Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop Giveaway

What better way to celebrate the holiday down time (well as much down time we can drum up) than with a good book? A good book can be as comforting as a good friend. Well, this is a great opportunity to acquire some new reading materials and make some new friends.

I will be giving away 2 copies of Soul Catcher to 2 lucky people who comment.

Please don’t forget to stop by the many other authors participating in this blog hop. To see all the authors and their sites, please visit PJ Schnyder’s Blog.

Soul Catcher Blurb

Top supermodel, Angel Dias, lives the life of the rich and fabulous, until a heinous car accident mars her face. After thirteen surgeries and losing everything she deemed important, she seeks out the dark forces to salvage her life and decides to conjure the Devil for help, making a deal to recover her beauty. In exchange for his help, Lucifer forces her to hunt supernatural renegades, which have eluded the pits of Hell. In her quest to find beauty and get out of her contract with Lucifer, Angel stumbles upon love in the arms of a demon.

Commander of the Legions and an Underworld Demon, Jacque Toussant, takes a field commission to escape the madness of a failed relationship and prove himself worthy of his demon heritage. Jacque is content with his existence as a field soldier until Lucifer gives him a special assignment to oversee a new trainee, a supermodel nonetheless. Humans hold low appeal for Jacque, especially the females. That is until he meets Angel. Jacque risks everything, including his life, to find a way to break Angel’s deal with Lucifer.

 

 

 

Author Interview with Lani Rhea

We have the pleasure hosting Lani Rhea today. Lani is a great chick I met hanging out at Savvy Authors site. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Lani and her writing in the last few months and invited her here to share some tidbits about her upcoming releases.

Let’s all welcome Lani to Delusions of Grandeur!

Vivi:  Hi Lani. Thanks for stopping by and spending some time with us. I hear you have a new release coming up soon. Can you tell us about it?

Lani:  Thank you, Vivi, for having me today! It’s an honor. I’m very glad we meet through Savvy and giddy to have you as a friend! And thank you for your kind words!

Yes I do. I have a series called The Ark Hotel lined up with Sizzler Intoxications. Story two Under Bonded Contract is due to be released in a couple of months. Story one Two by Two will be published in a Christmas anthology.

In Under Bonded Contract I wanted my characters to word spar, yet hungrily crave each other in a professional setting. They both are realtors and work in a “No Dating” environment. Now this adds conflict to the two until Jackson whips up a contract making it legal for them to, er, well, you know have sex! So he hopes.

Here’s a blurb:

A competition spirals into a tantalizing game of skin and seduction …

Camri Burns, an ambitious real-estate agent, blindsides the rival she’s secretly desired for a long time. When she’s offered an all-expenses-paid trip, opportunity opens the playing field.

As the biggest earner with the most notches on his bedpost, too-sexy Jackson Pratt is determined the redheaded beauty won’t prevail.

When the two-some become forced into a partnership, they must distract each other in order to win. After Jackson took credit on a past partnership, Camri isn’t letting him off the hook. In order to ultimately succeed, they’ll need to follow the rules Under Bonded Contract.

Is it love, or simply a game of sex?

Vivi:  Of course we have to know how you got started writing. So, what prompted you to pick up the pen?

Lani:  You’re so going to laugh! Quick trip to the past, in 2004 I took a writing class because I wanted to write historical romances. That’s what I read at the time. Learned the biz was way too much for me and dropped the pen. Fast forward, I read Twilight. Fell in love with the idea of wanting to write again. A 2010 resolution made my dream possible. I told myself I would be published in ’10 and I was! I published a flash fiction called LIFE at www.weirdyear.com. If you go to my blog www.lanirhea.blogspot.com, you’ll have better luck going that route. (Look on the right side for Weirdyear.)

Vivi:  If you had to pick through your gems of works, which would you call your favorite(s) and why?

Lani:  I have two. For Your Eyes, based here in Oklahoma, bits and pieces of my life are sprinkled throughout the story.

The second story, Rising Currents: Louisiana Moon because Kristina Knight has a charity called the Knight Foundation. She likes to give back to people who have lost loved ones in tragic ways. Like I have this year, I lost two first cousins and almost my husband and two smallest children in a head on/right side collision. All of these occurrences happened from Feb. 10^th to March 20^th.

Vivi:  Okay, favorite piece of work was difficult.  How about a favorite character from one of your stories?

Lani:  Oh gosh, I would have to say Time of Unity. This story still sits on my laptop begging to be written. I think I went way over my head when I first wrote this story. I was a two month old writer and the plot is out there. lol

Favorite character would be Kristina Knight from Rising Currents: Louisiana Moon. Because I like her sass!

Vivi:  I’m a devoted paranormal junkie. I know you write both paranormal and contemporary. Which do you prefer and how do they challenge your writing style?

Lani:  This isn’t fair, Vivi. lol Joking. Um, I would have to go with paranormal because I love creatures. I especially love vampires. I always played vampires as a child and still dress like them for Halloween. Well, last year, I was a vampire slayer for my son’s 16^th birthday party and he was the vampire. lol We built a seven room haunted forest trail!

I love challenges period. Makes the creative juices flow. It takes me a little while to switch from paranormal to contemporary because my mind has to slow down. With paranormal I like the plots twisted. With the contemporary, once I’m in the mood, the story flows right out of me. It’s relaxing.

Vivi: I always dream up and envision my characters when I write. Who would you choose to represent your characters in Under Bonded Contract?

Lani:  Christina Hendricks as Camri Burns and Ian Somerhalder as Jackson Pratt.

Vivi: I’ve found writing to be both rewarding and frustrating. What do you find most rewarding about writing?

Lani:  The fact that I can sit and play with my characters in my head! lol Writing altogether is a big stress reliever. Hard to believe, but it is. I like to sit and write the story first, tell the heart of it.

Vivi:  Now, what is your least favorite part?

Lani: The aftermath is the hard part, the edits. After you’ve got your precious characters on paper and they’ve seen trials and tribulations, and then it’s time to tear the puppy up. Such heartache. But that’s why I open a blank .doc and title it the stories name and cuts.

Vivi:  You know you have to give us your “How I got published” story. So, spill it.

Lani:  Honestly, I took a workshop with Sascha Illyvich and kept his email. The day LIFE got published I mass emailed a bunch of people. I was so freaking excited and hyper that I wanted to share to all. I even texted like crazy. Just so happens, and never dreamed this, but he happened to be looking for submissions for Sizzler Intoxications! So here I am again. *grin*

Vivi: Lani, thank you so much for joining us today. It’s always a pleasure talking to you and hearing about your books. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next.

Please check out Lani. You can find her at the following sites:

Her Author, Youtube, Twitter and Facebook pages are linked on her blog at http://lanirhea.blogspot.com. She would love for you to follow her on her journey!

Thanks again for allowing me to be interviewed by you, Vivi. Great questions! And thank you for stopping by today!

Excerpt: (This has not been professionally edited by my editor.)

Camri marched forward through her own office door. Jackson didn’t move out of the way, causing them to brush shoulders.

“Excuse you,” she snapped.

“Yes ma’am.” He stepped aside with hands up in the air. Camri despised when Jackson tried to act like a gentleman. She knew him better than that.

They entered her office and Jackson shut the door. Camri plopped in the chair behind the desk and Jackson stood in front with hands on his hips. They studied each other for the longest time.

“What, Jackson? Tell me.” She drummed her fingers on the desk.

“While on vacation, I stumbled upon a man who is interested in buying buildings. Break some apart, sell the pieces and keep others for investment properties. He offered me a job to scout commercial buildings.” He flashed a straight-lined toothy smile at her.

So what, what did that have to do with her?

“I figured I would let you in on the deal. I have a great feeling something big is about to change in real estate, in the near future.” Jackson kept the same dashing grin on his lips, luring her into accepting.

“And tell me why you want to offer me such a gracious gift?”

Jackson slumped slowly in the chair in front of her. He lowered his face to stare into his lap and inhaled deeply, puffing his chest out. Glancing up, he released the breath with a heavy sigh and gave her a shameful look. “Because, I still feel bad about taking the Chandler deal away from you.”

Remembering the smile he wore when their boss, Henry, congratulated him at a corporate dinner, rubbed salt in the open sore. Camri would have cared more for oral periodontal surgery than being reminded of his victory. Jackson now sat in front of her looking sorrowful. And who says you can’t make an honest man? Was Jackson finally admitting he was wrong and sorry? Camri wouldn’t forgive him until the words poured directly from his lips like wine.

“What do you say?” He asked her tentatively, “about partnering up again.”

“Oh, I don’t know Jackson. Wouldn’t this mess your numbers up?” Camri rubbed at the throb in the middle of her forehead. Damn she wished he would just leave already.

“Maybe a tad, for a little while at least.”

“I still don’t know.” She straightened in the seat and rummaged over a couple of pens, tidying them to look perfect. Camri looked at him and quirked an eyebrow, “I’ll think about it.” She didn’t want to give him the quick answer he desired for several reasons, but mainly to just savor the power of her refusal.

“Ah, I see. Russell said you wouldn’t. But I figured you would want some extra money in your pocket. I guess I was wrong. Now I have to go dig in my pocket to pay up a hundred bucks.” Jackson glanced down at fumbling hands, wearing an immature smile on his lush lips.

Camri stood quickly from her seat, pushing the chair to the side. She strolled over to the filing cabinet, making busy in one half-opened drawer, fully aware of the powerful male presence in the room. The dominance he tried to portray. Would it surprise him if she agreed? Make his self-assurance wither.

“Okay, I’ll work with you as partners. That’s it. Nothing more, is that understood?” Her acquiescence tasted bittersweet on her tongue. She turned away from Jackson.

What did she just say? She didn’t want to be within ten feet of this man. Jackson drove her crazy to no end and here he was asking to partner on a major deal. Partners, Camri couldn’t help herself while wondering how it would be, to be partnered with him sexually. What? Oh hell no, don’t go there! She pulled back from the last train of thought.

Ugh, the nerve of him. Camri wanted to stomp her foot, point her finger at the door and make him leave. She just couldn’t say no, could she? Oh no. She glared over at him. His smile widened, what did he think now? Where did her control go? He was making her lose her mind.

Jackson expressed the look of victory. “Yes ma’am.” His sweet sounding voice rolled off the tip of his tongue and if she were close, Camri swore he would have licked her with it.

Camri turned her attention to the filing cabinet. Clothes rustling from the other side of the desk didn’t break her attention. The office became less cold, warmer, hot. What was going on? The backside of her body sizzled. Her body flushed with warmth, and an intoxicating musky scent enveloped her. Jackson’s nose rested a mere inch from her flushed cheek. The hairs prickled on the back of her neck. What in the…?

“I’m glad you’ve agreed.”

Camri jumped in her shoes and stumbled, glad she’d pushed the chair aside earlier, because she plopped in the seat. She stared at his chest in confusion. Why did Jackson stand behind her and now in front of her? She tilted her neck to the side. Her brows furrowed while looking at him intensely.

Jackson leaned down, placing both hands on the arms of the chair. He glided closer to her face. Closer to her than she’d ever expected. His heated stare increased, her core warmed, becoming damp and heavy. With this wild behavior he displayed, she could have melted in a puddle. What has gotten into him?

“Pretty black lace bra you’re wearing. Have you visited Victoria?”

“What?”

Jackson’s stare rested on her chest.

 

Welcome Anna James to Delusions!

CONTEST: Leave a comment between June 4^th and June 6th with your email address. You will be automatically entered to win a FREE ebook (pdf) of Guilty As Charged – Book 1 Bradford Sisters Trilogy. Good Luck!

Greeting Friends,

I’m Anna James, author of contemporary romances stories that allow women of all ages to get lost in a world filled with passion, drama and romance. I’m here today to share with you a little about my new book Guilty As Charged – Book 1 Bradford Sisters Trilogy.

Here is a taste to whet your appetite…

Passion ignites between Nicole Bradford and Max Paradis the second they lay eyes on each another. Nicole seems to be everything that Max is looking for in a woman. She’s sweet and loving and incredibly sexy. But looks can be deceiving. Hadn’t he learned that the hard way?

Nicole is crazy for Max. He is sensitive, caring and his kisses are to die for. But when secrets from her past are revealed will she be found innocent or is she Guilty as Charged?

Excerpt:

The door to Reed’s office burst open, crashing against the adjoining wall. Reed looked up. Nicole turned to see who had made all the noise. Max stood in the opening, a thunderous expression on his face.

“Well, big brother, what can we do for you?” Reed queried in a casual tone.

Max didn’t answer; he just stood glaring at Nicole.

“M–Max, you’re home early.”

“Surprise,” he said sarcastically.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Reed asked.

Instead of answering, he strode into the room and stopped in front of Nicole.

Suddenly, she was on full alert. She noticed the large manila envelope in his hand. The letterhead on the front made her sick with shock.

“Care to explain this?” he drawled, his tone at odds with the aggression emanating from every fiber of his being.

“What is it?” Reed asked a confused look on his face.

It was what she feared most. Legal documents, containing, no doubt, her arrest record and everything else about that horrible incident that had happened so long ago.

“Well?” Max asked ominously.

Nicole couldn’t speak. What could she say? It was all there in black and white.

After several moments of electrifying silence, Max turned his attention to Reed. “Are you aware you’ve hired a convicted felon, little brother?”

“I am not a convicted felon.”

He turned toward her. “I stand corrected, you were never convicted, however¾” Nicole made to speak, but Max overrode her efforts. His attention was on Reed again as he continued. “As I was saying, are you aware that you’ve hired a drug smuggler?”

Reed’s eyes opened wide and Nicole cringed in her seat.

She shot to her feet. “That’s enough.  You know nothing about what happened.”

“Oh, you’re ex-lover Carlo was more than happy to tell me what happened when he met me at the airport this morning. He told me what you’re really like. You present this sweet, innocent façade to the world, but these—” He picked up one of the documents that lay strewn across the desk and threw it at her. “These tell the truth about who you really are.”

“Max, you can’t be serious. There’s got to be some mistake.”

“There’s no mistake, little brother. See, she’s not even going to deny it.”

Nicole glared at him, furious now, her body shaking with anger. “You think just because…” Her voice trailed off.  She threw her hands in the air, a gesture of defeat, and then slumped into her chair. What was the use in trying to explain?  He wasn’t going to believe her. No one had believed her before. No matter how hard she had tried to convince them that she was innocent of any wrongdoing. She stood again and addressed Reed. “You’ll have my resignation on your desk tomorrow morning. I’m sorry.”  She turned and walked out the door with her head held high.

Guilty As Charged – Book 1 Bradford Sisters Trilogy is now available from Sugar and Spice Press. Stop by and pick up your copy today!

http://www.sugarnspicepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=123

 

More Anna James Books:

Isabella’s Dilemma

Blurb:

Isabella Sheridan has a big problem and his name is Jake McAllister! Jake is now Isabella’s business partner. To make matters worse he owns more of the Sheridan advertising agency than she does. He is difficult to work with, has a hostile attitude toward her and makes business decisions without consulting her. So why does she respond with so much passion when he kisses her?

Jake McAllister does not like Isabella Sheridan. As far as he’s concerned she’s shallow and without moral values, both in her personal and professional life. So why is he so attracted to her? You’d think he’d know better based on past experience. And why, after just one passionate kiss, is he ready to give her the benefit of the doubt and become involved.

Will Jake and Isabella resolve their differences and find love or will past perceptions be too much to overcome?

 

Isabella’s Dilemma is available from Sugar and Spice Press. Stop by and pick up your copy today.

http://www.sugarnspicepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=81

Coming Home

Blurb:

Two years ago, Christine Kincaid found her sister, Andrea, in the arms of her fiancé, James Buchanan. This after Andrea confessed to having an affair with James and being pregnant with his child. Distraught and wanting to escape the pain of James’s betrayal, Christine fled her home, just outside of Washington D.C., to London, England, her birthplace.

James Buchanan was devastated when his fiancée deserted him. He had thought they would be together forever. But he’d been wrong. Christine didn’t care about him. She didn’t care about anyone but herself. If she had, she’d never have left him to pursue her career. But what really bothered him was how he’d been so wrong about her. Christine had been sweet and loving to him, but the way she treated her sister was just awful. Andrea, who was alone and pregnant, had needed Christine’s love, understanding and support.  All Christine could do was condemn her for her mistakes and leave her to fend for herself.  How could he have ever loved someone who could treat her own sister that way? And what was he going to do now that she was back?

Coming Home is now available from Melange-Books. Stop by and pick up your copy today!

http://www.melange-books.com/authors/annajames/jamescominghome.html

Visions – Coming June 11, 2011 from Sugar and Spice Press

Prudence Bailey has just learned that Laura Bailey, the woman she has always believed to be her mother, is in fact a distant cousin. Laura adopted Prudence when she was four years old after her father, Joshua Adams, brutally murdered her mother, Jane, then killed himself.

She has no memory of the past and, after Laura’s death, decides to return home to Salem Massachusetts to learn more.  Twenty years have now passed since the murder / suicide took place.

Almost immediately she meets Detective Matt Cavanaugh, her neighbor. Matt is gorgeous and sexy and Pru is instantly attracted to him. Matt is also linked to her past. His father, now a retired police officer, was first on the scene the night of her parents’ deaths.

From the moment she returns Pru experiences visions that lead her to believe that the circumstances surrounding her parents’ deaths are not as they seem. The facts don’t add up. And when a recent murder that Matt is investigating is linked to the past they discover that Pru is right and the killer is still on the loose.

Will they discover the killer’s identity in time or will history repeat itself?

Excerpt:

Sweat trickled down the sides of her face. Her eyes were huge with fear and tremors racked her body. “No! Please don’t.” Prudence Bailey could hear the terror in the woman’s voice as she begged for her life. Someone came toward the woman; he was holding a knife. Or was it a she? Pru couldn’t tell from this angle. She saw the woman’s arms shoot up to try and ward off her attacker. It was a futile attempt. He overpowered her easily. Then it happened. The knife plunged deep into her chest. The screams were terrifying. She saw the woman crumple but it wasn’t over. The knife plunged into the woman again and again. Finally, the screaming stopped.

Pru shot straight up in bed. She too was drenched with sweat and her body shook with fear. This was the third night this week that she’d had the nightmare. It was the same each time. She pulled the blankets aside and got out of bed. Why is this happening to me? she wondered as she went down the stairs to double check that the windows and doors were locked. She didn’t know but she was sure as hell going to find out.

I hope you have enjoyed learning about my books. Remember, leave a comment and be entered automatically to win a FREE ecopy of Guilty As Charged – Book 1 Bradford Sisters Trilogy.

Happy Reading,

Anna James
Visit me at: http://annajames1.wordpress.com/

Visit me at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001402819536

Six Sentence Sunday

We continue with Xavier’s saga. Actually, we’re skipping all around Xavier’s story. This excerpt is from Sweet Revenge, one of my current WIPs, book 2 of the Dueling with the Devil series. Soul Catcher, book 1, is published with Decadent Publishing.

“Did you think you could back out of our deal?”  Lucifer sniffed the amber colored liquor as he rolled the crystal tumbler in his hand.

Xavier jumped, grasping the bars of his cage, his palms melded with the metal and the rancid odor of singed skin wafted to his nostrils. “Fuck you! I’m done. I’m tired of fighting for you.”

Lucifer waved his hand, causing the flames jumped higher. “I’ll tell you when you’re done. And you’re done when your brother and his bitch are delivered to me.”

Casting Call for Xavier – Shemar Moore

I’m giving away a copy of Soul Catcher to a new  follower on Twitter from 05/02 – 05/15.

Twitter name: vivi_dumas <–click to follow

Check out other great authors and read more fabulous Six Sentence Sunday snippets.

Six Sentence Sunday

This is an excerpt from my current WIP, Sweet Revenge, book 2 in my Dueling with the Devil series.

Transgressions— Xavier had too many to name. He belonged in Hell, but remaining trapped in the nightmare of his regrets for eternity was too much to bear. “How do you know I’ll beat him? Jacque has gained a lot of strength over the years. Plus his new friends have a lot power behind them.”

Lucifer brushed an ember from his suit. “You’ll have help. I’m sure she’ll be of great assistance to you, as she’s dying to see Jacque and Angel destroyed.”

“Who?” Xavier gave Lucifer a sideways glance.

“Bell.”

Guilty Pleasures

I have to admit. Television is my guilty pleasure. When your mind runs a thousand miles per hour all day every day, it’s nice to have some down time to shut it off and not think about much of anything. My TV watching habits are as eclectic as everything else I enjoy (i.e. music or reading). I’m going to run down a few of my favorite shows.

The first is not a television show, but a movie I thoroughly enjoyed last night.

I love the Fast and the Furious line of movies. Last night, hubby and I caught Fast Five. I have to admit it was the best of all the F & F movies yet. Fast Five brought back all of my favorite characters and added my imaginary boyfriend, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. So ladies, even if you don’t like action movies you must still go to see this one, who can resist one with Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Tyrese, and Dwayne Johnson?

The movie was packed with action, fast cars, humor, and a stronger plot than any of the previous movies. This time it took us a step beyond focusing on great cars. I mark Fast Five as a must see.

The Vampire Diaries (TVD) is my next guilty pleasure. The season is truly heating up. The is so much conflict and action in each episode I’m on the edge waiting for the Thursday to roll around. I know. It’s a show for teenagers, but it appeals to my inner high school chick. It brings me back to my Buffy and Angel days. Hell…I still watch Angel every morning at 6:00 AM before work. And I can watch Charmed on sick days or holidays. I don’t want this season of TVD to end. Can’t wait until Thursday to see what happens to Elana, Damon, Gena, and the others.

The brainiac in me loves the academic humor of Big Bang Theory. Sheldon is a super intelligent freak of nature. His unawareness of  social norms and inability to integrate into normal social situations is hilarious. I love the episode when the guys were creating the phone app for differential equations, which only a handful of people would want. I did love Penny’s (the hot neighbor who’s not a genius)  idea for an app. What woman doesn’t need an app where you can take a picture of a shoe and find out where it is sold. If someone knows where I can download one of those for my Droid, let me know.

Every Saturday morning, I watch HGTV. I wish Ahmed from Yard Crashers would find me at Lowes or Home Depot. No one ever comes up to me and offer free yard work, which by the way I am in desperate need of right now. He has great ideas for backyards and transforms them into little oasis.

Holmes on Homes is another Saturday morning pleasure. He fixes people’s homes that other contractors have jacked up. It’s amazing how a bad contractor can mess up a house. These poor people have spent thousands and thousands of dollars to get taken. I’ll admit I’m a nitpicking asshole. I’m sure people who work at my house hates me by the time the job is done. I’m always around asking questions, observing, and  correcting. I remember everything and can bring out documentation to back it up. Just emailed my builder with a few questions from my visit to the new house the other day. With all that said, I don’t have the problems other people in my current neighborhood had with their houses. I was here every week as they built, pointing out what I thought was off.

Last but not least, come June 26th, True Blood in back in business. Sooo… excited. I hear they’re bring in more of the witch elements with Lafayette. He is just the best. They may have killed him off in the books, but I’m glad they left him in the show. He’s one of my favorite characters. I can’t wait to see what happens between Sookie, Eric and Bill. Jessica seems to still be strong in the upcoming episodes from the previews. Pam’s biting humor is always entertaining. I can’t wait until the new season starts!

As much as I love my shows, I have to find a lot of balance to get everything in my life complete. My DVR is my best friend right now.

Life Lessons Learned Last Week

This has been an interesting past week. I’ve learned a lot of things. First, I don’t remember grammar being so involved from high school. OMG! I’m taking the Grammar Divas class on Savvy Authors. I so forgot how much it sucked to conjugate a sentence. And that is the same reason why I’m taking the class now. Must improve the grammar in my writing. Luckily, I’m not too horrible.

I learned getting across Baltimore on a Friday night is hateful. It took me longer to get across the city to meet my hubby than it did to come from my house into the city (45 miles). GPS took me through the hood. A building was on fire so I had fire trucks coming down the wrong side of the road to get around traffic. I get on the interstate and come to a screeching stop. We must have been going ten miles per hour. Too add fuel to the fire, I had to go the to ladies room.

I learned you should get the name of the restaurant where you are supposed to meet your husband. It makes it easier to find the location as you drive around confused and in bad need of a restroom.

I learned thinking like a young adult is not as easy as it seems. My brain doesn’t work that way. I constantly have to question myself on my WIP. Would a 16 year old say or think that way? Answer: no. I’m scared to explore the mind of people my children’s age. Teenagers’ thought processes have no rhythm or reason at times.

And I learned packing is a lot of work. I don’t remember this much work that last time we moved.

Last but not least… I learned some of the people I work with have some serious issues. “I’m sorry you’re disappointed you’re too stupid to understand what I’m trying to explain, but I have nothing else to help you.”

Six Sentence Sunday

I have committed to myself to write and to promote. This excerpt is from my debut novel Soul Catcher.

“Even if he does leave me, I’ll never come back to you. You don’t deserve to be called a mother.” Angel balled her hands in tight fists, wanting to land one in her mother’s mouth.

The sting of Elise’s slap burned. Angel’s patience and sympathy for her mother had run out. She no longer had the strength to fight the poison Elise continually administered. I must cut her out of my life before she ruins me forever.

You can purchase Soul Catcher at:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Decadent Publishing

All Romance Ebooks

Standing in for the Great LaVerne Thompson

Okay. I’m posting LaVerne’s Treasure Hunt clue and answer here. But if you want to find out more about this fabulous author please hit up her on her website or her blog. Click on the logo to go to the contest rules.

What will Caine do when he finds out his mystery woman and his business associate are one and the same, and she’s played him for a fool?

Caine Hayden is attracted to the masked mystery woman, at the masquerade ball, the moment he lays eyes on her. They spend one incredible night together, and in the morning she disappears. He has no intention of it being just one night and vows to find her. But he’s got a business meeting to attend and has to return home. Except when he meets the woman who designed his airplane he can’t take his eyes off her. Twice in less than fifteen hours he has extraordinarily strong physical and emotional reactions to two different women, or so he thinks.

Sydney Reese designs planes, and her career scares off most men. Sleeping with a masked stranger seems to pose little risk, it would only be for one night and she’d never see him again. It is why she insists they keep their masks on from the party, until the lights go off. Sneaking out on him in the early hours of the morning to insure he won’t know who she is, keeps her identify and his anonymous. The last thing she wants or needs is a relationship, with someone who can’t accept her as she is. But what if?

Can Sydney pull off her mask and allow the man she loves to see her for who she really is?

Treasure Hunt clue:

LaVerne Thompson loves a good mystery. Her hero Caine Hayden meets a mystery woman one night and his business associate the next. He falls for both. What are their names.

Answer: They are one and the same, Sydney Reese.

Book Pimping

Nothing is ever as easy as it seem. Being a writer is hard. Being an author is like breaking a walnut with your teeth…don’t do it unless you love walnuts. Not only do you have to dig into the recesses of your mind to find entertaining material to make up 60,000 plus words of a manuscript, then you have to find someone who loves it enough to actually want to publish it. Unless you go the self-pub route. Now that all that is accomplished, you have to get people to buy it. Cause guess what? If people don’t buy, then you don’t eat (unless you have other jobs which interfere with the writing/subbing/promoting process, which most of us do).

Participating or sponsoring contest, blogging, social media, and other such activities comprise the marketing activities of the small pub or indie authors. Our marketing dollars are slim to none. Those like myself, who are with smaller pubs, do get some assistance from our publishers, but they don’t have the big dollars larger pubs put behind their authors. We won’t be heading on the road for book tours, but a blog tour is right up our alley. Our best form or advertising is word of mouth. We depend on our readers to spread the word about our books.

So, if you have a small pub or indie author you love, help spread the word. Tell a friend, write a review on Good Reads or Amazon, blog about it. It is truly appreciated.

I’m hanging out at TRS this week. I’m participating in the TRS Treasure Hunt and TRS Staying at Home Party. Come hang out with me and some other great authors to win some fabulous prizes. Click on the banner below to head to TRS.