All About the Writing

Friday Friends: Elizabeth Smith

This is a Friday Friends intro that I've been so excited to write. I met Elizabeth, in person, many years ago. I like to say she's the reason I started to write in the first place. I had gone to my very first Romantic Times convention, by myself, not knowing anybody there, and I was a nervous wreck. Even worse, I felt like a complete fraud because everyone else seemed like writing pros and I was still in that "wish I could write something" stage. I forced myself to go to the first event, a cocktail party, but I only planned to stay for about 3 and a half minutes, and then I'd spend the rest of the conference in my hotel room. Just as I walked into the party, Elizabeth must have seen how terrified I was, because she came up to me and said in her sweet, calm, Southern-accented voice, "Are you new too?"

I ended up staying, and hanging out with Elizabeth and a few others who joined our group, and it was one of the best things I've ever experienced. As soon as I got home, I started writing up a storm. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I was excited to give it a try, since it was something I'd been wanting to do for such a long time. Elizabeth and I have been long-distance friends ever since, even when life got in the way and we weren't in contact for several years. Recently she found me on Facebook and we've gotten to reconnect, and it's been such a delight catching up. I'm also thrilled she's got her first indie book out.

So please, welcome the lovely and talented Elizabeth Smith to Friday Friends!

1.  Of all the characters you've created, which one is your favorite? (*waves arms* Hey, characters! Free snacks over here!) Why do you love them best?  This is like asking a parent which of their children they love the most. I love them all, but Joe Devlin, the hero in Nobody's Baby, my first published novel will always be special to me. But then there's Jack McConnell (A Bittersweet Bed) who practically shouted to me that besides being a great looking guy, he was also more complex than I first thought. How could I resist that combination?

2.    2.  I remember Joe! He definitely was swoony. But now I've got a soft spot for Jack, after reading your excerpt below. What's your go-to "writing avoidance" technique? (I'm fainting at the thought of running out of these!)  Well, at first it was email, then Facebook, which can always be justified as "marketing," but lately it's been cleaning house--which is really scary because I can ignore an awful lot of dust before I feel the need to do anything about it. 

3.    3.  Eeek! Cleaning house? If you were able to go on a writing retreat (and bring all of us along, of course!), where would it be? (My suitcases are always packed. No, seriously. Don't mind me.) I don't have to think about this one--Venice. Bring your Italian for travelers phrase book.

4.    4. "Buono!" Just thought I'd start practicing. LOL What's the word you love to use (and overuse, so you have to take it out of your book during edits)? "That" and "Just."  I think "just" might be a Southern thing (as in "I just looove your shoes."), and after I delete all the unnessary "thats" I swear I won't do the same thing on the next manuscript.

5.    5.  I think "just" is such an important word. It helps with the cadence and sound of a sentence. (That's my story. . .) Name the first thing you'll do when you make a million dollars from your books. Travel around the world.

Buono! Sorry -- I didn't want to get rusty before the trip starts! Okay, here's a lightning round we'll call Tasty Ten, where we get to know you in a speed dating kind of way:

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Drafting or revising? Drafting--that's the exciting part of writing. I hate revising.

Twitter or Facebook? I'm barely able to post on Facebook, so Twitter is safe--for now.

Winter or Summer? Summer.

Morning or evening? Not a morning person.

Contemporary or historical? Both.

Pirate or cowboy? Pirate

Heels or flats? Heels

Abs or pecs? Abs

Biter or licker? (Hey! I'm talking ice cream cones here!) Biter

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Author Bio

Ignoring well-meaning advice to get a degree in something practical, Elizabeth Smith pursued her dream of becoming an artist. Starting out as a graphic artist, she progressed to package designer, and later advertising director and creative director. A career change led her to teaching. Most recently she taught high school (Spanish, not Art) and has decided that all the problems of the world can easily be solved by asking a teenager what they would do--something her two daughters tried to tell her many times. She is the author of four novels and lives in South Carolina with her husband, Don, where she continues to write stories of romance, mystery and suspense.

Social Media Links

www.facebook.com/ElizabethSmithBooks

Blurb

One night can change everything.  Now three years later, Cammie Richards has decided to put aside her delusions that NCIS agent Jack McConnell will come back to her and the two-year-old son he knows nothing about. But imagine Cammie's astonishment when Jack, with absolute confidence in his charm, saunters back into her life and into her heart. Ignoring her vow to forget about him, she is completely dazzled by his incredibly sexy smile and sky-blue eyes. Wanting them to have time to know one another, Cammie decides not to tell Jack that he's the father of her child. But it doesn't take long for Jack to realize that Cammie is looking for the promise of a future together. And that is more than Jack is prepared to give. Still haunted by tragedy, he's sworn not to become emotionally entangled--especially with a pretty single mother and a cute little kid that calls him "Dack."

Excerpt

     Just then, the salesman, a somber-looking man in his early sixties, approached. "May I help you?"

     "Yes, sir," said Jack, still reclining and still holding Cammie hostage. "We are going to buy one of these, but we haven't decided which one, have we, honey?"

     "Will you stop?" she hissed.

     "You see, I like a firm mattress. To me, sleeping on the floor feels good."

     "Then maybe that's what you should do," whispered Cammie through clenched teeth.

     "But my sweetie, here, she likes things soft and cuddly, don't you, darlin'?"

     Cammie rolled her eyes. "Jack, I'm warning you. I work in this mall, and at any moment someone could walk by that-- Oh, no!" Cammie turned and pressed her face against Jack's shoulder, burrowing into the mattress as far as she could.

     The salesman cleared his throat. "We have some other mattresses over here. Perhaps you and your wife would care to, uh, test these out?"

     "Oh, we're not married," explained Jack.

     "Will you be quiet?" pleaded Cammie in a muffled voice, then turned her face away again just as a tall, silver-haired woman in her mid-sixties glanced over at them across several rows of mattresses.

     Jack rolled away from Cammie and sat up on the side of the bed. Cammie quickly scooted toward him, hiding her face at the base of his spine. "Don't move," she instructed in a harsh whisper.

     "Awww, Cam, honey, you don't have to be embarrassed. I'm sure this nice man sells lots of mattresses to people like us."

     "There are no other people like us," she said. To add emphasis to her message, she balled up her fist and punched him.

     Just then the woman from across the aisle called out, "Cammie? Cammie Richards? Is that you?"

    Oh crap! Cammie moaned and scooted out from behind Jack, pushing her hair out of her face and attempting a weak smile as she swung her feet to the floor. "Hello, Mrs. Kingsley. What a surprise to see you here."

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo and other online retailers

Friday Friends: Clovia Shaw

Clovia is one of the funniest people I've ever met. Even though we've never met. We've come close, a couple times, when she's visited my neck of the woods. But the fates have always conspired against us. Still, I'm hopeful we'll overcome those obstacles one day. Clovia is wicked clever, and funny, and I love anything she writes, whether it's a tweet, a blog comment, or the answer to "biter or licker". And now she has BOOKS!

Please help me welcome the lovely and talented Clovia Shaw to Friday Friends!

Of all the characters you've created, which one is your favorite? (Don't worry. We won't let the other characters read this.) Why do you love them best? This is a terribly weaselly answer, but I am a fickle little god, and my affections shift from character to character. Sometimes something comes out in the course of writing a secondary or tertiary character, and I get enamored with them, what their backstory is, who they'll fall in love with and how. For Sly Magic, I will say that the will o' wisp was fun to write, because it's a challenge giving a flicker of green light personality without going over the line into Scrappy Doo hate-ability. 

Oooh, I can't wait to read the will o' wisp. And secondary characters are fun to fall in love with, since they haven't yet exhibited that annoying, "I'm not gonna talk to you!" thing. What's your go-to "writing avoidance" technique? (We're hoping to add some new ones to our repertoire.) Research! Or, uh, "research." Because the internet rabbit hole allows me to feel productive when I'm actually just wasting time and avoiding the actual work. I'd be rabbit-holing whether I had something to write or not, so it's just playing most of the time.  

Yeah, research gets me every time. But hey, I'm learning SO MUCH! If you were able to go on a writing retreat (and bring all of us along, of course!), where would it be? Oh, gosh. I'd love to say an Irish castle or something because it sounds wonderful, but that's the problem--I'd spend all my time exploring instead of writing. Also drafty. So, let's see. I'd take you all somewhere beautiful and cold, with a breathtaking view and magical atmosphere, but so miserably frigid outside you'd just want to stay inside and write by the massive fireplace.

Hmm, I like your strategy, but since I hate the cold, it better be a MASSIVE fireplace with a raised hearth for me to sit on. What's the word you love to use (and abuse and overuse, so you have to take it out of your book during edits)? Ahaha! Okay, I abuse way too many words to pick just one. I am a word hoarder extraordinaire. There are teetering stacks of words with narrow pathways through them. Maybe "driving." He had a deep, driving need. Dark things and past things and dark past things fueled the driving hunger underneath things--My characters are often driven. They rarely amble anywhere.

LOL -- maybe they're training to be chauffeurs! Name the first thing you'll do when you make a million dollars from your books. Buy my mom a good house in a nice town. Then take my husband to a drafty old castle in Ireland as a present for putting up with my crap for this long. Then more Fluevogs. 

 
Awww, that's so sweet! Next is a lightning round we'll call The Tasty Ten, where we get to know you in a speed dating kind of way: 

Coffee or tea? Tea!

Drafting or revising? Drafting.

Twitter or Facebook? Twitter forever!

Winter or Summer? Winter.

Baseball or Football? No.

Heels or flats? Heels for hawt, flats for, you know, moving around.

Morning or evening? Evening.

Abs or pecs? All of it. ALL OF IT.

Paper or plastic? My own reusable bags.

Biter or licker? (Hey! I'm talking ice cream cones here!) Depends on the cone, amirite? 

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Author Bio

Clovia Shaw is an ordained Dudeist Priest (who can resist an Ordain Me! button?), a collector of Urban Vinyl art toys, and once designed a line of elongated pennies for belly dancers. She has degrees in both Journalism and Interior Design, and is probably thinking really hard about putting actual pants on right now.

A big fan of Kissing Books in which things blow up, Clovia lives in Annapolis, with her very patient husband and the ghost of a very good dog.

Social Media Links

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook for Clovia ~ Facebook for Sly Magic

 

I love this so much I had to post it twice -- hope you don't mind

Book Blurb

Outcast kitsune Lincoln Black is descended from the shapeshifting fox-wives of Asian folklore. He's also cursed--his harmless taste for his lovers' vital energy is becoming an uncontrollable hunger. Armed with a geomancer he might kill with one kiss, his own fox magic, and a will o' wisp with an attitude problem, Linc must break this curse, or become a monster straight out of Japanese fairytales.

Excerpt

“Rain-check on Auntie Sweet’s?” Linc asked, stepping close. Delia nodded, her skin bumping all over with the thought that an invisible fox tail might be sneaking up on her again. So, so wrong. “Can I at least walk you?”

“You’ll be late. The door rotates in twenty minutes.”

“How am I supposed to find it?”

A tiny spark winked out of Delia’s top, throwing a soft pink light over them.

“Were you in there the whole time?” Linc demanded, then tilted his head, cupping a hand to let the red will o' wisp swirl against his palm. “Are you blushing?” A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he looked at Delia again. “No. You’re blushing.”

“Time’s a-wastin’, Brer Fox,” she said coolly.

Buy Links

Amazon ~ B&N ~ Smashwords

Friday Friends: Aphrodite

Seriously, how could I have any other guest on this day which celebrates love and lovers? She really needs no introduction. However, she did ask me to mention she appeared in her first novella recently, titled Lord Rakehell's Love, and is about to star (her words, not mine) in an upcoming novel, Lord Wastrel.

Without further ado, please welcome the lovely and talented Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love, to Friday Friends!

Aphrodite: I think you should capitalize my title.

Donna: *rolls eyes* Like this? PITA.

Aphrodite: That is not as humorous as you believe.

Donna: Believe me, it is wicked funny. And I could use some humor after all the turmoil you've caused these characters. Which *I* have to fix, mind you.

Aphrodite: *arches brow* Really? YOU fix their love problems?

Donna: Well, in a manner of speaking. Okay, okay, I am merely the scribe. You, the Goddess of Love, are the one directing things.

Aphrodite: There, that wasn't so difficult, was it? *smiles serenely*

Donna: *glares* No, not at all. And don't bend my fingers back like that again. I can't scribe very well when I have twisted digits.

Aphrodite: *strolls to a chaise longue and reclines* Tell me more about my stories.

Donna: We have a chaise longue in here? How did--Never mind. Your stories. . . Well, in Lord Rakehell's Love, you were bored, and needed a diversion, so you decided to leave Mt. Olympus and go to Regency London, so you could play matchmaker. But you made things worse for the poor couple.

Aphrodite: *bristles* It's called "conflict", and "drama". And you call yourself a writer?

Donna: *mutters* And you call yourself a goddess of love?

Aphrodite: Careful. As a deity, I have incredible powers at my disposal.

Donna: I'm not exactly shaking in my flip flops here. My superpower involves the delete key.

Aphrodite: *waves hand airily* My fans want to know when this next book, Lord Wastrel, will be available.

Donna: The oracle said they hoped to have an answer any day now. Oh, and when you do that hand wave-y thing, you remind me of my muse, Endora. You two aren't related, are you? *bangs head on desk*

Aphrodite: I have no idea what you are talking about. Although I'm getting bored again--

Donna: Okay, no need for that. You cause enough mayhem as it is.

Aphrodite: *sits up and stares* Mayhem?

Donna: *wipes brow nervously* I meant magic, of course. You create magic everywhere you go. And speaking of going, isn't it about time? That you go? It's got to be a busy day for you.

Aphrodite: I gave Cupid a list, along with some new arrows. He's all a-quiver.

Donna: Hah! That's a good one. I'll admit, your visit has left me inspired, so while you're lounging, or longue-ing, or whatever it is you're doing there, I've got to get back to Lord Wastrel.  Here's his cover, in case you haven't seen it.

Aphrodite: *fans face* Oh my. That will certainly chase the boredom away. *looks around* Don't tell Ares I said anything. He won't let me stay if he thinks I'm bonding with the couples I'm helping.

Donna: Of course I won't say anything! As long as you don't lick--Hey!

Aphrodite: I thought there was chocolate on his face. *licks again* Sorry, I had to be sure.

Donna: *covers up Chapter 19* No way I can let her get near this one. . . 

*******

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Wishing you lots of coffee, chocolate, mayhem, and magic!

Friday Friends: Mariam Kobras

Mariam is someone I've been chatting with on Twitter for about a zillion years. Since she loves coffee as much as I do, we're always sharing a cuppa in Twitterland. Which is harder than it sounds, because she lives in Germany, several time zones ahead of me. When I'm having my first cup of the day, she's having her mid-afternoon cup. We have lots of fun, and lots of laughs, and I hope you'll enjoy getting to know her the same way I have. Please welcome the lovely and talented Mariam Kobras to Friday Friends!

Of all the characters you've created, which one is your favorite? (*pokes other characters in the eye* There. They won't see your answer now.) Why do you love them best?

Okay - I’ll have to say Jon Stone. He’s the reason I started writing in the first place. I wanted to explore how a famous rock star would deal with loss, sorrow, love, and yearning, and how he would discover what really matters in life. CLUE: It’s not fame, or wealth. It's not even Hollywood parties! Jon learns the hard way that there’s a price to pay for fame, and it’s not the kind of price he expected.

And although it's not a character per se, I love music, I love the creative process of writing music, and I love writing, all of which play a part in my novels.

Wow, you write music too? I'm definitely a slacker. What's your go-to "writing avoidance" technique? (Because it makes our writing better. No, really, it does!)

Can I say Candy Crush?

No, it’s really Pinterest, Facebook, and twitter. I spend a lot of time on these social platforms. Many of my friends live in the UK, Canada, or the US, and I’m stranded in Germany. A chat and a cup of coffee always make me return to my writing with a glad heart. And I write better when I’m happy. 

I think the thing that I like least about writing is the loneliness. I’m not good at being alone. That’s why I love the #amwriting sprints with Johanna Harness and my fellow writers on twitter so much! It feels as if we’re in a big office, each of us at their desk, and twitter is the coffeemaker where we all hang out for a break. 

Yes, that's exactly what Twitter is like! Although sometimes my breaks last longer than the work. LOL If you were able to go on a writing retreat (and bring all of us along, of course!), where would it be?

On a retreat. Interesting idea. Somewhere on a beach would be nice, but not a sunny and comfortable beach. It would have to be a cold and slightly rough beach. A shore somewhere in the north. Norway would work for me. Or maybe British Columbia.

My first ever book, The Distant Shore, was set in a little town on the Norwegian coast, and the one I’m working on right now, Sunset Bay, is set on the Pacific in British Columbia.

Heat makes me sluggish (so it can’t be the Caribbean).

Of course, it could also be a nice boutique hotel in Manhattan, but not in summer. As far as I’m concerned, no air conditioner in the world has a chance against NYC humidity.

Or maybe a picturesque village in Cornwall?

Dang. Now I don't know which suitcases to bring! What's the word you love to use (and overuse, so you have to take it out of your book during edits)?

I honestly don’t know. In my first book, it definitely was “because”, but those sentences ended up on the cutting room floor soon enough. I’d written them to explain stuff to myself and hadn’t thought about others reading it at all. All that changed, of course, when my publisher Buddhapuss Ink asked for the manuscript. I had to whip it into shape in record time. 

I had a teacher in grade seven and eight who put a lot of emphasis on avoiding repetition in our creative writing. When you learn something at that age you never forget it. 

That's so true! Which is a good thing, since my memory is getting sketchier by the minute. Name the first thing you'll do when you make a million dollars from your books.

Buy a new car, I think. And after that, I’d take my family traveling. They’ve stayed home so often to make my trips to the US possible. I’d like to show them all my favorite places in America: New York City,  Washington State,  Boston, Long Island. Oh, I’ve always wanted to see California and Alaska. I think it would be a three month road trip.

And while we’re traveling, I’d have our apartment renovated.

Oh, and I’d take my publisher out for dinner! A very nice dinner.

We better make that a FEW million dollars! (So you don't have to skimp on anything. Like coffee. LOL) Okay, here's a lightning round we'll call the Tasty Ten, where we get to know you in a speed dating kind of way:

Coffee or tea? Totally coffee

Drafting or revising? A bit of both, and editing while I write

Twitter or Facebook? Both, and Pinterest, too.

Winter or Summer? Both, but no weather extremes, please. And never, ever, the heat and humidity of summer in New Jersey. Ever. Again.

Heels or flats? When I was young, heels. Now, flats. (Because we’re vain when we’re young, and clever when we get older.)

Pirate or cowboy? Oh dear. Can I cheat and say, someone in a tux? 

Day or night? You mean, for writing? Definitely day.

Rare or well-done? Rather well-done, but actually medium.

Pecs or abs? Uh…brains?

Biter or licker? (Hey! I'm talking ice cream cones here!) Licker if it’s a cone, biter if it comes as a sundae. 

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Author Bio

Two-time Independent Publisher's Book Award Winner, Mariam was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Growing up, she and her family lived in Brazil and Saudi Arabia before they decided to settle in Germany. Mariam attended school there and studied American Literature and Psychology at Justus-Liebig-University in Giessen. Today she lives and writes in Hamburg, Germany, with her husband, two sons, and two cats.

The Distant Shore

Winner of the 2012 IPPY Bronze Medal for Romance 

#2 on Amazon Bestseller List 

There's nothing like receiving a letter from a teenage son you knew nothing about, but that's what happens to international rock star, Jonathon Stone. He drops everything to find the boy, and his mother--Naomi, the girl he loved so many years ago who left him when his rock n roll life became too much for her to bear.

Seeing her is like falling in love all over again, and everything seems perfect, until someone sets out to destroy their idyllic life.

The Distant Shore is Book One in the Stone Trilogy, and part of the Stone series.

All my books are available on all Amazon sites!

Excerpt (opening of The Distant Shore)

THERE IT WAS . . . Jon found the letter among the pile of mail he had carelessly tossed on the counter the night before. The corner of the envelope was soaked through from the puddle of milk it had landed in, and it stuck to the counter when he tried to pick it up. With a mug of coffee and the letter in hand, he wandered out onto the deck.

Beautiful morning sunlight greeted him. He felt the fragile warmth of a late February dawn on his face. The sea had a pearly sheen to it as it retreated, the surface quiet despite the gentle breeze. Under his bare feet, the wooden boards creaked softly as the house adjusted to the rising temperature of the day.

Social Media Links

Blog ~~ Facebook ~~ Twitter ~~ Pinterest ~~ Goodreads ~~ Google+

Friday Friends: Kayelle Allen

I know you're expecting me to say I "met" Kayelle through Six Sentence Sunday, but I didn't! I actually discovered her through a Yahoo group she runs, called Marketing for Romance Writers. But that's only one thing she does -- she's a dynamo who works 40 million hours a day helping romance writers, in addition to writing her own books. (On my most productive day, I am a complete slacker compared to her.) I've been a guest several times at her Romance Lives Forever blog, which is lots of fun, so make sure you stop by there often. She's a total sweetheart, and she laughs at my silly emails, and she's one of the nicest people I've come across. Please welcome the lovely and talented Kayelle Allen to Friday Friends!

Of all the characters you've created, which one is your favorite? (Hey, characters! Look over there! That ought to distract them until you can answer!) Why do you love them best? I'm going with Luc Saint-Cyr because he's been in every SciFi book I've written so far, although the ones around him are faves too. Pietas and Izzorah -- both of whom love him (though only one is loved back in the way he wants) are dear to my heart. Luc is the alpha among my group of heroes, and he's achieved that by deserving the position. And he figures rather prominently in my newly released Tales of the Chosen trilogy.

He sounds deliciously intriguing! What's your go-to "writing avoidance" technique? (We're never going to run out of these!) All I have to do is go to Twitter and type in #Loki and I am good for hours! OMG, what can I say? I am a huge Tom Hiddleston fan and will even watch commercials if he's in them. Can we say #GoodToBeBad Jaguar? If you're a HiddlesGoddess or a member of LokisArmy, you know what I mean. I even created a Paper.li newsletter devoted to the Norse God of Mischief. Check this out: Loki's Army Recruiters.

OMG, I want to be a HiddlesGoddess! *flails* I love that man. I think he may be why Pinterest was invented. If you were able to go on a writing retreat, where would it be? (What? Those suitcases? Uh, they came with the blog design.) You think you're fooling me with those suitcases? You plan to move in, not just tag along. LOL I'd go somewhere up in the mountains where there's a fabulous view. Someplace quiet, but with all the amenities. I love the beauty of the ocean (like the Maldives or Bora Bora) but my phobias about water that keep me from going to the shore. Probably watched too many disaster movies growing up.

I wasn't going to move in! Well, not until you got all settled in first. What's the word you love to use (and overuse, so you have to take it out of your book during edits)? Really? Actually? Chuckle. Smile. Nod. In fact, I have a four-column list I yank out when editing. How many times can a person nod, smile, or chuckle in one book? I probably hold the record, at least in my first drafts. When I'm trying to get the story on the paper, it doesn't matter, but when editing, out they go.

Wow, that's a great idea about the list! Name the first thing you'll do when you make a million dollars from your books. Imma grab you and we're going to the mountains. Party, baby!

Woo hoo! Imma ready to party. Let me just get a suitcase for Tom. . . Hah, I meant for Tom's STUFF! Especially his dancing shoes. Okay, here's a lightning round we'll call the Tasty Ten, where we get to know you in a speed dating kind of way:

Coffee or tea? Coffee, lots of cream, fake sweetener stuff

Drafting or revising? Both, for their own reasons

Twitter or Facebook? I follow #Loki and #SciFiChat (Fridays) on Twitter

Winter or Summer? Yeesh. Both. I love stark winter, but crave the sun.

Baseball or Football? Baseball. Go Braves! ^_^

Contemporary or historical? Historical, even though I write SciFi.

Pirate or cowboy? Um, how about a cowboyish pirate?

Heels or flats? Flat as they come, baby. I don't do pinchy no matter who is looking.

Abs or pecs? Oh abs! Yum.

Biter or licker? (Hey! I'm talking ice cream cones here!) Good thing you didn't ask my characters that. I write about the Kin, who are feline humanoids. Their answers would be all over the range. LOL As for me? I like my ice cream with a spoon. Heh heh.

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Author Bio

Kayelle Allen is a multi-published, award-winning Science Fiction Romance author. Her unstoppable heroes and heroines include contemporary characters, role-playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr.

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Social Media Links

Homeworld ~~ Unstoppable Heroes Blog ~~ Twitter ~~ Facebook ~~ Pinterest ~~ Romance Lives Forever News

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Tales of the Chosen

When the fate of hearts rivals the fate of worlds, victory costs everything.

The Chosen serve immortals known as Sempervians. Like any group, it has its hidden alignments, mistrust, and mistakes. It also harbors enemies and spies within its ranks -- some known and tolerated, others hidden behind layers so convoluted even the ones who live forever haven't figured them out.

Chosen is an acrostic for:

Called to serve

Honored to protect

Obedient to the vow

Safeguards of the truth

Enablers of life

Tales of the Chosen: Wulf

Superstar Wulf Gabriel must depend on the one man he swore he would never trust again. The most powerful and feared man in the empire - the Harbinger. Lust. Power. Forgiveness. A Chosen loves forever.

Wulf Gabriel longs for freedom. A superstar in the Tarthian Empire, he is bound by an unscrupulous agent to a restrictive contract. With his career threatened and his life at risk, Wulf must trust the one man he swore would never again control him -- Luc Saint-Cyr, the Harbinger.

For the Harbinger, saving Wulf is a simple matter of asserting his will. The enigmatic man's legendary power makes him the most feared person in the empire. To win the heart of Wulf, Luc will have to risk baring his own.

Alitus

The empress asks her trusted spymaster, Alitus, to discover if a friend's lover is having an affair. The truth could alter age-old alliances and rock the empire to its core. Passion. Submission. Loyalty. A Chosen bares his heart forever.

Alitus lives in a world full of political intrigue, and he is supremely alone. As a Better, an enhanced human, he can touch no one -- his pheromones are addictive. He keeps his affair with Wulf secret, because Wulf belongs to another, a powerful man allied with the empress. When the man asks the empress to investigate whether Wulf is having an affair, Wulf's relationship with Alitus could be exposed. Complicating matters, the empress reveals her immortality, and requires Alitus to prove his loyalty. Her test will throw him straight into Wulf's arms, right in front of the empress and Wulf's lover. Hiding what they are to each other has taken discipline and denial. Now, it will take a miracle.

Jawk

When immortal Luc Saint-Cyr arranges a ménage with Wulf and Jawk, he gets far more than he bargained for. Pleasure. Trust. Possession. A Chosen's betrayal is forever.

Jawk works at Batchelors, a gay club in the Top Tier district of Tarth City, where he meets Luc. Luc offers Jawk a deal too good to pass up, one night showing him and his lover a good time in exchange for far more than his usual pay. But the sensual Jawk is not what he seems, and one night with him will change the immortal's alliances forever.

~~~~~~~

An extra from Kayelle: Thank you for popping in to read today. As my gift, please accept The Tarthian Empire Companion Book, First Edition. This is 23 pages of images and info about Tarth and all the other places in the empire. When you click it, this will either offer you a download, or open in a new window, depending on your settings. To read it, you need Adobe Reader, available free. You can download a Facebook timeline cover for Tales of the Chosen and other freebies by clicking here. 

Friday Friends: YOU!

Everyone who stops by and reads my blog posts and leaves comments--I'm thrilled to have you here.

So for today's Friday Friends post, I thought I'd give YOU a chance to answer a question from The Tasty Ten -- your choice -- and I'll pick a random commenter to win a $10 gift card.

I'll also pick one person, at random, from those who choose to sign up for my newsletter this month, to win a separate $10 gift card. The inaugural edition will be going out the end of January. Ish. I'm sure you won't want to miss out on all the scoop!

But first, here's your choice of Tasty Ten questions to answer:

Coffee or tea?

Drafting or revising?

Twitter or Facebook?

Winter or Summer?

Cowboy or pirate?

Baseball or football?

Pecs or abs?

Heels or flats?

Beer or wine?

Biter or licker? (Hey, I'm talking ice cream cones here!)

So there you go. It's your choice which one you want to answer. (I already know which one some of you are going to pick. LOL)

And if you care to sign up for the newsletter, here's the link:

Newsletter signup

Thanks again for making Friday Friends such a great time for everyone. Now let's see some Tasty Ten answers!

Friday Friends: Lord Wastrel

Usually my Friday Friends guest is a writer, answering a specific set of questions. But for this first Friday of 2014, I thought we could try something different. . .

Actually, my characters ambushed me and threatened dire consequences if I didn't give them some blog time. So today I'm interviewing one of my unruly creations. Think of this as Friday Friends: Wildcard Edition.

Okay, let's see who won the coin toss. Or wrestling match. It's probably best not to know exactly how it went down. Please give a warm Friday Friends welcome to. . .

Lord Wastrel: It is only fitting that I be the first guest. I have waited an eternity for my story to be released. Thankfully you had the presence of mind to place an excerpt of it at the end of that highwayman's book--

Donna: You mean Lord Midnight.

LW: Yes! I have shared space with that rogue for longer than I want to admit.

D: *rolls eyes* Why don't you introduce yourself first? You may not be quite as notorious as you think.

LW: Hah! I am quite well known throughout London--

D: In 1811.

LW: Precisely. What other year could you mean?

D: Never mind. Your introduction?

LW: I am Hugh Longford, the fifth Earl Weyson. *flashes a wicked smile* However, I am better known as Lord Wastrel, thanks to my profligate ways during my wild, misspent youth.

D: You've recently reformed, though.

LW: Very true. I learned I had a child, born of a long-ago liaison with an opera dancer, and I became determined to make a better life for my young daughter. This required me to find a perfectly biddable, scandal-free wife to become Lucinda's mother--someone to offset her having such a scandalous father, and to overcome the inauspicious circumstances of her birth.

D: *sighs dreamily* Oh, sorry. I just get so caught up in what you're saying.

LW: If you did not insist on twittering your time away, and would instead devote yourself to finishing my book. . .

D: You know I've got my finger hovering over the delete key, right?

LW: *holds hands up in a conciliatory manner* There is no need for such extreme measures! I am merely impatient for more interactions with the heroine you selected for me. Even if I did not at first believe you had chosen wisely.

D: *cackles* That's the fun of being the author! Oh, and I'm totally stealing that "twittering my time away" line.

LW: I actually saw it in one of your documents. While I was looking around to see what else you had in store for me.

D: You were snooping in my laptop?! *glares* What else did you see?

LW: *glares back* The wedding night you have written--it is not at all what I anticipated.

D: I know! It's so fun though. One of my fave scenes in the whole book.

LW: I would prefer you consider using the delete key again.

D: Nice try. Besides, if I did that, it would take even longer to get your story finished.

LW: Fine. I know when I am defeated. Can you at least predict when my book shall be available?

D: I'm shooting for--hey, it's just a modern expression, don't get all jumpy. Anyway, I'm looking to have it available *mumbles*

LW: *leans closer* I could not hear you clearly.

D: I said *mumbles*

LW: Ahh, of course. Tomorrow it is then!

D: Nooooo! I said the end of February. Ish.

LW: I eagerly anticipate the end of February. Ish. And when shall the book cover be unveiled? It might alleviate the interminable wait for my book's release.

D: It shall, I mean, it will be available soon. Ish. Carrie and I are thrashing out some ideas. (Carrie is probably ready to thrash me while I try to make up my mind.) By the way, you haven't had that long of a wait. Have you already forgotten you made an appearance in Lord Rakehell's Love? *points to the left*

LW: I have not forgotten. I enjoyed it immensely, and I was happy to assist my friend Simon find his one true love. But I am ready for my own romantic adventures. *stares pointedly* My patience is wearing rather thin.

D: *mutters* Yours and mine both. Okay, thank you, Hugh--and yes, I know you well enough to call you by your first name. I know many things about you.

LW: *drops head in hands and groans*

D: Thanks for stopping by! We'll see you again in February. Ish! *waits for Hugh to leave* Okay, here's a short excerpt from the wedding night scene. Hope you enjoy!

~~~~~~~~

Knowing Felicia, she was ready to open the connecting door and force her way into his bedchamber. Hugh's body reacted in a predictable fashion, and he forced himself to breathe in slowly, to reduce her impact on his unruly body.

"Hugh," she whispered, negating all of his calming efforts with that one word. "I want to open this door."

"I know."

He plastered both hands on the solid door, as if it would keep his passion in check, prevent him from succumbing to her siren voice. He did not speak for several long moments.

"Hugh?"

"Yes?"

"Oh, I wondered if you had fallen asleep."

He chuckled. It was not possible to fall asleep. In truth, he was in such a state because he had lain awake the entire previous evening. He might have slept for a few moments before the sun rose, but it was not likely. All he could do was think of Felicia, his growing feelings for her, and how that would disrupt the future he had plotted out so carefully.

"No, I am not asleep. I thought you would be though."

He heard a soft laugh, and his body reacted again. She was a tonic. An elixir that he could not help but crave.

"Are you coming to my bedchamber?" she asked. "Or would you prefer I come to yours?"

He hesitated. "What would you prefer?"

"I would prefer we carry on a conversation without this door serving as a chaperone."

Her annoyance made him grin. It also eased his misgivings. Surely there could be no harm in speaking with his bride in person, for a brief span.

She rattled the door latch just as he attempted to open the door.

"Felicia, let me do this. If you please."

"I could hear the sneer in your voice, Hugh."

"You only imagined it," he lied.

"Hah!" She gave the handle another shake.

"Felicia, I cannot unlatch the door when you persist in that fashion."

"Then I shall do it."

"How about this?" he offered. "I shall open it on the count of three."

"Very well," Felicia answered, although the words were followed by a heavy sigh.

"One." Hugh's heart picked up pace.

"Two," she said, her voice a little softer than previously.

He opened his mouth to utter, "Three", but the door nearly crashed into him. He stepped back, shocked and exasperated and ready to scold his bride.

Until he saw her.

He couldn't breathe. His lungs ached with the effort. She was ethereally beautiful, clad in white sheer fabric, her hair falling around her in all the places he ached to touch. His bride--not blushing, no, not one whit--smiled triumphantly. Her eyes sparked with a passion she was clearly impatient to explore, with him.

How could he hope to hold to his original plan? His forte had always been indulging his desires, not resisting them. Now his nerves were completely shot from denying his need for this maddening woman.

He raised a shaky hand and grasped the door, to steady himself while he pondered how to regain control of the situation.

The nearby fire popped, startling him. His hand slipped and the connecting door slammed shut.

"Hugh!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lord Wastrel -- Book 2 in The Curse of True Love series

 

Friday Friends: Patricia Preston

Patricia is a Six Sentence Sunday friend who has been making me chuckle ever since I read the first of her weekly snippets. I fell in love with her humorous short story, The Yard Sale, which is about a heroine starting a new life while shedding her old possessions. You can fall in love with this story, and its colorful cast of characters, since it is FREE on Friday and Saturday. I love Pat's sense of humor, and I get to enjoy it on Twitter while we discuss Thor and Ichabod and other "writing-related topics". Without further ado, please welcome her to Friday Friends!

Of all the characters you've created, which one is your favorite? (Don't worry. I told them you were going to say "all of them", so they've left the blog. You can answer freely now.) Why do you love them best?

I can’t single one out. They have all been favorites, especially when I’m writing about them.  I love my couple, Elise and Jesse, in the historical I’m finishing up.  Otherwise, I adore Darlene, my Marilyn Monroe wannabe from the 50’s, because she makes me laugh. 

I love Darlene! Especially when she's with her kooky partners in crime. LOL What's your go-to "writing avoidance" technique? (I can't even imagine if we were to run out of these!)

There’s a new episode of Walking Dead on tonight….I need to watch the Walking Dead marathon first….

Hey, can you count it as "research"? If you were able to go on a writing retreat (and bring all of us along, of course!), where would it be? (Suitcases? I don't see any suitcases.)

New Orleans. Wouldn’t be much writing going on. 

The Big Easy is one of my all-time fave places. I'm sure there will be plenty to write about AFTER the visit! What's the word you love to use (and overuse, so you have to take it out of your book during edits)?

Cuss words….:) 

You mean like "dagnabbit"? LOL Name the first thing you'll do when you make a million dollars from your books.

Move to New Orleans or France or Nashville. Don’t ask…

Hey, those totally work for me! Okay, here's a lightning round we'll call Tasty Ten, where we get to know you in a speed dating kind of way:

Coffee or tea? Sweet Tea

Drafting or revising? Revising

Twitter or Facebook? Twitter!!!

Winter or Summer? Summer

Wine or beer? Neither. Hurricane. 

Contemporary or historical? Both

Pirate or cowboy? Both

Heels or flats? Nikes

Abs or pecs? I guess abs cause I hate man titties. 

Biter or licker? (Hey! I'm talking ice cream cones here!)  Slurper. 

~~~~~~

Author Bio

Patricia Preston is a Southern author who writes historical and contemporary romance as well as humorous Southern fiction. Her publishers include New Love Stories, True Romance, Affaire de Coeur, Cloverdale Press, The Blue and Gray Magazine, Sea Oats Review, and Carina Press. She won William Faulkner Award for Short Fiction, the Lone Star Writing Competition for Historical Romance, and Harlequin’s World’s Best Romances Short Story Competition. Her short stories have been best sellers on Amazon and listed on Amazon’s Top 100 in comedy. She is currently working on a historical romance series, Ladies of Louisiana.

Social Media Links

Website ~~ Twitter ~~ Facebook

Book Blurb

Rancher Austin Cade rides into Liberty looking for his old comrades, the James-Younger gang. He needs their help tracking down the horse thief who's stolen his prized mare. In town, the former gunfighter is reunited with Darcy, the first girl he ever kissed—and never forgot. 

Young widow Darcy Branson owns a shop full of fashionable ladies' attire, but continues to wear mourning black so she won't forget her role in her husband's death. Austin stirs a passion inside her that has long been dormant, but can Darcy learn to believe in Austin—and love—enough to let go of her tragic past?

Time is rapidly running out... As a cousin to Jesse James, Darcy has attracted unwanted attention, thanks to her rumored association with the gang. Soon Austin and Darcy are faced with confronting not only their growing desire, but danger in the form of a deadly bounty hunter... 

Excerpt

“I’ll be happy to do you a favor.” There was only one reason why men came to her shop. “You tell me what kind of dress you’re looking for, and I’ll see that you get it.” 

His gray eyes widened. “You think I want a dress?” 

“Well, no. Not for yourself, of course.” She laughed. “But for someone special, yes. And if you’re looking for something besides clothing, I do have a number of lovely gift items that any lady would love.” She reached for one of the bottles of perfume displayed on the counter, and she dabbed a bit of fragrance on her wrist. “This cologne is a very light orange blossom and lilac combined. It is one of my favorites. Do you like it?” 

He sniffed her wrist and nodded. “I would buy it for a special lady, but I don’t have one.” 

Much to her horror, his words thrilled her. 

“I see you got married.” He gave her wedding band a pointed look. 

She pulled her hand back and closed the bottle of perfume. “Yes, I was married. I’m widowed now.” 

“You’re awfully young to be widowed.” 

“Young men die too,” she said. Sometimes their wives get them killed.

 

Friday Friends: Juli Page Morgan

Juli is someone I "met" because she is also published with Crimson Romance. (Hah! You were expecting me to say it was because of Six Sentence Sunday, weren't you?) She's fun and funny and full of sassy energy, and I'm envious of all the interesting things in her author bio! She writes Romances That Rock^TM, and Crimson and Clover, set in the Swinging 60s, is a Kindle Deal for only 99 cents right now--I'm including the link for you here.) Let's give Juli a warm Friday Friends welcome -- heck, let's give her a standing ovation!

Of all the characters you've created, which one is your favorite? (I've distracted them, so they can't see what your answer is.) Why do you love them best?

Oh, start out with a hard one, why don't you? ;) It would be Jay Carey from my first book, Crimson and Clover. I so love him! He's intense, sexy, a British rock god, and an incredible lover. But he's also vulnerable, a little shy (though he hides it well), and when one part of his world falls apart, he goes off and does the one thing guaranteed to bring the rest of it crashing down. Bless his hot little head. 

Ya gotta love a guy who brings about his own destruction. LOL What's your go-to "writing avoidance" technique? (I hope we never run out of these!)

You'll find the usual suspects on my list - Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest. I also excel in deciding my website needs to updated RIGHT THIS SECOND when I'm trying avoid getting to work. And if none of that distracts me enough, I play Solitaire on my phone. I'm somewhat competitive, so I refuse to stop playing until I win a hand. That can wipe out an hour right there!

But it's so important to have your website updated! And you've got to keep your Solitaire skills sharp, in case you're asked to be in a tournament, right? If you were able to go on a writing retreat (and bring all of us along, of course!), where would it be? (Pay no attention to those suitcases.)

Load those suitcases into the belly of plane, because we're goin' to Tahiti! I've never been to Tahiti in my life, but from photos I've seen, I know I'd just love it! (I've also heard Johnny Depp hangs out there on occasion, not that I'd bother him if I were to see him strolling along the beach or anything. Unless you think he might be bothered by a full-body tackle...) Make sure to pack a coat, too, because after we've soaked up the sun, the sand, and the Depp, we'll be headed out to the Berkshires in England!

You just said two of my favorite words: Tahiti and Depp. *gets out more suitcases* What's the word you love to use (and overuse, so you have to take it out of your book during edits)?

Without my knowing it, my fingers type the word "had" into every single sentence I write. I have to perform frequent Had-ectomies before I can let anyone see my books. And then, when I've removed all of those, the word "that" springs up in their place like a weed.

I've had a few "that-ectomies" too. They always grow back. *sad face* Name the first thing you'll do when you make a million dollars from your books.

Scream so loud the neighbors will call the police, sure that people are being murdered over here.  :) Then I'd pay off my car, buy a Prada bag, and give a chunk of the money to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

I love it! Okay, here's a lightning round we'll call Tasty Ten, where we get to know you in a speed dating kind of way:  

Wait, let me comb my hair and put on some lipgloss. Okay, go!

Coffee or tea? Coffee, black, and keep it coming!

Drafting or revising? Revising. It's hardest for me to get that first draft out. (See Question #2 above!)

Twitter or Facebook? Facebook. I do like Twitter, I just forget to get on there.

Winter or Summer?  Summer! If I had my way, the seasons would be Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer, and Christmas. {LOL -- you ARE a girl after my heart!)

Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate. Just ask my hips.

Contemporary or historical? Both!

Early or late? Like time of day? Then it would be late. Even with obscene amounts of coffee, I don't do mornings well. They wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to wake up for them, you know?

Heels or flats? Another both answer. I have a slight problem with shoes. If I see them up close, I have to buy them. This is why my husband refused to let me set foot in the Jimmy Choo store when we were in Nashville last month. I can't imagine why!

Abs or pecs? Pecs. Oh, the beauty of a well-defined chest on a man ....

Biter or licker? (Hey! I'm talking ice cream cones here!) Uh-huh, sure you're talking ice cream cones. ;) Licker!

Author Bio

Juli Page Morgan is a former rock ‘n roll radio announcer who had the great luck to meet and interview lots of bands over the years. During those interviews she heard some interesting stories, but it was when the microphone was turned off and they were just hanging out that she heard - and saw - the really juicy stuff! Incorporating these revelations in her books (with names and locations changed to protect the innocent, and often the not-so-innocent!) lets her take her readers on a hard rocking journey full of love, music and happy endings while giving a “backstage peek” at some of the things that really happened.  Her Romances that Rock™ include Crimson and Clover, Athena’s Daughter, and Song Without Words.

Juli lives in Arkansas with her husband. When she’s not writing, she’s recording voiceovers for television commercials, remodeling her old house,  and trying to convince her husband the world won’t come to an end if the television is turned off.  She also listens to a lot of music at maximum volume and has never met a speed limit she didn't exceed.  Juli’s an unapologetic lover of rock ‘n roll, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, and French onion dip, not necessarily in that order.

Social Media Links

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

Blurb

Top jock Spencer Moretti owns the New Orleans Rock radio airwaves. A veteran of countless band interviews at the age of 22, she’s ready for her own world-wide syndicated program. All she needs is one big break, and she finds it during a chance meeting with Geoff Lane, former guitarist for the legendary UK band Axis. When Spencer discovers that Geoff has a secret music project in the works, one that’s sure to reignite his career, she ropes him into an exclusive interview, determined to snag the juicy details. Intrigued by the lovely disc jockey’s feisty nature and her spitfire temper, Geoff is determined to snag something too - Spencer!  Spencer and Geoff make sweet music together until death strikes their circle of friends. As the body count mounts, it’s clear that someone will go to any lengths to stop them cold. Can they keep a killer from destroying all they have, or will their love song become a murder ballad?

Excerpt

The smile faded from Spencer’s face. She stood up and leaned over the board, pinning him with a hard look. “Notice anything different about me?” Ignoring the amused quirk of his brow, she continued in a low voice. “I’m not the adoring little fan girl you insulted two months ago. I’m a radio personality who has just gotten you to admit something you thought was under wraps. And I’m going to use that information to land myself a sweet syndication deal with one of the networks. So don’t try to intimidate me, because it won’t work.”

Geoff blew smoke in her face and smirked. “Intimidate you? Never, love. But I do demand payment for providing you with such an opportunity. Don’t you think you at least owe me the pleasure of your company at dinner?”

Spencer glanced at Ricky; even though the intern was busy scribbling in the station log, Spencer could almost swear she saw his ears straining toward her. She sighed. “Ricky, cue up something from the last Axis album. I don’t care what.” She shifted her gaze back to Geoff. “I don’t want to have dinner with you.”

“Too bad. You’re going to, whether you want to or not. Because if you don’t,” he added, forestalling any more denials. “I’ll take back what I just said, and there goes your glorious career.”

“You son of a bitch.”

“That’s right, honey, I am. Oh, and your record’s ending.” 

Book Buy Links

Amazon ~  Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ All Romance

Friday Friends: Angela Quarles

Angela is another -- you guessed it! -- Six Sentence Sunday friend. I always enjoyed her fun and inventive snippets that combined history and fantastical elements. She calls herself a geek romance writer, which I think is a perfect description of the fun stories she writes. She comes up with the best book titles too! I've been lucky to beta read for her, and she's graciously done the same for me, and I'm looking forward to more of her delightful stories. Please welcome the delightful Angela Quarles to Friday Friends today!

Of all the characters you've created, which one is your favorite? (Don't worry. We won't let your other characters read this.) Why do you love them best?

Oh man, that’s a tough one. I’m glad this won’t be shared amongst them. Hmm… I’d have to say probably Riley McGregor from Beer and Groping in Las Vegas because it was the first time I wrote in a contemporary male’s POV and I had so much fun being in his head. Up to then, and mostly since, I’ve written historicals.

He was definitely a fun character! What's your go-to "writing avoidance" technique? (There will *never* be enough of these!)

Jeez, I’m facing that right now, big time. I’ve gotten completely obsessed with clean eating/living and having a hard time tearing myself away from learning more about it. Basically, anything where I can get obsessed about all aspects of the new shiny thing. If I’m not currently obsessed on something other than writing and my characters, then it’s your typical checking facebook and twitter.

There are just so many new shiny things to distract us! If you were able to go on a writing retreat (and bring all of us along, of course!), where would it be?

Scotland!!!!!!! Who’s with me?

*pushes to the front of the line* Dibs on the kilted hunks! What's the word you love to use (and overuse, so you have to take it out of your book during edits)?

Oddly, lately it’s ‘scrambled’ – she scrambled out of the way, or, he scrambled up the hill

I'm sure they're having scrambled eggs too! Name the first thing you'll do when you make a million dollars from your books.

See answer to third question ;) On the not-so-fun side, I’d probably take part of it and buy a fixer upper house to renovate and rent out as passive income (I know, there’s no fun in that) and then open my own bookstore.

Oooh, I like that, especially the bookstore part. Okay, here's the Tasty Ten, where we get to know you in a speed dating kind of way:

 

Coffee or tea? Tea

Drafting or revising? Drafting

Twitter or Facebook? Facebook

Winter or Summer? Summer

Baseball or Football? Baseball

Contemporary or historical? Historical

Pirate or cowboy? Pirate

Wine or beer? Used to be beer, but having to get used to wine due to my new diet

Abs or pecs? Pecs

Biter or licker? (Hey! I'm talking ice cream cones here!) Definitely lick ;)

~~~~~~~~~~

Author Bio

Angela works at an independent bookstore and lives in an historic house in the beautiful and quirky town of Mobile, AL, with her two matched gray cats, Darcy and Bingley. When she's not writing, she enjoys the usual stuff like gardening, reading, hanging out, eating, drinking, chasing squirrels out of the walls and creating the occasional knitted scarf. She's had a varied career, including website programming and directing a small local history museum.

She's an admitted geek and is proud to be among the few but mighty Browncoats who watched Firefly the first night it aired. She was introduced to the wonderful world of science fiction by her father, by way of watching reruns of the original Star Trek in her tweens and later giving her a copy of Walter M. Miller Jr's A Canticle for Leibowitz as a teenager. She hasn't looked back since. 

She has a B.A. in Anthropology and International Studies with a minor in German from Emory University, and a Masters in Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University. She was an exchange student to Finland in high school and studied abroad in Vienna one summer in college. She recently found representation with Maura Kye-Casella at Don Congdon, Assoc.

Social Media Links

Website ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads ~ Google+

Blurb

Can a djinn and a magic slot machine bring two geeks together?

Riley McGregor is a geek trapped in a Good Ole Boy body and as owner of a microbrewery, smart chicks never look at him twice.  

Rejected by a geek who wanted to “trade up,” Mirjam Linna would rather immerse herself in work than be the girlfriend-of-the-moment. Stranded in a Vegas hotel, she makes a wish—a night of hot sex with the man of her dreams. It's granted. She agrees to dinner, but afterward, she’ll say thanks, but no thanks, and see what’s on the SyFy channel. But when they meet, they're surprised to find they had a shared connection in their past. Sparks fly as these two learn to be in the moment, be themselves and find love.

Fans of Star Trek, Star Wars, Monty Python, Firefly and Marvin the Martian will enjoy this romantic comedy.

Excerpt

Mirjam rubbed the tiredness from her eyes, but the caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland still occupied the Rivenbark Hotel & Casino elevator with her. She blinked and squinted. Yep. And life-size. Complete with hookah.

Plastic squeaked against glass as the caterpillar shifted to make more room. It made eye contact.

"Er, nice costume," Mirjam ventured.

"Thanks," came the muffled reply.

The elevator swooped to a stop on the mezzanine level. A pirate and a Ghostbuster stepped on and pushed the lobby button. Mirjam angled back to avoid being knocked over by the guy's Proton Pack.

"Convention?" Mirjam asked the caterpillar and it rewarded her with a nod.

Book Buy Links

Amazon | Amazon CA |  Amazon UK |  Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | BookStrand