Tantalizing Tuesday

Welcome Back

Kat Martin!

We welcome back Kat Martin today to celebrate the release of her book,

The Christmas Clock
in paperback!
This is definitely a don't miss book! 

“Is being an author as glamorous as it sounds?”

That is a question I can’t imagine anyone asking and yet some people think it’s true. Glamorous? Sitting behind a computer screen all day editing the words you thought were brilliant yesterday and today seem idiotic? Spending an extra hour after work writing a blog because you want people to know you have a book coming out instead of sitting down on the couch with a well-deserved glass of wine? Ending the day with eye strain and a headache?

Or worse yet, staring at the blank screen trying for hours to think of something to say?

The truth is writing is far more work than glamour. Especially when you tackle something new as I did with THE CHRISTMAS CLOCK. This story was different, much more difficult, a concept that began with an adorable old woman named Lottie Sparks who is stricken with Alzheimer’s and her grandson, Teddy, soon to be orphaned unless Lottie can find him a loving home. Lottie’s friends, Syl Winters and Joe Dixon, became the focus of the romance in the story and the core of the book.

Working in my spare time, it took me two years to finish THE CHRISTMAS CLOCK, but when the book was complete, I felt as if I had written a story that was really worthwhile.

I hope you’ll watch for THE CHRISTMAS CLOCK and that after the holidays, you’ll keep an eye out for my Raines Brothers Trilogy, which starts January 1st with Jackson Raines in AGAINST THE WIND.

Till then, Happy Holidays and all best wishes, Kat

Oh, let's not forget that she has a very cool contest going on right now to celebrate the release of The Christmas Clock! She's giving away a Pfaltzgraff Village Snow Globe!

Want to enter? Click Here!

Mystic Monday

Classic Novels, Today's Writing Style and
the Modern Novel - Part One

NOTE: While my posts usually are kept PG-13, this one does have a few swears in it for educational purposes as I discuss the book Lady Chatterly's Lover, and may not be suitable for an immature audience.

I haven't posted the past couple of weeks because I'm dealing with migraines and a sinus infection. I thought I was getting better, but I'm not.

Anyway, I've been talking about reading the classics to see what they have to be considered classics. First off, for those who haven't read the other two posts before, I'm not talking about Shakespeare. Sure, what he did may have been pioneering, but his plays and stories are boring. Readers today like a good blend of action and mystery - whether there is a romance or not.

Yeah, yeah, there are plenty of Shakespeare readers out there wanting to argue with me right now. I didn't say his work was bad, they were just boring, especially for people who need to have the entire story interpreted for them because of the archaic references.

My overall beef with his work? They aren't true representations of life in his time. People did not speak the way they did in his plays, among other things. Shakespeare's whole point was to entertain his audience, no matter what story he told while other authors had other, more specific points to make.

Well, I decided to take my own advice. While I really wanted to read Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll, I picked up a classic I already owned and haven't read yet - Lady Chatterly's Lover by D.H. Lawrence.

For different academic classes I've read (besides Shakespeare, and I've read plenty of his work) Dracula by Bram Stoker, Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins among a host of others.

I thought that since this a romance blog, I would finally read Lady Chatterly's Lover.

Let me tell you, I'm not all that impressed. There's no way this book would get published the way this originally was, and it has nothing to do with the not-so-racy topics in the book. I'm reading the original, 1928 unexpurgated version.

For starters, there are way too many information dumps and nowhere near enough dialogue. Much of what was given in a dump could have been revealed through dialogue. Yes, I get that he was trying to set the scene, but there are better ways of doing that than info dumps. Not only that, most of the writing wasn't very descriptive, or was vague at best. For example, he uses the term "ruddy" too much for his descriptions and "ridiculous". But, then again, his overuse of the word "ridiculous" adds to his mockery of society at the time.

This book was considered pornographic at the time, but I think it was for more than just the fact that he openly wrote about sex - a taboo subject even in 1928 - but the fact that he made a mockery of the government, society as a whole, the soldiers and "famous" authors. I think this work just offended so many people that they felt they needed to prevent people from reading it, so they banned it. In fact, the unexpurgated version of the story was illegal to circulate in Britain until 1960.

So, why is this still considered classic literature even though the way it's written needs work?

For several reasons:

1. It's groundbreaking, pioneering and the first of it's kind to use some of the seven dirty words - Shit and Fuck are two that have made appearances that I found - as well as speak openly about sex.

2. It focuses on the woman being the "cheater" instead of the man.

3. It mocks the very society it was trying to honestly portray.

4. It focuses on sex and a woman's need for sex just as much of a man's need for it.

5. In overt ways it broaches homosexuality in that there are a couple male friends of her husbands that make roundabout comments about not being able to have an erection with a woman.

This is the best I can figure so far, as I'm only up to 5 of 19 chapters - the migraines make it difficult to read anything right now - but I plan on finishing it.

This novel could be considered the "grandmother" to erotic and steamy romance novels. Even though the romance novel began in 1740 with Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded, by Samuel Richardson, it wasn't until 1972 and the release of Woodiwiss's The Flame and the Flower that boundaries of plot and character began to be pushed and expanded. This novel attempted to do that, but unlike The Flame and the Flower, Lady Chatterly's Lover did more than push boundaries, it pushed buttons, too many buttons.

As I can't put coherent thoughts together right now, I'll take that as my cue to stop.

Phantasm Friday

Happy Black Friday!!! I didn't get out for the Black Friday shopping today, although I have in the past few years. Instead of spending money, do you want a chance to WIN something fun? If so, visit Decadent Publishing's 30 Days of Decadence! Click HERE and be entered for a chance to win. Come back each day until December 31st and find something new to win everyday! I'll be spotlighted on 30 Days of Decadence on December 14th and I'll be giving away an e-copy of Pandora's Box (when it's released) and a skull tote bag.

Life Lesson One on the Road to Hell has been posted! I'd love for you to come give me some feedback! Here's the link: http://madisonroadtohell.blogspot.com/

I'm hunkering down to watch Alabama football....ROLL TIDE ROLL! =D I hope everyone has a fabulous, but safe weekend!

~huggles~
Gracen

TWILIGHT THURSDAY

The Moonlighters Welcome Heather Kuehl

Please welcome Heather Kuehl into the Moonlight. Heather Kuehl is the author of The Sarah Vargas Series Book Two: Malevolent Dead, which was recently released by Eternal Press. Other books written by Heather are The Sarah Vargas Series Book One: Fade to Black and Promises to Keep. Just Another Paranormal Christmas, featuring a Sarah Vargas short story entitled “The Unexpected Guests,” is due out November 27, 2010. The Sarah Vargas Series Book Three: Blood Moon is due out in March 2011.

Now, it's time to create a little mayhem and get to the good stuff and reveal all of Heather’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 Heather Kuehl.



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!

HK: I always try to have my holiday shopping finished by Halloween, or Thanksgiving at the latest. I started to do that a couple of years ago and it’s cut all the holiday stress out of my life.

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

HK: I’ve never really been big about Thanksgiving, but now that my son is getting older I think I do need to develop a tradition or two. I like crafts, so maybe decorating. Definitely not cooking though; I’m a horrible cook, LoL.

MLM: What was your most memorable Thanksgiving and why?

HK: My most memorable Thanksgiving was in 2008. I had just given birth to my son a week before, and most of the family was in town to see him. Everything seemed so surreal, because never in my life did I expect to become a mom.

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

HK: My Mom’s cranberry nut bread. It’s melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and I look forward to it every year.

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

HK: I’m thankful for my son, who is happy and healthy; I’m always thankful for having a roof over my head, not everyone is so lucky; and I’m thankful for my family.

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?

HK: The Wampanoag. Native American culture has always interested me and it would be fun to see it first hand.

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"?

HK: LoL, yes I do commit to NaNoWriMo. It’s so inspiring to know that there are thousands of writers out there trying there hardest to pen a novel. I mean, if they can do it so can’t I! To make sure I get to 50,000 words, I set a daily goal for myself; write 2,ooo words a day. Sometimes I write more, sometimes I write less, but no matter what I try to write every day. Last year my story, which would become my latest release with Eternal Press Malevolent Dead, wrapped up at 22,000 words. Even though I didn’t finish NaNo, I finished a story and that’s all that mattered to me.

I’m proud to say that I am listed on the published Wrimos page of NaNo’s website. My book Promises to Keep was written during NaNoWriMo 2006 and was published by Eternal Press in March 2010.

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?

HK: I hate e-pirates! They don’t realize how many people they hurt when they illegally download. Sadly, it’s bound to happen. My advice is to always stay professional and report the e-pirate to your publisher to see if they can fix the problem.


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

HK: I write paranormal/fantasy romance. In my world, one can see a dragon fly overhead during the day, get bitten by a vampire at night, and fall in love with a werewolf under the light of a full moon. It’s so much fun to play in a world where anything can happen. When I first started writing I wrote high fantasy, swords and sorcery and dragons. As I grew as a writer, I discovered vampires and werewolves and started writing about them. But I missed my dragons! One day it dawned on me that this was my world, and I could have dragons in it if I wanted to. Since that day I feel head over heels in love with the world I created. I don’t think I’d enjoy writing any other genre more.

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?

HK: Discover a world where dragons roam the skies and vampires own the night… I want readers, when they are finished reading my books, to walk away knowing that anything is possible no matter the odds.

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?

HK: My one wish would be to be able to walk in to a chain bookstore, like Barnes and Noble or Books-A-Million, and see my book on the shelf. Right now, that is my ultimate goal. Once I reach it, I’m sure I’ll upgrade my ultimate goal to something more lofty.

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

HK: I dislike the criticism. I mean, what author doesn’t? I don’t like it when people review my books and complain about how short it is. I know that’s also a good thing, because usually it’s because they want more, but it’s hard to write longer books without filling it with useless clutter.
What I like most about being an author is when someone tells me that they read my book and loved it. There is no better feeling in the world than to know that someone, besides yourself, appreciates your hard work.

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?

HK: I come up with the characters as well as how I want the story to begin and end, but my muse guides the story. When I get writer’s block, it’s usually because I did something with those characters that my muse didn’t like. I have to go back and fix the problem so my muse will continue 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!

HK: Of course! What writer hasn’t? I’d love to share who the characters were based on, but those particular ones are villains in my books. I call it villain therapy. They did something to hurt me (the real person not the character) and I never got a chance to tell them how I felt. Thanks to the wonderful world of fiction, I am able to take my anger out on them.

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

HK: Sarah Vargas, the main character in my Sarah Vargas series, was the most fun to create. She was born from a song lyric by Sublime, and I’ve been having so much fun getting to know her. She’s so angry at the world for the hand she’s been dealt. Writing from her point of view is like doing a science experiment, you just want to see what happens.

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?

HK: I’d love to meet T.D. Drake. She’s a bad-ass witch as well as my favorite character. What I wouldn’t give to be able to talk shop with her… I’d never, ever, ever want to meet the Skyner twins. Jerrikin and Jackilin Skyner are pure, psychotic evil. To meet them would mean certain death.

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

HK: Thank you for having me! I’ve listed my links and book blurbs below, as well as an excerpt from my upcoming short story “The Unexpected Guests.”

Website: http://www.heatherkuehl.com/
Blog: http://heatherkuehl.blogspot.com/
Readers can follow me on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-Kuehl/172267734681) and Twitter (@heatherkuehl).

Fade to Black blurb:

Werewolf bounty hunter Sarah Vargas has only one goal in life; to kill the Were that attacked and changed her. However a slew of werecreature murders send Sarah and her partner, Jared Fontaine, on the mission of their lives, ending with a discovery about Jared’s past that might destroy them both.

Malevolent Dead blurb:

Werewolf Sarah Vargas thought all she had to worry about was the Blood Moon Corporation's retaliation. She never dreamed that another vampire would arrive, disputing Damian's claim over the throne to Charleston, SC. To make matters worse, he is no ordinary vamp; he's a vampire necromancer. He's exceptionally hard to kill, and Sarah will have to do what ever she can to keep those that she loves safe... Even if it means doing the unthinkable.

Blood Moon blurb:

After she broke her contract with the Blood Moon Corporation, Sarah Vargas knew that it was only a matter of time before they came for her. What she didn't know is what lengths they would go to to make sure that she had no where to run. Everyone Sarah has every relied on is in danger during a time when friends become enemies, and Sarah quickly realizes that the Blood Moon Corporation will never give up until she is dead. The Blood Moon Corporation is coming, and even Sarah doesn't think she can make it out alive.


Buy Links
Malevolent Dead: Book Two of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press
Fade to Black: Book One of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press
Promises to Keep, Eternal Press


Coming Soon
Just Another Paranormal Christmas, Mojocastle Press (11/27/10)
Blood Moon: Book Three of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press (3/7/2011)


EXCERPT from “The Unexpected Guests,” featured in Just Another Paranormal Christmas:

“Not only is it an honor to have the Du’Rah attend Damian’s event, it’s a danger,” T.D. said. She had sat upright on the bed and had her hand resting on the butt of her gun.

“Damian told me what happened at the last party they attended,” Sarah said. “No survivors.”

“They don’t attend parties to have a good time,” T.D. said. “They do it to take out competition.”

Jared and Sarah turned towards the witch. “What?”

T.D. nodded. “To become a Du’Rah is a very high honor, one gained only through age. There is no task to complete. You could live in a cave your whole life and still get inducted into the Du’Rah. They attend the galas of those chosen for the honor, and then find a reason to be displeased with them. The music wasn’t right. They didn’t have a Du’Rah’s favorite blood. The costumes offended a member. With displeasure comes death.”

“Then why are they attending Damian’s Christmas party?” asked Jared. “I mean, yes he was alive when Rome fell but there has to be vamps older than that.”

“There are,” said T.D. after a moment. “But Damian’s an interesting creature. He wasn’t born during Roman times Jared. Not only has he been a vampire longer than you can fathom, but he was born into vampirism. He has known no other life. The Du’Rah must feel threatened by this.”
“He’s been chosen to become a Du’Rah,” stated Sarah.

“We might as well been given a death sentence.”


Note from the author: Just Another Paranormal Christmas is an anthology published by Mojocastle Press, benefiting the Armed Forces Children’s Education Fund, Inc. For more information about this wonderful cause, please visit their website: http://www.afcef.org/

Wistful Wednesday

Loss

Yesterday, I suffered a great loss, so I will not be posting a blog today. My aunt, who'd been suffering from diabetic kidney disease, lung cancer and the results of a car accident (the last two happening in just the past couple of months), passed away yesterday morning.

To say that I am devastated would be a gross understatement. She was a wonderful woman with a wacky personality and I will miss her terribly.

Rest in peace, my sweet Aunt Gail, and may you forever sleep in the arms of the angels.

TANTALIZING TUESDAY

The Moonlighters Welcome Kelly Daniels

Please welcome Kelly Daniels into the Moonlight. Kelly is the author of Be Mine, which was recently released by Decadent Publishing. She also has a short holiday story called Melting Frost that will be released soon.

Now, it's time to create a little mayhem and get to the good stuff and reveal all of Kelly’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 Kelly Daniels.

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!

KD: I love to cuddle up next to my fireplace with a good book and a cup of spiked hot chocolate! I would do that everyday if I could, but let’s be real; real life doesn’t always give us the opportunity to indulge like that. That’s why I always keep a guilty pleasure book in my purse. You never know when you’re going to get stuck in line at Target next to a screaming demon-child and need a momentary oasis.


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

KD: Dinner at my parents house which is supposed to start promptly at six. At around nine we actually sit down at the table. My sisters and I have a weakness for champagne, so in waiting for dinner to b ready, we usually enjoy a glass or two or four.


MLM: What was your most memorable Thanksgiving and why?

KD: Nothing really pops out, but I’ m ok with that. Every year that I get to spend with my family has been memorable. We share stories about growing up, we tease each other and just generally have a great time. I guess I’m lucky to have such a loving family.


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

KD: Oh, that’s an easy one. LEFSA! We have a bit of Norwegian blood in our family so this thin potato pancake is a staple at our holiday table. I like it with butter and sugar and drizzled with maple syrup.


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

KD: I am thankful for my dog, Ari. She gives me inspiration and companionship when I need it most. I am especially thankful for my sisters, those who were born with the privilege and those who have blessed me with the title. And of course, I am thankful for my newly budding career! To be able to write and tell the stories in my head to the whole world is a privilege that I will always be thankful for.


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?

KD: Since I was little I’ve always been interested in digging into my family’s genealogy. And although it would be interesting to be among the Wampanoag since I do have some Native American blood (Winnebago and Potawatomie) I actually have Pilgrim ancestors that were at the first Thanksgiving. I would love to have seen how they lived and speak with them.


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"?

KD: NaNo to me is like Christmas shopping. Every year, I promise myself I will commit and finish early and every year I end up taking off work to finish what I should have been doing all along. This works for me because I need deadlines to stress me out to the point where I panic and finally get to work. But this year is different. I came into NaNo armed with a very detailed outline and writing prompts for each of the thirty days which has really helped so far.


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?

KD: My first book was just released a month ago so I haven’t had any experience with them so far. I would hope that I would be a mature adult about the situation, but I get the feeling that if it does happen to me, I will morph into some sort of mama tigress and rip those pirates to shreds!  Just saying…


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

KD: I like to write paranormal romantic suspense. It just seems to me that there should be more magic in life. Happily ever after’s and magic moments are, sadly, few and far between. If I can give my reader a moment of the unbelievable and make them believe in it, then I feel like I’ve really accomplished my goal as a writer.


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?

KD: My writing is edgy, fun and generally a good time! I hope that when you read my book, you can disappear into my world for a short time and meet some of my characters. And if I’m very lucky, you’ll fall just as much in love with them as I have!


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?

KD: I already have a beast of an imagination- what I need now is time to write it all down! The thing that I hate most is getting struck with a great story line and then BAM! Life gets in the way. Perfect recall would be awesome.


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

KD: These two questions have the same answer: my editor. I’ve worked with her on two projects now and she is amazing! I can only say this when we’re done because during the process I am not a very good human being. Maybe you can see how my attitude as an overly sensitive writer might strain the relationship a bit. ;) Honestly, I am so grateful for my awesome editor! She puts up with my tantrums and gives back as good as she gets. And in the end, the polished final project is 1000x better than the starting book.


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?

KD: I decide. Totally 100%. That is, until my ADD (aka my muse) decides to run the show. I go off on these little tangents sometimes that make no sense for the book. For example, in “Be Mine” my main characters, Larik and Elle, originally took a trip to Greece. When my editor read this, her only comment was “huh?”. Needless to say, that didn’t make it into the final copy. I will be posting this and some other deleted scenes on my website soon, so be on the look out!


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!

KD: Just one! Ari, my weimerheiner is a starring character in Be Mine.


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?

KD: Probably Andrew. I love the strong-silent type. Andrew has a sad and painful past, but life is good where he’s at now. A little boring, maybe, but good. Until he meets Elle’s sister Millie, that is. This combat boot wearing pixie with an attitude problem is about to turn his carefully organized world upside down. I am frantically writing their story now. The ideas are coming faster than I can write them!


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

Website: http://www.kelly-daniels.com/
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Mine-Fall-Into-Night-ebook/dp/B004AHKC6G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1290398180&sr=1-2


BLURB:

Stubborn and independent, Elle Galligan wants to be left alone by her crazy ex-boyfriend, Lukas, who continues to terrorize her, each time more viciously than the last. With no choice, she seeks out the one man she’s turned her back on from the past—only to be thrown into the unknown.

Successful Prince of Darkness, Larik deWolf, spots trouble the moment Elle calls him. In an ongoing war with Elle’s shapeshifting ex, Larik is left with no alternative and vows to protect her from the evil stalking her, only to draw Elle closer into the mysterious world he hid from her. As danger strikes, history deems to repeat itself. When attraction binds them together, Elle threatens his supernatural abilities and control. Larik finds himself opening up his heart to the one woman he’s tried not to love, but will she accept his secrets or continue to fight fate?


EXCERPT:

She returned to the bedroom door, heart pounding in an erratic beat. Drawing in a deep breath as if preparing herself, she willed courage. She couldn’t allow Jake to be hurt. A sudden maternal instinct rose in her chest. If anyone messed with her nephew, they’d regret it. Tightening her hold on the pepper spray, she shook the can and set the candleholder on the stand next to the door. Slowly, she turned the doorknob and pushed it open just enough that it unlatched. Elle took a deep breath, and kicked the door open with her foot. Her eyes scanned the room as she stepped in, looking for the intruder. No one was there, but adrenaline coursed through her system, kicking up another notch. She took in a deep breath then gasped as realization struck her.

Even though the room was empty, she knew he had just left. The air crackled with his energy, like the electrically charged sky right after lightning struck.

A chilly breeze brushed against her, drawing her attention to the window near the fire escape. With caution, she moved further into the room. A piece of broken glass crunched beneath her heels. She nearly jumped out of her skin. Scanning for the source of the glass, she noticed one of her picture frames broken under a small dent in the wall. A dark shape drew her attention to the bed. Her eyes widened at the meticulously, laid out, sexy black lingerie—something she would never be caught dead in. Next to it was an iris that looked like it came from the arrangement next to her bed. And a note.

Picking up the card, she shuddered as she read the message, “The time is coming. Sweet dreams, my love.”

Starlight Saturday

Save the Earth Saturday

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, people are beginning to think about what cookies to make for Christmas, or even thinking about making cut-out cookies for Turkey Day.

Yeah, we can save money by purchasing those pretty sugar sprinkles when they're on sale, but did you know that you could save even more than that, reduce waste, and reuse plastic containers?

It's true. Instead of buying more sugars this holiday season, make your own!

It's really simple, and the sugars can have a very bright color to them. The trick is to not use too much of the food coloring.

How do I know this works?

Well, my mom wanted to make cookies with my niece, but we were limited by the color selection. However, she had plenty of sugar and a box of food colors - red, green, yellow, blue - so we were set.

The red and green sugars I made worked fine, but I think there was just a bit too much coloring because the sugars were caking slightly, however, the yellow sugar worked great.

The difference?

Instead of using the red and green from the dropper bottles, I used red and green from her larger bottles instead. I made the yellow sugars from the dropper bottle color.

There are a couple of different methods, but you only need a small bowl for mixing (Corelle salad/cereal bowls worked great), a spoon, white granulated sugar and food coloring.

I used about 6 drops of color to about 1/2 cup of sugar, and mixed thoroughly. There shouldn't be any color left over in the bowl, but if there is, just add a little bit more sugar and mix thoroughly.

Color Choices

Want more than just red, blue, yellow and green but not sure how to get there?

Have no fear because McCormick makes neon colors too!

That's right, so now you can make light blue and deep blue as well as pink and neon purple.

Still don't have the right color? Looking for something darker, like black? Well, McCormick does make black food coloring too, just not sure if your local store will have it in stock!

Mixing Colors

When mixing colors, be sure to add your coloring to the bowl before the sugar so the colors can mix properly. Remember that you only want about 6 total drops to 1/2 cup sugar. Many of the online food color mixes are for 16 oz of frosting, so I've made a small color chart based on 1/2 cup of sugar to help you get started:

Dark Orange: 4 drops of red, 2 drops yellow

Orange: 3 drops red, 3 drops yellow

Light Orange: 2 drops red and 4 drops yellow

Of course, you can experiment with color mixes before you start coloring your sugars to find the color that you want. If you experiment, be sure and keep track of what you do so you'll be able to recreate that color!

Storing

Now you have your colors, how do you store them?

If you have any empty sugar/candy sprinkle bottles left, you can reuse them. If not, you can use a container with an air-tight seal. Depending upon how much you made, an 8oz size container should work fine, but you may need a larger size if you made more than 1 cup of colored sugar (1C=8oz).

Be sure that sprinkles are stored in a clean, dry area too.

Happy decorating!

Phantasm Friday

Between my sons' basketball games, basketball practices and my computer hard drive going kapooey this week, I haven't even thought about a blog entry. Gah! I hate it when I do that.

So it seems like everyone is doing the "six sentence" blog. My variation is going to be "Five Paragraph Friday!" Here's 5 paragraphs from Pandora's Box...(unedited of course):

"What the hell was that about?" Nix panted from fighting off rabid-boy.

The woman lifted her blonde head, her blue eyes—the exact shade of the boy's—rendered him motionless.

What a babe.

MILF alert!

Tall, leggy and heavily breasted. Just his type of woman. Not that his tastes were discriminating. Sometimes this job had perks and right now he stared at a sexy perk.

In the coming weeks, I'll be starting the accounting of Madison's Life Lessons on The Road to Hell. All entries into that will detail Madison's life before the beginning of Pandora's Box. But I'll keep you updated and let you know when it's available to access.

Also, check out our newest addition to MLM, Miss Havana! She's a hoot and gives the most screwed up advice! Her advice column is nestled behind Reaper's Door at the top, but here's the direct link to check her out: http://mlm-dmh.blogspot.com/

Oh, and there will be a HUGE Holiday Blog giveaway at 30 Days of Decadence (founded by Decadent Publishing) starting on Black Friday and ending on December 31st. I'll be posting and giving away an e-copy of Pandora's Box, along with another goodie on December 14th. Here's the link where the Holiday event will begin: http://30daysofdecadence.blogspot.com/

I don't have a release date on Pandora's Box yet. :-( But, hey, I have a beautiful cover to look at so that's inspiring! :-) Hopefully, I'll have a date soon. I'm antsy to get started on edits, but I know once I get into them I'll be wishing they were over! I'm as bad as my kids wishing my life away, huh? LOL

I'm getting reading for Christmas gift shopping next week. My husband and I always shop the weekend after Thanksgiving and get all of our Christmas gifts out of the way. Of the two, can you guess who finds all that Christmas shopping fun? One hint...it's NOT the female in the group. How about you guys, when do you get your shopping done?

I ditched my NaNo project because I couldn't focus on it with everything else going on, so I only mastered just over 3,000 words on that project. It'll get completed one day.

I finished Phoenix Rising, book two to Pandora's Box, which are both part of The Road to Hell Series. When I got started on edits, I realized I needed a couple more scenes to complete the storyline. So that's what I'm working on now. What about you? Are you writing or editing or in vacation mode?

Okay, so that's all that's going on in my life. Let's catch up...tell me about what's going on in your life!

I hope everyone has a safe weekend, and a safe and very Happy Thanksgiving!

~huggles~
Gracen

Twilight Thursday

The Moonlighters Welcome Annie Alvarez

Please welcome Annie Alvarez into the Moonlight. Annie is the author of Gaia’s Lust, book 5 of The Hightower Series, which was recently released by eXtasy Books. Other books written by Annie are For The Love Of Blood, Cheating Death, Dying To Live, Lustful Torment and Sessions.

Now, it's time to create a little mayhem and get to the good stuff and reveal all of Annie’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 Annie.



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!

Annie: De-stress…is that really possible? I do all the usual things that are supposed to work, but when I’m wound tight, I throw in the towel and head for the gun range. For me, the range works out all my kinks. LOL


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

Annie: Thanksgiving tradition has taken on a new meaning since I’ve been accepted into my partner’s life. She has a VERY large family that likes to “get together” every year. About a hundred or so, no exaggerations, family members cram into her aunt’s little house to eat, watch the football game or take the dreaded 2-mile walk.


MLM: What was your most memorable Thanksgiving and why?

Annie: Going to the first Thanksgiving dinner with my partner’s family. Talk about overwhelmed! We were all sardines packed into a little house and I loved it! Everyone welcomed me and made me feel like I was part of the family. They even put me to work that day.


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

Annie: Well, there’s actually 4-5 buffet style tables set up in the garage. The first always has the meats. The usual smoked turkey, fried turkey, baked turkey, ham, ribs, sausage and deer meat if the uncles or cousins were lucky during hunting season. The second and third tables consist of the side dishes. Broccoli cheese casseroles, beans, cranberry something or another, rice dishes, salads and a few “experimental” dishes someone had to try. The best table is always the last. Dessert. Homemade Ice cream, pudding, carrot cake, triple-suicide-chocolate-cake, banana pudding and anything else that might remotely sound like dessert. The rule of thumb is that there is no must have food, everyone brings a dish, so we end up with a large assortment.


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

Annie: I am thankful that my 94-year-old grandma is still with us. Earlier this year, she put us through a big-time scare. She means the world to me.

With the economy the way that it is, I am thankful that we have a roof our heads and food on the table. I know it sounds cliché, but I actually know a few people who have lost everything. It drives home the fact that no one is immune to these trying times.

Last and certainly not least, I am thankful for the family and friends that I have and I do include eXtasy books in that list. Seriously, without all the love and support I have been blessed with, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today.


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?

Annie: Well, let’s see…with the Native American Indians, of course! Why? Have you seen the garb that the Pilgrim women used to dress in? Yeah, no. Not happening here! The truth is that I have a great respect for the American Indian beliefs. I think it’s a lot healthier than our current philosophy.


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"?

Annie: I’ve heard of other authors mentioning NaNo, but it’s not something I’ve been interested in doing. I have a writing routine that works well. I sit down every day and I write! Whether I write a single word, a sentence, a paragraph, a page or 100 pages, I write. I don’t allow anything to dictate my writing. I guess I’m like NIKE that way – I Just Do It!


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?

Annie: Wow! That’s a loaded topic! I don’t want to sound like everyone else because eventually all you end up hearing is blah, blah, blah. But, I will say this, theft, whether it’s on the internet or in a store is still stealing and it’s NOT cool. When I was at the bookstore the other day, I heard a couple of grown women talking how they frequent a known internet pirate site. After working off the initial shock. I approached them and asked them one question. How would you like it, if after spending all week at work, I showed up and took your paycheck? Both of the women replied that they would have me arrested. When I explained that they were basically doing the same thing when they visited the pirate site, they were appalled. Go Figure! It’s amazing to me that people don’t put e-pirating and stealing together. And that’s all I’ll say about that. :0)


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

Annie: Erotica. Paranormal. Vampires. F/F and as of late, I written a F/F/M. The draw is a story where the only boundaries are my own imagination. First, I love vampires and I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve read all the Twilight books, not once, but twice. I have also stood in line to watch the midnight showing of the movies. Having said that, I have mentioned that I love vampires?


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?

Annie: I’m not trying to spread any kind of global message, we get that all the time, from just about anywhere we go. I’m trying to provide adults, a form of entertainment that will not only allow them to escape the confines of their world for a little while, but perhaps encourage a stirring or two, if you know what I mean.


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?

Annie: I would rub the genie’s bottle, close my eyes and wish that…oh, heck! I don’t know. To become an inspiration for other f/f authors.


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

Annie: What I like the most is that I create the world’s I write about. As I said before, my imagination is my only boundary. What I dislike the most? Having to promote myself. I’m just not a good sales person.


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?

Annie: Hahaha! I think it’s a collaboration between us. Wait! My muse wants me to inform you that I have nothing to do with the actual story except for typing it.


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!

Annie: Nope. I can say that none of the stubborn, cool-headedness, and humor resembles any one very close to me. Do you believe me?


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

Annie: It’s a toss up between Tamara Hightower and Izzy. I love Tamara’s calmness; nothing seems to faze her. She handles everything with an air of authority and then there’s Izzy who is full of life and has a natural stubborn streak that allows her to find a way around the Clan’s laws.


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?

Annie: Why only one? That’s just not fair! Okay, fine, Tamara it is. Why? Because I see her as a Selena from Underworld and who wouldn’t want to meet her? The one I would stay away from is…drum roll, please…Celeste! She’s so conniving (in a bad way) that she scares me!


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

BLURB:

Unruly magic. A pregnancy that only the Gods can create. A surprise visit from a long lost relative. Claiming collars, Royal Mages and a new and totally different world. So many things have happened in a mere 72-hour period.

It is no wonder that I must question my actions before I help Izzy escape from a world that has perfected enslaving our kind—vampires. May the Gods stake me now, for I will destroy the many to save the one.



EXCERPT:

I heard the words and fell back against the mattress, my arms spread out as if someone crucified me. Someone stake me now. I wasn’t ready to be a full time parent. I learned that painful lesson after Joan’s High Priestess trapped me in a roomful of innocent children and called forth my hunger. It was a miracle that I hadn’t slaughtered them. Instead of allowing my true nature to rule me, I dug my fangs deep into my own shoulder and drank. Children made me weak. I still had the scar to prove it.

“Did you hear me?” Layla egged on.

“Yes.” I sighed. “I’m contemplating my death.”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic.” Layla chuckled as she floated above me. “Besides having Izzy around, tending to a little girl would do you some good.”

“Peachy, another set of working ovaries,” I mumbled. “The PMS alone may kill me.”

“When the time is right, it shall be.” A sadistic smile slowly crept across her face.

I knew Layla, the Vampire Goddess, but I knew Layla, my ex-lover better, well enough to know she toyed with me. “Is there ever a right time to have a child?”

“Of course.” An evil sparkle shone in her eyes.

“But one must first be pregnant.”

“She’s not pregnant?” My voice cracked in a moment of relief.

Layla momentarily disappeared and then reappeared at the foot of the bed. I sat up, waiting for an answer.

“We were so good together.” She gently caressed my leg.

“Oh, no.” I moved away from her touch. “Don’t change the subject.”

For a moment, she looked hurt that I would deny her my touch, and I felt obliged to comfort her. “We decided we were better friends than lovers and…” I paused, not sure my words would consol her. “Sometimes friends don’t let friends touch them.”

She shrugged and smiled. “You are too trusting of your human lover.”


Website: http://www.anniealvarez.net
Buy Link: http://www.extasybooks.net/ebjmsite/index.php or fell free to visit my webpage http://anniealvarez.net/img/purchase.html to find other online retailers who carry my books.
Other places Annie can be found on the world wide web:
http://naughtylittlevamp.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/AnnieAlvarez
http://twitter.com/AnnieAlvarez
http://www.myspace.com/anniesreality

Wistful Wednesday

Special Guest:

Stacey Kennedy

Today, I have a special guest. Please welcome Stacey Kennedy, author of Everlasting Bite!

Werewolves, Why Do

We Love Them?

Werewolves, why do we love them?  Gosh, why don’t we should be the question.  They’re powerful, beautiful and loyal.  

Knowing not much about them, it was quite a journey to learn all their special little traits as I did my research for An Everlasting Bite.  How they’re protective, loving, monogamous, but one trait stood out from the rest―their playful nature.  

When we think of werewolves and how they’re portrayed in stories it’s usually through their dominant side.  Yet in real life, wolves are quite the opposite unless provoked.  Which is exactly why I dedicated a whole scene to the silly side of the wolf―below is a snippet from An Everlasting Bite.

Suddenly, he moved faster―lengthened his stride.

Oh crap! He was only humoring her that she could out run him. Before she knew it, he was behind her and gave her backside a little nibble. She skidded to a halt and glanced behind her. He rested, head down and rump in the air, tail wagging.

The wolf within her knew exactly what to do. She lunged toward him.  He jumped out of the way to rest in the same position and waited for her attack. Even in his wolf form, his eyes were so amused. He enjoyed this and so did she.

He growled, the sound rumbled through the air as he called her forward.  She pounced again, but this time she ended up right on her butt as he maneuvered away from her.

Determined, she crouched down in the position he displayed―the declaration of an attack. She lunged forward. This time he let her. When she collided with him, they rolled around within the leaves and dirt, nibbling at each other.

After a final tumble, she jumped away. When she met his gaze, his eyes were smiling. She couldn’t deny how fun this was. As wolves, this was happiness. She’d needed this. Just silly fun. No danger, only them.

Blurb of An Everlasting Bite (Releases November 15, 2010—Liquid Silver Books)

Love is born between strangers, yet built upon a bond soul deep―one Alpha’s vow to protect his mate from looming danger, all the while, mending her soul and stirring her wolfish desires.

A vicious werewolf attack in Plymouth, Minnesota leaves a young woman violated, bitten and now, transformed into werewolf. But Rynn Murphy doesn’t have to face this transformation alone—she has her mate by her side. And the charming Briggs―Beta to the Patriarch, Valor―is eager to ease her into this new life and mend her battered soul.

With only weeks to adjust to her new fur, Rynn, follows Briggs while he assists in locating the daughter of the Montana’s Alpha, who was abducted from her home.  But this journey is not without danger. And soon, they discover the ones who have taken this young wolf do not want her found and will stop at nothing to keep her hidden. Or so it may seem, as bodies begin to drop around them, the murderous attempts start to appear more as a hit than a smoke screen—leaving only one question, who is the intended target…

Buy link (will change, but we can just use this one to direct to) -- http://www.staceykennedy.com/books/blue-blood-series/an-everlasting-bite/

Website - www.staceykennedy.com 

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=100000956942180 

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3473046.Stacey_Kennedy 

Twitter - http://twitter.com/Stacey_Kennedy 

  

PRAISE FOR THE WILLOW 

RT Book Reviews 

“…Kennedy has created a world that readers will want to visit again and again!” Dawn Crowne 

PRAISE FOR THE WICKED 

Bitten by Paranormal Romance 

“Do you love magic, dominant men, adventure, humor, evil villains and a talking cat? Well here is an excellent book for you to try.” Laurie 

  

PRAISE OF A DEADLY WHISPER 

Happily Ever After Reviews 

The readers will find themselves snickering and crying with the characters. I highly recommend this book. Read it, go get it right away. ” Hunter

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.