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Calisa Rhose presents~ January 2018~ UnCover Monthly #ineedyourcovers #MFRWauthors #Coverlove
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all!
My apologies for running late, the New Year hit me with busy life and I haven’t had a chance to get on the pc until now (now that school’s back in session and I have a few quiet moments to think, lol).
I still need lots and lots of covers to share for 2018, so I’m leaving this invitation up for a couple of months, or until I have to send out another email begging for your covers! 😆
Apologies, I don’t post erotica, or anything above a heat level 4 in content or cover. You will find everything you need to show the world your covers at this link: https://calisarhose.com/uncover-monthly/
Please, consider submitting your covers, and I’d appreciate if you would share this link to January’s UCM showcase with your loops and groups.
The next post will go live at midnight (CMT) Monday, February 12. We’d love to see new faces in the comments and in the showcase as we move together into a brand new year.
Thank you!!!
Back to business! Welcome to Pen of the Dreamer, where I welcome guest authors with their beautiful covers on UnCover Monthly! I’ve changed the days I post this feature to the second Monday of each month, instead of the first Monday.
Go HERE to get the application, read carefully, then hurry and submit your covers! Remember, the early bird gets the prime slots. 😀
For now, enjoy more awesome cover art by the incredible authors and artists who make them possible for you to gaze upon each month.
It would be great if you leave a comment letting everyone know what you think about them and maybe even check out a few author links to meet those behind the books. Or just say hi. Don’t forget to tell your friends to stop by so they can appreciate some greatness, or get in on the fun, too!
This feature is only to highlight the authors and artists, instead of the actual book (though if you see one you want to buy I’m sure the authors won’t mind 😆 ). Enjoy this months’ covers to ogle and explore. If there is one provided, you can follow the artist links by clicking on the name, if there’s an artist link provided, to learn more about the amazing creators of these beautiful covers.
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Title: Code of Honor,
Bk 3, Knights of Honor
Author: Alexa Aston
Weblink: www.alexaaston.
Genre: Medieval Historical Romance
Heat Level: 3 flames – steamy
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Cover artist: Dar Albert
Release date: March 28, 2017
1365 A.D. – After the Earl of Sandbourne banishes his supposedly unfaithful wife to a convent, his young son Michael swears never to set foot on the family’s estate until after his father’s death. Michael will then claim his title as the new earl and restore his beloved mother to a place of honor.
Fifteen years pass, and the now-knighted Sir Michael Devereux serves Lord Geoffrey de Montfort at Kinwick Castle. He accompanies the nobleman and his family to a wedding, where Michael unknowingly falls in love with the bride before he even knows her identity.
Lady Elysande Le Cler is angry that her usually indulgent father went against her wishes and betrothed her to a stranger prior to his death. Now as her wedding day approaches, dread fills her—until she meets a dashing stranger who helps her deliver a foal. Elysande loses her heart to this knight, frustrated that they can never be together.
Join Michael and Elysande as they find fate has other plans in store for them.
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Title: Crimson Dream
Crimson Series, book 1
Author: Georgiana Fields
Weblink: www.facebook.com/
AuthorGeorgianaFields
Genre:. Paranormal Romance and Suspense
Length: Novel 270 pgs
Heat Level: 4
Publisher: Gilded Dragonfly Books
Cover artist: Gina Dyer
Release date: Aug 26, 2015
A mysterious stranger offers Rose Kelley the opportunity to restore his English home and fulfill a career dream. With nothing to lose, Rose accepts Vaughn Madoc’s offer and accompanies him to England. While touring his house, Rose is catapulted back to 1900 Victorian England.
Vaughn Madoc is Dhampir, the race that originated the legends of vampires, shape shifters, and demons. Working with Scotland Yard to track down a killer plaguing London in the wake of Jack the Ripper, his life has all the complications he can handle. But he’d gladly accept one more when a strangely dress woman appears in his library and who happens to be his true mate, the one he has waited centuries to meet.
Can Vaughn protect Rose from a vicious killer and can a 21-century woman in Victorian England without changing the future?
*Shape shifters, a serial killer, Vampires and time travel all contribute to make this an unforgettable love story.
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Title: Meeting His Match
Author: Shannyn Schroeder
Weblink: http://www.shannynschroeder.com/
Genre: contemporary romance
Length: novel (304 pages)
Heat Level: 4
Publisher: Shannyn Schroeder
Cover artist: Kim Killion
Release date: 10/12/17
Malcolm “Mac” Sterling has one goal: take over the family matchmaking business. His final obstacle? Host his family’s new dating show and prove he can help each contestant find true love. One catch. Mac’s meddling mother has approved a co-host, a so-called expert who seems impervious to his charms. Now he could lose everything, because if his co-host proves she’s the better matchmaker, he can say goodbye to his legacy.
Natalie “Gem” Hale never intended for her alter ego as an online dating expert to get her the opportunity of a lifetime—or for that opportunity to come with a co-host who’s as infuriating as he is tempting. But she didn’t get this far by backing down from a challenge. All she has to do is keep her secret identity a secret.
Except as sparks fly and the competition heats up, Mac realizes his co-host is hiding something. He’s just got to figure out what.
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Title: Season of Promises, #3
Author: Vicki Batman, Merry Holly,
Gerri Brousseau, Cara Marsi,
Bobbi Lerman, Jane Gale
Weblink: www.faceboo
Genre: contemporary
Length: short story anthology
Heat Level: various, 3
Publisher: Indie
Cover artist: n/a
Release date: November 1, 2016
It’s a season of holiday wishes and promises made. Six fun-filled stories to fill your holidays with promises, love, and kisses by award-winning and bestselling authors.
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Title: The Dead Man’s Treasure
Author: Kris Bock
Weblink: www.amazon.com/author/krisbock
Genre: romantic adventure
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 1
Publisher: Pig River Press
Cover artist: Alan Erickson
Release date: January, 2015
Rebecca Westin is shocked to learn the grandfather she never knew has left her a bona fide buried treasure – but only if she can decipher a complex series of clues leading to it. The hunt would be challenging enough without interference from her half-siblings, who are determined to find the treasure first and keep it for themselves. Good thing Rebecca has recruited some help.
Sam is determined to show Rebecca that a desert adventure can be sexy and fun. But there’s a treacherous wildcard in the mix, a man willing to do anything to get that treasure – and revenge.
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Title: The Perfect Partner (Love in New Orleans Series #4)
Author: Ursula LeCoeur
Weblink: www.ursulalecoeur.com
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 3- steamy- passionate kissing and light sex
Publisher: Ursula LeCoeur
Cover artist: Diane Millsap
Release date: September 1, 2017
Can a rake and a prude turn loathing into love?
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I want to thank all the authors who submit their covers
and make this a special place to share!
To see YOUR cover here visit the
UnCover Monthly
page for detailed instructions.
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Please note: There’s a heat level rating for covers, a 1-4 scale, for my readers’ benefit. You should never see a *5* rating on the Ranch–aka my blog– since that’s not what I write.
Some author links may be shortened due to the site format, but the hyperlinks still direct readers to the page link you provide. If any link does not work when clicked, please let me know so I can fix it asap. A note in comments or by email is good.
If there’s anything else you’d like to know about covers being revealed here, please don’t hesitate to let me know. You can leave it either in a comment or by my contact page https://calisarhose.com/say-hey/.
Calisa Rhose presents~Uncover Monthly #Oct2017 #mfrwauthor #coverlove
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all!
I welcome guest authors with their beautiful covers to the new and improved UnCover Monthly!
Go HERE to get the application, read carefully, then hurry and submit your covers! Remember, the early bird gets the earliest slots. 😀
For now, enjoy more awesome cover art by the incredible authors, publishers and artists who make them possible for you to gaze upon each month.
It would be great if you leave a comment letting everyone know what you think about them and maybe even check out a few author links to meet those behind the books. Or just say hi. Don’t forget to tell your friends to stop by so they can appreciate some greatness, or get in on the fun, too!
This feature is only to highlight the authors and artists (though if you see one you want to buy I’m sure the authors won’t mind 😆 ). Enjoy this months’ covers to ogle and explore. If there is one provided, you can follow the artist links by clicking on the name, if there’s an artist link provided, to learn more about the amazing creators of these beautiful covers.
There’s a heat level rating for covers, one through four scale, for your benefit. You should never see a *5* rating on the Ranch since I don’t feature anything erotic in nature. If there’s anything else you’d like to know about covers being revealed here, please don’t hesitate to let me know. You can leave it either in a comment or by my contact page https://calisarhose.com/say-hey/. 
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Title: A Cornish Connection
Author: Constance Hussey
Weblink: www.constancehussey.com
Genre: Historical
Length: Novel, 314 p
Heat Level: 3 passionate kissing, light sex
Publisher: Constance Hussey
Cover artist: Sheri McGathy
Release date: July 21, 2017
A country maiden—a worldly man—an undeniable love
A determined man on a singular path, Harry Bryce is not pleased when the Crown awards him a title, nor is he gratified to learn of an unexpected inheritance in Cornwall. Even less welcome is the mandatory sabbatical from his position at the War Office, just when England needs every man in the fight against Napoleon’s subversive agents. Chafing at the unwanted holiday, Harry uses the time to inspect his new property, only to be entangled in the affairs of a young Cornish woman whose family and home are threatened with destruction. Compelled by his compassionate nature to assist her, he is caught in a complex situation that thoroughly disrupts his carefully ordered life.
In contending with repeated attempts on her brother’s life, an uncle unashamedly stripping the estate of income, and a greedy earl who is desperate to mine copper on her land, Kerra Trevaine needs all the strength and fortitude she possesses. But the arrival of the mysterious Mr. Bryce is perhaps the greatest danger she faces. For while he stands firmly against Kerra’s enemies, the dangerously attractive gentleman threatens to win Kerra’s heart—and that may be the most challenging test of all.
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Title: Alpha Lover,
Bk4, Alpha Council Chronicle Series
Author: Brenda Sparks
Weblink: www.brenda-sparks.com
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 4.5
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Cover artist: Rae Monet
Release date: December 14, 2016
Starved for blood, vampire, Nicholai Peterhof is greatly relieved when two tourists decide to grace his restaurant, but one sip from the pretty brunette and his world is forever turned upside down. Juliette Staint-John is everything he could have asked for in a heartmate; pretty, smart, built with curves in all the right places…and totally unavailable.
Juliette doesn’t want anything to do with the handsome, young-looking Nicholai. As if their differences aren’t enough, the acute grief over the loss of loved ones keeps her heart guarded. He may be her fantasy, but that’s all he can ever be.
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Title: Beneath the Skin
Author: Zara West
Weblink: www.zarawestsuspense.com
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 4- hot- sex
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Cover artist: Angela Anderson
Release date: June 2016
Ex-Olympic wrestler and reclusive billionaire artist Aristides Stavros has one mission—to rescue his sister, a popular tattoo artist from the old enemy who has kidnapped her. But at every turn, he is confronted by anthropologist Melissa Dermot. Is she just an innocent girl in over her head, or is she working for the international crime boss holding his sister?
Only one thing is certain–when Ari holds the beautiful Asian-American in his arms, questions of guilt and innocence fade against an undeniable fiery attraction. But can their wild passionate love survive the tangled web of long-buried secrets, intentional deceit, and murderous revenge that lie just beneath the surface?
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Title: Cézanne’s Ghost
Author: Rolynn Anderson
Weblink: www.rolynnanderson.com
Genre: Romantic suspense
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 3- steamy
Publisher: Rolynn Anderson
Cover artist: Kris Lynn
Release date: 2017
Three young American women vanish in Aix-en-Provence, France.
The FBI suspects their American tour guide.
Leon Beaudet, formerly a U.S. Olympic wrestler, is proud of his five-star guide business, but when tourists disappear on his watch, the FBI dredges up a violent episode in Leon’s past and tap him for the crime. Worse, his new tour group includes Aline Kerig, who is as beautiful and carefree as the three missing women. Leon is fascinated and puzzled by Aline even while he fears for her safety. She refuses to go back to the States, forcing the FBI and local police to involve her in the hunt.
With the French tourist industry about to collapse and Leon as a prime suspect, how does he protect Aline and find his lost tourists?
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Title: Lapses of Memory
Author: M. S. Spencer
Weblink: www.msspencertalespinner.com
Genre: Romantic suspense
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 3
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Cover artist: RJ Morris
Release date: March 15, 2017
Sydney Bellek’s love for Elian Davies is reignited each time they meet, but in the long years following each encounter she forgets him. For his part, Elian knows from the age of seven that they are meant for each other, but when she finally understands it’s too late. Will he regain his memory and remember her or will their new love be enough to replace the old one?
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Title: Marked by Honor,
Book 2 , Knights of Honor
Author: Alexa Aston
Weblink: www.alexaaston.wordpress.com/
Genre: Medieval Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 3
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Cover artist: Dar Albert
Release date: February 10, 2017
1363 A.D. – Lady Beatrice Bordel loses her mother and grandfather on the same day, leaving her penniless. With no protector and no prospects for marriage, her future is dismal. Hoping her grandfather’s oldest friend will take her in, Beatrice journeys north and is set upon by a band of highwaymen. All seems lost—until Sir Raynor Le Roux arrives.
Raynor nurses a broken heart as he returns to his home. He comes upon a scene of horror in the woods and rescues a beautiful woman who stirs strong emotions within him. When he learns that Lady Beatrice travels to her betrothed and is alone in the world, the code of chivalry that guides Raynor’s life compels him to escort her so that she may marry her intended.
But Beatrice has told Raynor a white lie, trying to protect herself, even as she is drawn to the handsome knight. As their growing attraction turns to love, her dishonesty stands in the way. Will Beatrice admit to her deception and tell Raynor the truth—or will this chivalrous knight turn away from the women he desires?
Join Raynor and Beatrice as they travel toward their inevitable destination of love.
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Title: Savannah:
Silver Dollar Saloon series #1
Author: Paty Jager
Weblink: www.patyjager.net/
Genre: Historical Western Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 2
Publisher: Windtree Press
Cover artist: Christy Keerins
Release date: September 21, 2017
Escaping a past full of deceit and larceny, Savannah Gentry goes in search of her only kin, a half-brother she discovered after her father’s death. She hopes Shady Gulch in the Dakota Territory can give her a future. However, she stumbles into the arms of Reverend Larkin Webster, finds herself working in the Silver Dollar Saloon, and soon fears she’s gone from the frying pan into the fire.
After dodging death and incarceration, the Topeka Kid decides to turn his life around and takes on a new identity. Reverend Larkin Webster. It works, until he finds a temptation he can’t resist and steals the heart of Savannah Gentry. When her past collides with his, he wonders if this theft could end up with him losing everything, including his life.
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Title: The Skeleton Canyon Treasure
Author: Kris Bock
Weblink: http://www.krisbock.com/
Genre: Romantic Adventure
Length: Novel
Heat Level: 1-Sweet
Publisher: Pig River Press
Cover artist: Alan Erickson
Release date: July, 2016
When Camille Dagneau finds a strange man searching the college machine shop she runs, she’s ready for battle. Ryan MacAllister acts equally suspicious of her, but he claims he’s merely looking for his missing uncle, who disappeared while hunting for a lost treasure. He believes Camie is the key to finding the treasure, and his uncle. But beautiful, brilliant, and prickly Camie isn’t about to trust this oversized geologist, or the attraction she feels.
Following the clues in the missing man’s journal will take Camie, Ryan, and Camie’s remarkable cat Tiger on a trail through New Mexico and Arizona. They’ll visit the Tombstone graveyard at night, uncover clues in museums, and ultimately wind up in Skeleton Canyon, where legend says nineteenth-century cowboy bandits hid their treasure. To rescue Ryan’s uncle, they’ll face steep cliffs, twisty tunnels, and worse dangers in human form, but trusting each other may be the biggest challenge. And they’re running out of time…
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Read~ UnCover Monthly~ Apologies #needcovers #freepromo #mfrwauthor
Osiyo~
I hope everyone is having a great summer, or winter if that’s your region. Mine is busy with five new puppies almost ready for new forever homes.
In May my baby brother married a wonderful young woman we all adore. I was so honored my brother asked my daughter (far left blonde) to stand with him as a Groom’s Maid. More thrilling, new hubby and better-half are expecting a baby boy in October. I’ll be traveling to the baby shower (from Oklahoma) next month and I’m pretty stoked. This baby will be the first Lewis (my daddy’s line) born in almost half a century! In fact, this brother holds the title of “last Lewis” until his son arrives. Yes, very excited!
So, why am I telling you about this, instead of sharing book covers?
Well, I know you probably clicked the link expecting the usual monthly plethora of cover yum, and I apologize for not having any for you this month. Unfortunately, just because I have UCM up and running again, I haven’t gotten enough covers to post yet.
Consider this is my official welcome notice.
If you have pure romance covers to share, or know someone who does– I NEED them! 🙂
No erotic please.
If you have friends with new books out (or not so new), please let them know, share this link and help UCM rejuvenate to runneth over with yum once more.
You can find everything you’ll need to submit your covers on my site: https://calisarhose.com/uncover-monthly/
Thank you for all of your support over the past few years with UnCover Monthly. I look forward to serving you with FREE promo.
In the meantime, please stop by on Friday, 7/21 and meet my guest, Eve Rabi. I know she’d love to have all the company she can get.
Dodadagohvi~
M.S. Kaye takes Once & Forever into the round pen #mfrwauthor #inspirationalromance #Tuesdayroundup
Osiyo
I’ve got M.S. Kaye on the ranch today to share her latest book Once & Forever with us. Lets sit back and enjoy.
Writing Inspirational Fiction without Preaching
I’m a bit of a stubborn person (my husband would say that’s an understatement), so when I read a fiction title and I get a lecture about how I’m supposed to live, it annoys me. And, of course, I feel bad for being annoyed, like I’m not being a good Christian. Ugh! I read fiction for fun, not to feel inadequate and guilty.
Here are some things to consider when writing fiction with an inspirational vibe (Christian or not).
- Focus on the story. When I set out to write Once, I didn’t intend to make it inspirational. I think that’s why I’m happy with the result. I set out to write a story about characters who happened to have strong ties to their religion.
- No author intrusion. Don’t stuff your opinions into the mouths and thoughts of your characters. Show who your characters are through their actions. Every scene must support the story. Also, be sure you do not include scenes for the sole purpose of getting your opinions across. If it doesn’t move the plot forward, CUT IT.
- Do not preach. Unless you work in a church or you’re the second coming of Jesus, no one wants to hear your opinion of how they should live. If you feel you need to share your vast knowledge of religious texts or lifestyle, you should not be writing fiction. Consider nonfiction.
- Respect your audience. If you generally think people do not live their lives the “right way,” you probably shouldn’t be writing.
- Inspire through the plot. People may not want to be preached to, but they do want to be inspired. This life can be tough; it’s nice to escape into a story that shows how things can work out, or how things going wrong can sometimes lead you down a better path.
Actually, all the above applies to all fiction. Funny how the rules of craft know no religion.
***
Once & Forever
(Once series, Bk 3)
Genre: contemporary romance
Length: Novella
Heat Level: 1- sweet
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Cover artist: Najla Qamber
Release date: December 5, 2016
book 3:
by M.S. Kaye
Who is the mysterious Santa who leaves toys on the convent steps?
After a twelve-year separation, Eden is finally reunited with her brother, Thomas, but why hadn’t she reached out to him in all those years? Eden, a nun, is constantly struggling against her dark past of living on the streets, and her attraction to Trace, an ex-convict farm worker. As Eden and Trace confess their pasts to each other and grow closer, will they be able to resist getting too close?
Excerpt:
“You know what he did to git sent to prison?” one of the convenience store clerks murmured to the other.
Trace could just hear them over the horrible rendition of “Jingle Bells” playin’ through the speakers. He ignored them, like he always did. He tried to come into town late in the evening to avoid people as much as possible, but that also meant it was quiet enough that he could often hear what people murmured about him. Once he’d grabbed some protein bars and a can of beer, he headed up to the counter to pay.
The clerk with a buzz-cut told him the total, and Trace handed him some cash.
Neither of the clerks made eye contact with him, but they both hovered over the cash register as if he might snatch it and run.
Buzz-cut closed the cash drawer right quick and handed Trace’s change back.
“Thank you.” Trace stuffed the change in his pocket, took the bag of protein bars in one hand and his beer in the other, and walked out of the store.
He headed for the back lot toward the alley. He could get through most of downtown by way of the alley. This late at night it was almost too dark to see where he was goin’, but that was part of what he liked about it.
“Bitch,” someone growled. And then the sound of something—or someone—smacking into the brick wall of the back of the convenience store.
Trace moved more quickly and turned the corner, and he caught sight of a skinny, young woman punching a man in the face. His head snapped back. But then another man slammed his fist across her jaw. She looked so frail that the punch seemed like shooting a cannon ball at a piece of notebook paper.
“Hey!” Trace roared and ran at them. “Git away from her.”
Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads
Author Bio:
M.S. Kaye has several published books under her black belt. A transplant from Ohio, she resides with her husband Corey in Jacksonville, Florida, where she tries not to melt in the sun. Find suspense and the unusual at www.BooksByMSK.com.
To receive news on upcoming releases, sign up for email updates on her website.
Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Goodreads | Amazon | TSU | Pinterest | LinkedIn
Once, book 1
Her first and also her once.
Jonathan and Rebecca’s paths cross at exactly the right moment, when each most needs to hear what the other has to say.
But Jonathan is three days from entering the priesthood, and Rebecca leaves him to his peace. But he is unable to find peace.
Without each other’s comfort and strength, they must each struggle to forge a new path, with only memories of the one day that changed everything.
But are they able to forget and let go?
Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | B&N | ARe | Goodreads
Once & Again, book 2
She was once his secret desire… Will she be again?
Father Aiden, an ex-marine and new priest, falls in love with Maylynn, but he struggles to stay away from her. He’s successful for many years, though he can’t keep her out of his dreams.
Then one day she shows up for a pre-marital counselling session with her fiancé, Davis. Aiden soon realizes Davis isn’t who he says he is, but what does that mean for Maylynn, and for himself?
Tuesday Round-Up welcomes Barbara Barrett with Keeping it Casual #mfrwauthor #romance
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my talented guest today, Barbara Barrett, who is sharing Keeping It Casual with us!
Please show Barbara some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the questions, please, tell us a bit about you.
Thank you, Calisa, for the warm welcome to the Ranch.
A little bit about me. I lived most of my life in Iowa, and since I’ve retired, I now spend my winters in Florida just outside the Disney Parks and my summers in Iowa. I started my college career majoring in anthropology, but when I realized I’d have to do field work to gain higher degrees in this area—you know, tents, bugs, no air conditioning, no Diet Coke—I switched my major to American History. My plan was to teach at the community college level once I received my Masters Degree, but when I could only get hired on a part-time basis, I took a job in human resources management with Iowa State government, although we called it Personnel Administration back then. My husband and I were both floor counselors in the dorm system our senior year in college. I met him in sensitivity training. The class focused on non-verbal communication. The thought freaked my future husband, so he spent his time making faces. Needless to say, I wasn’t impressed at that point. It took running into him a few more times to convince me this was the guy for me. We now have two grown children and eight grandchildren.
When I’m not working in my lovely new office upstairs, my writing area is my easy chair in the living room. What does your writing space look like?
My writing space is my own private retreat in both locations. Both are comfy with either a loveseat or sofa for relaxing when breaks are needed. The walls of both are filled with pictures and items that are special to me. Framed photos of three of my favorite authors, Nora Roberts, Linda Howard and Janet Evanovich, stare down at me and provide motivation in my Florida office. I gaze out on six palm trees in the courtyard below. In Iowa, I look out on a boulevard. All day I see people walking their dogs, parents and grandparents with strollers and kids and adults on bikes, roller skates and skateboards. I love to watch all the activity. Some of the teapots and teacups I’ve collected over the years adorn two sets of wall shelves. Since it is just my husband and me, I enjoy long periods of uninterrupted writing time, which I cherish. But if I have to, I can be mobile with my writing space, since I use a laptop.
For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
Most of my books have experienced more than one title prior to publication. I needed to get into the book, maybe even finish the first draft, before the essence I wanted to convey in the title came to me. I struggled naming the first book in my “Sullivan’s Creek” series. It features two architects with very different approaches to design who are forced to work together. At first, I focused too much on their occupation; I kept trying to find catchy ways to use “Blueprint.” Finally, I realized what really brings them together is the Salsa dancing class they teach together so they can learn more about their target audience, baby boomers. Once I came up with Saved by the Salsa, I’d set my course for the next two books in the series. I had my two titles before I had any stories for them. Tough Enough to Tango was released last year and Not Your Mama’s Mambo should be released later this year. But here’s a caveat: as much as I love those titles, finding covers has been a challenge.
My latest release, Keeping It Casual, just came to me, because that’s the whole point of the story, until the H/H realize what they have with each other is much more than casual. It was originally going to be titled The Escape Clause, because the first book in the series was titled The Sleepover Clause and I wanted “clause” to be in each title. But that just didn’t work for the second book. I wanted something “sexy” but not overtly sensational. After much thought, I finally arrived at Seduction on Wheels rather than The Travel Clause. I probably agonized over that one and Salsa the most.
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
From others, never stop learning. With yourself, never stop analyzing your own work.
I recently attended a Michael Hauge workshop at the RWA Annual Conference in San Diego. I’ve heard him speak before on more than one occasion, but this time his words and writing advice struck me differently because I had more writing experience under my belt. When I returned home, I reread my current work in progress and, thanks to his class, realized why this manuscript wasn’t resonating with me. I didn’t need to rewrite the story, but I did need to add more depth to my characters. His advice was invaluable.
The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
Don’t I wish I knew, but I’ll give this a shot. First, every writer needs to determine for herself what “success” means to her: having a bestseller, making lots of money, getting published, seeing your name online somewhere. I’m still at the point in my career when a heartfelt fan letter is much appreciated. I don’t need to know that I changed someone’s life, but it’s wonderful to learn that for the space of time it took them to read one of my books, they learned something or applied something I wrote to their own life or, and this is my favorite, I made them laugh.
I write because I have to write…for myself. It gives me great joy to bring my imagination to life on the computer screen. Every book is a journey that starts with a protagonist desiring something they don’t have or cannot do without overcoming what at the start appears to be an insurmountable challenge, and it’s up to me to guide them to a satisfactory end.
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
For romance novels, I wish I would have had the opportunity to meet Kathleen Woodiwiss. I never imagined myself writing a romance novel until I read Shana and then The Flame and the Flower. Yes, she wrote of damsels in distress who needed the strong alpha male to help them save themselves, but she also conveyed deep emotion that touched the heart and made you want to root for the heroine up until the last page. And to be frank, her sex scenes struck another kind of note that made you keep reading long after midnight.
For mystery novels, I would have liked to meet Dame Agatha Christie. Where Woodiwiss focused on emotion, Christie highlighted the cerebral. Figuring out whodunit before the end of one of her mysteries was a favorite pastime, because her heroes, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, in particular, used their “little gray cells” to discern motive and then apply it to means and opportunity to solve the case. I’m more a fan of the mystery than the suspense or thriller.
It’s time for some fun! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? cat
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? spring
Favorite food? pizza
Well done! J So let’s share a bit.
What are you working on now?
Not Your Mama’s Mambo is currently in galley stage and hopefully will be out before Christmas because it ends on that holiday. I’m also working on a new series, yet to be named, that features different types of cable interest shows.
What are you sharing today?
Today I’m sharing from Keeping It Casual.
Talent manager Alex Appleby needs Geoff McKenna’s help. Her vicious client is threatening the reputation of Alex’s television-star father if Alex can’t convince her stepsister to go along with the client’s demand. Alex turns to Geoff to make the case to her sister.
Geoff has his own proposition for Alex. Thus far, his case of multiple sclerosis has been mild, but he’s unsure of his future. When his girlfriend pushes for a stronger commitment, he enlists Alex as his new pretend love interest so his girlfriend will break things off.
When they discover they actually are attracted to each other, they agree to keep things casual, since Alex is only in town briefly and Geoff isn’t interested in anything serious. But fate intervenes as their feelings deepen. Alex must decide whether to relocate to Iowa from LA, and Geoff must place faith in his future.
Excerpt:
Around a hundred miles, he turned onto I-29 to go north.
He pulled off at the first exit and headed for a fast food place. This had been fun. Best time he’d had in days. He sat back and slapped his thighs.
Alex returned an “I-told-you-so” look.
In response, without giving it further thought, he gripped her shoulders, brought her toward him, and kissed her.
When he released her, she breathed out, “That was unexpected.”
“For me, too. But not at all unpleasant.”
She remained only inches away, her breath grazing his face. Her eyes didn’t leave his. Without uttering a word, she invited him to return to the scene of the crime. So he did. Big time.
When she didn’t back away, he increased the pressure on her mouth, drew her closer, his arms encasing her, his right hand massaging her back. His left hand remained at her waist, awaiting its destination.
Though spontaneous—yeah, there’d been some kind of vibes going on since Pella, but it wasn’t like they’d been flirting or engaged in more serous sexual byplay—neither seemed shocked nor turned off by their actions. It was like they’d both been waiting for some sign from the other since the day they first met.
When had he last made out in a car? Not since college. Maybe even high school. Forgotten how the intimacy of front seat lip lock could give a guy such guilty pleasure. Could send his insides into overdrive, even in broad daylight.
Broad daylight. Right. Get control of yourself, man.
Where can we find you and your books?
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2aXZvG9 (This is new and could use your likes.)
Twitter: http://twitter.com/bbarrettbooks
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/barbarabarrett7/
Buylinks:
The Wild Rose Press (paperback)
Amazon (digital) Amazon (paperback)
Where will you be next?
August 31, www.zarawestsuspense.com/blog
September 9, Nancy Fraser Blog, “Reading Other Genres”
September 12, Burlington Community Library, 3-4 p.m.
November 17, Authors Bare All, www.casimclean.com
Here’s a question from me to your readers: For a romance novel (steamy but not high heat) what grabs your attention on the cover that gets you to read the book?
Thank you so much for playing along, Barbara! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.
Dodadagohvi~
A rare day on the Ranch~ Once by M.S. Kaye #MFRWauthor #coverreveal
Once
Book One
Her first and also her once.
Jonathan and Rebecca’s paths cross at exactly the right moment, when each most needs to hear what the other has to say.
But Jonathan is three days from entering the priesthood, and Rebecca leaves him to his peace. But he is unable to find peace.
Without each other’s comfort and strength, they must each struggle to forge a new path, with only memories of the one day that changed everything.
But are they able to forget and let go?
Will be released July 2, 2016 from Inkspell Publishing.
Add to your to-read on Goodreads.
Author Bio
M.S. Kaye has several published books under her black belt. A transplant from Ohio, she resides with her husband Corey in Jacksonville, Florida, where she tries not to melt in the sun. Find suspense and the unusual at www.BooksByMSK.com.
To receive news on upcoming releases, sign up for email updates on her website.
Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Goodreads | Amazon | TSU | Pinterest | LinkedIn
Preorder your copy today:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Once-Book-1-MS-Kaye-ebook/dp/B01DQ6JVE0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29630603?source=ebfg_tw
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/once-20
Once & Again, book two
Will be released September 4, 2016 from Inkspell Publishing.
She was once his secret desire…will she be again?
Father Aiden, an ex-marine and new priest, falls in love with Maylynn, but he struggles to stay away from her. He’s successful for many years, though he can’t keep her out of his dreams.
Then one day she shows up for a pre-marital counselling session with her fiancé, Davis. Aiden soon realizes Davis isn’t who he says he is, but what does that mean for Maylynn, and for himself?
Once & Forever, book three
Will be released December 2016 from Inkspell Publishing.
Eden, a nun, is constantly struggling against her dark past of living on the streets, and her attraction to Trace, an ex-convict farm worker. After a twelve-year separation, Eden is finally reunited with her brother, Thomas, but why hadn’t she reached out to him in all those years? As Eden and Trace grow closer, confessing their pasts to each other, will they be able to resist getting too close?
Excerpt from Once
“What’s the answer?”
He paused. “A switchblade.”
With my fingertips, I reached out and traced the scar across his cheek. “Did you win?”
He removed my hand and closed his eyes. “Yes.”
I slid his Book back to him. “This says we can find forgiveness.”
His eyes still closed, his jaw clenched. He bowed his head. “It also says ‘Thou shalt not kill.’”
I took his hand in both of mine, petted his rough skin, and then brought it to my lips. He had a talent for guiding invisibly, but I didn’t know how to do that.
He watched me again. His eyes were intense, like the black of the night sky, and his forehead was furrowed, as if his emotions were scattered, as if he was shocked at my reaction, as if he had been sure his answer would drive me away. But I knew him. Already, I knew him.
“You’re still a good person,” I said.
His jaw clenched. “I’ve been trying to believe that.”
“I have faith in you.”
He continued to watch me. His forehead never smoothed, as if he was fighting for strength, but his eyes softened. He slid around the booth, closer to me.
I didn’t move, not sure what to do, what was right, what he wanted.
He leaned closer.
I only watched him.
He touched his lips to my cheek, the faintest pressure. I struggled to sit still, to keep my hands in my lap, not to grab hold of him. And then his lips were gone, such brief contact that I couldn’t be sure if he had actually kissed my cheek or if I wanted his contact so much that I’d imagined it.
He spoke in my ear. “You must be some kind of final test.”
My heart pounded into my ribs, against the point of the blade. “Are you going to pass?”
His lips brushed against my jaw. “I don’t know.”
He trailed to my neck, his mouth softly pressing. My hand curled into his hair, the other on his shoulder, holding, clutching. His mouth found mine, barely touching. His warmth invaded my head.
“God give me strength,” he murmured.
The door slid open, and the compartment filled with laughter.
He closed his eyes. Then he slid away from me.
Calisa Rhose presents ~ UnCover Monday ~ #February2016 #MFRWauthor #CoverLove
UnCover Mondays on The Ranch!!!
Osiyo~
It’s February already, the month dedicated to love and romance. Here on the Ranch it’s time again for gorgeous covers to take the spotlight in the round pen. Enjoy more awesome cover art by the incredible authors, publishers and artists who made them possible for you to gaze upon each month.
It would be great if you leave a comment letting everyone know what you think about them and maybe even check out a few author links to meet those behind the books. Or just say hi. Don’t forget to tell your friends to stop by so they can appreciate some greatness, or get in on the fun, too!
This feature is only to highlight the authors and artists (though if you see one you want to buy I’m sure the authors won’t mind 😆 ). Enjoy this months’ covers to ogle and explore. If there is one provided, you can follow the artist links by clicking on the name, if there’s an artist link provided, to learn more about the amazing creators of these beautiful covers.
There’s a heat level rating for covers, one through four scale, for your benefit. You should never see a *5* rating on the Ranch since I don’t feature anything erotic in nature. If there’s anything else you’d like to know about covers being revealed here, please don’t hesitate to let me know. You can leave it either in a comment or by my contact page https://calisarhose.com/say-hey/. 🙂
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Title: 3 Wishes-
A Candy Hearts Romance
Author: Peggy Jaeger
Weblink: www.peggyjaeger.com
Genre: Contemporary romance
Heat Level: 1- sensual
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Cover artist: RJ Morris
Release date: February 8, 2016
Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her big 3-0 birthday, she just might get her three wishes.
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Title: Cinderella’s Enchanted Night
bk 4, Cinderella Body Club series
Author: Amber Daulton
Weblink: amberdaultonauthor.blogspot.com/
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Heat Level: 2- Sensual
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Cover artist: Books to Go Now
Release date: May 20, 2015
Annalise Gallagher wanted Elijah Burleigh. Plain and simple. She’d watched him from afar for months, her friends called her ‘his own personal stalker’, and then she made a wish on a magic pendant for a full-body makeover. Transformed into the gorgeous knockout she’d always wanted to be, she asked Elijah out on a date and wore a haute couture gown straight from Paris to his friend’s wedding.
With just twenty-four hours on the clock, her enchanted night faded into the morning hours and everything crashed down around her. Annalise harbored a shameful secret and Elijah demanded the truth with the veil of magic gone.
The truth, however, could destroy her fragile confidence and push him away forever.
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Title: Heart-Strong
Author: Bonnie McCune
Weblink: www.BonnieMcCune.com/
Genre: Traditional romance
Heat Level: 1-sweet
Publisher: Prism Book Group
Cover artist: Joan Alley
Release date: 2013
Headstrong. Rachel Kinsey fits the description perfectly. The divorced soccer mom may be ditzy and as sympathetic to losers as a charity, but she knows what she wants. A man completely different from her unreliable ex-husband and the outrageous characters she’s usually doomed to attract.
Enter Jim Landers, the ideal candidate. An accidental encounter introduces her to the tall, dark attorney who loves soccer and kids. The only problem? He’s not prepared for a ready-made family and a woman as comfortable as a beloved sweater rather than a beauty queen. A woman whose kindness, enthusiasm for life, and unguarded honesty may disturb a man who values order, perfection, and serenity. Jim turns to the flawless yet distant Donna as a substitute for Rachel.
She should show him how much he means to her, but rejection from an absent father and a capricious ex-husband may have ruined Rachel’s ability to connect to Jim. Will she risk herself, her son and their future by revealing how much Jim means to her?
A touching, tender tale full of gentle humor, about thinking too much and feeling too little. Rachel must learn to be heart-strong in order to find her soul mate.
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Title: Rich Girl,
Bk #1, Saucy Girls Series
Author: Joanne Sexton
Weblink: www.josextonbooks.com
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Heat Level: 4-Hot
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Cover artist: Tirgearr Publishing
Release date: June 26, 2015
There’s a fine line between love, obsession, and hate.
Chelsea Summerville has a stalker who is kidnapping and murdering women resembling her, just to carve them up with a message. Judged unfairly by the sociopath, Chelsea fears for her life.
The murders sting Detective Lucas Hudson’s raw nerves. In order to save Chelsea, they become partners, intimate partners. Lucas recalls the past, determined to prevent the mayhem unfolding, and this time to stop a killer before he loses the woman he loves.
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Title: The Other Side: Trent’s Story
Bk 2, Other Side series
Author: Starr Gardinier
Weblink: www.QueenWriter.com
Genre: Paranormal
Heat Level: 1 sweet
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Cover artist: The Wild Rose Press
Release date: January 22, 2016
Melinda James is finally out of Skyview Haven—an asylum where she was confined for years—and is living her life, free at last. However, things are not going as planned; harassed by unexplained paranormal experiences, she doesn’t feel safe in her own home. And when she turns to her best friend Trent for help and support, she is surprised to find her feelings for him have grown far beyond a simple friendship.
Trent Miller isn’t prepared to fight evil, but he will do whatever it takes to save Melinda from an evil entity that is seeking revenge for past events. Armed with knowledge gleaned from television shows, a team of paranormal investigators, and the prayers of family and friends, he is ready to face anything.
The question is, does he tell her about his feelings for her before or after he fights a battle with evil for Melinda’s very soul?
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Title: The Untouchable
Author: Gina Rossi
Weblink: http://www.ginaginarossi.wix.com/
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Heat Level: 4-Hot
Publisher: Gina Rossi
Cover artist: www.humblenations.com
Release date: November 2015
Creative introvert, Rosemary Hamilton, lives day by day, her fragile existence disrupted when she acquires celebrity neighbour, Marco Dallariva, charismatic world-champion motorcycle racer who lives life on the edge. Their initial meetings are disastrous. Opposites, clearly, do not attract even if they share troubled ground. When Rosy knocks Marco off his motorbike in the driveway of his secluded home, there’s hell to pay-but also a spark of undeniable attraction. Rosy is puzzled by her deep anxiety when Marco goes missing, and, when he finds himself desperate in an emergency, he immediately turns to Rosy. To share Marco’s life, Rosy changes her own. Always in his shadow, without freedom or privacy, friends or family, she exists beyond her comfort zone. Against all odds, the relationship flourishes-but cruel, life-changing secrets have nowhere to hide. Are Marco and Rosy heading for a win? Or will they wipe out in the face of a devastating, impossible choice?
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Title: When Black Women Fall (Promo tour)
Author: Various
Weblink: www.whenblackwomenfall.com
Heat Level: 1-4
(level 5 inc., but not promoted specifically)
Genre: Various
Publisher: Heartspell Media
Release Date: February 8-14, 2016
Romance novels featuring African American heroines in the contemporary, historical, paranormal, new adult, and erotica genres.
Romance novels are increasingly featuring heroes and heroines of color, from Courtney Milan’s Brothers Sinister series to Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series. As society and its citizens increase in diversity so does the market. With more and more authors bypassing publishers and uploading these colorful romances on their own, starved readers now have a buffet of books to choose from.
When black women fall in love it’s a sign of the times in these contemporary offerings.
In Farrah Rochon’s “All You Can Handle” love was the last thing professional pastry chef Sonny White was looking for, but she finds it in a sleepy town with a motorcycle riding hottie.
In Lena Hart’s “Because You Love Me” when an old desire is reawakened Sabrina will discover that even an imperfect love can triumph over all.
In Xio Axelrod’s “Falling Stars” Hollywood actress’ Val Saunders finds her career skyrocketing which makes her real-life attraction to her on-screen love interest come at the worst possible time.
In Ines Johnson’s “Pumpkin: a Cindermama Story” having given up on fairytales after falling for her toad of an ex, Pumpkin is afraid to take a chance on a prince charming who comes to her rescue.
In Kim Golden’s “Maybe Baby” Laney must choose between the man who offers her financial security and the one who makes her mind and body sing.
In Victoria H. Smith’s “The Space Between” Lacey has dreams of the opera, but life has its obstacles, namely a man who lights a fire inside of her that challenges everything she thought she wanted.
In Christina C. Jones’ “Inevitable Conclusions” Friends? Lovers? Both? For Kora and Tariq, those lines have been blurred for a long time.
When black women fall in love it’s a magical affair as you’ll find in these paranormal stories of love.
In L Penelope’s “Angelborn” he gave up eternity for love… and lost. Will Maia be his second chance?
In Laverne Thompson’s “Angel Rising” Thalya, a soulless creature, meets her match when she hungers for the love of the man assigned to hunt her.
When black women fall in love it’s a defining moment as you’ll find in this historical romance.
In Piper Huguley’s “The Preacher’s Promise” Amanda Stewart aims to teach newly freed slaves, but meets with the resistance from the town preacher. Can these two put aside their differences and come together?
When black women fall in love it’s full of growing pains as you’ll see in this new adult romance.
In Twyla Turner’s “Chasing Day” Daylen is the shy cellist who falls in love with her best friend who also happens to be the popular quarterback.
n Rebekah Weatherspoon’s “So Sweet” Kayla is shocked when the sexy billionaire she meets on an online dating app turns out to be a dream in and outside of the bedroom.
In honor of Valentine’s Day and Black History month, check out one or all of these romances.
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I want to thank all the authors who submit their covers
and make this a special place to share!
To see YOUR cover here visit my
UnCover Monday
page for detailed instructions.
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Calisa Rhose presents ~ Shatterproof by KK Weil #mfrwauthor #tuesdayroundup
Osiyo~
Welcome KK Weil to the round pen today! She’s sharing her new book, Shatterproof, and I’m asking her a few random questions. KK also has a special offer at the end.
Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I’m very excited to be here.
I’m thrilled to have you! Let’s get started.
What is your writing routine?
As soon as my kids leave for school, my computer goes on. My coffee sits next to me and if the weather is nice, I either work outside or open all my windows. Fresh air inspires me. Usually, I take care of any “business” first, like social media or communications with other authors. After that, I dive into writing. What that means depends on the day. It might be picking up where I left off and spewing out tons of words or maybe I just go over what I did the day before and tweak it. Of course I find the days when I get more pages out to be more productive, but both kinds of days are necessary. I work until the kids come home, which often means losing track of time and neglecting everything else that needs to be done. And then my computer goes back on when they go to sleep.
Which comes first for you—plot or characters?
It depends. For my first book, At This Stage, I knew the premise of the plot before anything else. I developed my characters around what I wanted to happen in the story. In my new release, Shatterproof, my hero, Griffin is a character from the first book. I fell in love with him while I was writing At This Stage, and I knew I wanted to give him his own story. Shatterproof developed entirely around Griffin, so in that case, character definitely came first. In the book I’m working on now, I started with a general idea of the plot, but was having some trouble with my heroine. Then I used a character sketch to get to know her better and then everything started flowing like magic.
What aspect of writing comes easy to you? What is difficult?
For me, the most natural part of writing is the story development. I absolutely love creating something from nothing and every time plots come together in ways I didn’t initially expect, I get very excited. I tend to write about sensitive subjects, so I guess I’d have to say the hardest part is how to handle them. For example, a large part of Shatterproof is about how Griffin deals with his anger towards his mother for staying in an abusive relationship for years. I really wanted to capture what he was going through, while making it clear that the feelings were his as a product of that household, and not mine as a writer. It can be tricky.
What was your first writing piece and where is it now?
I’ve always written, so I couldn’t name my first piece. But my first “full length book” – which would have to be judged by how many pages it took up in a marble composition notebook – was about twin girls. One good, one, bad, naturally. And the trouble they got into. I think I wrote it in Junior High. I still have it, tucked away in my basement, in a duffle bag filled with old stories I’ve written.
Where in the world would you want to visit (all in the name of research, of course) and why?
My number-one dream destination is, without a doubt, Australia. I’ve actually had my itinerary planned for years, because one day, it will happen. There are so many things I want to see there. The opera house and the beautiful Great Barrier Reef are at the top of my list. But above all, I want to visit the outback, Ayer’s Rock and learn about the Aborigines. I couldn’t imagine a more wonderful place to take my family. And imagine the stories it would inspire!
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry and why?
Margaret Atwood. (https://twitter.com/MargaretAtwood1) To me, she is the queen of dystopian fiction, one of my favorite genres. I’d do anything to pick her brain.
Favorite movie and why?
I have so many, and they truly change with my mood. But two of my all-time favorites are Bullworth and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou, because I love satire.
Salty, sweet, or both?
Salty, salty salty. Except if you’re offering me a peanut butter cup.
Shatterproof Blurb
Griffin Stone knows the stats. Sons of abusers become abusers. This is his single fear.
After witnessing firsthand his parents’ tumultuous marriage, Griffin worries that he, too, harbors an explosive dark side. Can he escape from his father’s rage-fueled ways or is he destined to become part of the cycle?
Unable to persuade his mother to leave and wrestling with his resentment towards her for staying, Griffin volunteers at Holly’s House, a safe haven for abused women. Through sculpture, Griffin gives these women pieces of themselves they’ve long forgotten. Holly’s House is the only place where Griffin finds peace and purpose.
Until he meets Frankie Moore.
Frankie is an aspiring photographer, finding beauty in things most people miss, including Griffin. Griffin is attracted to her free-spirited, sassy attitude but fears Frankie will trigger the most intense part of him, the one he must keep buried.
Frankie’s got to get her act together. Her anything-goes behavior is leading nowhere fast. She’s hopeful that her latest hobby will be a building block for the future. But when a stranger appears on the other end of her camera, looking as complex as he is handsome, Frankie thinks this might be just the change she needs.
Shatterproof Excerpt
“You need to grow up, Griffin,” my father spat at me. “Life isn’t perfect. You need to get over it and move on. Your mother can. She’s happy with me and whatever we have between us is our business, not yours. Grow the hell up, and start acting like a man instead of a petulant child.”
Heat shot through my body at lightning speed. “Act like a man—like you?” I shouted. “What should I do, go pick some amazing woman who’s full of life and beat it out of her until she can’t even recognize herself any more, until she can’t even differentiate between love and pain? Is that what a man does, Dad? Is that what I should do?”
My father broke into a smile. An evil, condescending, terrifying smile. “You think you’re so different from me?” He hovered over me. His tone was sinister, as if he was trying to cut through my skin with nothing but his voice. “Get up.” He yanked my arm and pulled me by the elbow into the bathroom. He grabbed the back of my head and forced me to face the mirror. “Look at yourself, Griffin. And look at me. Everything about you comes from me. You may deny it now. You may put yourself on a pedestal, thinking you’re above being human, but just know that the fire inside you, that’s my fire. That passion, it’s mine. And when you have an uncontrollable desire to love, to hurt, to possess a woman, it’s from me. Nothing is yours alone. Even this face.” He snagged my chin between his strong fingers. I tried to yank it away from his grasp, but he held on too tight. “It’s mine. And there’s nothing you can do about it. You can try to mask it in this mess of hair and clothes and tattoos you have going on, but know that every time a woman falls in love with that face, every time she says she can’t resist you because of it, every time she can’t walk away from you…it’s because of me. It’s because you are me. We. Are. The. Same.” He released my chin with a shove and left the bathroom.
Author Bio:
Instead of telling you how I’ve always loved to write (which is true) or how I dabbled in different genres for years while I was a teacher, before I took it up full-time (also true), I’d like to let you get to know me a little.
I love trying all different foods. I enjoy everything from street meat to decadent delicacies. When I travel, I pester the locals for restaurant recommendations, off the beaten path. Having said that, I am a savory fan. I don’t have a sweet tooth. I’d much rather have another bite of dinner and one more glass of wine that save room for dessert. There is one exception to this rule. Reese’s peanut butter cups. Sometimes I think I love those more than I love my children. I’m kidding. Maybe.
I’m left handed. I blame my horrendous handwriting on this, even though I don’t really believe they’re related. Everything in this world is built for and by righties. (Ever try using a can opener with your left hand?) So when I meet another left-handed person, I feel an immediate bond to her, like we’re in this special club. A club founded on being inconvenienced. When I was young, I was desperate for my sister to be a leftie like me. So even though she grabbed things with her right hand, I’d quickly switch them to her left. Now she’s ambidextrous.
I always save the best of everything for last. It’s a compulsion. I don’t like pizza crust very much, so I eat it first. I tear it off, piece by piece (I don’t bite the slice backwards. I’m not a Neanderthal, for God’s sake), until there’s just a little bit left in the center. I use this as a handle.
I have an irrational fear of lice, bedbugs and any other insect that can become an infestation.
I prefer beaches over grass, heels over flats, dramas over comedies, coffee over tea, night over morning and fall over spring.
She sounds interesting, doesn’t she? Check out:
Shatterproof, a New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Amazon http://amzn.com/B015UESACU
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shatterproof-k-…/1122695550…
Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/shatterproof
The Wild Rose Press http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v1…/index.php…
Follow Me
Website: http://www.kkweil.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KKWeilAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KK_WEIL
Blog: KKWeil.blogspot.com
I have one leftie (of my three girls) and teaching her was a challenge in a lot of ways as she grew up, since I’m a rightie. She’s ambidextrous also, mostly because she was right handed until a nine foot fall when she was almost 2 that rewired her brain some. Thank you for visiting the Ranch and sharing your work and yourself, KK!
For a chance to win a copy of one of her books, tell KK if you are a rightie, or a leftie. 🙂
Dodadagohvi~
Friday Fanfare welcomes J.J. DiBenedetto #DreamWedding #MFRWauthor
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. No-no, not the men or women. What’s the matter with you? You know the hands-on rules… The guest gets first pick! For today’s guest, I’ve invited some special lovelies to join us. 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my guest today, J.J. DiBenedetto. James is a prolific and wonderfully talented indie artist and sharing his latest book, DREAM WEDDING with us!
Please show J.J. some real Ranch love!
Please, tell us a bit about you. What made you decide to write romantic fiction and do you find it difficult as a man in a woman’s world so-to-speak?
Honestly, this was just the story that came to me. The Dream Series began as a mystery idea, and the romance just developed as the first book went along.
I haven’t had any difficulty as a man in a woman’s world. It might seem weird, but it’s been easy for me to write in Sara (my heroine)’s voice. The books are all in first person, so we’re in her head the whole time, and I’ve found writing her to be very natural.
That’s great, J.J. Okay, I’ll begin with five questions, then follow with three more, and end with four final ones. My writing area at the moment a recliner in my living room. What does your writing space look like?
A computer desk in my bedroom, sometimes also occupied by our cat!
The remodel of my office/craft room is almost finished after four years without. I can’t wait! For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
The character names were easy. That’s just who they were – for the most part, the names just came to me along with the idea of who they were. Titles were harder. I didn’t come up with the title for the first book of the series (DREAM STUDENT) until the second book was halfway finished!
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
The work doesn’t end when you get to “the end”. That’s when it starts. Selling your books (whether as a self-published author, or to an agent/publisher) is insanely hard, and it never ends.
The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
Adaptability. Things are changing so fast, I think of it like surfing (not that I’ve ever surfed myself!). You have to catch the wave at the right moment, ride it as long as you can, and then you have to find the next one. Over and over again.
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
It’s a tough question. Maybe Frank Herbert, so I could ask him what he really intended for the end of the Dune chronicles, because I refuse to believe that what his son wrote is what Frank was going to do had he lived to finish the books.
It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? Cat
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Winter!
Favorite food? Fondue
Well done! Fondue…really? Interesting, I’ve never tried it. 🙂
Okay, Flash four. Ready? What are you working on now?
An adventure/romance story following an archaeology student who finds herself way out of her depth. The working title at the moment is “Queen of the Idiots” (a title the heroine gives herself at one point in the story) but that’ll probably change.
What are you sharing today?
I’ve got an excerpt from DREAM WEDDING, book ten of the Dream Series. Our heroine has a visitor – her daughter’s boyfriend…
Seth Taylor is a senior at Crewe University, and he lives in the building next to her, just a few hundred feet away. He’s also been her on-and-off boyfriend for most of her three and a half years at college, and to hear Lizzie tell it it’s been a lot more on than off since their senior year began in September. If he weren’t smiling – although the smile is becoming more nervous with each passing second – I’d wonder if he was here to deliver bad news about my daughter.
“No, Dr. Alderson. She doesn’t know I’m here. It’s – it’s a surprise.” Yes, it is. Especially because Lizzie isn’t flying home until Wednesday, two days from now.
I let that pass. I also let it pass that it’s a little bit presumptuous to show up unannounced on our doorstep and expect me to find a spare bed for him for two nights. Not that I have any problem with him visiting, or sleeping in Ben’s room for a couple of nights. He’s done it enough times the last four years he’s known Lizzie, after all. Still, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect some advance notice.
I put all that aside. “It’s Sara. Please. How many times do I have to tell you that?” I gesture for him to sit, and he does, but he can’t quite meet my eyes.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call ahead, Doctor.” I’ve never known him to be this nervous. Granted, I don’t know him that well, but he’s always struck me as a very confident young man. “I didn’t want – I mean, it’s not the kind of thing you do over the phone. And I didn’t want her sister to find out and tell her. I want it to be a surprise.”
I have no idea what he’s…
Yes, I do. What was I just saying to myself? More on than off? I think he’s about to tell me that it’s about as “on” as you can get.
“Oh! You’re – Seth, you knew perfectly well that Lizzie won’t be here until Wednesday, don’t you?” He nods. “You expected to catch me alone. You probably went to the hospital first, didn’t you?” Another nod. “You came here to ask me…” I can’t say the words out loud, but he nods just the same.
How is this possible? She’s not even twenty-one yet! She doesn’t graduate for another six months, and then she’ll be going on to medical school. How can he possibly think that I would approve…
Where can we find you and your books?
My website – http://www.writingdreams.net
My Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/DreamSeriesBooks
My Amazon author page – http://viewAuthor.at/JJDiBenedetto
Twitter – https://twitter.com/JJDiBenedetto
Where will you be next?
I’m always at my website – you can follow me there anytime!
Thank you so much for playing along J.J! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose ~ Solstice Island by Mae Clair is #FREE #MFRWauthor
End of Summer Sale: Solstice Island by Mae Clair
is FREE 8/31 and 9/1
#cryptidfiction #romance #adventure
I know summer isn’t officially over until the autumnal equinox rolls around mid-September, but by the time the calendar reads August 31, I’m already thinking fall. My husband and I will be closing our pool this coming weekend, Halloween stuff is stocked in most every store I visit, and the days are growing noticeably shorter. I live in the northeast where summer is much, much too short. Blink and it’s easy to miss. I love fall, but I thrive on summer. So…I’m lamenting the demise of my favorite season with an end of summer sale on SOLSTICE ISLAND, my breezy romantic adventure novella.
Why should you read it (other than the fact it’s like a shot of summer wrapped up inside Kindle pages)? I’m glad you asked. 😀
The Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Read Solstice Island by Mae Clair:
- You’ll meet a hot charter boat captain trying to live down his family legacy.
- You’ll encounter a spunky heroine cryptozoologist, determined hot captain should embrace said family legacy and all the baggage that goes with it.
- You’ll be able to impress your friends with your stunning new knowledge of cryptozoology.
- You may find yourself struck by the uncontrollable urge to look up blurry images of strange creatures online or go on a cryptid hunt (think Loch Ness, Big Foot, and the Jersey Devil).
- You’ll learn why you should never ignore a craving for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
- The next time your boat is attacked by a rampaging sea monster, you’ll know precisely what to do.
- You’ll be swept up in a tale of romance, adventure, and folklore.
- You’ll uncover buried treasure, thwart a villain, and discover a new use for a boat oar.
- As a 72 page novella, SOLSTICE ISLAND makes a quick end of summer read.
And the number one reason you should read SOLSTICE ISLAND:
- It’s FREE on Amazon August 31 and September 1!
http://www.amazon.com/Solstice-Island-Mae-Clair-ebook/dp/B00JHN4EBC
SOLSTICE ISLAND
Blurb:
Can an ancient leviathan work magic between a practical man and an idealistic woman?
Rylie Carswell is an amateur cryptozoologist in search of a mythical creature, the Sea Goliath. In order to reach Solstice Island, a location the ancient leviathan is rumored to haunt, she’s forced to hire charter boat captain, Daniel Decatur.
Initially, Daniel wants nothing to do with the trip or the fool woman waving double payment in his face. Convinced she’s yet another loony treasure hunter looking for gold on the remote island, he reluctantly agrees. An embittered neighbor wants to have his charter license yanked, so the extra cash will help him stay afloat.
It doesn’t take long for Daniel to realize Rylie is after the same beast his parents were tracking when they mysteriously vanished ten years earlier. He’s avoided all links to cryptozoology ever since, but the smart and sexy cryptid hunter has him second-guessing his oath and wondering what he’s signed on for.
Warning: A family legacy, glowing plankton and rough waters.
About Mae Clair:
Mae Clair has been chasing myth, monsters and folklore through research and reading since she was a kid. As an adult, she stumbled onto the field of cryptozoology and realized there were others like her who loved speculating about weird and wonderful creatures.
Her blog, From the Pen of Mae Clair, features a weekly post each Monday where she examines a different myth or urban legend. In 2013 and 2015, she journeyed to West Virginia to learn more about the legendary Mothman, a creature who will factor into an upcoming series of novels.
As a writer, she pens tales of romantic mystery flavored with a twist of myth or folklore. Married to her high school sweetheart, Mae lives in Pennsylvania. Her passions include cats, history and exploring old graveyards. Look for Mae on her website at MaeClair.net
You can find Mae Clair at the following haunts:
Download SOLSTICE ISLAND Free from:
Add SOLSTICE ISLAND to your Goodreads TBR
I write contemporary and paranormal romance, with sensuality as the key ingredient and spice for kick.
Pen of The Dreamer 