Goodbye Is the Hardest Word of All

This is my last post with Beyond the Veil. As always with life, things change and I've found that my writing has changed greatly. No longer am I writing paranormals but am now concentrating on historical romance. My books no longer fit with this blog. So it's time to take my leave and open a spot to someone who does write paranormal.

It's been a wonderful ride and I've made some great friends during my years with Beyond the Veil. I'm not saying goodbye to my friends because we're all connected through Facebook and Twitter. We will, of course, keep in touch.

As always you can keep in touch with me through my website, my Facebook page, Twitter, or my personal blog. I'll still be around and I still have paranormals published.

Thank you for reading my posts and all of your great comments!

Saying goodbye doesn't mean anything. It's the time we spent together that matters, not how we left it.
Trey Parker

Sharon

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A Funny Thing Happened On The Road To Publication...

A funny thing happened to me last week on this crazy, pothole-filled road to publication. One of my dreams came true.

This story starts back in November of 2011. I get a frantic email from my critique partner, Sonja. She tells me this bizarre story about how she picked up this editor at the airport (stick with me here, this isn't that kind of story) and how they had dinner together. Apparently the editor was in town for an RWA meeting with the local chapter Sonja is deeply involved in. So at dinner Sonja starts asking the editor about historicals, then my crazy, wonderful critique partner pitches MY book to the editor. Not hers. Mine. The editor said it sounded like something she would be interested in.

Hence the frantic email to me. Sonja tells me I MUST query the editor NOW before the editor forgets. So I whip off a query (luckily I like writing queries or I would have panicked and froze). A few hours later I get a reply and a request for the first five chapters. Wow! That was fast.

Luckily again (see how this is all lining up just right?) the manuscript was finished and polished so I whip off another email with the attached chapters.

In the meantime I hear that another editor at another house is looking for romance to fill their 2012 slots. So I query her with the same manuscript, she writes back and requests the partial.

Editor #1 emails me and says she loves my chapters and wants more. Actually, what she said was "As long as you haven't screwed up the rest of the story, this is exactly what I 'm looking for." Gasp! I knew I didn't screw up the rest of the story. I had a deep seated belief in this manuscript. So I sent it off. And she offered me a contract.

Then people started telling me I needed an agent. Like NOW. I queried my top 3 picks. Two responded, one offered and suddenly I was represented by the wonderful Jessica Alvarez of BookEnds Literary Agency. A few days later another editor offered me a contract.

Emails flew back and forth, long phone discussions followed with my agent. Pros and cons were weighed and measured. And I am proud to announce that I accepted a two book deal for two historical romances with Random House.

So a funny thing happened on my road to publication--one of my dreams came true.

A screenshot of the announcement on my agent's website

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The Ever Changing Publishing Industry

Change scares people. I know it scares the hell out of me. I hate it. I want things to stay the same. I like the comfort of always knowing what's going on. But let's face it, living like that is like the proverbial ostrich with its head in the sand. If I can't see you, you can't see me. If I bury my head against change then it won't affect me.

We all know that can't happen.

And I think we've all heard the doomsayers when they claim publishing is changing and will never be the same again. I suppose that's true. The internet and the promise of immediate gratification is intoxicating. People want books now--hence the reason ereaders were the hot item this past Christmas. On the flip side, authors want their products out there immediately--hence the rise in indy publishing.

But as much as things change, things also stay the same. Readers still want their paperback books. There will always be those hold-outs who refuse to embrace change. As an author I appreciate all those different types of readers.

I was ecstatic when I heard Amazon sold one million Kindles a week during the month of December. One million! A week! Each of those four million Kindles will need books. Possibly hundreds of books. That bodes well for me where most of my sales are ebooks.

So what does all of this mean for authors? I think this is the best time ever to be an author. There are so many more avenues open to us. No longer do we have to rely on the big NY publishers to decide if our book fits into their schedule. So many epublishers have filled the void, realizing there were so many good books out there for readers looking for something a bit different. And now we have indy publishing--authors striking out on their own without a publishers backing. I'm in a critique group with an author who has done amazingly well in indy publishing. Better than a lot of established authors with big publishers.

The field is wide open for not only us but for readers as well and I think that's wonderful.

But one thing hasn't changed. Whether indy published, paperback published or epublished, a reader is still looking for a good read. Something that will take them away from their everyday life and into a different world. Regardless of what publishing format an author chooses to distribute his or her book, the book still has to be well-written. In the end, nothing has really changed when it comes to actually writing the book. We all still have to sit down to a blank page with a blinking cursor and create a world in which people want to go to.

Wishing you all happy reading in 2012.


Sharon's website | Sharon's blog | Sharon on Twitter | Sharon on Facebook

Holiday Traditions

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ♫♪♫♪ Okay, not so much here in Ohio. In fact, the news people just informed us that this year alone Ohio received 69 inches of rain, making it the wettest year ever for us Ohioans. But it's December and my tree is up and so I sing that song.

I know not everyone celebrates Christmas, per se, but I think most people celebrate the holiday season in some way. And I'm betting that most people have some sort of tradition, something they do year in and year out in December that marks the holiday as something special.

For the Cullen Clan, we do a lot of things. There's the Annual Cookie Baking, which always stresses me out because everyone wants their favorite and there's NO WAY we can eat all thosecookies without looking like the Michelin man in January. Then there's the Putting Up of the Tree which entails lots and lots of boxes and lots of trips up and down the basement stairs.

But I think my most favorite tradition is the Buying of the Ornaments. Since we were married, oh so long ago, my husband and I have bought an ornament each year for each other. The ornament entails much thought and planning because it has to be the right ornament. It can't be something plucked off the shelf. It has to have meaning for both of us. As each child came along, the tradition grew and now we have enough ornaments to fill several trees.

Each year we pull out our boxes and we unwrap the ornaments and we reminisce about the past. You won't find a simple red or green ball on our tree. No, our tree is filled with Spongebob Squarepants and Star Wars figurines and Matchbox cars and American Girl Doll replicas. Each and every ornament means something to us.

My husband and I always said that when the kids move out they can take their ornaments with them to start their own trees. But, you know, I'm starting to rethink that. I think I might keep them to remember.

So what is your favorite holiday tradition?

ps - My paranormal romance, Her Dark Knight, released last week. If you like a hunky Knight Templar and a touching love story that spans seven-hundred-years, check it out.

November, Turkeys and NaNoWriMo

For those not in the writing business, November equals turkeys, Black Friday and football. For us writers, November also equals NaNoWriMo. Or, National Novel Writing Month.

What that means is that crazy writers (like me) vow to write an entire novel in one month. 50,000 words in 30 days. 1600 words a day. Its dirty, no-holds-barred writing. No editing, no polishing, simply writing.The purpose is to get a novel written. Not a pretty novel and definitely not a novel completely edited, but at least the framework is there.

I like to do it because it takes me back to the roots. To the time before I knew about "rules" and passive writing and those dreaded -ly words. When I wrote for the sheer joy of writing.

The problem is that we're nine days into it and already I'm waaaay behind on my word count. Not because I don't want to write. I actually am writing. Just not on my NaNo novel.

Years ago, when I first started doing NaNoWriMo I didn't have any other writing commitments. I could dedicate an entire month to one story and type until my heart was content. Now, things have changed. I have a story that is this close to being finished and this close to being sent to my editor. A finished novel has to take precedence over a barely-even-started novel.

So the NaNo story has been put on the back burner while priorities take place. But hey, I'm still writing and any kind of writing is better than no writing. Right?

Except the characters in the NaNo novel don't think so. They're a little ticked off at me right now.

So, all you authors out there, are you doing NaNo? If so, are you doing better than I am?

Sgt. John Cullen & Family Benefit

Beyond the Veil fans, if you'd like to contribute something to help defray the cost of John Cullen's medical expenses:

In the Cincinnati, Ohio area, go to any Fifth/Third bank and drop off a check made out to "Friends of John Cullen." The check will be deposited into the 5/3 account.

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Outside the Cincinnati area, mail a check made out to "Friends of John Cullen" to the City of Mason Police Department, 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason, OH 45040. Note on the outside of the envelope that it is for the John Cullen account.

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Sgt. John Cullen & Family Fundraising Event:

All families and supporters are invited to participate in the Sgt. John Cullen & Family Fundraising Event on Wednesday, June 15th, 2011.

Everyone is invited to gather at Buffalo Wild Wings (6050 Snider Rd. Mason, OH) for lunch, dinner or a snack.

On this day, 10% of ALL food purchases accompanied by the Sgt. John Cullen Benefit certificate (click the image below and print) will be donated to Sgt. John Cullen & Family.

** Sponsored by The Friends of John Cullen**

Only valid at 6050 Snider Rd, Mason. 513.398.2999.
*Alcohol purchases not included. Valid on dine-in only.

Please Note: You must present the certificate (click the image below and print) with your food purchase for BW3 to donate 10% to the benefit. Please email Jamie Van Wagner (jvanwagner@masonoh.org), Pattie Connor (pconnor@masonoh.org) or Kelli Kline (kkline@masonoh.org) for an emailed copy of the certificate. You can also pick up a hard copy at the Mason Police Department anytime BEFORE the event. These flyers cannot be passed out on BW3 property the day of the event.

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They are accepting GIFT CARD donations and other items to create Raffle Baskets...If you would like to donate items for raffle baskets or door prizes, please email one of the ladies mentioned in the above paragraph. Thanks!

Carolan

New Contract!

I am so pleased to announce that I have signed a contract with Carina Press for a new paranormal.

Her Dark Knight will be released November 28, 2011.

Below is an unedited version of the blurb:

Christien Chevalier, warrior for the Knights Templar, has been given the task of protecting the Templar’s treasure for eternity. For seven hundred years he has faithfully guarded the treasure entrusted to him. Until one fateful night when Lainie Alexander walks into his nightclub.

Lainie desperately needs her job to pay her father’s exorbitant nursing home bills so when her boss tells her to go to the nightclub on a bizarre errand, she doesn’t ask questions. Until she sees the reclusive nightclub owner and has the strange sensation they’ve met before. In another century.

Seven centuries ago Lainie and Christien fell in love. He a lowly knight, she a countess married to a powerful lord, their love had been doomed from the beginning and ended in her mysterious death that has haunted Christien ever since. Now she has returned and they both fear powerful, evil forces are behind her reincarnation. Soon Christien will be forced to choose between a seven hundred year old love that never died and the fate of humanity.

Release Day for Wherever You Are

Hello, everyone! I'm super excited that today my pirate time-travel releases with Samhain Publishing. The road for this manuscript was rocky at best but I never lost faith in it. If you love action-adventure, time-travel and pirates, then check this out.

He’s in the fight of his life for a love that defies the centuries. The last thing Juliana MacKenzie remembers is sitting in a friend’s kitchen. In Kansas City. In the twenty-first century. How did she wind up on a burning ship in the middle of the ocean—in the eighteenth century? If that wasn’t enough to get her heart started, some dark corner of her memory responds to the ship’s enigmatic captain. A man whose touch ignites her senses even as he stubbornly holds her at arm’s length. It’s almost too late when Morgan realizes his stowaway is not only female, but a woman from a life and a time he’d almost forgotten. Desire resurges like an undeniable tide—but he is not the man Juliana would remember. She has been unwittingly thrust into a dangerous world, and now she, too, is a target for the pirate who once enslaved him, who still hunts him across the seven seas. Kidnapped by Morgan’s worst enemy, Juliana finds herself drawing on inner reserves she never knew she possessed. No way will she let anyone—not even the man she is growing to love—choose her path for her. And no way will she let him offer himself in trade for her freedom. Buy Link Read Excerpt

New Cover

I got my new cover for my April release, Wherever You Are and I just love it! Wherever You Are will be available for pre-sale at 30% off through my publisher on March 5. The official release date is April 5.

He’s in the fight of his life for a love that defies the centuries.

The last thing Juliana MacKenzie remembers is sitting in a friend’s kitchen. In Kansas City. In the twenty-first century. How did she wind up on a burning ship in the middle of the ocean—in the eighteenth century?

If that wasn’t enough to get her heart started, some dark corner of her memory responds to the ship’s enigmatic captain. A man whose touch ignites her senses even as he stubbornly holds her at arm’s length.

It’s almost too late when Morgan realizes his stowaway is not only female, but a woman from a life and a time he’d almost forgotten. Desire resurges like an undeniable tide—but he is not the man Juliana would remember. She has been unwittingly thrust into a dangerous world, and now she, too, is a target for the pirate who once enslaved him, who still hunts him across the seven seas.

Kidnapped by Morgan’s worst enemy, Juliana finds herself drawing on inner reserves she never knew she possessed. No way will she let anyone—not even the man she is growing to love—choose her path for her. And no way will she let him offer himself in trade for her freedom.
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Product Warnings
This book contains hot pirates, a slightly confused modern day woman and an evil villain you’ll love to hate.

Read an excerpt

Eleven for '11

You’ve recovered from the hangover and looking a little askance at your resolutions. Work looks like work again (dagnabbit) and the cold weather just won’t quit. Time to lose yourself in a good book. Not to fear, we can recommend eleven to start the year off right, and they’re all written by us:

Xakara

Ghost of Christmas Past, Liquid Silver Books, December 20, 2010.
Four years after being gunned down by the city's most infamous crime boss, Empath and PsiCorps Agent Torrin St. James wakes from a coma to find that he's seemingly lost everything. Entered into the WitSecPsi program, as part of his cover Torrin is believed dead by the members of his psychic Triad, Resonance Partner Riley Valin and Psi Anchor Sky Roarke--his fiancé. When Torrin convinces his handler to break protocol and let him see Sky and Riley, he discovers nothing is the way he remembers it—with his loved ones or the corps. Isolated in a safe house during the worst storm of the season, he’ll have to learn if passion, trust and love can be saved or if he’s just a ghost of Christmas past.


Christine Norris

The Mirror of Yu-Huang, Zumaya Publishing, December 20, 2010.
Megan’s dreams of a fun and relaxing Christmas holiday turn into a nightmare when the headmistress of her school strong-arms her father into hosting a huge New Year’s ball for the Chinese ambassador. Soon her secret charge, the Library of Athena, the Library is invaded, and only Megan can stop the invader from threatening the world.


Bianca D’Arc

Cat’s Cradle, Samhain Publishing, print release January 4.
As bad days go, this one qualifies as one for the books. Elaine knew being late for her jiu jitsu class could earn her a reprimand from her sensei. But the sensei’s not there. And suddenly, neither is her car. Walking home she discovers things most definitely dp go bump in the night—like Cade, an alpha Panther Noir on a mission transporting his queen to safety. Thrust into a world where the supernatural is commonplace, Elaine finds her considerable martial arts skill tested to the limit—and her ability to resist Cade crumbling by the second. But when nothing is as it seems, the last things she can trust are her own instincts.


Kaye Chambers

Blood and Destiny, Samhain Publishing, print release January 4.
For Destiny St. George, shapeshifting lioness and private investigator, her best friend’s imminent wedding is little more than a reminder of her failed relationship with vampire king Marcus Smythe. Tired of being only one of many mistresses—and dinner entrees—she’s stayed away from the vampire scene altogether. Until a missing-person case forces her to seek his help. When the case proves to be an elaborate trap to avenge a millennia-old grudge, she finds herself caught between love and instinct—while the clock ticks down on an innocent victim’s life.


Love at First Shot, AudioLark, audiobook release January 11th.
Emma Feltman of the Supernatural Clean-up Crew is a master mage in training with one minor problem: sexual frustration has twisted her ordinarily powerful magic into an unpredictable force of chaos. Sent to retrieve the body of a dead werewolf, she runs into another complication: T.J. Jackson, a coroner she’d just (ahem) die to play doctor with. Make that two problems. T.J. is immune to magic, which means there’s no way to make him forget what he wasn’t supposed to see. Stashing him away in a remote cabin, Megan opts for a more personal solution. But can a relationship born of extreme conditions survive?


D. McEntire

Purrs & Lace, Turquoise Morning Press, January 30, 2011
Angelina knows the meaning of a hardship. Desperate for a place to belong, she got sucked into a life of prostitution and addiction. But a deadly accident on an icy mountain road offers her an unlikely second chance in the form of her rescuer, snow leopard shifter Jonah Stark. The injured human female stirs something within Jonah, making it impossible to let her go. But, how far will he go when her past returns to claim her?


Jody Wallace

One Thousand Kisses, Samhain Publishing, February 8.
Embor Fiertag, Primary of the Fey Court, has faced some major challenges, but none as tough as the three facing him right now: getting reelected, capturing the rogue agents who tried to murder him, and improving his love life. The third one should be easy—except he hasn’t exactly told Court trainee Anisette Serendipity she’s his foretold bondmate. Ani doesn’t even like him, and she’s dating Torval, his chief rival. But none of that matters when Torval tries to force himself on her. Forced to flee together to humanspace with a manipulative magical cat, Embor and Ani must find the courage to reveal—and heal—their vulnerabilities before the fabric between the Fey Realm and humanspace is ripped to shreds.


SJ Willing

Dante I, Samhain Publishing, print release March 1.
Two years on the Separatist-controlled planet of Dante I, and undercover PIACT agent Tomas Valcino is no closer to contacting the underground rebellion. As if imminent mission failure isn’t bad enough, he can’t shake his lust for the prefect’s beautiful daughter, Yumi Rebyj. An assassination attempt drives Tomas and Yumi into hiding. In close quarters, all is stripped away. Secrets. Lies. And clothes. But when they uncover a new technology, they ignite new Separatist repression. Can Tomas's and Yumi's connection save the planet, or will it be too little, too late?


Sharon Cullen

Wherever You Are, Samhain Publishing, April 5.
For the one woman he’s never forgotten and a love that defies the centuries, Morgan must conquer his fears and battle his deadly enemy to keep Juliana at his side.


Jean Marie Ward

“Personal Demons” in Hellebore & Rue, Drollerie Press, spring 2011.
Rescuing children from demonic possession is a risky business, especially when the demon decides to get personal.


D. McEntire

The Watchers: Midnight Unseen, Samhain Publishing, print release May 2011
Dreams clash with reality when a Watcher mission leads Tank into a musty, rat-infested basement where blind piano virtuoso Sonya lies broken and bleeding from the attack of a Rogue vampire—and suffering the beginnings of the Change. Keeping Sonya safe from the Rogue determined to claim her is only half of Tank’s battle. Sonya must accept her new life, or his dream will become only a memory.

Enjoy!
Jean Marie

Sharon's 2010 Books In Review

Some of my friends (non-writing and reading friends) make fun of me because I keep a spreadsheet year to year of what books I've read. I like doing it because I read so many that I lose track of what authors I like and what series I want to keep track of.

2010's reading wasn't as productive as 2009's and I have to wonder why because my writing output wasnt as productive either. Do the two go hand in hand? You'd think the less writing I did the more reading I'd do, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Hmmmm. I have to wonder.

So anyway, my book selection for last year. I read 53 books, down 9 books to the year before. And believe it or not, last year was not a good year for romance reading for me. Most of the books I read were non-romance.

My favorite new-to-me author: Harlan Coben. I read 8 of his books and loved every one of them. His Myron Bolitar series is laugh out loud funny and his mysteries keep me guessing until the end. I highly recommend Coben.

Favorite series: the Stieg Larsson series. Very interesting, although weirdly written.

Favorite book overall: Ah, that's a tough one, but I think its going to be Linda Howard's Death Angel, closely followed by Ken Follett's Fall of Giants. (p.s. - Ms. Howard will you please get your own website???? I mean, this is the 21st century, every author has their own website. It's very frustrating and I'm sure I'm not the only one who likes to look up their favorite authors and see what's coming.)

Worst book overall: Not sure if this is the worst of just most disappointing but Sharon Sala's Blown Away. Sala has been my favorite author for years and when I started writing, I wanted to write stories like hers--suspense with a lot of emotion. So I was extremely excited when I saw she had a new series out and extremely disappointed when I couldn't finish the book. It just wasn't well written, IMO.

Series I'll be following into the new year:

Monica McCarty's Highland Guards

Joanna Bourne's Spymaster Series

Linda Howard's Blood Born Series

Here's to a good year of reading (and writing for those of us who write). Cheers!

Good News!

I just signed a contract for my time travel paranormal. This will be my 5th book with Samhain Publishing and my 10th book total.

All of my books are near and dear to my heart, but this one is probably the nearest and dearest. Its been a long road for these characters and their story. Wherever You Are was the third book I've ever written and its a huge understatement to say its been through quite a lot of revisions to become the book it is today.

Keeping fingers crossed that this will be the first in a trilogy.

I haven't received a release date yet, but when I do, you'll be the first to know. In the meantime, here's an unedited blurb:

Morgan's life takes an unexpected turn when the stowaway aboard his burning ship isn't an enemy spy but Juliana, the woman he left behind in the twenty-first century. Unwittingly thrust into Morgan’s dangerous world, Juliana gains the attention of Morgan’s enemy--the man who once enslaved Morgan and who will now settle for nothing less than Morgan’s return to slavery and possession of Juliana.

For the one woman he’s never forgotten and a love that defies the centuries, Morgan must conquer his fears and battle his deadly enemy to keep Juliana at his side.

20 Years

Today I'm celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary. Yes, I was 11 when John and I married. Okay, kidding, but I was young. So young that I look at my 16 year old daughter and think no way am I ready for her to get married in 6 years. And neither is she :-)

I've been thinking a lot about marriages, what makes some work and others not. In fact, I asked my husband last night why he thought we've lasted this long (I have my own ideas, but I wanted his opinion). He said, and I'm quoting directly, "Because we're nice. But I'm nicer than you."

I think that's a big part of it--being nice to each other. But not all of it. I have witnessed very nice people who have divorced. I have divorced friends who told me they never had one fight with their spouse. Not one. So nice is, well, nice, but its not all that.

John and I laugh. A lot. I think thats very important, the ability to laugh at each other and with each other. A sense of humor diffuses a lot of stupid arguments. But I also think its important to argue. We have some intense arguments. We've had our trouble spots and I've noticed that when the trouble dissipates, our bond is stronger. Like we've been forged in fire. The tougher the times, the stronger our love emerges.

Are we tempered steel then, after 20 years? No. We're like those old swords and daggers you see in museums. Nicked, chipped, with the shine gone. But still strong.

What works for one, doesn't work for another and I think that's why my answer is so elusive.

And I think that's why romances are so popular. Why do these characters connect in such a way? What makes their relationship work? We like to read about others, even if they are fictional (shhh, don't tell those voices in my head they're fictional. They'll get angry).

Werewolf vs vampire, man vs woman, its all the same, it all comes back to the relationship. That special bond that we can see evolve through whatever torture and fire we find necessary to put these poor souls through.

My husband asks me all the time why I read romance when the ending always has to be happy? Because, I tell him, its not about the ending, its about the journey.

So thank you, John, for this wonderful, sometimes terrifying, sometimes hilarious, never perfect, but darn close, journey of 20 years.

Here's to another 20 and another 20 after that.

I love you.

Sharon

The Hiatus is Over

I haven't written much this summer and its been both a blessing and well, a little disturbing for me.

First of all the blessing. My husband and I were absolutely blessed to be able to take two cruises this summer and we thoroughly enjoyed both of them. Its something we've never been able to do before--go on two luxurious vacations--and probably won't do for a very long time again.

But that meant I had to stop writing for a bit. So I took five weeks off my writing. The only thing I can compare this to is drugs. Not that I've ever been addicted to any sort of drugs. Well, except that time in college when I was just a teeny bit addicted to Nyquil and couldn't sleep without it (but I kicked that habit, I swear!).

So I knew I'd have to stop writing a few days before we left on trip #1 and for weeks before I wrote furiously, trying to finish the novel I'd been working on because I didn't want to interrupt the flow. Other writers know that when you're in the "zone", breaking out of it, then trying to get back into it is very, very hard. So I wrote like a fiend.

Then I stopped.

Cold turkey.

I thought I could do it. I thought it wouldn't be a big deal to stop writing.

I was wrong.

It was very strange, knowing I wasn't going to write. I'd wander around the house, a little--no, a lot--lost. At loose ends. Sort of like a brown, curled leaf, caught in a summer breeze. I'd flit here. I'd flit there. My mind couldn't focus. And I felt anxious. Nervous. I'd look longingly at my computer, my fingers twitching. Then yank my gaze away and try to concentrate on packing and the million other things I had to do.

Stories flirted with each other inside my head. Characters talked to me. Voices tried to coax me back to the computer.

I felt like I lost a part of myself.

By the time we left for the trip, I didn't give my computer, or my characters, a second thought. In fact, on the trip I rarely thought about my writing which is weird because I always think about my writing.

I returned, glanced at my laptop, then dismissed it. I had three weeks before I was leaving again. No sense in getting entrenched in another story when I'd just have to leave it again. I read books, watched TV. Every once in a while I felt a little lost. Like I had too much time on my hands and had no idea how to fill it.

We went on our second trip. I thought a lot more about my stories. One in particular kept nagging at me because it was partially set in the Caribbean, where I was vacationing. I realized I'd made some mistakes in describing an island and decided I'd have to change the location altogether.

Then I returned, looked at my laptop, and walked away from it. For two days I avoided it. But like the drug that it is, my writing kept calling to me until eventually I sat down, opened up my current work in progress and breathed a sigh of relief.

Yes.

This is where I am supposed to be, sitting here, typing words that will eventually form characters who will become real people in my mind. Stories that will take you away from your life.

And like the drug that it is, my stories have a firm hold on me once again.

But unlike being addicted to a drug, I'm happy where I am. Happy to be "home" in my mind, with the people I've invented who are very, very real.

After five weeks, I'm back!

ps - the above photo is a picture I took of Nassau, Bahamas while on my hiatus

No Regrets by John Callahan

So Sharon came to me a few days ago and said she had this blog post to write, but she was too busy what with the end of school, a deadline approaching and a vacation to plan. She asked if I could pretty please write it for her.

"Just tell your story," she said.

Yeah, right. I'm not the writer here, she is. 

Needless to say, I wasn't as on board as she would have liked. What the hell am I going to write about on a romance writer's blog? But she was pretty damn insistent and when she gets to begging, well, I'm toast. So here I am.  

I guess you'd like to know about me before I go spouting off. My name is John Callahan and my story is Redemption (by Sharon Cullen). You can buy it through Samhain Publishing.   

Sharon says that's not enough information, that people want to know more.   

Hell.   

Okay.  

Here's how it started. I live in a cabin I built with my own hands high in the Smokey Mountains. I'm a Sheriff for a small department that doesn't have a lot to do in the winter but gets our ass kicked in the summer because we have a lake that people like to visit. Catawba Lake. It's quiet, it's peaceful and it's just about as damn perfect as God could make it.  

Some people would say it's boring, and ten years ago I would have probably said the same thing. But a lot of shit can happen in ten years. And that got me to thinking about how life changes.   

What, you didn't think an outdoor guy like me could think deep thoughts? Just kidding. But I do and I can and there was a time in my life when all I had to my name were deep thoughts.  

I grew up in a loud household with a sister and a great mom and dad. At eighteen I knew I needed more and I knew if I stayed in the small town I grew up in that I would slowly fade away and become that dude who ran the local garage on the street corner. You know, the one who plays poker every Tuesday night and spends his weekends warming the barstool at the pub across the street. I didn't want that. I wanted excitement and adventure. I wanted to see the world.   

You can see where this is headed, can't you?  

I was a wet dream for an army recruiter and the second I stepped into the recruiting office, they were all over my ass like white on rice. I signed up, full of dreams of traveling and dodging bullets. Yeah, dodging bullets excited me just as much as the traveling.  

I'll spare you the details and just jump to my point (yes, I have a point). I dodged the bullets, I saw Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan and just about every continent there is to see. I made buddies that ended up being closer to me than my own family (if you want to read about one, read Luke's story. Next time, Luke, it's your ass writing this!). And I was recruited into the IATT which in laymen's terms is a secret anti-terrorist organization. 

On the government books we didn't exist. I didn't exist and neither did the men and women I worked with. It was cool. It was exciting. And I was doing things I'd never imagined.  

So how did I end up in a cabin in the mountains?  It all went to hell.   

When I was 18, my signature still wet on the recruitment papers, there were a few things I'd never imagined I would do:  

1. Be taken prisoner for three months in a third world country 

2.Have my government turn against me 

3.Fall in love with the most beautiful, courageous woman I've ever met.  

I learned that sometimes what you wish for and what you get can be totally different and at the same time exactly what you need.  

I went through some deep shit and when Hope met me, I was just minutes away from ending everything. Yet, looking back, I can't make myself regret my choices or my actions because every step I've taken has led me to where I am today--living in the most beautiful part of the country God created, with the most beautiful woman God could have given me.  

It's been one hell of a rough ride but I'd weather every bump again to have what I have now.  

If you want to read my story, you can find it here for electronic and here for print.

Gotta go. It's been real and, yeah, okay, it wasn't all that bad. But Luke, you're still doing the next post.

John

Muscle Cars

2010 Camaro

I wasn't born yet when the first muscle cars came out so I missed that craze. Normally, cars don't excite me. If it gets me from point A to point B, I'm good. But I have to admit that these new age muscle cars have me wanting one. Bad.

Oh, to tool around in one of the new Camaros. To show up to soccer practice in this thing would be soooo cool.

Of course I know they're impractical, but a girl can still dream, can't she??

2010 Mustang

When I write, I put a lot of thought into what my characters drive. For me, a car defines a character's personality. For instance, Eric, my hero in my latest work in progress, drives a new model Mustang (like the above photo only black with a gray racing stripe. He's an alpha hero who needed a big car to go with his big personality.

An instense businessman would drive a BMW or a Mercedes.

A playboy would drive a Porsche.

John, the reclusive Sheriff in Redemption, drove a pick-up truck.

Kate, my wild heroine in Deception, drove a Jeep Wrangler.

Hope, my desperate heroine in Redemption, drove a staid compact car.

I bet just by telling you what kind of cars my heroes and heroines drove, you could figure out their personalities.

What do I drive? Well, I'm a busy mom with three kids. I drive a mini-van, of course! My husband, an alpha if I've ever met one, drives a Jeep Wrangler.

What do you drive and how does it reflect your personality?

New In Print from BtV Authors!

Click on the images to find out more! Congratulations, ladies! (And hey, did you guys consult with each other on the one-word titles? [grin])

Obsession Now Available in Paperback!

Happy March, everyone! I'm very excited to announce that Obsession, my romantic suspense, is now available in paperback.

eCataromance gave Obsession 5 stars, stating, "Another great book in Ms. Cullen's Love on the Edge series." The Long and the Short Reviews called it, "a winner on all counts".

Blurb:

A killer’s obsession could destroy their second chance for love.

Only a year ago, Officer Alex Juran and his wife Tess had it all. Love, a solid marriage and a baby on the way. Then in one heartbeat they lost everything.

Now, Tess is doing her best to move on. She has a thriving business and while she may be lonely at times, she’s proud of the new life she’s built without Alex.

Two days before their divorce is final, Alex is shot in the line of duty and left for dead. He faces a difficult recovery so Tess finds herself postponing the divorce and offering to care for him until he can live alone again.

At first, cohabitation is little more than combat. Alex’s incapacitating injuries, the looming divorce, and his inability to remember who shot him have him lashing out at the nearest target: Tess. When someone begins stalking her, he suspects his shooter has returned. Convinced that Tess is in danger, Alex becomes desperate to recover his strength.

Because no matter how much she’s hurt him in the past, they’ve been given a second chance—and he’ll do anything to protect his wife.

Read more

What I Learned in 2009

I know Christmas isn't here yet but I've been thinking a lot about the past year and have come to the startling conclusion that I've learned a lot. 2009 did not start out well for me. I was in a job I loathed (okay, loathed is probably too tame of a word but its early and I can't think straight yet. But trust me, I HATED that job), my health was deteriorating due to said job and a boss that was the role model for Devil Wears Prada. It affected my entire life. But things got better. I left the job, found another I love and along the way learned a few things. So even though its not New Years yet, I thought I'd share some things I've learned in 2009.

I learned....

-That I'm stronger than I think

-But I'm not as strong as I'd like to be

-That "no" still hurts. People say you develop a tough skin in this publishing business but "no" still means "no" and it still hurts.

-To trust my kids' instincts. Sometimes they know whats better for them than I do.

-That my husband really is a wonderful man for standing by me during those horrible months when I cried every day and was a mess emotionally and physically.

-That its not about the publishing, its about the writing. At least for me.

-That the Crock Pot won't cook if its not plugged in.

-To look out every window and use every mirror in the car when backing out of the driveway so I won't hit my husband's beloved Jeep Wrangler. Again.

-To smile in the face of mean, nasty people.

-To be myself. People will still like me if I just act like myself.

-To turn a "no" around to my advantage.

-That I much prefer to work shift work and be on my feet than sit behind a desk Monday through Friday (this was a surprise to me because I thought I'd love having weekends off. Not so much)

-That when you're really, really thirsty a Pina Colada is probably not the best thing to drink.

-To write tight

-To take time for friends

I'm sure there's more but enough about me. What did you learn in 2009?

Sharon
www.sharoncullen.net

Latest Release:




Read excerpt

What if you lived forever?

A few years ago I asked my husband that question. What if you lived forever? And if you did, imagine what it would be like, the things you would see. Little did I know but that conversation would spark an idea for my book, A Forever Kind of Thing.

I love thinking the "What if" scenarios. All of my stories have started off with a "What if" question.

What if my hero was cursed to live forever?

What if you open your front door and there stands your old boyfriend, the love of your life who walked out of your life years ago with no word, no note, nothing? (Deception).

What if a man couldn't touch a woman? What if something so horrific happened to him that he physically couldn't touch a woman? (Redemption)

Sometimes the best part of the "What if" game is the "What if" questions that stem from it, spiraling out like ripples on a pond, getting bigger and bigger.

What if the boyfriend who left you years ago was beaten and bloody and barely conscious when you open that door?

What if the hero who couldn't touch found an unconscious pregnant woman and had to drag her out of wrecked car?

What if I paired my poor tortured Gypsy who's cursed to live forever with a woman who's fated to die young?

The best part about this game is that the possibilities are endless. And you can play it everywhere.

While stuck at a red light: What if the guy next to me runs the red light, crashes into another car and meets the love of his life? (Accidental Love)

While walking the dog: What if the overweight girl you went to high school with shows up at the high school reunion a total babe? (Hands Off)

What if you could hear one particular voice in your head, a voice you've heard all your life. A voice connected to a very real person and suddenly you stop hearing that voice? (The Power of Love)

See what I mean? Come on, play with me.

What if...

Sharon
www.sharoncullen.net