Tuesday Teaser 6/4/13: Ellie’s Wolf
Tomorrow I’m off to Lori Foster’s Annual Reader & Author Get Together in Ohio! I received Wolf’s Prize back from the publisher with a request to make a few changes before they offer me a contract. My goal was to have it turned back in before I left, but I’ve been so busy getting ready for the trip that I haven’t finished the changes yet. One of the changes is the title. Wolf’s Prize will be Ellie’s Wolf instead. When I have signed the contract I’ll make updates throughout the website.
Meanwhile, here is a conversation between Ellie and Rose:
Rose wiped the heel of her hand over her eyes. Like many fair skinned people her face was blotched red from her tears, but the blue of her blue-gray eyes was more vivid. “You’re here now. Sky got Taye’s letter, but he didn’t come for the funeral.”
Resentment edged Rose’s voice. Ellie tried to find the right words. “Did you want him to come? Do you want to marry him?”
“No! Yes! Oh, lord, I don’t know.” Rose sprang up from the bed to pace. “Six years ago I’d rather have married a tarantula. But I want a baby and unless there’s a miracle, I won’t have one unless Sky comes back.”
Tuesday Truth 5/28/13-Silks & Needles
Silks & Needles is a bi-annual SCA event that I autocrat (set up and run). It is a day of classes dealing with embroidery and fiber arts like spinning and weaving. That includes wire weaving and making chain mail. In the weeks leading up to the event, which took place this past Saturday, I felt frazzled and ready to give up ever doing it again. I couldn’t update the website, teachers had to back out and the man who had volunteered to make lunch had to go and win the Crown Tournament a few weeks earlier, and the Crown Prince of Northshield really couldn’t be expected to toil in the kitchen, so a scramble was on to find a new cook. But the day went smoothly and I had a wonderful time, so I guess I’ll do it all again come 2015. 🙂
Here are a few pics of the day.
Tuesday Teaser 5/21/13
Here is a snip from Wolf’s Prize, featuring some secondary characters who will be featured in a collection of short stories. Ellie and her friends Sara and Melissa are watching some of the men of the Clan just after they’ve changed from wolf to man and haven’t put their clothes on yet. Just a hint: Stone Wolf is Jelly’s adult name.
Sara nudged her horse to join them. She took one foot out of a stirrup and hooked her leg over the saddle horn with an ease that Ellie envied. Sara’s cheeks were flushed and a smile played with her lips. “I wish all men looked that good naked,” she said with loud enthusiasm.
Ellie winced. Several of the men looked at her, and one wolf, who must be Stone, raised his hackles and growled.
“Oh, please.” Sara rolled her eyes. “Like you don’t know you’re just as gorgeous as the rest of them.”
The wolf’s face wrinkled in an almost human frown, before his tail went tick-tock once. Then he turned and trotted away.
Mel took off her cowboy hat and waved it in front of her face. “That is just plain weird.”
Stone, human now and dressed in only jeans, walked back to them. His face still held a frown as he stared up at Sara. “You think I’m handsome?” he demanded of her.
“Are you kidding?”
Stone blinked at the wealth of sarcasm drenching Sara’s voice. “Is that a “Yes, I “think you’re handsome” or a “No, I don’t think you’re handsome” sort of are-you-kidding?”
Sara rolled her eyes again. “You are so male.”
After a moment of consideration, Stone puffed out his chest. “You think I’m handsome,” he announced and strutted away.
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.
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 …
