Introducing Madelle Morgan and her release Diamond Lust

I am so happy to share my excitement at being a newly published author with Hannah and all readers of her blog. My debut romantic suspense, Diamond Lust, was released February 18 by Cerridwen Press.

This book had its genesis back in the 80s when I was a 20-something engineer based in Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories. During five years of flying over vast empty landscapes and short stays in various tiny communities, I developed a deep love and respect for the Arctic and its people. That respect includes an awareness of the strength and resilience northerners require to survive in what can be a dangerous and unforgiving environment where in winter temperatures drop to -40, daylight is nil for weeks, and help can be hours away. The men are real men. The women are so strong!

Gems and crystals fascinate me; I almost chose to study geological engineering instead of civil engineering. When diamond deposits were discovered in Canada’s far north in the 90s, I’d found the hook for the story I wanted to set in the north. The premise for Diamond Lust was born. After all, what woman does not lust after a diamond or two?

Petra Paris is a professional diamond-hunter, a beautiful field geologist on a mission to collect drill core samples indicating high grade rough diamonds. If she does not return from a remote diamond mine site in the Arctic within five days, her dad’s career will be ruined. The CEO of Excelsior Mining and Exploration had her father charged for fraudulently salting the mine’s preliminary drilling results. She suspects the CEO is trying to divert attention from his own criminal activities, but has no proof. What’s crystal clear is that someone is trying to stop her.

Seth Cooper is a police detective assigned to the Diamond Protection Unit. When a mine employee with a gut full of priceless pebbles dies trying to smuggle them out of the open pit mine site accessible only by air, Seth goes undercover as a charter company pilot to investigate.

Needing an excuse to infiltrate the mining camp and search for the smugglers at the source, he convinces Petra to allow him to pose as her boyfriend so he can overnight in the mine dormitory. No fool, she agrees; she needs all the protection she can get.

But Seth didn’t anticipate that Petra’s arrival at the mine would spook the smugglers, triggering events that lead to murder. When Petra refuses to leave the mine site without the drill cores necessary to absolve her father, Seth must identify the killers before she becomes the next victim.

To read more, see Chapter 1 on the Cerridwen Press web site.

If diamonds and/or Canada’s north fascinate you too, visit my blog at www.madellemorgan.com .

Guest Madelle Morgan is a member of the Ottawa Romance Writers chapter of RWA, and works for the federal government in Canada’s capital. Diamond Lust is her fourth completed manuscript.

Valentine's offer you simply can't refuse

Well Happy Olympics and Happy Valentine’s day weekend. It’s a weekend for chocolate for couples and those who are single as well. This single gall will stick with cookies. In honour of Valentine’s my publisher is offering the ebook to my award nominated romantic suspense DEADLY SECRETS for FREE. Yep it’s completely free. All you have to do is go to LBF Books and get a copy.

What I hope to donate this weekend is over $100, that means 400 free downloads. So please help me by getting a download or if you want me to make a bigger donation pick up a print copy at the site or anywhere it’s available online.

Guest Author - Brynna Curry

The wizard's taking over...

Good morning! A big thank you to Ms. Howell for allowing me to visit with you today! I write light paranormal romance and suspense while feeding my love of books as a book reviewer for You Gotta Read Reviews. I'm the forth member of the Frightening Journeys blog paranormal writers and serve as a judge for several RWA contests a year. On a personal note, I'm married to my high school sweetheart with a son and
two daughters. *One commentor will win a copy of Earth Enchanted. Please check back tommorow for announcement*

I thought I'd talk a little bit about Earth Enchanted and the Elemental Magic Series. *jumps as a hand touches her shoulder*

Yeah, you could, but I'd bet your blog readers would rather hang out with me. You and your 'cat' feet. You scared me half to death, Devin, just whose the author here? *takes the keyboard away from Devin*

~Always spoiling my fun. *smiles*

You're smiling. No. Wait. That's not why I gave you magic. What about your creed to harm none? You wouldn't dare.

You know I would...and enjoy it, besides when have I ever played by the book. *conjures blue fireball with a wave of his hands* This won't hurt a bit. It's cold fire. *claps fireball over Brynna's head. showering sparks of blue enveloping her in a force field* She's fine really. I'll let her out when it's time for me to go.

So, you want to know about Earth Enchanted? It all started a thousand years ago with a spell. My cousin and teacher Daemon fell for a healer named Briella after she rescued him from the sea. He would never have been there in the first place, but he went against Laird McLoch's wishes and continued to help me hone my magic. My father wanted me to forget my powers and learn to rule our clan. Thanks to Briella's sister
Arianne's scheming, Daemon, Briella and Arianne were turned into the elements they called to for power.

While Daemon cast his dark magic, I was deep in battle with the laird of a rival clan. My father had fallen along with many of our clansmen. Covered in the blood of my kin, I knew I would die under the blade of that dirty cur's sword. All at once I could see with my mind's eye the power Daemon had unleashed and I knew how to save my clan. I called forth a great ring of fire and surrounded the village walls with it, protecting the women and children inside, but I couldn't have known the consequences of mixing magics would bar me from my home or that my fire would destroy every last McGavin on McLoch land. As dead to my clan as my father, I left Scotland and went to Ireland to break the spell, but only Daemon and Briella's descendants could do that.

For a thousand years I've been waiting for someone to break the spell. Funny thing is only love is powerful enough to fight back Daemon's magic and free us all.

*releases force field* See now that wasn't so bad.

So you say. You know I'm claustophobic. I'd like to put you in a bubble.

I'm her favorite. Later.

As I was saying, Earth Enchanted is the first in a series of five books featuring the Corrigans from Ireland, a family with a ancestry of mages. Liv Corrigan, telepath and writer, visits her brother in the states only to find he's neck deep in a diamond smuggling ring. While there she meets ex-cop Jackson Roarke, a man with secrets still reeling from his wife's death. Here is a short blurb.


EARTH ENCHANTED- Elemental Magic Series Book One

BLURB: Writer Liv Corrigan has the worst luck with men -- her telepathy tends to make them run for the hills. When she meets widower and ex-cop Jack Roarke, she decides to keep her talent hidden. Things are looking up until their third date crashes and burns as the man who murdered Jack’s wife turns out to be after him too. Injured, Jack retreats with Liv to his house under armed guard. But with Liv’s mysteries rapidly coming unraveled, a diamond-thief killer to stop and passion in the air, the safe house is anything but safe for their hearts!

After EE, To Take Up The Sword flash forwards to the end of the trial for Ashton Smythe, Gueraldi's (the villian from EE) right hand man. When Smythe is set free, Agent Spiller (EE), convinced Serena Roarke hid more diamonds there, goes back to Alabama in search of missing evidence that would have convicted her killer. Leannan O'Neal, Serena's sister, goes into the wind after the destruction of her home and threats on her life. She meets up with Spiller and together they try to get the diamonds to safety before both are killed. You can find out more about each book in the series by visiting my website and clicking the Elemental Magic tab. It's been a pleasure visiting with you today. I'll be here to answer any comments or questions you might have.

Be blessed,

Brynna
http://brynnacurrybriannaroarkebooks.webs.com/
http://brynnacurrybriannaroarkebooks.blogspot.com

On Twitter as BrynnaCurry on Facebook as Brynna Curry

Earth Enchanted- Available now from Lyrical Press, Inc. To Take Up the Sword- September 2010 from Lyrical Press, Inc. Wait for the Wind- January 2011 from Lyrical Press, Inc. Sea's Sorceress- April 2011 from Lyrical Press, Inc..

Fire's Ice- August 2011 from Lyrical Press, Inc.

Busy, busy, busy

Handsome dude, isn't he.  It's the cover for my March book which is a reissue of a 1999 Murray book.  It's about Nigel, the second of the original 3 brothers.  Always wanted my name printed on a studly chest.  Snicker.

Things have been a little crazy here.  Yes, I finished IF HE"S WILD - which comes out in June - several weeks ago and have already been through the copy-edits, but now have the page proofs ready to be looked through.  Get them in the mail on Monday(along with a bunch of prizes won that need to get out, too) and then get back to finishing the next vamp tale.

The vamp tale was being touchy.  Adeline and Lachann were dragging their feet and I wasn't happy with the start.  So - in puzzling over it and typing up the first three pages to take to a writer's retreat yesterday - I suddenly had an idea how to perk up the beginning.  Took the prologue I had just created to the retreat, read it to my fellow RIRW(Rhode Island Romance Writers) members and got a great response so will now do some reworking of the start.

And that brings me to the value of such retreats.  They are small, they are usually attended by just your own writers' group, a few writer friends, or a limited number of attendees to one put on by a chapter.  Small numbers, writers intent on working on their craft and talking, talking, talking about writing.  I always find them enervating.  At a regular meeting of your writers group, there is business, then a talk by someone, and a few short breaks and then everyone has to go home.  Even a critique group can have a more or less set agenda.   A retreat is by the group, for the group, and for the art of writing.  Yes, there are some exercises and some talks but the biggest - and best - part is getting together with other writers and talking - even if sometimes it's just about all the other things in your life.

To my way of thinking - small is good.  There were 18 of us at this retreat.  A good turnout yet still intimate.  I've also been to one with just two women (although we hope to add to that number next year)  You want one where there can be a lot of talking, a lot of discussion, and the exercises can be done by all and enjoyed by all.   Sharing a small piece of your current work in progress for input by the others also gets the ball rolling and the input can be invaluable.

So now feel raring to go.  Have had some fun and a lot of inspiration as well as the very important boost to the spirit one gets from peer approval.  I'll get this vamp tale out and then start right to work on the next Murray story.  Simon Innes and his lady are itching for me to get off the stick and get working.  Now I am ready to do so.

Oh - and if any of you are in the area of Cumberland RI - I plus 14 other New England writers will be there to talk about their writing, sell, and sign their books.  Monday, 2/8 from 6:30 - 8:30pm at the Cumberland Library.  I'm going to try and find the link to put up but might not be able to get it up in time.  These things can often defeat me.  Check out my website for the full info and the link - http://www.hannahhowell.com/
Hope all of you in the path of those nasty snow storms are doing all right!  Take care and stay warm!