Something About Maddy Saturday
Did you know I’m scared of flying? I didn’t know I was. Twenty years ago when I was in the military I flew from time to time. I don’t remember being scared of it then.
But three years ago I went to Lori Foster’s Reader & Author Get Together for the first time, and since I live in North Dakota and the event was in Ohio, I decided to fly. I boarded the plane in a rain storm. We were grounded for a half hour past the original time of departure because of lightning. Once we were in the air it was like being on a rollercoaster. (I hate rollercoasters) Up and down. I felt like I was on skis, running a crazy mogul course, with no control. By the time the plane landed in Minneapolis where I was supposed to transfer to another plane I really, REALLY didn’t want to get on the next plane. My brother lives in Minneapolis. Maybe he could leave work, come and get me, and put me on a bus back home. I would lose my money for the ticket, but who cared? Al I could think about was the fact that in my books, a plane leaves Minneapolis and crashes.
Well, I did make my connection, and I survived the plane ride to Ohio. I managed to get back on the plane to go home too. I haven’t flown since. A good friend now comes with me to the RAGT, and we drive. I would really like to attend other conferences, but… I’ve never yet been lucky enough to get into Authors After Dark, and I’m disappointed about that, but maybe a teeny bit relieved too. I would rather not have to fly!
Risky Readers!
A couple of years ago, while I was at Lori Foster’s Reader & Author Get Together, I had the embarrassing and worrying experience of losing my debit card. Duffy Brown had hosted a guided shopping trip for us, and when I opened my wallet to pull out my debit card so I could buy a cute little Coach purse, the debit card wasn’t there. Ack! Panic! You can imagine how I felt. I walked across a big parking lot to search the bus we had come on to make a frantic search, and another author came with me to help. Donna McDonald was calm and encouraging even though I was freaking out. I’ve never forgotten her kindness.
Now Donna has started a new blog to help readers find new reading material. She says it’s “A site for romance readers with cross-genre reading habits” which I think is clever. A reader who loves paranormal romance but is getting a little weary of vampires might like to see what books are out there with cyborgs, or ghosts, or elves. Just scrolling through Amazon can be unwieldy, but at her blog you just click a tab and see what is listed. Each title also includes the blurb and an excerpt, and buy links. It is so convenient to find new stuff! The site is new, but growing. Go take a look!
http://riskyreaders.blogspot.com
Root Canals Suck
Just thought I’d let you know in case you weren’t sure. 😉
I’ve heard horror stories about pain following root canals. I’ve had root canals before, but I never had much pain afterward. A little soreness, a little discomfort, yeah, but not real pain. Right now I’m in screaming pain. I cried for an hour earlier. Tylenol 3 doesn’t touch it. I just want it to end. I am, in case you haven’t figured it out for yourself, a big baby when it comes to pain. I’ve decided to take tomorrow off work. I’m pretty sure no one wants to listen to me whine at my desk.
Makes me wonder what sort of dental care they have in my future world. The electric drills are a no go, but would they have anesthesia? What material would they use for fillings? Omaha is far more advanced than the small surrounding towns, so would city people have better dental care than rural people? When the railroad comes would it allow people to travel further faster to get dental care?
See? This is the stupid stuff I think about all the time. What if? Try asking the dentist these sorts of questions while he’s looking in your mouth. He said it was always interesting to work on me. Hmph.
Ellie’s Wolf Available Now!
Yes, book 5 in my After the Crash series is available now!
I present the newest addition to my series, After the Crash. In a post-apocalyptic world where women are rare commodities and sold to the highest bidder, one wolf is determined only he will have the woman who is his destined mate. Danger lurks around every corner and passion ignites the pages in Ellie’s Wolf, Book 5 of this sizzling series.
In a post-apocalyptic world where women are rare and valuable, Ellie Overdahl is a widow far from home at the mercy of strangers. Sold to be a prize in a Bride Fight, she manages to send word to her cousin Taye, begging for rescue.
For six years, Quill Wolfe has mourned the loss of the woman his wolf chose to be his mate. When word comes that Ellie is widowed and about to be forced into an unwanted marriage, he races to enter the Bride Fight. He has waited long enough to claim his mate, and no fighter is good enough to keep him from her.
But claiming Ellie is only the beginning. It’s not only the journey home that is dangerous and uncertain.
It’s available
From the Publisher, in any format you choose: http://www.lsbooks.com/ellies-wolf-p822.php
From Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Ellies-Wolf-After-Crash-ebook/dp/B00ES1OTJ0
From Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ellies-Wolf-After-Crash-ebook/dp/B00ES1OTJ0
From All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ellie039swolf-1271374-340.html
Coming soon to Kobo, Barnes & Noble, the iBookstore, Sony and more.
Last Blood by Kristen Painter
The Day Is Finally Here!!!!! Last Blood (House Of Comarré #5) Is Available To Buy!!!!
Last Blood is the 5th (and final) installment in the captivating story of Mal and Chrysabelle.
(For those that may have somehow missed this exciting saga scroll down for a special offer on book 1)
In the final showdown between the forces of dark and light, Mal and Chrysabelle face not only Tatiana, but the ancient evil that now controls her: the Castus Sanguis. Chrysabelle gathers her friends and family around her, forming a plan to bring an end to the chaos surrounding them. But the Castus is the most powerful being they’ve ever come up against. Defeating such evil will require a great sacrifice from someone on the side of light.
One of them will change sides. One of them will die. No one will survive unscathed. Can Chrysabelle save those she cares about or will that love get her killed? What price is she willing to pay to draw last blood?
Get the book now in either eFormat or Paperback at
Barnes and Noble HERE
or Amazon HERE
Special Offer!!!!! For Book 1 In The Series – Blood Rights!!!!!!
For those that haven’t joined the journey yet right now you can get book 1 in the series for just $2.99 for either Kindle Or Nook!!!!
Get it from Barnes and Noble HERE
Get it from Amazon HERE
About The Author
When the characters in Kristen Painter’s head started to take over, she decided to put them on paper and share them with the world. She writes paranormal romance and the gothic fantasy vampire series, House of Comarre, for Orbit Books. She has also been published in non-fiction, poetry and short stories. The former college English teacher can often be found online at Romance Divas, the award-winning writers’ forum she co-founded. She’s represented by Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency.
Sign up for her newsletter – HERE
Find her on Facebook – HERE
Follow her on Twitter – HERE
Ming the Merciless
On Thursday a friend of mine who volunteers at the local cat rescue and shelter emailed me to ask if I could foster a kitten. I’ve always said I would never have a kitten again. They’re so much work to take care of, and they make messes, and they climb things they shouldn’t, etc. But this little kitty was scheduled to be euthanized on Saturday if they couldn’t find someone to take him for a month. Of course I said yes.
I brought him home yesterday and he is scared spitless. My two older girl cats are scared even more spitless. Somehow this 1.75 pound kitten has managed to dominate the other two. I’ve named him Ming the Merciless. If you’re a Flash Gordon fan you’ll recognize the name.
It’s a male domestic shorthair with a cream colored belly, a gray and black tabby back, mittens on his front paws and boots on his hind paws. He’s probably about 12 weeks old and he was in the pound for a week, several days past the “Must Terminate” date.
Now that he’s getting a little more used to his new (TEMPORARY) home, he’s learning to play. He still won’t let me touch him, though. That might take time. Meanwhile, he has claimed the top of the armchair as his throne and likes to sneer at the world in general while looking around with a regal air. Meanwhile, the other two cats cower in the bedroom and hurl outraged insults at him from under the bed.
I was told I would have him for about 3 to 4 weeks while he had his shots and worming, etc. Kittens usually get adopted pretty quickly. He’s fairly well behaved. He’s used his box (and kicked sand all over the bathroom!) Since kittens don’t come with an Off switch, I’m looking forward to passing him on to his furrever home.
I do think that with a little time and love he’ll make someone a wonderful feline friend.
Winners!
Thanks, everyone, for playing! The two winners are DarinP. and MyGirls01. I have emailed the winners. I think I need to do this more often! 🙂
Congrats!
The Reader & Author Get Together 2013
It was a long drive from North Dakota to Ohio, but I hate to fly, so it was worth it. My friend Jessica went with me again this year. I had a fantastic time at the RAGT, as I always do. And as I always do, I forgot to take many pictures. I always have such good intentions but you know what they say about the paving on the road to that hot place 🙂
We arrived on Thursday in the late afternoon and one of the first people I saw was Paige Tyler. She and her hubby Paul have been super nice to me each of the three times I’ve gone to the RAGT. They saved a spot for us at their table and we sat with them for every meal. I didn’t get a pic of them (darn it!) but here is one of me and Paige and Brenda Wheeler, a member of Paige’s street team. Brenda was a fun lady and I’m glad I had a chance to get to know her. Her husband Don joined us, and I have to say, he’s a great guy to accompany his wife to a romance readers convention. That’s true love!
On Friday morning I went down to the Liquid Silver Books Boardroom to meet Monette Michaels and Linda Eberhart from my publishers, and then Paige grabbed me to help stuff the 500+ goodie bags. It was surprisingly hard work, but it was fun. Here is a pic of my friend Jessica with a bag. isn’t that pink leopard print cute?
the goody bag
That evening I was one of the authors signing. I’m not including that pic, because I look as dumpy as an overweight hippo stuffed into a blouse that showed every bulge. But I had fun! I sat beside Anara Bella, who was so friendly she helped settle my nerves. I got to see Robyn Bachar and her friend Diana. They are so much fun!
And I got to meet up with Jessica Bowes, who had won the shawl I knit for a blog hop prize. Isn’t that cute on her? She and her mom look like sisters, not mother and daughter.
I also got to have a 20 minute met and greet in the LSB boardroom.
Jessica and I both won two raffle baskets, which rocked, because Jessica and pretty much stuffed one bag with her name. She REALLY wanted that set of books!
On Saturday I got to hang out with writing partners Christine Lawrence and Steph Smith. Since they live a couple of hours away from each other they don’t get the chance to actually sit down together in person. They were kind enough to let me interrupt their work for me to visit with them.
There were so many other people I enjoyed seeing and talking to, but of course, I didn’t get pics.
It was a busy, busy, fun, fun weekend! Jessica and I got home around suppertime on Monday. I’m already looking forward to next year!
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!
My one and (so far) only steampunk outfit.
What do you think?
