Tuesday Truth & Teasers

Tuesday Truth 5/14/13–Ouchie!

Today about all I can think of is that I hurt. The side of my face is swollen. The ear isn’t swollen, but all around it is swollen. I would psot a pic, but I don’t want to gross you out.  Went to the doc. Turns out I have an infected saliva gland.

I’ve never HEARD of a saliva gland.

But I have one. It might have a stone. Wait, you mean like a kidney stone? Do I have to pass it???

No, if there’s a stone it will have to be removed.  But first we’ll try an antibiotic, drinking lots of water, hot compresses and eating sour candy.

This is fun. Not.

Tuesday Truth 5/7/13-Audiobooks

I am working with Brick Shop Audio to have Sleeping With the Wolf (After the Crash #1) made into an audiobook!

In the last few months I’ve discovered audiobooks. I’ve always been aware of talking books, but I never really got into them until recently. At my job I have several hours everyday where I can listen to radio, music, etc, on headphones. But listening to the same music over and over was getting really boring. Now I’m absolutely hooked on the In Death books by JD Robb. The narrator of those does a wonderful job. I got to thinking, “Wouldn’t it be great if my books were available in audio?”

Well, after checking with some writer friends I found out about ACX, the Audio Creative Exchange.  It doesn’t have to cost anything if you agree to share royalties with the producer, so I figured what the heck. I listed my first book, invited some narrators to audition and in a week had several samples to listen to.

 I am extremely excited about this. I listened to 9 different auditions by both male and female actors and chose a woman named Amanda Rinzel, with Brick Shop Audio. I liked the pace and cadence of her voice and the way she voiced the different characters. The goal is to have the narration finished and approved by July 1, 2013. I’m not sure how long it takes for the audiobook to go live, but I wouldn’t think it would be too long after that. I’ve contacted my cover artist, Lyn Taylor, about reworking the cover art. I’ve found her work to be beautiful and affordable. So I think everything is on track. I’ll keep everyone updated about when the book will be available from Amazon, Audible and iTunes!

Tuesday Teaser 5/21/13 – Ellie and Quill

In the light of the rising sun, Ellie looked down at her folded hands, noticing the grime under the nails with resignation. Keeping clean while traveling on horseback was so hard. She glanced quickly at Quill’s hand where it rested on her knee and saw that it was amazingly clean. Perhaps all dirt disappeared when he transformed from wolf back to human? How unfair was that? But that wasn’t the topic of conversation.

“All I want is to never be far away from my family ever again. I loved Neal, but we argued about moving so far away from everyone and everything we knew.” She drew a deep trembling breath. “I’m ashamed to admit it, but when he died and left us alone I was angry with him. So angry.”

“I will always protect you.” The sun had peeked over the horizon and shot rosy golden rays to gleam in Quill’s tawny curls. He ducked his head to look deeply into her eyes. “The entire Clan is your family now, and they will care for you and Connor and Tommy. You’ll never be alone again.”

His words made her dream come true. Greatly daring, she put a hand on the back of his neck to pull him down to her lips. His eyes widened. She felt his heart thundering against her breast. She closed her eyes and kissed him. She had meant to give him a quick peck of gratitude, but when he sighed against her lips she couldn’t help but open her mouth to catch his breath. She forgot her teeth needed brushing and her hair was tangled mess and her clothes were crumpled and dew damp. He smelled so good and his body was so warm against her she forgot everything but the taste of his mouth when she slid her tongue over his.

Tuesday Teaser 4/30/13-Wolf’s Prize

Today I’ll be working on revisions for Wolf’s Prize. I’m really happy with it. Here’s a tiny tidbit for you.

     Quill lifted his head to look down at her and her breasts protested the absence of his mouth. “Better stop,” he said in a rough tone.

     “Stop?” Ellie echoed, drowning in the desperate heat he roused in her.

     It was too dark to make out his expression, but she could see him nod. “I’m not going to take advantage of you.”

     She almost cried, “Why not?” before swallowing the words unspoken. He had agreed to wait for their wedding night, and the darned honorable man was going to keep his promise. That should have made her happy, right? Right?

Tuesday Truth: 4/23/13 Wolf’s Prize

The rough draft  of After the Crash Book 5 Wolf’s Prize is done!

Mind you that is only the first step in getting the book completed. I need to:

1. Go back and do some revisions. There’s a fairly lengthy scene I want to add, and some details I need to remove, and a plot point I need to play up a bit more. I may do some re-writing of the last few pages.

2. But before I do all that I want the story to sit for a few days so I can come at it fresh.

3. Revisions should take about a week.

4. Then it gets sent to the beta readers for them to read it and let me know if it works forthem or if there are some scenes or dialogue that needs work.

5. I take all the commetns and suggestions into consideration and do a final revision.

6. Submit to the publisher.

After that is a whole nother sent of revisions, then editing, then line editing, then Release Date.  Geez, it’s like giving birth!

Tuesday Truth 4/16/13: Earth Day Blog Hop

It’s not at all unusual for North Dakota to get snow in April. In fact it happens more years than not. But I have to say, I think a foot and half is a bit much. Here in Fargo we got only 10.4 inches, which is still way too much. Spring will be coming eventually, though. We just have to be patient.

 loveatree

Spring means … EARTH DAY! And what a better way to celebrate our wonderful planet than by giving the gift of ebooks? Save a Tree, Read an E-book!

The hop will be starting this Friday April 19 and going through the 21st. The grand prize will be a $75.00 gift card to the online book retailer of the winner’s choice,  with smaller amounts also being given. I am donating a free download of any of my books. And I’ll be offering something a little different. Check back at www.JustRomance.me  this weekend to find out what my special prize will be.

Tuesday Truth 4/9/13

While I was in the shower just now I had a great idea for Quill and Ellie!  Oh, dear, this will make the book longer …

Tuesday Teaser 4/2/13 Quill & Ellie’s Wedding Night

There. That got your attention, didn’t it? ;)

Here is a scene from Quill and Ellie’s wedding night. They’ve consumated their marriage and are lying side by side in bed. He’s been telling her what he and Sky have been  doing in Omaha. This scene may be changed significantly or even cut entirely from the book. I haven’t even re-read it yet so it probably has awkward moments and goofs.

 

      “Omaha sounds awful.” Ellie shivered against him. “I don’t understand why the women allow themselves to made into prostitutes. Can’t their families protect them?”

That very question had driven his wolf insane for six years. “The city guard is like an army, and the mayor is its commander. People don’t have much choice. If they are wealthy, they can pay the tax to keep their daughters at home or to find them a husband and pay the marriage fee.  Poor families who try to resist find their homes burned.” Quill had to make an effrot to keep his wolf from howling his rage. ”And a lot of women like being prostitutes. They have independence and money, and a lot of them like having sex.”

“Ew,” Ellie shuddered.

Horrified, he lifted his head to stare at her. She hadn’t seeemed unhappy a few mintues ago. “Don’t you like sex?”

“With you. Not just any stranger off the street.”

That laid a sheet of soothing warmth over his heart. “Well, some of the women do. The ones who don’t, try to come to Ms. Mary’s house. We arrange some domestic work for them and pay their city tax out of the house’s cut.”

Ellie leaned up on one elbow, trying to see him in the scant moonlight. “How can the house make a profit?”

“It doesn’t. Ms. Mary made Sky her partner, and all they want is enough to keep things going until they …” He trailed off, debating whether or not to tell her the whole truth. He tugged her face to his and sunk his voice to the barest whisper in her ear. “Until they are able to get rid of the mayor. Don’t tell anyone. If the mayor somehow heard that, he would have Sky killed.”

“Sky should come home!”

“But then who would take care of the ladies at Ms. Mary’s house? They’re his Pack”

Her small fist thumped lightly on his shoulder. “I don’t advocate violence, but why doesn’t he just kill the mayor?”

The thought of the chaos that would erupt as various factions fought for power in Omaha made him cringe. “Too many innocent people would die unless there was someone strong enough to take control.”

“Is that what Sky wants? To be the next mayor?”

“No.” He and Sky had talked that over several times. Sky didn’t want to stay in Omaha; he wanted the plains and the hills and his mate. “He wants a strong and fair government in place in Omaha. He’ll be back when he has that. He wants his mate. I can’t tell you how many nights he and I stayed up ’til dawn talking about you and Rose and how much our wolves needed you.”

She gave a lady-like grunt. “He could bring Rose to Omaha.”

“No.” That was definite. “Omaha is an evil place. I wouldn’t want my mate there. I hope you never want to go to Omaha. It would half-kill me to deny you anything, but–”

She laid her head on his shoulder, snugglingclose. “Aren’t you lucky? I’m right here.” A shadow of a laugh shook her voice. “Why don’t you show me what else you learned while you were guarding ladies in Omaha?”

Relief shook him. She didn’t hold his days in an Omaha whorehouse against him.

Steampunk!

steampunk 010 steampunk 009steampunk 011

 

My one and (so far) only steampunk outfit. steampunk 008 What do you think?

Tuesday Teaser Feb 19: Wolf’s Prize

Late as usual, but better late than never, right? Here is a snip from Ellie and Quill’s story.

 

After they ate, Quill spoke to the men in a low voice. A few glances were directed her way, accompanied by nods and smiles. In only a few minutes most of the men melted into the darkness, taking Tommy and Connor with them. Only Snake and Stone stayed to watch over Sara and Mel while they cleaned the dishes. Ellie moved to join them, but Quill stepped in front of her.

“Let’s walk for a few minutes before bed.”

Ellie swallowed and nodded. They were alone. It didn’t frighten her, exactly. She draped the blanket over her shoulders like a wrap against the chilly air of the evening and walked beside him out of their small camp. “Where did everyone go?”

He put an arm around her waist. “They’re not far. I asked them to give us a little time alone.”

Alone. In the dark. With Quill. Ellie tried to slow her breathing. “Why?”

He pulled her to a stop and lifted her hands to his mouth to kiss each palm.”You know why. You brought a blanket.”