tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28694641708176324692024-03-07T01:24:28.237-05:00Beyond the Veil ~ Paranormal Romance Authors<i>Step Into The Mists</i> with our adventurous band of award-winning authors to otherworlds of paranormal, SF, fantasy and speculative romance. Nervous? Don't be. The creatures that live here are friendly. Most of the time... <b>This blog is for age 18 and over only.</b>Jody W. and Meankittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13733607365443126784noreply@blogger.comBlogger1305125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-70394575814934612692018-08-27T17:28:00.000-05:002018-08-27T17:28:48.350-05:00Save the World - Kill the Warrior!<a href="https://entangledpublishing.com/her-alpha-viking.html" target="_blank">Now available!</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: roboto, "source sans pro", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">Former soldier Erik Harrison is a dead man walking. The sole survivor of an ambush, the guilt of losing his friends is crushing. He questions his own sanity, remembering the vision he saw as he was dying –– a battle angel come to collect his friends' souls. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: roboto, "source sans pro", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: roboto, "source sans pro", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: roboto, "source sans pro", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">Valkyrie Brenna Lund doesn't know why she failed in her duty to reap Erik's soul on the battlefield. He deserves his place with the other mighty warriors in Valhalla, and if she wants to return home, she has to kill him. </span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: roboto, "source sans pro", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #585858; font-family: roboto, "source sans pro", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: roboto, "source sans pro", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">There are consequences for betraying the gods. But the closer Brenna and Erik become, the more they both want to risk everything for a future together. If only an immortal hunter weren’t sent to kill them both.</span></div>
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Freyja spied into your heart and knew you wouldn't be able to do it. She knew even before you did.</em></div>
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<em>It should have been easy to take a tired, weary warrior. Even one like Erik.</em></div>
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The question now was why? This was the second time failing in her duty and she was no closer to finding out why.</div>
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She rubbed her face with her palm.</div>
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Brenna got to her feet and walked toward the bathroom.</div>
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Maybe there was some sort of clue about him, something she could pick up. Her only memory of him before tonight had been almost a year ago and under very different circumstances.</div>
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The door was ajar, the water running. She edged close enough to look in.</div>
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The breath caught in her throat as she gazed at Erik Harrison, his bare torso gleaming with sweat in the dim light. The shredded remains of his shirt lay on the floor along with his jeans and shoes, kicked to the side in a jumbled heap. He wore only a pair of tight boxer briefs riding low on his hips.</div>
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It wasn't like she didn't know what a naked man looked like. Berserkers donned a scrap of bear fur as armor as they charged into battle, racing to a glorious death. Armored knights rode, encased in metal charging onto the battlefield. Soldiers from all times and places sat together in the Halls, fought every day and celebrated all night. She'd seen them all.</div>
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Including Erik, in the cage only a few hours ago, facing his opponent and going down to defeat wearing much the same as he had on now.</div>
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But this... this was different.</div>
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He wasn't perfect, far from it. Erik's chest was dotted with white puckered scars, some the size of nickels and others as short slashes. As he turned she saw his back and other, older marks showing previous battles. Yet it didn't seem to detract from the power coming off him in waves, the silent strength evident with every move, every shift of his body. The muscles were tight and well-defined, not an inch of fat on his frame.</div>
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He winced as he pressed a damp cloth to the mottled bruises over his left rib cage. Matty had focused in on that during the fight and it showed. The swollen cut over his eye had stopped bleeding and was already going down but it still warranted a cleaning and a fresh bandage.</div>
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She couldn't take her eyes off him. The toned muscles seemed to be calling to her urging her to soothe his distress with her touch, offer to take the pain away somehow. Images flashed through her mind of the couples she'd seen in the shadows of the Great Halls, lovers stealing away for some private time before the never-ending battles started at dawn.</div>
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Brenna clenched her fingers, digging her nails into the skin to stay still. A flash of heat between her legs shocked her and she pressed her knees together, cursing in silence.</div>
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<em>What is this madness?</em></div>
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://entangledpublishing.com/her-alpha-viking.html" target="_blank">Now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and many other ebook stores! </a></span></span></div>
<br />Sheryl Nantushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01157927306226252817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-49203750284463103222014-12-13T08:00:00.000-05:002014-12-13T15:18:27.322-05:00Hello, I must be going...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykUiBuWw7YtzawlptXnVfBZNX6jl6M4I3QhzNiFoa6vSrZl8sHJtRPggESnlRnWzuzHZOEYXOLbLNwcyWdGVhwhUomIkYa3yBtwi7-aOMZFbQ_HW_ct1rDDEfU5Ml2EG08pGYRe5tr1E/s1600/200914143434sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykUiBuWw7YtzawlptXnVfBZNX6jl6M4I3QhzNiFoa6vSrZl8sHJtRPggESnlRnWzuzHZOEYXOLbLNwcyWdGVhwhUomIkYa3yBtwi7-aOMZFbQ_HW_ct1rDDEfU5Ml2EG08pGYRe5tr1E/s1600/200914143434sm.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">(Photo by Jean Marie Ward)</td></tr>
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The holiday season has landed, even in parts of the world without any snow. With it comes the last blogs here at Beyond the Veil.<br />
We're not going away. Not exactly. Beyond the Veil is reinventing itself into Romance Nerds, a place where writers can talk about all the things that inspire us, from our stories to our favorite guilty pleasure TV shows.<br />
We didn't plan it this way, but what we're doing is a lot like what's going on with <i>The Colbert Repor</i>t. Although his Comedy Channel show is going away next week, Stephen Colbert will be back in 2015 bigger and better than ever as the host of <i>The Tonight Show</i>.<br />
While the writers of Beyond the Veil/Romance Nerds can't claim to be stepping up to a stage that big, the new site will boast a host of new features. It will also maintain an archive of all the posts you love, including <a href="http://paranormalauthors.blogspot.com/2008/11/turkey-to-remember.html" target="_blank">"A Turkey to Remember"</a>.<br />
Which reminds me, I have cookies to bake and lots of embarrassing pictures to take (gotta get my blackmail--er, I mean, <i>material</i> from somewhere). So I'm cutting this short.<br />
Here's to you and yours in this merry time of the year. Wishing you all the health, happiness and prosperity the holidays have to offer, and a New Year that's the best one yet!<br />
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<a href="http://jeanmarieward.com/" target="_blank">Jean Marie Ward</a></div>
Jean Marie Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06549107203357246640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-8030154444508412762014-12-08T11:21:00.002-05:002014-12-08T11:21:39.558-05:00It's Been Wonderful...This is my last blog post at Beyond the Veil. ~Sniffles.~<div>
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There's a wind of change coming. The blog is going through a metamorphosis and will reemerge next year as a beautiful new butterfly. The authors are excited about the changes and it will be great to see all the surprises in store for our readers.</div>
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As for me, I am going to step away from blogging for a bit. I have a lot of book writing to get done and will be stealing every minute I can to get 'er done. </div>
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In 2015, there will be more Navy SEALs. My SEAL EXtreme team still has lots of world-saving to do. I love those boys and am so happy when readers tell me they love them too. There is talk of a SEALS of Summer II boxed set for next Spring/Summer.</div>
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The SEALs of Winter Military Romance Superbundle is still available if you'd like to snatch up a great boxed set while it lasts.</div>
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link</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seals-of-winter-sm-butler/1120627216?ean=2940046332407&itm=1&usri=2940046332407">B&N
Nook link</a> <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/seals-of-winter">Kobo link</a>
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/seals-of-winter/id931607768?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4">iTunes
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I am also working on the first book in a new series, called Alaskan Guardsmen--the air crewmen (Search and Rescue) stationed in Sitka, Alaska. My father grew up in Sitka, so I am anxious to learn more about the place that helped to create my amazing role model.</div>
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Book one is SURVIVOR LOST. I've never worked on more than one series at a time, so this ought to be interesting. :-)</div>
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I will be around, though. Popping in and commenting/razzing/tickling my dear friends. Hehehe, this is going to be fun.</div>
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Happy holidays!</div>
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Much love,</div>
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Kimberley Troutte</div>
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Kimberley Trouttehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15656793524069292791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-49446238568496882352014-11-28T13:26:00.001-05:002014-11-28T13:26:44.464-05:00Chaos killed ... and resurrected ... the museFor the past three months -- or maybe longer -- I've felt as though my head is spinning. Chaos tends to be a great mental-wall builder; not such a good story builder.<br />
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That is, until after the chaos subsides. Just a bit. Just enough for me to string more than one thought together at a time. At that point, chaos can help me build characters...even worlds...and everything that happens within. Life inspires me with all its little twists and turns; highs and lows. Putting those emotions evoked and experiences lived into words is what makes me a writer. Practice, as in anything, is what makes me better and better.<br />
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Sometimes the chaos also breathes new life into my imagination and my stable of characters. For instance, I am probably the furthest thing from my heroine in <b><i>One Little Slip</i></b>. I do not wear sky-high heels and I rarely have the confidence to be bitchy to anyone ... well, except my family. ;) But I learn from frustration. I feel the same sort of pent-up rage at unfairness. I've worn three-inch heels in the past and watch other women as they deftly walk in the amazing shoes so popular today. And then, I manage to create a character so unlike myself that I previously would have thought it impossible. But hopefully she's one to whom others can relate. Throw in a ghost or two and a sexy hero, then you have yourself a nice little novella with a paranormal twist.<br />
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Chaos, then, is a good thing. It makes you feel alive. It makes you appreciate the mundane. And it can make you a better human being -- even a better artist.<br />
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Need a break from your own holiday chaos? Then join us on a small, secluded island for a little bit of weirdness and a lot of romance.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Heart-Anthology-Meg-Allison-ebook/dp/B00I13WJKC/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1393005014&sr=1-6&keywords=keeper+of+the+heart" target="_blank">Amazon for Kindle</a></div>
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My contribution to this lovely anthology was both fun and difficult to write. But I really enjoyed the challenge. :)<br />
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">One Little Slip</strong></em></div>
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(c)2014 Meg Allison</div>
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It’s a recipe for disaster…</div>
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Combine a haunted house in paradise, one injured warrior, and a woman hell-bent on standing on her own four-inch heels.</div>
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Fiona Reid expected to spend her free vacation at a five-star resort, not in a dilapidated plantation house straight out of the nineteenth century. She certainly didn’t expect the forced close company of one handsome and slightly infuriating security agent.</div>
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Julio Alvarez needs to let his wounds heal, and get back to his familiar life. The last thing he needs is a prickly brunette in killer shoes and ghosts that do his bidding.</div>
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Meg Allison<br />
http://megallisonauthor.com<br />
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<br />Meg Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15862550378971433991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-53272259547422863042014-11-24T09:05:00.000-05:002014-11-24T09:05:00.489-05:00Alpha World Building?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7C-WgxBkj6EieqP9-ZcjP9Cjpc1jKU37ytvltQcHQ_ugRwkYWtYvG1XQzQNkBpbE0FFLXEVIc6kVCdWkoFPna6QKeBsPu0YAAlpmEHdt-UNGiU9dtLt2lXWYOczLgz72Z-FyCFS3Lmpo/s1600/KoStars-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7C-WgxBkj6EieqP9-ZcjP9Cjpc1jKU37ytvltQcHQ_ugRwkYWtYvG1XQzQNkBpbE0FFLXEVIc6kVCdWkoFPna6QKeBsPu0YAAlpmEHdt-UNGiU9dtLt2lXWYOczLgz72Z-FyCFS3Lmpo/s1600/KoStars-200x300.jpg" /></a></div>
It's no secret that I enjoy sharing what I've learned in the past decade and more of being a published author. I speak a few times a year at various conferences and to writers groups about different things. My local chapter of RWA (Romance Writers of America) asked me to talk again this year, and I happily agreed. I asked what topic they preferred and was hit immediately by one enthusiastic member's response: "World building!"<br />
<br />
Okay. I can do that. I've built enough complicated worlds between my different sci fi series and my medieval-ish <em>Dragon Knights</em> epic fantasy world. I'm cool with that. But then the person who puts the programs together seemed to think that topic had too narrow an appeal. It seems the idea was floated that most of the membership isn't writing sci fi or fantasy. (Although world building can apply to EVERY setting, the misconception is that it only applies to SF&F.)<br />
<br />
An alternative idea was suggested. They wanted to hear about how I create Alpha heroes. I write lots of paranormal, so many of my Alphas actually have animal traits, but I also tend to create non-magical/non-shifter Alphas, so I'm cool with that topic as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_tJPJJY9cTlle9KG7_7YrO0LEN1Jd_A8R1zlnjYS87reJe9Z7NnXGHeF2qtoU6Hjo7r41GPwqyb6by3h_2mk-y7ejCSUCFO4ShyphenhyphenFiZ5-FZAEHR0TjNuZQqPuDs_zcLO-YO46mf2I2NM/s1600/HerWar-133x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_tJPJJY9cTlle9KG7_7YrO0LEN1Jd_A8R1zlnjYS87reJe9Z7NnXGHeF2qtoU6Hjo7r41GPwqyb6by3h_2mk-y7ejCSUCFO4ShyphenhyphenFiZ5-FZAEHR0TjNuZQqPuDs_zcLO-YO46mf2I2NM/s1600/HerWar-133x200.jpg" /></a></div>
But perhaps out of perversity, I wanted to do both. I didn't want to disappoint that highly enthusiastic chapter member who wanted to hear about world building and I definitely want this session to appeal to everyone, so I created a mash-up. How does this sound?:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Building a World
with Alpha Hero Archetypes - Presentation by Bianca D'Arc<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Whether
you’re building an epic fantasy world or a contemporary world where suspension
of disbelief is essential to reader enjoyment (yes, that billionaire just
happens to live next door), certain considerations are essential. We’ll explore
the nuts and bolts of how to bring it all together while also looking at some
of the popular Alpha hero traits that seem to dominate (no pun intended)
romantic fiction today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiI1i-pdLQRl6zV-b0qtPUPtZetoBhyphenhyphenFXF_ZF3fMwTkTxoy29Qo5c3QOZSn-oonb4xfMNGgVUdeintdanmesfHmfwZTyiZNcsUIbv8N3jmoSyT5exFshlv5X9RawOHRzp3XPYoSHbULE/s1600/JL-133x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiI1i-pdLQRl6zV-b0qtPUPtZetoBhyphenhyphenFXF_ZF3fMwTkTxoy29Qo5c3QOZSn-oonb4xfMNGgVUdeintdanmesfHmfwZTyiZNcsUIbv8N3jmoSyT5exFshlv5X9RawOHRzp3XPYoSHbULE/s1600/JL-133x200.jpg" /></a></div>
That's the blurb for the talk I'm giving in January to the Long Island Chapter of RWA. I think it worked out pretty well judging by my 3-page outline, but I guess we'll see how it goes when I do it live for the first time. Wish me luck! (And please feel free to offer suggestions in the comments.) ;-)<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I'm working on my next book - the last of my <em>Arcana</em> series - King of Stars, which will release in December.<br />
<br />
I've been writing up a storm and a number of things have come out recently, including a new paranormal ménage - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O75RKXE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00O75RKXE&linkCode=as2&tag=biancadarc00-20&linkId=HN2Z2GGGKUFX4PRV" target="_blank">Her Warriors</a> - and the prequel to that book - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N14R8FM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00N14R8FM&linkCode=as2&tag=biancadarc00-20&linkId=XD2QIPLOY6XUVM7M" target="_blank">Jacob's Ladder</a>. They came out in November and October, respectively. If you haven't seen them yet, take a look!Bianca D'Archttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06183857072276977791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-38424931138862674162014-11-23T15:21:00.000-05:002014-11-23T15:21:16.325-05:00Me, She, He, I<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9fNsFISsti4uRIuR8Gfsol6odgpJxV8J39vmEdvFr3bO2e3SVGHMrLNatcyhIwDdQr0usABc-Ls3EPqF7cX8TzxKm0hyphenhyphenWNndCL5eVAYjFrurdZTFjIcrlsAxqxgfx7tz17x18PhRebeD/s1600/the+ugly+truth.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></div>
<br />
Most fiction is written in third person: he, she, they, etc. The other way to
go is first person: I, me, we, etc. Most people like third person, some dislike
first, and some won’t even read a story in first person. Personally, it’s the
story that interests me. The pronouns are just part of the package.<br />
<br />
I’d always written fiction in third person. I never really thought about it.
That’s just the way it was done. I wrote short stories, novellas, and novels in
third person. I never really gave it a second thought. Until I wrote <em><a href="file:///C:/Users/Cheryel/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/4AB127ADDDBE/www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=379" target="_blank">The Ugly Truth.</a> </em><br />
<em><br /></em>
When I started writing <em>The Ugly Truth</em>, I used third person as usual.
After months of rewrites, and hair pulling it just wasn’t coming together. Then
I realized the best thing I’d written was my heroine’s journal. So, felling I
had nothing to lose, I started writing the book from Stephie’s point of view.
Suddenly everything worked. It wasn’t easy writing a romance from only one point
of view, but I sure was fun. In fact, it was so much fun that I wrote a sequel,
<em><a href="http://%20www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=379" target="_blank">Secrets of Ugly Creek</a></em>. There might even be another Ugly
Creek book or two. What can I say, Ugly Creek is a fun place to visit. <br />
<br />
And Stephie agrees.<br />
<br />
Do you read stories written in first person? Write stories in first person?
What do you like—or dislike—about first person? <br />
<br />
Have a great week!<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.cheryelhutton.com/" target="_blank">Cheryel</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.cheryelhutton.com/">www.cheryelhutton.com</a></span><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/CheryelHuttonAuthor">www.facebook.com/CheryelHuttonAuthor</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Twitter: @cheryelhutton</span><br />
<br />Cheryel Huttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09202371731725440849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-14786235420571496032014-11-20T00:00:00.000-05:002014-11-20T00:00:07.023-05:00NaNoWhatMo?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDuK4uWdxFUpklVRFe-KCBdw8qyKAHtOZKeqkuF1nUXgoWRkcBmHrnRbyL39YK73n7cbq7HF0IJfm_utt0TYJnyZztRAoZYe85zXB3X54xELyJKbjjfImgaVIZozkq1AY7sJOGQpSLnA/s1600/2014-11-20+Pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDuK4uWdxFUpklVRFe-KCBdw8qyKAHtOZKeqkuF1nUXgoWRkcBmHrnRbyL39YK73n7cbq7HF0IJfm_utt0TYJnyZztRAoZYe85zXB3X54xELyJKbjjfImgaVIZozkq1AY7sJOGQpSLnA/s1600/2014-11-20+Pic+1.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></div>
<br />
It's November. That means it's National Novel Writing Month, otherwise known as <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/participants/a-catherine-noon">NaNoWriMo</a>. This year, I decided to up the ante by volunteering as a Municipal Liaison for my region, Chicago - otherwise known as <a href="http://chiwrimo.org/">ChiWriMo</a>. Here's what I've learned so far:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>I have an awesome NaNo ML Mentor (NaNoWriMo Municpal Liaison, in case you don't speak alphabet soup). Since it's my first year ML-ing, he's my big bruddah and is showing me the ropes. BIG shout out to <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/participants/theboysgonehome">Owen</a>!</li>
<li>When speaking to your new NaNo ML, and when deciding off-the-cuff to challenge him and his whole region to a word war, MAKE SURE THAT HIS REGION HASN'T BEEN UNDEFEATED IN EVERY WORD WAR THEY'VE WAGED. Sun-Tzu would be so disappointed in me.</li>
<li>On the other hand, roundly getting our asses handed to us has helped spur ChiWrimos on to greater and greater heights of wordly prestidigitation.</li>
<li>BTW, Google says prestidigitation means "magic tricks performed as entertainment".</li>
<li>There are a LOT of cats on the internet. They are cute. They are distracting. <b>One must ignore them if one expects to make one's word count</b>.</li>
<li>Facebook is evil and will eat large swaths of your day if you let it.</li>
<li>But, there are cats on Facebook.</li>
<li>And therein lies the problem: you can have cats, or you can have NaNo. Making your word count is better than lots of cats but no word count. So use the cats as a reward for word count.</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Do you NaNo? </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">If so, what are you looking forward to, come December 1st? </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">If not, why not? Jump in, the water's fine!</span></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<br />-- <br /><br />“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”<br />- E.E. Cummings<br /><br />**New** <a href="http://www.loose-id.com/sealed-by-fire.html">SEALED BY FIRE</a> is available from LooseId LLC. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br />The Chicagoland Shifters series:<br />Book 1 <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/burning-bright-p-6455.html">BURNING BRIGHT</a>, available from Samhain Publishing.<br />Book 2 <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/tiger-tiger-p-72887.html">TIGER TIGER</a>, available from Samhain Publishing. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br />The Persis Chronicles:<div>
**Coming Soon!** Watch for EMERALD KEEP from Torquere Books, out April 2015!<br />Check out <a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_91&products_id=3586">EMERALD FIRE</a>, available from Torquere Books.<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cook-like-a-writer-book-posse/1114770122?ean=2940044336261">COOK LIKE A WRITER</a> , available from Barnes and Noble.<br /><br />My links: <a href="http://acatherinenoon.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://www.acatherinenoon.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/acatherinenoon">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/acatherinenoon">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/noony">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/A.-Catherine-Noon/e/B005HKG4EO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_2">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/acatherinenoon">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="http://www.pandora.com/profile/a.catherine.noon">Pandora</a> <br />Knoontime Knitting: <a href="http://knoontimeknitting.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KnoontimeKnitting">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/knoontimeknit">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/ACatherineNoon">Ravelry</a><br />Noon and Wilder links: <a href="http://noonandwilder.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://taurusandtaurus.blogspot.com/">Taurus and Taurus (NSFW)</a> | <a href="http://noonandwilder.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/noonandwilder">Facebook</a><br />The Writer Zen Garden: <a href="http://writersretreatblog.blogspot.com/">The Writers Retreat Blog</a> | <a href="http://www.writerzengarden.com/forum/">Forum</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WriterZenGarden">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/writerzengarden">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.meetup.com/WriterZenGarden/">Meetup</a><br />National Novel Writing Month: <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/dashboard">NaNoWriMo</a> | <a href="http://chiwrimo.org/">ChiWriMo</a> | <a href="http://chiwrimo.org/blog/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/chiwrimo/">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/chiwrimo">Twitter</a><br />Team Blogs: <a href="http://noonnight.blogspot.com/">Nightlight</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NightlightTales">Nightlight FB Page</a> | <a href="http://paranormalauthors.blogspot.com/">Beyond the Veil</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParanormalAuthors">BtV FB Page</a> | <a href="http://nicegirlswritingnaughty.wordpress.com/">Nice Girls Writing Naughty</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/596626483778137/">NGW FB</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ngwngroup">NGW Twitter</a><br />Publishers: <a href="http://www.loose-id.com/">LooseId</a> | <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/burning-bright-p-6455.html">Samhain Publishing</a> | <a href="http://www.torquerepress.com/">Torquere Press</a></div>
A. Catherine Noonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01375569313449912140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-38758717645117923362014-11-16T09:00:00.000-05:002014-11-16T09:00:02.792-05:00Sunday Six: Pictures of World Fantasy Con 2014<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZfQbeaMp2cNvjGuTAJwWPBz9gSJ9-hq3ciKMO0TQOFYYtesBek7wMka9kuGPd-aFezm6Zs62oKG703NKpcFiR69jlvcZo9j444r2-HhZ7jYS8Woz9usmeF2AlLDl9nQ-QZ9Ccn-7Ry4/s1600/4-UnconFantasy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZfQbeaMp2cNvjGuTAJwWPBz9gSJ9-hq3ciKMO0TQOFYYtesBek7wMka9kuGPd-aFezm6Zs62oKG703NKpcFiR69jlvcZo9j444r2-HhZ7jYS8Woz9usmeF2AlLDl9nQ-QZ9Ccn-7Ry4/s320/4-UnconFantasy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">It may not look like much, but that little red thumb drive ate my whole summer and much of my fall. My contribution to <a href="http://worldfantasy2014.org/" target="_blank">this year's World Fantasy Con</a>, held November 5-9 at the Hyatt in Crystal City, Virginia, was to format five of the six volumes of <i>Unconventional Fantasy</i>, an anthology celebrating forty years of World Fantasy Conventions contained on that thumb drive. In addition to the catalog of the con's Virgil Finlay art exhibit (which, fortunately, I did NOT have to format) the collection encompassed over two hundred stories and articles by people like Neil Gaiman, Patricia McKillip, Joyce Carol Oates and our writing Guest of Honor Guy Gavriel Kay, plus roughly three hundred paintings and photographs. The complete collection comprised over 900,000 words and 3,200 pages.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />The con only produced enough thumb drives to supply one ach to con members. But if the project is nominated for any Major Awards (hint, hint) they plan to make it available to eligible Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy Award voters. (Buy those memberships now, folks. :-) )</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_NegswwKFBE-rAdKsDRLxrH5e_vfib9tmzLgcuQ20opKdwj4XxxuJdXZObTBgbow15oAnfypS9SzmkUB00ZSqj__4mS7N4VSC22e6QsJTO4e4Lwk9667ds6uyWrgqu71hC8QB87DjsY/s1600/5Nov14-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_NegswwKFBE-rAdKsDRLxrH5e_vfib9tmzLgcuQ20opKdwj4XxxuJdXZObTBgbow15oAnfypS9SzmkUB00ZSqj__4mS7N4VSC22e6QsJTO4e4Lwk9667ds6uyWrgqu71hC8QB87DjsY/s320/5Nov14-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Fortunately, there was alcohol at the end of the formatting tunnel. Lots of it. They don't call it "Bar Con" for nothing. The good times started November 5 with a scotch tasting hosted by WFC 2014 Writer Guest of Honor Guy Gavriel Kay (left) and Toastmaster Mary Robinette Kowal (right). I knew the scotch would be grand. What surprised me was I found an Islay scotch I really liked: Highland Park. It doesn't smell anything like moldy bandages! (User dodges rotten fruit hurled by the scotch fans on the blog.) Well, it's true!</span></div>
</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZbyUPhaKTUhWn9zUDF8ka_ZrmqjAXvxHJ_kGGnXymAQmBer_9e5MRGAeGL4g6MgI7kUAYe4V7AqHD4D8P8zmvSpCdGYAYJvjmKh3vxRJo-JeD0WqNAsJsUSIl7FMLujcHA8Iij03_7I/s1600/6Nov14-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZbyUPhaKTUhWn9zUDF8ka_ZrmqjAXvxHJ_kGGnXymAQmBer_9e5MRGAeGL4g6MgI7kUAYe4V7AqHD4D8P8zmvSpCdGYAYJvjmKh3vxRJo-JeD0WqNAsJsUSIl7FMLujcHA8Iij03_7I/s320/6Nov14-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">There were also workshops led by some of the most honored names in the business. Jack Dann (right), author of <i>The Memory Cathedral</i> (about DaVinci) and <i>The Rebel</i> (which imagines the life of a James Dean who <i>didn't</i> die on Highway 1), led a November 6 workshop on alternate history featuring (from left to right) Joe Haldeman, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., and Janeen Webb.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHmC2HKK7ncc8QyQlcWCae_MEkZQlyI83ANI34jI2xMgGjffRP12hNxjQTqy1uBK5Gujcn0qOzZ4Q_a1YICPafQC4MNSuhK7Eandzb3OM4pWWG2sdLS3WCfniEoQD69kFFJS8dyGT-bw/s1600/6Nov14-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHmC2HKK7ncc8QyQlcWCae_MEkZQlyI83ANI34jI2xMgGjffRP12hNxjQTqy1uBK5Gujcn0qOzZ4Q_a1YICPafQC4MNSuhK7Eandzb3OM4pWWG2sdLS3WCfniEoQD69kFFJS8dyGT-bw/s320/6Nov14-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Opening ceremonies November 6 featured World War I re-enactors reading "In Flanders Field" in honor of the centenary of "The War to End All Wars" and mini movie describing the wonders of that little red thumb drive. (I'm trying to persuade the con chairs to put it on You Tube. I'm proud of that blasted drive.) Mary Robinette Kowal (seen at left dressed in a 1911-style gown) performed with her usual style. Afterwards, the con's honorees gathered for photos. Of the ones I took, I like this one best. From left to right: Mary (Toastmaster), 2014 World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Winners Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and Ellen Datlow, and Writer Guest of Honor Guy Gavriel Kay.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuG7MMb2V04p721YNvWGsZgr1O2ZoNJkL1aHKhQnvTcFRViBqafX1k2ZpkSwaVauUK5HhtmhkqEGcvp5Dcy8iQf_RM-rHuGGVIMMSn5k9rZfEpyY__vNPoFTqX3SWB1-EF5oUcvTvz-s/s1600/7Nov14-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuG7MMb2V04p721YNvWGsZgr1O2ZoNJkL1aHKhQnvTcFRViBqafX1k2ZpkSwaVauUK5HhtmhkqEGcvp5Dcy8iQf_RM-rHuGGVIMMSn5k9rZfEpyY__vNPoFTqX3SWB1-EF5oUcvTvz-s/s320/7Nov14-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">What would a con be without panels? Here Michelle Markey Butler (left), Scott H. Andrews, (center) and Elaine Isaak (who also writes as E.C. Ambrose) discuss "Guns, Gears and Wheels: Medieval Technology in Fantasy". I chose this picture to give you an idea of how well the panels were attended. Look at the crowd in that mirror!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_Cthyphenhyphen2OlB069wBkwdcwKqHMqcNM1FJnwZ93soPK3Ws057fYSIaZsbVf31imza3S4ZV_7i3ZyYfSugyxon5dEhawz9jEwAgW_bUaMZ7Ucq_b3cDO1iwoxq-7L9N1d5M-tjlHb3unfGNQ/s1600/7Nov14-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_Cthyphenhyphen2OlB069wBkwdcwKqHMqcNM1FJnwZ93soPK3Ws057fYSIaZsbVf31imza3S4ZV_7i3ZyYfSugyxon5dEhawz9jEwAgW_bUaMZ7Ucq_b3cDO1iwoxq-7L9N1d5M-tjlHb3unfGNQ/s320/7Nov14-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">For my sixth shot, I decided to give a shout-out to one of my favorite editors, Joshua Palmatier, seen here second from the right. In addition to being a talented writer under his own name and his pseudonym Benjamin Tate, Joshua has co-edited both <i>The Modern Fae's Guide to Surviving Humanity</i> and <i>Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens</i>. Here he finds himself on a panel entitled "Place Matters: Geography and Fantasy". His fellow panelists are (from left to right): Max Gladstone, Robert V.S. Redick, Marie Brennan, Gregory A. Wilson and Siobhan Carroll.<br /><br />All told, I had a grand time at the con. I saw good friends. I participated on and attended great panels. I ate well. I drank really well. The only fly in the ointment: guess who lost her thumb drive. Don't it figure. LOL</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://jeanmarieward.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Jean Marie Ward</span></a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Jean Marie Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06549107203357246640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-14696852820213286212014-11-13T09:00:00.000-05:002014-11-14T16:48:35.811-05:00Making Believable Fiction Out of Reality <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50DKOdsckBqh7NQHIE9vMtGzANNDyi7TssUJITmfNdt2PfE00Bw4MMz7SXtHQcF4OGgjpzQugIv_JyQgUltPRI2E-v7b2FAiEU_BTYIJd8BIIOkvb7R07THXur1VJVX4E-u1ezgwA4A/s1600/storm+damage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50DKOdsckBqh7NQHIE9vMtGzANNDyi7TssUJITmfNdt2PfE00Bw4MMz7SXtHQcF4OGgjpzQugIv_JyQgUltPRI2E-v7b2FAiEU_BTYIJd8BIIOkvb7R07THXur1VJVX4E-u1ezgwA4A/s640/storm+damage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My yard after the freak October snowstorm. That's our swingset under there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the final copy edit notes I received back this month for the upcoming <i>Phoenix Inheritance </i>was that the near-deadly snowstorm that opens the book is wrong.<br />
<br />
The copy editor, bless her, thought more snow should be present, especially in the aftermath.<br />
<br />
Here's the problem: the snowstorm in the book is an exact replica of one I'd suffered through three years ago, a rare Halloween storm that hit when all the leaves were still on the trees. This led to trees coming down all over the place in New England, including four around my house. Luckily, none <i>on</i> my house but I was awake that whole night listening to cracking and falling branches.<br />
<br />
The aftermath was worse. My yard looked like a disaster area. So many branches littered my half-acre lot that we couldn't walk around. Four trees had completely fallen and the top of one was just six inches from the back of my house.<br />
<br />
We lost power for eleven days. In New England. In November. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Halloween_nor%27easter" target="_blank">It was nightmarish, as the damage was all around. </a><br />
<br />
In <i>Phoenix Inheritance</i>, I'd taken care to point out the problem wasn't the snow. Six inches is not that big a deal. Even in New Jersey, it'll only halt life for half a day. No, the problem was that the weight of the snow brought down the trees.<br />
<br />
But, still, the copy editor was right: just because I put something real into my story, it didn't make it <b><i>believable</i></b>. As the saying goes, fiction isn't real life. Fiction has to make sense.<br />
<br />
Readers can accept all sorts of crazy premises so long as they're believable. The last Phoenix Institute novel<i>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LO4EMQY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B00LO4EMQY&link_code=as3&tag=corrinalawson-20&linkId=4Q7W2C5AKCUEV5Q4" target="_blank">Ghost Phoenix</a></i>, contains a Court of Immortals and a woman who can walk through walls.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFYs8tLCQ1jCevynEt3k_LCESMsJZlOKeeTc-If54hHWAb8ers53XARfqH6SysA0XLM7FGAUbqQUd40mytqmwyK1jrGP0_MDgTMtWtpEW_Ka_ETr-Sbx1TswzsAwg5iRumdiV2dfrXg/s1600/GhostPhoenix72lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFYs8tLCQ1jCevynEt3k_LCESMsJZlOKeeTc-If54hHWAb8ers53XARfqH6SysA0XLM7FGAUbqQUd40mytqmwyK1jrGP0_MDgTMtWtpEW_Ka_ETr-Sbx1TswzsAwg5iRumdiV2dfrXg/s400/GhostPhoenix72lg.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
Not to mention that the hero, Richard Genet, is one of the Lost Princes in the Tower thought killed by Richard III, as in the famous "my kingdom for a horse" Shakespeare play. <br />
<br />
I've never had a complaint from a reader or a copy editor about these impossible elements. That's because all readers (myself included) will buy into a premise, just so long as its fictionally supported. My immortals, including Prince Richard, have lived so long because they use an inner telekinetic power to heal their bodies. My heroine, Marian Doyle, walks through walls using a telekinetic ability to confront the molecules of her own body. It's fiction but it makes sense in the story context.<br />
<br />
A snowstorm where only six inches of snow caused the damage I described in the book? Not so much.<br />
<br />
That's because even in real life, it was a freak storm. I probably wouldn't have believed that amount of snow could have caused that amount of destruction if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.<br />
<br />
I went back and tweaked those chapters about the snowstorm for those who hadn't been through my experience.<br />
<br />
To make sure it made sense. :) <br />
************************<br />
<br />
<i>Corrina Lawson (www.corrina-lawson.com) is the author of the Phoenix Institute superhero romance series and the steampunk romantic mystery, The Curse of the Brimstone Contract. She lives in New England. :) </i>Corrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10054416605597476130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-5862355582672214522014-11-10T12:07:00.001-05:002014-11-10T12:07:14.153-05:00SEALs of Winter Count DownHoly hot tamales!<br />
<br />
Eight days until the SEALs of Winter Military Superbundle hits the digital stores. I am soooo excited. This is the follow up to the NY Times Bestselling SEALs of Summer. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/1qvHjPI">Amazon</a><br />
<br />
Nine brand new Navy SEAL romance heroes from NYT and USA Today bestselling authors: Cora Seton, Elle Kennedy, Jennifer Lowery, Elle James, Anne Marsh, S.M. Butler, Delilah Devlin, Zoe York, and ME--Kimberley Troutte. I am so honored to be a part of this amazing group.<br />
<br />
<br />
For you lovely readers, I am going to give you a sneak peak at my book in the set, UNDER THE RADAR. <br />
<br />
First, here's the cover:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfbTVUhT8fo34rrqr7BhioScr-aKgESV5UyO0aYN5KQgAqfD4Y30RJa37wnAUmJQFCD5ya_tBgMah-iRw1BxvZlLAoiVshK6ehL-DHrZD2FfvrISC-redZGNqvdeg4lbALH3slzGnq50/s1600/KimberleyTroutte_UnderTheRadar_800px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfbTVUhT8fo34rrqr7BhioScr-aKgESV5UyO0aYN5KQgAqfD4Y30RJa37wnAUmJQFCD5ya_tBgMah-iRw1BxvZlLAoiVshK6ehL-DHrZD2FfvrISC-redZGNqvdeg4lbALH3slzGnq50/s1600/KimberleyTroutte_UnderTheRadar_800px.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Ahh, that Ty Whitehorse is a looker, isn't he?<br />
<br />
Here's an excerpt:
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">A
deep rumble started inside Ty’s impossibly muscled chest. The sound made Holly
weak and strong at the same time. As if she was the one in charge for the first
time in her life. Who knew a kiss could be like this? She pulled back and ran
her hands over his stubbled cheeks to his square jaw. He watched her, not
moving, letting her experiment, feel him. Goodness, she wished she could take
his shirt off. Did she dare? Slowly, she dragged her fingers over his sinewy
neck, across his collarbones, around the largest pecs she’d ever seen, and
skimmed the best abs on the planet. Oh yeah, she dared.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Taking
hold of the edge of his shirt, she lifted. He was far too tall to get the tee
over his head. He ducked down so she could get the task done. Then she gaped.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">He
was beautiful. Rugged. Chiseled. Each muscle was defined as if he was a
sculpture of a Native American god. He was not soft anywhere—she looked down.
Yep, he was super hard there, too. Ohhh, she wanted to touch. She didn’t dare
reach down and take him in her hand, well, by the swell in his camouflage
pants, she’d need two hands. The idea thrilled her. She traced a scar beneath
his sternum. What caused it? There was another scar near his perfect innie
belly button. She pressed her middle finger to it. It reminded her of a bullet
wound. It was probably something silly, like a pebble stuck there when he was a
kid and fell off his bike.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“Lots
of scars.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“Hazards
of the job,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“Yes,
I hear being a SEAL is dangerous,” she joked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“Sometimes.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Whatever</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">.
She didn’t really care what sort of work he did in real life. It bothered her,
though, that he wouldn’t tell her the truth after she’d told him about her
scary past. Well, at least some of the details. She couldn’t tell him
everything. Ronald was dangerous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“Your
Navy SEAL job. In Alaska?” She prodded, giving him the opportunity to come clean.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“Yep.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Really.</span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">
How stupid did he think she was? Where was his ship? His team? She trusted him,
why didn’t he trust her? What could be so bad about his job he needed to lie
about it? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">He
cared for her, treated her with respect and with kindness. He actually listened
to her pitiful history and didn’t judge. He was perfect, except for that tiny
flaw. Unfortunately, lying was a deal breaker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">She
patted Ty’s exquisite stomach. “Well. I guess that’s that.” She sighed and
stepped away from the way too beautiful man. “I want you, Ty. Everything on me,
in me, is screaming for you. If things were different, I’d unzip those camo
pants and have my way with you. Right here, right now.” She smiled. “Wow, I’ve
never said anything like that out loud.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Why
was he staring at her like that? He could say…something.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“You
make me feel sexy. Brave. And so free. It’s like I am coming alive.” She
squeezed his bicep and felt another zing of arousal. Mistake. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No touching.</i> She dropped her hand to her
side.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“But…?”
he growled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“But
you have to see this will never work. I can’t be with a man like you.” She
turned her back on him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">He
cupped her elbow and gently pulled her back. That was just another thing she
liked about him—he didn’t yank her around.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“A
man like me?” His blue eyes were swirling with green and golden confusion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“Right.
You must have your reasons, but I can’t sleep with anyone who isn’t honest with
me. I’ve come too far to go right back—”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Static
came through his radio followed by a loud voice filled the cabin. “Are you a**holes
there? Pick up.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Ty
held perfectly still. There was no answer, only more static on the radio.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">The
voice boomed, “You SOBs were supposed to radio in. Did you find anything at the
crash site, or not? Over.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Ty
released her arm and ran to pick up the radio.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">She
followed him, walking carefully on her sore toes. “Crash site! I was there. I
saw the helicopter go down, Ty. It scared the moose out of the bushes. Do you
want me to talk to that guy?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">He
gave her a short shake of his head, but his attention was riveted to the radio.
He turned the volume up. His nostrils flared and his body seemed to be on full
alert. What was going on?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“If
I don’t hear from you pronto, I’ll personally hunt you down after the blizzard
and put a bullet in your heads. Over.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">One
more ripple of static went through the radio, and then it went dead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">Ty
was breathing heavily, like a man trying not to hit something. Holly gripped
his arm. “Who was that?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">He
faced her. The muscles in his jaw were flexing. His nostrils still flared. Wow,
he looked p.o.’d. But she didn’t take a step back or go lock herself in the
bathroom. Ronald would’ve taken his issues—whatever they were—out on her. Ty
was not Ronald.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">As
if to prove her point, he reached out and touched her hair, letting the long
strands run through his fingers. “That was Milton Crow. A terrorist wanted by
the Navy. He’s the reason I’m here.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.3in;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif";">“A
terrorist? That means…” She covered her mouth. “You really are a SEAL?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>
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Thanks for reading!</div>
Kimberley Troutte<br />
<a href="http://www.kimberleytroutte.com/">Website: www.kimberleytroutte.com</a></div>
<br />Kimberley Trouttehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15656793524069292791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-92213362483845190202014-10-30T17:32:00.002-05:002014-10-30T17:32:53.900-05:0013 Reasons to Read Earthbound Passion: The Adventures of Mari Shu book 1<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitW8rGniw-MaN-ChYrGXBViLWIm19v5ySSRJqeqFRyR4rgJRswkav3U-d-uTe_AiV88cjUhVkdqScMYQ-B0bs73xrAakiUuLAoRmej7lZJW_N3TgsJTGM8RHORTjmSxFX4XvU1ItP1Obs/s1600/Mari+Shu+Earthbound200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitW8rGniw-MaN-ChYrGXBViLWIm19v5ySSRJqeqFRyR4rgJRswkav3U-d-uTe_AiV88cjUhVkdqScMYQ-B0bs73xrAakiUuLAoRmej7lZJW_N3TgsJTGM8RHORTjmSxFX4XvU1ItP1Obs/s1600/Mari+Shu+Earthbound200.jpg" /></a></div>
1) It's only 99 cents <a href="http://bit.ly/1xWJYta">at all vendors</a>.<br />
<br />
2) It's tongue in cheek. I mean, how sexy is a tongue in a cheek? Nevermind that when you see a person probing his cheek with his tongue, it usually that means he's trying to get food out of his teeth. Just ignore that.<br />
<br />
3) It's like getting 6 books for the price of one because it's a branching fiction structure with several different endings. So if you hate the way it ends, you'll get another choice!<br />
<br />
4) The book -- this volume, anyway -- does not contain any unicorns.<br />
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5) The book has a lot of sexy sexxoring and BDSM in it, if you like that king of thing. If you don't, there's also violence.<br />
<br />
6) This is the beginning of a series but there are no cliffhangers. Again...in this volume.<br />
<br />
7) The second book in the series is already available -- no waiting!<br />
<br />
8) The book contains the phrase "loaner boner." Don't you want to know what THAT is all about?<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yKFIbQPZhPPbuYTPHXB7o25IIk26KK69bhHXNVATx5Wvaf020HYDxUGxJu3b439_GzG9xfOIvAzfb854g8tq-xCxVLMilwFSXlVq2DiYlw2e3evk9hQQZv3haSdHpQzVtUtVXLqRq2o/s1600/MariShu_Martian_Final200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yKFIbQPZhPPbuYTPHXB7o25IIk26KK69bhHXNVATx5Wvaf020HYDxUGxJu3b439_GzG9xfOIvAzfb854g8tq-xCxVLMilwFSXlVq2DiYlw2e3evk9hQQZv3haSdHpQzVtUtVXLqRq2o/s1600/MariShu_Martian_Final200.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
9) The heroine's sainted grandmother is very revered and respected, so the book is, like, respectful of our elders. <br />
<br />
10) The heroine is devoted to her younger siblings, so the book is, like, tight with family values.<br />
<br />
11) There's a character named Pagan Taupe, and if you can guess what that's spoofing, I'll email you a really nice photo of a cat.<br />
<br />
12) I have promised to publish all my hate mail in a book entitled "The Hate Mails to Mari Shu" but I haven't gotten any hate mail yet. This might mean there's nothing to hate about the book, which is a huge recommendation!<br />
<br />
13) There are nearly two pages of quotes and comments from other people and authors about this book, another huge recommendation. Gems like: <br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“That’s
hysterical.” — Author Misa Buckley, when commenting on another author’s blurb
for MARI SHU<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
What are you waiting for? <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
Jody Wallace<br />
<br />
Author, Cat Person, Amigurumist of the Apocalypse<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><a href="http://www.jodywallace.com/"><u><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">http://www.jodywallace.com</span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> * </span><a href="http://www.meankitty.com/"><u><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">http://www.meankitty.com</span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>Jody W. and Meankittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13733607365443126784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-78037277612541060702014-10-27T09:05:00.000-05:002014-10-27T09:05:00.084-05:00Hot New Paranormal Romance from Bianca D'Arc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://biancadarc.com/covers-final/JL-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://biancadarc.com/covers-final/JL-200x300.jpg" /></a></div>
I had a new book release earlier this month and the follow-up book will be out on 11/11/14. Here's a little bit about them. First, JACOB'S LADDER, the next book in the String of Fate series that started with CAT'S CRADLE and KING'S THRONE.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A man on a mission...<br />
<br />
Jake can see the future and there's a special woman on his mind. She needs his help and he's just the man to help when danger stalks her every step.<br />
<br />
A woman with responsibilities...<br />
<br />
For Ria, being the Nyx - the leader of her people - comes with burdens that few can understand. Her special abilities make her a target of the Venifucus, an ancient faction that hopes to pervert Ria's hereditary power to their own evil purposes. She's lived her life on the run, but the time has come to turn and confront the bad guys on her trail.<br />
<br />
Can they stop the Venifucus from using the ancient power of the Nyx to return evil to this world? Whatever the cost, they must stop it, before it's too late.</span><br />
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Buy Now From <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N14R8FM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00N14R8FM&linkCode=as2&tag=biancadarc00-20&linkId=XD2QIPLOY6XUVM7M"><span style="color: green;">Amazon</span></a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jacobs-ladder-bianca-darc/1120552962?ean=2940150522213"><span style="color: green;">Barnes & Noble</span></a> - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/jacobs-ladder/id916982484?mt=11&uo=4"><span style="color: green;">iBooks</span></a> - <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/jacob-s-ladder-22"><span style="color: green;">Kobo</span></a> - <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/472554"><span style="color: green;">Smashwords</span></a><br />
<br />
And the follow-up book is called HER WARRIORS...<br />
<br />
<em>Love triangles are always more interesting when they come equipped with claws...and flippers?</em><br />
<br />
Beau has anger issues, but not when he's around Jacki. The fierce tiger shifter has been following her around like a puppy, but she hasn't taken notice of him...until now.<br />
<br />
No matter how long Geir has lived in the States, he's still the odd man out. A tiger shifter native of Iceland, he is a Master of his craft, training other warriors the skills he has perfected. When he sees Jacki for the first time, he knows she is the one for him.<br />
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Jacki is the privileged daughter of a prominent shifter Clan. Most of her relatives are lion shifters, so she knows how to handle cats on the prowl, but she is a much rarer selkie-a seal shifter-imbued with magic and surrounded by mystery. When an opportunity arises to step into a key role in shifter society, she is uncertain, but willing to try. And when she's told she doesn't have to choose between the two tigers, but rather, can have them both, she is more than intrigued. But someone is stalking their path and they must work together to nullify the danger, all while trying to figure out a complicated relationship that has all three of them questioning fate.<br />
<i></i><br />
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<i>Warning: This story contains graphic language and menage a trois between two tiger shifters and one very special selkie woman. Rawr.</i><br />
<em></em><br />
Pre-Order Now From <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O75RKXE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00O75RKXE&linkCode=as2&tag=biancadarc00-20&linkId=HN2Z2GGGKUFX4PRV"><span style="color: green;">Amazon</span></a> - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/her-warriors/id926377435?mt=11"><span style="color: green;">iBooks</span></a> - <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/482550"><span style="color: green;">Smashwords</span></a>. <br /><span><i>More sites coming soon. Available everywhere after release.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This series is related to all my other paranormal series, but follows a group of big-cat shifters on the East Coast of the US and Iceland. The events in the <em>String of Fate</em> series are related to the events in my <em>Redstone Clan</em> series and some characters and situations are shared between these two series as well as my <em>Tales of the Were</em> as a whole. And readers of my <em>Brotherhood of Blood </em>series will recognize the themes and a few of the supporting characters as well. It's all one big happy, complicated family! ;-)</span><br />
<br />
For more information on all the related books in these various series, check out my website at <a href="http://www.biancadarc.com/">WWW.BIANCADARC.COM</a>. Happy reading!Bianca D'Archttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06183857072276977791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-37842440139573257972014-10-24T08:56:00.002-05:002014-10-24T08:57:31.678-05:00Double NANO rainbows!!!Ok, I just read Noony's last post and naturally, I clicked where she told me to click because...baaa, right?<br />
<br />
It's a good thing I just went to the bathroom, otherwise, I'd have moistened myself. <a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hyperbole and a Half</a> is worth all the awesome in the internet.<br />
<br />
Well, maybe not all of it because that would leave no room for<a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank"> NaNo</a> (or YouTube videos of cats).<br />
<br />
We all know that the idea is to cram 50K words into 30 days of writing. There are people who can do this. They're like...double rainbows. You know they're real because you see videos of them <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99E9fDgZZuE" target="_blank">on the internet</a>. They're not like unicorns because the internet pictures of unicorns look like<a href="http://pandoraboxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/cat-riding-a-fire-breathing-unicorn-16414-1280x800.jpg" target="_blank"> this</a>.<br />
<br />
I'm so not going to win NaNo. I write slower than <a href="http://www.oneidaindiannation.com/culture/legends/26866304.html" target="_blank">a bear with its tail stuck in the ice</a>. No worries, though. I always end November with more words than I thought I would and I'll tell you why.<br />
<br />
I love Write Ins.<br />
<br />
Writers tend to be solitary by nature. When you're writing a story, it's really just about you and your computer, getting the words out of your brain before they start stinging like wasps. There's no room for anyone else in there because 3rd parties get in the way of the process.<br />
<br />
But I'll tell you this. Hermits get weird. All the worlds in your brain start to take over and pretty soon, you're seeing cats riding fire-breathing unicorns through double rainbows all the time.<br />
<br />
That's when it's time (ok, a little past time) for you to pack up your laptop and your power cord and haul yourself out to wherever your local NaNo Write In is being hosted. It'll be in a library, or a bookstore, or in a church basement, or at the student union of a local college. There will be coffee.<br />
<br />
Most importantly, there will be people. (You should shower before you go. Hermits frequently begin to smell a little...funky.) People who are blinking at the bright lights the same way you are. People who, when you meet them, the first question they ask isn't "What do you do?" but "What are you writing?"<br />
<br />
These are your people. Some of them have never done this before and they're afraid. Be nice to them. Some of them think they have all the answers. Obviously not, or they would be 'Hyperbole and a Half' - and they're not. But most of them are a lot like you. They write because it's what they do. NaNo may be the only time some of them give themselves permission to dig deeper into their writing.<br />
<br />
But mostly, being around other people as they write sends this buzzing sort of energy into the air around them, and around you. And it starts humming and whirring and leaking into pores and crevices and the combined power of awesomeness in the room somehow ends up leaving folks with more energy than they came in with. Creativity is greater than the sum of its parts.<br />
<br />
For more information on finding Write Ins in your area, register at the NaNo website (free!) and find your region by clicking on "My Region," then "Find a Region." That group should have lots of information on where to find official NaNo Write Ins, as well as a few informal ones.<br />
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Double rainbows, dude!Sela Carsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18410188636252030577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-27078435672842778912014-10-23T12:54:00.001-05:002014-10-23T12:54:59.921-05:00NANO!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoxfJTJBFGDJOXEx70Waq59pF0zqaBGPOp4itnozgJ5eGnFHIHw5B_nZez1Ijir1nJKepCf9NTsXvJ9hiDji9bv_t6xgr3SYBku9GlWKYqUhLiNJZijYOYzrXfYDmUMKh3D4cwixyq6g/s1600/2014-10-23+Pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoxfJTJBFGDJOXEx70Waq59pF0zqaBGPOp4itnozgJ5eGnFHIHw5B_nZez1Ijir1nJKepCf9NTsXvJ9hiDji9bv_t6xgr3SYBku9GlWKYqUhLiNJZijYOYzrXfYDmUMKh3D4cwixyq6g/s1600/2014-10-23+Pic+1.jpg" height="274" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Okay. It's no secret that I use lolcats and other copyright-free images when I do blog posts, out of respect for the artists of the image. It's also no secret, through maybe less well known, that I adore Allie of Hyperbole and a Half. If you haven't read "<a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html" target="_blank">This Is Why I'll Never Be An Adult</a>," you are truly missing out. Go read it and come back to finish.<br />
<br />
NaNoWriMo is next month, which is National Novel Writing Month. For those of you that aren't familiar with it, the objective is to write 50,000 words or more during the month and end November with a completed novel draft. It's described as "30 days and nights of literary abandon." Hoo-rah, baby. I adore it.<br />
<br />
So this brings me to today. It's the 23rd of October (!) and it's my day to post. So I go looking around for an image to use, maybe "Write all the words" or something from Allie's, now viral, meme.<br />
<br />
Instead, I find the image above and died of teh funneez.<br />
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End of post.<br />
<br />
I mean, srsly. How do you top that?<br />
<br />
If you're doing NaNo this year, look me up; I'm <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/participants/a-catherine-noon">a.catherine.noon</a> there and I'm volunteering as a Municipal Liaison for Chicago Region. Hope to see you online or in person!<br />
<br />
Write on!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />-- <br />“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”<br />- E.E. Cummings<br /><br />**New** <a href="http://www.loose-id.com/sealed-by-fire.html">SEALED BY FIRE</a> is available from LooseId LLC. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br />The Chicagoland Shifters series:<br />Book 1 <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/burning-bright-p-6455.html">BURNING BRIGHT</a>, available from Samhain Publishing.<br />Book 2 <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/tiger-tiger-p-72887.html">TIGER TIGER</a>, available from Samhain Publishing. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br />The Persis Chronicles:**Coming Soon!** Watch for EMERALD KEEP from Torquere Books, out April 2015!<br />Check out <a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_91&products_id=3586">EMERALD FIRE</a>, available from Torquere Books.Check out "<a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4013">Seeking Hearts</a>", available from Torquere Books.<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cook-like-a-writer-book-posse/1114770122?ean=2940044336261">COOK LIKE A WRITER</a> , available from Barnes and Noble.<br />Check out "<a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4074">Taking a Chance</a>", available from Torquere Books! An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br />My links: <a href="http://acatherinenoon.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://www.acatherinenoon.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/acatherinenoon">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/acatherinenoon">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/noony">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/A.-Catherine-Noon/e/B005HKG4EO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_2">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/acatherinenoon">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="http://www.pandora.com/profile/a.catherine.noon">Pandora</a> <br />Knoontime Knitting: <a href="http://knoontimeknitting.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KnoontimeKnitting">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/knoontimeknit">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/ACatherineNoon">Ravelry</a><br />Noon and Wilder links: <a href="http://noonandwilder.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://taurusandtaurus.blogspot.com/">Taurus and Taurus (NSFW)</a> | <a href="http://noonandwilder.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/noonandwilder">Facebook</a><br />The Writer Zen Garden: <a href="http://writersretreatblog.blogspot.com/">The Writers Retreat Blog</a> | <a href="http://www.writerzengarden.com/forum/">Forum</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WriterZenGarden">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/writerzengarden">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.meetup.com/WriterZenGarden/">Meetup</a><br />National Novel Writing Month: <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/dashboard">NaNoWriMo</a> | <a href="http://chiwrimo.org/">ChiWriMo</a> | <a href="http://chiwrimo.org/blog/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/chiwrimo/">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/chiwrimo">Twitter</a><br />Team Blogs: <a href="http://noonnight.blogspot.com/">Nightlight</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NightlightTales">Nightlight FB Page</a> | <a href="http://paranormalauthors.blogspot.com/">Beyond the Veil</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParanormalAuthors">BtV FB Page</a> | <a href="http://nicegirlswritingnaughty.wordpress.com/">Nice Girls Writing Naughty</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/596626483778137/">NGW FB</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ngwngroup">NGW Twitter</a><br />Publishers: <a href="http://www.loose-id.com/">LooseId</a> | <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/burning-bright-p-6455.html">Samhain Publishing</a> | <a href="http://www.torquerepress.com/">Torquere Press</a>A. Catherine Noonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01375569313449912140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-77382867683950734602014-09-25T07:54:00.000-05:002014-09-25T07:54:31.211-05:00Autumn Is Here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sarsrose.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/railway-autumn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sarsrose.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/railway-autumn.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Wait, what? What do you mean, Autumn is here!? We were just having Spring, weren't we?<br />
<br />
I found that this year zoomed by, particularly because the weather didn't really turn into Summer here in the Chicagoland. Sure, we had heat, and we had humidity; but we also had an unseasonable amount of rain and weird days, so much so that my garden shows the results by having lots of greenery and not much fruit. Tomatoes need sun to produce tomatoes, otherwise it's just a mediocre crop with lots of leaves.<br />
<br />
I'm excited about Autumn, though I have a hard time believing it's already upon us. The biggest news in my world is that I am one of four Municipal Liaisons for the Chicago Region of National Novel Writing Month, or <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a>. As part of that team, I will help to plan the Kick Off Party, the Wrap-Up Party (called TGIO, or Thank Goodness It's Over!). I'll also be helping to host write-ins during the month of November.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
What has you excited this Autumn?</div>
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<br />-- <br />“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”<br />- E.E. Cummings<br /><br />**New** <a href="http://www.loose-id.com/sealed-by-fire.html">SEALED BY FIRE</a> is available from LooseId LLC. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br />The Chicagoland Shifters series:<br />Book 1 <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/burning-bright-p-6455.html">BURNING BRIGHT</a>, available from Samhain Publishing.<br />Book 2 <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/tiger-tiger-p-72887.html">TIGER TIGER</a>, available from Samhain Publishing. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br />The Persis Chronicles:**Coming Soon!** Watch for EMERALD KEEP from Torquere Books, out April 2015!<br />Check out <a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_91&products_id=3586">EMERALD FIRE</a>, available from Torquere Books.Check out "<a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4013">Seeking Hearts</a>", available from Torquere Books.<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cook-like-a-writer-book-posse/1114770122?ean=2940044336261">COOK LIKE A WRITER</a> , available from Barnes and Noble.<br /><br />Check out "<a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4074">Taking a Chance</a>", available from Torquere Books! An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br />My links: <a href="http://acatherinenoon.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://www.acatherinenoon.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/acatherinenoon">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/acatherinenoon">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/noony">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/A.-Catherine-Noon/e/B005HKG4EO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_2">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/acatherinenoon">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="http://www.pandora.com/profile/a.catherine.noon">Pandora</a> <br />Knoontime Knitting: <a href="http://knoontimeknitting.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KnoontimeKnitting">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/knoontimeknit">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/ACatherineNoon">Ravelry</a><br />Noon and Wilder links: <a href="http://noonandwilder.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://taurusandtaurus.blogspot.com/">Taurus and Taurus (NSFW)</a> | <a href="http://noonandwilder.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/noonandwilder">Facebook</a><br />The Writer Zen Garden: <a href="http://writersretreatblog.blogspot.com/">The Writers Retreat Blog</a> | <a href="http://www.writerzengarden.com/forum/">Forum</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WriterZenGarden">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/writerzengarden">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.meetup.com/WriterZenGarden/">Meetup</a><br />Team Blogs: <a href="http://noonnight.blogspot.com/">Nightlight</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NightlightTales">Nightlight FB Page</a> | <a href="http://paranormalauthors.blogspot.com/">Beyond the Veil</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParanormalAuthors">BtV FB Page</a> | <a href="http://nicegirlswritingnaughty.wordpress.com/">Nice Girls Writing Naughty</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/596626483778137/">NGW FB</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ngwngroup">NGW Twitter</a><br />Publishers: <a href="http://www.loose-id.com/">LooseId</a> | <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/burning-bright-p-6455.html">Samhain Publishing</a> | <a href="http://www.torquerepress.com/">Torquere Press</a>A. Catherine Noonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01375569313449912140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-17438224885017839172014-09-22T14:41:00.000-05:002014-09-22T14:41:26.389-05:00Autumn Equinox, Changing Seasons, Fall Television<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Greetings, Kittens!<br />
<br />
Fall has always been my favorite time of year. Driving through the Midwest watching the leaves change, bundling up in sweaters and snuggling down in blankets with mugs of cider. Everyone thinking about the holidays, and the world stretching before its nap through the winter.<br />
<br />
There's simply something magical about this in-between time, where summer has not yet left us, and winter's grip is not yet here. This time of harvest and feast, of gathering and family. And of course, Halloween is around the corner which is its own sauce of awesomeness.<br />
<br />
This year, the equinox starts around 10:30pm EST in my part of the world. As the day grows dim the new season will creep up, and then be upon us come morning in it's full glory.<br />
<br />
Appropriately enough, it brings new television shows to sit down and settle in with over the cold months. Sleepy Hollow carries the theme of the turning season best. The sophomore drama returns to answer the cliff-hanger it left us with and to keep us guessing about the two Witnesses and the rise of the Horseman of War.<br />
<br />
I'll be tuning in, bundled up in my sweater, snuggled down in my blanket, a mug of tea in hand, and welcoming the Harvest Time.<br />
<br />
How will you be spending the Equinox?<br />
<br />
~XXakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12643255392076283232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-74701795485680115962014-09-21T09:00:00.000-05:002014-09-21T09:00:02.709-05:00Let's get ready to go IN THE VOID with a free short story!With only a few weeks before IN THE VOID comes out it's time to look in on the Bonnie Belle and see what our favorite courtesans have been up to since the amazing events of IN THE BLACK!<br />
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***<br />
“This is insane. And I love it.” Sam put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “You should write this up for one of those engineering ‘zines, Jen.”<br />
<br />
They were floating in the corridor in front of the door leading to the landing bay, all of them crammed into the hallway.<br />
<br />
The mechanic beamed. “Don’t give me all the credit. It took Belle only a few seconds to calculate how to fire the thrusters to back us up into position after venting our atmosphere. No more difficult than trying to maneuver into some of those little docking bays on the smaller mining bases.”<br />
<br />
Sean clutched his medical bag tightly, straining to hear the smallest whisper of air escaping. Of all the deaths he’d seen and imagined, dying by suffocation or explosive decompression ranked up at the top.<br />
<br />
“Sort of threading a needle, isn’t it?” Kendra had changed into a dark red track suit and leaned against the wall, floating with her arms crossed. “How are you going to get the pod through the hatch? It’s barely enough for us to get through, and the life pod’s got to be larger than the person it’s carrying, right?”<br />
<br />
Jenny laughed. “Not through the hatch, silly.” She flapped her arms, reminding Sean of a flightless bird attempting takeoff. “There’re larger doors on each side we pop open for delivery of supplies. Bring the skids in piled with whatever you want or need—furniture, mattresses, the bigger items that can’t be broken down. If we had to bring everything through the single door we’d never get loaded in time.” She rapped on the door with her knuckles. “How we doing, Belle?”<br />
<br />
“We have successfully backed up and captured the life pod,” the AI announced. “I am now preparing to seal the bay and restore atmosphere.”<br />
<br />
“Any problems?” Sam swam up and down the short hallway, brushing by the gathered crew with each pass. “Life signs still good?”<br />
<br />
“All is well with the survivor.” A roaring came from beyond the closed hatch, reminding Sean of a vacuum cleaner. “I estimate two minutes before you may retrieve the pod.”<br />
<br />
Sean watched Sam make another circuit before speaking. “She’s got enough oxygen until then, right?” The last thing they needed was to go to all this work and lose the survivor at the last second.<br />
<br />
“Affirmative. The pod is undamaged from the debris field. We have also captured other bits and pieces in the bay from the ship.”<br />
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Jenny rubbed her hands together. “Salvage. I doubt there’ll be much I can use on the Belle but who knows?”<br />
<br />
Sam nodded. “About the debris...Were you able to avoid any biological, Belle?”<br />
<br />
Translation—were they going to open the door to a horror of broken bodies and shredded arms and legs?<br />
<br />
Sean saw April look down and mutter a soft prayer.<br />
<br />
“Yes, Captain. By the time we were able to approach any and all biologicals were at a goodly distance, scattered among the ship’s remains. We captured only the life pod.” A loud pop came from behind the hatch. “Full atmosphere returned. You may enter at your convenience.”<br />
<br />
Jenny twisted the handle and shoved hard on the hatch. It swung open with a whoosh of fresh, cool air, allowing them into the landing bay. She stepped back to give them all a clear view.<br />
<br />
The sixty square feet of empty space in the back of the Belle wasn’t made to do much else than store equipment and serve as a holding pen for waiting customers. Sean used the open area as a jogging track, cycling past the tables and chairs strapped to the walls.<br />
<br />
“Why aren’t we watching via the cameras?” Bianca whispered to him, a tremor underlying her words. “There’s a feed coming through, right? We could be in the galley and far away from this.” She gestured toward Jenny and Sam.<br />
“Let them take the risk. They can call you in later.”<br />
<br />
He couldn’t blame Bianca for her caution. She’d lost Halley not so long ago. The last thing she needed was to see more death.<br />
<br />
He had seen enough for both of them.<br />
<br />
“This sort of thing you need to see up close and personal,” Sean replied. “Can’t judge anything through a lens.”<br />
<br />
Sam went through first with Jenny close behind. Sean swam through with the other four courtesans following.<br />
<br />
“Be careful,” Sam warned. “Don’t smack your head on something.”<br />
<br />
Debris floated around them, the largest no more than a fistful. Most of it seemed to be pieces of the hull with the occasional engine piece here and there.<br />
<br />
It smelt too fresh. Belle had overdone the air freshener. There was something wrong about swimming through the remains of someone’s life with the laundry-fresh scent clogging up your lungs.<br />
<br />
The life pod spun end over end in the landing bay. Sean swam over to the cylinder and grabbed one of the handles, steadying the pod. He looked in the viewport.<br />
<br />
A wide-eyed woman stared at him, her mouth open as she screamed something unintelligible.<br />
<br />
<i>Welcome to the Bonnie Belle.</i><br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
It's going to be another rocky ride for the men and the women on board the Bonnie Belle again as they find themselves the target of space pirates determined to relieve them of their cargo and possibly their lives.<br />
<br />
Pre-order this new voyage on the Bonnie Belle at <a href="http://amzn.to/1lwa7to" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1nNCSjW" target="_blank">B&N</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1tWSdST" target="_blank">iBooks</a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/1oA6NJv" target="_blank">Carina Press</a>!<br />
<br />
And while you're waiting to board check out this FREE short story! Interlude 1.1 is available at <a href="http://amzn.to/XCoG41" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1wAFKUP" target="_blank">B&N</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1sLzshe" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>, and many other ebook retailers including Overdrive and ebook lending services.<br />
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Out on the edge of civilization anything and everything can happen - especially when you're not ready for it.<br />
<br />
When Jenny, the chief mechanic for the Bonnie Belle hops off to work a deal with the local black market she ends up bargaining for more than just fresh fruit.<br />
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<br />
<br />
It's a good time to come on board the Belle - why not see what the fuss is all about?<br />
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Sheryl Nantushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01157927306226252817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-20553311446821397492014-09-20T09:00:00.000-05:002014-09-20T16:53:57.125-05:00The State of the Ward<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWd4Ov66VncmErjuj78gGTMMCGtdDJ8eRldIV7Cinb18oiK3IoYF26zF-XtkO_9oHGooX2EZwabwRJXHWO3cezm7O32jHm41_e8y7WEkAyz3NRZ6zWu-DAhyu-xTWZ8c9PHpB3NdDCvfc/s1600/AD1-460-front-350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWd4Ov66VncmErjuj78gGTMMCGtdDJ8eRldIV7Cinb18oiK3IoYF26zF-XtkO_9oHGooX2EZwabwRJXHWO3cezm7O32jHm41_e8y7WEkAyz3NRZ6zWu-DAhyu-xTWZ8c9PHpB3NdDCvfc/s1600/AD1-460-front-350.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In a word: Busy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Every since Memorial Day, I've been up to my eyebrows organizing and formatting the collection of stories, art, nonfiction and historical photographs which will make up <i>Unconventional Fantasy</i>--the huge, five-volume ebook anthology celebration of forty years of World Fantasy Con. The first four volumes are with the proofers, and I'm finishing up the fifth.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Note: I said "finishing". I ain't done yet, and all the final files have to be with the company making the thumb drives by October 1 to be ready for distribution at this year's World Fantasy Con.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Nervous? Me?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I'm practically vibrating. On the other hand, that could just be the caffeine.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But I had to take time out to let everyone know that two of the books I've been waiting for all summer have finally arrived at real and virtual bookstores near you.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">First out of the gate, the paper version of <i>Athena's Daughters</i>, the 22-story anthology of stories about strong women by strong women, is now available for sale by all the usual suspects: Indiebound, Amazon and Barnes and Noble. In addition to my story "The Gap in the Fence" which holds the coveted last story spot (user buffs nails and hums with pride), <i>Athena's Daughters</i> features stories by Mary Robinette Kowal, Sherwood Smith, Gail Z. Martin and Diana Peterfreund AND an introduction by astronaut and space shuttle commander Pam Melroy. Can't beat that.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But I'm going to give it a shot--a photograph, to be precise of The Management inspecting copies of that other book I've been waiting for: <i>Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens</i>. It's got Steampunk. It's got aliens. It's got my story, "The Wizard of Woodrow Park", starring a chicken secret agent in a human suit, academic politics and Chihuahas. What more could you ask?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Excerpts? Well we've got them right here:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://jeanmarieward.com/books/excerpt-the-gap-in-the-fence/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"The Gap in the Fence"</span></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://jeanmarieward.com/books/excerpt-the-wizard-of-woodrow-park/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"The Wizard of Woodrow Park"</span></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But obviously new releases and encyclopedic anthologies weren't enough to maintain my full operating level of madness. I had to get involved in another Kickstarter, run by <a href="http://zombiesneedbrains.com/" target="_blank">Zombies Need Brains</a>, the same folks who produced <i>Clockwork Universe</i>. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Temporally Out of Order</i> features gadgets, timey-wimey and seven amazing anchor authors--<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">David B. Coe, Laura Anne Gilman, Faith Hunter, Stephen Leigh, Gini Koch, Seanan McGuire, and Laura Resnick--authors I pre-order, which is a very small number indeed. The stretch goal authors ain't too shabby, either--Juliet E. McKenna, Jack Campbell, and <i>me</i>!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">To say nothing of all the wonderful swag you get on top of the perks of pledging. For example, the first 400 backers will receive <i>A Rain of Pebbles</i>, an ebook containing all the short stories in Stephen Leigh's Alliance Universe. And there will be more special incentives as the Kickstarter continues. To say nothing of its awesome cover painting by Justin Adams of Varia Studios.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Check it all out <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/543968884/temporally-out-of-order-anthology-sfandf" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">But that still wasn't enough for me. The weekend of September 26-28 I'll be at the <a href="https://www.baltimorebookfestival.com/" target="_blank">Baltimore Book Festival</a>. When I'm not participating in the SFWA programming track, you can find me at the Silence in the Library Publishing and Dark Quest Books tables doing my best to shill books. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Come and check it out...and bring more caffeine!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://jeanmarieward.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">Jean Marie Ward</span></a></span>Jean Marie Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06549107203357246640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-70407675938028829362014-08-28T21:59:00.002-05:002014-08-28T21:59:32.876-05:00Hair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
So. As some of my readers know, I take public transit a lot, though less often now than in previous years. But I still do take the train weekly and the bus several times a week.<br />
<br />
Near my office is a Veterans Center, where veterans of the United States Armed Services can go. There's a bus stop right in front of it, which just so happens to be the bus I take home in the evening.<br />
<br />
One day, I walk over there and...<br />
<br />
Well, you have to see it first:<br />
<br />
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<br />
Someone forgot their hair.<br />
<br />
Huh?<br />
<br />
Yup, you heard me. Click on the picture to enlarge it, if you don't believe me. There, on the sidewalk, nestled up next to the building, lay someone's... hair.<br />
<br />
Huh?<br />
<br />
Yeah, it didn't make any more sense the second time I <i>typed</i> it, either.<br />
<br />
Chicago.<br />
<br />
Who knew?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><br /><br />-- <br /><br />“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”<br />- E.E. Cummings<br /><br /><br />**New** <a href="http://www.loose-id.com/sealed-by-fire.html">SEALED BY FIRE</a> is available from LooseId LLC. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br />The Chicagoland Shifters series:<br />Book 1 <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/burning-bright-p-6455.html">BURNING BRIGHT</a>, available from Samhain Publishing.<br />Book 2 <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/tiger-tiger-p-72887.html">TIGER TIGER</a>, available from Samhain Publishing. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br /><br />The Persis Chronicles:**Coming Soon!** Watch for EMERALD KEEP from Torquere Books, out April 2015!<br />Check out <a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_91&products_id=3586">EMERALD FIRE</a>, available from Torquere Books.<div>
Check out "<a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4013">Seeking Hearts</a>", available from Torquere Books.<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cook-like-a-writer-book-posse/1114770122?ean=2940044336261">COOK LIKE A WRITER</a> , available from Barnes and Noble.<br /><br />Check out "<a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4074">Taking a Chance</a>", available from Torquere Books! An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br />My links: <a href="http://acatherinenoon.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://www.acatherinenoon.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/acatherinenoon">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/acatherinenoon">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/noony">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/A.-Catherine-Noon/e/B005HKG4EO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_2">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/acatherinenoon">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="http://www.pandora.com/profile/a.catherine.noon">Pandora</a> <br />Knoontime Knitting: <a href="http://knoontimeknitting.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KnoontimeKnitting">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/knoontimeknit">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/ACatherineNoon">Ravelry</a><br />Noon and Wilder links: <a href="http://noonandwilder.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://taurusandtaurus.blogspot.com/">Taurus and Taurus (NSFW)</a> | <a href="http://noonandwilder.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/noonandwilder">Facebook</a><br />The Writer Zen Garden: <a href="http://writersretreatblog.blogspot.com/">The Writers Retreat Blog</a> | <a href="http://www.writerzengarden.com/forum/">Forum</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WriterZenGarden">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/writerzengarden">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.meetup.com/WriterZenGarden/">Meetup</a><br />Team Blogs: <a href="http://noonnight.blogspot.com/">Nightlight</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NightlightTales">Nightlight FB Page</a> | <a href="http://paranormalauthors.blogspot.com/">Beyond the Veil</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParanormalAuthors">BtV FB Page</a> | <a href="http://nicegirlswritingnaughty.wordpress.com/">Nice Girls Writing Naughty</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/596626483778137/">NGW FB</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ngwngroup">NGW Twitter</a><br />Publishers: <a href="http://www.loose-id.com/">LooseId</a> | <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/burning-bright-p-6455.html">Samhain Publishing</a> | <a href="http://www.torquerepress.com/">Torquere Press</a></div>
A. Catherine Noonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01375569313449912140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-30543833207577258092014-08-26T07:00:00.000-05:002014-08-26T07:00:10.536-05:00Jean Marie's 2014 Dragon Con ScheduleYeah, I’ve been a Bad Blogger. In my defense, I’ve been hard at work on <em>Unconventional Fantasy</em>, a huge anthology celebrating the fortieth anniversary of World Fantasy Con, coming up in Crystal City, Virginia, this November.<br />
About the only thing I’ve had time for is convention appearances, and one of the biggest is coming up fast.
I’m about to leave for the World’s Biggest Summer Camp for Wayward Adults: Dragon Con. We’ll be taking over downtown Atlanta, August 29 to September 1. There will be parades! Music! Gaming! Films! Puppetry (no foolin’)! And of course, panels like the these:<br />
<br />
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Title: Just the Facts, Ma'am...<br />
Description: Writers of non-fiction looking for a career boost? This panel is geared toward perfecting your craft--and discovering new outlets for your work.<br />
Time: Fri 02:30 pm<br />
Location: Embassy D-F - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)<br />
Panelists: Jean Marie Ward (moderator), John L. Flynn, M. B. Weston, Stuart Jaffe, Anya Martin, Teresa Patterson)<br />
<br />
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Title: <em>Athena’s Daughters</em> Signing<br />
Description: Meet the writers of <i>Athena's Daughters</i> at the Artists Alley table of cover artist Autumn Frederickson.<br />
Time: Fri 04:30 pm<br />
Location: Grand Hall West - Hyatt (Length: 1.5 Hours)<br />
(Panelists: Autumn Frederickson, Jean Marie Ward)<br />
<br />
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Title: <em>Athena’s Daughters</em> Authors Meet and Greet<br />
Description: Meet the talented ladies behind the popular <i>Athena's Daughters </i>anthology, featuring heroines of all ages and stories for the entire family<br />
Time: Sat 10:00 am<br />
Location: A708 - Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)<br />
(Panelists: Janine K. Spendlove, Gail Z. Martin, Jean Marie Ward, Diana Peterfreund)<br />
<br />
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Title: SciFi Spies<br />
Description: Secret agent/spy fiction has always overlapped with SF in a big way, from futuristic gadgets to flying cars to laser cannons in space.<br />
Time: Sat 11:30 am<br />
Location: Embassy A-B - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)<br />
(Panelists: Van Allen Plexico, Jean Marie Ward)<br />
<br />
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Title: Their World Forever Changed: Chaos and Heartbreak on <em>Lost Girl</em><br />
Description: A moderated fan-panel discussion of the hit show. (Note: this is a fan panel. No cast members will be appearing on this panel.)<br />
Time: Sat 08:30 pm<br />
Location: Chastain ED - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)<br />
(Panelists: Jean Marie Ward)<br />
<br />
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Title: Who Needs Dystopias When You Have History<br />
Description: From infant sacrifice in Carthage to the Inquisition, history offers some of the darkest times and places you NEVER want to visit in a time machine.<br />
Time: Sat 10:00 pm<br />
Location: Augusta 3 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)<br />
(Panelists: Jean Marie Ward (moderator), A. J. Hartley, D.B. Jackson, Katherine Kurtz, Gail Z. Martin, Kathryn Hinds)<br />
<br />
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Title: Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading<br />
Description: A program of bite-sized readings from some of your favorite Broad Universe authors.<br />
Time: Sun 11:30 am<br />
Location: Vinings - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)<br />
(Panelists: Gail Z. Martin, Janine Spendlove, Jean Marie Ward, Trisha Wooldridge)<br />
<br />
-------------------<br />
Title: Lifestyles of Science Fiction<br />
Description: Science fiction doesn't only explore scientific possibilities but also social ones.<br />
Time: Sun 10:00 pm<br />
Location: Embassy A-B - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)<br />
(Panelists: Diane Hughes, Jean Marie Ward)<br />
<br />
-------------------<br />
Title: Victorian Technology<br />
Description: A panel discussion of the technology of the Victorian era and how to exploit it in your stories or imagination!<br />
Time: Mon 11:30 am<br />
Location: Augusta 1-2 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)<br />
(Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Stephanie Osborn)<br />
<br />
-------------------<br />
Title: Win, Lose or Draw
Description: SF style.<br />
Description: The traditional convention-closer for the SF Literature Track. Once again, I'll be hosting a competition based on contestants ability to get others to decipher their artwork. There will be prizes, too.<br />
Time: Mon 01:00 pm<br />
Location: Embassy A-B - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)<br />
(Panelists: Jean Marie Ward)<br />
<br />
Looking forward to seeing you there!<br />
<br />
Jean Marie<br />
<a href="http://jeanmarieward.com/">JeanMarieWard.com</a>Jean Marie Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06549107203357246640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-29814479294108880622014-07-31T19:37:00.001-05:002014-07-31T20:46:00.320-05:00Music To My Ears<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.mtpl.info/sites/default/files/images/Theoddnote.preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.mtpl.info/sites/default/files/images/Theoddnote.preview.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
I was a musician before I was a writer. Music touches us in ways words cannot, and it transports us magically to other places. <br />
<br />
My recent discovery is the band, Imagine Dragons, which combines some of the 80's alternative elements with choral elements that I adore.<br />
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<br />
Another one I've been enjoying is Sail, by AWOLNATION. <br />
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<br />
These songs share a very angsty element along with a kind of anger, centered around creativity. They mirror where I'm living in my mind and writing right now.<br />
<br />
What about you? What are some of the songs on your personal soundtrack?<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br /><br />-- <br />“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”<br />- E.E. Cummings<br /><br />**New** <a href="http://www.loose-id.com/sealed-by-fire.html">SEALED BY FIRE</a> is available from LooseId LLC. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br />The Chicagoland Shifters series:<br />Book 1 <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/burning-bright-p-6455.html">BURNING BRIGHT</a>, available from Samhain Publishing.<br />Book 2 <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/tiger-tiger-p-72887.html">TIGER TIGER</a>, available from Samhain Publishing. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br />The Persis Chronicles: <br />**Coming Soon** EMERALD KEEP, Book II, from Torquere Books. Coming late 2014. <div>
Check out <a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_91&products_id=3586">EMERALD FIRE</a>, available from Torquere Books.<br />Check out "<a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4013">Seeking Hearts</a>", available from Torquere Books.<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cook-like-a-writer-book-posse/1114770122?ean=2940044336261">COOK LIKE A WRITER</a> , available from Barnes and Noble.<br />Check out "<a href="http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4074">Taking a Chance</a>", available from Torquere Books! An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!<br /><br />My links: <a href="http://acatherinenoon.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://www.acatherinenoon.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/acatherinenoon">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/acatherinenoon">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/noony">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/A.-Catherine-Noon/e/B005HKG4EO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_2">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/acatherinenoon">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="http://www.pandora.com/profile/a.catherine.noon">Pandora</a> <br />Knoontime Knitting: <a href="http://knoontimeknitting.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KnoontimeKnitting">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/knoontimeknit">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/ACatherineNoon">Ravelry</a><br />Noon and Wilder links: <a href="http://noonandwilder.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://taurusandtaurus.blogspot.com/">Taurus and Taurus (NSFW)</a> | <a href="http://noonandwilder.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/noonandwilder">Facebook</a><br />The Writer Zen Garden: <a href="http://writersretreatblog.blogspot.com/">The Writers Retreat Blog</a> | <a href="http://www.writerzengarden.com/forum/">Forum</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WriterZenGarden">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/writerzengarden">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.meetup.com/WriterZenGarden/">Meetup</a><br />Team Blogs: <a href="http://noonnight.blogspot.com/">Nightlight</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NightlightTales">Nightlight FB Page</a> | <a href="http://paranormalauthors.blogspot.com/">Beyond the Veil</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParanormalAuthors">BtV FB Page</a> | <a href="http://nicegirlswritingnaughty.wordpress.com/">Nice Girls Writing Naughty</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/596626483778137/">NGW FB</a><br />Publishers: <a href="http://www.loose-id.com/">LooseId</a> | <a href="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/burning-bright-p-6455.html">Samhain Publishing</a> | <a href="http://www.torquerepress.com/">Torquere Press</a></div>
A. Catherine Noonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01375569313449912140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-51790932344453396882014-07-22T10:00:00.000-05:002014-07-22T10:00:04.161-05:00The Importance of Villainy<i>Looking for a little Arabian Nights to go with your Steampunk, have we got the story for you! Today's guest blogger, writer/editor Danielle Ackley-McPhail talks about the challenges she and co-writer (and fellow editor) Day Al-Mohamed faced in re-imagining Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves for the Victorian Age--and our own. Take it away, Danielle:</i><br />
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Stories are about conflict. Internal, external….it does not matter, as long as there is a something for our hero to overcome. Nowhere in fiction is this more prevalent than in faerie tales. Above all else, in faerie tales, there must be a villain. Why, you ask? Because as cautionary tales, these stories are about overcoming danger—or falling victim to it. Without true risk there is no payoff in a faerie tale. No happily ever after without the chance that the prize will slip through the hero’s grasp.<br />
<br />
In my recent novel <i>Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn</i>, co-written with Day Al-Mohamed, villainy abounds as is only fitting for a novel based on the tale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. You remember the tale, don’t you? The humble and poor man who finds a cavern of treasure hidden by a band of thieves is one most of us have heard as children in one form or another. Our version is a steampunk envisioning steeped in the magic of the original and honest in the threat to our Ali, a faithful tinkerer’s apprentice who finds himself guardian to a shah’s treasure trove.<br />
<br />
Inheriting a sacred charge from his father, Ali must find a way to thwart the band of thieves who have taken control of the cavern where these riches have lain protected for many years. Our challenge? How to transform a tale everyone knows? How do we achieve the risk…the tension sprung from the danger of our thieves, when virtually everyone knows how the story plays out?<br />
<br />
The key is in the villains. With so many in this tale we needed to wake fear in the readers’ hearts by capturing the very essence of evil. A sorcerer who cannot die, who will not be freed until he completes his task: capturing the treasure and delivering it to his master. A powerful man. A ruthless man. One with no respect for anything beyond his own desires. One like Rassul Maroun…<br />
<br />
<i>Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn</i><br />
by Danielle Ackley-McPhail and Day Al-Mohamed (Palomino Press, 2014)<br />
<br />
<i>Come, Best Beloved, and sit you by my feet. I shall tell you a tale such as sister Scheherazade could have scarce imagined… </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>In the Nejd there is nothing at all…except secrets. A band of thieves wish such secrets to remain hidden. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>In England, far from his desert home, Ali bin-Massoud serves as apprentice to the famed Charles Babbage. One night a mysterious box is delivered by a clockwork falcon and Ali’s world is never the same again. Heartache, danger, and thieves mark his journey as Ali is summoned home at the death of his father. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>It will take faith, knowledge, and yes, love to realize his destiny, and more than a little skill with steam-driven technology. Can he unravel the mystery of the puzzle box and the clockwork djinn before it is too late? An ancient legacy and Ali's very life depend on his success. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Hear you the tale of Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn...</i><br />
<br />
Excerpt:<br />
<br />
In silence the riders galloped across the desert, their tack silenced and their horses’ hooves covered in cloth. Moonlight limned them like specters gliding over the sands. Dread clung to their robes. Swinging down before their mounts had fully stopped, they hurried into their lair, a cavern whose stone roof rose above the desert, a deeper shadow in the darkness.<br />
<br />
Handing the reins to others of their band, the men strode to their leader, Rassul Maroun, who sat at a marble table ignoring them as he studied a scrap of parchment. The returning men knelt before him, heads bowed and the backs of their right hands pressed to their foreheads in tight fists. Torchlight flickered over thick silver bands engraved with identical markings visible across their inner wrists: a coiled viper poised to strike emblazoned over crossed khanjars. They knelt there on aching knees for long silent moments as their leader finally let his gaze rise from the parchment.<br />
<br />
“Tell me of your success,” Rassul ordered, his voice rumbling low, like the threat of a pending storm. He stood slowly, aware of the impression he made as his lean, well-muscled body unfolded from the chair to tower above all present. He walked toward the prostrate men, his steps whisper soft. Stopping in front of one, Rassul traced the symbol on the man’s wrist before shoving the hand aside to grip the man’s chin tight, forcing his gaze upward until their eyes locked.<br />
<br />
The man trembled, blinking furiously as he swallowed hard. “The horse fled too swiftly, master,” the unfortunate man answered. “We followed but could not draw near enough before it reached the gates of Wadi Al-Nejd. The guards took the beast in and closed the gates.” He gulped again, sharp, as if swallowing a plump date. “We could follow no further.”<br />
<br />
Rassul tightened his grip, almost pulling the man up by his jaw. “Your orders were to follow that beast and learn from where it came, that we might ensure no other knows the secret of our lair.”<br />
<br />
“Yes, master.”<br />
<br />
Rassul dragged the man to the table and tapped the surface. “Allah has blessed you with two eyes, that you might see the world. Do you see this?”<br />
<br />
“Yes, master.”<br />
<br />
“Are you certain? Because with the sanctity of our cache at risk it is important to be absolutely certain. Would you swear by Allah?” As he spoke Rassul moved his hand to the back of the man’s neck in a lighter grip. Beneath his fingers the thief trembled. “What is it you see?” Rassul asked.<br />
<br />
“A m-ma…ma…” The man could not finish.<br />
<br />
Rassul tsked. “I think you are not certain at all,” he said after a moment of the man’s stammering. Locking his grip hard on the man’s neck, his hand took on the glow of power as he slammed him forward into the table’s surface. Bone crunched against unyielding marble and the body went slack. Rassul let go and it slid to the floor, trailing crimson streaks from the edge of the parchment to the rim of the table.<br />
<br />
“It is a map,” Rassul said as he spat on the corpse. “May Allah forgive you your foolishness…and your failure.”<br />
<br />
He snapped his eyes upward and locked gazes with every one of his men, including the corpse’s partner, who still knelt, as yellow piss slowly pooled around him.<br />
<br />
“Learn from this, in case any of you are uncertain.”<br />
<br />
Casually, Rassul stepped over the body and once more perused the map. “Wipe out all knowledge of this map. Destroy any copies. Do this before all other things.”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdAyyoGBlHyq9AhbXJJqhjpLJgnNWq8CnNmhTWviDQpvGggpCFvTBDVjf2ttQc2BIlU2AzUOo8Krti9awFtTVF0qg-Lil7OhBaAmUAJfKiZPjKWzfNv_5ahwywP7EliiCjUi3HWexWQU/s1600/dmcp-hires-smG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdAyyoGBlHyq9AhbXJJqhjpLJgnNWq8CnNmhTWviDQpvGggpCFvTBDVjf2ttQc2BIlU2AzUOo8Krti9awFtTVF0qg-Lil7OhBaAmUAJfKiZPjKWzfNv_5ahwywP7EliiCjUi3HWexWQU/s1600/dmcp-hires-smG.jpg" height="200" width="160" /></a></div>
<i>Award-winning author and editor Danielle Ackley-McPhail has worked both sides of the publishing industry for longer than she cares to admit. Her published works include Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Memories, Today’s Promise, The Halfling’s Court, The Redcaps’ Queen, and, Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, written with Day Al-Mohamed. She can be found on LiveJournal (damcphail), Facebook (Danielle Ackley-McPhail), and Twitter (DMcPhail). To learn more visit www.sidhenadaire.com. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdyt4D1ofkYPjN8o_Di8VxX8imXUlRmlopQKvLxw16zsyv2QF_MoAGS9Ttb251asD9Nrpkmlp0SZo_B_rTg4DOiqw_zKt92mh6RBL9Ai7Sl3tnx4gj1ekfizogTmcruyLRtHQTlYUJsE/s1600/DayAlM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdyt4D1ofkYPjN8o_Di8VxX8imXUlRmlopQKvLxw16zsyv2QF_MoAGS9Ttb251asD9Nrpkmlp0SZo_B_rTg4DOiqw_zKt92mh6RBL9Ai7Sl3tnx4gj1ekfizogTmcruyLRtHQTlYUJsE/s1600/DayAlM.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<i>Day Al-Mohamed is author of Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, co-written with Danielle Ackley-McPhail. Day hosts the blog Unleaded: Fuel for Writers. Her work is available in Daily Science Fiction, Oomph, and GrayHaven Comics' You Are Not Alone. She is a member of the Cat Vacuuming Society of Northern Virginia Writing Group, Women in Film and Video, and a graduate of the VONA/Voices Writing Workshop.
She can be found online at www.DayAlMohamed.com and @DayAlMohamed. </i><br />
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Links:<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21531932-baba-ali-and-the-clockwork-djinn" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Baba-Ali-Clockwork-Djinn-Steampunk-ebook/dp/B00KS8G0FI/" target="_blank">Kindle</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Baba-Ali-Clockwork-Djinn-Steampunk/dp/1937051900/" target="_blank">Paperback</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baba-ali-and-the-clockwork-djinn-danielle-ackley-mcphail/1119344959?ean=9781937051907" target="_blank">BN/Nook</a>Jean Marie Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06549107203357246640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-10406020923862953412014-07-07T09:19:00.000-05:002014-07-07T09:19:01.559-05:00Catching up with Bianca D'Arc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a while since I posted here and it's been sort of a whirlwind the past couple of months with not one, but two new releases and a whole lot of convention prep. In early May, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IRMNFVO/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00IRMNFVO&linkCode=as2&tag=biancadarc00-20" target="_blank">KING'S THRONE</a> came out, adding to the <em>String of Fate</em> miniseries. I had been wanting to get back to this story for a very long time.<br />
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Everything seemed to come together for this book after some initial behind-the-scenes hiccups. The cover is now one of my all-time favorites. The editor was available when I needed her and did a fast, great job. I was able to turn it around quickly after months of delay from the behind-the-scenes stuff I made reference to. (It had nothing to do with the content of the book, but rather how it was going to be published.)<br />
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And then in early June, <a href="http://tales.biancadarc.com/Bobcat.html" target="_blank">BOBCAT</a> came out. It's the 4th book in the <em>Redstone Clan</em> miniseries. Just one more Redstone brother to go now! BOBCAT - in conjunction with KING'S THRONE and the books that will follow these - starts to draw a complex storyline to a head. We're getting to the point where it's become obvious that all my paranormals are related. They all happen in the same, contemporary paranormal world and the heroes/heroines are all fighting against the same enemy.<br />
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It's the epic battle of good vs. evil and within the next two books, everything is going to come to a crashing, exciting crescendo.<br />
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I'm working on the next book in the String of Fate trilogy right now. It will be called JACOB'S LADDER and I hope to have it out later this year, quickly followed by the final Redstone Clan book, titled MATT.<br />
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I'm also working on a few rewrites of old stories and sci fi romance books that I am playing around with. To be honest, things are a little stalled at the moment as I prepare for convention travel. I'll be going to my first RWA (Romance Writers of America) conference in about 2 weeks, followed quickly by the AAD (Authors After Dark) con in Charlotte, NC, in early August.<br />
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Travel and con prep sort of disrupts my whole life and writing schedule for about a month or two before I leave and a week or two after I get back. Going to a con as an author requires a heck of a lot of preparation. There are promotional items to design, order and somehow get to the convention site. There are plans to be made for parties, signings and other appearances. There are new clothes to buy and plan. Bags to pack. Packages to ship ahead...<br />
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You get the idea. Lots and lots of little tasks that require a ton of planning and busywork. Not my favorite thing, but since I rarely get a real vacation (I can't remember the last - maybe 2009?), traveling to cons is my only real getaway from my day-to-day existence. I enjoy them. Sort of. I love seeing chatting with other authors and especially readers, but the actual travel is a hassle and a half! And there's a certain amount of recovery time after I get back where I'm pretty much useless as a settle back into my old routine and catch up on sleep. ;-)<br />
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I hope I get to see some of you during my travels this year! If you see me at a con, come on up and say hello. I love talking with people and I promise, I don't bite. ;-) Meanwhile, I need to make the most of my time before all hell breaks loose and get some writing done. Back to the grindstone!Bianca D'Archttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06183857072276977791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-80115040295627816842014-06-29T09:00:00.000-05:002014-06-29T09:00:02.190-05:00"In the Black" - new excerpt!You haven't bought "In the Black" yet? <a href="http://bit.ly/1mhPBO0" target="_blank">Not even with RT Times Review calling it </a><a href="http://bit.ly/1mhPBO0" target="_blank">"a fast-paced tale of murder & mystery in outer space" and giving it 4/5 stars</a>?<br />
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Let's see if I can tempt you with some delicious goodies...<br />
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*****<br />
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A puff of cold air slapped her bare back.<br />
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She froze, suds running off her skin.<br />
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The fact that Etts hadn’t screamed in alarm meant only one other person could have opened the stall door and now stood there watching her.<br />
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She waited.<br />
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The low voice brought goose bumps to her exposed skin. “Captain. Glad to see you took advantage of my offer.”<br />
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“Marshal.” She didn’t turn toward the open stall door. “Thank you for making it.”<br />
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“You’ll be glad to know that the transport left without incident.” He didn’t say the name; he didn’t have to. He wasn’t going to taint this moment with that name.<br />
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She was grateful for that.<br />
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“That’s good. Hope they fry the bastard.” Sam reached for the washcloth and poured a good amount of liquid soap on it. She could see him out of the corner<br />
of her eye, watching her through the semi-clear glass.<br />
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She didn’t have the urge to hide her scars. There weren’t many and they’d whitened and faded over time, but some of her lovers had cringed at seeing them.<br />
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They hadn’t lasted long. In every sense of the word.<br />
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Daniel chuckled. “We’ll see.” He walked back and forth in front of the shower, a slow, leisurely pace. “You found everything okay?”<br />
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“Yes, thank you.” She looked at him through the door, her heart pounding like it was her first combat drop all over again.<br />
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Time to put up or shut up. He’d be leaving soon and she needed to get him out of her system.<br />
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“Could I impose on you to wash my back? I can’t quite reach back there.” She rolled her shoulders.<br />
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He grinned. “Thought you’d never ask.” He took a step forward, then stopped. “One minute. No use getting my uniform wet.”<br />
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Daniel slid off his jacket and tossed it over her pile of clothing. He tugged his T-shirt out of the top of his jeans and pulled it upward, annoyingly slowly.<br />
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She forgot about the hot water running down her face.<br />
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*********<br />
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The sequel, "In the Void" comes out in October - so why wait to hop on board the Bonnie Belle?<br />
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Don't forget! "Everyone loves a Mercy woman." (or man, as "In the Void" will attest to...)<br />
<br />
Available at <a href="http://amzn.to/PA2HI1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1lDhThE" target="_blank">B&N</a> <a href="http://bit.ly/1gW7VmX" target="_blank">Carina Press </a><br />
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Also on <a href="http://bit.ly/PRxSha" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!Sheryl Nantushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01157927306226252817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2869464170817632469.post-65483360617642257482014-06-28T10:00:00.000-05:002014-06-29T11:04:33.660-05:00Writing What You Don't KnowWanna know a secret? Most writers don't like to talk about their work.<br />
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Oh, we'll glibly babble on about the origin of a story...if it makes a good story. The safe-for-work antics of other people's editors are fair game...so long as we've filed off all the serial numbers. (You never know when you might have to work for that nutjob--I mean, respected senior editor.) Our research is even better.</div>
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Notice something about all these things we like to talk about? The farther away the material gets from anything that might make us uncomfortable, the easier it is to talk about. When it touches on our (many) writerly insecurities..not so much.</div>
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Which brings us to this month's theme and why it's hard for me to blog about it. I'm a heterosexual female from a relatively privileged background. What business do I have writing from an LGBQT perspective, ever? I can't know what it's like from the inside.</div>
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As somebody who goes to extreme lengths to research her fiction, that bothers me. It bothers me that I don't know what it was like to walk the streets of fifteenth century or the corridors of the Hindenburg just before it exploded, too. But in both those cases, the only people who care whether I get it sort of right are other history nerds, and even for them the issues are purely academic. If I misstep in my depiction of LGBQT characters--or characters of color or characters with physical or emotional challenges--people could get hurt. </div>
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I hurt my characters. A lot. I challenge them every way I can think of. It's what writers do. I want to challenge my readers, too. But I don't want to hurt them by being an idiot about something I'll never know.</div>
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At the same time, the world is not populated entirely by privileged heterosexual females. I'm good with that. I'm boring in real life, and if my stories were only about people like me, they'd be boring, too. So I write about women and men at all levels of society, of all countries, races, and orientation. </div>
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Perhaps the most important human character in "Fixed", my story in <i>The Modern Fae's Guide to Surviving Humanity</i>, is a gay vet tech based on one of my favorite coworkers. The original was a retired military officer who was built like The Refrigerator. Seriously, if you just saw this guy's face and his shadow, you would NOT want to meet him in a dark alley. But once the lights went on, you'd find yourself looking at someone with the fashion sense and mannerisms of Nathan Lane. Incredibly nurturing, too. So I could really see him working with lost and injured animals. But mostly I loved the way he talked and his own idiosyncratic way of taking no nonsense from anyone. He brought an incredible brio to the story. I loved writing his lines and how much his presence made everything better.</div>
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A lesbian couple were the main characters of "Personal Demons," my story in <i>Hellebore and Rue</i>, the award-winning anthology about lesbian magic users. The story is all about the cost of magic--and how that cost might not be what you think. For Anita, my exorcist, the cost was the alienation of her lover Deborah's affections.</div>
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I confess I used a lesbian couple because it made everything worse. Anita is a tantric sorceress, so there is a sexual component to her magic. Her lover sees this up close and personal in the middle of an exorcism. If a man had seen what Deb had seen, he would've felt betrayed, gotten angry and left to get drunk. It would've been nasty. There would've been a cost. But a man never feels soiled--<i>polluted</i>--in the same way a woman does. So his girlfriend has congress with demons. All he has to do is wash himself off and he's good to go. But a woman takes her lover inside her body. It's a whole different level of intimacy. You cannot simply rinse away a demon's touch, even at one remove. </div>
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Having made that decision, I tried to treat both characters as if they were me. How would I feel in their respective positions? It's the only way I know to respectfully step in someone else's shoes. </div>
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I'd like to think I got their emotions right, especially since sooner or later a story will demand another character who isn't me or anything like me. I want very much to get it right every time, because no matter where we come from, what we believe or who we love, we're all human beings. We deserve that dignity, in fiction as much as real life.</div>
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<a href="http://jeanmarieward.com/" target="_blank">Jean Marie Ward</a></div>
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Jean Marie Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06549107203357246640noreply@blogger.com0