Mystic Monday

Awards, Contests and Ketchup

A couple weeks ago, I get this email from YA Author, Sandra Cox. It seems she nominated me for a Creative Blogger Award on her blog, Downtown YA.

Then about a day or two later, I received another email from YA Author Dana Davis seconding my "nomination" on her myspace blog post - which means, I only need to pick 7 - targets...wait, no...victims...that's not right either...authors...yeah, let's use authors - authors instead of 14. Okay, so I need to pick seven other authors to "nominate," but we'll get to that in a minute.

The other part of this...um...honor is to come up with a confusing list of false-truths - a list of 7 statements about myself 6 can be true and 1 can be a lie, or 6 can be lies while 1 can be true. Therein lies the challenge. My problem is, I want to win, I want to confuse the hell out of you so that no one will guess the right answer. But I also want you to enjoy yourselves in the process.

So, here's my list of 7 statements. 1 could be true or 6 of them could be. That's for you to decide hehehe!

1. I met my husband in a "chatroom" over the intranet.

2. Exchanged emails with an NBA General Manager.

3. Went to school with the kids of a Big Ten football referee.

4. Met a professional athlete.

5. Was born at a professional football stadium.

6. Knew an actor before he became an actor.

7. Was told by an author that I had the grasp of narrative hook when I was 13.

Okay, there's my list. Not so easy, is it? Or maybe it is. HAHAHAHAHA! Have fun! Can't wait to see what answers are chosen! Oh, and just a fact, I was born in Green Bay, WI....Anyone who really knows me can honestly say that each of these answers has 50/50 shot of being true...lol!

Okay, now on to the...um...what did I call them again? Right, author nominees.

1. Gracen Miller - fellow Moonlighter and Adult Romance Author

2. Margay Leah Justice - fellow Moonlighter and Romance Author

3. Kimberly Joy Peters - YA Author (Painting Caitlyn and Posing As Ashley)

4. Lori Handeland - Paranormal Romance Author

5. Anna Campbell - Historical Romance Author

6. Christine Hart - YA Author (Watching July, Best Laid Plans)

7. Alyson Noel - YA Author (Immortal Series)

I'd really love to have mentioned Kate Douglas and Heidi Betts, but I do know that they have been fairly busy lately lol! Of course, Sandra Cox and Dana Davis do get honorable mention. Perpetuating the cycle just isn't good lol!

Wistful Wednesday

Revision: How Do I Make

This Better?

I thought I’d do something a little differently today. I thought I’d show you a little glimpse into the process of revision. Below is the latest of many incantations for the opening of a YA novel I’ve been working on for some time. But, like all of the openings before it, it just lacked the punch I was looking for. After weeks of trying to come up with a better opening, I submitted this portion of the opening to an online contest for the feedback and in so doing, had a breakthrough. I finally came up with something that I think packs the punch I was looking for, as well as conveying the information I wanted to convey in this section. Following this version is the new version. I invite you to read both and tell me what you think. Which one does the better job of conveying the information? Or do I still need to work on it? All suggestions are welcome.

Version #1:

I don’t ask for a lot. Really. In my family, there’s not much to ask for, anyway. I guess you could say that demand out-weighs supply. But even if there was anything to ask for, I wouldn’t. It’s just not me. I’m kind of happy with what I’ve got so why ask for more when I don’t need it? Still, it would be nice if, just once, I could ask for this: To get through the day without someone making fun of my name.

Just once.

Please?

No, of course not. That never seems to be the case. Inevitably, someone, some time, is struck by the urge to make fun of my name. And how could they resist? With an unfortunate moniker like Irene Goode, they have a lot to work with.

Yes, that’s right.

Irene.

Goode.

That’s me. A born punchline for all the budding comedians of Amory High. Or wanna-be mean girls.

Today, it was Bridget Taylor stepping up to the mike for her shot at school fame. And me. One thing about Bridget: She lacks imagination. So rather than dazzling her classmates with her stunning wit, she fell short with a dull pun. A variation of which she’d been slinging at me since our first encounter in grade school.

“Can you pass this to the Goode girl?”

Version #2:

I always knew my name would get me into trouble one day. Seriously, with a name like Irene Goode, the probability for trouble ranked pretty high, if you know what I mean. Well, I guess Irene’s not too bad – unless you’re like a certain someone who shall remain nameless (Bridget Taylor), who once told me, “We had a cow named Irene once. We ate it for dinner.” Seriously twisted. Even in grade school. Yeah, so tell me something like that and you make an issue out of the first name. But most of the time, it’s not so bad. Not great. But not bad. Oh, no. The problem is the last name.

Goode.

Do you know how hard it is to live up to a name like that?

I do.

Or how about Version #3, which adds more detail:

I always knew my name would get me into trouble one day. I just didn’t think it would take this long. Maybe I just have a long fuse. Or a short attention span. Something. But, anyway. It finally happened. I snapped. And my name got me in trouble.

Seriously, with a name like Irene Goode, the probability ranked pretty high, if you know what I mean. Well, I guess Irene’s not too bad – unless you’re like a certain someone who shall remain nameless (Bridget Taylor), who once told me, “We had a cow named Irene once. We ate it for dinner.”

But she was one twisted sister. I mean seriously twisted. Even in grade school. Who would name something and then eat it? Or even say they did? That’s a demented thing for anyone to say, but really disturbing coming from a seven-year old.

Yeah, so tell me something like that and you make an issue out of the first name. But most of the time, it’s not so bad. Not great. (Like Maxie or Roxie, my idols!) But not bad. Oh, no. The problem is the last name.

Goode.

Do you know how hard it is to live up to a name like that?

I do.

So what do you think? Which version do you like better? And do you have any revision tips for other aspiring writers out there?

PHANTASM FRIDAY

Yikes! I almost forgot today is Friday. Between getting ready to leave for vacation next week and birthdays today for my brother and best friend, I'd forgotten today was my blog day! So, a big huge YIKES!

So, I thought instead of boring you with some trivial blog, I'd hold a contest in celebration of the coming summer. I'll give away a Gracen Miller tote bag (beach bag) to one lucky winner.

All you have to do is leave me a comment and you'll be entered to win. I'll pick a winner this coming Sunday, May 23rd.

Due to cost of postage, this contest is open to all US residents only.

Good luck to all entrants!

Wistful Wednesday

One of Those Days

Have you ever had one of those days where one thing was so prevalent in your that you forgot just about everything else? Yeah, well, I had one of those days today. So I apologize for forgetting to post this morning. But in my defense, the thing that took precedence in my mind today was the health of my family members.

I am happy to say that my sister is out of the hospital now and resting (ha!) at home, recovering from a bad bout of the Crohn's and trying to heal a bit before surgery. And my daughter had a follow up with her doctor today and it looks like she is fast on the road to recovery herself. There are still some issues to deal with, the upper most being trying to determine if the original diagnosis of bipolar disorder is an accurate one. To that end, she will be undergoing a series of psychological and medical testing in the near future. So I apologize now if I get a little scatter-brained in the coming weeks and forget to post again.

Later, my Moonlighter friends!

Tantalizing Tuesday

Welcome Author

Lynn Crain !!!
The Power of a Good Hook

Another year has passed and I’m still churning out the words. I find it amazing that something like writing has fascinated me for forty years. While other passions come and go, writing has had a firm grip on me since my younger years. I can remember my mother reading Grimm’s Fairy Tales to me in one form or another and me thinking some of the endings were dumb while the beginnings held great promise. Even at that early age, I realized that the book had to have an incredible beginning or people wouldn’t like it.

Since those early days, I have learned the power of the hook as we writers call it. If you don’t get the readers with the first line or paragraph, you may not get them at all. So I thought this blog, I’d go over some hooks that have intrigued me and give a few of my own for contrast.

Here’s my top ten list of best hooks in the world. See if you can guess who wrote them. The answers are listed below. They are, in no particular order:

1. Hunting vampires was a bitch.

2. He was running for his life.

3. It was a dark and stormy night.

4. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

5. Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.

6. Marley was dead: to begin with.

7. When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.

8. It wasn’t a very likely place for disappearances, at least at first glance.

9. Somewhere in the world, time no doubt whistled by on taut and widespread wings, but here in the English countryside it plodded slowly, painfully, as if it trod the rutted road that stretched across the moors on blistered feet.

10. The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in the narrow, moonlit lane.

Each one of those have special meaning for me as I read each of those books at a different time in my life. Realize that this list ebbs and flows like a river, changing with time and never standing still. Notice there is a mix of classic and contemporary pieces. Some are romance and some are not. But each of them have something so compelling which makes me want to read more. And read them I did, some more than once and a few of them I still read yearly if I can remember just where I left my latest copy. LOL!

So what comprises a good hook? Notice that with the ones I listed, there is not one standard theme. Some come from a character’s point of view and some don’t, some involve something personal and some don’t. So just what is it?

There are some constant elements each and every hook must have. They are:

· It must be compelling

· Should be a beginning – The reason I say should here is because some books have started with the ending and been quite successful.

· It can start with dialogue.

· It can start with action.

· It could be a contrast or something totally unexpected.

· It could be a character description or a description of a setting.

· It could be a humorous question or exclamation or even a regular question or exclamation.

Let’s look at some of mine now and see just what I do. The first is from a WIP called “Where’s My Underwear?” and it is a fun romp. It’s first direct, to the point and immediately brings you into the action.

“So…you really don’t know where your underwear might be?”

There are groups out that who say never start your novel with a question. But this question just begged for an answer. It puts the reader immediately on a quest for the missing underwear. It also brings to mind other questions: who has the underwear? how was the underwear lost? was the underwear misplaced?

Suddenly, a reader wants to know the answer to those questions.

Here’s another of my first lines. This is from a completed book which is part of the Blue Moon Magic world.

He had always been in this cage in one way or another. It was only recently they had decided to make it his permanent room.

Again, this one takes you immediately into a dilemma. You know someone is in a cage. You don’t know the how’s or the why’s but it just begs those questions.

Here’s another from my Santa’s Elves series. This is from my book, An Elf’s Desire.

That human woman drove him crazy.

From just this first line, you know the person thinking is a man and that he isn’t human. Still, you wonder just what the human woman is doing to drive him crazy. It must be something good or he wouldn’t be thinking about it.

This last one is from another WIP called “Avenging Aingeal” and is a story of elemental magic.

No one knows where we came from really. We just…are. And there are so very few of us, roaming the earth, protecting the inhabitants these days.

This is from an omniscient POV but is still interesting in its own way. We want to know just who ‘they’ are and why we need protecting. Then one might want to know just how long have ‘they’ been protecting us because the way the sentence is constructed, it is implied that ‘they’ have been here for a long, long time. But one must read the story to know the all answers.

And this one has always been one of my personal favorites as it won quite a few contests with the most notable being at the Hawaii RWA conference. Leslie Wainger picked it as one of five from the whole room full of people.

“Damn, I’m going to lose another one.”

This from my complete book, Midnight Run about a woman off-road racer. It was my first book ever, all 72K of it. And it’s set on my computer in one form or another for the past fifteen years at least. It has a great hook but a saggy middle with a kick-ass end. But that’s left for another blog.

And here are the answers to my original question.

1. Hunting vampires was a bitch. – Minion – L.A. Banks

2. He was running for his life. – Hot Ice – Nora Roberts

3. It was a dark and stormy night. – Paul Clifford – Edward Bulwer-Lytton

4. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. - Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

5. Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were. - Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell

6. Marley was dead: to begin with. A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens

7. When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton. Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring – J.R.R. Tolkein

8. It wasn’t a very likely place for disappearances, at least at first glance - Outlander – Diana Galbadon

9. Somewhere in the world, time no doubt whistled by on taut and widespread wings, but here in the English countryside it plodded slowly, painfully, as if it trod the rutted road that stretched across the moors on blistered feet. - The Flame and the Flower – Kathleen Woodiweiss

10. The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in the narrow, moonlit lane. - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling

After all, isn’t that what a hook is meant to do? Make you as the reader want to read the book?

You betcha!

I always look forward to comments from readers.

You can email me at lynncrain @ cox . net (remove spaces before sending).

You all have a great week!

Lynn

Lynn Crain

Experience the Magic

www.lynncrain.com

Posted by Carrie for Gracen

Mystic Monday

Sorry everyone! This was a weekend of manuscript editing and disc golfing!  I promise to have a real blog post up next week!

PHANTASM FRIDAY

*Make sure to leave a comment to be eligible for Tina's contest. Contest details are below.*

~~~~~

Fighting for Her Man. . .

In every good romance, there has to be conflict, someone or something keeping the hero and heroine from a fast resolution and a declaration of love.

Although the romantic moments are always nice, it’s the path to them, the struggle for the characters that provides the most interest. Readers flip pages faster and faster when they sense their wait is at an end.

All writers strive to make the journey as entertaining as possible, and I’m no exception. In my newest release, Lush Velvet Nights, Nathan is attracted to Adriana but because of an event in his past, he’s afraid to give up his heart. Adriana, on the other hand, knows he loves her. She just has to convince him of it.

Here’s a blurb (for background) and an excerpt to show you how Adriana fights for her man:

BLURB:

Lush Velvet Nights - When wanton desires & love demand all…

During the day, Adriana’s a lonely corporate heiress, helming a supermarket empire. At night, she hires escorts, scripting provocative fantasies of kidnapping, lust, submission and endless longing. It’s all she has to excite her until she meets Nathan Wynn. Tall, blond and muscular—like a modern-day Viking—Nathan’s a labor relations attorney representing Adriana’s union employees. His imposing presence intensifies her basest desires. When he protects her from an escort he believes is an attacker, she knows he’s wonderfully dominant and unrestrained. Fascinated by Adriana’s underlying sensuality, Nathan brings her to his secluded mountain estate, determined she submit fully to his hunger. At a gentleman’s club, he makes certain she denies him nothing. Engaging in a seductive sexual journey, Nathan’s caught off-guard by his stunning need for Adriana. An attraction he fears because of past events in his life. A growing emotional connection she will not let him deny.

EXCERPT:

For the remainder of the day, Adriana forced herself to concentrate on Greco’s myriad budgets and profit margins, behaving like the automaton her father had hoped to raise and felt most comfortable with. At eight p.m., she tossed her reading glasses on her desk, locked her office door against any interruption, flicked off the lights and sank in her chair, turning it to face the window. Given the glare of the city, only a few of the brightest stars sparkled in the sooty sky, ready for her to wish upon them as she had the night at Nathan’s estate.

Turning her cell phone over in her hand, she let down her guard finally, allowing her concern to filter through the confidence she’d tried to nurture all day. On a sigh, she whispered, “Please let him answer.” Please let him show how happy he is to hear from me. She didn’t doubt Nathan’s feelings for her. She worried his fear of another betrayal and the possibility of losing a future child might be greater. Her thumb shook as she punched in his number. With a trembling hand, she brought the phone to her ear. After six rings, his voicemail came on.

Heart sinking, Adriana ended the call and told herself she was behaving like a fool. Maybe he was speaking to a client or to Echo. He wasn’t going to stop answering his phone just because he knew she’d be contacting him.

She took several calming breaths to steady her voice prior to her next call. Her feet tapped the floor during his voicemail message. At the beep, Adriana smiled, then spoke softly, and she hoped, seductively, “Hey, it’s me, calling like I said. I thought you’d be finished with work by now. When you are, give me a call.” She gave him her private work and cell number, repeating both slowly to make certain he knew how to reach her. “I’m looking forward to hearing from you, Nathan. As I said this morning, I had an amazing time. I can’t wait for what comes next. Call me to talk about it. I do have some ideas. Bye.”

She closed her phone, placed it on her desk and wrapped her arms around herself, appreciating what millions of men went through everyday because society still expected them to make the first move with a woman. Nevertheless, she’d done it with Nathan. All she had to do now was wait for his call.

Sometime later, she jerked awake in her chair. Panicked at the hour—eleven p.m.—she checked voicemail on all her phones. Empty. Her shoulders slumped. She waited another half hour, dropped her phone in her jacket pocket and left her office. Despite her disappointment and fatigue, Adriana wasn’t about to give up. She hung on to what she knew to be true and what she couldn’t live without—hope.

* * * * *

Without asking, Joe cooked her favorite childhood foods during the long weekend. He heaped mounds of macaroni and cheese, lamb burgers and pork gyros on her plate, not commenting when she finished just a bit of his feast. Only once did he ask if everything was all right, not going further or probing for details. Adriana assured him everything was fine. And it would be, once she made her next move.

* * * * *

Monday morning, she sat in Steve’s office, confessing what had happened between her and Nathan—sort of. She glossed over the intimate parts and eliminated all the kinky ones. Less cautious in her summary of Nathan’s life, she explained how he now supported his parents and had educated his siblings, sending them to Ivy League schools, his divorce from Hayley and losing Echo. Exhausted and breathless, Adriana slumped in her chair, awaiting Steve’s advice.

He twisted nervously in his chair. Its leather creaked beneath his heft.

Knowing he wanted to run, Adriana pinned him with her stare. “Come on, Steve, you’re a guy and I know you have an opinion on what my next move should be. Do I call him again, go to his office, send him flowers, a bottle of booze, a piece of my lingerie, what?”

“Have you thought about giving up?”

She gripped the arms of her chair. “Screw that. I know how the man feels.”

“He told you?”

“His eyes did.”

He started to roll his then stopped, apparently thinking better of it. “You’re certain he has feelings for you?”

Tears threatened, causing her voice to crack. “I’ve been with a lot of bums. I know when someone’s trying to con me. He wasn’t, Steve. The man needs me as much as I need him. So how do I get through to him? How do I convince him that what happened with Hayley won’t happen with us? That he’s a good man and he deserves a second chance?”

Steve loosened his tie and tightened it again. “Ah…”

“What?” Adriana leaned up in her chair. “Tell me. Please. As a friend. Don’t hold anything back. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

His lips fluttered with his hard exhale. “My best advice is for you to chill. Do not stalk him.”

Adriana’s head slumped forward. She pressed her fingers to her temple and spoke through her teeth. “I know I haven’t had great luck with men, but I’m not that desperate.”

“I’m only saying—”

“Yeah, I know. You’re never going to let me forget hiring Ed and what it cost this company. And now you’re worried I’ll act like a maniac with Nathan and he’ll sue us into bankruptcy and we’ll all be out on the street looking for work.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Just a minute.” He sounded offended. “As far as I’m concerned, the Ed incident never happened. And I do hope someday, well into the future, you and Nathan will have a good laugh about it.”

She tilted her head to see his face. Angry red blotches covered his cheeks and forehead. However, his expression registered hurt that she’d think his feelings for her ran only as deep as the company’s bottom line. “I’m sorry.”

Almost magically, he calmed down and waved his hand, dismissing all the nasty things she’d said. A typical guy response. Adriana knew most women would be pissed for weeks.

“You’re in love. I understand,” he offered. “It affected Francine the same way when she fell for me. She blew everything way out of proportion. Worse than PMS.”

So, he did have a feminine side after all. Adriana decided to let his bitchy comment slide. “You don’t think I should contact Nathan again?”

“He knows how you feel about him, right?”

“I didn’t say the words, but he’s fully aware. I saw it in his eyes.”

“Then don’t call him again. Wait for him to get in touch with you. That’s what I’d want if loving a woman frightened me. I wouldn’t appreciate being crowded. It would just make me run faster. Give him time to think about the two of you, what you shared, the good time you had. Give him a chance to miss that.”

* * * * *

Steve’s advice comforted Adriana until lunch. By dinner, she was too restless to eat. The following day, a wave of longing hit so hard she could barely function. Her thoughts kept returning to the voicemail she’d left him. What exactly had she said? She’d been so nervous, her words hadn’t registered. They’d just fallen out of her mouth. Maybe she said she’d call him again. Was he waiting for her to phone?

Why would he? Nathan wasn’t the type of man to wait for anything he wanted. He’d just take it.

At nine p.m., Adriana was the last one in her office and unable to think or worry anymore. Her sore muscles screamed for rest and a bit of peace. Removing her reading glasses, she went into her private bath and splashed icy water on her face to rouse herself for the lonely drive home. Her head was still hanging down, her fingers gripping the edge of the porcelain sink when she heard a noise. A faint creaking as if someone had just opened or closed a door. Steve? Had he returned to his office for something he’d forgotten? Was he back here to see if she was all right? She caught herself before she sighed, listened hard and heard more creaking…or was it tinkling? Like her cell phone ringing? Nathan calling?

Quickly, Adriana ran a towel over her face, tossing it aside as she hurried to her desk. Halfway there, she stopped with a jerk. Her heart jolted. She stared at Nathan standing in front of her closed office door, wearing a look of desperation as though he didn’t want to be here but couldn’t stop himself. The wind or his fingers had tousled his blond hair. He’d loosened his tie and unbuttoned his collar. His eyes bored into hers, they feasted on her as they did in her Viking fantasies.

He reached her before she could get to him. Hands on either side of her face, he tipped her head back and pressed his mouth to her throat, suckling her, branding her, his groans of delight wonderfully vulgar. Lusty moans poured from the back of her throat. Panting noisily, Nathan lifted his head and stared.


In Lush Velvet Nights, Adriana’s convinced Nathan loves her, despite his misgivings. And through it all, she fights for him, determined to win his heart.

Lush Velvet Nights is available from Ellora’s Cave

Buy link:

Website/blog/YouTube video trailer for Lush Velvet Nights: http://www.tinadonahue.com/

Scavenger hunt: http://www.tinadonahue.com/?p=550

Monthly contest: http://www.tinadonahue.com/contest/

~~~~~

ONE of the commentors will win a choice of one of the following books by Tina:

1. Adored - ebook
2. Deep, Dark, Delicious - ebook
3. Close to Perfect - mass market paperback
4. Bad Boys with Red Roses - trade paperback
5. Take My Breath Away - trade paperback

Tina will ship anywhere in the continental US. If the winner is
outside the continental US, then that person will have a choice of one of
the ebooks.

To be eligible to win, all you have to do is leave a comment. Tina will pick a winner randomly.

Twilight Thursday

Welcome Author

Dana Davis !!!

Today we welcome back author Dana Davis! Last time in the moonlight she promoted Desert Magick: Superstitions. This time, brings us to the latest edition in that series - Desert Magick: Dream Catcher.

The ease with which Dana can make a character feel real caught my attention from the beginning pages of Superstitions. You feel as though you are in Arizona and inside Daisy's head. The reactions feel appropriate for the character.

While I'd like to go on and on about her book, that's not why you're here, so let's get to the interview. May is loaded with all kinds of interesting holidays (Cinco de Mayo (5th), Mother’s Day (9th), Armed Forces Day (15th), Memorial Day (24th)) and we thought they would make a cool topic, so let's see what Dana has to say!

ME: May 5th marks a unique voluntarily celebrated holiday recognizing the Mexican efforts against the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1962 under General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. This battle is legendary because since that time, not one country in the Americas has been invaded by another continent. Do you and/or your friends celebrate this holiday? Why or why not? If so, how do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

DANA: Hi, Carrie. Thanks for having me today.

I’ve lived the majority of my life in California and the southwest, where large Hispanic populations dwell, so Cinco de Mayo is a big thing. Here in Arizona, where I now live, we have parades and festivals. In fact, celebrations started last weekend. Tonight, hubby usually go to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants for a Cinco de Mayo treat. Party on!

ME: Mother’s Day has become as commercialized as other holidays, but, as far as I can tell, no one seems to mind. Some mothers prefer flowers, some a nice meal, while others prefer gifts like time alone. If you are a mother or wish you were one, what would be your ultimate gift on Mother’s Day? Do (would) you prefer your gifts bought or handmade?

DANA: I’m not a mother, but if I were, my kids would be geeks and nerds and would probably get me eBooks, video games and apps. And I would love an iPhone 3G!

ME: With the situation in the Middle East, more and more people feel the need to demonstrate their support for the troops. Are you among them? Why or why not? If so, what do you, or have you done to show your support? (If you’re not, that’s okay!) Will you be doing anything special on Armed Forces Day?

DANA: My grandfather and my husband’s father served in WWII and I have several uncles who served in Vietnam. I currently have cousins in various armed forces. So, yes, we support the men and women in service. We regularly make donations of goods and/or money. We don’t do anything special on Armed Forces Day, since we show our support throughout the year.

ME: Many people make a point to care for the graves of loved ones on Memorial Day, or have parties and picnics to celebrate them. What about you? What, if any, Memorial Day traditions do you have?

DANA: Well, I’m pretty much in charge of the family tree and various heirlooms but I don’t live anywhere near family gravesites. On Memorial Day, hubby and I like to spend time together, biking, hiking, swimming, or taking in a movie and lunch, just enjoying each other.

ME: There are several games on Facebook (and maybe other social networking sites) that advertise about turning your image into a cartoon avatar, and these next questions find their roots there, but character has been substituted for avatar. If you wrote yourself as a character, who would you be if someone other than yourself? Would you have the same name, physical attributes, anatomy or would everything change? What would your name be and what would your character-self look like? Would you be the heroine or the hero? Why?

DANA: Haha, good one, Carrie! I wouldn’t want to be the hero or heroine because that’s a very difficult life. I would put avatar someplace near the hero or heroine, though, maybe a smart, sassy side-kick. My avatar would spend a lot of time in a museum or library archives, solving riddles and puzzles to help the hero/heroine out.

ME: What about your personality and traits? What would you change and what would you keep? What new traits would you give your character-self and why those traits?

DANA: Hmm, the hiding out in museums and libraries are pretty much part of my own personality. I’m not much of a side-kick in real life, though, so I would have to give my avatar natural people skills. Growing up, I was a shy kid and preferred to play alone or with just one other person, but I had to learn people skills to survive in the entertainment industry. Okay, you’re learning way too much about me here. J I tend to think of great comebacks after the fact, which is why I’m a writer and not a comedian, so I would definitely add a quick mind and mouth to my avatar. And, well, a young, sexy body would be a plus too.

ME: When would you exist? Would you go back in time, stay in the present, or jump into the future? What time period would you pick and why?

DANA: The future, definitely. I’m a geek so bring on the technology and space travel.

ME: What type of story would it be (other than historical, contemporary or futuristic)?

DANA: Hmm, maybe a space mystery. Anything that would let my avatar solve puzzles and travel in space exploring lost alien civilizations. Ooh, maybe my avatar would be a space archaeologist, who falls in love with a hunky scientist while on a secret mission to an alien world. How’s that for a plot?

ME: Would you have companions (family, friends, pets, children) or would you be the loner-type? What companions would you have and what would they be like? What, if any, special qualities would your pet have if your character-self had one?

DANA: Well, I’d bring the hunky scientist along for sure. And a small dog. I had a dog as a kid but don’t have time for one now, so my avatar would definitely have a canine companion. A couple of close friends to run the ship, because I would be too darn busy having my head stuck in an artifacts room.

ME: What about a love interest(s)? What type of relationship(s) would it (they) be? Would it (they) be anything similar to what you have now (or want to have), or would you be radical and change things up? What would he/she (they) look/be like? What would it be about him/her (they) that attracts you? Would he/she (they) have any traits you don’t like or would you make him/her (they) completely perfect? What traits and why?

DANA: Okay, the hunky scientist would definitely have some of my hubby’s traits, like brains, a sense of humor, and be a great friend. I love that about him. And while my husband is an attractive guy, he’s not the muscular type, so my avatar’s honey would have tanned muscles in all the right places. Of course, with that body, he might have a tendency to be a bit self-absorbed, but my avatar would know how to get his attention in the lab and in bed. Hey, this is a fantasy world, right?

ME: We’ve had our fun now, so let’s put the focus on your writing. What is your main genre (erotica, erotic romance, romantic suspense, etc.)? What was the draw for you?

DANA: Science fiction and fantasy. As a kid, I fell in love with the Grimm’s fairytales my mom read to me. Not the watered down stuff. The real scary stories that didn’t always have a happy ending. In elementary school, I loved Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Alexander Key’s The Forgotten Door. TV played a huge part in my growing up years and I watched Bewitched, Twilight Zone, Night Gallery and Star Trek reruns. I really, really wanted to be Tabitha when I was little, which is probably why I enjoy putting magic into my fantasy novels.

ME: Besides your main genre we just discussed, what elements do you prefer to use in a story and why those elements over others? Any elements you would never use? Why or why not?

DANA: I write a lot of cross-genre stuff with paranormal, mystery, horror, adventure and humor elements. Though I’m not a romance author, I have relationships and sex in my novels. I give my main characters various human traits, even if they’re aliens and come from a different world altogether. Readers need to identify with the main characters somehow. Even the bad guy needs a soft side. I’m open to just about anything as long as it fits my characters and the story I’m telling. I don’t write stuff just for the shock of it or for political or religious preaching. That’s just not my thing.

ME: In your opinion, what author or story had the most influence on your writing? What about their writing or that story did you find so influential and why?

DANA: Well, it wasn’t just one author who influenced me, but several. As I stated above, the Grimm brothers’ stories were big in my young life, as well as Tolkien, Key and various television shows and films. As I got older, I loved reading David Eddings’ epic fantasy novels and Anne Rice’s witches. Some of my favorite authors today are Robert Charles Wilson, Alastair Reynolds, Elizabeth Haydon and Manda Scott. I have read so many books over the years, that many authors have influenced my own writing.

ME: While authors and stories can definitely influence us, inspiration can be everywhere for a writer, but sometimes specific people, places and events can inspire certain characters, personality traits or things that happen in our stories. In your current story that we’re promoting here today, Desert Magick: Dream Catcher, did any one particular person, place or event inspire you? If so who/what was it (were they), how did it/they inspire you and how is this inspiration reflected in your story?

DANA: Dream Catcher is the second book in the Desert Magick series. I have to say that living in the desert had a huge influence on this series. I don’t think I would have written it if I were still living in Los Angeles. But my historical studies and Celtic background play a huge part too. Greek, Celtic, and Native American mythologies are interwoven throughout the books, along with paranormal creatures like witches and ghosts, and I take a lot of liberty with them. After all, it’s a fantasy. I have a couple of dreamcatchers that I purchased from local tribes hanging in my own home, as well as one my mother made for me, so I can honestly say they gave me inspiration for this particular book.

According to my family, I have two Native ancestors. While this may be true and they lived in areas with high Native Indian populations, I have yet to find documentation that either ancestor was actually Native. Nevertheless, my family passed these stories down, and I grew up believing them.

A dreamcatcher is a Native American tool that is hung over a bed to trap nightmares. This way, only good dreams filter through to the dreamer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcatcher

ME: Without giving away anything pertinent to the story, tell us about the hero and heroine (s) of your story. What do they look like? How do they meet (or “did” if this is not the first book with these same characters)? What are their personalities – Are they comical cut-ups, are they serious or are they a mix of the two? Please give us a little bit of dialogue from the story that can illustrate this. (Not much, but just a few lines and from a different section than the main excerpt – Thanks!)

DANA: This second book has two main characters, unlike the first one in the series. Daisy Hammel-Kavanaugh is the witch-turned-reluctant-heroine, who lives in the Arizona desert. She just wants to heal from her recent encounter with an enemy that was bent on destroying her family and get back to a normal life with her husband Noah.

Enter Daisy’s younger cousin Zoey Vega. Zoey is a college student with a hunky boyfriend and anger and abandonment issues. She often tries to hide behind humor and admires her kick-ass witch cousins. Though Zoey and Daisy live in the same city and see each other periodically, they’ve never been close. A disturbing family secret changes all that, and the two end up working together to fight off the latest villain.

Excerpt –Zoey and Daisy at a medium’s house.

It looked like any ordinary bathroom in any ordinary house. Except for the sheet that covered the entire mirror. She’d heard about the dead using mirrors to contact the living, a portal or something between the worlds. That served to creep her out, so she hurried to do her business and scooted back out to her cousins, where she felt a tad safer.

When she stepped into the family room, the women stood and began clearing the coffee table. She followed their examples and helped.

Daisy caught up with her in the kitchen. “You ready for this?”

“Yeah. I think. Yeah. I don’t have much choice.”

Those kind eyes found hers and Daisy smiled. “We’re right here with you. I promise not to let any spooks take advantage of you.”

That broke her sour mood and she smiled. “Well, if he’s a really cute dead guy…”

ME: The main characters are usually great, but sometimes, secondary and tertiary characters are known to steal the scenes. Who are the secondary/tertiary characters in your story and what do they look like? What’s unique about them? What is their relationship to the hero/heroine? Have any of these gone on to become scene-stealers? If so, who and how did they do it? (Again, please give us a small bit of dialogue to illustrate this – thanks!)

DANA: Bridgette, Daisy’s sassy redheaded cousin, has a tendency to steal scenes in the first novel, but in this book, I’d have to go with Helen, the ghost of Zoey’s great-grandmother. This character bullied her way into a scene as I was writing it. I had planned for another character altogether. Helen was so determined that I just had to give in. What’s a writer to do?

Excerpt: Helen, Zoey, and Scarlet (the medium)

Helen’s eyes flamed in their wrinkled sockets. “I might just take up haunting your mother when I find out where she’s hiding.” Even in death, she revealed power that had nothing to do with being a paranormal. Zoey certainly wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. “Might give her a tannin’ too.”

Zoey smirked. Definitely don’t want to get on Grammy Helen’s bad side.

In the time it took Zoey to blink, the old woman changed back into her youthful image. She stepped toward Scarlet and leaned down to study her face. She whistled. “So you’re the medium I’ve heard about. Mind if I keep you on speed dial?”

Scarlet sighed. “Sure. Just don’t go bothering me when I’m sleeping or in the bathroom. I hate that.”

Helen stood straight and crossed her arms. “I might’ve been raised on a cattle ranch, but I’ve got more manners than that, young lady.”

ME: Want to read more? Well, let's check out the blurb and excerpt.

BLURB: Arizona witch Daisy Hammel-Kavanaugh recently survived a terrible enemy that threatened her family. She has the physical and mental scars to prove it. Now, with the aid of her husband Noah and her feisty redheaded cousin Bridgette, she’s turned her sights on a siren who has taken up residence in the Phoenix area. But just when Daisy thinks she’s getting her life under control again, her college-age cousin Zoey reveals a disturbing family secret.

Two years ago, Zoey Vega lost those closest to her. Now, in the process of moving on with her life, she attends Arizona State University and has a hunky boyfriend to boot. But a family secret revealed on her twenty-first birthday puts Zoey at the heart of a struggle that will determine the future of all humanity. In her desperation, she reaches out to her kick-ass witch of a cousin for help. But Zoey is young and inexperienced. Even with Daisy’s assistance, she might not overcome what awaits her. And if she fails, humankind will suffer a most terrible fate.

EXCERPT: If you have to hook up with a siren, at least get a damn good-looking one. Of course, from what Daisy had read about them, yummy pretty much described sirens in general, male and female.

“Can I help you?” the siren said in a seductive voice that made her skin hum.

Noah, who stood next to Bridgette out of sight of the door, gave Daisy a worried look, but she offered a discreet wave of her fingers. He’d taken days off here and there to help, ever since the siren had landed in Phoenix. Daisy was glad to have him here today, especially since a male siren’s powers would have no effect on him.

In three steps, Bridgette joined her, eyes narrow and dangerous. “Actually, you can help me.”

Recognition crossed the siren’s face and he opened his mouth. Daisy’s ears rang with the most beautiful singing she’d ever heard, a soothing tenor voice that elicited sex and joy. No words, just beautiful notes that filled her with warmth in all the right places. 

Want to read more? Check out Dana's website: www.danadaviswriting.com

Wistful Wednesday

Renewal

I love the first signs of Spring. The little green buds that first appear on trees, the little green shoots that push their way through the winter-ravished earth, both heralding the coming of a new season. I love to watch those buds and shoots metamorphose into elegant green leaves and brilliant blossoms. It is such a beautiful thing to watch the transformation from stark brown against a gray and white background into these vibrant, lively colors. It is almost like watching a landscape being painted from your window.

Spring is such a wonderful time of year. Not only is new life sprouting all around you in nature, but new promises are rising up as well. In Spring, everything seems possible again. As you watch these old trees come alive with new life again, you can't help but to get the sense that the same thing can happen to you. You can start anew, flourish with new life, offer something fresh and vital to the world. Spring is a time of renewal.

It can be a spiritual thing, where you feel more connected to the earth and all things natural. Or it can be a less momentous thing, just a promise to yourself to finally do that thing you've been meaning to do but haven't had the time. (Day trip? Knit a sweater? Write that book that's been kicking around in your head all winter??) Whatever Spring means to you personally, it is the time for taking a cue from nature to start fresh and offer something beautiful to the world.

So what does Spring mean to you? And if Spring isn't your season, which one is and why? I'd love to hear the answers.

TANTALIZING TUESDAY

Please welcome Sandra Sookoo into the moonlight today. Some of you may remember Sandra, as she guest blogged with us on January 28th to promote her book, Safe From the Flames. Here’s the link for those that missed her guest blog or want to refresh their memory: http://moonlightlacemayhem.blogspot.com/2010/01/twilight-thursday_28.html

Now, Sandra is excited to be back and promote her newest release, Demons and Stilettos are a Girl’s Best Friend. Personally, I love this title and just the title makes me think it’s chocked full of mayhem and fun!

To learn more about Sandra and her books, visit her website at: http://www.sandrasookoo.com/

So, let’s get down to business asking Sandra the hard questions…LOL

~~~~~

GRACEN: May 5th marks a unique voluntarily celebrated holiday recognizing the Mexican efforts against the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1962 under General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. This battle is legendary because since that time, not one country in the Americas has been invaded by another continent. Do you and/or your friends celebrate this holiday? Why or why not? If so, how do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

SANDRA: I’ve never celebrated this holiday. It means absolutely nothing to me.


GRACEN: Mother’s Day has become as commercialized as other holidays, but, as far as I can tell, no one seems to mind. Some mothers prefer flowers, some a nice meal, while others prefer gifts like time alone. If you are a mother or wish you were one, what would be your ultimate gift on Mother’s Day? Do (would) you prefer your gifts bought or handmade?

SANDRA: I’m not a mom and don’t really want kids at this time. I usually buy my mom something that will last longer than flowers or a meal.


GRACEN: With the situation in the Middle East, more and more people feel the need to demonstrate their support for the troops. Are you among them? Why or why not? If so, what do you, or have you done to show your support? (If you’re not, that’s okay!) Will you be doing anything special on Armed Forces Day?

SANDRA: I try not to get involved in anything have to do with the military situation. There are so many opinions on this matter and no matter what I’d say, I would end up making someone mad LOL


GRACEN: Many people make a point to care for the graves of loved ones on Memorial Day, or have parties and picnics to celebrate them. What about you? What, if any, Memorial Day traditions do you have?

SANDRA: I don’t really do anything on Memorial Day except spend time with my husband. My family is too disjointed and scattered to do anything with.

GRACEN: There are several games on Facebook (and maybe other social networking sites) that advertise about turning your image into a cartoon avatar, and these next questions find their roots there, but character has been substituted for avatar.

If you wrote yourself as a character, who would you be if someone other than yourself? Would you have the same name, physical attributes, anatomy or would everything change? What would your name be and what would your character-self look like? Would you be the heroine or the hero? Why?

SANDRA: I’d probably be the heroine. A kick-butt woman who doesn’t take crap from anyone. Maybe I’d be blonde. And slim. And wear stiletto boots with a dagger strapped to my thigh LOL As for names, let’s see. Meg Kincaid.


GRACEN: What about your personality and traits? What would you change and what would you keep? What new traits would you give your character-self and why those traits?

SANDRA: Maybe she’d volunteer at an animal shelter or work with the homeless. Maybe she’d cook. Who knows?


GRACEN: When would you exist? Would you go back in time, stay in the present, or jump into the future? What time period would you pick and why?

SANDRA: I’d probably stick to the present.


GRACEN: What type of story would it be (other than historical, contemporary or futuristic)?

SANDRA: Some sort of action story with plenty of foot chases and fast cars and hunky guys


GRACEN: We’ve had our fun now, so let’s put the focus on your writing, Sandra…What is your main genre (erotica, erotic romance, romantic suspense, etc.)? What was the draw for you?

SANDRA: My main genre is romance. I’m most comfortable writing in the paranormal, historical and contemporary sub-genres, it just depends on my mood. The main draw of romance is the promise of a HEA. Starting off with compelling characters, throwing a whole bunch of problems at them and seeing how they work together to get out of them is the big payoff for me.


GRACEN: Besides your main genre we just discussed, what elements do you prefer to use in a story and why those elements over others? Any elements you would never use? Why or why not?

SANDRA: When I started out writing romance, I kept all my stories “sweet”. Now that I’m more comfortable in my own skin as a writer, I’m kicking my stories up several notches to “spicy”. I like seeing how my characters interact after the “big event” in the bedroom and how it strengthens and helps their relationship. Elements that I won’t use? I have no idea at this point. Writing is a constantly growing process.


GRACEN: In your opinion, what author or story had the most influence on your writing? What about their writing or that story did you find so influential and why?

SANDRA: I enjoy many different authors in many different genres, so to narrow it down to just one author would be like asking me which of my fingers I could do without. It can’t be done LOL


GRACEN: While authors and stories can definitely influence us, inspiration can be everywhere for a writer, but sometimes specific people, places and events can inspire certain characters, personality traits or things that happen in our stories. In your current story that we’re promoting here today, DEMONS AND STILETTOS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND, did any one particular person, place or event inspire you? If so who/what was it (were they), how did it/they inspire you and how is this inspiration reflected in your story?

SANDRA: Well, my hero rides a motorcycle, so the inspiration for that part of the story came from my dad. He’s a big Harley enthusiast so I asked him a lot of questions about the bike. What else inspired this story? Of all things, I was listening to the soundtrack to Disney’s Lilo and Stitch and there’s an Elvis song on there “Devil in Disguise”. It talks about the Devil being disguised by an Angel. From that song, this book was born.


GRACEN: Without giving away anything pertinent to the story, tell us about the hero and heroine (s) of your story. What do they look like? How do they meet (or “did” if this is not the first book with these same characters)? What are their personalities – Are they comical cut-ups, are they serious or are they a mix of the two? Please give us a little bit of dialogue from the story that can illustrate this. (Not much, but just a few lines and from a different section than the main excerpt – Thanks!)

SANDRA: Oh wow. My heroine, Anne Jenkins, is an ordinary, blonde-haired gal who lives with her gramma. She’s very sarcastic. My hero, nicely built, fit with black hair, Gregg Carter, rides the aforementioned bike and is an IRS agent, not to mention a demon. They first meet as Anne is riding a runaway horse and Gregg saves her life—with heavy consequences. Both are comical and the interaction between them even made me laugh at times.

Example excerpt:

“What the hell are you talking about?” As her common sense trickled back, she narrowed her eyes. He didn’t look like a vagrant, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t crazy.

“Actually, you’re not far from the mark. I know every zip code of Hell on an intimate basis.” He stuck out a hand. “The name’s Carter. Gregg Carter.”

“Dude, you’re so not an international super spy.” No matter how hard she attempted to contain the chuckle, it escaped anyway.

“I never claimed I was.” He cleared his throat. “Now, how about we get down to business before that twittering horde of what you call friends descends upon us in hysterical female fashion.”


GRACEN: The main characters are usually great, but sometimes, secondary and tertiary characters are known to steal the scenes. Who are the secondary/tertiary characters in your story and what do they look like? What’s unique about them? What is their relationship to the hero/heroine? Have any of these gone on to become scene-stealers? If so, who and how did they do it? (Again, please give us a small bit of dialogue to illustrate this – thanks!)

SANDRA: LOL Oh, my secondary character is…well a character! She’s Anne’s Gramma Dottie and she looks like your typical grandmother type but she’s still sharp as a tack.

Example excerpt:

Gregg transferred his attention to the older woman sitting in a wooden rocking chair.

“I may be almost ninety, but I’m still in charge in my own home. You can’t stay in the house.” She tilted her half-moon reading glass down her nose. “There’s a guest room over the garage. Haven’t used it in months, so I can’t vouch for the shape it’s in. Rent’s eighty bucks a week, cash. You buy your own groceries.” Faded hazel eyes pierced through his chest as if she wielded a sword. “No smoking. No drinking. No parties. No funny business with my granddaughter. I know what you are, and I won’t stand for you corrupting Anne.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Gregg sat then shifted on the plastic-covered sofa, wincing when the leather of his pants created a crude sound.




BLURB:

Anne Jenkins never believed there was a heaven or hell but when she’s rescued from a runaway horse by a guy who claims he’s a demon, her freak detector goes off. She demands proof and the leather-clad biker sets some local wildlife on fire. She starts to trust in a hurry.

Gregg Carter, bound to the Devil for all eternity because of an audit gone wrong, seizes the opportunity to take possession of Anne’s soul as a way to please his boss. What he didn’t count on was the fact that his libido would take the one-way bus to crazy town as he gets to know her better.

Trouble is, Anne and Gregg spend so much time trying to hide their true selves from each other, they can’t escape the attraction that builds between them. But everyone knows demons and humans don’t mix, and neither can two people who have no futures.

EXCERPT:

Anne glanced around, looking for hidden cameras just in case her friends were attempting to punk her. Seeing nothing but red and gold leaves that shook in the slight breeze, she turned back to the biker. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“You bet. Now, I need you to sign here testifying that I did indeed save your life and prevented the early termination of such. Because I did, the payment for my deed is one human soul, to be rendered due and payable within thirty days of the receipt of said services.” He held the pen out to her. “I do have other clients today.”

“I can’t just give you my soul. I don’t even know exactly where in my body it’s located or how a person goes about parting with it.” She took another drink. “Besides, don’t I need my soul in order to function? I’m pretty sure it’s not like an appendix or something.” Flutters filled her stomach when the smile he’d flashed earlier morphed into something smoldering and sexy.

“A human soul is only valuable if you know how to use it. To sweeten the pot, I’m prepared to give you three wishes.”

Anne snorted while she took another drink. Water shot through her nose, and tears stung her eyes. Not exactly the sort of thing that would impress a bike-riding minion from hell—not that she wanted to impress him. Damn, I must be desperate if I’m trying to catch the interest of an alleged demon.

Wiping the drops from her face with the back of her hand, she stifled another round of laughter. “Three wishes, huh? Like a magic genie?”

“No, it’s an added bonus, an incentive. Think of it as a supplement to the contract in order to cushion the blow of my taking your soul. You have thirty days to accept the offer, but be aware there are some conditions.”

“Is saving me from impending death one of the wishes?” The whole conversation felt so weird and beyond normal that Anne suddenly knew how Alice felt in the Lewis Carroll story.

“No, but at least you’re paying attention.” A smile curved his lips. “You can use the wishes on yourself or others, but they must be used in the time allowed. You can’t save them. Also, until you exhaust the wishes or they expire at the end of the specified term, I will be your constant companion—”

“I thought you had other clients?”

He huffed his disapproval. “I have a very loose schedule. Anyway, if you do not use the wishes by the end of the thirty day period, you forfeit them, and I still take your soul.”

“That doesn’t sound very fair.” Anne frowned. Fear made her insides clench. “What if I don’t agree to any of it? I mean,” she snorted from the absurdity of the notion, “it really is pretty unbelievable.”

A shadow of annoyance crossed Gregg’s face, and his expression grew dark with anger. “It doesn’t matter. I saved your life. Therefore, you owe me. I can reset recent events and leave you to die, or I can take your soul, and you’ll still die, but at least you will have lived it up for thirty days. What’s not to get?”

Remember, to purchase Sandra’s new book or any of her others, visit her website: http://www.sandrasookoo.com/

Mystic Monday

Distractions
Okay, many of you have heard - oh what a fantastic web we weave when we practice to deceive - or something along those lines.

Why do I bring this up? Because I think tasks fall into this category. Seriously.

Here's the deal -
1. just thinking of cleaning makes me want to read
2. Editing (reading something that hasn't been printed yet for errors) has the uncanny knack of making me want to clean.

It's an unending cycle that drives me crazy. I swear it isn't that I dislike editing. I actually enjoy it. So why the issue then?

For a couple of weeks, I honestly had no clue why that would happen. Then, like a brick, the truth of it hit me. So what, you may or may not be asking, in all my brilliance did I discover was the answer?

Well, I've pinned it down to two things and they are in no particular order:
1. I just don't like what I'm editing.
2. I'm saturated on the genre.

There's a simple cure for saturation, read a different genre. I do that all the time. Unfortunately, there's really no fix when you don't like the story you're editing. You have to set aside your likes, biases and anything else that could get in the way and just edit. I have determined that cleaning is my way of clearing my mind of biases and tastes that could negatively effect how I edit something.

So, what about all of you out there - does anything like this happen to you? Do you ever find that you only seem to feel like cleaning a closet that's been messy all year when you know you're going to have company staying with you? It could be any weird and wacky similar type of paradox. How do you work through your behavior?

SUPERNATURAL SUNDAY

Please welcome author, Cherie De Sues, into the moonlight today. Cherie is a new up and coming author from Noble Romance Publishing and she’s already receiving awesome reviews for her books. She’s received 5 out of 5 from You Gotta Read Reviewers and Book Junkie and 4 ½ lips from Two Lips Reviewers. To learn more about Cherie, visit her website at: http://www.cheriedesues2.com/

Now, sit back, relax and enjoy getting to know Cherie and her characters.

~~~~~

GRACEN: Mother’s Day has become as commercialized as other holidays, but, as far as I can tell, no one seems to mind. Some mothers prefer flowers, some a nice meal, while others prefer gifts like time alone. If you are a mother or wish you were one, what would be your ultimate gift on Mother’s Day?

CHERIE: Nothing makes me happier than to share a meal and a movie with my son, Scott. He's a great cook and will probably make me a great breakfast and dinner on Mother's Day.


GRACEN: Do (would) you prefer your gifts bought or handmade?

CHERIE: From an early age, my son who's 26 now, would make me trinkets, hand-painted pins and paper books of poetry for Mother's Day. I definitely appreciate smaller, more personal items that come from the heart.


GRACEN: If you wrote yourself as a character, who would you be if someone other than yourself?

CHERIE: I always wanted to be Catwoman when I was a kid. I thought her tight black outfit and snarling cat whining was so cool.


GRACEN: Would you have the same name, physical attributes, anatomy or would everything change?

CHERIE: I was born with a good face and athletic body, but I wouldn't mind a little lift, wrinkle removal or to lose a few pounds. LOL


GRACEN: What would your name be and what would your character-self look like? Would you be the heroine or the hero and why?

CHERIE: I guess the character would be Cat Cherie and I'd be the heroine I like heating up the hero in my tight black leather of course.


GRACEN: What about your personality and traits?

CHERIE: I'm outgoing and a good listener. After years and years of being told so, I have to own the behavior. I think the opposite would be a nice switch. Cool, allough, mysterious.


GRACEN: What would you change and what would you keep?

CHERIE: I'd ditch my happy voice and use a deeper, seductive growl. Meow.


GRACEN: What new traits would you give your character-self and why those traits?

CHERIE: Cat Cherie would let other do the laundry and dishes. Purrfect.


GRACEN: When would you exist?

CHERIE: In the 60's when men still opened doors for women.


GRACEN: Would you go back in time, stay in the present, or jump into the future?

CHERIE: I don't think there would be any time that could withstand the enigmatic Cat Cherie!


GRACEN: What time period would you pick and why?

CHERIE: The 60's for sure, I think Cat Cherie would be a big hit!


GRACEN: What type of story would it be (other than historical, contemporary or futuristic)?

CHERIE: Suspense…always a suspense.


GRACEN: Would you have companions (family, friends, pets, children) or would you be the loner-type? What companions would you have and what would they be like?

CHERIE: I'd have a handsome-man sidekick who kept me from straying…


GRACEN: What, if any, special qualities would your pet have if your character-self had one?

CHERIE: Ooooh, I'd have an Ocelot feline. They can be trained, but are wild animals naturally. Very rare pet and I'd want to be able to communicate mentally with the animal. Here kitty, kitty.


GRACEN: What about a love interest(s)?

CHERIE: Oh, yes, please!


GRACEN: What type of relationship(s) would it (they) be?

CHERIE: Well, you know female cats when they're in heat.


GRACEN: Would it (they) be anything similar to what you have now (or want to have), or would you be radical and change things up?

CHERIE: I'm monogamous, but living as half cat/half woman could be very liberating.


GRACEN: What would he/she (they) look/be like?

CHERIE: HOT, ripped, cat-like grace and all man…did I say HOT?


GRACEN: What would it be about him/her (they) that attracts you?

CHERIE: The eyes as they scan over my feline form.


GRACEN: Would he/she (they) have any traits you don’t like or would you make him/her (they) completely perfect?

CHERIE: I would want the companion to be contrary, to have different views of everything. I like contrast and spicy conversations.


GRACEN: What traits and why?

CHERIE: He would need to take charge even if I beat him at his own game. I need the friction.


GRACEN: We’ve had our fun now, so let’s put the focus on your writing, Cherie…
What is your main genre (erotica, erotic romance, romantic suspense, etc.)? What was the draw for you?

CHERIE: Erotic romantic suspense and paranormal suspense. I find writing a straight contemporary difficult and need friction in my characters lives besides their romance issues.


GRACEN: Besides your main genre we just discussed, what elements do you prefer to use in a story and why those elements over others?

CHERIE: I insist on using water, whether it is a lake, sea or river. You'll see my characters are often surrounded by water somewhere in the novel.


GRACEN: Any elements you would never use?

CHERIE: I really can't think of any, I'm well-traveled and often put my characters in different countries, climates and situations.


GRACEN: In your opinion, what author or story had the most influence on your writing?

CHERIE: There is not just one, but a combination. Like the various music I listen to, I read many genres of books. Nora Roberts taught me cadence and characterization. Stephen King taught me suspense and edge of your seat thrills. Dean Koontz taught me mystery and how to keep the reader on the edge of understanding what the solution to the suspense may be.


GRACEN: What about their writing or that story did you find so influential and why?

CHERIE: I dislike clowns intensely, yet "It" by Stephen King is one of my favorite novels. That story combines multiple lives, back stories and terror in the most elaborate way.


GRACEN: While authors and stories can definitely influence us, inspiration can be everywhere for a writer, but sometimes specific people, places and events can inspire certain characters, personality traits or things that happen in our stories. In your current story that we’re promoting here today, Tales of the Red Moon Clan, did any one particular person, place or event inspire you? If so who/what was it (were they), how did it/they inspire you and how is this inspiration reflected in your story?

CHERIE: Yes. The southwest region of Oregon is my favorite place and that's where my story begins. Oregon is a rough, gorgeous forest with angry rivers and mean weather. This was the perfect place to set, Tales of the Red Moon Clan.


GRACEN: Without giving away anything pertinent to the story, tell us about the hero and heroine (s) of your story. What do they look like?

CHERIE: Neol is a Navajo shapeshifting bountyhunter. He's muscular, has cat-like grace and sinfully handsome. Sara is an assistant DA, athletic with green eyes and auburn hair.


GRACEN: How do they meet (or “did” if this is not the first book with these same characters)?

CHERIE: Sara's meeting with the owner of a strip club goes very wrong and Neol intervenes swiftly to save her from certain death.


GRACEN: What are their personalities – Are they comical cut-ups, are they serious or are they a mix of the two?

CHERIE: Neol and Sara are on the run as they fall in love, but humor manages to surface.


GRACEN: Please give us a little bit of dialogue from the story that can illustrate this. (Not much, but just a few lines and from a different section than the main excerpt – Thanks!)

CHERIE:

He sighed. "Look, I'm Neol Pallaton; what's your name?" He didn't need the information, but she needed familiarity—he needed her to trust the man after witnessing the cougar.

Her eyes flicked back to his face. "Sara, Sara Hughes."

"Where are we headed, Sara? Where are you taking us?" He'd been paying attention and she had a specific destination in mind. Her driving didn't feel random.

"My dad's old cabin. It's off a dirt road next to the lake." Her lips trembled as tears glistened in her soft green eyes.

He'd liked those eyes when he’d seen them close up for the first time in the bar. Now they tore at him with the terror they reflected.

"Okay Sara, get us to the lake and I'll figure something out." He smiled. She needed him to be a rock during the turmoil.


GRACEN: The main characters are usually great, but sometimes, secondary and tertiary characters are known to steal the scenes. Who are the secondary/tertiary characters in your story and what do they look like?

CHERIE: Tse is Neol's cousin and they share so many similar qualities…wink, wink. Tse is in the second book of the series coming soon. And then there is Claire, Sara's best friend and assistant at the DA's office.


GRACEN: What’s unique about them?

CHERIE: They reflect what is good about the leading h/h and have unique characteristics of their own. They will share scenes in the next book.


GRACEN: What is their relationship to the hero/heroine?

CHERIE: Both Tse and Claire are the closest people to the h/h.


GRACEN: Have any of these gone on to become scene-stealers?

CHERIE: Oh, sure. Claire is a waif, but tough. Tse is a tough man and yet gentle.


GRACEN: Again, please give us a small bit of dialogue to illustrate this – thanks!

CHERIE:

CLAIRE
"Sara, Mrs. Sampson is on the phone and she wants to make an appointment to see you tomorrow."

The dead seventeen-year-old's mother called every day wanting an update. Sara gave Claire a wilted look.

"I have nothing new on Daniels. Claire, I know she wants some closure to Jessica's death, but I need Daniels for that."

Claire pushed her light blond curls behind an ear and stuck out a stubborn chin. "I know, but she says she has some new information she wants to share with you."

Sara sighed—she hated to ignore the woman. "Okay, tomorrow afternoon."

TSE
Neol moved quickly to answer the knock at his door and caught Tse's scent. His cousin rushed in, almost bowling him over, and Neol shut the door and locked up.

"Any longer and that cop at the next room would have started asking some serious questions." Tse complained.

Neol rolled his shoulders. "Sorry. Just taking care of Sara next door. She's locked in her bedroom, which is right next to this one." He pointed to the open door to the right and Tse nodded. "There are two officers and her boss in the room next to hers on the other side, but they went to sleep a couple of hours ago."

Tse rolled his eyes. "Well, I guess they're going to miss all the action."




BLURB:

Neol Pallaton walks alone through the bowels of society as a bounty hunter, until he shifts into a cougar to save Assistant D.A. Sara Hughes from certain death. A relentless killer keeps them moving by day through the Oregon forest—and by night under the full moon, passion rules their hearts.

The rugged forest is no place for a beautiful and feisty city woman, but Neol’s determined to help Sara piece together why she's being hunted. Sara thought bounty hunters were brutal loners who stretched the law she’s sworn to uphold. But Neol proves that no one can hunt, track and protect her like a Navajo medicine man from the Red Moon Clan.

Neol is willing to anger the spirits to protect his one true mate. Sara will have to bend the law to keep Neol and her alive—and together forever.


EXCERPT:
She sat across from Claire, chewing on her Chinese chicken salad and the meat reminded her of the rabbits Neol caught. She wished she could share more details about Neol’s personality with Claire, but that would mean divulging his secrets and she could never do that to him. How sad he had to hide who he really was when his abilities were as much an integral part of him as eye color or height. But then again, he kept secrets even from her. Like how he’d managed to get in the cabin that first night. The only explanation she could think of was that he’d climbed in through the old doggie door. That thought made her smile.

"What are you grinning about? Whatever it is you need to share, because I'm a wreck right now."

Claire's hands shook as she tucked a stray blonde strand behind her ear. Sara flinched with remorse for thinking only about herself. She searched her mind for something harmless she could share with Claire.

"I was reminiscing about my dad and his old dog and how they liked to hunt every single thing in the forest. They'd bring back deer, rabbits, squirrels, all kinds of prey together. Near the end his dog would hunt alone and my dad didn't even have to leave his chair for a good meal." She laughed at the memory.

Claire smiled. "Wow, I hadn't realized your dad was such a hunter."

"Well, he worked as an accountant by day, but during hunting season? Look out, baby. He was like Daniel Boone. He always came back with whatever he had a taste for, every time."

"Sounds like you're describing Neol; you must see the similarities." Claire snuck in her opinion quietly, visibly more calm as she put a fork into her beef and broccoli.

"Yes, actually I do." Sara bit into a mandarin orange slice. Neol did remind her of her father; she'd noticed the similarity right away when he'd handled her dad's hunting knife. She'd been safe around her dad and now with Neol. Both were strong men and she'd picked up on the characteristics they shared. Warmth coursed through her with the knowledge her father would have approved of Neol.

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