tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16101760457458120522024-03-14T11:32:35.880-07:00Hannah HowellAuthor of historical romance. Views on writing, life, and booksHannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-87263465792374720192012-08-06T12:44:00.000-07:002012-08-06T12:44:06.141-07:00Eggs-cetera by JoMarie DeGioia<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkJ-2wfypTfqwcKCpLiQKEYdRlL7dx6nBj9ipebmQ2HdMLEH8Tw7mdUnYP3dp_eVAAz4D8nY1WA8qFgiRTt5pqsdE1mnMQHEVfomu9r_Rp0kZZowtx4bbPkz5seSaQ4pLHXdwGEtgmcRr/s1600/PrideandFire200X300.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/AVvXsEgmkJ-2wfypTfqwcKCpLiQKEYdRlL7dx6nBj9ipebmQ2HdMLEH8Tw7mdUnYP3dp_eVAAz4D8nY1WA8qFgiRTt5pqsdE1mnMQHEVfomu9r_Rp0kZZowtx4bbPkz5seSaQ4pLHXdwGEtgmcRr/s1600/PrideandFire200X300.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">First I’d like to thank Hannah for inviting me. It’s so nice to be here! I thought long and hard about what to blog about today, and then just decided to give my poor brain free rein. Dangerous. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Okay, so like many of my writer friends I’m trying to juggle a busy writing schedule. I’m published in Historical Romance, published under another name in Erotic Romance and aspiring to be published in Young Adult fiction. I hop around among genres, channeling different personalities and sensibilities and, let’s face it, sensuality-levels. I also have a lot going on at home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The kids are in the process of trying to sell their house up north, and have moved in with me here in </span><st1:state><st1:place><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Florida</span></st1:place></st1:state><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. With their adorable baby son and three cats. So we’re now a couple with one college-aged daughter still at home, our other “out of the nest” daughter back inside the nest with her husband, and my baby grandson Anthony. So all of my eggs are now in one basket. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Anthony is a doll and a half and the apple of his Gammy’s eye. He’s also a lot of work, which years had given a nostalgic sepia tone since raising my daughters. I watch him often, since my son-in-law is going to school. I also work at the bookstore several days a week and try to remain active in my local RWA chapter. They say there are enough hours in the day but maybe the earth’s rotation is quicker here in </span><st1:state><st1:place><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Florida</span></st1:place></st1:state><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, lol.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZW2Z2cD-TsE72bBjjRUcOoum_0OrgmEc9wZCEHOLDaOTwy3gIZJ1pY3ahGXHoOZ-2sKhEm97wcCGYxztPCDdgCGBGjTQkyiOX0roSnTKcuPHB0OsA_RhT4qdrsZViyZzNiJ0247cPuXK/s1600/MORE-THAN-PASSION-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/AVvXsEjfZW2Z2cD-TsE72bBjjRUcOoum_0OrgmEc9wZCEHOLDaOTwy3gIZJ1pY3ahGXHoOZ-2sKhEm97wcCGYxztPCDdgCGBGjTQkyiOX0roSnTKcuPHB0OsA_RhT4qdrsZViyZzNiJ0247cPuXK/s1600/MORE-THAN-PASSION-200x300.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m currently enjoying the recent release of a book near and dear to my heart, More Than Passion from Lachesis Publishing. It’s the rewrite and reboot of my very first Historical Romance, and taking a breather from writing to virtually press some hands is refreshing! I’m hoping to get the release date soon of another Historical Romance from Lachesis, More Than Charming. We’ve been handling the edits but those are winding down. Yeah, I didn’t even touch on the subject of editing in my various genres. Darn that earth’s rotation anyway!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If this post seems a little scrambled, eh hem, that’s not a mistake. While my writing energizes me, when it’s not sapping my strength, I get more than enough love and support from my basket of eggs at home. But I have to say, after collapsing into bed after another long day of watching that now-walking grandson, I’ve come to a conclusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There’s a reason eggs get old.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks again, Hannah. I’d love to hear from readers, too<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>! Please email me at </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:JoMarie@JoMarieDeGioia.com"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">JoMarie@JoMarieDeGioia.com</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> or visit my website, </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.jomariedegioia.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.jomariedegioia.com</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Read an excerpt of <a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-morethanpassionbook1dashingnoblesseries-786974-160.html">More Than Passion</a> and <a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-prideandfirebook2dashingnoblesseries-14320-160.html">Prideand Fire</a>. Pick up copies at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/JoMarie-DeGioia/e/B006HN45BE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/jomarie-degioia?keyword=jomarie+degioia&store=allproducts">BN</a>, <a href="http://www.bookstrand.com/jomarie-degioia">Bookstrand</a>, <a href="http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/a42084/JoMarie-DeGioia/?">Fictionwise</a>, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/jomarie-degioia/id528445463?mt=11">iBookstore</a> and <a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=JoMarie+DeGioia">ARe<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-23011204172840577462012-07-30T08:35:00.001-07:002012-07-30T08:41:51.249-07:00The “Grand Estate” Fantasy and Pushing Boundaries, by Gail Eastwood<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunJiGSFTpnEA7bOZjHjls6ychHRQlywwfaN9FlxEgtuHd5xsqFnbguEbyIzcwsE4e23_2UIqd5slo-xuzCGATsf9njvvhymRKuz5A3CiaBqqRqTj5HYqZHm4vtQj4JW8-UuODxBViCzYO/s1600/eastwoodcover_anunlikelyhero+800x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunJiGSFTpnEA7bOZjHjls6ychHRQlywwfaN9FlxEgtuHd5xsqFnbguEbyIzcwsE4e23_2UIqd5slo-xuzCGATsf9njvvhymRKuz5A3CiaBqqRqTj5HYqZHm4vtQj4JW8-UuODxBViCzYO/s320/eastwoodcover_anunlikelyhero+800x500.jpg" width="198" /></a>Who doesn’t love the fantasy of being ultra-rich and living “the life” on a fabulous estate with servants at your beck and call? At least once in a while? I think that fantasy fuels the appeal of the classic “house party” romances you often find set in Regency England, and in mystery fiction, too. My second Regency e-book reissue, An Unlikely Hero, is a house-party story, and I confess I really loved creating Rivington, the grand ducal estate where the story takes place. The challenge, of course, was to put my own twist on that sort of story, and in doing so I ended up pushing boundaries, too –not intentionally, mind you, it just seems to happen!</div><br />
An Unlikely Hero is the sequel to A Perilous Journey, which I wrote about here recently. I want to thank Hannah for having me back again –especially so soon! Readers who loved the heroine’s brother in that first book kept asking me for his story, but it took a while (two years) for me to discover the beautiful identical twin sisters who stand at the heart of the sequel. I wrote two other romances in the meantime (being reissued later this year). The daughters of the Duke of Roxley, Venetia and Vivian, seemed to have it all –beauty, brains, wealth, rank. The simple fact that they were “beyond the reach” of an impoverished viscount like Gilbey Kentwell was not enough of a story problem for me, there had to be something more. And sure enough, it turned out they were hiding a secret –a disability that even in modern times people still sometimes try to hide. Add a blackmailer and –then- I had a story!<br />
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The question was, could I balance the romantic elements, the grand estate fantasy, and the mystery subplot, and not have the realism of a character with a greatly misunderstood medical condition dash it all like a bucket of cold water? Author Laura Kinsale famously wrote a hero who had suffered a stroke, but her book wasn’t set in a Regency house party, and few of us have her amazing talent. I wanted to make a social comment with my story, too, but knew it had to stay in the background.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There’s plenty of temptation for social comment any time we do a “grand estate” setting for a story –beneath all the grandeur there’s the reality of a caste system that rankles our modern American sensibilities if we forget to check them at the fictional door. I recently visited a couple of the fabulous “Golden Age” mansions in Newport, R.I. with fellow Regency author and friend Elena Greene, and it really made us pause when we thought about the army of 40 servants who had been employed to keep one family’s great estate running in style!</div><br />
Do you enjoy escaping to a fictional grand estate? Like house-party stories? Have any favorites? Or do you find it hard to keep track of all those “guest” characters? What about stories with characters who have physical challenges? Does a medical disability turn you off in a romance, or do you find it can make a character more sympathetic and real? <br />
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An Unlikely Hero was critically acclaimed, a Holt Medallion finalist and a “Top Five Regency” pick from Under the Covers. I will give away a copy to someone who leaves a comment, by random drawing of names, so please do join the conversation, and be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win! And thanks again to Hannah for having me as her guest!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXz5EqilRaeMiy6loXjWjtEcdKtYKCNF0Z-9JrJlvpKwWQ5itd1Z2klMjOP-Od1-OmPcMm0RqiRPV5B-30fTHSKYhJFYcGH_X9fmdkelk3yDpd0vci4orHxtZ933fHaqdnz88I1s0g7QG/s1600/EGreene+&+GEastwood+in+Newport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" eda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXz5EqilRaeMiy6loXjWjtEcdKtYKCNF0Z-9JrJlvpKwWQ5itd1Z2klMjOP-Od1-OmPcMm0RqiRPV5B-30fTHSKYhJFYcGH_X9fmdkelk3yDpd0vci4orHxtZ933fHaqdnz88I1s0g7QG/s320/EGreene+&+GEastwood+in+Newport.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><strong>Gail Eastwood Bio: </strong><br />
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The award-winning author of seven Regency romances published 1994-2002 by Signet/NAL/Penguin, Gail Eastwood gave up writing for ten years to take care of family members with health issues. Now her books are being reissued for the e-book market and she has started work on a new one. For more information, visit Gail on Facebook or her website:<br />
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www.facebook.com/gaileastwoodauthor<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">www.gaileastwoodauthor.com</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Buy links:</div><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/An-Unlikely-Hero-InterMix-ebook/dp/B008F3YMHG/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2">AMAZON</a> & <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-unlikely-hero-gail-eastwood/1000159098?ean=9781101578858">BN</a> <br />
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<strong>AN UNLIKELY HERO</strong> story synopsis:<br />
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Pried from his books at Cambridge, scholarly Gilbey Kentwell, Viscount Cranford, is a reluctant guest at a house party featuring many of the highest ranking members of the ton. Trying to meet the expectations of everyone around him is challenge enough for his wits. His best friend Nicholas, son of the Duke of Roxley, has invited him particularly to help keep an eye on Nicholas’s twin sisters “the lamb and the lioness”, who are meant to choose husbands from among the gathered guests. The Duke himself has made it clear that Gilbey is not an eligible parti and must keep his distance from the beautiful twins. The suitors among the guests have made it clear they don’t appreciate any perceived competition from Gilbey. But Fate seems to have other ideas, landing him repeatedly in the twins’ path and the unwanted center of attention. When he discovers the identical sisters are hiding a deep secret and that a blackmailer seeks to thwart the purpose of the party, how can a hero worth his salt not step in to help them? What help is there for his heart, irretrievably lost to a twin he can never have?<br />
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EXCERPT from <strong>AN UNLIKELY HERO</strong><br />
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The path Venetia had taken was much narrower and obviously less traveled than any that had been used for the race. Ducking tree branches, Gilbey guessed that she had chosen a shortcut in an attempt to catch up to the main group. He did not think she knew that he was following.<br />
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The path led generally downward and Gilbey was careful to keep his weight centered. He was not at all prepared to pull up quickly when he and old Jonquil rounded a curve and nearly ran into Venetia’s horse. The roan was standing riderless by a fallen tree across the path. <br />
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What had happened was clear at once. The ground sloped downhill rather steeply on the other side of the tree trunk, and the horse had obviously refused the jump. Unprepared and riding a bit too fast, Venetia had sailed over it without him. She sat hatless in a muddy pool at the bottom of the decline with leaves sticking to her habit and her hair halfway unpinned. To Gilbey’s relief she did not appear to be injured.<br />
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Gilbey dismounted. Pushing some branches out of the way, he climbed over the fallen tree and started down the leaf-strewn slope toward her. He spied her hat and retrieved it from a bush, brushing more leaves from the lace veil. He noticed that there was a rip in it. In the meantime, he heard Venetia mutter a few rather unladylike phrases. <br />
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“Forget something?” he asked as he reached the bottom. “I noticed your horse decided not to join you.”<br />
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“It would have to be you that came along,” she said ungraciously.<br />
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“It was me or no one.” He grinned. “Where on earth were you going? Besides down this hill, I mean.”<br />
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She did not answer.<br />
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“I found your hat. Looks a little the worse for wear.” He held it out to her and she jammed it onto her head.<br />
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She looks ready to spit, he thought, and reflected that he had never seen her angry before. The fact was, he thought she looked particularly charming, with her hair coming loose and a smudge of mud on her nose. This was the real Venetia, not the perfectly groomed beauty he was used to seeing, and he liked what he saw.<br />
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“This happens to be a shortcut,” she said finally. “I lost my hat earlier and had to go back for it. I wanted to catch up.”<br />
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He waved a hand at her sitting in the puddle. “Looks like an odd way to go about it, if you ask me. But then you didn’t ask, did you? I’m certain you know best.”<br />
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He turned and started back up the slope. <br />
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“Where are you going?”<br />
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“To get Jonquil. I want to show her that there is a place to land on the other side of that tree.”<br />
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“You aren’t going to help me up?”<br />
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“Oh, I doubt if I have enough wit to do that.”<br />
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Retribution might not be gentlemanly, but it tasted very sweet. Behind him he heard the sounds of her struggling to get up.<br />
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“Ooh, you wretched man! I hate you!”<br />
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Something struck him just below his shoulder blades. He put a hand back and brought away gloved fingers covered with mud. The little vixen! He turned and saw her standing there, her heavy skirts soiled , wet, and clinging to her. As she bent down to scoop up another handful of ammunition, he bounded back down the hill. <br />
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“Is it full-fledged war, then?” he asked, grabbing her arm. “Flinging insults is no longer enough?”<br />
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But something happened the moment he touched her. He did not feel at all warlike. “Rumor has it that you think I am witless and utterly boring.” He stared down into her beautiful eyes, searching for the truth. <br />
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“Well, I –”<br />
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She did not finish. The very air around them seemed charged. In her eyes he thought he saw a message quite different from anything she had said.<br />
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“Tell me if you find this boring, then,” he said softly, his voice husky. Quite ignoring the mud that covered her, he slipped his arms around her and brought her against him. He found her sweet lips and proceeded to kiss her as thoroughly as he knew how.Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-62860354253887477012012-06-18T04:28:00.000-07:002012-06-18T04:28:05.250-07:00What is Magic by Brynna Curry*Brynna is giving away a print copy of Charmed (Elemental Magic Anthology Vol. 1) containing Earth Enchanted, To Take Up the Sword, and Wait for the Wind to one commentor today. Winner will be drawn June 19th at 4:00pm CST and announced within the comment section of this post. To enter, please leave your name and email address with your comment. <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBNTNTggMcU49X4hJ2o_QE98lD4prRlFJOmaZU4vFuOw4tSgwxngf42Chh6LURrkaRegh7dr5g04Y7EHfdh_1qpb0mKWKD5Y0TYoX8KLHWLAWoNtUC2UAZdcAW8d0Yg-uaZCUu8Mp90X2/s1600/Brynna+Curry_pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBNTNTggMcU49X4hJ2o_QE98lD4prRlFJOmaZU4vFuOw4tSgwxngf42Chh6LURrkaRegh7dr5g04Y7EHfdh_1qpb0mKWKD5Y0TYoX8KLHWLAWoNtUC2UAZdcAW8d0Yg-uaZCUu8Mp90X2/s1600/Brynna+Curry_pic.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">What is magic? Does the word conjure images of wild, wicked spells, a tangible force that can both save and destroy? A stranger’s kindness? Or do you think of the changing leaves of Fall, the Spring flowers that seem to appear overnight? Perhaps magic is like beauty, forever in the eyes of the beholder, different for everyone.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For Devin McLoch, magic has always meant power. As a phoenix— the physical embodiment of pure fire— Dev used his gift to protect those he loved until he was betrayed by his cousin Daemon. Exiled from Scotland by his own magic, he lashed out in frustration. Devin became a thief and mercenary to survive, amassing his fortune, but always living by one simple creed. An it harm none.</div><br />
A thousand years, later he’s turned away from darker pursuits to lead a life of peace, protecting those he loves and considers part of his clan. He enjoys teaching magic to Allaina and the other Corrigan children, but something is missing in his life. Ari<br />
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Bound by magic, the sorceress is the one woman he can never forget. Ari must be given a chance to change, to accept her heart and now his. Over time he’s watched Arianne Farrell in the reflections of ancient gems, felt her calling to him in dreams. <br />
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But his Ari has a dark power of her own, secrets she keeps locked up tight for fear of being betrayed again by those she loves. According to Liv Roarke’s (Earth Enchanted) legend she tried to destroy her sister, but Ari’s generosity and kindness tell a much different story.<br />
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The Elemental Magic series comes to a close with Fire’s Ice. It’s a little bittersweet to give up characters that have been with you so long, but I’m pleased with the way things turned out. <br />
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Come with me to a castle in the Scottish highlands where there is magic in the air, a fire burning in the hearth and a fat black cat named Tessa stretched out on the rug at Devin's feet. We've been waiting for you. <br />
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Author Bio: Paranormal romance and romantic suspense author Brynna Curry is a lifelong believer in the importance of reading. She enjoys the writing process, helping others hone their craft by lending her time to review books, critique manuscripts and serving as a contest judge. She loves hearing from her readers.<br />
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When she isn’t writing, she’s often found haunting the library for new books to read, at the park with her children, or just spending an quiet evening at home with her husband Jackie watching old westerns on TV. She makes her home in North Alabama where the history is rich with music and culture, forests and lakes are abundant and beautiful, and every day is another adventure.<br />
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Visit her at <a href="http://www.brynnacurry.com/">http://www.brynnacurry.com/</a> <br />
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Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brynna-Curry/123687767669232">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brynna-Curry/123687767669232</a> <br />
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Twitter: @BrynnaCurry <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/brynnacurry">http://twitter.com/#!/brynnacurry</a> <br />
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Buy Links<br />
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Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brynna-Curry/e/B0043WRLUS">http://www.amazon.com/Brynna-Curry/e/B0043WRLUS</a> <br />
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B&N.com: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/brynna-curry">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/brynna-curry</a> <br />
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Sony: <a href="http://ebookstore.sony.com/author/brynna-curry_135783">http://ebookstore.sony.com/author/brynna-curry_135783</a> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjgRDxpl_AR36vp1skIowQLKesA4EILn3GslRXassNr4y46hcADlw0KYzO5KRfnFAZO4mz1JfyqisT-M4pDKr7mffBW3MGiaQwTZPFvdHqyQkiPqKKvqAZ-IpwgrLBKQYzaLE4hreOQWB/s1600/firesice333x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjgRDxpl_AR36vp1skIowQLKesA4EILn3GslRXassNr4y46hcADlw0KYzO5KRfnFAZO4mz1JfyqisT-M4pDKr7mffBW3MGiaQwTZPFvdHqyQkiPqKKvqAZ-IpwgrLBKQYzaLE4hreOQWB/s320/firesice333x500.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Fire’s Ice</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Blurb: Ultimate power, or endless love?<br />
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Born the son of a Scottish laird a thousand years ago, but now trapped by his cousin's spell, Devin McLoch has seen countless battles and death. The erstwhile thief has turned away from darker pursuits to lead a life of peace, protecting those he loves and considers part of his clan. However, there is one woman he can never forget, who must be given a chance to change, to accept her heart and his.<br />
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Arianne Farrell is just as dangerous and intoxicating as her power. Imprisoned in an ancient stone dance more than a thousand years ago, her only chance at freedom from the spell is through love--a love she denied. When Devin asks for her aid to save another from imminent death, she realizes there is more at stake than just her freedom or her heart.<br />
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WARNING: Two stubborn sexy wizards using magic with no bounds, scorching love scenes, and happy ever after. Ever play with fire?<br />
Excerpt<br />
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Excerpt #1 – (Steamy) <br />
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Dark, rich chocolate colored bedding echoed the tile framing the fireplace. Dainty furniture, curved legs and soft cushions, yet the poster bed was large and sturdy. She’d seen it before while she visited his dreams. Definitely Devin’s room. And remembering didn’t help the ache snaking through her body.<br />
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Walking into the en suite, the first thing to catch her eyes was the floor-to-ceiling mirror covering one wall. Arianne studied her reflection. Her long, dark curls were mussed and tangled around a pale face. Her lips were pink and just a bit swollen from Devin’s kiss. The only thing she wore was a long white shirt. Sniffing the collar, she smelled the crisp, clean fragrance clinging to the material. His shirt, not conjured. Devin didn’t wear cologne, but the scent of his soap always stayed with her. He must have changed her clothes. What else had she missed?<br />
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Because I love you. Men were ever a puzzle. Still, hadn’t she known? The dreams they shared had changed over time, slow and sweet instead of hot and fierce. A softness came over his face each night she visited his sleep, the same one she had seen this morning. Just that look was enough to have her quaking inside.<br />
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She found a bottle of bubble bath on the side of the tub. Thanks to Devin's dreams and Allie's influence, she had knowledge of modern conveniences such as indoor plumbing. Turning the faucet on hot, Arianne poured two capfuls under the stream and let the water run until the big round tub filled. Reluctantly, she unfastened the shirt buttons and let the material fall away to the floor. Slipping into the frothy bubbles, she sighed and let the reality of her situation sink in.<br />
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I am finally out of that wretched circle. True enough, but she was still in a prison of sorts. One with running water, walls, food that didn’t taste like air, and a sexy male witch bent on driving her to frustration. Not so bad, all things considered.<br />
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Being trapped in the stone dance didn’t mean she hadn’t noticed changes in the world around her for a thousand years. She tipped her feet out of the water, waved toward them, and turned her toenails a bright fiery red. Allie brought her little things from the modern world. Mostly books filled with sweet love stories; more than a few of them brought a blush to her cheeks. What would Ryan think of his daughter’s taste in novels? Better not to head down that road. Allie had dreams of being a writer like her aunt and uncle. If what she liked to read was any indication, she’d write hot. Very hot. Speaking of hot, a soft tapping sounded at the door. Her maddening laird had returned<br />
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“Okay in there?” His voice sounded hesitant. “Breakfast is ready.”<br />
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Time to ruffle the phoenix’s feathers a bit. “There is no need to be shy, Devin. You can come in.”<br />
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*****<br />
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The sound of splashing water rippled past his ears. Temptress.<br />
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Knowing Ari was just on the other side of the door, naked and wet, willing to succumb to every fantasy he could imagine, was a torment in itself. All he had to do was accept her sultry invitation and toss aside his plan. But she deserved a sweet slide into love, not the wild, mad rush of pleasure he craved. One palm rested on the door of its own volition, ready to comply. Not yet. Now, if only his traitorous body would listen to his heart. “That depends, sweetheart.”<br />
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“Oh?” she called out from the other side. “On what?” <br />
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Devin chuckled at the line, but he just couldn’t resist teasing her. “What are you wearing?” <br />
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She laughed. “Bubbles. Lots of bubbles. Share them with me.”<br />
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He saw it so clearly. Ari’s creamy skin peeking through the frothy bubbles. Open, welcoming. Need clawed under the skin, screamed at him. Why the hell not? Feeling a quiver of desire vibrate through his body, he called her bluff. “And what would you have me do with those bubbles? Hmm, Ari?”<br />
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“Oh, I am sure you could think of something. Something deliciously wicked. I have shared your dreams. I know your fantasies, Devin.”<br />
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Oh, you have no idea. His mind made up, Devin opened the door.<br />
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She lay in his huge garden tub, feet propped up on the rim, eyes closed, waterfall of black hair piled on top of her head. A soft smile graced her face. So she was enjoying their teasing banter. “Have you changed your mind and decided to join me?”<br />
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“Maybe.” No reason he couldn’t push them both to the edge. Pulling the t-shirt over his head, Devin tossed it into the corner. He laid his cellphone on the sink--out of danger--kneeled by the edge of the tub and dipped one hand into cooling water, using his magic to heat it.<br />
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“Mmm. Nice.”<br />
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He let his voice drop to a whisper as he leaned close to her ear. “I want to slick my hands over every inch of your skin until you shiver from the heat.” His fingers found the back of her knee in the water and trailed higher along the inside of her thigh. “And then…”<br />
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A soft “Devin” slipped from her lips as Arianne’s eyes flew open. “And then…”<br />
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Excerpt Link: <a href="http://www.lyricalpress.com/samples/brynnacurry_firesice.html">http://www.lyricalpress.com/samples/brynnacurry_firesice.html</a>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-4012456713519530382012-06-04T18:41:00.000-07:002012-06-04T18:41:45.528-07:00Why Paranormal Romance Are Teen Boys Not Enough?<span lang="EN-US" style="background: rgb(254, 254, 254); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">A few years ago, </span><st1:state><st1:place><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">New York</span></st1:place></st1:state><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"> was saying that the paranormal market was dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They mentioned the market was gutted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one was interested in anymore paranormal books.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Boy, were they wrong!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UCnVPSemX_HXqrUXgQ4f3-F4llePN-d4721QZJQ4IbKbl1dP3a5MpxvYe4vuR0rRQCkDLagIENWaEpF8XIW6NsWSENRR-tGOZ3oy9R4PhePsFcYIyjeXUj1JkSkx0xkZGuNxv0iVsDBx/s1600/Buffy+%2334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UCnVPSemX_HXqrUXgQ4f3-F4llePN-d4721QZJQ4IbKbl1dP3a5MpxvYe4vuR0rRQCkDLagIENWaEpF8XIW6NsWSENRR-tGOZ3oy9R4PhePsFcYIyjeXUj1JkSkx0xkZGuNxv0iVsDBx/s320/Buffy+%2334.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">My first exposure to a paranormal romance had to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i> back in the later 1990s:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Yes, the writing is amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So is the dialogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What stands out to me is even through Buffy is tough she had one huge weakness: her love interests happen to be vampires. This is all kind of ironic considering she’s a vampire slayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">It seemed any human love connections she made, failed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What can we say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chemistry between Angel and even later Spike, another vampire, is steamy hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it’s a classic and Joss Whedon, has continued the series in comic book format for a whole new generation to love.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">I admit it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love a good paranormal romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Some great examples of some other paranormal finds:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Vampire Diaries</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">This TV series is based on the best selling YA series by L. J. Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this series, Elena, falls for the charms of not one but two brothers who just happen to be vampires. The chemistry between the three crackles with sexual tension not only on the screen but in the books as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch an episode and tell me you’re not under the spell of Ian Somerhalder’s portrayal of Damon.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Embrace<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">The war against fallen angels and humanity has a new heroine. Violet is part Buffy the Vampire Slayer with her kick-ass abilities but also very much human with her feelings towards her hot mentor Lincoln. The chemistry between the two of them is hot. Lincoln happens to be a Grigori and can't have a relationship with her. Then the mysterious Phoenix ups the whole stream factor. He brings intensity when he's around Violet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t blame Violet in her struggle between the two. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Obsidian: The Lux series<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Daemon might be stand-offish and a total jerk but he’s beyond hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s also an alien.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Katy has just moved next door and her first encounter with Daemon is disastrous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then all changes with a touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just say this series is amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see why Katy came under Daemon’s spell.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">WITCH’S BREW</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">This is a story where a witch and a warlock meet and fall for each other. Problem is they are sworn enemies. Kling casts her own spell with characters that are real and multi-layered. The tension and chemistry between our heroine and hero sizzles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Can you tell I love these stories?<span style="background: rgb(254, 254, 254); color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BWUiQ2yHPYJtY4pFkiCExikxrYFKpXUryWyfCbiiaJqEdIoXqLb3ZTy33nKt3PHhuE6GCI9j4UxVWFhwyyjd7XwIfTsdhVwACB-VuqGH-UCesJSNhZSWvEInafqxwdVutkkqzKaj3N3f/s1600/Crossed+Out_200X300.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/AVvXsEh1BWUiQ2yHPYJtY4pFkiCExikxrYFKpXUryWyfCbiiaJqEdIoXqLb3ZTy33nKt3PHhuE6GCI9j4UxVWFhwyyjd7XwIfTsdhVwACB-VuqGH-UCesJSNhZSWvEInafqxwdVutkkqzKaj3N3f/s1600/Crossed+Out_200X300.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">CROSSED OUT</span></i></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">There’s also chemistry between Dylan, the boy next door but when Mark gets on the scene, well, forget it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s totally under Mark’s spell which might not be the best decision she’s made.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Do you think the appeal of YA paranormal romance might be the whole fantasy of the beyond hot boy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the appeal?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">For an excerpt of <a href="http://lachesispublishing.com/proddetail.asp?prod=crossedout">CROSSED OUT</a> and to pick up a copy at</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crossed-Out-Kim-Baccellia/dp/1897562683/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1338772358&sr=8-2">Kindle</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crossed-out-kim-bacccellia/1030718831?ean=9781897562680">BN,</a> <a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Crossed-Out/book-aNJEg39bSkCPT4th04O4Rg/page1.html?s=faMol63wk0CZrIZRkuZPzw&r=1">Kobobooks</a> </span></div>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-56540900707991429232012-05-14T03:36:00.000-07:002012-05-14T03:36:57.288-07:00What would YOU do? by Gail EastwoodThank you so much, Hannah, for this opportunity to visit with your friends and talk a bit about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Perilous-Journey-Regency-InterMix-ebook/dp/B007X5ZFGO/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC&qid=1336991627&sr=8-1">A PERILOUS JOURNEY</a>, the e-book reissue of my award-winning first novel!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Fiction is full of desperate characters pushed to do extraordinary things. How they meet the test measures their courage and strength, and pushes them to grow. That’s what great stories are all about. Do you ever wonder if you would do the same things as the characters you read about, in the same situations? Do you ever yell at your favorite TV or movie characters when you think they are making a mistake?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_otbknz3lkW3-yCS9aCwfhgZl59zZd2PoR05rO0wvE7YdDt6oiJMwqk0X4tQ91V_zl5MZqiRHS7dc0i3tl2VuqoiEUFqbtjQRmShnEkNBYPU0EBQOLHzoNXFj9mo4L1g7CPHprQVwZ-n0/s1600/APerilousJourney-cover_200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_otbknz3lkW3-yCS9aCwfhgZl59zZd2PoR05rO0wvE7YdDt6oiJMwqk0X4tQ91V_zl5MZqiRHS7dc0i3tl2VuqoiEUFqbtjQRmShnEkNBYPU0EBQOLHzoNXFj9mo4L1g7CPHprQVwZ-n0/s1600/APerilousJourney-cover_200x300.jpg" /></a>In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Perilous-Journey-Regency-InterMix-ebook/dp/B007X5ZFGO/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC&qid=1336991627&sr=8-1">A PERILOUS JOURNEY</a>, Gillian Kentwell is faced with a future that horrifies her. Given no alternatives, she chooses to run rather than meekly accept it. Of course, in 1816 Regency England, travel was much more hazardous than it is today, and Gillian’s choice has some dire consequences. She is lucky her twin brother Gilbey decides to go with her, but they are both inexperienced and in trouble before their first day ends! When the Earl of Brinton aids them, they have no idea who he is. Gillian and her brother have plenty of arguments over how they should go on and whether to accept more help from him even after they learn his identity. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Gillian’s distrust begins to melt as her attraction to Brinton heats up, but there are more secrets to learn about the mysterious earl, just as there are more surprises and troubles in store for all three travelers as they try to reach Scotland and outwit their pursuers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Perilous-Journey-Regency-InterMix-ebook/dp/B007X5ZFGO/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC&qid=1336991627&sr=8-1">A PERILOUS JOURNEY</a> is more than a “road” story set in the Regency –it’s also a “coming-of-age” story as Gillian journeys into womanhood and learns the meaning of love. Would you make the same choices she does? Have you ever had to make a decision that meant giving up everything you’d ever known? If so, how did your decision turn out? <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Perilous-Journey-Regency-InterMix-ebook/dp/B007X5ZFGO/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC&qid=1336991627&sr=8-1">A PERILOUS JOURNEY</a> was first published as a Signet Regency Romance in 1994, my debut book. Now it’s available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes as a newly issued e-book under the Intermix imprint from Penguin/NAL. Gillian’s brother’s story, AN UNLIKELY HERO, will be reissued in July, just two months from now, and I have other backlist books that will be coming out this year as well. You can find out more about those, contact me, follow me on Twitter, or “like” me on Facebook all from my handy website: www.gaileastwoodauthor.com. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My publisher has chosen to go quite a different route with the covers for this new line of books, and I would also love to hear what people think about it. Like it? Hate it? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I don’t have any giveaways or contests going yet, but I hope you’ll leave a comment anyway! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Story: Beset by troubles, a young runaway and her twin brother are helped on their journey by a handsome stranger who they later learn is the Earl of Brinton. Crowded inns, bad weather, thieves and Bow Street Runners in pursuit are not enough to stop either the growing attraction between Gillian Kentwell and the earl or the trio’s progress across the miles to Scotland, where Gillian hopes to find freedom and a new life. But will even greater setbacks ahead shatter the fragile trust forged on the road and destroy their chances for happiness?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_otbknz3lkW3-yCS9aCwfhgZl59zZd2PoR05rO0wvE7YdDt6oiJMwqk0X4tQ91V_zl5MZqiRHS7dc0i3tl2VuqoiEUFqbtjQRmShnEkNBYPU0EBQOLHzoNXFj9mo4L1g7CPHprQVwZ-n0/s1600/APerilousJourney-cover_200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_otbknz3lkW3-yCS9aCwfhgZl59zZd2PoR05rO0wvE7YdDt6oiJMwqk0X4tQ91V_zl5MZqiRHS7dc0i3tl2VuqoiEUFqbtjQRmShnEkNBYPU0EBQOLHzoNXFj9mo4L1g7CPHprQVwZ-n0/s1600/APerilousJourney-cover_200x300.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Excerpt: <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">“You must never lose hold of your courage. It is a very precious gift.”</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">She felt his hazel eyes studying her. Did he truly think she was courageous, rather than foolhardy? Her tears had stopped streaming down, although she could feel them clinging to her lashes and lingering treacherously in her eyes. She could not seem to push any words past the lump in her throat, however. She shook her head. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The fingers he had held under her chin moved slowly up to brush back a tendril of chestnut hair from her cheek. “Is this not the same fearless miss who throws rocks at villainous robbers and attacks brigands with wet clothing? You are not going to tell me you are afraid of the dark?”</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In the flickering firelight he looked very much the rogue she had seen in Taunton. His eyes held a glint of mischief, and his unruly dark hair straggled over his forehead. The day’s growth of beard shadowed his jawline and upper lip. His smile was infectious, and Gillian managed to produce a very small one of her own in response.</div><br />
“Better, much better. You needn’t be afraid, you know. Your brother and I will keep watch all night.” His fingers trailed down from her hair to trace the smile on her lips.<br />
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His gentle touch sent fire racing through her veins so suddenly her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened in surprise. She realized the ache of despondency in her heart was melting, rapidly giving way to a very different sort of ache. No! Not again. Yet she could not stop it. <br />
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Anxious lest he detect her reaction, she tried to find her voice. “But what would you do if someone came?” she finally blurted out. “We haven’t any weapons! In fact, we haven’t anything! –no walls to protect or shelter us, no beds to comfort our sleep –no table to eat upon, nothing to eat with! We haven’t even any way to leave!” She looked down at her hands, clenched tightly in her lap. “It is my folly that has brought us all to this.”<br />
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Brinton took Gillian firmly by the shoulders. “If we are here through anyone’s folly, it is certainly not yours. Besides,” he added softly, his eyes on hers, “you are wrong, you know. We have everything here we could ever need.”<br />
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She looked at him sharply, wondering what he could mean and how she could continue to resist him. She believed he was toying with her, yet still she wanted desperately to throw herself into his arms. She could not allow herself to be swept up in his spell. Instead, she said, “Have we lost your wits along with everything else?”Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-90611428609989940472012-05-07T03:59:00.001-07:002012-05-07T03:59:25.379-07:00Reintroducing Louise Clark<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeESXjEWtzlWJJX63RN35xRm0KET8jdgSDXRDqrOe6bovU5vkVqF9VXBgCoQm-nVPP5Le8FTgc9bxqSVYv8-oex3Gf6Qh2fLT43sqaoDd6Hc67e_Ak6iYaEAqtIj4aK879JpwEBXRj630/s1600/Fighting-Fate-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeESXjEWtzlWJJX63RN35xRm0KET8jdgSDXRDqrOe6bovU5vkVqF9VXBgCoQm-nVPP5Le8FTgc9bxqSVYv8-oex3Gf6Qh2fLT43sqaoDd6Hc67e_Ak6iYaEAqtIj4aK879JpwEBXRj630/s1600/Fighting-Fate-200x300.jpg" /></a>Many thanks to Hannah Howell for allowing me to visit her blog and talk about my new release, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Fate-ebook/dp/B007WA33GY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336388140&sr=8-1">Fighting Fate</a>. My name is Louise Clark and I’ve had six—no seven!—books published. All but <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Fate-ebook/dp/B007WA33GY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336388140&sr=8-1">Fighting Fate</a> were published in the 20th century, so some of you may remember me, but many will not. I began writing contemporary series books for Silhouette using the pen name Roslyn MacDonald. I’m a history major and I’ve always loved the past, so when the opportunity came to write some historical romances I did. Those came out under my own name in the 1990s. </div>
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Then came kids. </div>
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Kids, I discovered, take up a lot of your time. In my life, that meant the business side of writing was submerged beneath family, grad school and then job. Even though I wasn’t doing much by way of selling my work, I didn’t stop writing though. Now that I am restarting my publishing career, I’ve got lots of material to polish and market. Whether contemporary, historical or time travel (like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Fate-ebook/dp/B007WA33GY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336388140&sr=8-1">Fighting Fate</a>) my new books will all be coming out under Louise Clark, so I hope you’ll keep my name in mind.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Fate-ebook/dp/B007WA33GY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336388140&sr=8-1">Fighting Fate</a> is a contemporary time travel. Instead of the usual scenario where one of the characters goes back into the past, the time traveler in this story comes from the year 1772 into the present. Using that twist was a lot of fun because it allowed me to play with the differences between then and now. <br />
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What would a man from 1772 find puzzling about our world? Big things like cars, for sure. Paved roads, miles of strip malls where there used to be fields, congestion. Everyday things like refrigerators and flush toilets. And, oh yes, computers, cell phones and tablets. What he wouldn’t find different are people and the way they behave. Since people are at the core of any story, the combination gave me lots of scope to create a touching story with a shot through with a light vein of humor. <br />
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When you write a time travel there’s always a lot of world building that has to happen. How does the person move through time? When he reaches the new time period is he there forever? Or will he have to go back? How do other people react to the stranger? Will the past—or the future—be affected? So not only did I fall in love with my characters in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Fate-ebook/dp/B007WA33GY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336388140&sr=8-1">Fighting Fate</a> (I always do!), but I also was intrigued by the time travel world they lived in. Though I wrote <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Fate-ebook/dp/B007WA33GY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336388140&sr=8-1">Fighting Fate</a> to be a stand alone novel, I left the door ajar, so I could explore their world more. <br />
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I’m delighted to say that I will be doing that. Joanna D’Angelo and LeeAnn Lessard at Lachesis Publishing have both expressed their enthusiasm for the “Fate” series. They want to know how Faith and Andrew met and they want to read Andrew’s story. I’m happy to oblige. I’ve got four new stories in the series forming in my mind and I’ll be starting work on the first this summer.Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-18861556611130673482012-03-05T04:20:00.000-08:002012-03-05T04:20:35.346-08:00IF AT FIRST YOU DON¹T SUCCEED MAKE A MOVIE! by Joanna D'Angelo<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span lang="EN-US">I’m so excited to be blogging here at Hannah Howell’s home base. Thank you so much Hannah for the invite!</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuaIPSUbzTBuI7UpkXL9V7dIPrSOIS5ZdS6v2Lwq_HEe-Pk_p57vsDO7v8zCocf2cZkvFK6BMrk8P6RZ-pMkz6eaiGzWQ9YCalq6CK9fM5XprkeiGxjYJDbeZwm45bxwxSMeVAEFU4kJ9z/s1600/lrg003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuaIPSUbzTBuI7UpkXL9V7dIPrSOIS5ZdS6v2Lwq_HEe-Pk_p57vsDO7v8zCocf2cZkvFK6BMrk8P6RZ-pMkz6eaiGzWQ9YCalq6CK9fM5XprkeiGxjYJDbeZwm45bxwxSMeVAEFU4kJ9z/s320/lrg003.jpg" uda="true" width="209" /></a><span lang="EN-US">If someone told me last year at this time that I’d become the VP Editorial at <a href="http://www.lachesispublishing.com/">Lachesis Publishing</a>, I would have laughed and laughed. What? No way. I’m working in TV and burning to do another documentary. Well, sometimes our journeys take us on an interesting detour.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span lang="EN-US">But how did I get here exactly? </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span lang="EN-US">Let me briefly take you back in time to the year 1991 (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ahem</i>). I was graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism at Carleton University and looking for summer work because I was continuing my education in the MA program in the fall. As I perused the job board outside the main office in the journalism department, I spotted an ad for a very cool job. Harlequin Books was looking for a copy editor but the job was in Toronto at their head office and it was full time. Now, the reason why I was so excited was because I had been a fan of romance novels since I first discovered Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gush</i>).</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Unfortunately, I couldn’t apply for the job because of school—but I always wondered what if? After my MA I ended up working in radio and print and then in TV and film so I have no complaints. Getting a chance to go to the Cannes Film Festival was definitely a highlight of my career.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">But my love of romance novels was always there, so eventually I brought my two loves—film and romance fiction together and made a documentary about the world of romance called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Who’s Afraid of Happy Endings?</i> It was during my research phase that I met and got to know LeeAnn Lessard—a cracker jack PR gal who boasted a client roster of terrific romance writers including the wonderful Hannah Howell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept in touch with LeeAnn over the years and when she and her talented business partner Louise Clark, who is also a romance writer, approached me about coming on board at Lachesis, it didn’t take me long to say a resounding YES! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">I had come full circle—and while I hadn’t gone the more traditional route in getting here —my years writing and editing in various media have given me a unique perspective on the publishing world. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Bride-ebook/dp/B007EUX9YI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1330916887&sr=1-1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobstZd6gy5F1luxEHFRav_H42HN8zhBl1djeeSZUvUS1nAnABTTz6RlLQYV5975KZKSYboqLheYhsr0xCYSEgzazpHo0ZGs0bzdgsDwDkWnUlhVSxTEXEkH7ZagDag3n36c5c2Mxdm2J_/s1600/Pagan+Bride+200X300.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US">I am thrilled to be working with LeeAnn and Louise who are both smart and savvy as along with our accomplished and dedicated authors who love their craft and our stellar editors behind the scenes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">And now for the really good part! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">We are pleased to announce that we are currently accepting submissions in the areas of horror, science fiction, fantasy, suspense thrillers and erotica. As for romance—(my first love) well, we’ve got some wonderful titles coming out this year and in 2013 so we’ll be looking for romance submissions again in a year or so. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">We’re also planning a snazzy web site makeover later this year—so stay tuned for that! We’ll be back to let you know about our big launch!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span lang="EN-US">In the mean time—I wish you happy reading! </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span lang="EN-US">E-mail submissions to <a href="mailto:joanna@lachesispublishing.com"><span style="color: blue;">joanna@lachesispublishing.com</span></a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-80288206313776408692012-02-27T20:58:00.000-08:002012-02-27T20:58:50.864-08:00Feng Shui by Coreene Callahan<div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">First of all, thanks so much, Hannah, for having me on today. I’m thrilled to be a guest on your blog and have the chance to chat about <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fury of Fire</i></b>, the first novel in my Dragonfury series.</span></span></div><br />
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<div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">This year heralds the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar. Which is serendipitous for me, considering <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fury of Fire</i></b>, showcases a new species of half-dragon, half-human warriors battling to protect humankind. </span></span></div><br />
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<div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjLsNNVZyRW916mxj5sk0FxF1BTRHCMCey173-Ss1cJHAPXsNI0CmeTujhNth4Jtt78JVbmAsr3BqRYoZifCI5D0zdxsNguwoqN0gs5BIez2MEBhS-mUZf6ktvbnsgBmSC7YJY-yQ6OFv/s1600/Fury+Of+Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjLsNNVZyRW916mxj5sk0FxF1BTRHCMCey173-Ss1cJHAPXsNI0CmeTujhNth4Jtt78JVbmAsr3BqRYoZifCI5D0zdxsNguwoqN0gs5BIez2MEBhS-mUZf6ktvbnsgBmSC7YJY-yQ6OFv/s320/Fury+Of+Fire.jpg" width="214" /></a><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">While writing the book, I discovered some interesting things about dragon-shifters as a whole. Chief among them? They are incredibly picky about where they live. So while designing Black Diamond (their lair), I had a few concepts in mind to keep them happy as I built their home.</span></span></div><br />
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<div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">How did I do it? Feng shui, the Chinese practice of space, orientation, and the flow of positive energy (or ch’i). Interesting stuff, so I decided I’d share a few feng shui principles you might like to use in your own homes.</span></span></div><br />
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<div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 13pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 13.0pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">No T.V.s in the bedrooms. A television draws the positive ch’i out of the room and interrupts a good night’s sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 13pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 13.0pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">No mirrors opposite or beside your bed. Mirrors can attract a third party into a relationship, thereby causing tension between you and your significant other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 13pt; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list 13.0pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Place an indoor fountain in your home. Ensure it has a favorable position, and it will attract the things you most want in life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 13pt; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list 13.0pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Install a fish tank. If well positioned, it will tap into the “Divine Water Dragon’s Den” and bring you greater fortune.</span></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 13pt; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list 13.0pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 13pt; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list 13.0pt; text-indent: -13pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Always have a solid wall behind your bed. The wall will allow you to sink into a deeper sleep and you will wake up feeling refreshed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">So, enjoy, go forth, and feng shui! It’s a heck of a lot of fun, and who knows? You may end up achieving all you’ve been dreaming of this year with a little help of the ch’i you draw into your home. And if you like, pick up a copy of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fury of Fire</i></b> to see how feng shui empowers the dragon-shifters and keeps them in positive energy.</span></span></div><br />
<div class="Body" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Coreene will be giving one lucky commentator an ARC of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fury of Fire</i></b>. Please leave you email address below in the comment section. The winner will be chosen at random, and Coreene will be in touch in order to arrange sending the winner a copy of the book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-6776640204603893452012-02-13T09:44:00.000-08:002012-02-13T09:44:57.498-08:00Introducing Kallie LaneThanks so much, Hannah, for inviting me to guest blog and share a glimpse of Dark Abandon with your friends.<br />
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The creation of my heroine, Melena Salera, evolved from this writer’s golden rule—Write What You Know. It’s my favorite recipe; start with a grain of truth and whip it into romantic suspense fantasy.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSBvQCQHDNcQtK2rRq6n0svZGr06moCYd6y-LpxDb5sMfU3HrqOckRiohDz6nYu5u5ioPEvYHKkVycDDNajRBqEw7sqSGIIi_qpbC8YOPVE7MT8ZnDCJuCrG7IKWPA6inWY_AykzoPR_s/s1600/DA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSBvQCQHDNcQtK2rRq6n0svZGr06moCYd6y-LpxDb5sMfU3HrqOckRiohDz6nYu5u5ioPEvYHKkVycDDNajRBqEw7sqSGIIi_qpbC8YOPVE7MT8ZnDCJuCrG7IKWPA6inWY_AykzoPR_s/s1600/DA.jpg" /></a>First, the grain of truth: I was an adopted child and knew about it from a very young age. As embarrassing as this is to admit, as a young teenager I would sometimes blame my adopted parents for grounding me (which I richly deserved), and would hole up in my room feeling unfairly treated. I refer to this as my princess phase. I would launch myself into consoling daydreams where I believed my real parents would never have treated me in such a way. And they would never have expected me to keep my room clean, wash the dishes, or bring boys home for my dad to evil-eye. But, what if I was wrong about them? What if they weren’t the wonderful family I imagined them to be?</div><br />
Enter the fantasy: What happens to a woman who is adopted, yet has no idea about her adoption or her true lineage? How does she cope when accusers believe she has murdered her biological grandmother for a multi-million-dollar inheritance she knows nothing about? Who does she turn to when killers are hot on her trail, and she has no idea who wants her dead?<br />
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There is only one man she can trust. Her grandmother’s lawyer, the Special Ops-reserve unit-warrior, Theo Sauvage, who lives for the day he can drop kick her to prison for killing her grandmother. <br />
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Welcome to Melena’s nightmare—and let the games begin. <br />
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Happy reading everyone! Kallie<br />
<br />
A Shadow Soldier novel<br />
<br />
I will be awarding one lucky commentator a PDF version of DARK ABANDON. Please leave your email addy in the comment section. The winner will be chosen and receive their copy of the book on Sunday, February 19th.<br />
<br />
DARK ABANDON is now available for purchase at <a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=4753">The Wild Rose Press</a> . It is also available at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Abandon-Shadow-Soldier-Novel-ebook/dp/B0077P88PK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329150686&sr=8-1">Amazon</a>. <br />
It will soon be available on Nook, ARe, Bookstrand, Fictionwise, and Barnes & Noble as well.Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-13820860842898081062012-02-06T04:24:00.000-08:002012-02-06T04:26:12.059-08:00Writing about a heroine that rivals the adventures of Stephanie Plumm by J M Griffin<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbweHe2UGCTUOBG8owV-Vq8Lk9XFJb01si3MCz59R8PgxX4oh952uBU0ixQ7qJ7sx1A2ojN9FlcaDGgB122DwDjS9v2u8tHK1AP8YV75tLYufLK3dQOMj8fKUu_urD_jyIZY2zEyg4cbTU/s1600/For%252520Love%252520of%252520Livvy_150X225.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbweHe2UGCTUOBG8owV-Vq8Lk9XFJb01si3MCz59R8PgxX4oh952uBU0ixQ7qJ7sx1A2ojN9FlcaDGgB122DwDjS9v2u8tHK1AP8YV75tLYufLK3dQOMj8fKUu_urD_jyIZY2zEyg4cbTU/s1600/For%252520Love%252520of%252520Livvy_150X225.gif" /></a>Thanks for having me stop by today, Hannah. I’m really pleased to be here. By the way, I just read your novel, <em>If He’s Dangerous</em>, and loved it.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Writing a series is often easier than writing a single title. You become comfortable with the characters and their personalities, know what they will and won’t do, what makes them mad, how they will handle the surprises that we, as writers, throw their way. Heck, they are like family members you have come to know, like, hate, dread….you get the idea. </div><br />
It took me some time to find my voice when I began writing the Esposito series about ten years ago, but once I found it, there was no stopping Lavinia “Vinnie” Esposito from making her presence known. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It wasn’t until I read Janet’s first Stephanie Plum novel, One for the Money, that I realized our characters were so similar. I’m amazed at the way my main character in the Vinnie Esposito series runs fairly neck-in-neck with that of Stephanie Plum. While she isn’t an out of work woman who takes on a job she has difficulty doing like Stephanie has, Vinnie Esposito can’t seem to get from point A to point B without some horrendous misfortune sending her off course, which usually leaves her treading dangerous waters. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYeTbAGunyyDi349jCs85qCOS2lNg-8GK4KCLJlRnO1JmWqSZ84QRRjapCD_7Uk9dtXCU34aOlGAiC4JrkVTmJx1xyjC5Q2b2WRR2mMF9cQEfFlsQ6AxW0B7ZUTO9YTWVtjmoogOS-Vcc/s1600/Dirty-Trouble-Cover-150x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYeTbAGunyyDi349jCs85qCOS2lNg-8GK4KCLJlRnO1JmWqSZ84QRRjapCD_7Uk9dtXCU34aOlGAiC4JrkVTmJx1xyjC5Q2b2WRR2mMF9cQEfFlsQ6AxW0B7ZUTO9YTWVtjmoogOS-Vcc/s1600/Dirty-Trouble-Cover-150x225.jpg" /></a>Not long ago, you had me asked me how hard it is to write humor. Well, Hannah, what’s a story without a chuckle or two and maybe a real belly laugh thrown in for good measure? I enjoy a lighthearted novel that transports me away from the daily stresses of life, if it’s only for a little while.</div></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">To write humor isn’t all that hard if you look at life that way. Try finding something funny at least once a day and incorporate it into a story. For instance…my daughter and I went to the Providence Art Club for a gallery show about a year ago. There were so many different people there, dressed up, dressed down, and barely dressed, that I stood in a corner and jotted notes about them while pretending to admire the artwork. When I stepped into the second viewing room, I found this short man with thin greasy hair slicked over his head and draping over the tops of his ears. His suit was old, his shirt crisp and white. He stuffed his mouth with crackers loaded with as much food as he could pile onto each one. When I had the chance to ask my daughter about him, she told me he goes to all the gallery openings and eats, but never stays long and he’s very well off. As we left, another man entered the building. My daughter smiled, acknowledged him and whispered to me “He only comes to drink the wine. When it’s gone, so is he.” I found this fascinating and decided I’d add it to a story.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOQEL-JTvnRv8rkdI_r7DO_tRpDrW5Pwth5SEhkpaSq-MWU8dK96D85RzfOX3LvKc_hCcjB6YN7ELzlY5lJoRVskJ0zJfIctCKzM7CmiqLDdmyXLyPLyma6QZPXPqfXIbSAWYedkcTF_i/s1600/Dead-Wrong-Cover-150x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOQEL-JTvnRv8rkdI_r7DO_tRpDrW5Pwth5SEhkpaSq-MWU8dK96D85RzfOX3LvKc_hCcjB6YN7ELzlY5lJoRVskJ0zJfIctCKzM7CmiqLDdmyXLyPLyma6QZPXPqfXIbSAWYedkcTF_i/s1600/Dead-Wrong-Cover-150x225.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">No matter where I go, I watch people, imagine them in a variety of scenes and develop my characters and story line from there. I don’t know how Janet Evanovich comes up with her charcters, but maybe we’re more alike than I think we are. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thanks for asking me to visit, Hannah.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Pick up a free copy of FOR LOVE OF LIVVY today at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/for-love-of-livvy-j-m-griffin/1102586938?ean=9781897562468&itm=1&usri=j.m.+griffin">BN</a> and <a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-forloveoflivvy-362955-150.html">ARe</a> and pick up copies of DIRTY TROUBLE and DEAD WRONG at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/j-m-griffin?store=ebook&keyword=j.m.+griffin">BN</a>, <a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=series&qString=Esposito">ARe</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=j.m.+griffin&x=16&y=16">Kindle</a> for just $2.99</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.lachesispublishing.com/">http://www.lachesispublishing.com/</a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.jmgriffin.net/">http://www.jmgriffin.net/</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-5574888853339873462012-01-02T06:17:00.000-08:002012-01-02T06:17:29.148-08:00Introducing Jacqui Morrison<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The writing life<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a> is both solidary and social. I spend countless hours on my computer and I also enjoy public speaking. Both experiences are enriching and productive. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">My name is Jacqui Morrison and I am the author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kaitlyn-Wolfe-Crown-Attorney-ebook/dp/B003ZDO49M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325513754&sr=1-1">Kaitlyn Wolfe,Crown Attorney</a></i> by <a href="http://www.lachesispublishing.com/">Lachesis Publishing</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NAH8Bt60-kM/TwG78NdhZRI/AAAAAAAAAUw/BBaSE719zCw/s1600/kaitlynwolf_200X300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NAH8Bt60-kM/TwG78NdhZRI/AAAAAAAAAUw/BBaSE719zCw/s1600/kaitlynwolf_200X300.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In the formative years, I plugged away on my home computer alone. I did not know if my writing was any good but I kept persevering. Tenacity was the key to success.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Back then, I had not found my style. I just knew I was driven to write. Initially my style in writing mysteries was film noir. It was like a black and white photo begging for some colour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soliciting feedback from friends and family has its drawbacks. It was feast or famine either accolades or blank stares of boredom. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I began to find my style when I decided to accept support and feedback from other accomplished writers. I became part of an editing circle. Four writers met monthly to critique each other’s work. This was probably the single most important thing I did to improve my writing and my confidence. We vowed to be completely honest so the members provided blunt but constructive feedback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initially a deeper form of feedback was difficult to take but I put my ego aside and started to benefit from the direct honesty. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">My style was beginning to emerge. I realized that my writing style was character driven. I spent a great deal of time creating biographies of my main characters. I frequently refer back to them while I’m in the midst of writing a manuscript.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I also joined a writing organization and attended seminars on the craft of writing. In time, my confidence and my circle of contacts increased ten-fold. In the early days I could not even read my work out-loud without sputtering and stammering. I now realize it was because I was reading my own work – I was baring my soul publicly. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Through the writing organization, I took a workshop on utilizing acting techniques in presentation. The techniques and the growing confidence in my written work catapulted me into enjoying reading and performing. This one-day seminar was an integral part of my confidence building.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Today, I would consider myself both an extravert and an introvert. Introverted in the creation of the work and extraverted in promoting it. My confidence has grown exponentially now I look for events where I can perform. I no longer look at these events with dread, I look forward to being on the stage, performing and hopefully selling some books. At the very least, public performance increases my network. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I still thoroughly enjoy creating a fresh first draft and then agonizing over the editing. Each time I begin a new novel I become excited and have trouble stopping. The words fly onto the page and I rarely have writer’s block. The only time I have a form of writer’s block is when the busyness of my day-to-day life sneaks into my writing life. I have to work on a balance of writing, promoting and performing. I wouldn’t have it any other way.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Today I am a Writer in Residence at the Parry Sound Public Library where I conduct writing seminars for budding writers. I look for opportunities to perform in public and thoroughly enjoy watching the faces in the audience as they hear my spoken word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first novel won the 2009 Gold IPPY award for best fiction in Central and Eastern Canada, which garnered credibility from fellow authors and readers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">My second novel Oddly Accused, a suspenseful mystery/courtroom drama will be released by <a href="http://www.lachesispublishing.com/">Lachesis Publishing</a> in 2012. Jacquimorrison.ca</span>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-34032297434508601922011-12-20T12:50:00.000-08:002011-12-20T18:51:05.841-08:00Christmas: Plotter or Pantser<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwGtgo0AfYYqLTdmUTO_kSoZrIug3VfcxyIGuIfDKltU-xKcKEFK-enNjzcqPhzJh2i_VtqbLpoEI5Hd8TPv9RfYpnNzJqiP7qXgUT1LzaK0ZVfGnQvtHIotYYqIJFpkZIMfWOPkbHit8/s1600/FinalNaughty.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwGtgo0AfYYqLTdmUTO_kSoZrIug3VfcxyIGuIfDKltU-xKcKEFK-enNjzcqPhzJh2i_VtqbLpoEI5Hd8TPv9RfYpnNzJqiP7qXgUT1LzaK0ZVfGnQvtHIotYYqIJFpkZIMfWOPkbHit8/s1600/FinalNaughty.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Christmas:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Plotter or Pantser<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">By <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Liberty</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Blake<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Thank you, Hannah, for allowing me to visit you and your friends. Everyone who leaves a comment will be entered to win a PDF copy <i>Christmas Treats #1 (Santa’s Naughty List). </i>Please leave your email addy in the comment. Winner will be chosen on Saturday at noon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Are you done with all your Christmas shopping, or are you still searching for presents for Tom, Dick, and Mary? (The people you forgot until now.) Or are you still looking for the perfect gift for the ones you love the most? Or did you start your Christmas shopping with the post Christmas sales, last December and January?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> The real question is, when do you begin thinking about Christmas?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Noelle Barnes, the heroine of <i>Christmas</i> <i>Spirit</i>, owns a different Christmas outfit for every day of December. She decorates and dresses for the holiday beginning on Black Friday. She is a Christmas “plotter”. She doesn’t have to camp out all night at the shopping mall; she’s had her friend’s presents not just bought, but wrapped and hidden away for months.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> In writing we use many terms to describe a person’s work style. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> A “plotter” is someone who plots out the story before ever typing in Chapter One. These are the people who have their list of gift recipients in hand on December 26<sup>th</sup> and begin buying as soon as possible. Many are done with their entire list by Valentine’s Day and only have to worry about new additions. They even have the stocking stuffers locked away in a closet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> A “puzzler” is a writer who writes scenes as they occur to her. A Christmas “puzzler” is the canny shopper who purchases the gifts as she finds them throughout the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> A “pantser” is a writer who sits his seat in the chair, opens up the computer and starts writing. A Christmas “pantser” is in the store on Christmas Eve begging a clerk to please find some uncrushed bows.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Then there is the “plotster”. The writer who begins writing and then after she know where she is going with the characters and story works out the plot. The Christmas “plotster” camps out at the shopping mall and still ends up searching for tape and uncrushed bows on Christmas Eve.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I began my Christmas shopping career as a plotster. Then one year, early in my career, I had locked the majority of my shopping into my mother’s car and returned to the store to help my grandmother. My mother had also loaded the car and returned to continue shopping. (with 12 children there were a lot to buy for). When we were finally finished with our shopping we returned to the car to find it had been broken into and emptied. They even took the four gallons of milk and the groceries from the back seat!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I had bought my gifts for everyone that night. All my sisters and brothers, my other relatives, and all my friends. I had saved the money for months and everything was gone in one night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I couldn’t buy anything else. The ride home was silent, except for the sniffling. I went home, pulled out my knitting needles, and managed to create an assortment of hats, mittens, scarves, etc. I worked at a frantic pace. I even took my knitting to school. I was ragged on a lot, but everyone on my list received a handmade gift from me that year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> The next year I followed my Aunt Phyllis’s example and started purchasing gifts in January. That lasted one year. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Every year I make the resolution to be either a Christmas plotter, or at least a puzzler, but it never works out that way. Sometimes I can’t find the gifts I have hidden, more often the cost of day-to-day living prevents me from keeping my good intentions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> There are years when I have made everyone an afghan or a quilt. There was one year when I decided to make everyone afghans in December. I used supersized hooks and made the afghans. I finished the last one on Christmas Eve.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> This year, I once again have decided to make everyone gifts. I decided to do that two weeks ago when my laptop decided to take a two week vacation. Wish me luck with getting everything done. Although Noelle is well organized, I am definitely an unrepentant pantser.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">No matter what holiday you celebrate, may the spirit of joy and giving fill your heart and soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Noelle loves to spread <i>Christmas Spirit</i>, not just to friends, but to everyone she encounters. You can read more about Noelle in <span style="background-color: white;"><i>Christmas Treats #1, Santa’s Naughty List.</i></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">:</span></span></span><br />
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<em><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto;">Cross a Christmas phobic male with a caterer with Christmas bells on...can she ignite the Christmas spirit in him?</span></em><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto;">Excerpt:</span></span><br />
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<em><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto;">What the hell had just happened?</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto;">One minute he was in heaven tasting the sweet nectar of the gods. The next the little vixen was running down the subway stairs. Harry pulled his wits together and gave chase. The turnstile wouldn’t budge. He was about to jump it when a voice said, “I wouldn’t if I was you. It’s a serious crime to steal from the Commonwealth. Buy a pass if you want to ride the train.”</span></span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto;">Harry turned to find a T officer standing directly behind him. The man pointed a nightstick toward a row of machines. “You can get one over there in the Charlie machines.”</span></span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto;">Card in hand, he was back at the turnstile in time to see the train Elle had jumped on pulling away from the station.</span></span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto;">Damn. He didn’t know her last name.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">You can get your copy of Christmas Treats #1 from Still Moments Publishing Erotic Escape ebooks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.stillmomentspublishing.com/p/ebook-store.html">www.stillmomentspublishing.com/p/ebook-store.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.eroticescapesebooks.com/index.php?cat=11">www.eroticescapesebooks.com/index.php?cat=11</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">You can always find <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Liberty</st1:city></st1:place> at:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://libertysspells.blogspot.com/"><span style="background: white; color: #5d096e; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Blog</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Please leave your email address in your comment. Winner will receive a copy of <i>Christmas Treats #1 (Santa’s Naughty List).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-61810094989122994152011-10-31T06:07:00.000-07:002011-10-31T06:07:27.029-07:00Introducing Greg Ballan author of HYBRID series<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Halloween to everyone in cyberspace!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A special thank you to Hannah Howell for the great privilege of guest blogging on such a fun night.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before I begin; a few quick notes about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Confession number one, I am not a romance writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a Science Fiction / Horror writer which is appropriate for the given date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I’m not trying to launch a full time career as a writer I support myself and my family as a contractor for the United States Air Force.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am privileged to work with the most wonderful men and women serving this country!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am an avid outdoorsman and am at my happiest wandering around the woods with a recurve bow shooting at pine cones, old stumps or clumps of dirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am married (My poor wife) and have three children who all manage to tolerate me to some degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I live in the small town of <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Hopedale</place></city>, which happens to be the same town where my novels are situated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I stated above, I am not a romance novelist but I do incorporate romance into my novels and believe that the genres of horror and romance aren’t like oil and water but more like gin and tonic… they make a great mix if done properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key is in developing believable characters a reader can identify with and feel sympathy for during the trials and tribulations of a story’s plot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my first novel, ‘Hybrid’, readers are introduced to Erik Knight, a divorced PI struggling to make ends meet after a bitter divorce and smear campaign that left him destitute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the novel Erik struggles with real “day to day” issues such as paying rent, child support etc. as well as terrifying ordeals that would make any sane person turn to mush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Hybrid’ tells the tale of a regular man dealing with incredible circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the story, Erik finds the strength to deal with both the changes in himself and the hostilities around him by leaning on a woman he secretly loves but has never had the nerve to express his feelings to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Erik learns more about his true nature, he learns to open himself up to other people and allow himself to experience love once again.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">HYBRID back cover blurb</span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4j42BkKmhBak4jyfH9b3egviJ3iVGuWUF7ut5ylT83GlH6gDt6QbFQci-jQgnQi89f0FbhAouW9jOJQmIArNSHDLw5YotQTrtpqi9VejL8AM60eWCHjEHUdKoV-C_3fXtQbvlBMRLV5a/s1600/hybrid200X300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4j42BkKmhBak4jyfH9b3egviJ3iVGuWUF7ut5ylT83GlH6gDt6QbFQci-jQgnQi89f0FbhAouW9jOJQmIArNSHDLw5YotQTrtpqi9VejL8AM60eWCHjEHUdKoV-C_3fXtQbvlBMRLV5a/s1600/hybrid200X300.jpg" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Erik Knight, a small time private investigator, always knew he was different from everybody else. Keener senses, heightened awareness and an enhanced physical strength that could be called upon by his sheer will.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Erik becomes involved with a team of high profile investigators and local police trying to locate a girl who was kidnapped in the middle of a playground amongst dozens of adults and children. None of the adults saw anything and what the children claim to have seen is too far fetched to be believed. The search evolves into a full-scale manhunt into the dark and desolate woodlands of the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Hopedale</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Mountain</placetype></place>.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> After a lethal encounter and a fatality, Erik, the investigators and police realize that what they’re dealing with isn’t a man and possibly isn’t of this world. What they’re dealing with is a sentient evil that has an appetite for young children.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This isn’t a typical romance novel, but love is the underlying key and it’s the characters that draw in a reader as much as the plot lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a character is interesting and credible his/her perils are gripping, drawing readers in and holding them captive through each turn of the page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reader feels each emotion and winces through each trial and shares in the joys of triumph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the character isn’t believable he/she can experience all kinds of trials and tribulations but they just won’t grab a reader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the world of ‘Hybrid’ things end happily and the good guy gets the girl… until the sequel.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Human/Esper detective Erik Knight has kept his bargain with the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">United States</place></country-region> Government by functioning as an undercover operative and CIA Cooler for over two years. Erik has been using his inhuman abilities to clean up terrorist hotspots and break narcotics trafficking rings throughout the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">United States</place></country-region> and countries with US political interests. While away on assignment, Erik’s life is shattered when he learns his wife died in a car accident. Though he attended her funeral and burial, Erik can still feel a subtle trace of his beloved in his mind.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Threats against the life of the French President's daughter by terrorists result in the grieving Knight being assigned to protect her. After he foils two attempts on her life, he discovers that the radical group accused of the act is not involved. He joins forces with the group's leader and discovers the termination order originated inside the beltway in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Washington</city> <state w:st="on">DC</state></place>. As the CIA Cooler digs deeper he learns that there may be a connection between the assassination attempts, his deceased wife, and a threat against the entire planet from outside the solar system.</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt7HLypnlhYjPui5hg9WNz1nHmtT1T2q6x1xZYKz-SsoPpzl5oo7tb768-_dFkoi8SYVf0UC0gyrtdGU9g7EI3K_a33zZAzUVwD7LY5Vtr3rTkNtvbEFWCC8FBnci7nAWcUgubPilzXTi/s1600/Hybrid-Forced-Vengeance-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt7HLypnlhYjPui5hg9WNz1nHmtT1T2q6x1xZYKz-SsoPpzl5oo7tb768-_dFkoi8SYVf0UC0gyrtdGU9g7EI3K_a33zZAzUVwD7LY5Vtr3rTkNtvbEFWCC8FBnci7nAWcUgubPilzXTi/s1600/Hybrid-Forced-Vengeance-200x300.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">HYBRID FORCED VENGEANCE mixes romance, horror and suspense to serve a complicated cocktail that readers will find intriguing and plot twisting with each turn of the page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This novel was the most fun I’ve had writing and, as a sequel, let me take characters developed in the first novel and expand upon them, developing their personas and their motives in a deeper character study which in turn created more powerful motives for the “bad guys” and allowed me to push the boundaries of ‘acceptable’ behavior with the “good guys”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For all the plot intertwining, corporate scheming and combat sequences, Forced Vengeance is a hybrid romance novel paying homage to the power and belief that ‘Love conquers all’, after a great deal of trial, tribulation and intrigue. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘Hybrid’ and ‘Forced Vengeance’ also pay homage to the horror movies of the 1950’s like ‘War of the Worlds’, ‘Forbidden Planet’, ‘Them’ and ‘The Thing’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each movie was a successful mix of horror ranging from an alien creature terrorizing a desolate Arctic outpost to Earth being invaded by seemingly invincible alien invaders in tripod saucers incinerating everything with a lethal heat ray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In each of the above movies, the strength of our interest in the characters, made their peril more believable and more palpable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These movies didn’t need excessive gore to make an impact, they relied on a good story and likeable characters, the same criterion apply to a good novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And… in the end, the guy gets the girl!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy reading and Happy Halloween, thanks again to Hannah Howell for allowing me to occupy her blog for an evening.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hybrid and Hybrid Forced Vengeance are available at <a href="http://www.lachesispublihsing.com/">Lachesis Publishing</a>,</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/a43911/Greg-Ballan/?si=0">Fictionwise</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=greg+ballan">Amazon</a> </span></span></div>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-28848680303474111872011-08-29T06:51:00.000-07:002011-08-29T06:51:19.138-07:00Introducing Chastity Bush<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3p3eFM-lbRwF5p9zBSOaSvfVz_8sMl_qQt96gUX5XARtilAS7kLph-Ta5eKDFiarz7riY9IF6wr2oNuupMGYmhYQj-l9TPJ23Zs_RsvnXxtEB3YpW7vpDAITX_7rV6qyAB76OnrYHiSW/s1600/T_MD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>First of all, I’d like to say thank you for allowing me to be on your fantastic blog today! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3p3eFM-lbRwF5p9zBSOaSvfVz_8sMl_qQt96gUX5XARtilAS7kLph-Ta5eKDFiarz7riY9IF6wr2oNuupMGYmhYQj-l9TPJ23Zs_RsvnXxtEB3YpW7vpDAITX_7rV6qyAB76OnrYHiSW/s1600/T_MD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>A little about me-</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3p3eFM-lbRwF5p9zBSOaSvfVz_8sMl_qQt96gUX5XARtilAS7kLph-Ta5eKDFiarz7riY9IF6wr2oNuupMGYmhYQj-l9TPJ23Zs_RsvnXxtEB3YpW7vpDAITX_7rV6qyAB76OnrYHiSW/s1600/T_MD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I’m a fulltime wife, and mother of two wonderful little girls. My family and I live in the super small town of Whitefield Oklahoma, and enjoy spending as much time together as possible, especially outdoors.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In my spare time I write steamy romance novels known for their spicy romance, suspense, and humorous edge. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love anything and everything to do with the paranormal/supernatural, which is why I love to write in that genre as much as I do. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I do have a historical/western available now, and a contemporary coming in March, but paranormal is my passion. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHOEG0ewycapd7tLrEMpA1GClRsWjNeFXZNfK5SX9pqHe1TU3_730Zk_KBeGjuNn5MiuuIYqKVGxhxUqchn2HYSPufRcrCo4l2NWgvFVAWzzpT668J4nBVW8BoL8q-XP5akbluktoCQRn/s1600/CB_KillerKisses_240x360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHOEG0ewycapd7tLrEMpA1GClRsWjNeFXZNfK5SX9pqHe1TU3_730Zk_KBeGjuNn5MiuuIYqKVGxhxUqchn2HYSPufRcrCo4l2NWgvFVAWzzpT668J4nBVW8BoL8q-XP5akbluktoCQRn/s320/CB_KillerKisses_240x360.jpg" width="213px" /></a>August 1st brought the release of my latest paranormal romance, Killer Kisses, from Liquid Silver Books. I’m not sure if this will turn into a series, but you never know when a character is going to start screaming at you until you write their story, so who knows? </div><br />
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Now, enough rambling about me. I’ve added one super short snippet from reviews for each of my available books below, I hope to have one for Killer Kisses soon, and if you’ve read the book, or any of my books, please feel free to send me your thoughts. I’d love to hear them, good or bad. <br />
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I hope you have the time to take a peek at my work. As always, I would love to hear from you, and I can be contacted via email at: chastitybush@yahoo.com. <br />
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A Taste of Terror-<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U8hRXuD4geS-3ucPTv7P2FFcs40Of_4Zv3hMYb9fcOsh-jNf_Zon4eWS_gTOAAFvVu1Qqlb1a5GNlP5Ce_dvF7YBh8LPOC9eEKPQ6ICb6w-OkiXc4Yn4ENCo_HzXrtbIqyZhgXhB230y/s1600/guardmyheart_ToT_333X500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U8hRXuD4geS-3ucPTv7P2FFcs40Of_4Zv3hMYb9fcOsh-jNf_Zon4eWS_gTOAAFvVu1Qqlb1a5GNlP5Ce_dvF7YBh8LPOC9eEKPQ6ICb6w-OkiXc4Yn4ENCo_HzXrtbIqyZhgXhB230y/s320/guardmyheart_ToT_333X500.jpg" width="213px" /></a>This is a wonderfully written, and exciting series, which I can't recommend highly enough. If you read one paranormal romance this year, make it this one (or its prequel). I guarantee you won't be disappointed. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">*Merrylee, Two Lips Reviews</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Passions Bite- </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmw7Jk0h_YXAFDhClBHvGlKKz5sL8UsNgdjMgQlgcc2WZwfMcj1pyKO7o-4-Eic8844RVpSmmg94wD7EbHIDhwkuU_3u3i7_H0MMidS8BzjoRQ-Irjzys3M430EwnHjMMQ9KM5ydk4RwdG/s1600/passionsbite_200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmw7Jk0h_YXAFDhClBHvGlKKz5sL8UsNgdjMgQlgcc2WZwfMcj1pyKO7o-4-Eic8844RVpSmmg94wD7EbHIDhwkuU_3u3i7_H0MMidS8BzjoRQ-Irjzys3M430EwnHjMMQ9KM5ydk4RwdG/s1600/passionsbite_200x300.jpg" /></a>Passions Bite is a really quick read that flows well with enjoyable characters and a hot romance. Overall, Passions Bite was a great kick ass short story that really drew me in. *Ally T. Swept Away Again Reviews </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Tumbleweeds- </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Overall, I quite liked Tumbleweeds especially as it was something different and as a historical romance it made me giggle quite a bit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3p3eFM-lbRwF5p9zBSOaSvfVz_8sMl_qQt96gUX5XARtilAS7kLph-Ta5eKDFiarz7riY9IF6wr2oNuupMGYmhYQj-l9TPJ23Zs_RsvnXxtEB3YpW7vpDAITX_7rV6qyAB76OnrYHiSW/s1600/T_MD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3p3eFM-lbRwF5p9zBSOaSvfVz_8sMl_qQt96gUX5XARtilAS7kLph-Ta5eKDFiarz7riY9IF6wr2oNuupMGYmhYQj-l9TPJ23Zs_RsvnXxtEB3YpW7vpDAITX_7rV6qyAB76OnrYHiSW/s320/T_MD.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">*Ally T. Swept Away Again Reviews</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thanks again for having me here today. Have a fabulous week! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Killer Kisses</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Blurb-</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The man straddling the Harley was, in one word…juicy. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHOEG0ewycapd7tLrEMpA1GClRsWjNeFXZNfK5SX9pqHe1TU3_730Zk_KBeGjuNn5MiuuIYqKVGxhxUqchn2HYSPufRcrCo4l2NWgvFVAWzzpT668J4nBVW8BoL8q-XP5akbluktoCQRn/s1600/CB_KillerKisses_240x360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHOEG0ewycapd7tLrEMpA1GClRsWjNeFXZNfK5SX9pqHe1TU3_730Zk_KBeGjuNn5MiuuIYqKVGxhxUqchn2HYSPufRcrCo4l2NWgvFVAWzzpT668J4nBVW8BoL8q-XP5akbluktoCQRn/s320/CB_KillerKisses_240x360.jpg" width="213px" /></a>Adult novelty store owner Tina James loves a good adventure, and the man peering at her through onyx black eyes is the closest thing to adventure she’s ever come across. Unless of course, you count the mugging at gunpoint she experienced only hours earlier. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Leather clad Alex Monroe and his big bike just moved to number one on Tina’s sexiest man alive list, and with every searing kiss, every white hot caress, Tina finds herself living out her wildest fantasies with the man of her dreams. </div><br />
But is it all too good to be true? <br />
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There’s something about Alex, from his unusual habit of only leaving the house at night, to his amazing speed and strength that has Tina wondering what exactly the man she’s falling head over heels for is hiding? <br />
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Meeting Tina James is the best thing that’s happened to Alex in the last five hundred years. She’s spunky, sassy, and beyond sexy. <br />
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But there’s a problem…or three. <br />
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Alex is a vampire, Tina’s a mortal, and he’s searching for a rogue vampire who just so happens to have his sights set on her as his next victim. Now, not only does Alex have to find a way to tell the woman he loves what he is, he has to catch the killer before he loses her forever.<br />
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Killer Kisses<br />
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Excerpt-<br />
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The cold, night air swirled around Alex as he rode down the desolate streets. The motorcycle beneath him rumbled, sending a wave of comfort throughout his tired body. He was a long way from home, and for Alex Monroe the old saying was true; there’s no place like home. <br />
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He’d spent the entire night in his hotel room searching through cold case files, going back years and years, looking deeper at unsolved murders, trying his hardest to find something, anything that would lead him in the right direction. He needed to find this murderer and fast. It was only a matter of time before he slipped up and exposed their kind to the entire world, spelling disaster for them all. <br />
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Only sparkly, vegetarian vampires appealed to most people nowadays, and he was neither sparkly, nor vegetarian. <br />
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Rounding the corner, Alex wondered if his contact inside the precinct would have any new leads to share with him. He doubted it; the local authorities didn’t have a single shred of evidence to help lead them toward who the killer might be. He’d hoped to find some connection between the recent murders and some of the unsolved ones from the past, but so far, he’d hit a dead-end. <br />
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The sooner he got this mystery solved, the sooner the women of this city would be safe…from this killer anyway. There would always be others wreaking havoc somewhere, and he would be there to hunt them down. <br />
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It was his job. As an Immortal Detective, he would do whatever it took to end the terror rogues caused with their senseless killing. <br />
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Pulling next to the curb in front of the police station, a flash of gold caught his attention. Taking a closer look through the dim streetlight, he frowned. A lone woman walked along the desolate sidewalk. Her long, sandy-blonde hair whipped in the breeze as she pulled her lightweight jacket tighter around her small frame. <br />
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“What the hell is she doing?” <br />
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Didn’t she know there was a killer on the loose? Why would she be walking the streets alone at three o’clock in the morning? Sometimes Alex couldn’t help but wonder how humans had lived so long without being overrun by his—or any other—species. <br />
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Before he knew what he was doing, Alex pulled away from the curb and rolled his bike along the street beside the woman. Alex wasn’t your typical knight in shining armor. He wasn’t even what someone would consider valiant. It just wasn’t in his nature, but something inside him wouldn’t let him turn his back on this woman. <br />
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“Are you all right?” he called loudly over the rumble of the motorcycle. <br />
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Stopping, she turned to face him, and all thought fled his mind at the beauty revealed before him. Large, sea green eyes bore into him as her gaze widened cautiously. Despite her petite stature, her legs, encased in tight, distressed jeans, were long and shapely. <br />
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Letting his eyes sweep over her boldly, he took in every inch of her lithe body as though admiring every brushstroke of a masterpiece. Her skin was a flawless, creamy ivory with a pinch of rose color staining her cheeks and nose from the bite of the crisp night air. <br />
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“Listen,” she said wearily, “if you’re looking to rob me, you're too late. Someone beat you to it about three hours ago.” <br />
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Smiling, Alex shut off his bike. <br />
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“Actually, I was just wondering why a beautiful woman such as yourself would be walking alone in the dark when there’s a killer on the loose.” <br />
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She is beautiful, he mused. <br />
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Stunning even. He’d lived a long time and faced countless women, but could remember none who matched her in beauty. The impulse to reach out and grab her, to pull her against his chest and explore every delectable inch of her, rocketed through him like a bolt of lightning. <br />
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Taking a deep breath, Alex struggled to rein in his fast-rising desire. <br />
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What had gotten into him? There was one rule he refused to break; never get involved with a mortal. Once they found out his secret, it was all over, but something about this sarcastic little bundle pushed him, urging him to learn more about her. <br />
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Just the sight of her held him on a razor’s edge. The silky glide of her voice only added to his desire. <br />
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Cocking a brow, she tilted her head. “I didn’t have much say in the matter. Some skuzz-bucket robbed me after I left work. He took my purse, which had everything in it, and the creepy cop who took my statement didn’t offer to give me a ride home or let me call anyone to come pick me up. So, here I am.” She finished, waving her hand in the air with exasperation. <br />
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She was feisty, and much to his surprise, he found he liked it. Alex never cared much for loud sarcastic women, but something was different about this one, and he couldn’t fight the feeling that he was supposed to know her. If he’d learned one thing in all of his years, it was to follow his instincts, and at the moment, his instincts were screaming for him to grab hold of this woman and not let go. <br />
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He couldn’t let her continue on her way. Not only was it dangerous for her to be out alone this time of night, the knee-high black leather boots over her jeans looked like they would cripple her before she reached the end of the block. <br />
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How the hell do women wear those things? <br />
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“What was the cop’s name?” <br />
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“Briggs.” She grimaced. “He even tried to give me his number.” She shuddered as though the thought disgusted her, and he chuckled. <br />
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He would have a little talk with his contact about Officer Briggs’s unacceptable behavior, but for now, he needed to get her on the back of his bike and her thighs pressed firmly against his hips. <br />
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“Let me give you a ride.” <br />
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“I’m sorry, but I don’t think so.” She laughed cynically. <br />
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“Why not?” <br />
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Suppressing a groan, Alex watched as she propped her hands on her wonderfully curved hips. <br />
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“Because, I’ve already been mugged tonight and I don’t wish to add raped and murdered to the list.” <br />
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Alex couldn’t contain the laughter that burst from his lips. <br />
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She’s witty, too. <br />
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“What’s so funny?” she snapped irritably. <br />
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Calming his laughter, Alex dismounted his bike. “I’m sorry. I have no intention of harming you. My name is Alex Monroe, and I’m here helping the local authorities catch the Monthly Murderer.” He extended his hand to her. <br />
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He was also a five-hundred-year-old vampire, but didn’t think she would appreciate that little tidbit of information. She was already baring her claws like a cat backed into a corner, and he’d learned a long time ago it was never good to put stress on an unstable structure. <br />
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Based on the night she just described having, one false move and he would catch a swift kick to the balls before she ran away, leaving him to wonder who she was, and aching to see her, and he would ache, he realized. <br />
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Just the thought of never seeing her again sent a piercing pain through him. It was absurd, these feelings he was experiencing. He didn’t even know her name and yet, he felt…connected to her somehow. <br />
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He watched silently as she gazed at him and some of the wariness left her expression. The wind gusted around them, and her sweet scent flowed over him. She smelled exotic, sweet, and wild. He felt his fangs try to shift, yearning for just a sample of her sweetness. Taking a calming breath, he willed them back into place. <br />
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“Can I see some I.D.?” <br />
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“Why?” he asked curiously. <br />
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“Well, you expect me to believe you're a cop. It would help if you could show some I.D.” <br />
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Nodding, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a wallet, flipping it open to reveal a silver badge given to him by his contact inside the precinct. <br />
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Taking a small step forward, she examined the badge, and then nodded once. <br />
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Reaching out cautiously, she shook the proffered hand and cast him a small smile. A frisson of excitement tingled through him at the feel of her small hand cradled within his. Gently, he rubbed his thumb over the inside of her wrist discreetly, savoring the feel of her soft, warm skin. <br />
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“I’m Tina James,” she said confidently, before asking, “You’re really a cop?” <br />
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A smile tugged at his lips. <br />
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“Something like that.” <br />
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Links: <br />
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<a href="http://chastitybush.blogspot.com/">http://chastitybush.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<a href="http://chastitybush.webs.com/">http://chastitybush.webs.com/</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-69331225902056780492011-08-15T08:02:00.000-07:002011-08-15T08:02:15.622-07:00The Extremist . . . of Novel Writing by Deborah JacksonYour book ideas come about . . . how, why?<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The twelve-year-old at your next workshop asks: how do you get your ideas? Are they floating around in the air and you just pluck them out of the sky? The journalist eyes you during that long, unnerving interview and says, "Interesting topics," or more like, "Rather bizarre adventures you cook up there, Ms. So and So? Where in the world do you get your ideas?"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwIH8JzKnq76QK3F5mJ2aUsJ8BCClEz2Xk5VF7wqgViPyuHtaHssqux5ceKEP_Hj2ibgiIXOv2al9IzQRvXv_Mv30ASwLrY90NWaJfRC1Rr1SAWJALksla5w_k0W1TZKwY8lQhQG3dHhI/s1600/time+meddler-undercover200X300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwIH8JzKnq76QK3F5mJ2aUsJ8BCClEz2Xk5VF7wqgViPyuHtaHssqux5ceKEP_Hj2ibgiIXOv2al9IzQRvXv_Mv30ASwLrY90NWaJfRC1Rr1SAWJALksla5w_k0W1TZKwY8lQhQG3dHhI/s1600/time+meddler-undercover200X300.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQQDAOBDBNd1AL6CYEI8StWyVWuEiRapWHlemljewJ2QrxOVKQXIpQXwVq_ieuf0-KN55da4UJMCYUnb5yWlTX5FKBYT2SCedsbZCdx-ftYQtBHdfnlMpgzfimtPFzrmEQwJ0B4Jx7-iS/s1600/timemeddlers200X300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Well, I'm an extremist. No, no, not the way you think. I seek out the most extreme environment on earth, or elsewhere—Antarctica, World War II in the midst of Nazi oppression, the barren desert dunes along the Nile, a cave, but not just any cave—the most treacherous cave that ever existed (or in my case, a combination of the most treacherous caves that ever existed rolled into one)—or the moon, and I leap into true tales about real life adventure. The idea begins with what I'm interested in, but the idea expands when I begin to read.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Caves turn to cultures. History is whittled down to the bare bones of history—the people who lived it. I explore environments, then I explore people.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">J. K. Rowling mentioned in her speech to Harvard graduates that empathy is essential for every human being, particularly those from a more privileged background. In order to write about people from history (and the current age) I need to understand them and empathize with their struggles. That is why I begin to understand the issues of poverty the Maya face in Mexico, the plight of the Jewish people hiding in cellars, attics and under chicken coops during World War II, the alternate reality of pharaohs and slaves, even the difficulties of a young girl forced to endure the divorce of her parents and having to move to a new city with no friends. I empathize, I create characters close to the real thing. My ideas spring from a jumble of setting, potential plot, and an explosion of adventure, but they really boil down to people, and that's when I start to write.</div><br />
So is the extremism really about ideas and unique environments, or is it that authors dig too deep, sometimes, to generate a believable character?<br />
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I'm sure many do. We can become so immersed in the people we're researching and our characters that we often forget the real world. It happens to me all the time, until I hear that plaintive voice from my son: "Aren't you going to watch Wipeout with us?" "Aren't you coming swimming?" "Mom, I can't find . . . everything. Can you help me?"<br />
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You can draw two conclusions from this. 1. I have a hard time balancing my life. 2. My characters stem from a great deal of research and personal involvement. I become so involved, in fact, that I want to rescue historical people from their own history, or my main characters do. Hence we have Time Meddlers.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQQDAOBDBNd1AL6CYEI8StWyVWuEiRapWHlemljewJ2QrxOVKQXIpQXwVq_ieuf0-KN55da4UJMCYUnb5yWlTX5FKBYT2SCedsbZCdx-ftYQtBHdfnlMpgzfimtPFzrmEQwJ0B4Jx7-iS/s1600/timemeddlers200X300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQQDAOBDBNd1AL6CYEI8StWyVWuEiRapWHlemljewJ2QrxOVKQXIpQXwVq_ieuf0-KN55da4UJMCYUnb5yWlTX5FKBYT2SCedsbZCdx-ftYQtBHdfnlMpgzfimtPFzrmEQwJ0B4Jx7-iS/s1600/timemeddlers200X300.jpg" /></a>Time Meddlers is a middle grade fiction series that takes two children, Matt Barnes and Sarah Sachs (who eventually become romantically involved as they grow older) through adventures and terrifying situations. In the first book, they travel to 17th century North America during the time of native wars and the first explorers, where they begin to understand the plight of the First Nations. In Time Meddlers Undercover, they travel to Nazi-occupied Holland, in the midst of the oppression of the Jewish people, like Anne Frank, and get seriously involved in the spy network—the Special Operations Executive. The third book, to be released in 2012, is called Time Meddlers on the Nile. This book explores the Nubian culture, but it also examines the question of a time paradox, a situation where the children must go back and change previous alterations before the past disappears and they themselves are erased, but if they change it to such a degree that they no longer exist, then they wouldn't be able to go back in time at all. It's a wee bit mind-twisting.</div><br />
You can purchase from Amazon and Kindle: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Time-Meddlers-ebook/dp/B003Y8XUNE/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC">http://www.amazon.com/Time-Meddlers-ebook/dp/B003Y8XUNE/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC</a> or Barnes & Noble: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-meddlers-deborah-jackson/1100069704">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-meddlers-deborah-jackson/1100069704</a> or from the publisher's website: <a href="http://www.lbfbooks.com/proddetail.asp?prod=timemeddlers">http://www.lbfbooks.com/proddetail.asp?prod=timemeddlers</a> <br />
I've also written a romantic thriller called Ice Tomb, a story of ambitious scientists, a mysterious hotspot in Antarctica where scientists are disappearing, and a link to the moon. Read more on RT Bookclub magazine site, where it received a Top Pick: <a href="http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/ice-tomb">http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/ice-tomb</a> Ice Tomb will be going out-of-print soon and re-released as a classic.<br />
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I would like to thank Hannah for inviting me to blog today. If you would like more information about my middle grade series or adult thrillers, please see my website: www.deborahjackson.net.<br />
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If you would like to read the short series based on Time Meddlers, see Matt and Sarah's Misadventures on my blog. <a href="http://deborahjackson.blogspot.com/search/label/Matt%20and%20Sarah%27s%20Misadventures">http://deborahjackson.blogspot.com/search/label/Matt%20and%20Sarah%27s%20Misadventures</a>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-35091980094941904402011-08-08T05:50:00.000-07:002011-08-08T06:52:30.508-07:00Guest Author Brynna Curry<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmLnnCHbZVrzv2gQ1Qp8WQW10bDITea3SqKbUp3rRsvLj0m6UqT_dFeO-qwWjrUJHX7tpjY68SQr9jZARhL13Oo6AR3mCmJen-F_PzCdeFU4EKhy-sjx-2WTonq0I6ykvl9OkEr7bqa2Q/s1600/Brynna+Curry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmLnnCHbZVrzv2gQ1Qp8WQW10bDITea3SqKbUp3rRsvLj0m6UqT_dFeO-qwWjrUJHX7tpjY68SQr9jZARhL13Oo6AR3mCmJen-F_PzCdeFU4EKhy-sjx-2WTonq0I6ykvl9OkEr7bqa2Q/s1600/Brynna+Curry.jpg" /></a>Hi, everyone. It’s wonderful to be here. Thanks for allowing me to visit with you again, Hannah. A little bit about me. I was born and raised in north Alabama, in the Haleyville/ Bear Creek area. My husband Jackie and I have three children L.J., Anna and Kayla. We live out in the woods with a bunch of redbone hounds and beagles. It’s quiet, except when Diablo barks at rabbits in the middle of the night, which of course makes all of the dogs start barking. Believe me he earned his name. It’s beautiful here with the lake close by and all the old shade trees offering a reprieve from summer heat. And mercy it’s been hot with the temps going into triple digits and that’s without the heat index. I’m so ready for fall and the endless football and volleyball games that come with the changing seasons. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I write stories filled with magic, suspense, romance, and happy ever after. My new book Sea’s Sorceress is the fourth installment in the Elemental Magic series, releases Monday, August 15, 2011. Skye’s story proved to be an emotional roller coaster ride. Picking up right where Wait for the Wind (Ryan’s story-Book 3) left off, Sea’s Sorceress continues the arcing storyline that began in Earth Enchanted (Liv’s story-Book 1). </div><br />
Rhiannon O’Malley is another lady who likes her quiet life. Well as quiet as it can be when you’re running the family pub, and your father is dying of cancer. She’s come to rely on her best friend Skye Corrigan, but the lines of friendship are blurring. Heartache isn’t a possibility, it’s a promise. Skye has loved Rhia his whole life as his closest friend, but that love has changed into something deeper. Here is the blurb and a short excerpt.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvZdz4Sp5kBlnzOnE__iud4ipaVeaP7QUSu1lYaL1NlzQea7D8bMtk6JpNqgbQmSBujc-wEkLtpUxVT6RetxkMqXzp9sASNW-8P7IyhZRXO6Pv9PdxijhvA2ZXUl4aCFBEurf8o-oNtdK/s1600/Sea%2527s+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvZdz4Sp5kBlnzOnE__iud4ipaVeaP7QUSu1lYaL1NlzQea7D8bMtk6JpNqgbQmSBujc-wEkLtpUxVT6RetxkMqXzp9sASNW-8P7IyhZRXO6Pv9PdxijhvA2ZXUl4aCFBEurf8o-oNtdK/s320/Sea%2527s+Cover.jpg" width="212px" /></a>Sea’s Sorceress (Elemental Magic Book 4)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Author: Brynna Curry</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc.<br />
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Tag: Love can come along at the most inconvenient times...<br />
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Blurb: Skye Corrigan treasures family above all else. Standing by his best friend Rhia while she suffers the heartache of losing her father to cancer has strengthened their childhood bond. Lately, Rhia affects him in ways she never has before.<br />
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Rhiannon O'Malley shares Skye's past and hopes for a future with him, but love must come with a willing heart. Her father's terminal illness has left her in charge of the family pub. Skye has always been there for her, but when their relationship changes, will she find the courage to claim the future? Or will a thousand-year-old curse keep its grip on two hostage hearts?<br />
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Excerpt: The swinging door closed behind Rhiannon as a cold, clammy hand covered her mouth, stifling the scream, jerking her into the cool, dark kitchen. Vanilla and jasmine scented the space around her and she knew who held her prisoner. Maegan.<br />
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“I hear congratulations are in order.” Maegan hissed in her ear and pressed something cold and hard to her temple. A gun? “Don’t bet your soul on the ring.”<br />
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Something hard struck the side of her face across her cheekbone. She whimpered as pain bloomed behind her eyes. Crying out, she struggled to wriggle free of the other woman’s grasp. Blood trickled sticky and warm down her neck into the collar of her shirt.<br />
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“Bet you enjoyed that? Hmm?”<br />
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Rhia’s head jerked backwards as Maegan yanked her hair. She tried to focus. Stay alive. Stay alert until Skye comes looking. She tried to scream and kicked back with her booted feet, but hit only air.<br />
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“Clever girl, but you’ll be dead before he can save you.”<br />
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Rhia whimpered and shouted out with her mind. Help me! Skye! Have to stay alive.<br />
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“How does it feel to know I had him first? He still wants me.”<br />
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No. Terrified, Rhiannon closed her eyes and held on to the vision Devin had given her of her child and grandchild, Meara with the ruby hair and lightning eyes. She would survive this.<br />
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“Say goodbye.” <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFhXd5uCg1uRixqY0KEti1NOjWAfk3MHEjwAogtFY276vp3O36c6uY-M7X6cSkDxTqQhthQRBTeFinQ72YPzEHB8LEVxLsd54JWv5SI0y7fT8BV9pWUpcmDOMq1Eipg-hxTl6yPuercVn/s1600/totakeupthesword.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFhXd5uCg1uRixqY0KEti1NOjWAfk3MHEjwAogtFY276vp3O36c6uY-M7X6cSkDxTqQhthQRBTeFinQ72YPzEHB8LEVxLsd54JWv5SI0y7fT8BV9pWUpcmDOMq1Eipg-hxTl6yPuercVn/s320/totakeupthesword.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div>As I near the end of the Elemental Magic series, I am finding it more difficult to say goodbye to these characters. After spending almost five years with the Corrigans occupying my thoughts and computer it will be like saying goodbye to old friends. I’m working on the last book Fire’s Ice now. Set for release May 7th, Fire has been anticipated for some time by fans who demanded I give Devin his happy ever after too. Truly, I just wouldn’t have it any other way. <br />
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So, in celebration of Sea’s upcoming release let’s have a little contest. The prize? A ebook copy of Earth Enchanted, To Take Up the Sword, Wait for the Wind and Sea’s Sorceress, that’s all four books in the series, including the new one. To enter, all you have to do is leave an email address with your comment on this post. Or you may send your entry to brynna@brynnacurry.com. On Monday, August 15th , I will announce the winner in the comment section of this post, on Facebook, Twitter and my website. Good luck! <br />
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Bio: Multi-published paranormal romance and romantic suspense author Brynna Curry is a lifelong believer in the importance of reading. She enjoys the writing process, helping others hone their craft by lending her time to review books, critique manuscripts and serving as a writing contest judge. She loves hearing from readers.<br />
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When she isn’t writing, she’s often found haunting the library for new books to read, at the park with her son L.J. and daughters Anna and Kayla, or just spending an quiet evening at home with her husband Jackie watching old westerns on TV. She makes her home in North Alabama where the history is rich with music and culture, forests and lakes are abundant and beautiful, and every day is another adventure. Visit her at www.brynnacurry.com or send your thoughts to brynna@brynnacurry.com. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTNuBTPu4jGlKTdv7-Nuez3hElSmKFGk-VdgGk659n9PG8tIEtteGf2rV7XQLH30ReesbT3uzVssmqDcpz1KD1my7D9OQs4rshJGj9VR7Mf1ScIRNqMcLwTuDF4huofbSIC748lLdqH8D/s1600/Earth%2527s+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTNuBTPu4jGlKTdv7-Nuez3hElSmKFGk-VdgGk659n9PG8tIEtteGf2rV7XQLH30ReesbT3uzVssmqDcpz1KD1my7D9OQs4rshJGj9VR7Mf1ScIRNqMcLwTuDF4huofbSIC748lLdqH8D/s320/Earth%2527s+cover.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><br />
Alternate excerpt: <br />
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Skye eased the lorry onto the patch of gravel serving as the driveway outside his cliffside home. His watch said almost midnight, but he still wasn’t tired. Residual magic rippled on the edge of his skin. Longing rolled through him as he thought of Rhiannon. With it came the vision. He got out, slammed the door and unlocked the house, flipping on lights as he made his way to his studio.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He needed to work, to paint.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And the idea swirled through his head. Rain and wet stones, velvet. He knew he could capture that moment on canvas. So focused on the task, he left the keys hanging in the door. With mad purpose, he mixed paints into shades he only imagined.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He’d sketch it out first. The line of her neck, the arch of his shoulder. Soft here. Dark there. Stroke. Smudge, Sweep. Until the witch and healer took shape on the bitter field of white. Brush in hand, he began to fill in the shades of night, the grays of weathered stone.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvZdz4Sp5kBlnzOnE__iud4ipaVeaP7QUSu1lYaL1NlzQea7D8bMtk6JpNqgbQmSBujc-wEkLtpUxVT6RetxkMqXzp9sASNW-8P7IyhZRXO6Pv9PdxijhvA2ZXUl4aCFBEurf8o-oNtdK/s1600/Sea%2527s+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-10544305183754528882011-07-04T08:23:00.000-07:002011-07-04T08:56:48.904-07:00JACOB'S RETURN--A HISTORY--by Annette Blair<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03uTNPZQZi3Dk-m1EBFX8IK50kANn3d1FVzF9h3tQgb1LVri1qe9lUe3Aqion8mQKm3a3Y2mRvH1LiLW5zcGezy6pY15YgSL7-Y1Y_KMJntoktJb3lAEZn1-exZiAcXAUPVDSXyxVhGJ4/s1600/Yoder+Farm+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlFyVZ9W6CVDmajdsJ-bVdvd7tll0FvE6M-Q1p04fR3a1mnyxVw6zSRuNqlNr_eYu4pLQM9yD8dk8jfOcEDShurogrWamm4peWtd0L0rnyp7RUGlYdDKaxVBcTYD1bWsuSYpoGvyn3WTW/s1600/Jacob%2527s+Return+ebook+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlFyVZ9W6CVDmajdsJ-bVdvd7tll0FvE6M-Q1p04fR3a1mnyxVw6zSRuNqlNr_eYu4pLQM9yD8dk8jfOcEDShurogrWamm4peWtd0L0rnyp7RUGlYdDKaxVBcTYD1bWsuSYpoGvyn3WTW/s320/Jacob%2527s+Return+ebook+cover.jpg" width="200px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe1wJnJf4VIV1LZfkp9KsVaVJW5iWs0ctSYvnmG6Vm5OZ1VeBkNZKGFYvjjVbRiq_LIwHpzWLmag9ZOL2iStRMJjEmxpLAzu65-zw29pPkWxmZ0cDWpspuAt7_stLApDwWlu2X2C4BTGv/s1600/Jacob%2527s+Return+ebook+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Long ago in a distant galaxy . . . or it seems . . . driving my parents station wagon to pick up my wedding gown, I heard Pat Boone sing Thee, I Love, the theme song from Friendly Persuasion—Dimitri Tiomkin composer, Paul Francis lyrics. <em>“Put on your bonnet, your cape and your glove, and come with me, for thee, I love.”</em> Are those not the most romantic words? I got a picture in my mind at the time of a woman in a black cape, putting on her bonnet and following the man she loved, and I thought <em>“that would make a great story.”</em></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03uTNPZQZi3Dk-m1EBFX8IK50kANn3d1FVzF9h3tQgb1LVri1qe9lUe3Aqion8mQKm3a3Y2mRvH1LiLW5zcGezy6pY15YgSL7-Y1Y_KMJntoktJb3lAEZn1-exZiAcXAUPVDSXyxVhGJ4/s1600/Yoder+Farm+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Fast forward twenty-plus years, and I’m a wannabe writer working on my third novel. The <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03uTNPZQZi3Dk-m1EBFX8IK50kANn3d1FVzF9h3tQgb1LVri1qe9lUe3Aqion8mQKm3a3Y2mRvH1LiLW5zcGezy6pY15YgSL7-Y1Y_KMJntoktJb3lAEZn1-exZiAcXAUPVDSXyxVhGJ4/s1600/Yoder+Farm+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>first two are Regency Historicals. Now I want to write an Amish Historical. Yes, I’d seen the movie WITNESS. I had also read SUNSHINE AND SHADOW by Tom and Sharon Curtis and A CRIME OF THE HEART by Cheryl Reavis. I was in love with a way of life.</span></div></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">As soon as I chose the prodigal son theme, I started writing and researching with a vengeance. We visited Lancaster Pennsylvania a dozen times, at least, then added Ohio Amish Country, like Winesburg and Sugarcreek, to our travels. Looking for research material on the Amish, I scoured used bookstores in those areas. </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I now own 187 books on the history of the Amish. Yes, I recently counted them, and found more later. Of course, I’ve read them. Why so many? The internet had not yet come to life. (It became the world wide web consortium in 1994. Microsoft came onboard in 1998.) I found that on the Web.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In my travels, I spoke to a number of Amish men and women who were happy to answer my questions. I also spoke to several people who grew up Amish and had left the Amish way of life. (This was more than 20 years ago, don’t forget. I believe that the Amish were more forthcoming back then.) </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img align="left" alt="Buggy and driver." border="2" height="128px" hspace="5" src="http://www.annetteblair.com/images/excerp5.jpg" vspace="5" width="247px" /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">One morning, we got tickets for a buggy ride. I sat beside the Amish driver in the box buggy to get the perspective of a driver and started asking questions. He cocked his head quizzically, because I think he could tell I'd done my homework. “Well,” he said, “you know so much, you drive,” and he handed me the braided leather reigns. I drove all around that farm—no one else waited in line for a ride, so he gave us all the time we wanted—and I fell in love with that one-horse buggy, too, not to mention the dear old Amish grandfather beside me. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Prb0qSOW0qMYI9tvQ64T12hwvTqtmgMBf5IwUzsNRjvDubd8KPVQ3ByvyLC4EH3jmBq3JrGrowGeMhZ-imtiJAbQZURTDx9ZqL2QgE4sRuRBF3WweMENroYiR3BPeRh2aIhQ8Z7F5hzK/s1600/Yoder+Farm+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Prb0qSOW0qMYI9tvQ64T12hwvTqtmgMBf5IwUzsNRjvDubd8KPVQ3ByvyLC4EH3jmBq3JrGrowGeMhZ-imtiJAbQZURTDx9ZqL2QgE4sRuRBF3WweMENroYiR3BPeRh2aIhQ8Z7F5hzK/s320/Yoder+Farm+004.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My intrepid husband sat in the backseat, speechless, and maybe a little scared but with a camera in his hands. Now that’s a hero. I tipped us nearly into a stream trying to turn onto a flat bridge, no sides. But with my mentor’s gentle guidance, I worked that horse, backed us up, unwedged the wheel between land and bridge, as it hung over nothing but water. And after I untipped us, I turned onto the bridge successfully and drove over it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">All the time I spent with those reigns in my hands, during easy and scary buggy-driving, that unruffled old Amishman gave the occasional soft-spoken direction and told me <em>all</em> about himself and his family. My clearest memory is that he had 72 grandchildren. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">But I’d never gotten a better character lesson. I think he’s part of every Amishman I ever wrote or will write. Strong, gentle, stoic, caring, kind, soft-spoken, bit of a twinkle in his eye, like God was telling a joke that only he could hear, and he listened and got the joke, no matter what else he was doing.</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvnOXYPETi5Gif9x7WU1xucBeh_fej6wMMC7F0ojwF3eoxolaZjKu3Rs6L6nyCHnuZ1545fTWpvWaDRYXT3yAEuHPELKc0bt1VS8uJbU5P8phuBAz9BExbCFouOxBq1zzNJPInA5JvMgg/s1600/Theeamazon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvnOXYPETi5Gif9x7WU1xucBeh_fej6wMMC7F0ojwF3eoxolaZjKu3Rs6L6nyCHnuZ1545fTWpvWaDRYXT3yAEuHPELKc0bt1VS8uJbU5P8phuBAz9BExbCFouOxBq1zzNJPInA5JvMgg/s320/Theeamazon.jpg" width="320px" /></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In June of 1998, the late, great Kate Duffy bought JACOB’S RETURN for Kensington Books as part of my first sale. They renamed it THEE, I LOVE and gave it a cover on which the “Amish schoolteacher” is so historically inaccurate as to . . . well . . . have cleavage. (See attached cover.) It sold out within the month, and never went back to print. Back then, publishers said, “Nobody wants to read about the Amish.” Despite that, as THEE, I LOVE, it made its mark:</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><strong><em>2000 Blue Boa Award of Excellence </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>1999 Francis Awards Triple Nominee:</em></strong><br />
<strong><em> </em></strong><strong><em>Best American Historical</em></strong> <br />
<strong><em>Best New Author</em></strong> <br />
<strong><em>Story Need Most Tissues to Get Through </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>1999 Reviewers Choice Award Double Nominee</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>1999 Winter Wish List of Favorites</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>1999 Rdrs All Time Fave Most Hanky Read AAR </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>1998 RWA Golden Heart Finalist </em></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In 2011, thirty-two Annette Blair books later, LeeAnn Lessard at Lachesis Publishing knew that people <em>wanted</em> to read about the Amish, and she <em>wanted</em> JACOB’S RETURN. I revised it and made it better, Lachesis copyedited it, I revised it again, and they gave it the cover it deserves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I hope you cry and laugh and cry again, and enjoy reading JACOB’S RETURN as much as I enjoyed researching, writing, and re-writing it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">As a result of its re-release:</span><br />
<strong><em>2011 #1 Kindle Bestseller, Amish Historical Romance, all formats.</em></strong> <br />
<strong><em>2011 #1 Lachesis Bestseller, Fictionwise</em></strong> <br />
<strong><em>2011 A Kindle Top 100 Bestseller US</em></strong> <br />
<strong><em>2011 A Kindle Top 100 Bestseller UK</em></strong> <br />
<strong><em>2</em></strong><strong><em>011 An Amazon US Bestseller</em></strong> <br />
<strong><em>2011 An Amazon UK Bestseller</em></strong> <br />
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To buy JACOB'S RETURN: <a href="http://www.lachesispublishing.com/products.asp?cat=1">Lachesis</a> <a href="http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/p929/Lachesis-Publishing/?&si=0">Fictionwise</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jacobs-Return-ebook/dp/B004ZH8O2A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1304699140&sr=1-1">Kindle</a> <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Jacobs-Return/Annette-Blair/e/9781897562840?cm_re=RecentlyViewed_Carousel-_-Product2-_-9781897562840_Name">Nook</a> Also available as a paperback.<br />
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Also: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Check out <a href="http://www.annetteblair.com/">http://www.annetteblair.com/</a></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> for an excerpt of JACOB’S RETURN, and check out the first chapter of THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN <a href="http://www.annetteblair.com/excerpt_butterfly.htm">http://www.annetteblair.com/excerpt_butterfly.htm</a> Another Amish Historical, this one set in Ohio Amish Country, coming soon from Lachesis Publishing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">COMING TOMORROW, in store July 5, 2011: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xm86qL92lcCuK46hvSzqssEXvPkEbXYrwFq8ORGr7V1EY7LNKwYcKkRqjdY6BqszKVx6RdghnckFG88Y652hLql0kevT4cxTEhNPqfE6qjxo5KK5jhXINiIs7PjNbdhYHqG0QCOQW6nk/s1600/Skirting9780425242223_Skirti%2523E48C0Dfrom+berkley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xm86qL92lcCuK46hvSzqssEXvPkEbXYrwFq8ORGr7V1EY7LNKwYcKkRqjdY6BqszKVx6RdghnckFG88Y652hLql0kevT4cxTEhNPqfE6qjxo5KK5jhXINiIs7PjNbdhYHqG0QCOQW6nk/s320/Skirting9780425242223_Skirti%2523E48C0Dfrom+berkley.jpg" width="198px" /></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">SKIRTING THE GRAVE, the 4<sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">th</span></sup> book in my Vintage Magic Mystery Series from Berkley Prime Crime, is being released on July 5<sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">th</span></sup>, and is available now in paperback from Barnes & Noble.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">To buy SKIRTING THE GRAVE: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Skirting-the-Grave-ebook/dp/B0054R6BDY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1307849578&sr=1-1">Kindle</a> <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Skirting-the-Grave/Annette-Blair/e/9781101539965">Nook</a> </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">If you leave a comment, you have an opportunity to win a copy of JACOB’S RETURN or SKIRTING THE GRAVE. A winner for one of each will be chosen at random from your replies. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Please leave your email addy.</span></div><br />
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Check out my trailer for SKIRTING THE GRAVE: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FC0DZQ4ML._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/w90i2zdul5Y?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">If you leave a comment, you have an opportunity to win a copy of JACOB’S RETURN or SKIRTING THE GRAVE. A winner for one of each will be chosen at random from your replies. Please leave your email addy.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I’d like to thank Hannah Howell for inviting me, today. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Happy Reading, </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Annette</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/annette.blair.author">Annette on Facebook</a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://twitter.com/annetteblair">Annette on Twitter</a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/annetteblair">MySpace</a></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="http://www.annetteblair.com/">Annette's Website</a></span></div></div>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-7958793824178637842011-06-27T09:46:00.000-07:002011-06-27T09:46:10.422-07:00MEMORIES IN AN ATTIC by Lara Nance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFR0vC0H7_I5W6fzKDm8g5ELwTP0wzwEYjDXhyphenhyphentnWt4vMy_dIlAxbdn54r7LV7eU1BpnTZQJ1pNX_6-XsITHpfI-7RQ2IPX9xMMYzgT5NrY_kIV7M4waw1wb4b5mPOFR2Uy2PIULT8kXle/s1600/suitcases_in_the_attic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFR0vC0H7_I5W6fzKDm8g5ELwTP0wzwEYjDXhyphenhyphentnWt4vMy_dIlAxbdn54r7LV7eU1BpnTZQJ1pNX_6-XsITHpfI-7RQ2IPX9xMMYzgT5NrY_kIV7M4waw1wb4b5mPOFR2Uy2PIULT8kXle/s320/suitcases_in_the_attic.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
As a nurse practitioner, I always wanted to see a novel where the heroine was one as well. For me, I see NP’s as heroes in everyday life, healing, teaching, comforting, so why not in a story? <br />
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The plot of Memories of Murder was sparked by observation of my Alzheimer’s patients and how they seem to be in another world part of the time. I fantasized that maybe they now operated on a different plane, and in that world they could see and communicate with ghosts. <br />
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From there I created the old insane asylum from which these ghosts would come. That led to my interest in old insane asylums. I studied pictures of the old Kirkbride buildings, the castle-like asylum structures of the 19th century. Then I ran across an article that I couldn’t stop thinking about. <br />
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This article told the story of the closing of the Willard Psychiatric Center of New York in 1995. As the staff worked to salvage remnants of the past, they came across an attic filled with hundreds of old suitcases. The suitcases held the last effects of some asylum inmates and the contents told the stories of their lives. <br />
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It’s a chilling reminder of how those considered to be insane were treated in the past. Many of these people were locked up for life for little more than a public outburst of anger. And yet they spent their entire lives in the confines of the asylum. Later a non-fiction book was written chronicling the people and their lives. In addition, an exhibition of the suitcases was set up.<br />
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Now that you know the real story, you’ll recognize how it influenced my scene in Memories of Murder where Maeve and Paul find the old maintenance shed from the asylum filled with suitcases. <br />
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If you’re interested in learning more about the true story of the suitcases in the attic of Willard, follow the links below for a news article and the actual exhibition site. <br />
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Article in Newsweek Magazine about the discovery of the suitcases: <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/2007/12/08/dreams-and-suitcases.html">http://www.newsweek.com/2007/12/08/dreams-and-suitcases.html</a> <br />
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Website of the exhibition: <a href="http://www.suitcaseexhibit.org/indexhasflash.html">http://www.suitcaseexhibit.org/indexhasflash.html</a> <br />
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Memories of Murder is a paranormal romance published by Crescent Moon Press. A portion of the proceeds from sales of this novel will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of my dementia patients, past and present. <br />
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Visit me at: www.LaraNance.com Check out Memories of Murder at: www.CrescentMoonPress.comHannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-39459510446221126552011-06-15T12:09:00.000-07:002011-06-15T12:09:26.445-07:00Winner!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaeJ9aiKNEJPwUnkNcCbiymLy0KRNauD7bPq6JqU7MUbvygyy0rO6Nwpc6QS16EqTeM3pV8MQ90jTa6dEDmuv6dIRSsyzR8NnyJmT9nFW8lhY5d2tziKr2YEQbICsVyA7gpu25G0NldGL/s1600/7aebdef7-df0f-485f-92c0-d8622387d2d7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaeJ9aiKNEJPwUnkNcCbiymLy0KRNauD7bPq6JqU7MUbvygyy0rO6Nwpc6QS16EqTeM3pV8MQ90jTa6dEDmuv6dIRSsyzR8NnyJmT9nFW8lhY5d2tziKr2YEQbICsVyA7gpu25G0NldGL/s320/7aebdef7-df0f-485f-92c0-d8622387d2d7.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>After trying six times to post a comment on my own blog and failing(inducing much swearing)- decided to announce the winner of the signed copy of IF HE'S DANGEROUS this way. And sorry I disappeared for a bit but things got a little crazy here what with dental appointments, deadline, a run to the vet's because Jackson's tail was looking funky, deadline, plants that needed to go into the garden before they died, deadline, and a bunch of stuff that was schedualed for promo reasons. <br />
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Anyway - put the names on slips of paper, tossed them on the floor and my cat Perkins attacked as is her wont. She picked June M. Aside from a slight problem with a touch of cat spit on the paper, it worked well. So June M. contact me here or send me a message on FB making note that you're June M. winner on the blog.<br />
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Now back to trying to get the rest of those dying plants in the ground and then getting back to Brian and Kenna who were left hanging and aren't too happy about it.Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-67124389758519697892011-06-14T07:02:00.000-07:002011-06-14T07:02:13.615-07:00Hypnosis (Will I Turn Into a Zombie?)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 26.0pt;">Hypnosis<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18.0pt;">(Will I turn into a Zombie?)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Guest blogger Carolyn Sullivan<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A pair of mesmerizing eyes. A deep sonorous voice. These are the qualities the old black and white movies used to show a hypnotist at work. Throw in a black opera cape, an evil laugh, dark hair, a mustache, and maybe even a pointy goatee and you have the perfect villain. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Move forward half a century and you have beautiful blond haired, blue eyed, clean shaven, Patrick Jane on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Mentalist.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></i>Although he does not have the bass or baritone voice used in the old black and whites, he does have the power to hypnotize just by touching a person, using a carefully modulated voice, and looking them in the eye. Another difference, Jane is the hero, not the villain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Other movie props include a swinging pendulum, a swirling shape, a swinging watch or locket. Totally unnecessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In the movies and on television the Hypnotist is shown as a stage performer who makes people do ridiculous things in front of live audiences. Though there are some who do work on the stage, the overwhelming majority of American Hypnotists live in your community. They work in a clinic or out of a private office, trying to help people overcome addictions or deal with other problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Hypnosis can help you overcome overeating, eating disorders, depression, smoking, phobias, nail biting, etc. It can help you improve your sex life, attract a soul mate, increase your self-confidence, control pain, strengthen your immune system, contact departed love ones, visit past lives, astral project, and many other things.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I practiced a form of self-hypnosis to control the pain of four natural childbirths. I have also used it to temporarily relieve the pain of abscessed teeth. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Hypnosis can help you. The two most important things to know about hypnosis is you have to trust the person hypnotizing you and it will take more then one session. Unlike Season Three, Episode 14 of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Mentalist</i>, (Blood for Blood) you cannot overcome the bad habits you have used as a crutch for years in a matter of a minute and a half of a gorgeous man holding your wrist, looking you in the eye, and telling you to quit. No matter how entertaining the words. (Although, Simon Baker can hold onto me anytime!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">You can have hypnosis tapes, CDs, or MP3 programs designed just for you. You can sit in the safety of your own bedroom, study, or living room, and be hypnotized. A good hypnotist will explain that you will need repeated sessions and will make the program for you with several sessions on it. Then you can repeat it over and over again, as many times as you need. (It is also far cheaper to do it this way than it is to have office consultations.) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The prerecorded CDs sold in New Age stores are okay for a trial, but they cannot get you over the hump when trying to change your life style. To overcome an addiction, bad habit, or to improve your energy or general health does require life style changes. To have a Program of your own committed to CD you should first have a consultation with the hypnotist, this can be a phone interview.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">You do not need to fear “being out of it” while under hypnosis. Your hypnotist will take you into a trance-like state, but you will still be aware enough that other sounds, such as alarms, sirens, or crying children will bring you back to full consciousness. You will always be able to come out of the hypnotic state whenever you feel uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Neither do you have to fear getting stuck in a past life regression. A good hypnotist will guide you through the regression and leave you with the knowledge that you are no longer to blame for anything that was done in a past life. You don’t have to carry the guilt or the pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There is also no need to fear the hypnotist will convince you to do something bad. There has been many a plot where the evil hypnotist has used his powers to get the sweet young woman to have sex with his enemy, kill his enemy, steal from the Queen, etc. You cannot be hypnotized into doing anything that goes against your moral code.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In Hannah Howell’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If He’s Dangerous</i>, Sir Argus Wherlocke, has the power to mesmerize with his eyes and his voice. A “normal” person has the power to hypnotize with the power of his voice when he has a willing participant. A man with the “special” powers of a Wherlocke can achieve so much more with his voice than a “normal” man. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lorelei is a very lucky girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What special powers does a real hypnotist need? None. All he or she needs is a gentle, soothing voice and a willing subject.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Will you turn into a Zombie? No.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Carolyn Sullivan, proprietor of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bewitching Hour, </i>is an extraordinary hypnotist. (She used to practice on her children and was rewarded by her girls writing letters to distant family members, cleaning, and doing homework. Unfortunately the girls soon caught on to what was happening and refused to be “put under” any more. They became teenagers.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Carolyn has been a working psychic and hypnotist for more years than she admits to being alive. Everyday she posts Animal Totems, the color of the day, along with assorted words of wisdom on her website thebewitchinghour.com and also on her facebook page, The Bewitching Hour. If you would like to know more about Astral Projection, Telekinesis, Hypnosis, Psychic readings, etc. write to her at <a href="mailto:thebewitchinghour@yahoo.com">thebewitchinghour@yahoo.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Two special offers to Hannah Howell fans:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">At <a href="http://www.thebewitchinghour.com/">www.thebewitchinghour.com</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">A half hour psychic reading for half price. (See Hannah special on the Psychic <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Readings</st1:place></st1:city> page.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Get your own Hypnosis CD, tape, flash drive, or MP3 program for $100 off the regular price. (See Argus Wherlocke special on the Hypnosis Page.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">These are limited time offers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-44072990944684572802011-06-13T03:51:00.000-07:002011-06-13T03:54:43.049-07:00Introducing Gretchen CraigLast month I met Hannah Howell at a conference in Salem (at the New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America), and she invited me to introduce myself to her readers. What a gracious and generous offer, Hannah!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglI56Dkm4Wqu_WCuRA9s9Tivk0j_1llikfMOWLWlfVovsuhExpHvpqxVBcmwWlTFLyZZqOBP0htebsBSqGjb-73Rzbb0FspcjdTxQOCF8B9DzlQi__fLI8DQIbVrn6ry2JNjnyCuyFyW4V/s1600/AAF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglI56Dkm4Wqu_WCuRA9s9Tivk0j_1llikfMOWLWlfVovsuhExpHvpqxVBcmwWlTFLyZZqOBP0htebsBSqGjb-73Rzbb0FspcjdTxQOCF8B9DzlQi__fLI8DQIbVrn6ry2JNjnyCuyFyW4V/s320/AAF.jpg" t8="true" width="210px" /></a>While I love to read Highlander romances and Regencies and Victorians set in Britain, I write American historicals. I’m most interested in times of great cultural upheaval, so I put my characters in these periods of division and watch them struggle through it.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My first two novels are set in antebellum Louisiana among the Cajuns, the Creoles, and the African salves. In ALWAYS AND FOREVER Josie and Cleo are mistress and slave. They are also half sisters who share the same father, a Creole cane planter. Growing up together they forge a lasting bond, but oh how it is tested. How can love and friendship survive the injustices their roles force on them? Jealousy and rivalry for their father’s love taints their sisterhood from the start. Jealousy and rivalry for the love of the fascinating Bertrand Chamard nearly destroys their bond. Cruelty, betrayal, and heartache dog their lives until, through an act of great heart and generosity, they find redemption together. If that all sounds a little vague, it’s because the novel is large in scope and characters; sagas are hard to summarize. But as in any historical, romances or ones like mine that have strong romance elements, the book is about relationships, about loving and being loved.<br />
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</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtrNZHBYZvvv1sC1Ay1VyUp9mQ4fvrLF5ZVkwR7RE__8R6w9MvIBrMNP2zBBGNs7ZPpCRdIeXB-qg-g9AKiPFIkUzssKk_5ylR-Kl-1rAjCPAotWxa6s9kN_rGVmINfjUmWuEPPWDpH9X/s1600/EML.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtrNZHBYZvvv1sC1Ay1VyUp9mQ4fvrLF5ZVkwR7RE__8R6w9MvIBrMNP2zBBGNs7ZPpCRdIeXB-qg-g9AKiPFIkUzssKk_5ylR-Kl-1rAjCPAotWxa6s9kN_rGVmINfjUmWuEPPWDpH9X/s320/EML.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a>The second Louisiana novel, EVER MY LOVE, takes the families into the next generation. Josie’s and Cleo’s and Bertrand’s offspring are torn between conscience and convention. They are the children of the planter system, dependent on slave labor, yet they are stirred by the abolitionist rhetoric of the North. The choice is to remain complicit in the injustices of slavery by doing nothing, or to act on their abolitionist principles, a dilemma faced all over the South. On the personal level, Marianne chooses to help her father’s own slaves escape through the Underground Railroad. Yves, a dangerous man of uncertain character, risks his life to shepherd slaves to freedom with a bounty on his head. And yes, this is a romance! Marianne is smitten by the mysterious, conflicted Yves, but can she trust him – with her secrets or with her honor? So we have a strong heroine, like Hannah Howell’s Highlander women, and a dangerous alpha hero whose allure is as frightening as it is stimulating.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_6eV9MYQqcStuFiDEFYqo7PyGeav0DjEK75Dra2GcfzAVTLuIGOJpj-I_XYgZ_YoqvN_VfIC2iamcC0F_cScrRP-YxY6I7AXm5ViO4KycoACIPOtQu7ez8P23PtjH0assuVL1NnUEsZY/s1600/CS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_6eV9MYQqcStuFiDEFYqo7PyGeav0DjEK75Dra2GcfzAVTLuIGOJpj-I_XYgZ_YoqvN_VfIC2iamcC0F_cScrRP-YxY6I7AXm5ViO4KycoACIPOtQu7ez8P23PtjH0assuVL1NnUEsZY/s320/CS.jpg" t8="true" width="210px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have two novels out as e-books. CRIMSON SKY is set in 1598. That’s the year the Spanish marched into the Santa Fe area. Ziwa faces loss and betrayal, love and danger in this time of cultural upheaval. Newly widowed, Ziwa tries to heal her broken heart with the handsome Spanish conquistador captain. Though Diego is outwardly self-sufficient, Ziwa understands that underneath his bluff exterior, he needs her. Alas, the path to happiness is never smooth. Diego’s demand that she abandon her gods and her culture force her to choose between his love and protection and her very identity as a woman of the pueblos. It’s a love story, and a lovely story, about people making difficult choices.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrMaxzNL0GSEtyNwdTe5R7tXNmWkALl-0pfmS_aX8g0_WFWIblNlw-dZeGUoxJr36xhOOfvPoPBseo0N3qDw-yBcLDl6EwcZ80tboWSIQYS-P0WzgFHvp_f2oVGuncXBnwwNLhLAKVYuA/s1600/TL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrMaxzNL0GSEtyNwdTe5R7tXNmWkALl-0pfmS_aX8g0_WFWIblNlw-dZeGUoxJr36xhOOfvPoPBseo0N3qDw-yBcLDl6EwcZ80tboWSIQYS-P0WzgFHvp_f2oVGuncXBnwwNLhLAKVYuA/s320/TL.jpg" t8="true" width="240px" /></a></div>THEENA’S LANDING (also an e-book) takes my readers to the lush, sweltering strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Everglades when Miami was a sleepy fishing village. Think swamps, mosquitoes, gators, unrelenting sun, and for fun, hurricanes. The crux of this story is difficult for some readers, but most find Theena’s dilemma one they can understand and forgive: Theena is in love with her sister’s husband. No, she’s no Jezebel. She is determined to hurt no one, least of all her sister. The story is how she balances her heart’s longing with honor and integrity to at last, after sin and redemption, earn her happy ever after. I love Theena and the sisters and the loves who revolve around her. She’s flawed, she’s sometimes weak, but oh so human.<br />
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Next up for me is the third in the Louisiana sagas. Nicolette is Cleo’s daughter (Cleo of the first book), a white-skinned free “woman of color.” When the Yankee army marches into New Orleans in 1862, she mistakenly believes they bring an end to slavery and injustice. Her story is one of grit- she risks herself to collaborate with the Union forces, hoping to hasten the abolition of slavery. And it’s a story of love overcoming prejudice – can her beloved Yankee captain see past her white skin to understand – and accept – that she is the daughter of slaves? She despairs of their ever overcoming the gaping distance between their worlds. But remember, we are romance lovers. Not everyone in EVERMORE earns a happy ever after, but Nicolette and her Captain do. I hope to see this published in 2012.<br />
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If you love Hannah’s Highlander heroes, strong, decisive, and yet of tender heart, you’ll love the men in my novels, too. And like Hannah’s women, my heroines know their own minds, have the resourcefulness to find what they want, and yet know their greatest happiness will be found in healing, taming, and claiming their heroes.<br />
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To read the first chapters, go to www.gretchencraig.com. From there you can also access my blog about writing and loving and living. Thanks, Hannah, for letting me show your readers some new stories they might like!Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-63864568507926849022011-06-07T13:11:00.000-07:002011-06-07T13:11:25.812-07:00Release Day for IF HE'S DANGEROUS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu37P4iaHkFXTjfYSBseGntu_ts6t9RF_6-Uh6jCE7luYUoUUKFBoPCh6wB22Te72NMDAH3Th5_Nvcqc_Nihmb4pmA4kwC76Ve3yBSk3y8Y-RdILjFmtVtpEKX3knm1YXBw8CLduxiAro/s1600/if_he%2527s_dangerous_%2528e-postcard%2529+Copy_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu37P4iaHkFXTjfYSBseGntu_ts6t9RF_6-Uh6jCE7luYUoUUKFBoPCh6wB22Te72NMDAH3Th5_Nvcqc_Nihmb4pmA4kwC76Ve3yBSk3y8Y-RdILjFmtVtpEKX3knm1YXBw8CLduxiAro/s320/if_he%2527s_dangerous_%2528e-postcard%2529+Copy_1.jpeg" t8="true" width="213" /></a></div>Afternoon all! Meant to get this up this morning but the weather is about to go to summer stinking hot and had to run out and do a lot of stuff so that I could hold up in my air-conditioned writer's cave for the next two 90+ degree days.<br />
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So IF HE'S DANGEROUS makes its debut today. I know it's been seen and bought elsewhere for a few days but this is official Release Day. It's Sir Argus Wherlocke's story. That dark, handsome, arrogant guy who kept wandering into past Wherlocke tales(and regularly annoying people) finally gets his own story. And his own heroine.<br />
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I have to admit it was a little tricky trying to come up with a heroine for him. I mean, really, the man mesmerizes people. His gift is one that allows him to get people to tell him everything and sometimes even get them to do what he wants them to, whether they want to or not. What woman wants to deal with that? I certainly wouldn't. Why, you could cleverly tuck away all those books you just bought and he'd look at you and say - What did you buy? And you'd tell him. No fun at all.<br />
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Then I came up with Lady Lorelei Sundun, the seventh child of the reclusive Duke of Sundunmoor. Oh, yeh. She's going to be a problem. Feisty, free-spirited, intelligent. Enough trouble for any upstanding eighteenth century man. Even better she has something that will set Argus back on his heels - resistance. Hey, he was asking for this with his constant appearances and nagging for his own tale.<br />
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So I threw Argus into a big pot of trouble and then gave him a heroine he couldn't twist around his long, elegant fingers. Just for fun I gave Lorelei a big, eccentric family that can hold its own against Argus's own large, strange family and a butler - well, you'll meet him.(I hope) He's a gem. Throw in a few determined enemies, a threat to his whole clan, some close calls, time in a dank dungeon, and we're off.<br />
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I will admit that I'm having fun with the Wherlocke/Vaughn crew. I've stuck in the occasional little psychic talent in a lot of my stories but being able to bring it to the fore, make it part of all that happens, is great. Not that I don't still write myself into a corner now and then, but now I have that whole new aspect of psychic talents to help dig me out of the hole I just wrote myself into. I hope you'll give IF HE'S DANGEROUS a try. If you haven't read the other Wherlocke tales - not to worry. Each is a story on it's own, the only real connection being a familial one. I will try to put up an excerpt this week but the first chapter is up on my website - <a href="http://www.hannahhowell.com/">http://www.hannahhowell.com/</a> and there's an excerpt in the notes section on my FB page.<br />
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This week my friend Carolyn Sullivan from The Bewitching Hour will blog again on another psychic talent. Hope you'll check her out. Her site is in my links section: <a href="http://www.thebewitchinghour.com/">http://www.thebewitchinghour.com/</a> And now to go and set up a fan near my desk in preparation for the little heat wave about to smack into us.Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-66414820801836761442011-06-06T06:21:00.000-07:002011-06-06T06:21:52.681-07:00Do You Believe? by Catherine Anne CollinsHello. It’s great to be here today and many thanks to Hannah for allowing me a place to introduce myself and ponder the mysteries of the Universe. Wait, don’t leave. We can keep it light and just ponder the mysteries of our own world. How’s that? J <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVYVVVV8cmKpBGqvlodp8qPSXC_eddYMeN2u3qAAyHyCfkmx6Yi4uOto-2kb5YI-_Ahik6JNMjm6yX014UcpuKbnPaj4gvF6whGMhcs3ZwnAPtAHqOjZ_wLHc5OQS-PeRA7K7_akn2EV8/s1600/LgAWitchsLegacy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVYVVVV8cmKpBGqvlodp8qPSXC_eddYMeN2u3qAAyHyCfkmx6Yi4uOto-2kb5YI-_Ahik6JNMjm6yX014UcpuKbnPaj4gvF6whGMhcs3ZwnAPtAHqOjZ_wLHc5OQS-PeRA7K7_akn2EV8/s1600/LgAWitchsLegacy.jpg" t8="true" /></a>I recently attended a writer’s conference in Salem, Massachusetts. What better place for a writer with a vivid imagination and two books set in Salem? While researching the first book, A Witch’s Lament, my husband and I managed time away from our business to visit Salem during our Christmas holidays. I’m not complaining, BUT, going to a tourist town when many of the attractions and exhibits aren’t open, is not necessarily a good thing. So, when the opportunity arose to visit in the nicer weather, I wasn’t going to say no. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I promptly booked a room at one of the older, supposedly haunted hotels, reserved my spot on the Saturday night ghost walk, grabbed my camera, opened my mind, and took to the road with a friend of mine. After 10 hours of driving and the constant chatter that occurs when two writers find themselves locked in a car together, we arrived in Salem. A city of contradictions. Narrow streets lined with historic homes of unique and beautiful architecture. Modern shops, museums, and attractions attempting to satisfy visitors fascinated with a bloody past. Lively with the bustle and cheer of a tourist town, yet laden with a sombre thread of the terror that stained the streets with evil and death centuries earlier. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Anticipating a busy and productive couple of days, I focused my mind on the work aspect of the weekend, not thinking overly much about ghosts and goblins. In spite of my lack of attention, or maybe because of it, the ghost wasn’t long in making her presence known to me. Yes, she. It seems the resident hotel ghost is a woman and her name…drum roll, please…Catherine. She had the nerve to throw my chocolate in the garbage. Not just any chocolate, but good truffles that I’d bought at Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad0ncXbFaLT_xr6nt5NBLSJt_V2CpLDKnD27J6apqUy-T6jKS1Ie3hGpQ3Jiwa-pFVsp7xVcRFuiwWyrnBgNMfNniip93IinIQMk8e3m7RYaRgkKBL_HD25bKMfDHGIja7OI6U6-35rFX/s1600/LgWitchsLament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad0ncXbFaLT_xr6nt5NBLSJt_V2CpLDKnD27J6apqUy-T6jKS1Ie3hGpQ3Jiwa-pFVsp7xVcRFuiwWyrnBgNMfNniip93IinIQMk8e3m7RYaRgkKBL_HD25bKMfDHGIja7OI6U6-35rFX/s1600/LgWitchsLament.jpg" t8="true" /></a>At first I thought I’d misplaced the delectable treats, so I scoured the room looking for them. Perplexed, I sat on the bed and mentally ran over everything I’d done since eating one of them. I had sat on the bed, logged onto the laptop, eaten a candy, eaten a chocolate, and put both packages on the bed beside me while I checked e-mail. When I reached for another of the addictive truffles, I couldn’t find them. I searched the room, under the bed, in the closet, in my suitcase…everywhere. Shelley came in at that point, helped me look, and kept insisting that I must put them somewhere and forgotten. I swore, and still do, that I never left the bed. That’s when an inexplicable urge hit me to search the garbage. There sat my chocolates, innocently perched under a piece of discarded paper. Shelley hadn’t thrown them out and I certainly hadn’t, so how would you explain it? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Wait, there’s more. The ghost was busy that weekend. J Falling asleep after such a spine-tingling experience wasn’t easy, but I managed, only to wake during the night to a strange <br />
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noise. Since it sounded to be right beside me, I wondered what my roommate, Shelley, had taken to bed with her that would make so much noise. Kind of a rolling, metal rattle. The sound continued all night long, sometimes loud, other times quiet, but always sounding right beside me. Morning arrived and I climbed from bed bleary eyed and edgy. Feeling bad for silently cursing Shelley most of the night through, I politely asked her what she’d had in bed that made so much noise every time she moved. Her blank stare stilled any hope that a ghostly being hadn’t been responsible for bothering me all night. <br />
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Once I explained what I’d heard, we shook the bed, jumped on it…did everything we could to determine the cause of the noise. Nothing. As with the chocolate, no earthly explanation presented itself. Strangely, the next night at the ghost walk, nothing happened to compare to the experiences in my own hotel room. <br />
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Am I a believer? I’d say I’m a hard sell, but definitely a believer. Too many strange occurrences in my lifetime have ensured that. But that’s a story for another day. <br />
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So, are you a believer? <br />
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If Salem, witchcraft and magic interest you, check out my books based in Salem, Ma. Just so you know, I’ll be giving a book of your choice away to someone who posts a comment. Take care and have a great day. <a href="http://www.crescentmoonpress.com/Authors/CACollins.html">http://www.crescentmoonpress.com/Authors/CACollins.html</a>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-64683942344690796132011-05-31T08:03:00.000-07:002011-05-31T08:07:51.642-07:00Adventures in Astral Projection<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;">Adventures in Astral Projection<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">With guest blogger Carolyn Sullivan<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNRR8QSavF_XkXC_8nxjqFkozBTcnf7AwQ8I0wjek-L63wUmi8E8JCgNktIcDTshvTiu35bg7-x3ZY8WmRcsTJG5uhJuqd0NrZRuyrORjh6MrTF8SPSyW_xmeXJFeUnBohHUMI-8vliZ_/s1600/Virginia+668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNRR8QSavF_XkXC_8nxjqFkozBTcnf7AwQ8I0wjek-L63wUmi8E8JCgNktIcDTshvTiu35bg7-x3ZY8WmRcsTJG5uhJuqd0NrZRuyrORjh6MrTF8SPSyW_xmeXJFeUnBohHUMI-8vliZ_/s200/Virginia+668.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is Astral Projection, you ask? Quite simply, it is the act of your consciousness leaving your body and going somewhere else. It is also called an out of body experience, alternate state of being, remote viewing, lucid dreaming. There are other names for it, but I think you get the picture. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sir Argus Wherlocke has the gift of astral projection. He escapes the dank cell his body is caged in and finds himself naked in a rose garden. (I hope he is careful around the thorns!) According to all the laws of AP no one should be able to see him, unless he or she is a sensitive, but Lorelei Sundun does see him. I am not going to give away anymore of the story then that, but I will say that Hannah has come up with a great way to get around the “laws”, and once you see what it is, you will realize it is possible. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If He’s Dangerous, </i>June 7, 2011)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ah, now you are wondering who I am, and why Hannah would ask me to write a blog about Astral Projection. Without giving out my real age, I will admit that I began studying “New Age” subjects long before someone plastered the tag “New Age” on them. Back then we were learning “ancient mysteries”. Discovering ways to expand the mind. Barnes and Noble did not have a section dedicated to “Alternative Religions”, “New Age”, or Tarot Cards. Charmin was a toilet tissue, nobody had ever heard of a Shaman. They would rather believe you were talking about toilet paper that Mr. Whipple begged you not to squeeze, than something that defied the rules of their religion.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Concerned friends gave me copies of H. P. Lovecraft novels, hoping to scare me out of the “stage” I was going through. Nothing stopped my search for greater understanding. I kept studying and moving along in my own research.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> When Hannah asked me to write a blog on this subject, I was honored. It had been decades since I last researched the subject. I had spirit travel down solid. I thought great strides must surely have been made since I first traveled on the Astral Plane. The book shelves and internet must be loaded with reams of comprehensive material. Others must have developed a system that could take you from the comfort of your body and onto another plain in zero to sixty. (We will return to this thread shortly.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Television has handled AP in nifty ways. The most notorious show that used Astral Projection as a plot devise was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charmed</i>. Actually, they got more right than they did wrong. The eldest sister, Pru (played by Shannon Doherty), had the gift of telekinesis (able to move objects with mind power). The first time Pru “left her body” was an accident, but she found it was a powerful tool in the sisters’ fight to protect <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:city></st1:place> from evil. After that she studied and practiced. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Did you see the key word in there? Practice. That is the nitty-gritty of everything you want to do in life. To develop a new skill takes time, a smattering of knowledge, and lots of practice.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> The most important ingredient in your quest to jump out of your body and check on your husband, kids, boss, etc, is a strong belief that you can do this. You cannot go into it thinking “I hope I can, I hope I can, I probably won’t.” You MUST believe “I <u>can</u> do it. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>can</u></i> do it!”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> The next step is a nice soothing bath, or if you prefer, shower. Use the time you spend cleansing yourself to think about what you are going to do. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Go someplace quiet. This is something you have to do alone. No giggling friends, snorting spouses, demanding kids, or barking dogs. Bring a pleasantly scented candle and incense with you. You need a candle, preferably white. Incense is not really required, but since the dawn of religion it has been believed that incense can protect you and take messages to the gods for you. However, if the scent is too strong it will have you thinking about your aching head, polluted sinuses, or rioting belly. Remember, you need a quiet, pleasant place in order to feel safe. If incense draws you out of the moment, sacrifice the incense and get it out of your area.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Light the candle and shut off the lights. (Special note: Never meditate in the dark, it invites evil to enter.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Make yourself comfortable. You could be there for a long time and you don’t want to tip over when your spirit goes on walkabout. While she is taking a look-see wherever you have sent her, your body could decide to tip over and the jarring will jerk you back to your body.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Clear your mind and focus on the candle flame. (I am not a chanter, so when I meditate I look into the flame and let my spirit take over. If you are a meditation chanter, go ahead and get those sounds out.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> When you are deep into the meditative state encourage your spirit to leave your body for a few minutes. Do not overdo. Very few people can achieve an out of body experience the first time. You must do this over and over. Remember, if you want to get to Carnegie Hall you must practice, practice, practice. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">For your first flight you should limit yourself to hovering around where you are and watch your body. This may not work the first time you try it, nor the twelfth, maybe not even the hundredth. But if you don’t keep trying you will never find the joy and the freedom you feel when you can go to other places.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> This has worked for me, but I will caution you, once you become proficient in Astral Projection be careful where you go. Do you really want to see what your husband does on his “boys’ night out”? Will it make you a better parent if you hover over your teenage daughter while she is dating that tattooed freak you’ve warned her about? It is far better to go to another plain and seek self awareness rather than playing a game of gotcha with friends and family. It is fun to play spy until you see something that makes you want to gouge your own eyes out.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Now back to the subject of my current research. I did find large tomes and gigabites of information. The technique I have shared is my own, however, some of what I have just shared with you has been printed into book form for large sums of money and gives you approximately three-hundred pages of dry reading. I found one online site that wanted me to read twelve articles on how to get started, and even more articles on preparation. It broke the ritual into twenty-five steps. Twenty-five steps!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> My method has worked for me for more than a quarter of a century. It has also worked for everyone I have taught it to. Save your money, save your time, and follow my free course in Astal Projection, courtesy of our mutual friend Hannah Howell.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> If you want your spirit to fly like a hawk over the plains, it is better to KISS. Keep. It. Simple. S. . . <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Believe in yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> And practice. Practice. PRACTICE! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 14pt;">Carolyn Sullivan has been working in the psychic business for more years than she admits to being alive. Everyday she posts Animal Totems, the color of the day, and assorted words of wisdom on her website <a href="http://thebewitchinghour.com/">thebewitchinghour.com</a> and also on her facebook </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 14pt;">page, The Bewitching Hour. </span></b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bewitching-Hour/111323905616176">http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bewitching-Hour/111323905616176</a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 14pt;"> If you would like to know more about Astral Projection, Telekinesis, Psychic readings, etc. write to her at:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="mailto:thebewitchinghour@yahoo.com">thebewitchinghour@yahoo.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 14pt;">For a limited time only, get a half hour reading from The Bewitching Hour for half price. Go to:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://thebewitchinghour.com/">thebewitchinghour.com</a> and click on “If He’s Dangerous”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: 14pt;">Leave a comment on this blog entry and The Bewitching Hour will send you a fun gift! <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1610176045745812052.post-61820839389353836382011-05-13T14:23:00.000-07:002011-05-13T14:23:47.371-07:00"I think she's dead." 'No I'm not."(Monty Python)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnsOxxzyq4F1ZRiSVMPr6T8ag4luoA2Z7nimQaIDe6V3TDM4cGT-nxnyZfH9Ks-mW6KQ9D3IARYXzeq4rzz395rsuBMsjX4xQ1oJq53EbZpZviL7ahpWzx7UQb2eBXTKDbZ5GO8Imtc3R/s1600/Elizabeth-The-Golden-Age-Clive-Owen-1294%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnsOxxzyq4F1ZRiSVMPr6T8ag4luoA2Z7nimQaIDe6V3TDM4cGT-nxnyZfH9Ks-mW6KQ9D3IARYXzeq4rzz395rsuBMsjX4xQ1oJq53EbZpZviL7ahpWzx7UQb2eBXTKDbZ5GO8Imtc3R/s320/Elizabeth-The-Golden-Age-Clive-Owen-1294%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(had this all set to go up yesterday but Blogger crashed. And it wasn't even Friday the 13th yet. Thus is my life. So - here is yesterday's blog.)<br />
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Bet you were wondering though. I just seem to be sinking in a morass of work and petty emergencies.<br />
And - no - the picture has nothing to do with this blog. I just wanted something pretty to look at while I wrote this blog.<br />
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Next book out is IF HE'S DANGEROUS, available June 7th. It's Sir Argus Wherlocke's tale and he finds himself entangled with a bad guy who thinks Argus's gift can be taken away and used by someone else as well as a pretty little duke's daughter. Other members of the Wherlocke clan make appearances as I can never seem to write a tale without one or more of them wandering through it. Going to get the cover up here ASAP.<br />
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Right now am working on a new Murray tale - HIGHLAND NOBLE - which has a MacFingal and a Murray lass tangling it up. Brian MacFingal - one of the many illegitimate sons of the weird pater of the clan - and Kenna Murray Lucette, a pretty little widow in a lot of trouble. But those Murray lasses have a skill at finding trouble and then finding hot men to help them. It's due at the end of June so - yes - I'm deep into deadline mode. Again.<br />
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Finished a novella tale for the next vampire anthology at the start of the year. The page proofs for that are sitting on the dining room table and must be done and back to the editor by the 17th. Just signed for another. It doesn't have to be about the MacNachtons but I think it will be. Not really done with them yet.<br />
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Right now, sun's shining, it's cool but nice, and I'm fighting the urge to go out and work in the garden. Just keep telling myself - too much work to plow through yet, garden's not going anywhere, etc. Sort of working. Brian and Kenna are whining that I'm leaving them in the lurch and probably wouldn't appreciate being left stranded just so I could go pull some weeds. Although, there are a lot of weeds growing up out there.<br />
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Just did a blog post for Borders, an interview for a friend's site, and a newsletter article for one of my writers' groups. So figured it was way past time to get back to this. As you can tell from this ramble my life seems to consist of meeting deadlines with pauses for trips to the vet, trips to the dentist, runs to the car place because my keys don't work any more, exchanges with the web hosts because the password doesn't work any more and need to get an update on there, etc. See? Continuous little emergencies that always take a lot longer to deal with than they should.<br />
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My problem right now - aside from having to run out to open the gates in the back garden to let out a stupid wild turkey who flew into the garden but can't seem to fly out - is that I now have another story nudging at my brain. Lady Olympia Wherlocke is bugging me and she is not a patient woman. When I go on those little wanderings in my mind that happen when I'm doing some chore it's no longer just ideas on the Highland Noble story there but pushy Olympia. She will pay for this later. Might even get Kenna and Brian to beat her into silence. So - back to work now. I've circled the days on the calendar when I think I can come and post. Let's see how well that works.Hannah Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437616438225816316noreply@blogger.com0