Snippet Sunday and a Nod to Mother’s Day

May 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

In lieu of 6 Sentence Sunday today, I’m paying tribute to mothers everywhere with Snippet Sunday. Here’s a little bit from my fantasy romance, Only for a Knight, available now from Ellora’s Cave!

onlyforaknight_msr

“You exhibited bravery and a sense of selflessness I have never seen in you. There is hope for you yet as a ruler.” She paused, as though searching for the right words. “As I stood on the Stone of Destiny, I knew I was going to die. I was certain Kieran would kill me, absorb my magic and proclaim himself High King.” Her gaze glittered with tears. “I knew if I died, he would come after you and even Lord Derron wouldn’t be able to stop him. That is why I transferred all my magic to you, Elyne. I knew if you had it, you and Lord Derron could defeat him. And you did.”

Elyne stared at her in disbelief, her mother’s words repeating over and over in her head. All her magic? Elyne received all the queen’s magic? Thinking back on it now, she remembered the tingling sensation she had when the magic returned. The way the aches and pains suddenly disappeared. The voice she’d heard in her head, telling her she had the power.

“I have never been more proud of you than I am now,” Maeve said.

A lump formed in Elyne’s throat. She swallowed hard around it, trying to stave off the tears that wanted to erupt. Next to her, Derron slipped his hand in hers and squeezed. She’d forgotten he was there and now she glanced his way. The glow of his smiled warmed her, reassured her. For the first time in her life, her mother approved of her, told her she was proud of her.

“Thank you, Mother,” she whispered.

Where to Buy:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Ellora’s Cave

Filed Under: Six Sentence Sunday, Writing Tagged With: , , , , ,

Inkwell Guest: Morticia Knight and Sleepy Hollow Goes Erotic

May 7, 2013 by

Hi, gang! Today I have erotic author, Morticia Knight!

thelegendofsleepyhollow_800The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Gone Erotic!

Thank you Michelle for letting me commandeer your blog today! And don’t worry – no one is going to do the nasty with the Headless Horseman *wink*. I guess I should explain what this erotic classic stuff is all about. Well, my publisher, Total-E-Bound, has a line of books under the Clandestine Classic banner, which are all erotic retellings of classics. So far, we have had Jane Eyre, Pride & Prejudice,  Tarzan, A Christmas Carol – which actually won the 2012 LR Café MM Romance award for author Em Woods – and many others.

As you all know, there have been many classic stories retold already, whether in books or films. Typically, the original words have been discarded, and just the characters and some of the story have been retained more or less. What is different about Clandestine Classics – other than the erotic elements that have been added – is that as authors we can only add to the story – we cannot take away. So when you purchase a Clandestine Classic, you get every word the original author wrote, and you only pay for what the new author wrote.

It was a challenge – trust me on this. Not only did my story have to follow along with Washington Irving’s original tale, but it was also crucial that I write it in his voice so that the reader wouldn’t be taken out of the story. Each section needed to flow seamlessly from his words, to mine, and then back again. What made this particular classic a lot of fun, is what also made it the most difficult.

Irving had a very flippant and ironic style. When you pair that style with sex, it can come off wrong if you try to over-romanticize the sex scenes, and make them too serious. So there was a bit of a tongue in cheek (ahem!) tone that I maintained. It kept the sizzle, but never took itself too seriously. The genre ended up being an MMF ménage/Rubenesque story with some BDSM. The following excerpt includes both mine and Irving’s prose:

From The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving & Morticia Knight

In this by-place of nature there abided—in a remote period of American history, that is to say some ten to thirty years since, who can say for sure—a worthy wight of the name of Ichabod Crane, who sojourned or, as he expressed it, “tarried” in Sleepy Hollow for the purpose of instructing the children of the vicinity. He was a native of Connecticut, a State which supplies the Union with pioneers for the mind as well as for the forest, and sends forth yearly its legions of frontier woodmen and country schoolmasters. Ichabod was anxious to discover a haven where he might enjoy the freedom to express all of the enjoyments this life has to offer, for nothing can be said to be as wondrous as those activities that delight the senses, as well as the mind.

The cognomen of Crane was not inapplicable to his person. He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together. His head was small and flat at top, with huge ears, large green glassy eyes and a long snipe nose, so that it looked like a weather-cock perched upon his spindle neck to tell which way the wind blew. To see him striding along the profile of a hill on a windy day, with his clothes bagging and fluttering about him, one might have mistaken him for the genius of famine descending upon the earth, or some scarecrow eloped from a cornfield.

Yet his form was not entirely displeasing, especially when one so intimate as a lover might gaze upon Ichabod in his unclothed state. For there he presented a most stupendous appendage, not readily spied beneath his loose attire. He learnt whilst still a young lad that both ladies and gentleman appreciated this generous attribute, and he became quite adept at satisfying both genders, thus providing him with unusual advantages when it came to both love and hospitality.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is available now at all of the usual outlets, including:

Total-E-Bound Publishing | All Romance ebooks

TempMK PhotoMorticia Knight Author Bio

Erotic Romance author Morticia Knight enjoys a good saucy tale, whether it is contemporary, paranormal, historical, ménage, M/M or BDSM – she loves it all! One of her passions is bringing people’s fantasies to life on the page, because life is too short for even one boring moment. Her stories are volcanic in heat, deep in emotion, and sprinkled with doses of humor.

When not indulging in her passion for books, she loves the outdoors, film and music. Once upon a time she was the singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She currently resides on the northern coast of Oregon, where the constant rain and fog remind her of visits to her family in England and Scotland when she was a child.

Morticia has a three-book series called Uniform Encounters set in the Southwest that features those yummy men in uniform coming out in 2013, and is currently working on both a Steampunk horror ménage, and a Sci-fi ménage.

Find her here:

Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Total E-Bound Author Page

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Inkwell Guests, Writing Tagged With: , , ,

Release Day for Tempting Eden! #paranormal #romance + Giveaw@y

April 5, 2013 by

TemptingEdenHello, all!

Today is the official release day of Tempting Eden! It’s my sexy paranormal romance that launches a brand new series of seriously hot guys from Atlantis! It’s available in eBook from Smashwords, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. But stick around. There’s a giveaway!

Blurb:

Eden doubts a trip to the Bahamas will make her forget her cheating boyfriend, empty bank account and dead-end job. But when her best friend insists the trip is what she needs to forget her troubles, Eden can’t refuse the all-expenses paid vacation. Little does she know a new kind of trouble awaits.

As an elite Guardian of Atlantis, Sabre is on a mission to bring back human females from the surface. The lost continent’s lead geneticist wants to impregnate the women, mixing Atlantean DNA with human genetic material in order to save their dying race. If Sabre refuses, his sister will be killed. Despite his revulsion to such a mission he has no choice but to obey.

When Sabre walks out of the sea and finds Eden on the beach, he can read her deepest fantasies loud and clear. At first it’s enough to simply bring them to life, touching her to ecstasies she’s never before experienced. But when his heart falls under her spell he knows he can’t take her back to the scientists and a life as a guinea pig. He intends to keep her for himself…no matter the price.

Excerpt:

Eden found herself alone with the sweaty, leering man. He reeked of three dollar cologne and too much beer. He wore a cheap polyester shirt in the most obnoxious print she had ever seen unbuttoned to show off what little chest hair he had.

All that was missing was a thick gold chain complete with a gold medallion around his pencil neck. He had cornered her in the kitchen, leaning his elbow on the counter and telling her grotesque jokes in the hopes of making her laugh.

I’m in hell.

Could this get any worse? He was the third guy to hit on her in less than an hour.

Her best friend, Gillian, meant well bringing her here. After Gillian’s winter-long nagging Eden had finally agreed to all expenses paid getaway to Crooked Island in the Bahamas with her, her boyfriend and several others. Eden knew her friend wanted to make her forget her broken heart and her wrecked life. To relax and cut loose Gilly had said. To get away and forget it all. Even if it was for a week. She wouldn’t take no for an answer either—she’d handed Eden the plane ticket.

Eden had a passing fancy for all things Atlantis. She looked at the trip as a way to imagine herself as someone different. An archeologist on a trip to find artifacts. A diver plunging to the depths looking for evidence. It sounded so much better than unemployed data analyst. She’d done a little island exploring pretending she was searching for the lost city looking for a stud who could take her away from it all.

It had been six months since her two-year relationship had ended in disaster. She thought her long-time boyfriend was about to pop the question. Instead she got a different surprise—finding him in their bed with his face firmly planted between another girl’s legs.

It had nearly destroyed her. Sent her spiraling into a dark depression.

She’d tried to survive by pouring herself into work. But even that had come to an abrupt end when her company downsized leaving her unemployed. With virtually no savings the late bill notices came next followed by the repossession of her car and the eviction notice. She had no family to turn to for help. Her life was a shambles.

I’m pathetic and in hell.

Eden hated the memories as much as she hated the stifling atmosphere in the small confines of the kitchen. It was the one room in the house where the music didn’t thump through her bones. Unable to bear another dirty joke she quaffed her martini and set the empty glass next to the offending man’s elbow.

“Excuse me, Tom, won’t you?”

“It’s Tim,” he corrected, unflustered. “And I wasn’t finished with my story yet. As I was saying we’d boarded the boat when the weather kicked up—”

She brushed by him to make her escape out of the kitchen.

“Where you going, babe?”

She gave a half-hearted wave in response.

“Okay, so I’ll call you.”

Pretending not to hear him splutter she threaded her way through the crowd, her eye on the prize—the exit. She caught a glimpse of a couple making out in a corner. Others chatted and laughed or danced as close as they could get without actually having sex. It turned her already-sour stomach to see them. The music was too loud, the air acrid with cigarette smoke, sweaty bodies and beer. She needed away from the house before she suffocated.

“Where are you going?” Gillian snatched her by the arm as she reached the door.

“I need some air,” Eden said.

Do you want to read more? Are you enticed? I’m giving away one copy a lucky commenter today! Contest ends at midnight CT tonight and then I’ll have my kiddo draw a name.

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Writing Tagged With: , , , ,

Cover Reveal: Tempting Eden #paranormal #romance

March 25, 2013 by

Hi, everyone! I’m SUPER excited to do a cover reveal for my new erotic paranormal romance, Tempting Eden. It’s the first of the Guardians of Atlantis series and will be coming out April 5, so mark your calendars!

TemptingEden

Isn’t it just gorgeous? Covert art is by Erin Dameron-Hill.

Here’s a blurb!

Eden doubts a trip to the Bahamas will make her forget her cheating boyfriend, empty bank account and dead-end job. But when her best friend insists the trip is what she needs to forget her troubles, Eden can’t refuse the all-expenses paid vacation. Little does she know a new kind of trouble awaits.

As an elite Guardian of Atlantis, Sabre is on a mission to bring back human females from the surface. The lost continent’s lead geneticist wants to impregnate the women, mixing Atlantean DNA with human genetic material in order to save their dying race. If Sabre refuses, his sister will be killed. Despite his revulsion to such a mission he has no choice but to obey.

When Sabre walks out of the sea and finds Eden on the beach, he can read her deepest fantasies loud and clear. At first it’s enough to simply bring them to life, touching her to ecstasies she’s never before experienced. But when his heart falls under her spell he knows he can’t take her back to the scientists and a life as a guinea pig. He intends to keep her for himself…no matter the price.

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Writing Tagged With: , ,

Release Day of Only For A Knight!

December 13, 2012 by

Only For A KnightHappy Release Day to ME!

Can I get a WOOT WOOT! Today is the day! Only For A Knight hits the virtual shelves. I’ve been celebrating all week. Be sure to check out all my posts this week including an interview with Lord Derron and a post on why I wrote this book. I truly hope you enjoy this story, which is the sequel to One Knight Only.

Where to Buy:

Ellora’s Cave
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Blurb:

After saving her love, Princess Elyne returns to the Otherworld by order of her mother. But it’s not the homecoming she expects. Furious Elyne has meddled with humans, the queen imprisons her and strips away her magic. The only way Elyne can get it back is to perform one selfless act.

When Queen Maeve sends Derron to find the Guardian of the Sword of Light, he can’t leave without releasing Elyne. After all, she altered time to save his life. But freeing the princess comes with a steep price—he must take her with him on this dangerous quest. And the two must deal with feelings of past hurt and the love growing between them.

Their search becomes more than a pursuit for the missing Guardian as Lord Kieran rises to dominate the Unseelie court. He will stop at nothing to gain control of both the Otherworld and the human realm. Even with the help of Elves, dragons and their human friends, the odds are stacked against Derron and Elyne.

Copyright © MICHELLE MILES, 2012
All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

“I’m sure it was because I’m so charming.”

This made him laugh out loud, showing off his deep dimples on either side of his kissable mouth. It sent her stomach plummeting to her shoes to see the joy in his face. Something he hadn’t had in far too long. As least since his last joust in the human realm when he nearly died…twice.

Derron slid an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close as they walked. She stumbled, falling into him a lot closer than he probably intended. She could feel the warmth of him pressing through to her skin, delighting every sense she had. Her pulse quickened as he leaned toward her and kissed her on the cheek. Disappointment quickly followed when that was all she got. A sisterly peck.

“You are truly delightful, your highness,” Derron said.

“I wish you wouldn’t call me that.” Irritation clawed through her. Mostly because he didn’t take her in his arms and kiss her thoroughly. As though she were the last Fae woman worth kissing.

“Why not? Isn’t that your rightful title?”

“It is, but it’s unnecessary for you to continue to use ‘your highness’.”

“You don’t seem to mind when the others call you that.” Before she could answer, he asked, “Would you prefer princess then?”

“No.” She pouted, clenching her jaw tight and trying not to pucker her lips. Still, she was incensed. And he still held her so close she could literally feel his pulsing heart. Or maybe that was her imagination.

“Your worship?”

Now he was teasing her. She flushed to the tips of her pointed ears, her face burning hot.

“Not that either, I gather. How about your grace? I suppose I could bend the rules of address this once and call you that. Would that do?”

“No.” She punched him in the ribs to get away but he still held fast. “Let me go.”

He stopped walking so suddenly she stumbled again. This time he turned to her, grasped her arms and pulled her close. So close, her hands rested on his chest and she knew for certain she could feel his heart pounding through his tunic. Their eyes locked, his searching hers. Heat flooded her. Something she’d not known…well, ever. And especially for Derron.

It had been much too long since he’d looked at her like that. Ages, in fact. When he had tried to court her and all she wanted to do was run away from him. She wanted nothing to do with him. She had been such a fool to reject him. And why had she? She thought she hadn’t been in love with him. How wrong she was.

“Elyne, then. How about I call you Elyne?”

She liked the way her name sounded on his tongue. Oh, he’d said it before. But usually with princess attached to it. Rarely her name. And never looking at her like that.

Her gaze focused on his lips, perfect for kissing. The deep-set dimples on either side. The scruffy blond whiskers shadowing his jaw and cheeks. Neither of them wore their glamour here in the Otherworld to hide their true Fae features. His ears were tipped like hers, his blond hair fell over his forehead in thick waves and she longed to run her fingers through the silken strands.

“You may call me Elyne.”

His gaze landed on her lips, paused, and then lifted back to hers. He wanted to kiss her but he was afraid. Mayhap as afraid as she was for him to kiss her. That would mean they had deep feelings for each other and since they’d made such a mess of things with the broken betrothal, she wasn’t sure where that would leave them.

“Then ’tis what I’ll call ye.”

She blinked surprise as he released her and resumed walking. For that brief moment, his Irish lilt came out so clear it took her aback. In fact, she couldn’t recall ever hearing it. He masked it so well.

“You coming, Elyne?” he called over his shoulder.

Elyne picked up her skirts and fell in step beside him. “Shouldn’t I be armed as well?” She steered the conversation as far from the two of them as possible. She didn’t want to acknowledge the need and desire Derron had managed to stir inside her. All she wanted to do was ignore it.

“You? Armed? Why?”

“All of you are armed,” she said. “You have a sword and a dagger. And I have no magic.”

“Fear not, dear prin—Elyne. I promise to keep thee safe.”

She snarled at him. Mocking me again. “Are you denying me a weapon?”

“Can you shoot a bow?” he asked, giving her a sideways glance. Even though he tried to keep his face passive, she could see the underlying smirk.

“Nay.”

“Wield a sword?”

“Nay.”

Derron chuckled. “Then, pray tell, what sort of weapon do you wish for?”

She’d never laid her hands on a weapon before but it seemed silly to be traipsing through the Woodlands Forest with nothing but her wits. She would feel much better if she had something within reach. Mayhap some sort of blade she could keep on her person. Something that could replace the fact she had no magic. She may as well be running around naked.

She looked over Derron, noticed the sheath tied to his thigh and knew that’s what she wanted.

“A dagger.” Aye, that would make her feel better to have one. “I know how to use that.”

“A dagger?” He splayed his fingers. “You have any ideas on where to get one? I don’t see Thuluke’s Weapons Shoppe here.”

Her gaze landed once again on his dagger. He put a possessive hand on it. “You want mine. Of course you do.”

“You could spare the dagger.”

“I could, couldn’t I?” Smiling, Derron unsheathed his dagger and handed it to her. “I expect you to take good care of that. It was a gift from my father.”

“It will be safe with me.” She ran her finger along the pearl hilt, admiring the iridescent colors dancing along it.

“Have any idea how to use it?”

Elyne blinked. “Not exactly.”

Grinning, he stepped behind her, wrapped his long fingers around her thin wrist. “Allow me to demonstrate.”

Derron’s body pressed against her back, molding to her easily. With her wrist in his hand, the delicious warm skin pressing hers, it was difficult for her to concentrate on his words.

“Thrust like this.” He pulled her arm back and then pushed it forward. “Aim for the heart. If you miss that, then the neck.” Heated breath cascaded over her nape. His woodsy scent filled her nose.

“Why?” she asked.

“Best way to kill a man, princess. How does it feel?”

Splendid. Though she was certain he meant the dagger in her hand. “It feels like a dagger.”

He chuckled and released her. “You’ll need this too.” He untied the sheath from his thigh. “But a lady, nay a princess, shouldn’t keep that in plain sight.”

“Why not?”

“She is more lethal with a hidden weapon.”

A mischievous light twinkled in his eyes, making her heart do a quick ka-thunk in her chest. Derron knelt at her feet, his gaze still on hers. When his hand went up her skirt and rested on her calf, she nearly came undone. Slowly, he slid his hand along her leg, pushing up her skirt to reveal an expanse of creamy white skin. Her heart throbbed, pounding wildly in her chest and ears. Her breath caught in her throat.

Elyne watched as he tied the sheath to her thigh in the same manner. She’d swear she could still feel the warmth of his skin on it as he secured it in place.

“There. The dagger?” He held his hand up for it.

She placed the pearl hilt in his palm and he deftly slid it into the sheath. All the while keeping his hands in constant contact with her leg.

“That should do it.” Derron rose to his full height.

He had two inches on her, his hair brushing his forehead as he gave her a wicked smile. He knew what he was doing and he liked doing it. She liked him doing it. Why did he touch her so intimately when they’d been at odds for so long? He’d gone to the court to have their betrothal broken and now this?

“Feel better, princess?”

“I—”

But that was as far as she got when an arrow went zooming between them and buried in the ancient oak beside her head.

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Michelle Miles: An Interview With My Hero

December 12, 2012 by

onlyforaknight_msrAn Interview with Lord Derron, Knight of the Realm, Protector of the Otherworld, Guardian of the Sword of Light

Welcome, everyone! I’m sitting here today talking with Lord Derron, all-around hot and sexy Fae knight and hero in my newest fantasy romance, Only For a Knight. Which comes out TOMMOROW! Can I get a WOOT WOOT?

Derron clears his throat, clearly annoyed with my wooting.

Oh, sorry, I guess that was off topic. Welcome, Lord Derron! Let’s start at the beginning. As I understand it you spent quite a lot of time in the human realm—my domain. Grins. Now that you’re back in the Otherworld, do you miss being a jousting hero?

Sometimes. Okay, aye, I do. There is something incredible about having the power of a beast between your legs while riding full tilt toward another man dressed all in armor, pointing a sharp stick at him. It’s great fun. I find it wildly exciting. A real rush.

I understand you and Elyne had a betrothal that was broken at your behest. Do you now regret that action?

Well, if I hadn’t broken the betrothal—which is actually your fault, Ms. Author—then Elyne and I would never have had the adventure we had. Would we? It’s been quite a ride.

Looking innocent. Not my fault. I merely wrote the story* the way you told me. And anyway, yes, it has been quite a ride. Can you tell me a little about that?

Elyne was in prison for saving my life in the human realm. The woman turned back time for me so I owed her. I couldn’t leave her there while I went on my quest to find my father and the Sword of Light. I broke her out of the Fae prison and took her with me. I’m certainly glad I did.

I bet you are! How was it having her along for the quest?

Quite useful, actually. Despite the fact she had no magic for the duration of the trip, she did manage to acquire help from the Elves in our battle against the Dark Elf, Lord Kieran. I’m sure you, as the author, are aware of his dangerous behavior? Killing Fae nobles and stealing the Four Treasures.

Derron gives me a narrowed-eyed look. I shift uncomfortably and clear my throat.

Quite. Not a good guy at all. Sorry about that.

No hard feelings.

I understand you’ve had the pleasure of joining forces with not only the Elves but dragons as well. Can you tell us a little about that?

Aye, the dragons. Riding during dragonflight is breathtaking. Magical. Indescribable, really. Plus they came in really handy when fighting the battle at the Stone of Destiny. The Elves, too. Lord Eldrin and I have become quite good friends.

Your human friends, Maggie and Finn, also helped, didn’t they?

Aye, they did. Finn is a fantastic fighter despite the fact he’s a Scottish brute.

Hey, I like Finn.

You would. He’s Scottish. He scowls.

Now that you’ve inherited all those fancy titles, what’s next for you? Any future baby plans with Princess Elyne? Wink! Wink!

I don’t want to rush into anything. Grins. And I intend to honor all my titles. Sadly, no more jousting tournaments for me.

Sorry about that, Derron. I’ll see what I can do for you.

I appreciate that.

Thanks for joining me here today! As the star of the book, could you tell the folks at home a little more about it and where to get it?

Aye, I could.

After saving her love, Princess Elyne returns to the Otherworld by order of her mother. But it’s not the homecoming she expects. Furious Elyne has meddled with humans the queen imprisons her and strips away her magic. The only way Elyne can get it back is to perform one selfless act.

When Queen Maeve sends Derron to find the Guardian of the Sword of Light, he can’t leave without releasing Elyne. After all, she altered time to save his life. But freeing the princess comes with a steep price—he must take her with him on this dangerous quest. And the two must deal with feelings of past hurt and the love growing between them.

Their search becomes more than a pursuit for the missing Guardian as Lord Kieran rises to dominate the Unseelie court. He will stop at nothing to gain control of both the Otherworld and the human realm. Even with the help of Elves, dragons and their human friends, the odds are stacked against Derron and Elyne.

Where to purchase:
Ellora’s Cave
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

*refers to ONE KNIGHT ONLY

Filed Under: Dusty Tome, Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Michelle Miles: Why I Wrote This Book

December 11, 2012 by

As you’re probably aware, the second book in my Knights in Shining Armor series releases THIS week – on Thursday! I’m very excited about this book. It was great fun to write.

When I finished One Knight Only, I knew there was unfinished business with the two Fae characters. I just couldn’t, in good conscience, leave Elyne and Derron broken up. I had to figure out how to get them back together. I knew it wouldn’t happen One Knight Only. I’d already told the story and I felt like they had more story to tell.

After I’d completed the first one, I started writing Only For A Knight immediately. But, as often happens, I got sidetracked with other things. Other stories and my life in chaos. But I managed to get the book submitted to my editor by Memorial Weekend (my birthday weekend – I wanted to enjoy it knowing the book was done and turned in). So – why I wrote this book… because I knew I had to finish the story. I had to have an HEA with Derron and Elyne. But I also knew it wouldn’t be easy for them.

I’ve long been fascinated with Celtic myths and legends. And I’ve wanted to write a book based on them for a very long time. Since I started writing seriously, in fact, nearly 10 years ago. It’s taken me that long to figure out how to write the story using all the Celtic myths I wanted to incorporate.

I think it’s because I was an inexperienced writer before. I hadn’t a clue how to put together a novel. I knew how to research but I didn’t know how to get all those things into the story without sounding like an info dump or a teacher.

Finally, this story came to me as I finished writing One Knight Only. I knew it would be set in the Otherworld and I knew I would be incorporating several Celtic treasures – the Sword of Light and the Stone of Destiny. But how was another question. I’m such a Pantser I didn’t know the answer to the story questions until I started writing. What I did know for certain was who my characters were. I’d sat down and written out detailed character sketches during one of my unemployment stints. It helped tremendously when writing the book.

And so, I wrote this book because it was something I’d longed to do. A story that I’d been dying to tell. I’m very pleased with the result. I hope you will be too.

Where to buy:
Ellora’s Cave
Amazon.Com
Barnes & Noble

Filed Under: Dusty Tome Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Inkwell Guest: #Paranormal #Romance #Author Kathy Ivan

November 12, 2012 by

Hello, everyone! Today I have a special guest on my blog – fellow Plotting Princess Kathy Ivan. She’s here to tell us about her new paranormal romance, Second Chances. Take it away, Kathy!

Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog, Michelle. Michelle is a fellow Plotting Princesses and so supportive of her fellow authors.

I’d like to tell you a bit about my new paranormal romance Christmas novella, Second Chances.

I’m usually a plotter, meaning I know my characters and what’s going to happen to them and how things are going to progress in the book I’m writing. I have a feel for the hero and the heroine, and when I’m writing suspense, I know who the villain is and all the nasty things they’ve done. I’ll work out most of the plot before I even start writing the story.

Second Chances came about in a way that’s a bit unusual for me. I had a dream. Now it’s not unusual for me to dream, but this dream was so vibrant, so vivid, when I woke up I wanted to know more about Ryan Jackson. My dream was pretty much the last scene of the novella—and I needed to know more.

What brought them to this point in their relationship? Rose and Ryan love each other, I knew that, but they were drifting apart, the distance between them like a yawning chasm and I wanted—no, I needed—to know why. Little by little, Ryan and Rose revealed bits and pieces of how they ended up at Destiny’s Desire Lodge.

Here’s a short blurb for Second Chances. A firefighter in Denver, Ryan Jackson still grieves the loss of his brother who died almost two years earlier on Christmas Eve. He thought he’d gotten past the loss until he began having dreams about his dead brother. In the dreams his brother asks him for something—impossible.

Ryan’s wife, Rose, knows something’s wrong. For the last several months Ryan’s grown more withdrawn and distant. She loves him and knows he loves her, but doubts begin to creep in. She’s determined to find out why her husband is withdrawing from her and win him back—no matter the cost.

An early Christmas gift, an unexpected trip and haunting dreams. Can the love shared between Ryan and Rose overcome grief and guilt and lend a little magic for a second chance at happiness?

I hope you’ll want to find out about Ryan and Rose and Destiny’s Desire Lodge and that you’ll come to love them as much as I do.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble| Smashwords

About Kathy

An avid reader of all types of romance, Kathy writes both romantic suspense and paranormal romance. Kathy makes her home in the heart of North Texas doing her best to deal with the Texas heat. She’s a member of Romance Writers of American (RWA) and the Dallas Area Romance Authors (DARA). Her debut romantic suspense, Desperate Choices, won the 2012 OKRWA International Digital Award for suspense. She loves to hear from other readers and writers, so feel free to contact her.

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Six Sentence Sunday for September 9, 2012

September 9, 2012 by

Today teaser comes from my forthcoming book, Only For A Knight. It’s the sequel to One Knight Only.

He wanted her. Under him. On top of him. Next to him. It didn’t matter. All that did matter was taking her to his bed and making slow sweet love to her.

Blurb:

The Sword of Light is missing. Innocent Fae nobles are slaughtered. And now someone wants Princess Elyne’s head.

After saving her love from certain death, Princess Elyne returns to the Otherworld by order of her mother, Queen Maeve. But it’s not the homecoming she expects. The queen is furious she has been meddling with humans and imprisons her, stripping away her magic. The only way Elyne can get her powers back is to perform one selfless act.

When Queen Maeve sends Sir Derron to find the Guardian of the ancient Sword of Light, one of the Four Treasures of the Otherworld, he can’t leave without releasing Elyne. After all, she altered time to save his life in the human world. But freeing the princess comes with a steep price—he must take her with him on this dangerous quest.

Their search becomes much more than a pursuit for the missing Guardian. Dark Elf, Lord Kieran, rises to dominate the Unseelie court. He will stop at nothing to gain control of both the Otherworld and the human realm—he’s murdering Guardians and stealing the sacred Treasures of the Fae. Even with the help of Elves, dragons, and their human friends, the odds are stacked against Derron and Elyne.

Can they stop Lord Kieran before he slays the queen and tears down the walls of the Otherworld?

Filed Under: Six Sentence Sunday, Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Inkwell Guest: Jean Murray

August 2, 2012 by

Today I have paranormal author Jean Murray. She’s taken some time out to answer a few questions about her writing and her books.

Thanks for stopping by today, Jean! It’s always a pleasure to have another paranormal author here. What made you want to write paranormal romance?

My journey to writing was an odd one or at least I’ve thought so. I always had these stories running through my head to “pass time.” Never once did I think to write them down. I describe my journey to writing as enlightenment, as if someone flipped a switch. Want to guess what the trigger was? Yes, my first paranormal romance. It opened a whole new world for me. I’m attracted to paranormal romance because there are no limits to creativity– a place where humans can be not-so-human with abilities, skills and strength beyond our capacity. Heroes can cry-love-rage on scales not normal to our society’s expectations. Heroines are lethal warriors and vulnerable in the same breath. Not to mention the amazing world behind the characters. Paranormal romance stimulates dreams of a strange or different world from our own. I’m in love!

Where do you find your inspiration?

I love to delve into mythology, find that unanswered question and exploit it. For my Key to the Cursed series, I turned to Egyptian Mythology, specifically the afterlife. It has always fascinated me the complex belief Ancient Egyptians had about the soul and its journey to the afterlife. What about the gods that ruled this world and the spells cast upon the tombs to protect the dead from evil spirits? I don’t think it gets any better than that.

Who is your favorite author?

I enjoy dark paranormal. I’ve really grown to love JR Ward and her amazing contribution to series based novels. The Black Dagger Brotherhood series has amazing and complex characters that are not perfect by any means, but demonstrate an amazing amount of loyalty to each other and their mates.

Tell us about your upcoming release, SOUL AWAKENED.

I’m so glad you asked about it. The Key to the Cursed series follows three sisters and their fated mates, Gods of the Underworld on a journey of love redemption and war. Soul Awakened, the second book, revolves around Kendra, the youngest of the Carrigan sisters. Kendra, a young Egyptologist and demi-god in waiting, must release Bakari, the God of Death from his tomb. He is their only hope of ending the curse against humankind, but the god who awakens is not the same after years of torture at the hands of their enemies. Bakari awakens to an unbearable hunger for the one woman he does not deserve. His salvation resides in Kendra alone. Only one problem—his brother (Bomani) wants her for himself.

Back Cover Blurb:

LOVE FOR BLOOD OR HONOR

Kendra, a young Egyptian Archeologist and demi-god in waiting, is the key to unlocking Bakari, the Egyptian Death god from his cursed eternal sleep, but by doing so she inadvertently binds herself to him changing her life forever. She may have to sacrifice her innocence and possibly her soul to save him before he becomes his family’s worst enemy.

SINS OF THE PAST BECOME SINS OF THE FUTURE

Bakari awakens to a world at war and a woman who has tethered his soul to hers. The god who awakens is not the same after years of torture by his enemies. Kendra is his only hope at salvation, but does he want it? The only thing standing in his way is Bomani, Legion Commander, who vows to keep him from the one thing he craves—his parvana. His butterfly.

Is this book related to SOUL REBORN?

Soul Reborn is the genesis to the series. I had so much fun holding back the secrets in this book until just the right moment. Lilly is the strong Alpha female that is risking her life to correct her mistake. Asar has been hunting the goddess who stole his soul, and will stop at nothing until everyone responsible is dead. Little does he know the huntress who has captured his heart is on his hit list.

THE HUMAN REALM, HIS BATTLEFIELD.

Asar, the Egyptian God of the Underworld, has been tortured and left soulless by a malevolent goddess, relegating him to consume the very thing he was commissioned to protect. Human souls. Now an empty shell of hatred, Asar vows to kill the goddess and anyone involved in her release, but fate crosses his path with a beautiful blonde huntress who has a soul too sweet to ignore.

DEADLY SECRETS BETTER LEFT UNEARTHED.

Lilly, fearless commander of the Nehebkau huntresses, is the only thing standing in the way of the goddess’ undead army unleashing hell on earth. But Lilly has a secret—one she is willing to sell her soul to keep. If the Underworld god discovers her role in the dig that released the goddess, she will lose everything, including his heart.

What other things are you working on?

I wish I could type as fast as my brain creates stories.

I’m actually working on Soul Unleashed, the third book in the Key to the Cursed series (Kit’s story) and two secondary character novellas. Kit’s book is going to be pretty dark, but will still retain the love of two tortured souls—Kit and Kamen. Humans’ most dark and vile secrets will be revealed in this story. This book will be the finale to the trilogy and the final battle with Apep. Kit and Kamen will have their HEA. Their love demands to be heard.

FIGHTING FATE HAS CONSEQUENCES

Kit, a Nehebkau huntress, wants nothing to do with her heritage as a god, when it has only caused her suffering and pain. Not to mention her nanny is a foreboding and dangerous God of the Underworld, who tests her conviction.

WHEN CONTROLLING TEMPTATION IS NOT ENOUGH

Kamen has sworn to protect the Mother Goddess’ offspring, but Kit is a handful. Her insistence on thwarting him tests his control. She doesn’t know what she’s playing with— a beast that hungers for her soul. One taste and her fate is sealed.

Thank you, Michelle for having me here today.

About Jean:
Jean Murray was born and raised in a small town on the east coast. In her pursuit of a nursing degree, she aspired to see the world and joined the Navy. One of the benefits of her membership in the Armed Forces, she has had the opportunity to travel and live in different parts of the world and the United States. Her travels abroad have given her the opportunity to experience different cultures. It inspired her to delve into Ancient Egyptian myths and legends for her Key to the Cursed series from Crescent Moon Press.

Find Jean at:
Author Website | Key to the Cursed | Wicked Romance Blog - promoting readers, writers, bloggers and authors
Facebook | Twitter | Soul Reborn Trailer | Soul Awakened Trailer | Key to the Cursed Trailer

Find her books at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks
Available in eBook and Print

Filed Under: Inkwell Guests, Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Inkwell Guest: Lynda Scott

July 26, 2012 by

Hi, everyone. Today I have paranormal author Lynda Scott here to talk about celebrating. Don’t forget to leave a comment – she’s giving away a book! If it doesn’t appear right away, it’s held in moderation and I’ll release it as soon as I can.

Welcome, Lynda!

Altered DestinyCelebrating a Writing Job Well Done

Good morning! Thanks for having me visit today.

My co-author, Linda Wisdom, and I have just finished a second round of edits on our interactive adult paranormal story for Coliloquy – Great Escapes: Summer Solstice. So in celebration I just treated myself to a Dove Dark Chocolate mini. You can’t go wrong with chocolate, right?

That’s what I always tell my hubby…even though he says he can think of several things better than chocolate. He usually tells me this while he’s waggling his eyebrows up and down in one of the world’s most comical leers. I keep him around for that kind of comic relief…and for reaching things on the top shelf since he’s a good bit taller than I am but that’s another story.

That comic relief helps keep me from yanking my hair out when I’m writing and the words aren’t coming or the scene isn’t working or my brain just isn’t functioning. A lot of people think writing is easy. “Hard work? Really? I mean…you just sit in front of a computer and type, right?”

Well, yes, but it has to make sense logically and emotionally. It has to form images that touch the reader, that make her heart race with fear, passion or happiness. It has to create an aura of dread or a sense of victory. It has to leave a reader with a feeling of satisfaction when she’s finished reading.

HeartstoneThat kind of writing can leave an author wrung out because those emotions have to come from somewhere. They can’t come out of a vacuum so they can only come from the author herself. When she’s finished, she needs that comical wag of eyebrow and with its accompanying leer from her significant other because it reminds her there is life after writing.

Because of that and the fact that he vacuums when I ask him to, I might just share my dark chocolate candy with him. And I’ll waggle my eyebrows up and down too.

Oh, I’d like to offer one copy of Great Escapes – Valentine’s Day to one lucky commenter. All you need to do is leave a comment WITH your email addy by July 28. I’ll have my furry muse/writing partner, Wookie, pick the winner. She loves doing that, lol.

Thanks again for letting me visit.

Valentine's DayWhere to find me on the web:

Website | MySpace | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

To join my newsletter, send a blank email to: LyndaKScott-Newsgroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Heartstone by Lynda Scott
Science Fantasy Romance
Available in print and ebook format

Eric d’Ebrur is out of time. He must find the legendary Heartstone and fulfill the ancient Gar’Ja bond he shares with the Stonebearer. But when he finds her, he discovers that love can be more dangerous than the Gawan threat. Eric can defeat the mind-controlling Gawan but will it cost him the woman he loves?

After terrifying episodes of hypersensitivity, Keriam Norton thinks she’s losing her mind. When handsome shapeshifter Eric d’Ebrur saves her from the monstrous Gawan, she’s sure of it. But insane or not, she’ll find the Heartstone and, if she’s lucky, a love to last a lifetime.

Available at:
Mundania Press (use MP10 at checkout for 10% discount) | Amazon

Altered Destiny by Lynda Scott
Science Fantasy Romance
Available in ebook formats

Stranded on an alternate Earth, architect and Jill-of-all-trades, Liane Gautier-MacGregor must find her way back to her homeworld before she’s enslaved…or falls in love with a man who is the exact duplicate of her ex-husband.

Devyn MacGregor’s alter ego as the Reiver Lord is the only way he can fight the Qui’arel and their nefarious Bride Bounty, a tax paid with human females…until he meets the oddly familiar woman who claims he is her husband. And who sets in motion the rebellion that will either free his countrymen or destroy them.

Available at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Great Escapes – Valentine’s Day (First in Series) By Lynda K. Scott and Linda Wisdom
Coliloquy
Interactive Adult Paranormal Fiction

The heartbroken and lovelorn come to Great Escapes B&B in search of a relaxing getaway, only to embark on a weekend of sexual self-discovery, courtesy of the inn’s resident ghosts, who bring to life each guest’s deepest desires.

Just as the ghosts transform to meet the needs of each guest, Great Escapes leverages the Kindle platform to deliver what each reader wants. Do you like your erotica steamy or romantic? Your hero to have blue or brown eyes? Anonymously fill out your preferences, and we’ll deliver the best version of hundreds of combinations prepared by the authors.

In Great Escapes: Valentine’s Day, Rose’s best friend gives her a weekend stay, where an invisible lover helps her to rediscover her sexuality. But will she open her eyes enough to see who is right next door?

Available at:
Amazon

Uncorrected EXCERPT from Great Escapes – Summer Solstice

She woke, body still vibrating from tiny aftershocks of an orgasm that had practically turned her inside out. At least she thought she was awake. Could someone really dream an orgasm that powerful?

The moon sent long fingers of silvery light shimmering across her bed, tracing her dream seducer in a ghostly, otherworld glow.

I knew you would be that responsive.

Her breath seized. Before she could even think, she leapt out of bed and raced to the door. She ripped it open, a scream bubbling up her throat.

The man walking out of his room next door stared at her, his gray eyes wide in startlement as she dashed through the door. A small shopping bag dropped to the floor; he caught her in his arms. His gaze flicked toward the dark room, then returned to her. “Uh.”

It was much worse than just getting caught stark naked. She was stark naked in a stranger’s arms.

A stranger whose effort not to look at her pale flesh was valiant but failing.

She backed up, covered herself with her hands and looked over her shoulder at her room. “There’s someone in there. I was asleep. He was… but then… I saw him. Through him. But I could feel him. And—”

She suddenly realized how she sounded. Even worse if she said anything about what happened with the sexy male ghost. Any minute now, someone would show up with a straightjacket and she’d happily go with them.

Filed Under: Inkwell Guests, Writing Tagged With: , , , , ,

Inkwell Guest: Rachel Firasek on Dreams and the Paranormal World

July 19, 2012 by

Hi, everyone! I’m pleased to host author Rachel Firasek today! I first met Rachel in person when she asked me to be a guest speaker at her local RWA meeting a couple of years ago. Before that, we’d corresponded via email. If my memory is right (and sometimes it isn’t), we “met” when I was coordinator of a contest and she an entrant. Anyway, Rachel writes some fantastic paranormals and she’s debuting her latest indie, Creating Fate.

Welcome Rachel!

I’ve done several blogs about why I love Paranormal Romance, but that was mostly early on in my career. And, now that I’ve been around the block a couple of times, I’ve really settled into my love and I know the culprit behind it. Dreams.

Some people dream about their children, or their spouses. I dream about flying and weird faceless evils that chase me through long dark hallways. Often, when I dream, I see things in vivid color—which I hear is not that common. These dream sequences open your mind up to questions. Why did I fly? What triggered the rows of raw corpses in my sleep? Why did a faceless witch chase me through the woods?

I’m spooking you, right? :) Well, in the paranormal world, these just aren’t that strange—or an author can make you believe they’re not. That’s why I love paranormal romance.

The ability to create a story that leaves me happy over found love, and one that makes me feel a little more normal is a win any day in my house.

If you go to family and friends and share these dark dreams, they tend to look at you with horror in their eyes, or they set you apart—black sheep anyone. But, if I hunt down a paranormal author and talk about said dreams with her, she’ll understand and often even commiserate. It’s an odd community, those that love the dark, but it’s welcoming. I love it.

So, yes, this is why I read, write, and rub elbows with people that believe in the “what if.” The dark doesn’t get me if I have friends.

What I’d like to know, is why you love Paranormal Romance? :) Don’t be shy. Share.

[Read more...]

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Inkwell Guest: Devon Ellington on Hex Breaker

June 19, 2012 by

Today, I’m very pleased to host author and good friend, Devon Ellington, here at the blog. She took time out to do an interview and talk about the re-release of her novel, Hex Breaker.

Thank you for coming by the Inkwell, Devon! This month is the re-release of your novel, HEX BREAKER. Where did you get the idea for that?

Two scenes came to me before the rest of the book. One was the scene in the car, where Jain, Billy, and Nick are driving back from the location, and they get into a car chase (with surprising results). Driving back from a location myself late one night, I had a car crawling up my tailpipe for no good reason, and the scene came to me. The other early scene is the one, early in the book, where the zombie attacks the actors during a meal break. On a different set, working ridiculous hours, we were joking about feeling like zombies, and one of the actors clapped me on the shoulder and said, “Oh, I’m not worried. You’ll protect me.” I’d been playing with the character of Jain for awhile, not sure what to do with her, and this seemed like a good fit. The book when from there.

What do you like most about your heroine, Jain Lazarus? How will readers relate to her?

She’s skilled, smart, competent, tough, doesn’t take crap, and yet retains her compassion. She’s also built up a wall to protect herself from emotional pain, shut herself off from being hurt, and some fissures are starting to appear.

What do you like most about your hero, Wyatt East?

Again, he’s skilled and smart. He likes and respects women as people. He tries to do the right thing. He likes hard evidence (he’s a cop, after all), but he’s not going to pretend something doesn’t exist simply because it’s outside his realm of experience. He, too, has built up walls. How he and Jain tear down each other’s walls is a fulcrum in the series.

Since this is the Adventures of Jain Lazarus, what else do you have in store for us with this character?

The main drive is that, throughout these adventures, both Jain and Wyatt have to face the losses in their pasts and build from them. Not get over them, but integrate those losses in what they feel for each other. The paranormal is “normal” to Jain, but emotional risks aren’t anymore. The paranormal is new to Wyatt, but he’s also cut off a lot of his vulnerability after the deaths of his family. In the meantime, there’s a bigger series arc driving through the books that’s connected to Jain’s past that needs to be dealt with.

The second book, OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK, is from Wyatt’s POV, and deals with his search for Jain when she disappears after a romantic weekend and he’s the main suspect. It’s tied to her past. Solstice already contracted that one. The third book, CRAVE THE HUNT, alternates between Jain’s POV and Billy’s POV, mostly in Scotland, and deals with even more of Jain’s past. Solstice gets that at the end of the summer. The fourth, LOVE AND FURY, is when all the emotions Jain and Wyatt have kept walled up over the years, completely explode. That should be done late winter/early spring.

In addition, I’ll be releasing some short stories in the coming months, as free limited downloads, some dealing with Jain’s life pre-Wyatt, some that cover events in between the books. At some point next year, they’ll be collected, along with a new novella about how Jain started on this path.

The entire seven book series is in outline, which helps shape each book, and then the stories can explore things that aren’t pivotal to each book, but also are pieces of the Jain and Wyatt puzzles.

What made you want to write paranormal?

The world is a magical, fascinating place. Paranormal makes possibilities tangible.

How did you bring their world to life?

I worked in theatre, film, and television production for years. I know that world. I know actors. Zombies have never really been my thing, but they were the right choice for this book, so I researched the legends. Ghosts, tarot, paranormal – those aren’t out of my wheelhouse; I’ve been dealing with all that stuff for years. I research police procedure specific to whatever area I’m writing about. I think the best way to bring something to life is through a focused POV and layering in sensory detail.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?

I’d probably still be working in production, on Broadway and in film and television. Of course, now that I live on Cape Cod and have a garden, I’m thinking, hmmm, might be fun to work part-time in a garden center and part-time in a bookstore! Really, at this point, the only thing I’m qualified to be is a writer.

What’s your favorite genre to read?

I read across all genres. I’m a paid book reviewer for a weekly publication, and I review literary fiction for them. I love mystery, fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction, cross-genre. I’m getting into steampunk lately, as a reader and a writer. I read a lot of non-fiction – mostly biography, diaries, letters, etc., for research.

The only thing I loathe reading is a novel done in the present tense, regardless of genre. Nothing is more frustrating or distracting. Nothing pulls me out of the story as an artifice saying, “See? You’re not really here? Ha, ha, ha!” than a novel written in the present tense. It feels like the author is spitting in my face, instead of pulling me into an enchanted world. Some short stories need it and can sustain it; I have yet to read a novel that worked for me in it. I’m sure someday a novelist will write something brilliant that will change my mind, but it’s yet to happen.

Where can we find you online?

The Jain Lazarus website is: http://hexbreaker.devonellingtonwork.com

Main website, with other pseudonyms, information about workshops, etc.: www.devonellingtonwork.com

The blog on the writing life (5x/week): Ink in My Coffee, http://devonellington.wordpress.com

Billy Root’s blog (1x/week, since he’s got such a huge fan base): http://billyrootblogs.wordpress.com

Twitter: @DevonEllington

What’s in your TBR pile?

I’m eagerly awaiting Juliet Blackwell’s next Lily Ivory mystery, and Yasmine Galenorn has a new book coming out this summer, so those will go to the top of any pile. And I think Deborah Harkness’s next release, after A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES will be out. Loved that book, so I’ll be putting everything aside to read the next one! Right now, I’ve got books by Sharon Shinn, Tanith Lee, Henry James, Carol McCleary, and a pile of whaling journals by women who travelled with their sea captain husbands, in preparation for an upcoming project. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Inkwell Guests, Writing Tagged With: , , ,

Inkwell Guest: Karilyn Bentley

June 12, 2012 by

Hey, everyone! Today I’m pleased to host fellow Plotting Princess, Karilyn Bentley at the blog. She took time out to do an interview with me regarding her latest release, Werewolves in London.

Welcome, Karilyn!

When did you know you wanted to be a writer? And how did you get your start?

I used to make up stories a lot as a kid, but stopped doing it the older I got. Then one day, about 12 years ago, I was sitting in my cube at work and thought, I’m tired of this. I want to work from home. What can I do at home? What about write? So I put down a story that had been going around in my mind. It’s currently hiding in a box under a box in the closet, but it gave me the desire to write.

I got my start by entering the Got Wolf? contest The Wild Rose Press had in 2008. Out of all the entries, they took the top 6 and mine was #4. My story, Werewolves in London, was printed in the Got Wolf? anthology, which was released in 2009. It’s now being re-released as a stand alone novella. <g>

Where do you find your inspiration?

I’m not sure. The characters pop into my head and my job is to figure out a story for them. Sometimes the first line of a story pops in for a visit, but often those first lines go nowhere. At least not yet. :)

What is the one writer’s tool you can’t live without?

My laptop. :)

How many words/pages do you do in a day/week/month? And how do you keep yourself motivated to do them?

I’m horrible at this. I try to write at least an hour a day, but am not always successful. Consequently, I’ve got to be the slowest writer ever. Motivation comes more when I get sick and tired of myself for slacking. Then it’s butt in the chair, hands on the keyboard until the story comes out. Am I allowed to say I don’t always take my own advice?? It’s so much easier to tell people how to write than actually do it myself!

Whose work has influenced you the most?

Sherrilyn Kenyon. I never liked romance novels until I read one of hers and then I fell in love with the genre. I was already writing at the time and read that writers should join writing groups and that RWA was one of the best ones out there to join. The article strongly recommended joining, even if you didn’t write romance. So I joined. Then I thought, gee, if it walks like a duck it might as well quack like one too. So I started writing romance. I met Sherrilyn at a RWA conference and tried to tell her she was my inspiration, but I think it came out more like I was a crazy stalker. After a few tense moments, I managed to convince her I was not into stalking. :)

This month is the release of your novel, WEREWOLVES IN LONDON. Tell us a little about the book. How about a blurb?

Werewolf Vonda Diaz has sworn off men, until she meets sexy rancher, Tom McGowan. Try as she might there is something about him she can’t ignore. Determined to keep their relationship professional she finds herself unable to keep her distance. Since his wife died, Tom has no interest in dating, but one look at Vonda and passion ignites. There is something different about her that draws him in. What he can’t understand is why his dog finds her so fascinating. When Tom’s daughter is kidnapped, the two join forces to save her, not realizing the quest will unlock hidden mysteries. Will their budding love survive the secrets they discover or will those secrets tear them apart?

Excerpt

“Your dog doesn’t respect you.” Vonda reached down to scratch behind Sam’s ear. “I can help you with that problem, but I can’t help train him to herd. Do we have a deal?”

Tom took off his hat, scratched his head and slammed it back on as if to hold in steam. Judging from the color of his face, he should have let his hair wave free in the breeze. It might cool things off. One long finger pointed at Sam. One nicely shaped, work hardened finger. The list of things that finger could do to her body rushed through Vonda’s brain on fast forward. It didn’t help that the man whose finger provoked such lascivious thoughts was the best-looking thing in this little Podunk town.

Why was she thinking such thoughts? Concentrate, Vonda, concentrate! Last time she thought this way about a man she was in heat. Oh shit. Not again. No wonder Sam stuck to her like proverbial glue.

Wait. Tom’s mouth was moving. “…me?”

“Huh? I’m sorry, what did you say?” Good job Vonda, way to look stupid on your first visit with a client.

“I said, how can that dog not respect me?”

“Well, dogs see things differently than humans. If you don’t act like the alpha, then they assume they are the alpha. That’s what creates problems. That’s where I can help.”

“Yes, yes. I know. But I have other herding dogs. None of them give me problems. What’s up with that?” A frustrated green stare bored into her.

Men frustrated so easily. Humans in general. Ever see a canine with hypertension?

Sam licked her hand. Then she smelled it. The scent of a man. Not just any man. A man she wanted to mate with. A man about six four, with sandy blond, almost brown hair and green eyes. A man who stood less than three feet from her.

Damn hormones.

If she didn’t get out of here soon she’d lose any chance of ever being a dog trainer.

I understand this is part of a series. Can you tell us a little about that?

I sure can! I wrote this novella first, as mentioned, for the Got Wolf? anthology. Then I wrote Wolf Mates as the next in the series. Right before Wolf Mates came out, I got the rights back to Werewolves and had to wait until now for it to be re-released. Both novellas feature the London, Montana wolf pack and the Flying Fur Dude Ranch.

What else do you have in store for lucky readers?

I’m glad you asked! Magical Lover, starring hot, shape-shifting dragons, is out now and its sequel, Warrior Lover, will be out later this year. I don’t have the release date yet. But I’m excited!

What’s in your TBR pile?

Oh boy, a lot of books! I have some by Sarah McCarty, Addison Fox, Janis Patterson, and Caroline Clemmons. However, the one I’m reading next is Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson. It’s for book club.

And now a fun question: What are your summer plans? Anything fun?

The Hubster and I took our nieces to DC the week of Memorial Day. It was a lot of fun! I’d highly recommend going if you haven’t been. It’s easy to get around by foot and metro and there are lots of free activities, including the Smithsonian museums. Plus, we got to see the Presidential Motorcade, featuring The Rolling Thunder. How cool is that??

Werewolves In London is available at Amazon. Get your copy today!

Find Karilyn around the web:

Webpage | Facebook | Amazon Author Page | The Wild Rose Press

Filed Under: Inkwell Guests, Writing Tagged With: , , , ,

Inkwell Guest: Debbie Christiana on Writing and Yoga

April 19, 2012 by

Hey, all! I’m pleased to welcome another guest today. This time, Ms. Debbie Christiana. She’s here to talk about yoga and writing. Cool, huh? Stick around and be sure to post a comment. If you don’t see it post right away, it’s held in moderation and I promise to release it ASAP.

Welcome, Debbie!

Hi, Michelle. Thank you for having me as your guest today. I’m Debbie Christiana and I love to write about all things paranormal.

Writing is a solitary profession. It’s also a sedentary one. We sit happily, on a good day, or frustrated, on a bad day, in front of our computers. Then there’s comfort food. To either help us through a bad day or celebrate a good day. For most of us, the food of choice isn’t a fruit, vegetable, or something healthy made out of soy. It’s full of sugar, salt, fat and calories. That’s what makes is so comforting.

I’m at the age, when my metabolism isn’t as young and active as it once was. I used to run. I loved it. Once again, my mysterious age crept up on me and I tore something in my knee, had surgery and listened as the doctor kindly told me I was too old to run on hard surfaces. The jarring impact was too much.

That’s when she suggested yoga. My mother-in-law swore the yoga she practiced each morning with Jack LaLanne in front of the TV in the sixties kept her in shape. So, I decided to try it.

The yoga studio and I hit it off immediately. The room was beautifully decorated, warm, inviting, with a soft scent of incense and lovely music playing in the background. That was a beginner class six years ago and most of us newbies are still at it. While I can’t do what this wonderfully flexible woman can do, and don’t aspire to, I am much stronger and able to do many postures I used think impossible.

Yoga has been around for thousands of years. Archeologists discovered ancient stone tablets, believed to be over 4500 years old, with engravings of yoga postures in India’s Indus Valley. It was brought to the west in the late nineteenth century and became somewhat popular here in America in the 1960’s, thanks to the aforementioned Mr. LaLanne and other pop culture icons like the Beatles. Yoga is a Sanskrit word which means, “to bind together.” In our practice, we connect our mind, body and spirit.

We close our practice with Om. Yogis believe Om is the sound of life, or the vibration that flows through the universe. We then bow to each other and say “Namaste.” Namaste represents the belief that we each have spark of the divine –whichever divine you believe in – inside us. This gesture acknowledges the divine in all of us.

There are many benefits to yoga, emotional, physical and spiritual. What I come away with after an hour on my mat is how light and stress free I am. Stress has been around since humankind has existed, but chronic stress causes many health problems. I feel much better equipped to handle the worries of everyday life when I practice regularly.

Yoga works for me. It may not for you. But I hope everyone has something they can turn to for a couple hours a week, to relax, renew and rejuvenate.

Namaste.

Debbie’s novel, Twin Flames, was released by Black Opal Books and is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and Black Opal Books.

EXCERPT:

Here’s a small excerpt from my novel when Marc, the hero, has an encounter with the ghost who lives with Natalia, the heroine.

“Natalia, are you in there?” Marc knocked on her door but there was no answer. He felt a cool breeze blow behind him and wondered what unexplained thing was going to happen next. When he looked down the stairs and saw the front door was wide open, he was relieved it really was a draft this time. He ran down the stairs, out the door to the front porch. He didn’t see Natalia or anyone. While he stood on the porch, the front door slammed shut behind him. As peculiar as it was, he couldn’t really say he was scared.

“Okay,” he said. “I’m out here. Now what?”

It felt like someone pushed him and he almost fell off the steps of the porch. He caught himself and sat down. Was he a skeptic when it came to the supernatural? He didn’t know what he believed about paranormal realm.

His head doctor was going to love this! He thought his biggest problem was getting his memory back. Could he be losing his mind as well? There was one way to find out.

He stood up. “This isn’t going to work. If you want me to go straight, touch the back of my head. If you want me to go left or right, touch my shoulder. There’s no need to push, all right? Is this about Natalia?”

Marc felt a tap on his head, so he walked straight back and up the hill through the grapevines. He reached a spot where he had to make a decision to go left or right, and felt a pat on his right shoulder. He walked down through more vines to the last row of grapes. There was nothing but woods.

“Now what?” He felt a tap on his head. “There’s no place to go.” Feeling a nudge forward, he walked into the woods. It was thick with hemlock trees and difficult to walk through. About a half mile into the woods, he saw an old shack and felt another pat on his head. He walked up to the door and knocked. When no came to the door, Marc turned to walk away but a cold blast of air in his face stopped him in his tracks.

“What? No one’s here.” He barely finished his sentence when a harder, colder gust of air came at him. “Why am I not surprised you and Natalia have the same temperament?” He knocked again.

“Look, there’s no one here. I knocked twice,” he said and suffered a good smack on the side of the head. “Ouch. All right, all right.” Marc turned the doorknob. The door opened and he went inside. Curled up in chair, he saw she had headphones on.

“Natalia,” he said loudly so she could hear him.

He watched her head pop up and stared at him, flabbergasted.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve been looking for you since before we went to brunch.”

“How did you find me here?”

“I’m not sure.”

“That’s not an answer.”

BLURB:

She’d never met him before…or had she?

The last thing forty-year old Natalia Santagario expected was to be sitting on a Manhattan barstool ogling a man she’s never met, but swears she knows.

He didn’t know her at all…or did he?

The mysterious dark-haired woman at the end of the bar stops twenty-eight year old Marc Tremonti in his tracks. His head assures him she’s a stranger, but his heart tells him otherwise.

Together they embark on an adventure that will change their lives forever.

Their attraction instant and enigmatic, they undergo past life regression and discover that, not only have they spent hundreds of lives together as lovers, Natalia holds the secret to Marc’s puzzling birthmark.

But what should have been a joyful reunion is complicated by a kind, albeit confused, almost ex-wife, a bout of temporary amnesia and a mischievous ghost from their past.

What else could possibly go wrong?

BIO:

Debbie Christiana would sit in her room as a little girl and write stories about ghosts, unexplained events and things that go bump in the night. She combined her love of the paranormal with her fascination of unusual love stories and decided to write paranormal romance. Her novel, Twin Flames, was released in the summer of 2011 with Black Opal Books. In February 2012, her short story, The Land of the Rising Sun, was one of ten included the anthology BITES: Ten Tales of Vampires. Debbie is a member of RWA and Secretary of the Romance Writers of Connecticut and Lower New York. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and three children.

www.debbiechristiana.com
Twitter @DebChristiana
Facebook Author Page: Debbie Christiana

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