Talking On A Tuesday

Today I'm talking to author Vanessa Johnson.

Vanessa Alexander Johnson is a native Louisianan. She retired from the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office in 2007 after 30 years of service, where she spent the majority of her time supervising the 9-1-1 Communications Division. Since retirement, Johnson, when not spending time with her family, is doing what she loves best, writing and reading, in addition to being a substitute at Boutte Christian Academy when needed.

Johnson started writing after the close, untimely deaths of her mother and son in August and September, 1994. Her first book, dedicated to her loved ones is titled, When Death Comes a Knockin’ (Book Haven Publishing, March 2005, ISBN 1-4116-2470-X), a self-help, inspirational book about loss and grief.

She is also a freelance writer for the Times Picayune, where she writes the Thursday column for the Hahnville/Ama/Killona Town Talk.


Can you tell us about your latest release?

Yes, Sacrifices In The Name of Love is about interracial relations between two teens, Trey Martin and Tessa Phillips who get more than they bargain for when Tessa ends up pregnant, and out of fear of facing her self-professed racist father, she concocts a plan to conceal the baby’s paternity. Tessa is faced with making the most painful sacrifices she’s ever had to make. When she can no longer hide the truth about her baby’s paternity, she opts to leave town, thus leaving the baby and the love of her life behind. A few years later, she returns to find life has changed, but despite the obstacles, she’s determined to right her wrongs, but she must first face her demons and the demons of her parents.

Where do you take your inspiration from?

Life, people, places. Either can spark an idea for a story at any time.

Do you like to work with music playing in the background? And if so, do you listen to a specific type to evoke certain moods?

Sometimes. If I’m writing a love scene, love songs are very helpful. Classical music makes my creative juices flow when I need my story to move forward.

What was it that gave you the final push to submit your first story? And how did you feel when your work was accepted?

I imagined the book making it to the top bestsellers list and so I submitted in order to make reach that goal. I can’t do that if I don’t submit.

Can you describe to us a typical day in your life as an author?

I’m retired, so I don’t have a typical routine. I write when I feel inspired to write. I may write in the morning, or it may be late at night after the house is quiet and peaceful.


What is the best thing about being a writer?

I can let my imagination run wild and write about the things some of us have only dreamed about.

What does your work space look like? Neat as a new pin? Or area of mass destruction?

Right now, an area of mass destruction. I have so many books, I’m out of shelf space, so some are on the floor around my desk. I’ve kept every rejection letter I’ve received, and believe me there are many, and I keep them on my desk as inspiration and use that inspiration to persevere in spite of them.

Which, if any of your stories, has been the most emotionally difficult for you to write?

The only emotionally difficult thing for me to write thus far was my first nonfiction book that I self published. It was about my journey through grief after the loss of my mom and son a month apart in 1994. I’ve had fun writing all of my fiction work.

Most authors that I've spoken with have at least one finished or nearly finished project that they've held onto for a number of years. Do you have any such work?And if so, what has stopped you from submitting it?

No, I don’t. I have plans for having all of my work published.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?

I multi-task especially if I’m not feeling a particular work. I try not to force my writing.

Which of your upcoming projects are you most excited about?

I’m most excited about, and to date I’d say it’s my favorite piece, and that is my next book that I’m doing the rewrites on. It’s titled, Tempted By Love, and it was inspired by small bits and pieces of my life, mingled with a lot of fiction.

When not writing, how do you relax?

Participate in online writing groups and on social sites. I love to read, baking and spending time with my family.

How do your friends and family feel about your work and do you let any of them read your stories?

My family thinks it’s great that I’m a writer, especially when my work if published and they have the finished product in their hands. I have let my husband read some of my work.

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer? Not too much.

I write a column for my local paper, so I’m recognized more when I go out.

Where do you see yourself in three years time, as far as your writing is concerned?

I would love to be on somebody’s bestseller’s list. I see myself as continuing to write because I have more stories to tell.

If you weren't a writer, what else would you be doing?

I’m retired after spending 30 years on my job. If I weren’t writing, I can’t see my life being any different.

Which of your books would you love to see turned into a movie?

(Laughter) Hell, I’d love to see all of them turned into a movie. I do envision my characters on a screen as I’m writing scenes.

Here is an excerpt from Sacrifices In The Name Of Love.

When the only thing that separated us was our warm, quick, panting breaths of hot air, our eyes remained locked together. We stared deep into each other’s eyes. My entire insides burned with desire. Trey’s stare set my soul on fire, a fire that only he could squelch.

Bolts of electricity burst throughout my body from the nearness of him. I couldn’t contain my desire any longer. I leaned my face towards his, shut my eyes and opened my hot, trembling lips to invite in Trey’s equally hot quivering tongue. Our lips locked in a slow dance as we methodically sucked, twirled, and toyed and explored each other’s mouths.

I felt like I was floating on a cloud, and peacefully drifting towards the heavens. I’d soon learn what it truly felt like to be taken on a journey far beyond the heavens, farther than anything I could’ve ever imagined.

Trey guided me back towards the bed. We fell backwards on the bed without breaking the hold we had on each another. He meticulously planted kisses on me starting at my lips, before he slid his quivering tongue and traced a path down one side of my neck, before he headed down to the center of my breasts. He swept his wet hot tongue gently across my chest from nipple to nipple. He paused to nibble on each one and backtracked along the path to the center spot between my 38-C sized breasts.

Trey glided his tongue down to my navel, circled a path around it and let his hot tongue gently slither down to the brown hairy patch atop my waiting womanhood. The tip of his tongue toyed with my soft mane and traveled further down. He paused briefly at the opening of my vagina. He massaged the inside of my thighs with his lips and headed back to center stage.

My entire body shivered from his hot breath. I cupped both hands firmly over my mouth to smother my cries of pleasure. With the way Trey had taken me to such a level of pleasure with his tongue, I couldn’t imagine the heights he could take me with his rock-hard manhood. It was only a matter of time before I’d soon that find out. I was putty in Trey’s arms. I moaned and groaned lowly, my body eagerly responded to his every request.

Trey raised his body up from his knees to position himself on top of me, but before he could do so, I forced him onto his back and lowered myself between his legs. It was my time to work my magic on him.

My scorching hot breath blanketed his manhood. He gasped loudly and held his breath. His hard penis bounced up and down. I cupped my hand over his mouth to muffle his moans of ecstasy before I devoured it. With my lips, I held his erect shaft securely in my mouth while I retrieved a throw pillow from beside him. I covered his mouth with it. I surely didn’t want my parents to hear his cries and think something was wrong with me and run to my rescue. While something was definitely happening to me, there wasn’t a thing they could do to help me. Trey was the only one who could smother the flame that burned deep within me.

“Oh God. Please. Stop,” Trey hissed through clenched teeth. I didn’t think he actually wanted me to. Although the words flowed from his mouth, his hands locked me securely in place. Trey’s body trembled sporadically as my mouth did its magic on him.

Moments later we lay spent atop my bed. Trey said, “You know you’re the first girl to go down on me. I’ve seen it done on TV, but TV surely doesn’t do any justice at all in terms of just how enjoyable it really is. You can only fully appreciate it once you’ve experienced it, and I definitely appreciate it. I liked it. No, let me rephrase that, I loved it. This isn’t a onetime thing, is it?”

I felt warm inside as Trey spoke. I interpreted his remarks as an acknowledgement that I’d completed my mission to please him. “I aim to please,” I whispered before I climbed back on top of him for round two of our journey to Pleasure Galaxy. I teased his manhood. I slid my slippery, wet tongue around the tip a few times, then glided my tongue slowly up the entire length of his growing hard shaft, and toyed with his testicles with my puckered lips.

“Trey’s manhood throbbed between my moist fingers. I leaned back and stared at the marvelous muscle in my hand, a delicate piece of art, I deduced. I longed to give it the attention I felt it deserved; another thorough workout with my tongue. I felt like a kid who’d been left to guard the candy story. Trey’s penis was my oversized lollipop.

I methodically explored every inch of my new candy, slid. I slid my tongue slowly, gently down its massive length, around his testicles before I headed back to the tip. I savored the warm juices that seeped out. I wrapped my fingers around his shaft and firmly massaged it, gently at first. My hand moved faster and faster. Trey’s moans erupted from the pit of his stomach, through his chest to his lips. I again used the throw pillow to drown out the sounds.

With his manhood still entrenched in one hand, I eased myself on top of him in enough time to squelch the sounds and covered his mouth with mine. Small cries of pleasure still managed to escape, but I quieted them down to a slight whimper.

My mouth begged to be on Trey’s manhood again. Trey held the throw pillow against his mouth and held on to it as if his life depended on it. Maybe he sensed I would swallow him whole if I could. I certainly tried to take in as much of his manhood as I could in my mouth. He was so massive, yet delicious and enticing. I delighted in tasting the fruits of my labor. Trey’s sweet, sticky hot juice poured out of him like a volcano erupting its hot lava. His lava flowed into my open mouth.”

Can you let the readers know where to find you on the web?

My website is www.vanessajohnson.com

Talking On A Tuesday

Today I'm talking to author Nancy Lennea.

Can you tell us about your latest release?

My latest release is a romantic suspense…something new for me. DESTINY’S MOUNTAIN takes place in the picturesque mountains and river valleys of northern New Hampshire. I have entwined my romance between a poor working girl and a Boston-bred art history professor with intrigue, stalkers, severe weather, murder, ghostly voices, and a mountain rescue. I tie it all up at the end, but I left a small door open for my next book, LOVE TO THE RESCUE.

What was it that gave you the final push to submit your first story?

I was surrounded by wonderful men and women who assisted me when I decided to write. Before retiring three years ago, I was a 9-1-1 Emergency Medical Dispatcher for the state of New Hampshire. Down time between calls found me scribbling page after page. I’d go home after my ten-hour shift and type what I had written. Then I shared my work with some of my co-workers. Their suggestions, critiques, and encouragement are the reasons why I have dedicated DESTINY’S MOUNTAIN to the selfless professionals at NH 9-1-1.

What does your work space look like? Neat as a pin? Or areas of mass destruction?

Oh, my. This place is a ghastly mess. I have excuses! I just returned from an eight-day trip to New England. My husband and I moved to North Carolina to be near our youngest son and my sisters. My oldest just bought a house in Vermont. That is where we stopped before we all volunteered at the annual New Hampshire Highland Games. Been doing that for years. This book just came out last Friday so I have been busy setting up interviews, writing articles, ordering bookmarks and book trailers, updating websites and my own blogs, and selling books! I sold two manuscripts to two different publishers last week! That brings the count to five. Also, our cat, Blaze, has a habit of knocking piles of books and papers to the floor. And, any stray rubber bands or paperclips are fair game. I promise it will be clean by…Christmas.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or, do you multi-task?

I am fortunate that I am able to work full-time. In the beginning, four years ago this month, I started with an idea and put it on paper. When finished, I figured out how to send it to agents. When those queries went in the mail, I started the next book. At one time I had four books out at different places hoping for a nibble. I sold my first book SECRET LOVE MATCH, to Red Rose Publishing in August 2009. I sold my next, DRAGON’S CURSE, to Whispers Publishing, in February 2010. BOTH came out on the same day. Having to juggle promoting them was hard, yet rewarding. As I said earlier, I just sold two more manuscripts. One will come out around Christmas and other in the summer. I am currently working on a paranormal that is set at the art museum near my home. All my works are given a colored binder so I know at a glance what has sold and what is being worked on. I find I go faster when working one plot line at a time.

Where do you see yourself in three years time, as far as your writing is concerned?

I’d love to have a book in print. I have older family members who do not read e-books. I would love for them to share my thrill when I autograph their copies. Red Rose does offer their longer books in print once an e-book sales threshold is met. So, I do have a chance for both SECRET LOVE MATCH and DESTINY’S MOUNTAIN. I also have a large historical paranormal out to several agents. I had an idea for a trilogy. I’d love to see it come to fruition. One of my favorite quotes is “Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity,” so my plan of action is to KEEP WRITING. I also want to be a mentor for new writers and the newly published. I learned a lot by the seat of my pants. They shouldn’t have to go it alone.

Can you let the readers know where to find you on the web?

DESTINY’S MOUNTAIN is available for download from Red Rose Publishing.
The buy link is: http://bit.ly/a4NOHE
Visit my website at: http://www.nancylennea.com/
Visit my blog at: http://www.nancylennea-inlove.blogspot.com/

If you are interested in the paranormal or something with a bit of Scottish flair, visit my website at http://www.nancyleebadger.com and blog at http://www.rescuingromance.nancyleebadger.com/

Talking On A Tuesday

Today I'm chatting with author Jena Galifany. Welcome Jena.

Can you tell us about your latest release?
My upcoming September release from Red Rose Publishing is "Her Perfect Man". It is an historical dark romance, with a hint of paranormal. Anna Scott can see bits of the future, and knows that she will have the perfect life with the perfect man. Unfortunately, she can't see just who that perfect man is.

Where do you take your inspiration from?
This particular story was based on a short story I wrote out of anger at my ex-husband. Lol It gained a few fans that wanted me to expound on the original work. It took eighteen years for me to finally get it written so I truly hope it does well.

Most of the time I take inspiration from a song, or a phrase. Now and then, I've written, based on a person whose looks I happen to like. I see my stories as movies in my head before I write them most of the time.

Do you like to work with music playing in the background? And if so, do you listen to a specific type to evoke certain moods?
I have made CDs with the particular songs that make me think about a particular story. I'm currently working on about 12 storylines, bits at a time. I will focus on one and run with it, while continuing to make notes on the others as the music provides.

What was it that gave you the final push to submit your first story? And how did you feel when your work was accepted?
The real push came from two friends at my day job. I was off work for a month with an injury and had a story rolling around in my head. I used the time to write it out. When I returned to work, they wanted to know what I did on my "vacation". I said I wrote a book. Not believing me, they wanted to read it. Once they did, they compelled me to continue the story and several months later, after I had two more books nearly completed in the series, they convinced me to publish.

I found Whiskey Creek Press through my reviewing site and liked their books. I send the first book to them and forgot about it, not expecting to hear anything about it. In two months, I had a contract and was dancing on the ceiling for around three days. I couldn't believe I was accepted on my first try. That was a blessing from God, I'm sure. The contract said any sequels should be submitted to them first. I had two more ready to go and sent them along. A month later, I had contracts for the first three books in the ShadowsForge series in hand. I was totally amazed.

Can you describe to us a typical day in your life as an author?
I wish I had a day as an author. My day begins at 4am when I get up and get ready for my day job at 5am. Throughout the day, I write in my head, and make notes on a notepad lying open on my desk while I process internet orders. I spend my two breaks reading books for reviews I write or for a publisher for acquisition.

Up until this week, I'd get off work at 1:30pm and head home where I'd work a little as editor for a review site, write a report for the publisher, and read emails. Now and then, I'd get some time to write what I'd thought about at work and made notes on. I don't like to work on my stories unless I have a couple of hours to do so.

Beginning this week, when I get off of work, I'll be heading over to my used book store and work there for a couple of hours, until my mother comes in to relieve me to go home and turn into a wife around 5:30. It's a life long dream so I hope it is a success. I will be helping to promote ebooks through the store as well.

What is the best thing about being a writer?
Having the ability to take a story in any direction I want to. I love to travel with my characters. The Ethereal Edge tour with ShadowsForge took me all over the US and England, so to speak. Her Perfect Man took me back to 1910 in Southampton, England and Shyanne's Secret, coming soon from Whiskey Creek Press, took me to 1880 Oregon. It's the only way to travel.

What does your work space look like? Neat as a new pin? Or area of mass destruction?
Mass destruction pretty much says it all. LOL I have notes and projects and reference books all over. I have pictures for visual aids posted around the monitor as well.

Which, if any of your stories, has been the most emotionally difficult for you to write?
Probably Her Perfect Man as Anna Scott is somewhat based on me in my younger years. I actually learned a lot about myself and had to take a step back and apologize about some of the things I'd done. It was an emotional eye-opener for me.

Most authors that I've spoken with have at least one finished or nearly finished project that they've held onto for a number of years. Do you have any such work?
And if so, what has stopped you from submitting it?
The Ice Child. It was one of the first books I set out to write in the mid 1980s. It is a fantasy story based on an old Dungeons and Dragons ® quest that I made up myself and lead a group through as Dungeon Master (aka narrator for the game). It was fun and a lot of silly things happened during the game so I wrote it all down. I think I was always afraid to share it because, a) I was afraid of copyright issues. TSR was never very forgiving, and, b) it's too silly for adults but had a few moments that were not suited for children. I need to work on it when I get more time.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
I have several works in the fire at any given time. My mind moves from one to another depending on the music I come into contact with or a situation that comes to mind. I try to focus on one, but it doesn't always work that way.

Which of your upcoming projects are you most excited about?
I'm excited to see what happens when Shyanne's Secret comes out. I was known for the ShadowsForge series, the 80's rock band ongoing tour. I want to know if I can write something besides the crazy guys in the band and if Cole and Shyanne will be as popular as Ty and Alexis Synclair were.

When not writing, how do you relax?
Relax? Lol, what is that? I love to read. I love to write book reviews. I love to garden but that has not happened much this year. I love to sew and crochet, but again, I've not had much time for that either. I do hold down a full time job as well.

How do your friends and family feel about your work and do you let any of them read your stories?
If I had not let a couple of friends read my work, I'd have never had the nerve to seek publication. I will forever be in debt to Joyce Anderlik and Brandi Milhon for pushing me to give it a try. My family, on the other hand are about half and half about reading my stories.

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?
Not a lot. I'm not quite making what Mr. King and Mr. Patterson make so not much change there. I do love it when someone asks about my writing and love it when I get to do interviews like this one. Thank you again, for allowing me to be part of this.

Where do you see yourself in three years time, as far as your writing is concerned?
I hope to have more time to do more writing. I'd like to have a few more books on the market and be better known. I think that each book I write is better than the last, but I still have much to learn.

If you weren't a writer, what else would you be doing?
Probably not very much. I've dreamed of being a writer for many, many years. Now that I can call myself a writer, I can't think of anything I'd even want to do instead. I'd probably just be reading and dreaming.

Which of your books would you love to see turned into a movie?
Shyanne's Secret would make a great movie. The ShadowsForge series would make an interesting television show, since it follows an entire year plus tour.

Can you let the readers know where to find you on the web?
Web site:
http://jenagalifany.bravehost.com
The ShadowsForge Series is at: http://whiskeycreekpress.com/authors/Jena_Galifany.shtml
I'm on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/jena.galifany
Thanks again for letting me share my life with you and thank you to everyone who has read my books. Without you, I'd be nothing!

Thursday Thirteen

New York is one of my favourite places to visit. So, this week, I thought we would look at 13 fun facts that you may or may not know about Manhattan and New York City.

1.In the 1660s New York City's “skyline” was dominated by a two-story-high windmill.

2.When the Dutch still controlled the region, Wall Street was the city limit and there was actually a wall there.

3.Manhattan's Chinatown is the largest Chinese enclave in the Western Hemisphere.

4.Cleopatra's Needle, a 3,000-year-old Egyptian ruin, can actually be found in New York's Central Park. In 1879 it was given to the city as a gift by the Khedive of Egypt. The 220-ton, 66-foot-high monument took a decade to be fully transported.

5.Why are New York Yellow Cabs yellow? Because John Hertz, the company's founder, read a study that concluded yellow was the easiest color for the eye to spot.

6.The first American chess tournament was held in New York in 1843.

7.The Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan is the only school in the world offering a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing.

8.Dairying is New York's most important farming activity with over 18,000 cattle and or calves farms.

9. New York City has 722 miles of subway track.

10. The "New York Post" established in 1803 by Alexander Hamilton is the oldest running newspaper in the United States.

11.New York's highest waterfall is the 215 foot Taughannock.

12.The Big Apple is a term coined by musicians meaning to play the big time.

13.New York State is home to 58 species of wild orchids.

Talking On A Tuesday

Happy Tuesday everyone. Today I'm talking to best selling author A.M Wells.

Can you tell us about your latest release?

Susanna’s Heart is my first published work. The story is about a young woman, Susanna Moore, who decides it past time she took back control of her life after her sister’s betrayal. She leaves her home in Illinois and takes refuge in a cabin in the fictional North Georgia mountain town of Benton to heal her broken heart. There she encounters Noah Weber who literally knocks her off her feet.

Noah also knows the pain of heartache. He vowed to never involve his heart again in a relationship. However he finds himself instantly attracted to Susanna, which to his amazement is mutual.

The story’s basic premise is this—can two people who meet and fall in instant lust, let go of past hurts to find their happily ever after.

Also, I must give a big shout out and thank you to all the readers who have purchased the book so far and made it such a great success.

Where do you take your inspiration from?

From events, news headlines, family, friends, music, and everyday life. I’m always listening and taking notes in my head or jotting down ideas and dialogue.

Do you like to work with music playing in the background? And if so, do you listen to a specific type to evoke certain moods?

Yes. I find music is a great resource for kicking starting my writing time and maintaining the flow. In general, my music tastes run the gambit from classical, R&B, opera, Jazz, country, gospel, and Big Band. What I listen to depends on the scene and setting I’m striving to convey through words. Boney James is usually my go listen for love scene. Corrine Bailey Rae when it’s light and easy between h/h in the getting to know you stage. Classical is good listening when trying to convey tension or suspense on the page.

What was it that gave you the final push to submit your first story? And how did you feel when your work was accepted?

Encouragement from a friend and my daughter were what gave me that bit of confidence I needed to first put up a blog and post my writing. The positive feedback amazed me. This gave that extra shove to start submitting to publishers.

Can you describe to us a typical day in your life as an author?

Up at four, first prayer and meditation then writing for two hours before its off to the nine to five. Most weekends I’ll dedicate either the morning, afternoon, or sometimes all day to writing. It’s very important to me to make the time to write and stick with a schedule of sorts. Whether it is on the computer or handwritten in a tablet, I write.

What is the best thing about being a writer?

Getting that first contract offer, but even sweeter still was how well received Susanna’s Heart has been all thanks to the readers out there who purchased the book.

What does your work space look like? Neat as a new pin? Or area of mass destruction?

On most days I’d say somewhere in between. At the moment, I’m striving to be more organized and keep my workspace free of clutter. So far, it’s working out pretty well.


Which, if any of your stories, has been the most emotionally difficult for you to write?

I have a WIP that is the first story I ever sat down to actually write. It’s not a romance, but more a family saga with romantic elements. I started out writing a story about a young girl who stumbles into the arms of the boy of dreams who ultimately becomes the love of her life, but I found that the secondary characters wanted to have their say and story told also. I would not say that is story emotionally difficult to write, but it has been a challenge to give each of now three female leads a voice without overshadowing the others.



Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?

I multi-task, I’ll have two on three stories going at once, which makes it really hard to finish just one.

Which of your upcoming projects are you most excited about?

Venus Reveal for the simple fact that I’m this close to having a first draft ready, which in turn means I’ll be submitting to publishers.

When not writing, how do you relax?

Like most writer before I began writing I was and still am an avid reader. I like to spend what little down time I have reading. I also like to draw/sketch and I’m somewhat of armature photographer.

How do your friends and family feel about your work and do you let any of them read your stories?

I have let my twenty year old daughter read some of my writing. But when I finished the first draft of Susanna’s heart I was more comfortable having one of her friends read it which she naturally took offence to. Go figure.

Overall would say I’ve gotten great support from both my family and friends.

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?

Nope, I’m still working that day job. I’ve changed in that I am more self confident. I joined RWA, launched a website (www.amwells.net), and I’m even more determined now to complete and get more of my writing published.

Where do you see yourself in three years time, as far as your writing is concerned?

At the top of New York Times best seller list. Hey, it can happen.

If you weren't a writer, what else would you be doing?

I would focus on my art. Drawing and painting.

Which of your books would you love to see turned into a movie?

A story that is currently under consideration by Romance Magazine it’s entitled Time Out. I think it would make a cute Hallmark movie of the week. The story is about a couple in crises whose kids decide that rather than a divorce what the parents need is a time out. So they arrange for them to take a vacation.

Can you let the readers know where to find you on the web?

Sure, readers can visit my website, www.amwells.net or email me at am_wells@hotmail.com.

Susanna’s Heart is available from the following book sellers.
Red Rose Publishing
Amazon

Great Review for Happy Birthday To Me

I'm delighted to share with you a great review I received from Emily at sensualreads.com

She has rated Happy Birthday to Me as 4 stars!!!

What photographer Clementine “Tina” Holloway really wants for her birthday is her cowboy fantasy to come true. Tina decides to make her fantasy a reality by enlisting the help of Fantasy Realms that cater to erotic escapism for woman and orders a roll in the hay with a primed cowboy as her adventure. Setting out for birthday fun, Tina loses the address but ends up at Sam Farlowe’s ranch believing she is in the right place. A case of mistaken identity leads to a sizzling time and Sam is not ready to let go of all that she has to offer.

Happy Birthday To Me is an amusing short story that captures the reader from the first page. A few hilarious moments as Tina takes the lead in fulfilling her fantasy and Sam following along not quite realizing he is a stud for hire. I thought the chemistry was sizzling and it was a refreshingly new plot.

Sensuality Rating: Sultry
Star Rating: 4 Stars

http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/happybirthday.htm

Talking On A Tuesday

Today Iam talking to author Carol Preflatish.

Can you tell us about your latest release?

My latest release is called "Love, Lies & Deceit." Against regulations, rookie CIA officer Julie McBride and her training officer, Jason Reid fell in love. But, when Jason is arrested for treason, Julie has to decide whether she believes in him enough to risk her own career and life to help him prove his innocence. "Love, Lies & Deceit" is published by Red Rose Publishing and you can purchase it on their web site, or as a Kindle download from amazon.com.

Where do you take your inspiration from?

I take my inspiration from other published writers. I would love to be able to earn a living writing full time and as long as there are writers out there doing that, I know that someday it could be me.

Do you like to work with music playing in the background? And if so, do you listen to a specific type to evoke certain moods?

I do sometimes listen to my MP3 player when I write. I'm a classic rock person. I love listening to the Eagles, Boston, Queen, Steve Miller Band, and Aerosmith. I have a big variety of songs that I listen to. More times than not, I am writing with the television on. I have to have some sort of sound in the room when I write.

What was it that gave you the final push to submit your first story? And how did you feel when your work was accepted?

There was no push to it. I was anxious and excited to submit my first manuscript. Of course, that first one was rejected all over the place. My second manuscript was the one that finally sold. I can tell you, it was a wonderful feeling. My husband and I celebrated by having a special dinner that night.

Can you describe to us a typical day in your life as an author?

Since I have a full time non-writing day job, my typical weekday is doing that. I do try and write over my lunch hour when I can and in the evening I do a little marketing for my book. Mostly, I write on weekends while my husband is at work. Once I throw a load of laundry in the washer, I sit on the couch with my laptop and start writing. I take a few breaks to stretch and refill my iced tea glass and then it's back to the laptop until about three o'clock when I start making dinner. After dinner, I try to get a couple more hours of writing or research in before going to bed.

What does your work space look like? Neat as a new pin? Or area of mass destruction?

As I mentioned earlier, I write a lot on the couch. But, I do have a desk that I sit at sometimes. Normally, it's as neat as a pin, but right now if you could see a picture of it, you'd see it's piled high with magazines, folders, and papers. Obviously, I haven't worked there for a while.


Which, if any of your stories, has been the most emotionally difficult for you to write?

I supposed that would be the story I am just now finishing. I wrote it loosely based on an unsolved mystery that took place about fifty years ago near where I live. The mystery has always been interesting to me, which is why I used it. But, I also wanted it to be different enough so that was not a complete copy of it. In my story, I do solved who did it.

Most authors that I've spoken with have at least one finished or nearly finished project that they've held onto for a number of years. Do you have any such work?
And if so, what has stopped you from submitting it?

Of course, I have one of those, too. It's the very first manuscript that I wrote, the one that was rejected by everyone. Now when I look at it, I can see how terrible my writing was then. But, I love the plot and storyline so much. I really want to try and get it published someday. What is stopping me now is not having enough time to work on it. I started editing it a few months ago, but realized it's probably going to take a full rewrite to get it where I want it. Someday, maybe not until I retire from my day job, I might just get it finished.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?

Mostly, I work on just one project at a time, but I do keep a journal with me to jot down ideas for future books. When I get close to finishing a manuscript, I sometimes start working on another to get a good start on it.

Which of your upcoming projects are you most excited about?

I actually have two of them. I'm really excited about the project I am just finishing and am looking forward to pitching it to some publishers. I also have a manuscript that I started last year and am anxious to get started on it. It's the first one that I have worked on that isn't a romantic suspense, but a romantic contemporary novel instead.

When not writing, how do you relax?

I love watching old movies and television shows. I also love camping and photography.


How do your friends and family feel about your work and do you let any of them read your stories?

My friends and family have been very supportive of my writing. My husband, who was a counter-intelligence agent in the Army, was my technical advisor for "Love, Lies & Deceit." He's not read it, but his help was invaluable.

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?

I don't think it's changed much. Maybe after I get another book or two under my belt, it might be different. But, unless I make it to the Best Sellers List, I don't look for my life to change much.

Where do you see yourself in three years time, as far as your writing is concerned?

I hope to have a couple more books published and be a more recognized name as an author.

If you weren't a writer, what else would you be doing?

My full time job is in social services, so I would guess that I would still be doing that. Although, I would love to work as a freelance photographer.

Which of your books would you love to see turned into a movie?

I would love to see my first unpublished novel make it as a movie, but I am going to have to get back to work on it for that to ever happen.

Can you let the readers know where to find you on the web?
You can find more about me at my web site, my blog, or on my twitter page.
http://CarolPre.webs.com
http://CarolPre.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/cpreflatish

Thank you so much for having me here today. I have enjoyed it.

Talking On A Tuesday

Today I'm talking with author Madeleine McDonald.

Can you tell us about your latest release?My first romance, ENCHANTMENT IN MOROCCO, has just been published by Red Rose Publishing, an American publisher specialising in electronic books. Readers anywhere in the world can download it now from www.redrosepublishing.com.

Where do you take your inspiration from?
I was inspired by Morocco, a lovely country with friendly, hospitable people. I imagined my modern heroine, Emily, accustomed to running her own life but worried about her credit card debts, coping with a job in a traditional Arab village far from the tourist resorts.

Do you like to work with music playing in the background? And if so, do you listen to a specific type to evoke certain moods?I am a totally non-musical person, although I listen to Radio 4 when I’m cooking.

What was it that gave you the final push to submit your first story? And how did you feel when your work was accepted?
My first published piece, years ago, was a magazine article about my parents’ cat going walkabout while I was looking after him, and my finding him again. When the editor’s letter came, I felt like doing cartwheels down the street. That mixture of disbelief and elation is still there. It will never go away, even if I publish a hundred books.

Can you describe to us a typical day in your life as an author?
I try to do a full day’s writing, then cram everything else into the next day, turn and turn about. Of course, life gets in the way of this simple system.

What is the best thing about being a writer?
Keeping your characters company in your own head.

What does your work space look like? Neat as a new pin? Or area of mass destruction?
I used to work from home as a translator, and have the luxury of my own “office”. This also gets used as a sewing room and spare bedroom, which means I have to keep it tidy. When my son was little, he and his toys invaded the carpet, so I kept my feet out of his way and carried on typing. I learned to screen out irrelevant chatter and shrieks. As a result, I can take a notebook and work anywhere.

Most authors that I've spoken with have at least one finished or nearly finished project that they've held onto for a number of years. Do you have any such work?
I have several half-written and completed radio plays sitting in my drawer. Radio is a limited market, which attracts talented writers, so I’m not surprised my efforts were rejected.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
Having had one book published, I want to build on that success by concentrating on more romance stories. I also write short opinion pieces for the Yorkshire Post, which are fun to do, and I hope entertaining for readers.

Which of your upcoming projects are you most excited about?
My next book is located in the Swiss city of Basel, where I worked for several years, against the background of the city’s annual art fair. Serious collectors come to buy, but anyone and everyone, from teachers to train drivers, drops in to take a look.

When not writing, how do you relax?
We live on the Yorkshire coast, so I wrap up warm against the ever-present breeze and take walks along the beach. Early morning is the best time, when the crabbing boats are collecting their catch, and the beach is empty apart from dog walkers.


How do your friends and family feel about your work and do you let any of them read your stories?
My beloved husband supports me wholeheartedly. However, he reads newspapers, not books. Having read the first page—under duress—he filed the typescript under his armchair for several weeks until I took it back for safekeeping. He never did finish it.

Where do you see yourself in three years time, as far as your writing is concerned?
Who knows? That will be up to my readers. I hope they enjoy reading the book as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

If you weren't a writer, what else would you be doing?
My husband and I used to have an allotment, which took up all our spare time, and huge amounts of energy. It was a fun time in our life and I miss eating vegetables fresh out of the ground. I even miss the drudgery of weeding and watering. So I’d be tending a vegetable patch.

Which of your books would you love to see turned into a movie?
It has to be ENCHANTMENT IN MOROCCO, for the sun, the Atlantic shore, the scenery and my handsome hero Rafi.

Can you let the readers know where to find you on the web?
www.redrosepublishing.com
http://madeleinemcdonald.blogspot.com

Talking On A Tuesday

Today I have the pleasure of talking to author Elle Druskin.



First of all, thanks for inviting me.



Can you tell us about your latest release?


Yes, I should talk about two books. The first was released in June, To Catch A Cop. The second which is due out at the end of August is Outback Hero.

To Catch A Cop was an interesting experience for many reasons. I wrote it years ago mostly to figure out how to write a book. I had written a lot of non-fiction as an academic and had a lot of experience in that style, but fiction, of course, is different and I thought the way to learn was to try. So I wrote a book, didn’t think much of it or about it and started to do some reading about how to construct a novel. I didn’t have a problem with a story or dialogue, at least I thought I didn’t, but I didn’t understand the craft, the change of pov, the break in narrative and when to get some dialogue in to break the narrative, how much is too much back story, how to build tension and so forth. I have been on Books and Writers Forum for years and some great writers are members like Diana Gabaldon and Jo Bourne and I learned a lot from many discussions there.



A few years later I took it out again, but this time, it was much clearer to me. By that I mean, this time I could see and hear the story and the characters and that was important. The heroine told me I had her name wrong and please fix it which I did. Rewrote and after that rewrite decided it was time to show it to someone. I showed it to a friend who writes romance who read it and thought it was an unorthodox romance but definitely that genre. Showed it to someone else and she said, “Hmm, this is a very cute mystery.” Now, ahem, I never saw it as a mystery. I did intend for it to have elements of a mystery, but I didn’t see that as the primary genre. Showed it to a friend who writes thrillers and he said he thought it had some elements of a thriller and made a few suggestions for revision and that was it. I still didn’t know what I wrote but I thought I had nothing to lose by submitting the final product and then it took its course through contract, editing, and publication. What surprised me enormously was that it has been a consistent best seller in both contemporary romance and mystery. I have since seen the reviews and getting a 5 Star review has been wonderful, and here’s the interesting thing, it was consistently called a great mystery with a great twist and a wonderful romance.



I was so engaged with the book that I thought I had finished with it and the characters but they kept talking to me and the second To Catch book is now under submission and hopefully on its way to publication and the third is in development.



Outback Hero is another thing altogether. That is a contemporary romance set in the Australian Outback. That developed from years of living in Australia, visiting country towns and rodeos, meeting the rodeo cowboys and clowns and trying to write a book that interpreted some of that wonderful culture within the context of a romance.

To Catch A Cop is available at www.redrosepublishing.com in a number of formats and is available at www.bookstrand.com in Kindle format. In due time, it will come out at Amazon and Barnes and Noble but no idea when.



Where do you take your inspiration from?


I am not sure exactly. I am always interested in people. I can talk to anyone and I watch and listen. I have traveled all over the world, had a lot of experiences and undoubtedly, that has factored to some extent in my writing.



Do you like to work with music playing in the background? And if so, do you listen to a specific type to evoke certain moods?


That depends. I don’t mind background noise; I can work anywhere. When my kids were little I would write on a laptop while they were taking dancing or skating lessons. I was completely capable of focusing on the writing and still paying attention to their activity periodically during a lesson.



If I listen to music, it might have something to do with what I am writing. For example, I am working on and off on a book set in Scotland. I have been to Scotland many times and know the country quite well, but, I like to play Scottish musicians, especially, if they are from live recordings with an audience because they will often speak or banter with the audience so I catch the nuances of speech from that sort of music. I am very partial to Dougie MacLean and The Corries for that wonderful Scottish speech.



What was it that gave you the final push to submit your first story? And how did you feel when your work was accepted?


The feedback from my readers was that it was a good book, funny (which was important to me since it was meant to be) entertaining and great story, so I felt I had nothing to lose and yes, it was very exciting to receive the contract, but I knew from experience in academia that it is a process that takes time from contract to publication.



Can you describe to us a typical day in your life as an author?


There is no typical day. I still work in my profession so I don’t manage to have a set time to write as much as I would like to have that. If possible, I try to write every day. I also read voraciously, read everything and read every day which is important for many reasons, but especially for writers. In my opinion, all writers must read and not fall so in love with their own writing that they stop reading.



What is the best thing about being a writer?


The best thing is creating a world that other people enjoy, become engaged in and get pleasure from because really, these people, whoever they are as characters, exist in my head until I can find suitable words to make them come alive to other people who don’t know them as well as I do.



What does your work space look like? Neat as a new pin? Or area of mass destruction?


I work on a laptop and work anywhere, but at home, I often sit on a couch, have the news on in the background or whatever, and write.



Which, if any of your stories, has been the most emotionally difficult for you to write?


I wrote one book that I don’t think I will ever submit. It was very personal, very emotional, and the only person I have allowed to read it, cried and I cried while writing it. It was something I needed to do and as I said, I don’t know if I will ever do anything with it, or let's put it this way, I don't feel that I need to do something with it other than having written the book.



Most authors that I've spoken with have at least one finished or nearly finished project that they've held onto for a number of years. Do you have any such work?

And if so, what has stopped you from submitting it?


Sure. I have things I have put away because I thought they were not good enough yet. I take them out and work on them again if I think I want to continue with them and I often work on several books at once. I don’t need to focus solely on one project; that’s a habit from academia. If I get stuck on one, move on to the next one, by the time I get back to the first one, I have some fresh ideas for it.



Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?


See above


Which of your upcoming projects are you most excited about?


I am in different stages of three projects right now, almost done with a short contemporary romance which I hope is funny, another one that is far more serious, that is the one set in Scotland, and I am working on a new contemporary that is either very good or awful because it is coming very easily to me; very visual and auditory. I think I am most excited about that one because it is making me laugh while writing it and I hope that is a good sign.



When not writing, how do you relax?


I go to several dance classes. I don’t say I am a good dancer but I like dancing. I go to ballroom dancing 2 times a week and I try to get to an Irish dance class once a week. I am awful at that, but I like it and I keep going and like everything, you get better if you stick it out. Persistence pays in the end whether it is writing, learning a new skill or whatever.

I am currently preparing for a show in a month’s time at one of the studios with a great partner to perform a very sexy rumba. I only hope I don’t manage to do something really dumb like poke his eyes out -- he tells me he has very good insurance


I have not played my guitar in months, but I enjoy music. I love the beach and swimming and I love being with my friends and having them over or going out with them. I am on my way out to dinner in about five minutes with a very good friend and friends are important. We have to make time for them. That includes my dog too!



How do your friends and family feel about your work and do you let any of them read your stories?


For a long time, I didn’t say anything to anyone, but once To Catch A Cop was contracted, I told them. Everyone has been thrilled and supportive. No, I don’t let them read work in progress. I don’t let anyone read anything other than a short scene if I need feedback, or eventually I might send a first draft of a book to a reader to see what he or she thinks. I have a brilliant beta reader who is always willing to read for me. Her job is to read the story and see what she thinks; she is not reading for structure or grammar so much, as a good story that is engaging and satisfying.



Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?


I don’t think so. I still work in my profession, still do the things that I enjoy doing but I now have to spend time on promotion and that is a difference.



Where do you see yourself in three years time, as far as your writing is concerned?


Good question. I would like to have a solid track record; that when you see my name, you know you are getting a great story, engaging characters, and you spent your money well. I would also like to write a very large, complex book but that is coming in bits and pieces and could take years to finish.



If you weren't a writer, what else would you be doing?


I am doing other things, but I would love to try archeology, and there are plenty of things I would still love to study. I would love to take a proper course in gardening; I do some of that but to actually study it would be fun, especially medicinal plants. I have read a fair amount on the topic and visited large medicinal gardens in Europe. I would love to take some courses in cooking, French, Italian, Thai, for example. I do cook things in those styles but you can always learn more from a course. I would love to take a course in astronomy; I love looking at the night sky. I have traveled all over the world but there are still places that I would like to see. I could easily come up with some other things that I would like to do but this is enough for now.



Which of your books would you love to see turned into a movie?


I am not sure I would like any of them to become a movie. First of all, for the most part, the author does not have artistic control over the project so that the final product (the movie) may not resemble the book in any way. Now then, some adaptations have been great, faithful to the book, or as faithful as they can be. Some classic examples are Gone With The Wind, some of the Harry Potter movies, and others, like My Sister's Keeper were disappointing to me. I thought the book was great and was disappointed in the way the movie was changed when the story was brilliant exactly as it was. An author does not control casting, and even if part of the screenwriting team, it still means there will be many changes. I would rather spend my time writing books than screen adaptations that require continual tweaking.



Can you let the readers know where to find you on the web?



Sure. You can find me in a few places. First, my website:

www.elledruskin.com

There are free downloadable bookmarks and recipe cards there, my blog, and a Recipe Forum that is free for anyone to join, post a recipe, provide a comment, etc. In due time, I will organize a contest around that on the theory that we all have to eat .

I can also be found on Facebook and Twitter and I hang out at the Books and Writers Forum with a lot of great writers and readers and generally check in there daily.

Thursday Thirteen

As some of you will know, my new fur baby is a Maine Coon. So today, I thought I would share 13 fun facts about these amazing cats.

1.The Maine Coon was originally the American wild cat, living mainly on farms where it was held in high esteem by farmers for its ability to catch vermin.

2.The Maine Coon's pride and joy is his tail. In fact he is often referred to as 'the tail with the cat on the end'.

3.The Maine Coon takes 3-4 years to finish growing.

4.Maine Coons are the clowns of the cat world, with a rather quiet but extrovert personality.

5.The Maine Coon is very well known for its loving nature and great intelligence. They are especially good with children and dogs and have always been a popular and sought after companion.

6.Maine Coons do not constantly pester you for attention, but prefer to "hang out" with their owners, investigating whatever activity you're involved in and "helping" when they can.

7.Maine Coons are relaxed and easy-going in just about everything they do. The males tend to be the clowns while the females retain more dignity, but both remain playful throughout their lives.

8.First recorded in cat literature in 1861 with a mention of a black and white cat named "Captain Jenks of the Horse Marines". Maine Coons were popular competitors at early cat shows in Boston and New York. A brown tabby female named "Cosie" won Best Cat at the 1895 Madison Square Garden Show.

9.Interestingly, the breed closest to the Maine Coon is the Norwegian Forest Cat which, although geographically distant, evolved in much the same climate, and lends credence to the theory that some of the cats responsible for developing the Maine Coon were brought over by the Vikings.

10.One folk tale about the Maine Coon involves Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, who was executed in 1793. The story goes that before her death, Marie Antoinette attempted to escape from France with the help of Captain Samuel Clough. She loaded Clough's ship with her most prized possessions, including six of her favorite Turkish Angora cats. Although Marie Antoinette did not make it to the United States, her pets safely reached the shores of Wiscasset, Maine, where they mated with a Norwegian Forest Cat and evolved into the modern breed of the Maine Coon.

11.Maine Coons have several physical adaptations for survival in harsh winter climates. Their dense water-resistant fur is longer and shaggier on their underside and rear for extra protection when they are walking or sitting on top of wet surfaces of snow or ice.

12.Many of the original Maine Coon cats that inhabited the New England area possessed a trait known as polydactylism (having one or more extra toes on the feet).

13.I have a blog devoted to jola, my Maine Coon. So if you love these cats as much as I do, then please take a look. http://jolathecat.blogspot.com/

Talking On A Tuesday

Happy Tuesday Readers and a warm welcome to you all. Today is the first day of my Talking On A Tuesday spot, where I delve deep into the minds of fellow authors and get to know all their gossip LOL.
Today I'm talking to author Renee Wildes.

Can you tell us about your latest release?DUST OF DREAMS was just nominated for Book of the Week at LASR. It’s high fantasy romance, published by Samhain Publishing as Book 4 in the “Guardians of Light” series. Pryseis is a dream faerie who leaves her crystal mountain to help a goblin child with uncontrolled nightmares. She’s aided by Benilo, an elven spirit healer. The overlying theme tackles the subject of prejudice, as Pryseis doesn’t see “goblin,” she sees “child.”

Where do you take your inspiration from?I have little bits of “fantasy” all over my house. I have a dragon in my “Virgin Mary” alcove in my living room. I have the Celtic Tree of Life for my bedroom curtain. I have the Green Man for my office curtain. I have a winged, female gargoyle statue on my printer. I have a print of Gilbert Williams’ “The Faeries Queen” taped to my “writing books” bookshelf. I have a bumper sticker that reads “A Day Without Fairies Is A Day Without Sunshine.” I’m also a huge “sword & sorcery” movie junkie!

Do you like to work with music playing in the background? And if so, do you listen to a specific type to evoke certain moods?Music is an integral part of my world-building, and each book has a different soundtrack. I use Enya & Kate Price for love scenes, Warlock & Axel Rudi Pell for battle scenes, and then each book has a “focus.”
Duality was Mediaeval Baebes,
Hedda’s Sword (& WIP Riever’s Heart) was Varttina, Gamarna & Hedningarna, Lycan Tides was Lunasa, Leahy & Danu
Dust of Dreams was Nightwish.

What was it that gave you the final push to submit your first story? And how did you feel when your work was accepted?Duality was my first book. I started in late 2004 with a vision of a red-haired woman kneeling in a burning room, and I asked my critique partners, “Should I try to do something with this?” I finished it in 2005, it made the rounds of RWA contests on 2006 – finalled 5 times, won once – and my Grandma Jeanne (who was the first one to call me a writer – when I was SIX) told me to send it to an editor.

I pitched it to Angela James at the 2007 NJ PYHIAB Conference and Samhain accepted it via my fantabulous editor Linda Ingmanson on 10/27/07. My first reaction was “Did she even have time to read it?” b/c she’d only had it for two weeks and I’d been told it takes months, even a year, for some houses to make up their minds. Little did I know – Linda’s one fast, thorough reader – NOTHING gets by her!

Duality is dedicated to my Grandma Jeanne.

Can you describe to us a typical day in your life as an author?Do you really want to know? Because it’s distinctly unglamorous! I have a cat, dog and two kids. Take the dog out 6 AM, feed the cat, get the kids ready for Boys & Girls Club (Summer) or school. I check my emails, etc. for an hour, then write until 10 when I leave for my day job. Run home at 2:30 lunch to let dog out again. Home at 7, chill with the kids until 9 PM bedtime, then write until midnight. If I’m teaching a writing class or judging a writing contest, writing can get bumped. I do a LOT of my writing on weekends, holidays and the occasional sick day if I’m home w/the kid. I write a book a year. March is a bad month because I coordinate the WisRWA FabFive contest’s paranormal category every year and that’s when I was editing both Dust of Dreams (this year) and Lycan Tides (last year).

What is the best thing about being a writer?
I love creating something out of nothing. I’m pretty sociable - I like networking with other writers, learning new things & occasionally teaching. I enjoy conferences & book signings and meeting new people. I like the occasional fan email.

What does your work space look like? Neat as a new pin? Or area of mass destruction?
Oh Lord – I’m a “lived in” person! I have too many books for the shelves. I have too many CDs for the rack. I have spare computer parts and all my old conference bags in cardboard boxes.

Which, if any of your stories, has been the most emotionally difficult for you to write?
They’re each challenging in their own way, with some dark themes and lots of peril, but I’d have to say Hedda’s Sword. Heroine Maleta is a rape survivor, and has to stop an evil Queen Sunniva from genocide.

Most authors that I've spoken with have at least one finished or nearly finished project that they've held onto for a number of years. Do you have any such work?
And if so, what has stopped you from submitting it?
My first finished “novel” (cough cough) was Second Chances, a short contemporary romance. It’s awful – POV all over the place, full of clichés, “conflict” that one good discussion could have cleared up… Everything you’re NOT supposed to do is in there!

You’ll never see it – contemporary’s not my best voice.

It’s saved in the depths of my computer to keep my humble…and to remember how far I’ve come!

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
I am totally a one-at-a-time girl. I do too much multitasking everywhere else!

Which of your upcoming projects are you most excited about?
I’m working on Riever’s Heart right now. Verdeen used to be lady’s maid to Queen Dara (Duality) and is the first girl to graduate from the elven military academy. Fun watching “tomboy” learn to handle “woman.” The following book panned features Pryseis’ nephew Dax, who gets mistaken for a deity in The God of Fyre Mountain.

When not writing, how do you relax?
We have horses – my daughter and I go riding every weekend it doesn’t rain. And I scrapbook and walk the dog. Abby’s a predatory, dog-aggressive Chow, so the walks aren’t exactly relaxing, but they ARE entertaining, because she still thinks she can catch the squirrel in the 5000th attempt!

How do your friends and family feel about your work and do you let any of them read your stories?
My sister, husband and Grandma Jeanne have read them. My kids are too young. My husband’s a gem – he does all the “house-y” stuff so I can do “writer” stuff. We both basically work two jobs.

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?
It’s gotten busier and crazier. I’ve become a great juggler & delegator. I’ve learned my limits, and I’ve learned how to say no.

Where do you see yourself in three years time, as far as your writing is concerned?
I would like name recognition. I would like a book signing filled with people I DON’T already know! I’d like to do more teaching, maybe speaking at conferences. I’d like to be able to attend RWA Nationals!

If you weren't a writer, what else would you be doing?
I’m a certified vet tech, so I’d like to do something with animals. Or be more involved with my daughter Tami’s figure skating club – they’ve been at me for years to “take my turn” but I don’t have time!

Which of your books would you love to see turned into a movie?
Probably Duality because it’s a rousing, sweeping high fantasy romantic adventure. It’s a Cinderella theme with demons and magic and epic battles – and talking horses that sound like Jody Densch!

Can you let the readers know where to find you on the web?
Website: www.reneewildes.net
Publisher: www.samhainpublishing.com/authors/renee-wildes
Personal Blog: www.reneewildes1.wordpress.com
Series Blog: www.guardiansoflight.wordpress.com
Yahoo Group: www.groups.yahoo.com/group/reneewildesromancefantastique/


See below for an excerpt from Dust of Dreams.

Benilo awoke to a world of raw pain. He started to look around him, but only his one good eye opened—the other was swollen shut. He tasted blood. Just a torn lip, jaw swollen but undamaged. He probed with his tongue; teeth intact. He focused on a wall of blankets. Some sort of tent? He bent his legs, and the rattle of chain made him look down. An ankle cuff similar to Pryseis’.

Pryseis? Where was she? He flipped over, holding his breath at the sharp pain in his side. There she lay, unconscious. Too still. His heart froze, until he saw the shallow rise and fall of her chest. Her soft, pink-tipped breasts quivered with the movement. Still breathing. Still alive. A quick scan revealed no new physical harm to her, although her head would be pounding at least as hard as his when she woke. Someone had tried to treat a tear in her delicate, iridescent wing, but that was not a mortal injury.

Now Benilo risked a self-scan. Everything was battered and bruised. The worst injuries were the rib-punctured lung and the blow to his lower back. Slowly, carefully, sifting “self” from pain, he began trance-healing. “Banisha verilli far. Gloria verilli far…” Drawing on the surrounding earth, he decreased his breathing and pulse. Blood flow slowed…slowed… Seeping wounds clotted together. He stopped after healing the internal damage, shaking with weakness from the effort. He dared not risk the additional strain of healing the external. He looked injured, without lasting damage. He needed food and rest. The former would not be forthcoming. Dare he risk the latter?

He dragged himself over to Pryseis, brushed the glistening hair back from her face. Long shimmering strands, like iridescent silk, caressed his hand. Her skin was so soft. No bruising marred the pearly glow. He ran a hand down the curves of her body, checking for internal injuries. She seemed fine—except for being unconscious. Blurring vision warned him to conserve his strength. Dracken rue, he had once been able to do so much more than this! He reached out to the earth, to the water in the hot spring, to the deep fire making the water hot, to the air around him. Each in turn, drawing a bit of strength from each until his vision cleared and he stopped shaking. His headache dropped to tolerable.

Deciding it worth the risk, he drew Pryseis into his arms and held her close, reaching out with his own mind to brush hers. “Pryseis?” He waited a moment. “Can you hear me?”

Pryseis stirred. “It worked. You’re still alive.” She opened her eyes, and gasped. “You look terrible!” she whispered, reaching out her hand to trace his lips.

He fought the temptation to drown in her misty amethyst gaze, and reached out with his mind to touch the pain she bore—part overreaching with her own gift and part the sorcerer’s attack. He pulled it from her, much as he had the nightmares of the women and girls in Shamar. Then it had poisoned him. One more now would not make much difference.

But it would help Pryseis.

“What did you do?” she mind-sent. “Cease. Heal yourself first.”

“I did.” He pulled some more power from the elements until the double-headache receded. “I imagine I look worse than I feel.”

She snorted. “Somehow I doubt it.”

“Food would help.” Benilo spoke this aloud.

Pryseis grimaced. “Brace yourself. They have a meat-based diet—roasted bats and even the porridge has grubs or maggots in it. I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“You have eaten naught?”

“I’m not that hungry.”

Benilo considered their options. He could sustain himself for weeks if needs be on elemental power, but her situation was much more precarious. If she didn’t return to the sun and the pool… “I met Dax.”

Pryseis jerked at that statement. Tears welled. “He’s alive?”

Benilo nodded. “I found him in the cave and healed him. He made it to my people with the amulet.”

She started to shake, and Benilo found himself holding her closer. Part of him marveled at how right she felt in his arms, the ease with which they were able to speak mind-to-mind. How they had connected, how he had been able to find her through fathoms of the unkenned, almost as if they were…she was… He rejected the idea. She was not his life mate. Surely the Lady would not be so cruel?

But even as the possibility registered, his body stirred. The words of the vow crept into his mind. He swept them aside. What had he done to merit such an extraordinary person? He was the last thing Pryseis needed.

“Thank you,” she whispered in his ear.

He frowned. He did not want her gratitude. “Shh, now. Easy. You must rest.”

She shuddered. “Sleep brings me closer to his nightmares. He’s here. He’s right outside. I can sense him. But sleep brings me closer to everyone’s nightmares. They’re worse here. There’s something about this place. The sorcerer. Even—” She stopped, her cheeks flaming.

“What?” he asked.

“’Tis naught.” Pryseis refused to meet his gaze, but his mind caught an image of the two of them entwined afore she could censor the thought.

Ah—so it had been both of them there in the dream-mist. Even now he felt the silken slide of her skin against him, the soft curtain of her hair wrapped around them. Her legs wrapped around him.

“Cease!” she hissed. “’Twas just a dream.”

“Was it? We both had the same dream?” He raised a brow, daring her to negate the fact.

An adorable blush spread all the way down to her toes. Her skin heated against his.

“Now is not the time to bring that up.”

She was right. Benilo removed himself from temptation and sat up. “What goes on here? What do they want with you?”

Pryseis ran a hand through her hair. It shimmered in the dim light. “The sorcerer wants something from me, but I don’t ken what. Communication is a serious problem. I can’t ken them when I’m awake. When I’m asleep, he keeps asking if I feel it too, if I sense it too.”

“Sense what?”

A shadow crossed her face. “Just wait. ’Tis a darkness creeping in. Fear. Doubt. There’s something here that magnifies every bit of negativity. Fear to terror. Anger to violence.” She hesitated. “Desire to lust.”

“And the lad?”

“’Tis all but crippling him. He looks like he hasn’t eaten for days. I made them feed him my portion.” She grimaced. “Apparently, they like grubs. Either that or he was too hungry to care.” Pryseis held out her hands, studying them with a frown.

Benilo tensed. “What is it?”

“They’re fading. ’Tis not noticeable yet.”

He recalled Dax’s warning. “Elixir.”

“He told you?” She bit her lip. “How long’s it been? ’Tis impossible to keep track of time down here.”

“I’m not sure.” Benilo shook his head. “Pryseis, what happens after seven days?”


“Remember what happened to Shallan when she tried to travel to Poshnari-Unai with that elven mage, Anika?” Hallar had said. “Shallan scoffed at the pool legend, and when Anika brought her back, she was barely alive. You can’t leave, Pryseis. It’ll kill you.”

Pryseis gasped and shuddered, running her hands over her arms to stave off the chill in her heart. “I’ll fade and weaken. They taunted me, said Dax was coming along to carry my body home when I fell.”

Anger flashed in his blue eyes. “Who said that?”

“The faerie council, in an attempt to change my mind.” She offered a wan smile. “I should have listened to them.” The chain attached to her ankle scraped with her every movement.

Benilo staggered a bit as he stood, pulling her up with him. “We are not dead yet. You cannot lose hope.”

He looked terrible, probably felt ten times worse. Every bruise shone dark against his fair skin. Shame flushed her cheeks. That he encouraged her! Pryseis paced to the doorway and peered out. The lad stared up at her from where he sat weaving. She saw dark clouds obscuring the full moon, shadows stretching from giant boulders across the barren ground. Cheery piece. One shadow in particular caught her attention. It almost looked like the monster in her vision—that same spiky profile. It loomed over a prone shadow that resembled the body of the goblin slain earlier.

He returned to his work.

Pryseis ducked back into the tent. Benilo peered out a crack in the cloth on the opposite end. “What are they doing?” she asked.

“Half of them are passed out, snoring,” he reported.

She shivered. “I should join them.”

He crossed the floor to pull her into his arms. His mind brushed hers. “It is not safe.”

“But ’tis the only way to ken what’s going on, if things are getting worse.” Pryseis didn’t look forward to it, but what choice was there?

“Well, you shall not go alone.” Benilo clenched his jaw, looking rather fierce for a healer. “Where you go, I go. You could use the support.”

She searched his face. “You don’t want to do that.”

“What? Leave you to face them alone? I think not.”

Her heart tripped at his words. Of their own volition, her fingers brushed his lips. Swollen, not yet healed from the beating. His eyes darkened at her touch, and he curled a hand behind her neck to draw her closer. Pryseis barely had time to gasp afore he swallowed it in a light, tender kiss. The wet velvet of his tongue brushed over her lower lip, and she heard a moan. His or hers? She stiffened and tried to pull back, but he was having none of that. His other arm slid around her waist, and he deepened the kiss as if he felt no pain at all.

Desire, yearning, rose hot and swift. She trembled, remembering the taste of him, the feel of him under her hands. But this was no dream. He was real. Hot skin over hard muscle, solid warmth. Strong hands with calloused fingers glided across her skin. She raised her arms, slid her hands up over his shoulders to anchor in his hair. Long, silken soft where everything else was so hard, it spilled across his shoulders, across her own like a cloud of winter sunlight. Almost binding them together.

“You are not alone, Pryseis. You do not face the dark alone.”

His fingers brushed her injured wing, and she felt a warm glow as the torn edges drew together. There was a painful tingle as they merged, seamless and whole. It itched in the aftermath of the unexpected healing. Benilo swayed against her, and Pryseis broke off the kiss to catch him as his knees buckled.

“Why did you do that?” she scolded in a harsh whisper. He risked strength he could ill afford. “I could have borne it.”

“Well, I could not.” He took a deep breath. Pryseis felt a slight pulling, and he steadied on his feet.

“Lie down afore you fall down.” She followed him down onto the rough blankets. Benilo drew her into his arms. His heart beat under her ear, a comforting affirmation of life. She snuggled closer to his warmth, grateful to not be alone. “I’m sorry you got caught in this mess.”

His strong, lean-muscled arms tightened around her. “I have no regrets. Better to try than do naught.”

He mirrored her sentiments. Her body exhausted, her mind drifted off in shallow slumber. She skirted the edges of her web. It felt so fragile against the searing darkness. Tattered and torn, yet still it stood, pulling what it could from the horrors swirling about it. Fear. Anger. Sorrow.

Red eyes blazed at her from the inky blackness, a blast of icy wind as the lad’s monster hissed and bared bloody fangs at her. She spun an extra strand of Light around the frayed edge of the net. “Leave him alone,” she ordered. “Leave these people in peace. You aren’t welcome here.” Black laughter rolled over her, as if it kenned she was no match for it. But she stood her ground. If she failed, there was no one else.

A hand rested against the small of her back. A trickle of energy flowed into her. The solidity of earth. The heat of fire. The refreshing cleansing of water. The swirling energy of air. Benilo stood behind her, lending her what strength he could whilst she shored her crumbling defenses. Strength that cost him dearly, yet he gave without hesitation, without flinching.

“Mother of All, aid me now.” Pryseis reached through the earth for the wind and the rain, for the sun, pulling and spinning with her whole heart, until her entire web flashed and sparkled with Light. It shook off the damage, once again standing whole against the darkness, pulling the threads from the sleepers around it.

It was enough.

She shivered, raising icy hands to her cheeks. She stared in dismay at her fingers. It was gone. Her radiance was gone, transferred to the glowing threads of her dream-catcher. Horror washed over her, snapped her out of her dream-state into the awake. She sat bolt upright, stared at her arms, her legs. The glowing radiance was gone. Even her hair looked dull and flat. Her heart thundered in her ears, in her throat.

“What’s wrong?” Benilo was blurry through the stinging rush of hot tears. He reached for her. “What happened? What did you do?”

She couldn’t speak for the lump in her throat. The thought of what happened after chilled her. She had naught left to give. At least the strength of the net held the weakness at bay. “The web. As long as it stands, so do I.”

“And if it fails?” His face was white, even in the green glow.

Pryseis shuddered.

*********

Next week I'll be speaking to Elle Druskin.

Thursday Thirteen

Do blondes really have more fun? Do gentlemen really prefer them? Let's take a look.

1.Scientists claim their research shows that bleaching hair does wonders for a woman's self-image.

2.Women apparently feel more attractive,are more likely to ask someone out on a date and become more adventurous in the bedroom.

3.Bottle blondes are also apparently more likely to complain at unfair treatment and more inclined to put their foot down with friends and relatives, according to the study into the effects of hair dyeing on mood.

4.A blonde head of hair has usually much more strands than red or dark hair heads.

5.Many people believe all Swedish women are blonde, that Sweden is populated by blonde bombshells more than any other country. However, True Blondes make up only approximately 50% of Sweden's 9 million population.

6.Supermarket shoppers prefer Blondes as cashiers. A UK based Somerfield Shoppers Survey, found blondes were much busier than their darker haired co-workers. Apparently, the research stated that Blondes appeared much calmer.

7.A study of 3,000 women discovered that on average brunettes earn £4,250 more each year than blondes.

8.Another reason men may have preferred blonde women is that light hair color is a marker of youth. Since many Northern European children have blonde hair, which darkens as they mature, blonde hair could arguably be associated with youth and therefore, fertility.

9. Alfred Hitchcock preferred to cast blonde women for major roles in his films as he believed that the audience would suspect them the least, hence the term "Hitchcock blonde"

10.In European fairy tales, blonde hair was commonly ascribed to the heroes and heroines.

11.There are many varieties of blonde hair, including platimun, dirty and peroxide.

12.Canadian anthropologist Peter Frost, under the aegis of University of St Andrews, published a study in March 2006 in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior that says blond hair evolved very quickly at the end of the last ice age by means of sexual selection. According to the study, the appearance of blonde hair and blue eyes in some northern European women made them stand out from their rivals at a time of fierce competition for males made scarce due to long, arduous hunting trips; this hypothesis argues that women with blonde hair posed an alternative that helped them mate and thus increased the number of blonds.

13.According to Francis Owens, Roman literary records describe a very large number of well known Roman historical personalities as blonde.

Thursday Thirteen

I love 1940's fashion and makeup and it's thanks to Dita Von Teese that this style has made a comeback in recent years. Here are 13 fun facts about Dita. Enjoy.

1.The beauty mark on Dita's left cheek is actually a tattoo.

2.Dita was ranked #87 in Maxim's Hot 100 Women 2008.

3.Dita sued Erotica Limited in 2008 after the British company failed to pay her the full amount for two shows she performed at the Erotica Trade Show in November 2007, only paying her half. She's also claimed that the company used her name and image to promote the 2008 event. The lawsuit was settled in the end of March of 2008, and Dita was payed her full amount.

4.Dita was European entrepreneur Richard Lugner's special guest to Austria's 2008 Opera Ball. Lugner, who brings a different female celebrity as his special guest every year, admits it was his daughter who convinced him to bring Dita, after she attended a Marilyn Manson concert.

5.Dita posed nude on t-shirts designed by Marc Jacobs in 2006 to raise money for skin cancer research.

6.Dita started the "neo-burlesque movement" in the 1990s.

7.In October 2007, Dita starred in an advertising campaign for PETA, promoting spaying and neutering pets.

8.Dita, trained in ballet, incorporates the dance into her burlesque shows, frequently performing en pointe.

9.Dita collects vintage china, mostly tea sets and eggcups.

10.Dita has been in Playboy 17 times.

11.Dita often gets compared to famous burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee. Besides their careers in burlesque, the two dancers also share a love of haute corture fashions.

12.Dita's dress size is 0 (US).

13.Dita has the same birthday as Hilary Duff, Moon Unit Zappa and Mira Sorvino.

Thursday Thirteen

One of my favourite things to eat are tomatoes. Today, I'm going to share 13 fun facts about this delicious food item. Yummy!!

1.The largest tomato plant ever grown reached 19.8 m (65 ft) in length. It was was grown by Nutriculture Ltd of Mawdesley, Lancashire, UK. It was the year 2000 and it was of the "Sungold" cultivar

2.Tomatoes are usually referred to as vegetables, but they are actually a fruit!

3.The botanical family of tomatoes is the same nightshade family as tobacco, potatoes, aubergine (eggplants), chilli peppers, and the poisonous belladonna.

4.At first, tomatoes were used by our european ancestors as tabletops and ornamental plants, since they were widely believed to be poisonous (due to their belonging to the same family of the poisonous plant belladonna)

5.While the fruit is perfectly safe and healthy to eat, the plant's leaves are actually toxic!

6.After the american colonization by the Spaniards, tomatoes were quickly spread to all their caribbean colonies, and were later moved to the Philippines, where they spread to many different regions in Asia. By 1540, there are the first reported cultivations in Europe, where the Mediterranean climate was ideal.

7.In the 18th century, the Encyclopaedia Britannica reported tomatoes as being used daily in soups and broths, and consumption of tomatoes rapidly increased during the century, reaching their peak in the Victorian age, when large-scale production was widespread in glasshouses, most famously in Worthing.

8.According to the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation, the whole world produces around 125 million tons of tomatoes per year.

9.Tomatoes with a brighter, deeper color are usually not only better-tasting, but they also contain higher quantities of the most important and peculiar of tomatoes' micronutrients: lycopene.

10.Bathing in tomato juice is an effective way to remove the smell if a skunk sprays you or a pet.

11.Wash your hair with them after swimming in a pool in order to remove the chlorine from your hair.

12.The tomato is the world’s most popular fruit.

13.Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C and fibre, and are cholesterol free.