Tantalizing Tuesday

Please welcome Veronica Lynch into the Moonlight!
“Creating a Setting”

Gracen, thanks so much for allowing me to visit your blog. I hope we can have some fun today. This past summer, my first attempt at writing short romance fiction, Those Who Wait, found a home with Decadent Publishing and is available at http://www.decadentpublishing.com/.

I had the privilege to be one of the authors who created the original outline for Summerville mentioned below which morphed into the Class of 85 series. My own contribution to the series, The List, will be released in early 2011. It has been great fun and a real learning experience. For those who are interested in learning more about the Class of 85 series—or might like to submit—they can visit http://www.thewildrosepress.com/.

Creating a Setting

Several years ago, four authors came together to create an anthology for submission to The Wild Rose Press. The stories were based on five friends from high school who return to their hometown twenty-five years later when one of the five dies suddenly, leaving the surviving four a legacy.

One of the first tasks involved 'inventing' the setting of Summerville, a fictional town in Upstate New York which sits on the shore of Lake Ontario. One of the authors 'discovered' a unique neighborhood within the city of Rochester, then took photographs and brought them to the other three authors. With that, Summerville came to life—at least on paper. Sadly, the anthology never came to fruition but Summerville lives on in The Class of '85, a reunion series for the Last Rose of Summer line at The Wild Rose Press.

The formal invitation to the reunion is the 'unifying factor' for the series. With the groundwork for the series already laid, submitting authors tweaked and expanded the town, its inhabitants, and created a number of reunion events. The first 'alum' to make the reunion, “Getting It Right”, was released in August 2010. By the end of 2010, eleven stories will have been released, with more scheduled to come out in 2011.

Here's what we have so far:

Summerville, a large town of 25,000, sits on a bluff over-looking Lake Ontario, Queen of the Great Lakes. Water sports are a popular outdoor activity. The area is a busy assignment for the immigration authorities as well as the Coast Guard, Summerville PD and Bison County Sheriff Department, monitoring illegal entry into the country from Canada and alcohol related marine incidents, such as drinking and boating.

There is a large migrant population in this region, working the family-owned farming operations. It could be a hotbed for activists.

Higher education: Summerville College, inaccurately termed “the U” by locals, large co-ed liberal arts institution, known for its NCAA division I lacrosse champs.

Health Care: The town has a full service hospital which is code red most nights [the ER is full and can only accept major chest or head trauma.] It's in desperate need of health care facilities and urgent care centers to reduce the bottleneck in the ER and residents alternatives for non-emergency care.

Professional Sports: The Hornets are a triple A baseball team. Winners in the 80's and early 90's, the team has gone down the toilet in recent years, mainly due to ownership who doesn't know its bats from their behinds. Whatever the cause, they need a fire lit under their butts. The Red Barons, part of the Buffalo Sabres NHL hockey system.

Law Enforcement/Legal System: The former school bully is now the Chief of Police. One of his former victims is the County Sheriff. Another former bad boy now advocates for the “less than”, victims of school bullies and non-responsive school systems. Several of the stories feature past 'victims' who return to claim their place in the sun and wreak havoc on those who took advantage of them.

1985 Alumni include:
Two prime time network news anchors/reporters
A retired rock star
A two-time Pulitzer Prize winner known for exposing human rights abuses, genocide and ethnic cleansing around the world.
A world famous fashion photographer
A modeling agent who features large size and 'mature' models, male and female
A mega-millionaire computer geek, ala Bill Gates
An award winning author/illustrator of children's books.
A Hollywood actor on the caliber of Brad Pitt, known for his work in action films.
A philanthropist [now deceased] whose legacy continues to benefit the community.

It is clear when imaginative people come together, any number of wonderful things can happen. Submissions to the Class of 85 remain open until December 31, 2010.

Veronica Lynch Bio:

Over the years I've had the honor to work at a number of occupations: nurse, malpractice insurance investigator, forensic nurse examiner, victim advocate, wife and mother.

Even if I sometimes wish they'd remain in the closet, the years I spent advocating for victims of sexual violence contribute significantly to the voice of my writing. You can't spend twelve years haunting police stations, Emergency Rooms, and criminal courts and not come away with a feel for rampant misogyny, overwhelming apathy, and overt bigotry.

I retired my speculum and stethoscope a few years ago but continue to advocate, quietly, for marginalized populations through Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders.

My blog: http://www.vlynchauthor.blogspot.com/

PHANTASM FRIDAY

The Moonlighters Welcome Cherie De Sues

Please welcome Cherie De Sues into the Moonlight. Cherie De Sues is the author of Dangerous Curves which was recently released by Noble Romance Publishing. Other books published in 2010 by Cherie are The Seduction of Simone, Triage, Lacy: A Bad Girl's Revenge, Lacy: A Bad Girl's Romance, Tales of the Red Moon Clan, South of the Border and soon to be released, To Love A Thief.

Now, it's time to create a little mayhem and get to the good stuff and reveal all of Cherie's deepest darkest secrets in the moonlight. LOL So, grab your favorite wicked drink, sink your teeth into something decadent, sit back, relax and enjoy getting to know Cherie De Sues.


MLM: The holidays are fast approaching and things always seem to get busier during this time of year. Do you have a relaxing technique that helps you de-stress? If so, please share, because this is advice we all need!

CHERIE: My technique to distress is to do something creative. Whether I'm working on a new page for Irish Gypsy's Parlor or adding a chapter onto my latest novel. Losing myself in another world takes me away from car problems, visiting relatives and cooking for a large group. This is my way of taking a "time out" from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, especially during the holidays.


MLM: What, if any, Thanksgiving traditions (decorating, gathering with friends and family for a meal, etc.) do you have?

CHERIE: Wow, until recently I would have said zero. Now, I'm facing a long drive to visit my aging father, getting a hotel, bringing my dog Reilly, my son and still manage to stay sane! Organizing an unforeseen trip is a real pain, but seeing family is important. Tradition changes as families grow, shrink then grow again. I love sit-down dinners with twenty adults all talking at once.


MLM: What was your most memorable Thanksgiving and why?

CHERIE: Probably the last time I was seated with my mother and father. My mom passed on and my father remarried. I will always remember the care and love my mother put into every holiday for her family. She was a special lady.


MLM: What is a must have food at your Thanksgiving dinner table?

CHERIE: I couldn't imagine a dinner without Turkey. I really don't care about the other holidays, but Thanksgiving has to be about the Turkey. Stuffed with cranberry, apple stuffing and served falling off the bone makes my mouth water. My grandfather used to make mashed rootabaga, mine just doesn't taste the same. I miss the food that I remember during my childhood.


MLM: Tell us 3 things you are thankful for this year, please.

CHERIE: I'm very thankful for my son, Scott. He's an exceptional man, straight A smart, and is finishing up his second degree in computers. I'm thankful for my dog, Reilly. He plays and walks me often when I would just keep typing my novels. I'm grateful I have the opportunity to do what I most enjoy in life, write. Not everyone has that in their life and for a long time neither did I as I worked in the operating room for years. Now I'm enjoying every minute of every day with the three things that make me the happiest.


MLM: Just for fun, if you could be among any of the original members of that first Thanksgiving, who would it be, the Pilgrims or the Wampanoag (Native Americans)? Why?

CHERIE: Definitely the Wampanoag. The Native Americans were advanced in planting techniques, hunting food and living in the frigid climate of Massachusetts. Those hunky Native American men were so hot and the Pilgrims were so uptight! Yeah, I'd want to be a member of the Wampanoag!


MLM: NaNo is popular among authors each November. Maybe it's so popular because it helps self-motivate so many of us during the encroaching holidays. Did you commit to NaNo this year? If yes, do you have any advice how to make NaNo a success? If no, what was your driving motivation to stay strong and avoid the month I've deemed "crazy NaNo"?

CHERIE: I am participating and am in the San Diego writers group who has a wager with the Australian group this year for the most words written. I wrote The Seduction of Simone last year and it was released three months ago by Noble Romance Publishing. I look forward to winning again this year and writing another award-winning romance. My advice to anyone who is participating in NaNoWriMo is to stay on track with 1,500 words a day. 50,000 words is a lot if you try to do it all at the end. Get a partner who will encourage you to finish your 50,000 words!


MLM: Swashbuckling pirates like Johnny Depp are sexy—Argh!—but e-pirates are not! How do you handle e-pirates in your writing world? Do you have any advice or wish to share any experience with other writers? Anything you wish to say to e-pirates in general?

CHERIE: E-pirates makes stealing sound sexy. Let's call them thieves. Unfortunately, the digital age has created a group of individuals who see nothing wrong in downloading stolen property. The best way to handle the websites that allow stolen novels to be downloaded is to use the form from Romance Writers of America and fill it out for the website who has stolen your story. There are groups who are actively seeking legal action against website thieves. The US government has compiled a list of these sites and plans to shut them down AND make them accountable for loss revenue. Let's not forget the uninformed readers who frequent places like this…I figure they will never buy an ebook anyway and I haven't really lost a sale. I just don't want my novels to be seen on these sites full of leeches. Bad juju!



MLM: Now, let’s get to know a little more about your writing, Cherie De Sues...What genre do you write and what’s the draw for you?

CHERIE: I write thrillers, paranormal and contemporary suspense novels in sensual to sizzling heat levels. I really enjoy suspense and thrillers more than a standard contemporary novel. I need action, excitement and edge-of-your-seat thrills to entertain me. So that's what I write.


MLM: If you could describe your writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? Riveting. What do you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story?

CHERIE: I hope readers feel as though they've taken a journey full of action, romance and thrills. A ride that takes them through all of a human beings emotions with a satisfying ending.


MLM: Imagine for a moment you're granted ONE wish with regard to your writing. It can be anything you want—besides becoming a national bestseller, because what author doesn't want that, right?—your imagination is your only limit here! What would you wish for?

CHERIE: I'd wish for a better understanding of editing techniques…I mean really, by the time I finish a novel I'd like to move on to the next novel. Instead I do line-by-line edits that can take as long as the book did to write.


MLM: What do you dislike the most about being an author?

CHERIE: Editing for long periods of time, very frustrating, but necessary.


MLM: What do you like the most about being an author?

CHERIE: Chatting with readers, promoting, book signings, and getting the next big idea for the new novel.


MLM: Who decides what you write about, you or your muse? What kind of influence do you have over your story, or is the muse always the one basting the turkey?

CHERIE: Good question. I like to think the muse and I have a mutual understanding about where I want to go in the story. Sometimes I'm taken into directions I wasn't prepared for, but I rarely backtrack. I found that letting my muse take me away from my planned novel keeps the writing fresh. Some of my best work came when I deviated from the original structure of the story.


MLM: Have you ever based a character on a real-life person? If so, why? Was it simply to immortalize them or was there more to it than that? If you can, tell us who this person was without revealing their identity! We’re all curious here!

CHERIE: A friend lost her mother recently and I had the opportunity to meet her a couple of times. Though old and frail, she had a mischievous glint in her eye. I've created a character in "West Salem", the novel I'm working on now that incorporates her personality and sassy manner. I like the idea of immortalizing such a grand dame.


MLM: What character did you have the most fun creating and why?

CHERIE: In "Tales of the Red Moon Clan", the hero is a bounty hunter shapeshifter from the Navajo tribe. This character was fully fleshed out in every way. Sexy, strong, vulnerable, and with a great sense of humor. Doing extensive research then writing about the Native American traditions surrounding shapeshifting and medicine men was great. I really liked creating Neol and readers adore him.


MLM: If you had the opportunity to meet just one of your characters in real life, who would it be and why? Which of your characters would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why?

CHERIE: Neol is such a warm and strong willed man that he would be my first choice. All of my male characters are strong-willed and confident…gee whiz, so are the women. The character I would not want to meet is the budding serial killer in "The Seduction of Simone". The man is devious and insane.


MLM: Thanks so much for joining us, Cherie, it's been a treat getting to know you better!

BLURB:

Selena Russo has won the coveted spot as a full-figured spokesmodel for the Rubenesque Romantix clothing line in Paris. When Selena starts getting hate mail, she ignores the warnings—models aren't known for their congeniality when they lose a big modeling gig. Especially a three-year, multimillion-dollar contract in the biggest ad campaign ever for curvy women.

Logan’s a recent ex-Navy SEAL with a war injury, and his ex CO asks him to protect Selena as her photographer. When the death threats heat up with a dead pooch and bullets flying, Logan focuses hard on the sensual violet-eyed beauty. It’s Logan’s pleasure to cover the body of a seductive curvy temptress, both in and out of the bedroom as their romance burns up the sheets.

EXCERPT:

Gigi appraised her in the floor length mirror and shook her head. "You need a prop, but I don't know, maybe an umbrella?"

"Let me see what Logan thinks."

Selena walked out of the tent and a picnic blanket lay on the grass. Charming. As she came closer, Logan held a golden retriever puppy. The pup looked adorable and wagged his tail in pleasure as she approached.

"Aw." The pup licked her palm and she immediately fell in love with the little guy. "What a great idea."

She took her shoes off and Gigi caught on quick, laying the pumps out on the blanket at a great angle. Logan chuckled, as Selena kneeled taking the puppy, and at once, he started shooting. She cuddled, played, and had a little tug of war with one of the shoes as she giggled hysterically. The antics were too much fun until the puppy went for her scarf and she tumbled down on the blanket with the puppy licking her face.

"Uh oh, I think I need a touch up." She went back to her knees and brought the puppy up in her arms. "I'd forgotten how much fun puppies can be."

Gabrielle took out some products, touched up the cheek, and put some of Selena's curls back in place.

"If I knew you were going to be rolling around with a dog, I'd have put in more pins." She laughed and put in extra bobby pins to hold the hair in place.

Logan reviewed the film on his laptop on the table and turned to them. "You know, I think we've got this one."

"Really, so fast?" Disappointed, she handed the puppy to Gigi and walked over to look. "Do you mind if I see the shots?"

He moved and let her step in front of the screen, pleasantly surprised by the warmth and depth of the photos. The light had filtered through the red highlights in her hair and glowed as the puppy filled her arms. The clothing looked lived in, instead of modeled.

"These are wonderful Logan—you've shown how the clothes move." His face came close to hers as he touched the pad and showed her one after another of better and better shots. "I'm thrilled—I think the DuPont's and Mrs. Belladonna are going to flip out." Filled with excitement, she gave him a kiss on the cheek. He grinned looking pleased.

"Then let's do more. Go get dressed; I have another surprise."

His eyes held a challenging look, and she flashed him a devilish smile. "You're on hot shot."



Website: http://www.cheriedesues2.com and http://www.cheriedesues.com
Buy Link: https://www.nobleromance.com/BrowseListing.aspx?author=75&p=0
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cheriedesuesnovels

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/writtenbycherie

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00311U2C6

Twilight Thursday

The Moonlighters Welcome Kathleen Ann Gallagher

Please welcome Kathleen Ann Gallagher into the Moonlight. Kathleen Ann Gallagher is the author of Echoes At Dawn and it is coming soon to Decadent Publishing.

Now, it's time to create a little mayhem and get to the good stuff and reveal all of Kathleen’s deepest darkest secrets in the moonlight. LOL So, grab your favorite wicked drink, sink your teeth into something decadent, sit back, relax and enjoy getting to know Kathleen Ann Gallagher.



MLM: The holidays are fast approaching and things always seem to get busier during this time of year. Do you have a relaxing technique that helps you de-stress? If so, please share, because this is advice we all need!

Kathleen: I have a few, but I’ll give you one of my favorites. I am usually running around the last minute, shop.sing, wrapping, cleaning, and cooking, and each year I tell myself that next holiday season, I’ll plan ahead. Well, I never keep that promise. Instead I scramble around like a maniac, doing everything at once. When I need to unwind, I light a vanilla musk candle and listen to Andrea Bocelli, while cuddled up on my comfy white down-filled sofa, enjoying a cup of herbal tea, with my husband. If I’m lucky, he’ll massage my shoulders.


MLM: What, if any, Thanksgiving traditions (decorating, gathering with friends and family for a meal, etc.) do you have?

Kathleen: It is imperative that my family get together to celebrate Thanksgiving. No matter how busy we are, gathering at my house is a must. I get out my favorite cooking magazines, dust off the fine china, and find some new recipes to surprise them with, each year, along with some old family traditions. My daughter, her husband, and my three grandsons, travel to spend the night. My two sons live nearby, so they bring their partners and stay the whole day. My husband decorates the yard for the kids, and it usually takes an entire afternoon. He puts up a Charlie Brown Christmas display in the back yard, and strings lights around the garden, making it look like a winter wonderland. I think he likes it more then the little ones. He puts up the Christmas lights early, to help us get into the holiday spirit. After dinner, we listen to Celine Dion , and give thanks for all of our blessings, while enjoying our pumpkin pie, with whipped cream, in the living room.


MLM: What was your most memorable Thanksgiving and why?

Kathleen: I have to say that my most memorable Thanksgiving was the first time I prepared the meal. I was a young mother and never held a dinner party for a large group of people, let alone roasted a turkey. It was my turn to invite everyone to my new house, so I was nominated by my mother and sisters, to prepare the feast. I remember feeling overwhelmed and insecure, in fear of making the dreaded dry turkey. I got all the advice ahead of time, from the senior women in my family, and then, I was on my own. My sister-in law offered to bring dessert, and I eagerly welcomed her assistance. My kitchen looked like an Iron Chef competition when I was done, but I did it. I carried my masterpiece inside, and my husband carved it, while I held my breath. I waited for their comments, and took a bite myself. The turkey was delicious and roasted to perfection. Everyone enjoyed the meal, and at the end of the day, my mother smiled, and said, “I pass this tradition on to you, and I’m finally hanging up my apron.”


MLM: What is a must have food at your Thanksgiving dinner table?

Kathleen: A must have dish on our table, is an old family favorite, stuffing with sausage, apples, and cranberries. It’s a handed down recipe from my grandmother, and we all love it. It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without it. It’s yummy.


MLM: Tell us 3 things you are thankful for this year, please.

Kathleen: The first thing I’m always thankful for is my family. I have a loving husband, a wonderful daughter and son in-law, three adorable grandsons, and two sons, who are amazing. I have two older sisters, and a brother and lots of nieces and nephews, who make my life complete.

The next thing I’m grateful for is our health, without it, no amount of money, can make you happy.

Lastly, I am grateful for the opportunity to have my first novel, Echoes At Dawn, accepted by Decadent Publishing.


MLM: Just for fun, if you could be among any of the original members of that first Thanksgiving, who would it be, the Pilgrims or the Wampanoag (Native Americans)? Why?

Kathleen: I had to give this one some thought, but I think for me, I would rather be the Native Americans. They were the one’s who started the tradition by welcoming the Pilgrims and teaching them how to grow the food for the feast, and helped provide food when it was scarce. If it weren’t for their generous spirit, we may not have been celebrating Thanksgiving at all.


MLM: NaNo is popular among authors each November. Maybe it's so popular because it helps self-motivate so many of us during the encroaching holidays. Did you commit to NaNo this year? If yes, do you have any advice how to make NaNo a success? If no, what was your driving motivation to stay strong and avoid the month I've deemed "crazy NaNo"?

Kathleen: I really did not commit to NaNo this year, but I am working on a second novel. I admire writers that have the drive to complete a manuscript in a month. I get to anxious, giving myself a deadline. I remind myself everyday that I must keep on writing, even thought it is a busy time of year. I am working steadily to keep up the flow of the story, and after all, I want to know the ending.


MLM: Swashbuckling pirates like Johnny Depp are sexy—Argh!—but e-pirates are not! How do you handle e-pirates in your writing world? Do you have any advice or wish to share any experience with other writers? Anything you wish to say to e-pirates in general?

Kathleen: My work is precious to me, and I’m sure everyone that writes feels the same way. We put our so much of ourselves into our work. It becomes a part of us, and for someone to steal from us, is a terrible crime. Since I am a new writer, I haven’t had much experience with e-pirates, but I can tell you that I will do everything in my power to protect my work. If a person must rob a writer of getting paid for their work, it is a crime. They need to be stopped, at any cost. I think it would be a good idea for a writer, or a publishing house to set up a system for people to report e pirate sites. They could do it anonymously, and then the site could be contacted and the writer or the publisher can insist they remove the book. I read an article where the author was notified by a fan of an e pirate site, and when she requested it be removed, they complied. It is a sad thing when people rip off hard working, honest people. There will always be greedy people, trying to get something for nothing. I feel sorry for them, but hope they get what they deserve.



MLM: Now, let’s get to know a little more about your writing, Kathleen...What genre do you write and what’s the draw for you?

Kathleen: I write Women’s Fiction, Romance, and Paranormal. I love telling the story of a woman’s journey, along with a little romance, and a touch of magic.


MLM: If you could describe your writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? What do you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story?

Kathleen: I believe things happen for a reason, and we all deserve to be loved. I want my readers to relate to my characters and the things they have endured, while looking into their own lives, in hopes that something wonderful and maybe even magical can happen to them.


MLM: Imagine for a moment you're granted ONE wish with regard to your writing. It can be anything you want—besides becoming a national bestseller, because what author doesn't want that, right?—your imagination is your only limit here! What would you wish for?

Kathleen: I would love for my readers to enjoy my work, and truly experience the emotion one feels when finishing a wonderful book, and wishing the story never ended. Okay and I would love for it to be made into a movie.


MLM: What do you dislike the most about being an author? What do you like the most about being an author?

Kathleen: I suppose the criticism would be the thing I dislike the most. Everyone will not love your work, so you have to learn not to focus on the negative, but I still dread that part.
I love being able to create anything you want when writing. The beginning, middle and end, depend on you. That is a wonderful feeling.


MLM: Who decides what you write about, you or your muse? What kind of influence do you have over your story, or is the muse always the one basting the turkey?

Kathleen: I would like to believe that I decide on what happens in my story. An idea usually pops into my head, and then I get on a roll, and create the hook. I like to think about what causes my characters to act the way they do. This way I can find a way to make them learn from their pasts and move forward.


MLM: Have you ever based a character on a real-life person? If so, why? Was it simply to immortalize them or was there more to it than that? If you can, tell us who this person was without revealing their identity! We’re all curious here!

Kathleen: I did base a character in Echoes At Dawn on a real-life person. Two people to be exact. I combined the personalities of my mother and my mother-in law, who have both passed on. They were witty, and wise and loved life to the fullest. You’ll have to read my book to find out who she is.


MLM: What character did you have the most fun creating and why?

Kathleen: I had a blast creating the hero in my story, Nathanial Griffin. He is really a loner, yet women love him. I had to dig into his past to figure out what made him so irresistible, yet unavailable. I fell in love with him, by the end of the book. I wish I was making it a series. Maybe a sequel? We’ll see…


MLM: If you had the opportunity to meet just one of your characters in real life, who would it be and why? Which of your characters would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why?

Kathleen: I would love to meet my heroine Madeline Young. I admire her inner strength and determination. She takes chances, loves fully, younger men too, and is not afraid to enjoy her chocolate.

I have to laugh when I think about who I wouldn’t want to meet. I love all my characters, but I suppose If I have to choose, I would say Aunt Mary. You will have to read the book to find out why, but I get chills thinking about her.


MLM: Thanks so much for joining us, Kathleen! It's been a treat getting to know you better!

Website: http://www.kathleenanngallagher.com/

BLURB:

The strangely intertwined lives of a widowed mother of three, a charismatic bachelor, and an elderly woman, come together, to show that in life, there are no coincidences, only destiny.

Madeline Young loves her job as a chef in a waterfront restaurant, and believes she did a pretty good job, raising her three kids by herself. Nevertheless, she knows she has to stop dating the wrong men, especially one’s that are too young for her, or she’ll spend the rest of her life alone. Her world gets complicated when her elderly mother, who is getting forgetful moves in. To top it off, her rebellious youngest son, spends a day in the emergency room, for alcohol poisoning. Grandma uses her Ouija board to contact her deceased twin sister, and the duo conjures up a plan to find Madeline the perfect match. Aunt Mary pays Madeline an early dawn visit, and directs her to sign up for a volunteer position in a rehab center. She finds much more then she ever expected, behind the walls of the locked unit.

Nathaniel Griffin fascinates his clients with his lectures, but he hides behind his busy schedule, and keeps his personal life to himself. When he is chosen to orient Madeline to the unit, he cannot resist her charm. However, before he offers her his heart, he may have to confront his marred past. Can he face his demons, or will it be easier for him to remain isolated?

Twins from separate generations, who left this world early, are called upon, to perform one final mission of love, before they can rest. Will they accomplish their assignment, or will it be too late?



EXCERPT:

I stood up slowly, turning toward the door. Although, a part of me wanting to stay longer. Nat had a special gift for making a story come to life. It seemed as if time stood still. The vertical blinds were open enough to allow the sun in. The bright view drew me in, as I moved closer to the window.

“You have so many interesting stories to tell. I’ve really enjoyed listening to them,” I said, looking at my feet, feeling bashful, after our personal disclosures.

After all, we were practically strangers. He made everything sound intriguing with his animated narrative. I could have stayed there all day listening to him speak. I never met anyone like him before. There seemed to be a side of me that longed for the spontaneity he displayed in his voyages. Our lives appeared strangely linked together, even thought he spoke of travel as a way to soothe the anguish in his heart. I on the other hand, used reading as a chance to find peace, despite my troubled past.

I remembered I had a very important meeting to attend that afternoon at the restaurant. I glanced at my watch noticing the time. I had to hurry, or I would be late for the meeting. I fumbled with the strap on my handbag.

“Well Nat, thanks for the tour,” I laughed, nervously, feeling like I was coming on too strong. “I’ve enjoyed our conversation, but I really should get going now. I have to meet with my boss this afternoon.”

Nat moved closer to me, flashing a tiny grin, giving a playful chuckle.

“Thanks for listening to me go on. Would you like a piece of gum?” he asked.

I reached for it, with our hands briefly touching. He moved closer to me.
An immediate rush of pleasure flooded through my body, but I tried to ignore it, quickly putting the gum in my mouth. We said our goodbye’s, with my heart racing, as I left for the day.

Wistful Wednesday

Too Many Ideas?

Have you ever found yourself in this predicament? You want to write or create something and you find yourself with - too many ideas? What? Too many ideas! How is that possible?

If you are a writer, you have probably heard of the term "writer's block" - a condition that cripples the writer into producing nothing but a blank page. Well, sometimes, I have the opposite problem - too many ideas - that often produces the same result. I have so much to write about, I don't know which idea to start with, so I just...don't. I hem, I haw, I conduct research for yet another idea, but I don't actually write.

Such is my problem now. I have so many ideas for stories in my head, I just don't know which one to concentrate on first. The next installment in Dante's story. The series about the shapeshifters and the empath fighting a sinister Institute intent on exploiting them. The YA story about the plain girl in love with the popular boy next door. Oh, a nice Regency love story a la Jane Austen sounds good right about now, too...

See my dilemma? And now, with the advent of NaNo, the pressure to produce words has only increased. What do I do now? Somebody help me!

No, seriously, if you have any advice for me, please comment! And now, write.

Tantalizing Tuesday

Author DC Juris Steps into the Moonlight!

Hi everyone! ::waves:: DC Juris here. Hugs and kisses all around for my little group of readers who are visiting right now! For those who don't know me, I'm an out and proud bisexual transgender man (which is far less interesting than it sounds), living in Upstate NY with my husband, four dogs, and three cats. Yep, you read that right – FOUR dogs – our newest addition, Mindy, a Parsons Jack Russell Terrier, joined our family this past weekend! :-)

Today I'm blogging about my newest release from Noble Romance—an m/m werecat/werewolf romance called "Omarati."

Here's the blurb:

Everything changed for werewolf Calliph after the Shifter War. Now nothing more than a slave and plaything to human Prince Obyn, Calliph finds himself on the Golden Magus, sailing across the sea with his owner. But fate has something more in mind for Calliph in the form of First Mate Mateo—who just happens to be Calliph's Omarati—his soul mate…and a werecat. Heartbroken, Calliph knows he can't stay with Mateo—he is forced to follow Obyn wherever he leads. Years later, when an attack at sea lands Mateo in the hands of vicious pirates, the cat discovers that, though time has changed some things, his bond with Calliph is eternal.

Sounds pretty straightforward and simple, right? Not by a long shot!

What the blurb can't tell you is that "Omarati" took on many, many forms before it got submitted to Noble. Originally, Calliph was a minor player in a three-part story, centering around people who lived in caves. He was meant to be the love interest of a very, very differently written Obyn, and they would live happily ever after. But that didn't feel quite right.

So Calliph morphed into one of two main characters, and I followed his story along several different re-writes, until I had what I thought was the final product. But Calliph had other ideas. He went from a supporting character to the star of the show, and pulled Mateo up out of oblivion with him. The one constant was that they were both always In the end, I had what I felt was a pretty darn good story, and I'd learned so much about my two guys. I can't imagine the book any other way!

Of course, now I have a lot of unused stuff. Ah, the plot bunny – how he does mock me.

Buy Link: https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=198

But wait! Don't click that link just yet! Leave a comment below, and you'll be entered to win a free pdf copy! I'll pick a winner at midnight! Good luck!

You can find out more about me and my works at www.dcjuris.com

I'm on Facebook: www.facebook.com/dcjuris
And Twitter: www.twitter.com/dcjuris
And I have two blogs: http://dcjuris.fannypress.com/ and http://dcjuris.livejournal.com

Mystic Monday

The Power of Imagery and the Novel

It's long been said that the romance novel is just mindless "fodder" and not worth much.

Who says this and why do, "they," say it?

Well, after some careful pondering, I've begun to realize who, "they," were, at least initially - men. Yes, that's right, men.

For most of our previous generations, the woman has always taken a backseat to the males of society. It wasn't until WWII that things really started to change. During that war, all the men were across the sea, so there wasn't anyone to work the factories, well, no one except the wives. The manufacturers realized they had a way to continue to make product for the men to use overseas, and began hiring women. The problem was, when the men returned after the war, the women didn't want to stop working.

The women working the factories found a freedom they didn't know existed, and they liked it. Of course, many women were happy to go back to being homemakers whether it was because they really wanted to or because they felt it was their duty as good wives we may never really know, but there were still many that wanted to keep that freedom and began to fight for things to change. It's a fight that still goes on in some places, especially with the economy getting tighter.

Why is this fight still raging?

This is evident in how long it takes for a society to truly change. Not all, but some of the older generations are still threatened by a woman worker because, in the eyes of the society he grew up with/in, he would be less of a man.

It isn't just an ego thing here, even if it seems like it, it's about a sense of self worth. Many societies by nature raise the males to be the bread winner, the hunter, the gatherer and women to be the homemakers and bed warmers. So when their position in the hierarchy of society becomes threatened, they feel threatened. It then becomes more about self-worth than ego. We're always about making our kids feel good about themselves, but we forget the men in our lives have feelings too.

Why?

Because there are still those notions that the men in society must not show their emotions.

Yes, things are changing, but not for every society. So, before we get mad and upset about the literary world not taking romance writing seriously, we need instead to be working to change their literary minds about the quality of our work. I don't think they ever said that the stories weren't well-written, just not noteworthy.

Sure, some of the romance novels I've read did seem like mindless fodder, and some of the stuff that gets made even today falls into that category as well, however, not all romance writing does. Think about it. Let's look at some of the great romances and see what they have that some of today's romance novels don't.

Let's look at The Thorn Birds and Gone With the Wind for starters. It wasn't just that they were period/historical romance novels that made them great, but the fact that they really tried to bring those times to life, beyond just telling a story. The happy ending wasn't always in the picture either.

Think about it.

In The Thorn Birds (TTB), while Meggie and Ralph consummate their love from time to time, they aren't really together in the traditional sense, nor are they the "happy family." The ending is more sad than happy, even if it might be emotionally satisfying.

In Gone With the Wind (GWTW), the romance is volatile, the heroine is self-centered and the hero walks away from her to what has to be one of the greatest lines of all time, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!" Not a happy ending by any means, but it's enjoyable because you're so glad that Rhett decides to take that step because he's just too damn good for spoiled, self-centered Scarlet.

So why can these stories still stand the test of time and seem to gain quality with age?

These books with great romances in them do more than that. They talk about society and different aspects of it. GWTW uses Georgia as it's setting and the Civil War as it's time frame. It isn't just these two things that make it great, but the literary references to something much bigger. You can read on Wikipedia that the title came from a poem, and that the title itself could be a reference to the way of life in Georgia having "gone with the wind."

TTB also has some great references. For example, the title refers to a mythical bird that hunts it's entire life for the perfect thorn and then impales itself on it and sings a beautiful song as it dies. One could argue that Meggie and Ralph are thorn birds. Instead of going on with her life and finding a man who could love her for who she is, live with her on Drogheda, she finds Ralph and basically sticks to him. Sure, she tried with Luke, but gives up after that marriage falls short of her expectations. Same with Ralph, while he loves Meggie, he doesn't believe that he can live with her and still love god - he loved god more (as he put it), yet he still went to Meggie's bed later in his life while he was still a priest.

This isn't just reserved for books either. Look at some of the greatest sci-fi movies - Star Wars and Johnny Mnemonic. The clones in Star Wars represent Hitler's notion of the perfect society, and the fight it took for people to survive. If you look closely, arguments could be made comparing the resistance lead by Princess Leia to the French Resistance during WWII. Similarly, it might be argued that Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, having such a strong impact on the outcome of the story, represent US and British troops. The blowing up of the Death Star can be compared to the atomic bombs used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

On a different note, Johnny Mnemonic deals with the eventual impact the technological age has on a future society, and how the insurance companies eventually control what happens. This happens because they knew about the effects of certain "enhancements" or "upgrades" that could be obtained using implants and chemicals and had the cure, but did nothing about it, letting thousands become addicted and eventually die from using.

What do all these stories have in common? Substance. Yes, the books are longer, but there's a lot to digest there. Just like Steinbeck, London and others we've read for English classes, these stories have a lot of substance and imagery used to tell their stories.

That's what makes a romance novel more than literary fodder - having enough substance that, when picked apart, still has enough meat on it's literary bones to analyze. That's what literary critics are always looking for, something to analyze. The great, prize-winning romance novels offer a lot of substance for the reader to think about.

If you want to write a romance story that will be accepted and revered beyond the romance world, then put more substance to your stories. I know the trend is to write shorter stories for ePubs, but go that extra distance to cover more than just racial tensions, but all kinds of societal issues. Things that get people talking!

Dracula by Bram Stoker, The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins and many others do this. Classes supplied by RWA can improve your overall writing skills, but to really make your writing great, you need to learn from the best and the only way to do that is to read those works and see what themes you pick out.

Another, more recent example would be Paper Fish by Tina DeRosa. I read this for an English class, but it was still a good read.

I understand that not everyone wants to read this kind of book all the time. It just frustrates me when I "hear" some romance authors (published and unpublished) complain about rejection letters stating that their writing wasn't literary enough. While it can be frustrating to hear, literary greats are considered great for a reason. Your story (romance or not) will be mindless fodder if it doesn't have enough substance for a literary mind to chew on.

There are two ways to prevent this from happening and find more success when writing a story:

1. Make sure the company you sub to actually prints the kind of story you write

2. Fill your story with enough substance that, should they not regularly print that type of story, they'll sit up and take notice.

3. Read writers of all different types of fiction from many different eras, especially the classics. They're classics for a very good reason.

4. Remember, writing a story shouldn't always be about just the setting or the romance of the hero and heroine, but the entire society as a whole and its impact on your characters, even if you only focus on a few characters.

5. Consider your goal for your story and submit it to publishers according to the goal you wish the story to accomplish.

6. Do your research! Sometimes, publishing houses (electronic and print) have specific guidelines to follow when submitting and the stories they wish to see. Some companies have too many of one type of story and not enough of another. For example, if they're looking for sci-fi and time travel, don't submit to that publisher if your story isn't one of those types.

7. Take the time to hook up with other writers. Working with other writers through a blog like this one can really help get your name out there and get your writing noticed.

8. If your story gets rejected, don't be afraid to ask why. However, when you do ask, be sure to state that you want to know why it was rejected so that you can do better next time and hopefully not make the same mistakes.

I'm sure there are other reasons I've missed. If I have, feel free to share what you've learned with other writers!

Starlight Saturday

Spirit Awareness

Since this topic hasn't gotten it's due the past two months, I thought I'd start November off with it. It's National Writing Month. Many of us compete in contests such as NaNoWriMo to help encourage the muses, while others write so often that competing isn't necessary and there are some of us who don't compete for various reasons.

Yes, we compete, but what happens when the competitions are over and, due to the subjective (or how many friends to you have to vote for you) nature of these online contests, many non-winners are left with feelings of frustration, self-doubt and a nagging sense of "what can I do better?"

You must eliminate these self-doubting and frustrated feelings or they will eat you alive and be a constant obstacle in your life.

To help you get yourself through those difficult times, here are some
mantras,
poems and
words of wisdom.

Hang these mantras where you'll see them everyday!
Mantra 1 - If it's to be, it's up to me!
Mantra 2 - Don't Quit!
Mantra 3 - When life throws the book at you, write about it!
Mantra 4 - Inspiration is everywhere, all you have to do is stop and look around!

Not convinced yet? Well, here are some words of wisdom that have impacted writers and talented artists of all kinds for many years:

“Don’t ask me about being a writer. If when you wake up in the morning, you can think of nothing but writing, then you’re a writer.” - Rainer Maria Rilke (translated in one form or another, also heard in Sister Act 2)

These words are so true! So what if you're frustrated! So you've had a bad review or two!

Sounds cold, but we've all been there before, and it doesn't mean you should quit writing. If you really want to write, you will do what it takes to make your writing better - take classes, attend conferences, and read books on how to write.

However, it isn't just about learning how to write, it's appreciating that creative writing requires an understanding of poetry and prose to make the perfect piece.

Okay, perfection isn't always possible, but I can guarantee that if you learn how to use imagery the way poets do - not copying or mimicking them, but truly understand how to use your own imagery in your writing - you'll create a much more powerful romance, suspense, mystery or whatever.

Be sure to check back on Monday as I will begin talking about some of the most influential poets of our time, and I'm not talking about Shakespeare!

Until then, here's a wonderful poem to keep with you and give to a loved one needing this reminder. In fact, you can probably find this on a journal or bookmark in almost any bookstore:

Don't Quit - by Jill Wolf

Don't quit when the tide is lowest,

For it's just about to turn;

Don't quit over doubts and questions,

For there's something you may learn.

Don't quit when the night is darkest,

For it's just a while 'til dawn;

Don't quit when you've run the farthest,

For the race is almost won.

Don't quit when the hill is steepest,

For your goal is almost nigh;

Don't quit for you're not a failure

Until you fail try.

Simple yet elegant, powerful and inspiring. This is what I'm talking about. Poets take a few words and make them powerful!

Enjoy the rest of your day!

PHANTASM FRIDAY

THE CROW

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word "Crow"? For me, aside from the black birds that scavenge, it was the mystical belief that they are omens of death.

In my newly contracted book, Pandora's Box, I needed a mystical creature that could deliver a riddle from a higher power about the future. So, I started researching and quickly became fascinated by the Crow. Similar to the Raven it appears in mythology as a soothsayer, as a creator and cleanser and as omens of death. Okay, so I wasn’t completely wrong, but neither did I know near all of it.

Among the North America tribes the Crow was considered as the guardian of the sacred law that could see not only the past, but the present and the future. Ah, so a soothsayer that could easily be used in my story to deliver a riddle about future events.

In Celtic lore, the battle goddess Morrigan would shapeshift into either a crow or a raven and they were both seen as allies and companions.

Scottish folklore said the crow had 27 different sounds and each one of them correlated to an occasion, foretelling anything from coming guests to good fortune to an imminent death. Truly I found this fascinating and wanted to learn more about the 27 different cries. By the way, the number 27 was derived from the magical 3 x 9 derivative.

To the Greek, the crow was considered an unlucky warning. In fact, while crows were sacred to the Greek goddess Athene, she refused to allow them to perch atop the roof of Acropolis in Athens because they were omens of death. Even though they were considered omens of death, it did not prevent the Greek god Apollo from shapeshifting into a crow when he fled Typhon.

Medieval bestiaries saw the crow as birds of parental devotion and it was said that the crow led the migration of storks. Medieval Christians thought the crow was a sign of the devil because of its scavenging conduct, but it was also an icon of fidelity because it was thought that crows did not seek a new mate when its mate died. Magical properties were given to the crow as well, which included the skill to foretell the future, dismantle the past and to educate humans about how to mix humor, playfulness and love.

Interesting lore—or so I thought—was the Australian aboriginal legend. I found it in The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, written by John & Caitlin Matthews © 2008:

“In Australian aboriginal legend, Crow, along with Tortoise and Frog, dissented in the corroboree (gathering) that suggested that Kangaroo and Emu, and Dingo and Goanna should mate. The animals fell to fighting but when they grew hungry, pelicans dived for fish to feed them and a fire was started to cook them. Crow warned them that to cook fish away from where they had been caught was illegal and the animals began to argue. Frog threw his voice to make it sound as if Crow was insulting Kangaroo, so confusing the other animals that they fell out even more and decided for ever after to have their own languages.”

All of this was a far cry from the 1994 movie, The Crow. In it, the lead character comes back as an undead entity bent on avenging his and his fiancée’s murder. Entertaining, yeah, and maybe he was loosely considered an omen of death, but he was really the cause of the death of those that murdered him and his fiancée. It was revenge and nothing more.

So, what do you think? Do you believe in the magical elements of Crows? For me, I don’t know, but I do know I had fun using the crow as a magical creature that showed up, shapeshifted into a beautiful woman with birdlike qualities and clothing made of feathers. Minor excerpt posted below staring the Crow in Pandora's Box.

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend! My baby turns 9 tomorrow! Wow! I cannot believe how fast they grow up!!!

Unedited Excerpt:

The crow shifted into that of a woman, with almond shaped eyes and long hair, both as black as a crow's feather, and a body to die for dressed in a black cat-like-pantsuit. Well, no, that wasn't quite accurate. The pantsuit wasn't made of cloth, but rather a seamlessly flowing feather-like garb. A black feather floated and came to rest across Madison's bare foot.

"You've been found worthy of the crows," the crow said, her voice as melodious as a bird's warble. "Keep the feather secure and if you ever need assistance, grip it in your hand and consider our help a one time deal."

"Lucky me." She pushed out of her chair and heard Nix rise beside her. She palmed the dagger Nix had given her. In the paranormal world, she was learning things could turn on a dime, so she trusted no one. Not even a shape-shifting crow. And she grew weary of feeling defenseless as each new supernatural entity arrived on her doorstep. Grew restless sitting and waiting on them to come after her.

Crow shuddered like she'd seen a bird do a million times, her feathery black hair buzzing with the movement. "I came with a message only."

"You're an omen of death," Nix snarled, glaring.

Startled, Madison looked at him, every muscle in his body alert, his pistol gripped tight in his hand.

"Sometimes, yes," Crow agreed looking him up and down. "You're cuter in person, Phoenix Birmingham."

"You…" he made a face of disbelief, "You know my name?"

Crow clucked her tongue at him and then swiveled her head to look at Madison. She blinked, slow, like a bird assessing its prey. "The boy has risen from the puppeteer's hell. Evil has been dismantled from his past, but his future isn't set in stone. The choice is his. A blood-father born of the pit will test the mettle of his son again, but the boy owns his future."

Chills scattered across Madison's body. "What does that mean?" She looked at Nix, feeling more than a little paranoid, "What does that mean?" Did it mean Amos could make his own future or would he own the future the demon planned for him? How could she plan if she didn't understand the message?

It frustrated her that Crow did not answer. Nix could only offer an 'I don't know' shake of his head.

Crow looked from Madison to Nix, indicating the next message concerned both of them. "Nix, if you continue to squander and push aside that which you desire the most, you'll fall to a torturous death of your own making. A pact with a devil in a hell you cannot fathom. Leaving those who love you to mourn. After months of agony, you'll break to his satisfaction, become the monster he desires. In your honor, allies will come to your aid and a new Phoenix, battle hardened by flame, pain and shame, will rise from the ashes."

That strange, bird-like piercing stare settled on Madison and she resisted the urge to fidget under the crow's penetrating gaze. "Madison, you'll be plagued by doubt and uncertainty. A mother from the grave complicates everything, leading to a life chiseled with years of wandering war. Lifelong friends will be made and they'll come when you call. Only when he," she nodded toward Nix, "falls will you find your wings and build a fearsome empire. You're strong enough to crush a King, but it'll take courage to do the impossible. Forged in fire, you'll come out the other side, supernaturally strong and greeted by a lover that'll die for you. Trust in the goodness you've instilled in your son and a formidable ally will be forged, one to defeat a second King."

"What does that mean?" Nothing Crow said made sense.

"A death omen," Nix said, disgust darkening his voice.

Crow smiled. "No, a life omen," she said.

~Photo snagged from photobucket. I do not own the photo and do not claim any rights to it. No copyright infringement was intended.~

Twilight Thursday

The Moonlighters Welcome Kathy Lyons

Please welcome Kathy Lyons into the Moonlight. Kathy is the author of Taking Care of Business, which was recently released.

Now, it's time to create a little mayhem and get to the good stuff and reveal all of Kathy Lyons's deepest darkest secrets in the moonlight. LOL So, grab your favorite wicked drink, sink your teeth into something decadent, sit back, relax and enjoy getting to know author Kathy Lyons.



MLM: The holidays are fast approaching and things always seem to get busier during this time of year. Do you have a relaxing technique that helps you de-stress? If so, please share, because this is advice we all need!

KATHY: I work out. A lot. Mostly, I play racquetball. There’s nothing like whacking a little ball to help with the stress. Especially when whacking it good and hard ends up making me win a match!

And one more thing. Actually two more. I have two cats who luuuuuvvvvv me. One sits on my lap and purrs loud enough to be heard a room away. The other plays at my feet. Unless, of course, I am late feeding her. Then she puts her claws in my feet.


MLM: What, if any, Thanksgiving traditions (decorating, gathering with friends and family for a meal, etc.) do you have?

KATHY: I eat. I like to eat. I enjoy eating…a LOT! Someone else cooks. (I watch the kids while better people work in the kitchen!)


MLM: What was your most memorable Thanksgiving and why?

KATHY: My first Thanksgiving with my boyfriend’s family. We were dating seriously. I eventually married him. But I was 19 years old and went to Thanksgiving with him where I met his family. All 26 of them. I panicked and spent the first 45 minutes hiding in the bathroom.


MLM: What is a must have food at your Thanksgiving dinner table?

KATHY: Chocolate cheesecake. Forget what the pilgrims ate. I want cheesecake!


MLM: Tell us 3 things you are thankful for this year, please.

KATHY: My family and friends are the obvious choice. Love them! Oh, and my cats! But I’m especially thankful for the sale to comics. Dragonborn will be going to graphic novel late next year! Woo hoo! And I love, love, love working with Kate Seaver and Berkley Books.


MLM: Just for fun, if you could be among any of the original members of that first Thanksgiving, who would it be, the Pilgrims or the Wampanoag (Native Americans)? Why?

KATHY: Wampanoag. I’ve become very spiritual in my old age. And I feel more closely aligned with the religions of the native Americans than the Catholic church.


MLM: NaNo is popular among authors each November. Maybe it's so popular because it helps self-motivate so many of us during the encroaching holidays. Did you commit to NaNo this year? If yes, do you have any advice how to make NaNo a success? If no, what was your driving motivation to stay strong and avoid the month I've deemed "crazy NaNo"?

KATHY: I don’t do NaNo because I’m doing it all the time. I have a page count that I write to every day. Approximately 10 pages a day. This is my full time job. I do it every day and often on weekends. But I’m a fast writer who has spent a long, long time learning about story structure. NaNo writers are great for blurping the story out on the page. But if you haven’t written the underlying structure correctly, you’re going to blurp junk or get very stuck. Learn story structure. Then writing because…well, not a breeze, but certainly a ton better.

MLM: Swashbuckling pirates like Johnny Depp are sexy—Argh!—but e-pirates are not! How do you handle e-pirates in your writing world? Do you have any advice or wish to share any experience with other writers? Anything you wish to say to e-pirates in general?

KATHY: E-pirates suck. That’s all I can say. I make less than a first class stamp on some of my books. After 30 published works, I’m still struggling to pay the bills. So stop stealing! How do I deal with it? I sent the info to my publisher and I prevent my kids (and hopefully their friends) from being pirates.

MLM: Now, let’s get to know a little more about your writing, Kathy...What genre do you write and what’s the draw for you?

KATHY: Jade Lee writes historical regency SEXY. Kathy Lyons write contemporary, funny SEXY. Do you sense a theme? I’m of course working out my own sexual fantasies on the page. And, it turns out, I’m pretty good at it! LOL


MLM: If you could describe your writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? What do you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story?

KATHY: Well, if you look above, it would be the word “sexy”. But that’s marketing. In truth, my people—er, I’m supposed to say characters, but they’re people to me—face tough choices and end up in the right place. It takes a while, but they get there. So the one word for me is “good”. Seriously, just a good, deep, emotional read (with lots of hot sex!)

MLM: Imagine for a moment you're granted ONE wish with regard to your writing. It can be anything you want—besides becoming a national bestseller, because what author doesn't want that, right?—your imagination is your only limit here! What would you wish for?

KATHY: This summer, I wrote a YA with my 18 year old godson. We’re about to put it into submission. Hopefully everyone else will love it as much as I do. It’s a fabulous story!


MLM: What do you dislike the most about being an author? What do you like the most about being an author?

KATHY: I make my own schedule. (That’s the answer to both questions). It’s awesome that I pick my time and workload. It’s terrible that I pick my schedule and workload. I’m either too lazy and think of myself as a slacker or I’m writing 24/7. I’ve done both and it’s hard.


MLM: Who decides what you write about, you or your muse? What kind of influence do you have over your story, or is the muse always the one basting the turkey?

KATHY: We work together. And we both let someone else baste!


MLM: Have you ever based a character on a real-life person? If so, why? Was it simply to immortalize them or was there more to it than that? If you can, tell us who this person was without revealing their identity! We’re all curious here!

KATHY: Everyone I write is based on some aspect of someone I know or myself. Often myself, just different flavors. I guess I’m schizophrenic that way!


MLM: If you had the opportunity to meet just one of your characters in real life, who would it be and why? Which of your characters would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why?

KATHY: The heroine Scheherizade in Wicked Surrender is such a fully realized woman, that I desperately want to sit down and hang out with her. I’d love to talk to her about her life with a stage troupe and the joys of being pursued by two hot guys. I’d love to hang out chatting with her. As for the guy I never want to meet, I had a villain in Desperate Tigress who was cold, calculating and beyond evil just because he had no empathy. It wasn’t that he was at core evil. He had his goals, his beliefs, and everyone else was no more important to him than the chair he sat on.


MLM: Thanks so much for joining us, Kathy! It's been a treat getting to know you better!


Jade Lee and Kathy Lyons hotspots on the web:
http://www.jadeleeauthor.com/
http://www.kathylyons.com/

BLURB:
Office Fantasies! By Jade Lee/Kathy Lyons

One night, my fiancé had a huge project due at work that required a ton of data entry. Because I loved him, I agreed to help. We finally got it done at 2 a.m. when, flushed with elation, we realized that we were alone in a huge office building. And given that he worked in an electronics firm, my mind quickly danced through a zillion gadget and gizmo fantasies.

I will never tell what exactly happened that night, but suffice it to say that I had much more imagination than stamina. I will also confess that we did not resort to raiding the lab. Turns out there’s a lot you can do in an office that has nothing to do with high end electronics!

So there you have it. My deep, dark secret: I have office fantasies. Thankfully, I was able to put some of them to paper in Taking Care of Business. It helps that I modeled my hero after my own special geek of a husband, a man with more integrity than sense, more heart than he-man.

I’ve confessed, now it’s your turn. Do you have a secret office fantasy? Just give us a hint and one lucky commenter will get a copy of my new blaze under the name Kathy Lyons. Taking Care of Business.

Wistful Wednesday

NaNo and Other News:

Or, What I'm Up To This November!

Well, in my never-ending quest to challenge myself by producing more writing and get my writing in front of industry insiders, I have taken on two challenges this month. The first is NaNoWriMo. For those of you who don't know what this is, it's a month-long event in which a bunch of crazy people (i.e., writers) commit themselves to the task of writing 50, 000 words in the month of November, hence the name - National Novel Writing Month. 

That might not seem like much at first - after all, 50,000 words roughly translates to about 200 pages, which is relatively short by today's standards, unless you are writing category romances. Sure, you might think, I can hammer out a couple thousand words a day; that will bring me right to, if not beyond, the projected 50,000 word count, no problem. This is great, in theory. The problem arises when you actually sit down to write and face the blank page. So the best thing to do is make sure you have a good basis for the book before you even start and don't stop to correct/criticize/edit until you finish.

Why do I do this every year, then, you might ask. To challenge myself, of course. To kick myself into gear. To get something down on paper. To reaffirm my commitment to my writing/my goals for my writing. And there is nothing quite like the pep talk emails you receive along the way from established writers to encourage you to get it done. So I do it. Some years, I'm more successful than others, but I still do it.

In other news, I have entered a writing contest over at The Season blog that I am really excited about because it promises the potential of getting my writing in front of some impressive industry insiders. That, for me, is always a good thing. Even if there's not a major payday in the contest (this one does offer a $100 gift card), when there's the opportunity to have editors from Berkley and well known agents critique your work, this is a better pay-off, in my opinion. That brings you one step closer to achieving your dream and that is what's most important. 

The premise of this contest was to write the beginning of a novel (up to 1600 words) based on the prompts provided. There were four categories to choose from: Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal and Romantic Suspense. Now anyone who keeps up with me and my writing thus far would probably assume that I chose the Paranormal category. And they would be wrong. For some reason, I went out of my comfort zone and entered the Romantic Suspense category (remember what I said about challenging myself?). If nothing else comes of it, at least I can say that it was an interesting experience and each new thing we try helps us become better writers in the long run.

If you want to stop by and read my entry (and I'd be grateful for some feedback and a vote, too), it is called Private Girls. It can be found here: http://theseasonforromance.com/contest/suspense_blurbs.html

Thank you so much for joining me here today. Now, I'm off to NaNo!

SUPERNATURAL SUNDAY

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

I've talked about my guest blogger's special "trick or treat" for you all week long and it's finally here! There are giveaways for comments and the prizes are:

Kelly Abell will be giving away an e-copy of Haunted Destiny
Marissa Farrar will be giving away an e-copy of Alone.
Rie McGaha will be giving away a Closure writing tablet.
A $10 Barnes and Noble Gift Card is up for grabs.
A pink/flower book cover (this is intended to protect paperback books).

(Unfortunately, due to the cost of postage, if you're outside the United States, please be aware that when you enter the contest you are only entering to win one of the e-books.)


Here's what the guest bloggers wrote for you:

The harvest moon shimmered bright behind thick billowing clouds. Shadows hung within shadows along the roadway. The hair on Beth's arms stood up, her feet snapping quickly against pavement, berating herself for not checking the gas gauge. A twig snapped.

Beth spun around fear grabbing her heart in a vise. She could sense him rather than see him. She reached out with her mind to find what might be out among the shadows. His thoughts were far from violent but they are intense. He was hunting, but not for food.

His desire was a potent scent and it pulled her in. What was wrong with her? She should be terrified in her situation, in the dead of night, but here she was enthralled by a stranger. When he stepped out of the shadows, highlighted by the glow of the moon, she knew her fate was sealed.

Blood coated the front of his jacket, smeared his sleeves. But this was not the first thing she noticed. Instead it was the strange yellow pupils that watched her so intently, and, as he opened his mouth to speak, she saw a set of teeth that should not belong in the head of any man – even one as striking as this.

"You shouldn't be here." Her teeth chattered together like mariachis as he took a step forward with muddy bare feet showing at the hem of his torn jeans. Her heart pounded wildly against her ribs threatening to explode from her chest. "I…my car…gas." His brow raised as humor pulled at the corner of his lips.

Beth stepped away, her back hitting the cold wall. No escape. He moved closer, his potent scent sending her sex drive into overload. She bit her bottom lip and lifted her chin to meet his gaze. His bloodstained tongue swept across his fangs. A low growl rumbled from his chest.

She shouldn't feel this way, she knew. She should scream. Or run. Fight back. But she didn't. Couldn't. His mouth was only a breath away and her tongue snaked out, moistening her lips. Then his lips met hers. Warm and wet. Her heart pounded in her ears as she felt her body melting, glad for the wall behind her and his body before her.

Beth didn’t think about the blood, ignored the metallic scent and concentrated on his hard, muscled chest. Any moment now she’d be his next victim. Pulse pounding, a tingling sensation began in her nose and she pulled away seconds before the sneeze overtook her. Desperate to recapture the embrace, she turned her head only to see the familiar faces of the guests at the Halloween party. Her heart prickled with disappointment that the intense longing had been fantasy, yet… Her gaze met that of a yellow-eyed wolfman across the room. As he approached her with determined steps, a wash of heat coursed through her, tingling in all the right places. Time to make a little Halloween magic of her own. Who said fantasies had to stay in daydreams?


I hope you enjoyed their combined story! Each paragraph was written by a different guest blogger. Now, just for fun, it's your job to tell me who you "think" wrote each paragraph. On November 1st, I'll draw winners and announce which authors wrote which paragraphs so you can see how close you were to getting it right! Winners will be drawn at random and NOT because of correctness of guessing which authors wrote which paragraphs.

The contributing bloggers are as follows:

Gracen Miller (me, of course)
Stacey Espino
Kelly Abell
Marissa Farrar
Sandra Sookoo
H.C. Brown
Rie McGaha
Cherie De Sues

PHANTASM FRIDAY

Trick or treat,
Smell my feet
Give me something good to eat!

I've mentioned on Halloween—this Sunday!—my guest bloggers have worked on a "treat" for you!!! But maybe it's a little bit of a trick too! ;-) You'll have to return on Sunday to find out. Oh, and did I mention we're giving away prizes? Yes, that's right...prizes!! So far, this is the list of what we'll be giving away:

Kelly Abell will be giving away an e-copy of Haunted Destiny
Marissa Farrar will be giving away an e-copy of Alone
Rie McGaha will be giving away a Closure writing tablet
A $10 Barnes and Noble Gift Card is up for grabs
A pink/flower book cover (this is intended to protect paperback books)

~(If you missed Kelly, Marissa or Rie's blog, click on their names and it'll take you to their guest post so you can learn more about their e-books!)~

So, mark your calendars to come back here for a different kind of "trick or treat" on Sunday. If you RSVP to this post today ONLY, I'll give you an extra entry for Sunday! The RSVP MUST be posted by midnight CST! But be sure to come back on Sunday for MORE entries!

Good luck to all those that enter! And Happy Halloween!!

~huggles~

Gracen

Twilight Thursday

Please welcome multi-published author, Sandra Sookoo! To read prior interviews with Sandra here in the moonlight, visit HERE and HERE.


GRACEN: Do you have a movie that you must watch every Halloween? What's your favorite scary movie? Do you have a favorite scary character or character type?

SANDRA: I do but I’m not real big into the scary stuff. I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to horror LOL I always watch Practical Magic, Sleepy Hollow, Hocus Pocus and The Corpse Bride


GRACEN: Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, what will you be dressed up as this year? What was your all-time most favorite costume that you ever wore? Why?

SANDRA: I haven’t dressed up for Halloween in years…unless you’re asking about sexy costumes for the hubby, but we won’t go there… My favorite costume? Probably a bag lady because I wore these really dorky striped knee socks LOL


GRACEN: Are you superstitious? Do you find yourself knocking on wood or throwing salt over your shoulder? If not one of these two, what is your superstition?

SANDRA: Not a bit. Although I think it’s beyond cool if I get all green lights on my way to somewhere.


GRACEN: Do you believe in ghosts? If so, have you ever had a ghostly encounter and tell us about it?

SANDRA: I do think there are ghosts among us. There have been times when I’ve been woken from a sound sleep by whispered voices and then there was that whole pantry fiasco a couple of weeks ago. Long story…


GRACEN: Tell us 3 funny or strange things that happened to you, or someone you know, on past Halloweens?

SANDRA: Once when I was in my teens, some friends dragged me to a “haunted” wood. When a scary character jumped out at me, I reacted by shoving him. He fell into a creek. That’s about it. I’m more the type to stay home and hand out the candy, since I’m a big scardey cat.


GRACEN: If you could be any paranormal creature, what would it be and why?

SANDRA: Oooh, tough question! I like the idea of werewolves, but getting furry once a month just doesn’t appeal. I have enough trouble keeping the legs shaved regularly LOL A vampire? Not so much. Living forever? Enough already! LOL Maybe a ghost, as long as I didn’t have to go through centuries needing to right a wrong…Oh, wait, that’s the kind of stories I like to write. Hmm. This question needs more thought!


GRACEN: Swashbuckling pirates like Johnny Depp are sexy, but e-pirates are not. How do you handle e-pirates in your writing world? Do you have any advice or wish to share any experience with other writers? Anything you wish to say to e-pirates in general?

SANDRA! Well, I’d say to e-pirates, shame on you! You’re stealing, no bones about it. What would your grandmother say?

When my work is pirated, I sent the take down notices, but in all honesty, this doesn’t help. It goes right back up. And here’s the truth, you can’t stop them until Congress passes laws. It happens and you pretty much just need to consider it free promotion. You can’t make yourself crazy about worrying over it.


GRACEN: Now, let’s get to your writing, Sandra…Why the paranormal genre? What was the draw for you?

SANDRA: Well, the glory of writing in the paranormal world is the very other-worldly aspect of it! There’s a certain mystery, a collection of secrets that go along with being not quite normal. It brings an added conflict to the storyline.


GRACEN: If you could describe your paranormal writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? Please be creative and look beyond words like vampire, werewolf, etc., and delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story.

SANDRA: Acceptance often goes beyond human understanding.


GRACEN: Do you prefer playing tricks on people or bestowing treats? Does that show through in your writing? If so, how?

SANDRA: LOL Well there’s a fine line, I’d say. Because I’m a huge baker, that oftentimes bleeds into my stories. On the other hand, I’m a very funny person so that transfers as well.


GRACEN: Who decides what creatures you write about, you or your muse? What kind of influence do you have over your story, or is the muse always the one stirring the cauldron?

SANDRA: I usually decide on the creature then I turn it over to the Muse. Depending on her mood, the story will be sweet or loaded with heat. I’ve decided I’m fine with that because it brings something for everyone.


GRACEN: What was the creature/paranormal character that you had the most fun creating and why? Who—to you—was the sexiest character you wrote and why?

SANDRA: Hmm, the most fun? Hands down Gregg the tax auditor demon in Demons & Stilettos. Oh but then there’s Hannah from The Art of Fang Shui. She was all kinds of fun and kind of a pain! Sexiest character? That’s a hard one, too. Xavier the werewolf from Vegetarian at Midnight or Ethan from Angel’s Master. He’s not a paranormal but he is a pirate…


GRACEN: If you had the opportunity to meet just one of your characters in real life, who would it be and why? Which of your characters would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why?

SANDRA: Oh wow, let’s see. I’d love to meet Edwin from Fang Shui. He’s very interesting. Or maybe the Bernhart brothers from my Holiday Magic series. Now there’s a couple of interesting men… Which one would I never want to meet? Hmm… Gregg from Demons and Stilettos. I don’t think I could survive him…


GRACEN: Thanks for joining us today, Sandra! It's always a pleasure to have you with us!

Blurb and excerpt for Changing Tides (a Strange Hollow tale):

Blurb:
Born of water. Neadra is an Undine, yet the thought of being in any body of water besides her bathtub terrifies her. In Strange Hollow, she lives on the side a the mountain, content and out of harm’s way, even as she yearns to be understood for her fears and loved in spite of them.

Drawn to water. Caelan, a water dragon from the wilds of Ireland, has been shunned by his clan for his inability to shift and terrorize. Lonely for too long, he meets Neadra one moonlit night and becomes enchanted by her kindness and her unique beauty, but how could anyone love him if he has no heroic ability whatsoever?

Threatened by water. When late spring rains, coupled with warm temperatures, melt much of the snow pack on Mt. Mitchell, a flood sweeps through the outskirts of Strange Hollow, putting Neadra’s life in danger. Caelan fights his way to get to her, pulling out the hero he never thought he could be while she, in turn, works through her fears to find him. Only through acceptance of the world around them and of each other will they find the life they’ve always wanted.

Excerpt:

Neadra sighed and dipped her feet a bit deeper into the chilly water. She perched at the very edge of Shady Lake, alone with only the moon and the lake for company. The romance of the area wasn’t lost on her.

A thick wood line shrouded the far side of the lake, serving as a barrier between the business end of Strange Hollow and the small network of farms and homes of the flatlands. She’d heard that any resident wishing to buy property in the outlying areas must be prepared to defend said real estate against interlopers who didn’t hold true with the laws of the town. Every homeowner outside the downtown area received two acres of land along with their house with specific instructions not to sub-let the acreage.

It seemed the founder of Strange Hollow didn’t want the beauty of the town marred by endless subdivisions, fast food joints and strip malls. Working alongside nature. As it should be.

Slowly wriggling her toes, she stared at the dark stretch of water. So much potential. So much fear. She pulled her long skirt up her legs and slid forward until the water lapped over her calves.

I can’t do this.

Ignoring the task at hand, Neadra let her mind ponder her state of singleness. Since she’d been a very little girl it had been drilled into her that water sprites only mated within their species. What happened to a woman who, by necessity, had to live away from her community and family? Because of her fear, she’d been forced to make her home in a tool shed near the sea, much to the derision of her family.

It also meant she appeared damaged and broken in the eyes of potential mate material. Not to mention, she lacked the gills inherent to her species, making living on land essential. She was decidedly too odd to fit into the aquatic community.

She blew out a shaky breath. Time marched on while her biological clock ticked down the years, bringing panic with it. In two months, she’d pass her thirty-first birthday, not young anymore and nearing the danger zone on the reproductive scale.

My life is so messed up.

Watching the moon’s reflection on the lake surface, two glowing blue objects caught her attention. Neadra narrowed her eyes, straining forward. It was too early in the season for amphibian life and the orbs were too large to belong to a snake or fish. In the space of a heartbeat, they vanished. Relief swept through her body. She didn’t want to encounter some of the more fierce wildlife rumored to live around the mountain.

As suddenly as they disappeared, the blue objects came back into view, almost staring at her with weird, electric light. She shivered and pulled her feet beneath her, out of the water. Were they eyes? How was it possible? If an Undine didn’t want to be seen, no one except another water sprite could see them--unless she failed at the camouflage aspect of her culture as well. She’d never had an opportunity to test the theory.

The eyes came closer, confirming the fact the objects belonged to something. Her pulse steadily increased until it drummed out a frantic rhythm. Too fascinated to move, she watched as it closed the distance, only ten feet from the shore and her.

Threads of nameless anticipation slid over her skin, invoking goose bumps, but she felt no fear. Five feet of dark water separated her from whatever lurked beneath the surface. Her throat went dry as she wondered what kind of being it was.

With the smooth movements of someone accustomed to spending time in and around water, the placid scene shimmered. The top of a male head appeared, bobbed for an instant, his gaze never breaking eye contact with her, and he swam forward. The closer he got, the more of his body was revealed until he stood, dripping, on the shore near her.

For a few seconds, Neadra forgot how to breathe as she stared at the naked form of the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. She gasped and realized beautiful was not nearly an appropriate way to describe this particular male. He was at least six feet tall, and she had to tip her head back in order to properly take him all in. Black, coarse hair sprinkled his winter-pale skin, and as he lifted his hands to slick his thick, black hair from his face, the muscles in his broad chest rippled.

Unable to breathe without sounding like a dog in heat, Neadra licked her lips as her gaze moved from his clean-shaven, square jaw, over wide shoulders, thick from daily gym visits or hard labor, and down along his torso, following the sensual black ribbon of hair past washboard abs to his partially rampant arousal.

“Wow.” She’d barely forced the word out when her sex contracted with a strong aching need and she had to squeeze her thighs together to stave off the sensations. Quickly snapping her gaze to his face, she sought to distract herself from his body--except his brilliant eyes caused havoc with her insides. She felt an insane desire to trace the strong lines of his face, run her fingers over his jaw, and feel his lips against hers. “Wow.”

The man smiled. The ordinary action lit his face into a softer version, twinkling his eyes and causing gentle creases to appear at the sides of his mouth and across his forehead, as if he indulged in grinning often. “It’s not often I get such a reaction from the ladies, especially not one as pretty as you. I’m Caelan Burke.”

Neadra melted a tiny bit further at the slight Irish accent in his baritone voice. “Hi.” At a disadvantage from her position on the ground, not to mention the tempting distraction of his naughty bits at eye level, she struggled to her feet. The small pebbles that made up the shore cut into the soles, but she barely noticed as she held out her hand. “My name is Neadra.”

When she moved forward to shake the hand he offered, her toes tangled into the hem of her long skirt and she stumbled, taking a few unsteady steps backward and teetering into the lake with a resounding splash.

Publisher’s website: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/
Strange Hollow site: http://www.strangehollow.com/
Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D_rDgGd8xA
Author’s website: http://sandrasookoo.com/. From here you’ll find links to me on Twitter, Facebook and my blogs.

DON'T FORGET...Return on Halloween for a special treat the guest bloggers have worked on for YOU!! There will be prizes given away, so be sure to join us here in the moonlight on Halloween!