine.
"Dad, I want to go home."
"Not on your nelly," he said, ordering another bottle and a plate of flaming cheese. The singer drifted to her other suitor next and appeared to be having just a good a time with him as she had with my dad.
"We're here for the long haul, A.J," my dad informed me. When I groaned and moaned and otherwise protested, he shook his finger in my face.
"This is a parent's revenge!"
"Revenge? For what? What did I do?"
"All those bloody years I waited for you outside parties, fencing practice, debating practice, football...tennis...the bloody dances...that bloody idiot time you decided to try smoking and got Saturday detention...freezing my bored buns off! Now it's my turn. Go sit in the car and wait. Daddy's busy now!"
I just stared at him. I'd like to blame the two bottles of Retsina. I'd like to blame the - to me, bland and tuneless - female singer, but I knew my dad meant every word.
"Okay, dad," I said. Unfortunately the singer left, with another man entirely and my father and his assumed rival decided to settle their differences the old-fashioned way. Playing tuvli, or backgammon.
And I ate the flaming cheese, sipped at my wine and waited. Really, not such bad revenge after all.

Aloha oe,

A.J.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Another Holiday Season

I thought I would be pushing my book this week but I got waylaid on the way by the very holiday I love to write about. Now, don’t give me wrong, I really, really love this holiday but you have to understand where I live.

I live like many authors on this blog, in the normally hot to warm southwest. This week that all came crashing down as when I went to join said authors for lunch, I found myself in a blizzard. Yup, you heard me, a blizzard. I actually took pictures but haven’t downloaded them yet. When I do, I’ll post one with whatever I’m doing next week.

Now a lot of you already live in areas where it snows. Where I live, a snowstorm of any kind almost shuts us down. People out here don’t even know or understand how to drive in weather. Most of them are traveling at almost record speeds and don’t understand when they lose traction. Even in my four-wheel drive, I slowed down.

Still, the desert in the snow is very pretty because if nothing else it adds color. Doesn’t matter that the color is white, it is a whole lot prettier than the ugly brown we have. And I love it. I just called the DH to say, ‘It’s snowing here!’ and his reply was ‘It’s not here.’ Too bad for him in some ways but considering he works almost 30 miles away, I’m glad he won’t be out with the idi – sorry – people who drive the Las Vegas freeways. Can’t help it. LOL!

Now for a little holiday cheer, here’s a couple of excerpts from my new book An Elf’s Magic…I hope you enjoy!





Available NOW at eXtasy Books!
http://tinyurl.com/63jwjg
Book 4 in the Santa’s Elves Series

Excerpt #1

“Dance with me,” a seductive voice said close to his ear.

Tingles traipsed through his insides and his body tightened in response to the seductive nature of her voice. “What?” Instant attraction to the female caught him off guard. He turned his head and his mouth brushed against a pair of soft pink lips as an exotic scent wrapped itself around him.

“I said, dance with me.” A pair of beautiful brown eyes stared up at him.

“Do I know you?” The staccato beat of his heart tapped against his chest and he hoped she didn’t notice. She took a breath and the mere act turned him on even more.

“We met in Boston. You’re Cuinn Locklin and I’m Lacey Sinclair. I’m a friend of your cousin’s. We met at a party, had a drink and even talked about going out sometime. Unfortunately that never happened.” She smiled and arched her eyebrow in what seemed to be an open invitation. “Yet.”

His gaze widened. “I remember. How did you get here?”

“The sleigh picked us up.”

“What I meant to say is, what are you doing here? I don’t recall you knowing my sister, Aingeal.”

She flipped her honey blonde hair off her face. “You mean what’s a human doing here, right?” She shrugged. “I told her she could practice her amnesia spell on me. You know the one where you make the person forget everything that’s happened at an event?”

“I’m aware of it. But you shouldn’t know anything about it. And since Giselle’s human I know she doesn’t know how to do the spell no matter what she told you. She’s a lot of things but…” He tried hard not to stare at Lacey but couldn’t help it. She was beautiful. “Let’s just say, we only share genetics from one side of the family.”

“I guess we’re busted.” She smiled at him again, her eyes lighting up with apparent amusement. “I guess you’ll have to practice it on me, ‘cause now I know a lot of things I’m not supposed to.”

He smiled wryly. “I would say so.” He looked out at the dancers again, uncomfortable with the fact he didn’t excel in dancing at all. “But I’m not sure I’m someone you’d want to dance with.”

“Why not?” she asked with a hint of a laugh, dazzling him with another smile and looked down at his feet. “Your feet may be large, but I can tell you don’t have two left ones.”

He laughed. She was such a breath of fresh air. “Alright. But I’m not very good. ”

“I don’t think you have to be good for this one. It’s a slow dance. All you have to do is put your arms around me and sway with the rhythm of the music.”

He grabbed her offered hand, pulled her toward the dance floor and, doing as she had instructed, took her in his arms and swayed gently to the music. A head length taller, his shoulder was the ideal height for her to rest her head upon while they moved to the music. Her alluring scent, her utterly feminine, soft contours that fit like a perfect match in his, stirred his passion. He willed his body to stop reacting, afraid if he couldn’t control it, he would embarrass them both.

“See, this isn’t so bad, is it?” She smiled up at him.

“No, it isn’t,” he agreed, hoping not to melt into a pile of goo at her feet.

“So, what are you studying in Boston? We never got that far before.” She gazed up at him as if intent on memorizing every line.

“History and computers right now. I haven’t figured anything else out yet, although my oldest brother wants me to help him design toys. But I’d rather have my masters in something I like, not what the family likes.”

She chuckled. “At least you understand that much. It takes some people years.”
“And you?”

“I’m in pre-med. I hope to be a pediatrician some day. First, I need to get out of school and earn money toward my goal. I’ll graduate with a nursing degree specializing in pediatrics within the next few months. ”

“That’s a hard thing to do. My brother Ardan is a doctor and, while he loves it very much, I know it was really difficult. But you sound as if you have a definite plan in place.”

“Anything worthwhile is always hard. Life wasn’t meant to be easy no matter who you are.”

Puzzled, he nodded. She was right of course, but the only person he had ever heard say that had been his father. He looked down at her and smiled. Lacey was a stunning woman and she had sought him out. Maybe that was a good sign. But then again, there were elven matters she wasn’t supposed to know. Giselle was always doing something she shouldn’t. He would have to get back with his cousin on the issue later.

“Coming through, coming through.” Eggther pushed his way through the dancing couples, stopping to stand next to him. “Eggther thinks you’ve found a very pretty woman.”

Excerpt #2

“Ah, hell—” Cuinn swooped down on her and captured her lips with his. He couldn’t help himself. From the moment she walked into the conference room that morning, all he could think about was having her in his arms. He should have told his father at the wedding last year about his desire for her, but her place hadn’t cemented in his heart yet. Now there would be no stopping their bonding.

Gently, he pulled back and gazed at her. “I’ll stop if you want me to.”

Lacey quickly shook her head. “No. I’ve never felt something so right.” She pulled his head back to her and his lips captured hers with no tenderness this time, just a hard, raw need.

Still, he knew she needed tender after what had happened to her this past year. Changing the tone of his onslaught, Cuinn gently sucked her bottom lip and ran his hands softly down her arms. Rewarded with a slight shiver, his body tightened in response to her body’s signals as his caress slipped around to her soft buttocks.

The rapid beat of her heart drummed against him, showing how aroused she truly was. She would be the core of his world and he wanted everything to be right for their first time, so trying hard to remember all the lessons on sex from his father. First, he put up his shields knowing some people in the city would feel the energy. Then, he snapped the glamour spell more firmly around himself because there were some things she couldn’t know until they had reached the North Pole. Cuinn only hoped she would forgive him once all had been revealed.

Breaking off the kiss, he breathed hard as he gently cupped her face in his hands. “Tell me to stop right now and I will because you have to be very, very sure you want this to happen.”

“I am…believe me…I am,” she whispered.

He pulled her to him again, his mouth descending on hers, seeking entry with his tongue. Trying to convey the promise of all he could offer, he moved closer to the bed, easing his knee between her legs. She trembled around him then began rubbing herself up and down on the rough fabric of his jeans, shivering and whimpering. He hoped she felt the way he did and slowly lowered her to the bed, following down.

“I want to touch you the way a lover does.” he said, looking into her now flushed face.

“Me, too,” she whispered and pulled him on top of her.

Her hands caressed his body through his clothes, each movement a slow torture of pleasure. All he wanted to do was rip her clothes off and do what he should have done months ago. Leaning into her, he pressed his lips against her and with just a bit of pressure, she opened her mouth and allowed him easy access inside as their tongues glided across each other, returning kiss for kiss. He slid his hand under her shirt, her skin warm to his fingertips. He yearned for this, wanted this in a way he had never wanted anything else.

His nerve endings tingled again as she pulled his bottom lip into her mouth. His body grew hotter with desire with each tug of her lips. Her hands pulled his shirt from his jeans and moved along his hard abdominal muscles then glided even further around him to squeeze his butt. He almost lost it.

“Lacey,” he murmured. “I want to feel your bare skin against mine.”

Her cheek rubbed against his in agreement.

He sighed heavily. “I need to make sure one final time that this is what you want.”

“I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. Can’t you feel how fast my heart is beating?”

He nodded and grabbed her hair, pulling her back to him again, kissing her fiercely. Cuinn rolled them to the side and began to undo each button on her blouse, opening it slowly to reveal a beautiful lacy bra on her sensual body. Leaning down, he kissed her flat stomach and unfastened her pants. He moved them out of the way then went even lower and she moaned in pleasure.

“That feels so good. Please-please—” she murmured.

“I intend to do just that.”

Lynn Crain
Experience the Magic
www.lynncrain.com

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

The Friends You Make

Making friends for me is usually hard because I’m typically a shy person. If you met me on the street after talking to me on line, you might not believe we were the same person. I’m usually the quite one in the corner listening to what everyone else has to say.

I hate being the center of attention in any way shape or form. The only exception was during my time in the Air Force when I became a leader during my Tech School days. The military helped me with some of my shyness, but the longer I’m out the more it comes back.

The internet can be a wonderful thing if used the right way. For me it is weird because I have never met some of my best friends. Growing up I had one or two friends I could talk to and I was fine with that, but today I have a handful of really close friends and a ton of great people that I love to talk to. If I miss a day talking to a few of them I wonder if something is wrong and I miss them. My friends off line I could not talk to for day and be fine with that.

I wonder why that is. For me I have always had a fear of worrying what others think and feeling like I sound stupid. On line I have time to think about what I’m going to say instead of blurting something out that could embarrass me. Did I tell you that I also embarrass easy? Try taking a four year old to the store. He has no filter, but that is a good thing because I think I have enough filter for ten people! lol

Do you know what is even better? That when I meet my online friends in person I should be comfortable enough to be who they see on line. Will I still embarrass easy, um…yeah. Will I still be shy, of course, but I will also know that I can be myself and still have a great time. My on line friends don’t judge me and it is very freeing.

I’ve already met one, Valerie, and we get to meet up again at the Lori Foster Event next year. I also get to meet a few of my other on line friends. I’m counting down the days. I think there are three people I REALLY want to be there and only one of them MIGHT go. Joy, she can’t go because she’ll have just been transferred to Germany, AJ Llewellyn, he is already going to RT and Ohio is too far from LA and TA Chase, he is still a maybe! lol I will just have to be satisfied with all the wonderful people I will see.

How about you? Is it easier to meet people on line or in person?

Monday, December 15, 2008

Dreams ~ Subconscious talk & Fodder for the Muse

I’ve been known to have some pretty interesting dreams, in color no less, – of tornados, of aliens, of flying, of places I’ve never been (some I’ve ended up visiting years down the road), etc. Two weeks ago I had a dream I was at one of our surrounding mountains, a good distance from the city but still able to see the houses and such in the valley, and, as I began climbing it, a bomb exploded in the distance at the southwestern end of town. I looked back and saw the mushroom cloud. Then another bomb went off. In the back of my mind I wondered how I was surviving the explosions considering if you can see the blast you’re in the kill zone but figured if I wasn’t dead yet that I still had a chance to get to some kind of safety. I remember being with a man and together we scrambled up the mountain looking for shelter. Above us flew helicopters. A few more bombs dropped and detonated. I woke up. It wasn’t the first time I’ve had dreams of nuclear war and this one wasn’t much different than the others…being in a mountainous region, being with someone, trying to save others only to have them not listen to me so I leave them to their doom and save myself…
It’s that kind of dream that makes me wonder what my subconscious is trying to tell me so off I go to check a couple of my books and check an on-line dream interpretation site. Here’s what the on-line site had to say about key symbols in the dream ~

~ Nuclear bomb: To dream of a nuclear bomb, suggests feelings of helplessness, being threatened and loss of control. You may be experiencing great hostility and rage to the point of being destructive. Alternatively, you may be expressing a desire to wipe out some aspect of yourself. It may also be an indication that something crucial and precious to you has ended and important changes are about to occur. ~
Okay. I’ll buy that since most of it, especially the last sentence, rings true with what happened in my life recently.
~ Helicopter: To see a helicopter in your dream represents your ambition and achievements. You are in full pursuit of your goals. ~
This is true too since I am now totally focused on my writing career.
~ Mountain: To see mountains in your dream, signify many major obstacles and challenges that you have to overcome. If you are on top of the mountain, then it indicates that you have achieved and realized your goals. You have recognized your full potential. Alternatively, mountains denote a higher realm of consciousness, knowledge, and spiritual truth. To dream that you are climbing a mountain, signifies your determination and ambition. To dream that you fall off a mountain, suggests that you are in a hurry to succeed without thoroughly thinking about your path to success. Or that you are being forced upward toward a direction that you do not want to go or that you are not ready to proceed. Falling off a mountain, could also mean that you have a tendency to give up or escape from demanding situations. ~
So climbing a mountain is a good thing. Good to know.
Now, what to do with this information? I’ve taken what I’ve needed from the interpretation and as for the dream, maybe I’ll keep it filed away in the back of my mind and use it as a scene in a future story. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve done that either. Back at the end of ’06 beginning of ’07 I had a dream about a couple on the beach who were arguing and then began to have mad sex, though I woke up before they really got down and dirty. It was from this dream my work in progress Postponing Eternity (the first book in the Si’Ludo Prophesy series TBR summer ’09 via Devine Destinies) came about and one of the reasons it’s set in OR on the coast. It’s also because of this dream I re-worked my Sisters series and made it a part of the Si’Ludo world. So regardless of what dreams may mean I know they play an important part in my life and are great fodder for my muse.
How about you? Do you dream in color? Do you care if your dreams mean something or not? And authors ~ have you ever incorporated scenes of your dreams into your writing?

Sunday, December 14, 2008

My Ugly Cat.


It’s no secret that I have the ugliest cat in history. Before you ask the picture above isn’t really her. In the two years we have owned Peep, it has been near impossible to snap a photo of her. Every time we get a camera out she runs in the opposite direction, shrieking in kitty language, “No paparazzi! No paparazzi!” So the only images we have ever been able to capture on film have been a tail, a flank, or a butt. Not that I blame her. If I was as ugly as she was I wouldn’t want pictures of me either. While Peep may be hideous, she does have her pride.

I still remember the day Peep was brought home. My daughter had desperately wanted a cat forever. The problem is my son is deathly allergic. Our Aunt Donna made it her quest to find an allergy free cat. After hours of research she called me.

“I found the perfect cat. It’s called a Devon Rex and I found one of Pet Finder. It’s four-years old and is in desperate need of a new home?”

“I don’t know,” I hedged. “Is it a good idea to buy a used cat?”

“This breed usually costs close to a thousand dollars, this one will only set you back four hundred.”

“Used cat it is!”

Since I was working, my husband and kids made the two-hour trip to pick Peep up from her old home. As soon as they had her in the car they called me at work. The first thing I heard as soon as I answered was this god awful warbling sound. It sounded like someone had stuck a clown horn in a garbage disposal.

“What in the hell is that?” I asked.

Meeeeeooooooow!

“That is our new bundle of joy,” hubby drawled. Oh no! I knew that tone. Something wasn’t good.

Meeeeooooooow!

“What’s wrong?”

“Did your aunt say this thing was a mutant or something?”

Meeeeooooooow!

“No, I’m pretty sure I would have remembered that in our conversation. What’s wrong with Peep?”

“Well let’s see. She is the size of a rat, is nearly bald, has big alien eyes, buck teeth, freaky whiskers, super long legs and she kind of smells funny.”

“Leave Peeps alone, Daddy!” my daughter shrieked in the background. “Don’t listen to him, kitty. You are beautiful and I love you.”

Meeeeooooooow!

“Our new kitty is ugly?” I whispered.

“Very. Did I mention stinky too?”

“God help us all.”

Meeeeooooooow!


As soon as I got home and saw Peep none of it mattered. I instantly fell hopelessly in love with her, stink and all. A month later I had major surgery. The entire time I was recovering she sat on my lap and gave me her support. We have been inseparable ever since. As soon as I get home she runs as fast as her bowlegs will allow her to greet me at the door. While Peep is officially my daughter’s cat, it is me that she misses when we are on vacation and I am the one who takes care of her.

So while I may complain about the smelly beast often know it’s all tongue in cheek. I love my cat and I wouldn’t trade her for anything.


-Stephani

Saturday, December 13, 2008

A Time to Reflect

As children growing into adulthood, we are programmed to take things for granted. I sat here for the past week watching the Christmas movies on the Family channel and the Hallmark channel. As usual the protagonist has hidden issues that aren't portrayed until the end of the movie. This person goes trough a number of trials and tribulations, sometimes having to be selfish in order to gain what he needs to fulfill whatever it is he or she is missing in their near lonely lives.

Take the movie “Elf” for instance...a child is raised in the North Pole by elves and learns in his adult life that he belongs elsewhere...a story of adoption and reunion.

The movie “The Snow Globe” one of my favorites. A single girl whose mother interferes in her life and wants her to marry. In the process she rents an apartment down the hall from her daughters in hopes of them getting together. The daughter finds herself inside the snow globe where she falls for one of the figurines that comes to life, when back in reality her true love is waiting...a typical Cinderella story.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas”...a child who was different and bullied grows up with hatred and ruins everyones holiday by getting even...story of being bullied.

Then you have the story of “Ritchie Rich.” a spoiled rotten brat whose used to getting his way with anything he wants.

I noticed that only at Christmas time these movies are shown...if they had shows on television like this all year round maybe our minds would have been programmed for unselfishness?

I watched the educational growth of children for years as a Teacher. I am a firm believer in “children live what they learn.” I think about everything I taught my students and everything the parents removed because they believed in spoiling rather then discipline. It's the way we are raised that places us in certain categories as adults. The way we are raised follows us throughout our lives and in our careers, and how we raise our own children.

I sat here thinking about my life and just how grateful I am to have had what I have in my life. Even through all my heartache and loss. Having spent that little bit of time I had with the ones who are now gone will last me a lifetime. Having the ones that are left are a blessing. So this holiday season and for that matter all year through, try to remember what you do have and try to be thankful for it instead of taking it for granted because it can be gone in a flash.


AP Miller

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Someone Else's Family

By A. J. Llewellyn

On Monday morning, Don Yun Yoon, a Korean immigrant to the United States, left his home in San Diego to go to work. Inside his house were his beautiful wife Young Mi, his 15-month-old daughter Grace, his two-month-old daughter Rachel and his visiting mother in law Suk Im Kim.
Three hours later, inexplicable horror occurred.
A marine corps fighter plane from a nearby base, returned from an off-shore training mission. The pilot lost control of the plane clipping the trees above the family home before plunging right into it, killing everyone inside.
In a matter of seconds, Don Yun Yoon lost three generations of his family and has no clue how to go on.
As devastating as his loss is, I was impressed and frankly amazed when he stood in tears outside the wreckage of what was once his American Dream and stated that he doesn't blame the pilot, who survived the catastrophe.
My first thoughts were - forgive me for this - he can't be American, he has to be an immigrant. if he was American he'd be lawyered up with some high-profile celeb lawyer who'd already be on the Today Show hollering for Ju$tice.
Don Yun Yoon stood on the street where he lived and spread out his hands. "I don't have any hard feelings. He [the pilot] did everything he could." His bewildered gaze traversed the wreckage of his crushed life. He said he didn't know how he could cope with the loss of his family.
"Please tell me how to do it." His voice cracked. "I don't know what to do."
My heart went out to him and in that moment, I remembered a tragic incident in my family. My Uncle Peter was married to one of the sweetest most wonderful women I ever met.
Her name was Helen and when my own mother died when I was six, she fluttered around me and my brothers, always making sure we were included at family functions. They had a beautiful 10-year-old daughter Theoni, who I remember as being both angelic and tough to beat at Vigaro (the Australian street version of cricket).
Helen and Theoni were sitting at a bus stop bench one morning waiting for the bus when a drunken driver did the unthinkable. He veered off the road and slammed straight into my aunt and my cousin, killing them.
I did not see much of my uncle after that. He was not a broken man. He was a wraith.
A few years ago, when I was back in Australia for a vacation, I looked him up. He'd long ago given up the family home, given up on life and he was a thin, unhappy soul just waiting to die. He wasn't particularly interested in talking to me, but there is, among those who have experienced deep tragedy, a kind of connectedness. It's a belonging to a club you have no wish to be a member of, but fate's decided you belong to.
After almost giving up on having any type of decent conversation with my Uncle Peter, he suddenly asked me if I think about my mother.
"Every day," I said. "I miss her every day."
He nodded. He understood. "What happened to me," he said, looking traumatized as he revisited the past, "Is something so horrendous you couldn't wish it on someone else's family."
These two remarkable men have been dealt vicious blows by life, blows that will forever mar them. I have no doubt Don Yun Yoon feels the same way as my Uncle Pete, but as I watched Mr. Yoon on TV surrounded by his sister, brother and family pastor, I felt certain his future is less hollow, that he will be able to talk about his feelings. These are different times and I hope the people close to him will encourage him to talk, to help him keep the faith and give him strength.
I don't wish this had happened to someone else's family. I wish it hadn't happened at all. I'd like these cruel mysteries of life to be explained, but until that day happens, I can only hope and pray that there is some good, valid reason God makes these decisions.
I do believe in the Rainbow Bridge, where our loved ones are waiting for us. I know my Uncle Pete believes in it too.
In the meantime, the inexplicable has occurred. As one of Mr. Yoon's tearful neighbors told reporters, "I can't get over that a family has perished. A young, beautiful family."

Aloha oe,

A.J.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

My Christmas Elves


Wow! Can you all believe it’s almost Christmas? I can’t! It seems as if the days have gone by so fast since the last holiday season. Time flies as you get older, or so it seems.

I’m proud to announce my fourth book in my ongoing Santa’s Elves series, An Elf’s Magic, will be unveiled December 15, 2008. Isn’t the cover just absolutely wonderful? It’s sexy and hot and oh, so elf like. LOL!

In honor of this wonderful occasion, I am giving you a sneak peek into the special world of Santa’s elves. Let me give you a little bit of the setup. Lacey Sinclair is made to forget the one encounter she had with the North Pole elves because of their fear of discovery. In this scene, she’s about to become reacquainted with the one she misses the most. I hope you enjoy!

She went into the closet and pulled out another . Lacey put the bag on the bed, opened it and was surprised to find what looked like a wedding program in it. Please join us in the celebration of marriage between Aingeal Mae Locklin and Fearghus Andrew Brodie… “Wonder where this came from?” She tossed it onto the bed and saw a movement out of the corner of her eye. Cuinn had turned sheet white. She put her hand on his arm. “What’s wrong?”

He gave a quick, jerky shake of his head. “Nothing.”

“Ah, someone you fancied? I understand.”

He scowled at her. “You think I fancy…of course, you would…well, I don’t. One isn’t supposed to fancy one’s siblings.”

She threw up her hands at the tone of his voice. “Oh, I assumed by the look on your face it was someone you liked.” She looked at the paper again wondering why she didn’t associate the woman’s name with him. “It’s okay. Maybe you took someone you shouldn’t have or something. There have been some people in my past too. ”

He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. “It’s not like that at all.”

Every contour of his body was rock solid. Her breath hitched and she tried hard to control her breathing. Licking her lips, she looked up at him and lost herself. She wanted to kiss this man, to touch him like a lover, to have him inside her as quickly as she could. Before her thoughts could get the better of her, she brought to mind images of the president, of ghandi, of Mother Teresa, but nothing would to stop her passionate feelings.
****
“Ah – hell –“ Cuinn swooped down on her and captured her lips with his. He couldn’t help himself. From the moment she walked into the conference room in the morning, all he could think about was having her in his arms. He should have told his father at the wedding last year about his desire for her but her place hadn’t cemented in his heart yet. Now there would be no stopping their bonding.

Gently, he pulled back and gazed at her. “I’ll stop if you want me to.”
Lacey quickly shook her head. “No. I’ve never felt something so right.” She pulled his head back to her and his lips captured hers with no tenderness this time, just a hard, raw need.

Still, he knew she needed tender after what had happened to her this past year. Changing the tone of his onslaught, he gently sucked her bottom lip and ran his hands softly down her arms. Rewarded with a slight shiver, he knew his eyes darkened in response to her body’s signals.

The rapid beat of her heart drummed against him. He wanted everything to be right. Trying hard to remember his lessons on sex from his father, he put up his shields knowing some people in the city would feel the energy. He snapped the glamour spell more firmly around him because there were some things she couldn’t know until they had reached the North Pole. He hoped she would forgive him once all had been revealed.

Breaking off the kiss, he breathed hard as he gently cupped her face in his hands. “Tell me to stop right now and I will because you have to be very, very sure you want this to happen.”

“I am…believe me…I am,” she whispered.

He pulled her to him again, his mouth descending on hers, seeking entry with his tongue. Trying to convey the promise of all he could offer, he moved closer to the bed, Easing his knee between her legs. She trembled around him, rubbing herself up and down on the rough fabric of his jeans, then shivered. He hoped she felt the way he did. Slowly, he lowered her to the bed and followed her down.

“I want to touch you the way a lover does.”

Don’t forget the eXtasy Christmas party everyone. It will be happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are tons of prizes! Hope to see you there!

Lynn

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

It's Here! It's Here!

Today is the BIG day! I am officially a published author! It just blows my mind that this dream is coming true for me! A year ago I was a reader on groups who once upon a time thought about writing. I’ll share my excerpt with you.

Forever Guy

by Jambrea Jo Jones

Samantha has a crush on Jack. Now that he’s back in town, she needs to convince him he’s her forever guy.

Literally running into Jack yesterday at the bank had to be a sign of the fates shining on her. Her dreams of him still visited her on lonely nights; the fluttering started in her chest, and her heart jumped as his eyes flashed in recognition, a slow grin creeping across his face. To see and speak to him after so long brought back the memories of the last time he walked away from her. Jack had left her no air to breathe and had broken her heart, not once looking back to see the girl she had been crying for him to come back.

Picking up the pieces took time, but to his credit, she never told him how she felt before he joined the military. She needed to grow up, and as Jack left for the Marine Corps, she felt it too soon for her to express her feelings for him. She needed to make sure her emotions weren’t mere puppy love. Sam had no intention of making the same mistake twice. This time, she wouldn’t let him leave because they belonged together in the forever kind of way.

Sam shook off the memories and raced to get ready for her evening. Tonight, her dreams would come true.

Part of the One Touch One, Glance Anthology on sale December 9, 2208
http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=149
There is my buy link as well if anyone is interested.

Here is what Dark Diva Reviewer Jaime had to say about Forever Guy: Another gem. This story has all the elements I love. This story has it all, real characters, real relationships, and true love. What's not to like? The author paints a vivid picture of small town life and community, and doesn't sugar-coat the realities of coming home from war, knowing how impossible it is pick up where you left off. Starting fresh just might lead to forever, though.

The whole anthology Rated 5 Delightful Divas

This story came about because of an open call for a sweet story. I’ve never written a sweet before and wanted to give it a try. I was so surprised when it was picked up. The funny thing about all this, my husband decided to write a story for the anthology as well. He doesn’t write romance, but he thought he’d give it a try. He sent his in and was offered a standalone contract because it didn’t fit the anthology. But wait…that isn’t really the funny thing. The funny thing is his book comes out today too! How crazy is that! We both got are first contract together and we get released the same day!

Here is his buy link: http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=84&products_id=262&zenid=eeeb226c2cd0204c46911092b54abeef

A little about his story, Sanguine Moon:
Weston thought he was just a rancher, but when one of his co-workers runs into trouble on the job, he finds that he's so much more. Twin moons, Iris and Bliss, threaten him with the sun's wicked reflection, and Weston discovers that he will never look at cattle the same again.
So I will be on cloud nine today if you need to find me. :D
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