Rose Marie Wolf, Author

A Long Time Ago

2011-12-14T17:28:00.000-05:00

In a galaxy not so far away, I used to post on here regularly. Well, life kind of got in the way, but I'm making an attempt to on a triumphant return!

So, thinking of getting back into writing. I really want to finish my WIP so I can move on to other things. No plans currently to get anything published, but once that changes, you will know.

For now, keep a look out and go read the Moon Series (if you haven't already)!

Ok...so...

2011-05-28T01:58:00.001-04:00

So, haven't updated in a very long time. All I can say is I hope to get back into blogging and updating regularly.

Life is crazy.

An Update (Yes, Really)

2010-09-24T08:55:00.003-04:00

It's been a while since I've updated. With Facebook these days, I tend to neglect my blog. Sigh.

Anyway, things are good. Baby is doing great and getting really big. She has these fat little legs. I love em! I can't believe she is nearly four months old.

I've been working on a new story. Instead of trying to get it published, I am offering it to everyone for free. It is on Fictionpress. Here is the blurb and link:

When Raegan announced to her family she would no longer be a hunter, she hoped that would be the end of it. Five years later, that's about to change when she meets a Were and is thrown into the midst of a pack war--and a forbidden love.

http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2831574/1/Wild_at_Heart

I have ten chapters up. Not sure how many there will be, but things are really starting to get interesting!

Will try to update more soon!

So...Story...

2010-06-29T22:00:00.001-04:00

I worked on writing a little today. Not a lot of progress, but it's progress. I went through some notes and worked out some plot ideas. Came up with a name for the heroine and wrote the opening paragraph.

Tomorrow, I'll try to do a little more.

An Idea on Writing

2010-06-28T00:21:00.003-04:00

I love my husband. He gave me a wonderful idea to help me out with my writing...I'm kind of jealous that I didn't think of it myself.

So, I've been bummed lately about my lack of writing. With a new baby in the house, I don't have a lot of time for myself let alone for writing. I don't think I'm going to work on any novels any time soon, so all projects I have pertaining to that will be put on hold until sometime later...but short stories...that I can probably handle.

All of these ideas I have in my head can be made into short stories that I can post on my website for everyone to read. My goal is to not necessarily have these stories published, but just to get back to the basics of writing...where writing for me is no longer a job, but fun--how it used to be before I ever got published.

My goal is one story per month--or more if I can.

Plus, free stories for readers. That's a definite plus!

So, be on the look-out in the next few weeks or so. I'll try to get something up by then.

Night of the Living Dead

2010-06-24T21:13:00.000-04:00

Marie was very fussy last night and hubby and I got very little sleep...so if I resemble the walking dead for a while...don't be concerned.

Hmm

2010-06-22T02:03:00.002-04:00

Have been in a writing mood lately despite the fact that I have been very busy with Marie. I just have this idea for a story, but I can't ever find the time to actually write anything out. I wrote down the basic plot idea I had, but that's as far as I've gotten.

Now, time for sleep.

The First Two Weeks

2010-06-19T02:09:00.004-04:00

So...Marie is nearly two weeks old. It's been crazy here. Sleepless nights, fussiness...but overall she's a good baby. She gets upset when I don't feed her right away and she is a little piggie when it comes to her bottle. We call her Piglet now.

She's been really fussy tonight, but it was gas related. Someone recommended I try using some infant gas relief medicine and I might just try that.

I love her to death though...especially when she's asleep and I can get a few Z's in.

Speaking of, I think I'll do that...

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!

2010-06-08T19:27:00.001-04:00

My daughter, Marie Fay. She was born on June 6th at 12:54 pm. She weighed 7lbs 8 oz and 20 inches long.

We are so excited to have you here!

Maternity Leave and Other Things

2010-06-05T20:05:00.002-04:00

So I'm officially on maternity leave now, but no baby as of the writing of this post. Have had a few irregular contractions that feel like cramps and some backache pain, but that's about it. Getting anxious waiting on my baby girl.

Kind of hate to say it, but I miss work. This sitting around the house, waiting for the baby to arrive is nuts. Getting caught up some on reading though. My bag is packed for the hospital, and I'm trying to stay caught up on the housework.

Been walking some, trying to coax this kid out of me. Oh! Got a pack n play today, and hubby and his friend put it together for me. So pretty much 100% ready for the baby--at least material wise.

Let's get this show on the road!

Things I Have Craved While Pregnant

2010-05-28T11:21:00.003-04:00

Nachos
Sunkist or Crush orange Soda
Waffles with Strawberry topping
Cherries or anything cherry flavored (7up, cherry limeade etc)
Watermelon
Chimichangas from local Mexican restaurant

Those were the big ones that I can recall. Man, weird.

I am SO ready!

2010-05-25T11:12:00.004-04:00

Went to doctor yesterday. Baby could come at anytime. I am so ready!

Everything's great, except for my foot swelling. Doc said one sure fire cure was to go into labor. Yeah, I'm sure that would take care of it, but what do I do in the meantime?

Off work the next couple of days, so I'm going to try and relax. Actually caught up on housework (kinda) for once, so...what to do, what to do?

Oh, I updated my author website for the first time in AGES: www.rosemariewolf.com. Not much I did with it. I'm hoping to pick up writing again one day. I actually miss it...alot. I have lots of ideas that I've been writing down. Maybe I can finally get my Fireborn book finished and work on the next one of the Elementals...or move on to something else.

Maybe when the baby is a little older...got a feeling all my time and energy is going to focused on her. Can't wait!

Baby Update

2010-05-12T12:50:00.003-04:00

I am 36 weeks now, so only four left to go. Doc says everything is good right now. Baby is in the correct position and her heartbeat is strong.

She is estimated to weigh about 7 lbs (high 6's or low 7's) right now. My blood sugar is in the normal range.

Come on, baby. Momma can't wait to meet you!

Bro's Visit

2010-05-08T23:47:00.002-04:00

My brother's visit was too short, but it was nice while it lasted. I don't get to see my family very often.

They are excited about the baby. They brought up all kinds of gifts and even went out and got me a Winnie The Pooh baby swing, which hubby and I put together. Well, mostly it was me, but he helped. It's cute, has a mobile, plays music and white noise sounds. Wish I were a baby. I'd probably sleep really good in it.

I have to head to bed now, as I work 7-4 today. Blah...and on Mother's Day too.

Yawn

2010-05-08T10:42:00.002-04:00

My brother and his family are coming up for a visit today from Kentucky, so I am patiently waiting on them to let me know when they are in town. Sleepy, though.

Hey, does anyone want a really annoying pair of cats? Driving me crazy today...

Baby Marie is still sleeping. Haven't felt very many kicks this morning, but she will get active by afternoon...probably after I eat something. Can't wait to have her and hold her in my arms. Only 4 + weeks to go!

Wow...

2010-04-28T09:41:00.003-04:00

I just realized I haven't written anything to my blog in over a month...and that I haven't updated my website in a while either.

I guess I've had too many things on my mind lately.

Anyway, everything is progressing well in regards to the pregnancy.I am at 34 weeks. The baby is growing fine...though sometimes I feel like I'm carrying twins. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes earlier this month, but a low carb diet is keeping that under control.

We got the baby room more or less finished. I still need to finish decorating the walls and get the crib in there...which we were supposed to get from hubby's cousin's last week...but oh well...

I cheated a little when it comes to decorating. I want to do the room in Winnie the Pooh, but I've realized that the room has more of an eclectic look to it. Old toys of mine decorate one part of the room, while Pooh and his friends will soon decorate the other. Instead of buying prints of the characters...I just printed them out at home. All I need is frames and I've pretty much got my artwork. Still need curtains and a few odds and ends.

Oh! The baby is moving all the time. Last night I read a little to her from a child's version of "Pride and Prejudice". She kicked the entire time. I take it as a good sign.

Now, on the writing front...things haven't been going well at all. In fact, I've pretty much stopped writing. I think that's how it's going to be until after I have the baby and she is a little older. Oh, I still get tons of ideas and I try to write them down when I can, and I read whenever I can. Just so much going on!

I promise I'll try to post more often...honestly!

Writing StandStill

2010-03-03T15:42:00.001-05:00

Writing is at a standstill, obviously. Have decided to wait before beginning any new projects until after the baby. I think all my attention is going to be focused on her for quite some time.

:-)

But, that doesn't mean I'm not going to read a lot and plot out a few ideas. I hope to finish my Fireborn story, and continue with that series, but not sure any more.

Who knows?

Baby Stuff

2010-02-23T16:59:00.000-05:00

Everything Baby related is going well, so far.

Can't wait to meet my little girl. Unfortunately, I get the feeling she's going to be seriously spoiled.

The name Jason and I have picked out for her is Marie Fay. She will be named after his mother and my mother. You don't see Marie as a first name very often any more.

Pregnancy craving as of late: Orange soda. Like Sunkist or Crush or something. I pretty much eat whatever now. LOL I'm not picky. Nachos are still a favorite, but so is pizza.

Hoping to have a baby shower in a couple of months. Saw some really cute baby stuff I wanna buy, but just waiting to see what kind of stuff I get at the shower.

Oh, and she kicks like crazy all the time. Especially when I am trying to sleep, or if I'm hungry.

Due date is June 8th.

Everything's Good

2010-01-16T15:36:00.003-05:00

Been a while since I've posted to my blog, but things are going well.

Things with the baby are going great. I am currently at 19 weeks, just at the beginning of 5 months. We had an ultrasound yesterday and discovered that we are having a girl. So excited!

Latest pregnancy cravings: nachos!

Work's sucked lately. Hours cut, but I try to see the good in it. At least I get time off to work on fixing the baby's room.

Writing is okay. Got some new ideas I've been jotting down. Not sure if I will work on anything yet, or wait until after the baby. I'm not sure.

Well, I'll post more later.

An Idea, Maybe

2009-12-07T23:33:00.003-05:00

Been toying around with an idea for a vampire story. Actually, it involves other elements besides vampires, but that's the main plot. There's also witches and ghosts and it sounds really good in my head.

With the baby coming though, I feel I won't have much time to devote to writing, so I'm more or less focusing my creative attention to plotting out the story and fleshing out the characters. At least when I do start writing, I'll know what I'm writing about...

...unlike my NaNoWriMo project. I think I failed that mainly because I didn't really have a solid idea. Perhaps next year.

I may get to writing on this new story sooner that I expect. I just don't want to overdo things. Taking it easy, ya know? Writing was never supposed to be work. I used to do it for fun.

I want things to be like they were before, without having to worry right now about editing or deadlines or promotion.

I would also like to finish The Fireborn, and get started on it's sequel. So far, I've been working on it for over a year now and I'm more or less halfway through a first draft.

Sigh.

Changed Review

2009-11-27T01:43:00.001-05:00

I am so thrilled! I got an amazing review for my newest paranormal romance novel, Changed.

http://romancebookscene.blogspot.com/2009/11/romance-book-review-changed.html

Here's the Skinny

2009-11-23T01:06:00.004-05:00

Yeah, when I got sick earlier this month, NaNo became the last thing on my mind. So, yeah...only 5k. That's it.

I tried.

I think I have some other things on my mind anyway.

Everything's going good with the baby. Everyone keeps asking. Morning sickness sucks, but I'm fine. I've got some meds for it.

Christmas will be tough this year, but that's okay.

A few things on my mind: Twilight, New Moon...great if you're 12. For me, it's Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. Those are the books I read when I was 12. forget the sparkly vampires. Give me some with fangs, please. Thanks. As for Team Edward or Team Jacob: It's Team I-Don't-Give-A-Crap. Tried to read the books. Couldn't take it. I'll find other reading material.

Sims 3 is fun. My characters do weird things though. Like eat an entire birthday cake. She got huge and I had to make her excercise...just like real life...which, face it, isn't happening any time soon.

The writing things not going so great, but yall probably guessed that from the lack of NaNo progress. I'm trying to get back to the point where writing isn't a job, where it's actually fun. Maybe take some the pressure off.

Seriously, I do not want to stress out right now. The holidays are bad enough.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Been a While

2009-11-01T23:20:00.004-05:00

I know I haven't posted in a while. I sometimes forget to post on my blogs when twitter and facebook are so darn convenient.

What's going on? Well, I am still pregnant...will be ten weeks this upcoming Tuesday. Hubby and I are excited, but I'm also scared. This is my first pregnancy and I'm worried about miscarriages and trying to do things right. I hope it all goes well because I really want to have this baby.

Writing's been slow, but it's November and that means National Novel Writing Month, which I am going to participate. As of today, the 1st, I haven't written a single word on my project. Not a good start, but my anniversary was last night and I'm just wanting to take it easy. Monday's always a good day to start a new project anyway.

Not 100% sure what I'm going to write about. I think I might just write off the top of my head this time instead of plotting. I'm wondering what will come out.

Our new puppy, Ranger, had his first vet visit Friday. He has mange, which is bad, but treatable. Vet says he must've got it from another dog, and we've only had him for a month, and he was all scabby and itchy when we first got him, so we concluded that he must've gotten it from the dogs he was around then. I thought he was just irritated from fleas, but then he started losing big patches of hair. He has to be washed in a special shampoo and was given medicine for the itching and to get rid of the mange. Also, he has to take an antibiotic every day. Poor guy. I'm a bad pet owner. I should've taken him sooner.

Glad I'm on vacation from work. It seems to get harder and harder to make myself get out of bed and go to work, but I have to do it...Nausea seems to hit me right about 10 or 11 am. Sometiems it hits at night. Annoying, but I haven't gotten to the point where I have to rush to the bathroom to upchuck.

Changed is out in e-book now! Whoo!

Anyway, I'm heading off. Happy Late Halloween everyone and have a good week.

Interview and A Contest

2009-10-12T17:38:00.002-04:00

I did an interview with blogger Ruthie and there's a contest as well!

http://ruthiesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/10/interview-giveaway-with-rose-marie-wolf.html

Feel free to comment about the interview and enter the contest.

Well It's True...

2009-10-07T17:40:00.003-04:00

Went to the dr today and they confirmed it. I am pregnant. I am six weeks along.

I go next week for my first prenatal exam. I hope it all goes well.

What's Going On

2009-09-30T16:02:00.002-04:00

Well, not much is going on on the writing front, but personally...yeah...

Sunday, I took a home pregnancy test when I realized oh, wait, I was supposed to be all pms'y and I wasn't...two pink lines that mean positive.

So, made an appointment for next Tuesday to confirm the results.

I'm excited, but scared at the same time.

Another Week

2009-09-20T20:55:00.002-04:00

This week was a little rough. Work sucked, more so than usual and for some reason or another, my leg's been hurting.

I haven't written a single word on any of my stories in about a week. it's been a struggle for me just to think about writing, much less do it.

Hopefully, after a couple days off, I'll feel better and I'll get some writing done. NaNoWriMo's coming up and I want to finish my current WIP so i can get ready for it.

Website Updates

2009-09-14T23:38:00.002-04:00

I updated my website today.

www.rosemariewolf.com

Among the new updates: new reviews and a release date for Changed.

Hopefully I will be updating it soon with Part Four of my short story Moon Over Me.

Author's Day, and Other Stuff

2009-09-01T09:24:00.002-04:00

It's Author's Day today on my Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rosemariewolf) Authors and readers are invited to join and post promos, excerpts and chat about books. There is also a contest in which participants can join in to win a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com.

On to the other things, writing is going well. I try to average about a 1000 words a night. I really want to finish this book before Nov. I want to participate in NaNoWriMo again, and if I get this book finished, I can started on the next one in the series. I'm up to chapter fourteen so far, and at my estimate, a little bit more than halfway through the book. There are a lot of things I'm not happy with in the writing so far, but my goal is just to do the 1st draft, and worry about editing later.

I had a weird dream about my cousin last night. He killed himself back in June, and in my dream, he was still around...but he wasn't alive. He was a ghost or something. I remember I'm sitting at at table with him, his mom and dad, and we're just all talking. He's telling me that he knows what he did was stupid but that he's happy now, to which I answered "I don't believe you." He just gives me this look.

I honestly don't know what to make of it.

One last thing, did anyone ever see the Tin Man miniseries on Sci-fi? I rented it from Netflix. I get the allusions to the Wizard of Oz, but it's so much more than that...and frankly, a little confusing at times.

The Moon Series @ Amazon.com

2009-08-23T14:16:00.004-04:00

The Moon Series

By Rose Marie Wolf

Sweet Moon Dreams, Book 1 of the Moon Series

Blurb:

A werewolf from birth, Rose Sullivan has had to deal with her share of secretive living in order to preserve her own life, but things have gone too far. She is wrongly accused of homicide, and a hunter by the name of Marcus Brown has found her out. When cornered she has no choice but to kill him.

It was self-defense, but Rose has endangered all of her kind. Now, she is on the run, desperately trying to reach the home of her fiancé and fellow werewolf, Jason Barnett. Being the supportive mate he is, Jason vows to do anything to keep Rose safe, even if it means dealing with the rest of the hunters face-to-face...

Blood Moon, Book 2 of the Moon Series

Blurb:

Werewolf hunter, Simon Conner, thinks he has finally won. After a successful raid upon a safe haven for psychics, vampires and werewolves, he has come closer to his final goal than ever before. Rose Sullivan, a werewolf, is the key to unleashing his terrible plot and she is finally within his grasp.

Having witnessed Simon’s terrible anger upon her mate in the raid, Rose believes him dead and has lost all hope. At the mercy of her captors, Rose learns the secret of Simon's plans. Horrified, she realizes her only chance of freedom is to put her trust into human hands.

Jason Barnett, a half-blood werewolf, awakens to find his mate gone, in the clutches of the very man that left him for dead. Enraged, he vows to find Rose and destroy Simon once and for all. On his journey of revenge, he encounters fellow werewolves, banded together in their fight for survival and together they uncover more about Simon than they ever wanted to know.

Hunter's Moon, Book 3 of the Moon Series

Blurb:

Jason and Rose Barnett believed hunter Simon Connor to be dead and gone. But Jason continues to have strange dreams, which reveal something that could destroy the Paranormal Research and Development Institute and tear relationships apart.

Jason becomes a vigilante, fueled by his growing psychic powers that tell him something—or someone—is still out there. Rose, no longer able to stand by while her mate destroys their lives, begins her own struggle to save what little relationship they have left, before it’s too late.

Then the unthinkable happens. A stunning eye-opener and an unexpected attack once again threaten their existence, and the rift between Jason and Rose becomes irreparable as their tumultuous past once again surfaces and their future becomes increasingly bleak.

Dark Moon Magick, Book 4 of the Moon Series

Blurb:

Werewolf Rose Barnett has a serious problem: She's pregnant and unsure who the father of her child is. To make matters worse, her husband, Jason, is gone, unknowing that she is even carrying a child and a new werewolf arrival to the PRDI brings a wave of unexplained "accidents", that threaten her and her unborn child...

As Rose's pack bands together to uncover the truth behind the accidents and keep her safe, Jason works ceaselessly to find out the truth behind his growing psychic abilities. When an unexpected psychic call for help leads him to a research facility, Jason meets a strange woman who may be the key to discovering his true self. But before he can return home with his findings, he must stop a new threat before it is too late for them all.

A Few Things

2009-08-05T16:12:00.000-04:00

First off, no luck on chapter 12 or 13. Guess I'm not in a writing mood lately.

Updated my website today. www.rosemariewolf.com. Updated a few things and added a few new links, like to Twitter.

Speaking of, http://www.twitter.com/RoseMarieWolf

Also, if any of you use PaperBack Swap, I'm a member there. I've got quite a few books I'm trying to swap, so if anyone of you is a member as well, and interested, check me out at http://rosemariewolf.paperbackswap.com

Well, I guess that's all for now. Think I might do a little reading.

Half-way There

2009-07-27T11:35:00.001-04:00

I think I'm about halfway there with my WIP.

I only plan on having twenty chapters for my book...but it might change, depending on what happens, but the story is falling into place. Well, more or less. There are some parts that are running slow, but I can edit that, cut some stuff out later or whatever.

So, yeah, I just started chapter eleven today, so I'm halfway there.

Now, I need to finish 3000 words for today.

Writings Going Okay

2009-07-14T22:37:00.002-04:00

I finally got back into the groove, so the writing thing's going pretty okay. At least I'm meeting my goals, more or less.

I admit, I did skip some days, but you try working at Wal-Mart all day, then trying to write in the evening on top of every day household stuff. It's not easy. I think I prefer writing on my days off. I just kind of save up my daily quotas, add them all together, and then try to write that, plus extra.

My main concern right now is that my story is moving slowly. I know I will eventually cut a lot of it, but I'm nowhere near where I want to be, plotwise.

Oh well, that's what the editing process is for.

So Far, So Good

2009-07-07T20:46:00.001-04:00

I'm getting back into the writing thing.

500 words a day. I can easily manage that. By mid-late September, I should have my current WIP finished.

If I start falling off track, someone smack me.

Guest Blog Hiatus

2009-07-01T12:32:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone.

I've decided, with all the things that have been going on in my personal life, I am going to be suspending my guest blogs for a while. I am going on hiatus. I hope by January things will be straightened out and I can once again invite authors to join me on my blog.

Thanks for everything.

Happy Reading!

Yeah, I Know

2009-06-30T00:06:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I posted anything. Guess I haven't really felt much like blogging this past month.

But, things are looking a little bit better. Still sad somedays, other days not so much.

As for writing, I've pretty much given up on it this month. Too much going on to really sit down and write. Maybe July will be better.

Going Away

2009-06-19T00:22:00.001-04:00

I will be visiting my family in Kentucky this weekend, so I will be away. I won't be checking blogs and groups, but I will be checking email. If any of ya'll need me, I'm just an email away.

I'll be back Monday.

Later!

This Can't Be Happening

2009-06-09T21:43:00.000-04:00

I'm tired of death. Just found out my cousin shot and killed himself this morning. We were close growing up, real close.

GUEST BLOGGER: Pam Champagne

2009-06-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

My guest blogger this week is Pam Champagne! Please give her a warm welcome.

***

She’ll make him finish what he started—if they live through the night.
About a year ago during one of my random marathon cleanings, I found the journal I faithfully kept during my road trip from Maine to Alaska. Driving a GMC 250 with a camper riding piggyback and towing a Wells Fargo trailer, my husband and I drove to Alaska with full intentions to live there. Reading my entries brought back wonderful memories, and I also stumbled across the idea for Alaskan Heat hidden within its pages. The eighteen hundred miles of ALCAN (Alaskan/Canadian Highway) remains the highlight of my Alaskan experience. As I wrote Hawk and Sophie’s tale, other plots and characters popped in my head, so don’t be surprised to see more novellas with a similar setting.

At a campground in British Columbia one evening, I ventured to the Beta pool at Liard Hot Springs by myself, ever so conscious of the danger of bears. Swimming into that hot water put me in heaven. I’ll never forget it and want to experience it again some day. The isolation of the pool added to my enjoyment. The 700 meter depth made me wonder what might be lurking beneath the hot water.

We didn’t settle in Alaska. After the summer we drove the 5,000 miles back to Maine. We’d planned to buy something on 50 acres close enough to a city to find work. Not a possibility, as we discovered. Here we are back in Maine where we found exactly what we sought, proving the grass isn’t always greener…

Paperback Swap

2009-05-30T00:53:00.003-04:00

Hey guys,

I'm over at Paperback Swap. http://rosemariewolf.paperbackswap.com

I like this site. I'm trying to get rid of some books, so if you're a member, check it out.

Later.

P.S. I'm feeling better now. Thanks for the condolences and comments everyone

RIP Spike

2009-05-27T22:12:00.003-04:00

Not three weeks after we buried Lucky, our cat Spike, gets hit by a van.

Yeah, Cindy was walking Princess and Spike was going too...something he never EVER does. This dumbass in a van was driving like he's in the fucking INDY 500. Cindy goes to grab Spike as he dashes out and the van hits him. Guy doesn't stop. He just keeps on going. And he had to have seen them.

I'm more pissed off than anything. Spike was the sweetest cat ever.

Why do these things have to happen?

Dark Moon Magick, In PRINT!

2009-05-27T18:42:00.001-04:00

Dark Moon Magick, Book Four of the Moon Series is available in print from Amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Moon-Magick-Book-4/dp/1604359536/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

:-)

Go see!

Here's The Thing

2009-05-27T05:04:00.001-04:00

I can't sleep. I've been worrying about a lot of things lately. Like my dad for example. It's been hell. Writing sucks. Work sucks more. I feel like I'm sinking into a hole that I can't climb out of. I don't know what to do.

That, and I feel a bit drunk.

Oh well. What can a girl do?

GUEST BLOGGER: Amber Leigh Williams

2009-05-26T12:53:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone. Today my guest blogger is Amber Leigh Williams!

***

I always knew I would write about Fairhope, Alabama. My hometown is as pretty as they come. Founded on the picturesque Eastern Shore of the Mobile Bay and only a hop, skip, and jump from the white sands of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, a group called The Utopians set out to create “a town with a purpose.” It is now a lush and quiet haven for retirees and starters alike. It’s renowned for its nurturing of the arts. In fact, Fairhope is a nesting ground for writers the likes of Fannie Flagg, Sonny Brewer, W.E.B. Griffin, and Winston Groom. Events like the Art Walk, Jazz Festival, and the annual Arts & Crafts Festival draw artists and visitors from as far as Canada.

Until I sat down to write A Summer’s Hope, the first book in my Fairhope series, I realized I’d never written about a place I’ve been completely immersed in and love deeply—so deeply it’s a part of me. In Fox & Hound, the descriptions of the Louvre were based on virtual tours and pictures from websites sprinkled with a few nifty imaginings of my own to help my jewel thieves get in and out without detection. Same with Denied Origin—the Sistine Chapel and the Taj Mahal scenes were researched to the nth degree yet I threw in secret doors and creepy catacombs. Yet A Summer’s Hope was different. I knew my descriptions of Fairhope had to be dead-on. How do you describe a place so vivid? How do you pen to paper a place that simply breathes peace?

An answer came from Fannie Flagg herself in the book Fairhope by Cathy Donelson: “Although I’ve done my best to describe it, the truth is, Fairhope is really a state of mind and cannot be explained by using mere words. It must be felt.” On brainstorming drives, I’d wind up sitting on Fairhope’s most enduring landmark, the Pier, facing the bluff where I planned to build my heroine’s B&B, Hanna’s Inn. Upon my return home, my lost and haunted hero, Cole, solved everything with the following observation:

The Fairhope pier was empty but for the early-morning fishermen who reclined in beach chairs and dozed as their lines drooped over the railing and down into the shallow bay water below. The only sound was that of pelicans doing their far-from-graceful dive for breakfast or the heavy splash of crab nets hitting the water. The bells of buoys could be heard over the lull of silence as well as the lap of water against the boats harbored by Yardarm, the pier’s only business—a seafood restaurant—midway down the historic pier. Part of Fairhope’s most enduring residential park, it had survived numerous hurricane forces and modern industrialization.

As he sat drinking coffee inside the long-standing restaurant, his eyes were not on the sailboats that well-to-do hobbyists had taken out early or the pelicans that swooped into view. His eyes were on a building in the distance. About a quarter of a mile south of the pier on a high, grassy ridge stood Hanna’s Inn.

The inn was built much like a waterside Tara with white, wooden walls and regal columns gracing the bayside façade. A private pier, sundeck, and boathouse were alluring benefits—not to mention the long, green sweep of landscaped lawn. It was as charming as it was striking, one of many decades-old, southern-style houses travelers admired.
From the distance, it was all its promotional brochure promised: a serene getaway. Forget the world, it had coaxed. That was what he was counting on.

Serene getaway. Blissful escape. It summed up my hometown to a t!
So plan your getaway, forget the world, and book your escape at Hanna’s Inn. Let Briar make you feel welcome and let Cole charm you to your toes. Forget the world with the release of A Summer’s Hope on May 27, available in e-book and print!

Amber Leigh Williams
http://www.amberleighwilliams.com/
Romance Across the Genres
Anytime! Anyplace! Anywhere!

Twitter

2009-05-22T11:24:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I know I don't need another social site, but I couldn't resist.

http://www.twitter.com/RoseMarieWolf

GUEST BLOGGER: Helen Madden

2009-05-19T18:56:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone! Here's my guest blogger for this week, Helen Madden! I apologize as this was supposed to be up earlier today. I totally flaked!

Without further ado, here is Helen's post on podcasting!

***

What Podcasting Can Do For Writers

Guest blog post by Helen E. H. Madden

Thank you Rose Marie for giving me the opportunity to blog here today! When I first approached Rosemary about writing a blog post for her site, she told me she was looking for articles on anything related to writing or publishing. Well, I write every day, and I've got two books published, but there's a special little project I've been working on for almost two years that has really made my career.

Back in the spring of 2007, I was a writer no one had ever heard of. I had a handful of published stories to my name and one novel that had just been contracted to an e-publisher, but I was still a complete newcomer to the world of "published author". I was at that point in my career where I knew I could write and write well enough to get published. But with the new contract on the book, I was suddenly faced with a problem.

How could I get people to buy my book?

I didn't think of it in those terms at the time. It was more, "Yay! I published a book! Uh, now what?"

"Now what" turned out to be marketing said book. We all know that every author, published or unpublished, ought to have a marketing plan, a way to tell people you've just written the most wonderful book ever and then get those same people to BUY THAT BOOK! And we're all familiar with the most popular ways to market a book -- Yahoo groups, blogging, guest blogging, contests, reviews! We join FaceBook and MySpace and Twitter to connect with potential readers, and we work our butts off to get the word out about our books. But pretty soon all that marketing becomes so much work that pretty soon it starts to interfere with what we writers truly want to do, and that's write!

As a stay-at-home mom with two small children, I'm very conscious of how little time I have each day to write. Marketing my first novel cut that time in half. I spent so much time on Yahoo groups and in chats, trying to lure readers into buying my book. Meanwhile, stories I wanted to write languished in my ideas notebook because I didn't have time to do anything with them. Less writing of course meant less to offer to the audience of readers I was trying to grow. I needed free reads! I needed to get into anthologies! I needed to feed my audience! But I couldn't seem to write and promote at the same time.

Enter podcasting. For those of you not familiar with the term, a podcast is a way of delivering content to subscribers via RSS feed. It's a lot like a blog, only with audio or video added to it. People subscribe to the RSS feed, using a program like iTunes or iPodder, and can then downloads the media file straight to their computer. From there, the files can go on an iPod or other multimedia player to be enjoyed at any time.

That's a lot of techno-babble, I know. So think of it in these terms. Podcasts are like radio or TV shows that people can subscribe to and watch whenever they want. You, the author, create the show, and audiences sign up to get it.

Podcasting completely changed my marketing plan. As soon as I realized what I could do with podcasting, I came up with an idea for a show. I would write a new short story every week, record it, and upload it to a website with an RSS feed. I let a few people know the show was out there, and they subscribed to the RSS feed to listen. The show was free, so it wasn't hard to get those first few listeners. And when those listeners decided they liked the show, they told other people, who also signed up. And when those people liked the show, they told others, who signed up and told others, etc., etc., etc.

It was like killing two birds with one stone. I wasn't getting paid for these new stories I was writing, but in just a few months, I had 200 subscribers. That was 200 people who I knew wanted to hear my stories. Now, nearly two years and 91 stories later, I get close to 2000 downloads a month!

It sounds crazy, right? I've given
away 91 storiesand didn't make a cent off of any of them! But think about it. That also means I **wrote** 91 stories in the last two years. And people are **listening** to those stories. And they're sending me e-mails saying how much they like those stories. And now that my second book, Future Perfect, is out, I'm starting to get e-mails from those same people saying how much they enjoy the book! I'm no longer the author no one's ever heard of before. I'm Helen E. H. Madden, writer and producer of the popular Heat Flash Erotica Podcast! Best of all, I've already got a publisher interested in putting out a collection of the first 100 stories from my show... in e-book AND in print.

It's been a lot of work, keeping up with writing and recording a new story every week. I still have to spend some time promoting the podcast, but not nearly as much as I did trying to promote my first book. Podcasts are viral. Once you set them loose on the internet, they have a way of getting around and promoting themselves and the authors behind them. If you're looking for a new way to promote yourself and get some writing done, consider podcasting! But be forewarned. Once you start, you may suddenly find yourself the proud author of a popular new show. And Heaven only knows what that will do for your writing career!

Links for Helen E. H. Madden
The Heat Flash Erotica Podcast - http://www.heatflash.libsyn.com
Future Perfect: A Collection of Fantastic Erotica - http://www.logical-lust.com/futureperfect.html
Writing website - http://www.helenehmadden.com
The Adventures Of Cynical Woman - http://www.theadventuresofcynicalwoman.blogspot.com

GUEST BLOGGER: Janis Susan May

2009-05-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

My guest blogger this week is Janis Susan May. Please give her a big welcome!

***

Notes from a Sub-divided Psyche, or a Rose by Any Other Name…

Mention a major author’s name and it’s almost like naming their genre. Grisham – legal thrillers. King – horror/thriller. Koontz the same. Christie – mystery. Patterson – mystery/thriller. Brennan – romantic thriller. Roberts – romance. The list goes on. To be taken without prejudice in another genre, most authors have decided to take another name and persona for that genre to avoid disappointing/confusing their established readership. It’s called branding.

Not that I am anywhere near being a major author, but if I have to take a pseudonym for every genre I write… Ack! I don’t know if there are that many names!

The simple truth is that I get bored writing the same genre all the time, and if the writer is bored, you can bet the reader will be too. Not good, and something I have tried most assiduously to avoid, both for the reader’s sake as well as my own.

For example, novels of mine available now are THE FAIR AMAZON (just released this week) and SECOND CHANCE, both traditional English Regency romances from Awe-Struck Ebooks. PASSION’S CHOICE, a sensual time-travel romance set in Ancient Egypt, and THE OTHER HALF OF YOUR HEART, a contemporary romantic mystery adventure set in my old home town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, both available from Red Rose Publishing. DARK MUSIC and ECHOES IN THE DARK, two traditional gothic suspenses set in the 1960s from Vintage Romance Publishing. And lastly, what is probably the book of my heart, a memoir written in a postmortem collaboration with my late mother called THE LAND OF HEART’S DELIGHT, published by Swimming Kangaroo Books.

I think that’s all.

Oh, and I have a children’s book coming out (as of now) in January or February of 2010 called DANNY AND THE DUST BUNNIES. For once my bad housekeeping came in handy!

About all I’ve missed is straight horror and straight mystery, but I’ve written both and am currently shopping them around.

While I admire those who can write one genre consistently, I don’t see how they do it. I won’t even attempt it. Simply keeping track of their pseudonyms and attendant personalities must be a fairly full-time job! I’ll just keep using Janis Susan May for everything and worry about using another name when I get rich and famous.

With one exception. My husband is a big mystery buff, so I’ve decided for several reasons that when I start selling in straight mystery I’ll use the name Janis Patterson. It will honor him… and, with any luck at all, it will get me shelved next to James Patterson! You’re known by the company you keep.

RIP Lucky, May 7, 2009

2009-05-07T21:10:00.002-04:00

One of our dogs, Lucky, finally went to rest today. She was 17 years old. She had been suffering for the longest time. This past week, when we got back from our trip to Niagara (pictures coming, btw) we all noticed she wasn't eating much and she was having trouble walking. We figured it was a matter of time. We made an appointment for Friday to take her in and put her to sleep, so she wouldn't suffer any more...but it turns out we didn't need to.

Today at 5:15, she died. We all knew it was coming, so she was surrounded by her family. I'm sad, true, but I'm also glad. Now, she can run and play and not feel any pain.

Rest in Peace, Lucky. We will miss you.

Vacation! Woo!

2009-04-29T21:22:00.001-04:00

It's almost here. May 2nd and I will have a week off from work--with pay. Yes, I'm excited. J and I, along with his mom and grandma are heading to Niagra falls, and who knows where else. I've never really been anywhere before, so this is going to be nice.

I'll be posting while on the road--or trying to at least--so feel free to check out where I'll be.Pictures will be posted as they become available...and there will be plenty.:)

I'm Guest Blogging Today

2009-04-28T15:06:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone!

I'm guest blogging today over at You Gotta Read today. Check it out and feel free to leave comments.

http://yougottareadguest.blogspot.com/

GUEST BLOGGER: Nancy Famolari

2009-04-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

Today's guest blogger is Nancy Famolari. A few weeks ago, Nancy was nice enough to let me blog on her page. Now, here she is on mine. Please give her a warm welcome.

***

Guest Blogger: NANCY FAMOLARI

Summer's Story by Nancy Famolari

My latest release is Summer's Story: Summer's Story takes place in the fast paced world of harness racing. For fourteen years, my husband and I had a small Standardbred breeding farm in New Jersey. We raised and raced these marvelous horses. Harness racing is very exciting. There are many heart warming stories about an owner or trainer believing in their horse and against the odds getting the horse to win a big race. This is what happens in Summer's Story. There are also people who take advantage of both horses and people for personal gain, not caring the least about how the horse is affected. I believed these elements would make a good novel. I hope people agree.

I loved writing the book, but what I enjoyed most was developing the character of Summer Langston. She's a very determined lady who cares about her horse, Meadow, and overcomes severe personal and professional obstacles to get her horse to the winner's circle. In the process, she learns something about herself and how to give and receive love. I like the fact that she's gutsy and doesn't give up easily.

Blurb: Summer's father, a famous racehorse trainer, is dead; his only asset, a fabulous trotter. Two men offer help to get the horse to the races. Summer refuses Ned, owner of Golden Oaks, blaming him for her father's death. Davis, a famous racehorse driver, wins her heart, but deserts her after she suffers a serious accident on the track. Behind the scenes, Max, a wealthy owner, will do anything to get the horse for his stable. Can Summer get her trotter to the winner's circle and most important will she find love?

Tired

2009-04-26T01:40:00.000-04:00

I just got edits for Changed and I'm already tired. Work was draining as usual. I can't wait for vacation. We are plannin on going to Niagra Falls. I hope it all goes as planned. I really need some time off.

The Winner is...

2009-04-21T22:32:00.000-04:00

The winner of Tabitha Shays giveaway is Cornelia. Congrats. Please be sure to claim your prize by emailing me at rosemariewolf AT gmail DOT com. Thank you everyone for commenting today.

GUEST BLOGGER: Tabitha Shay

2009-04-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

My guest blogger this week is Tabitha Shay. Feel free to leave comments. There's a giveaway going on. Her books sound very interesting.

***

‘The Witchy Woman In Me’
(The Beginning)

Good Morning, Readers, and Thank you, Rose Marie for inviting me to be your guest author today.

I’m paranormal romance author, Tabitha Shay, author of Witch’s Brew, Witch’s Heart and Witch’s Moon. Yes, there are more books to come in the Winslow witches of Salem series.

Bitten By Books gives Witch’s Brew a 4.5 tombstone review!

BLURB: WITCH’S BREW/BOOK ONE

Witches, wizards and magic!

Saylym Winslow regains forgotten magical powers, but is determined to ignore them. No way is she a witch; magic brings nothing but trouble. But when Talon, Waken Prince and assassin of witches is assigned to terminate Saylym by stealing her soul, she discovers being a real, spell-casting witch is only the beginning of her problems.

Talon is enchanted by Saylym's beauty and charm and refuses to do his duty. He is given a choice by the powerful Waken Guild: Handfast with the trouble making witch to keep her in line or they will send Drayke, the most ruthless waken assassin, to hunt her down.

Sparks fly in this bewitching, sexy battle of the sexes-witch-style.

EXCERPT /WITCH’S BREW/BOOK ONE

The hairbrush in Saylym Winslow's hand came alive, wiggling worse than a worm on a hook. With an earsplitting scream, she flung the brush across the bathroom and pressed a hand against her run-away heart.

Unfortunately, the brush landed in the commode with a distinctive plop. Water slapped over the sides of the porcelain rim, splattering onto the worn tiled floor.

Biting her lip, Saylym tiptoed to the toilet bowl and peered over the edge, then jumped back. Her breathing rattled to a dead stop in her chest. "Ohmigod! I don't believe it!"

The brush had inched its way up the side of the white porcelain as if it had suddenly sprouted hands and feet to pull itself up the wet surface. It reached the top, tottered for a second, then toppled over onto the floor and flopped like a fish out of water.

"No more," Saylym moaned. "Please. I can't stand one more inanimate thing coming to life."

There are nine more books planned for the series, with Witch’s Magic next in line, soon to be released from Eternal Press.

Quite often I’m asked where I got the idea for Witch’s Brew, book one.

Honestly, it just popped into my head one morning while I was going to pick up my son from work. Listening to my CD by The Eagles, I was jamming to their song, Witchy Woman. Spssst, I really get into the drums of that song and of course, I’m an avid sing-along-person.

But that morning, I was listening, instead of singing and it suddenly hit me, Hmm, I could write a book about a witch.

Now anyone who knows me at all knows this would be a big leap for me. I’ve written romances for years, but I tended to stick to contemporary western romances. The truth is, deciding I could write about a witch never even hit me that I was switching genres in mid-stream.

Now I have to wonder, with the world in the shape it is today, if I was suffering a mid-life crisis. (Laughs) Probably.

Mulling the idea over, the thought struck me if I was going to write about a witch, then she had to be different. Not just any old regular witch would do.
So how could she be different?

Okay, I had to think about that. What if she’s a witch who doesn’t know she’s a witch? Yeah! That sounded like a good start. Okay, problem. Why doesn’t she know she’s a witch? It’s not like using magic is something one can hide forever.

Coffee Time Romance gives Witch’s Heart a five cup review!

BLURB: WITCH’S HEART/BOOK TWO

Journey into a world where magic rules and death is the penalty for mistakes-return to the kingdom of Ru-Noc, where witches, wizards, and warlocks dwell. . .

Hannah Miller is starting over-new life, new location, and the grand opening of the Sugar 'N' Spice bakery with her best friend, Kirrah Walker. But Hannah soon discovers Sanctuary is not small town America. Trapped in a world of magic where humans are considered aliens-Hannah soon becomes the target of a waken assassin.

The male witch, Sage, is sent to terminate Hannah, the impertinent human who has dared to enter their sacred realm. Sage usually complies with the guild's orders, but he faces this assignment with dread. He hasn't forgotten what took place at the Salem witch trials in 1692 and has vowed to avoid all mortals-until he sees Hannah for the first time.

Caught up in the immortal conflict sweeping across Ru-Noc, the star-crossed lovers wage a different kind of war that set off more sparks than a witch's wand. . .

Fall under the spell of Witch's Heart-where Sage and Hannah discover love has a magic all its own . . .

EXCERPT: WITCH’S HEART/BOOK TWO

"I know a lot more about you than your name, Hannah Miller."

His voice was pure silk. It wrapped around her like a fur coat, warm, sensual and smooth as honey.

For the life of her, she couldn't keep the curiosity from her voice. "Oh? What do you know? Exactly?"

"I know you're human, a frail illumrof whose life span is but a twinkle, then gone. I know you should have remained in your own dimension. And I know it's impossible to mate with you."

"Mate with me?" Hannah gulped and put her hand on the rolling pin she'd left on the counter earlier. If she was no use to him, then what did that mean? He was going to kill her? Crap! They were back to the slice and dice. She tightened her grip on the rolling pin. "Over my dead body!" she said under her breath.

Bad choice of words, Hannah. Really bad.

Right. So…Saylym fell and hit her head? Has a bad case of amnesia? For how long? Three hundred years? Because right away I decided she had to be three hundred years old, or in that neighborhood.

Three hundred years of amnesia? Nope, don’t think so.

Why don’t I let someone erase her memory? Totally wipe away everything about her past. What would happen? How would she cope if one day her magic started to return, and she had no idea what was happening? So, dear readers, Saylym Winslow was conceived and born.

Coffee Time Romance gives Witch’s Moon a five cup review!

BLURB: WITCH’S MOON/BOOK THREE

Ru-Noc: A magical world teetering on the edge of destruction.

Excited about her first Beltane, the feisty and strong-willed Princess of Ru-Noc makes plans to find her ideal mate. But Princess Kali's world is turned upside down when finds herself whisked away and trapped in the mortal realm of vampires.

Captain Koran T knows he's in serious trouble when the King of Ru-Noc orders him to kidnap Princess Kali. He's no different than any other male of his species at mating time, so the urge to breed Kali is strong. But Koran T has a dark secret of his own, one that could have him banished from the coven.

Fall under the spell of a Witch's Moon-when dark forces gather to threaten the very existence of Ru-Noc-and Princess Kali and Captain Koran cross swords in a fierce battle only a witch can win!

EXCERPT: WITCH’S MOON: BOOK THREE

Ah, but the novel appearance of a male witch popping in at the all girls’ academy had them all atwitter, all—but one.

Abrupt silence filled the halls and avid gazes shot to Princess Kali as she marched down the hall like a stiff-backed soldier. Fury etched the aristocratic lines of her face. Her topaz eyes blazed with gold flames. Her heart-shaped lips were tight with displeasure and color stained her noble cheekbones.
What would the princess do? Say?
Money exchanged hands as bets were quickly made on the outcome of the battle that brewed. Who would win, Captain Koran T or Princess Kali?
Oh, but this was going to be an entertaining moment for all of them.
No doubt about it, the reckless and hot-tempered Princess was in a bit of a snit. In a swish and swirl of red silk, she left a heady cloud of jasmine and oleander perfume in her wake.
Necks craned and eyes widened as everyone watched the Princess storm down the corridor to Principal Wing’s office.
“What’s she doing now?” someone asked. “I can’t see her anymore.”

“Who cares what she’s doing? My heart’s still pounding from catching a glimpse of the Captain,” one young lady commented. “Did you see how handsome he is? The excitement is almost too much to bear.”

Now, I don’t want to reveal all Saylym’s secrets or the problems she faces when her magic starts to return, but obviously, the fun doesn‘t end with Saylym‘s story. No. Saylym has two sisters, Kirrah, whose tale in Witch’s Fire, will be released late in 2009 and Nyra, who tangles with Death in Witch‘s Touch, in 2010, so be watching for them.

I’m so thrilled to announce that all my books are now available in print from Amazon.com

Anyone leaving a comment today has a chance to win an E-copy of one of my witchy books or a signed print copy, which ever you prefer. Be sure we have a way to contact you if your name is drawn or be certain to check back about 8p.m. CST., when the winner’s name will be announced. Until the next time, scope out my website at http://www.tabithashay.com/

I can also be found at Myspace. http://www.myspace.com/tabithashay

Also, pay a visit to my publishers at http://www.eternalpress.ca/

One more tidbit of information: I also write contemporary western romances under the pen name-Jaydyn Chelcee. You’ll find her at the same website Tabitha Shay hangs around at.

See you soon.

Tabs

GUEST BLOGGER: Maria Zannini

2009-04-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

My guest blogger for this week is Maria Zannini! Please welcome her!

***

A Hit On The Side Of The Head

When I was a kid my mother used to give us a two minute warning before she launched into kamikaze mom mode. There were six of us so it was imperative she keep us in line. This was back in the day when children were seen and not heard. Yes, that's right. Olden times.

Kids being what they are, occasionally one or more of us would start to get whiny or else we'd ask too many questions, beg for too many sweets, or stand around dense as a post when we were asked a direct question.

At this juncture, my mother would sigh loudly and wave her hand palm forward and threaten the offending sibling with: "Keep it up and you'll get a hit on the side of the head."

Of course, this NEVER happened to me because I was a perfect child--I also knew my mother had a mean right hook. :o) (It's amazing I was never rechristened, "Bob-And-Weave")

But I digress.

The point is, whenever I get frustrated with myself I remember that very powerful message and counter with "D'oh!"

TOUCH OF FIRE was born as a result of a hit on the side of the head. A little more than a year ago, a friend of mine talked me into entering a hook contest at Samhain that only required the first five lines to a novel. I didn't have a book. I didn't even have an idea. But I have been a copywriter for a number of years so I said: "What the heck. I can write five lines" --and off I went.

Five weeks later, I won that contest and I floundered all day trying to figure out how to write the rest of the story.

But that very day I had also picked up an old book about the Mayas that mentioned how weird it was that their calendar stops at the year 2012. Speculation runs the gamut from the end of the world to a new beginning.

It was then my mother's imaginary hand thumped me on the side of my head. "That's it!" It was my eureka moment and the catalyst I was looking for. I've always been fascinated with post-apocalyptic stories and this was the perfect jumping off point. The story literally wrote itself.

TOUCH OF FIRE takes you 1200 years into the future and introduces you to the civilization that rose from the ashes of the 21st century. Future books will delve more into the time travel aspect and give you deeper reveals on how (and why) society changed, but this book is the seed that starts it all.

If you like futuristic fantasy, you'll love this one. It's got a touch of sci fi, paranormal and…umm…fire.

I hope you'll visit my blog and website. You can also follow me on Twitter where I occasionally say fascinating things. But more importantly, I hope you buy TOUCH OF FIRE and put a review up on the web. And if you don't see it at the bookstore--ask them to order it. Just show them a picture of my mother. They'll understand.

Want a chance to win a prize package? From now until May 28, 2009 at 12 Noon you earn a point for every time you put these words and my website link on any blog, forum, or social networking group.

The Apocalypse Is Closer Than You Think. Buy TOUCH OF FIRE by Maria Zannini.

http://www.mariazannini.com/

If you write a review for Touch Of Fire on Amazon or any other review forum, you earn 5 extra points. The person who mentions and reviews Touch Of Fire the most by 5-28-09 will receive a prize package worth $100. See my blog for details.

Thanks for reading this far and just to whet your whistle here are the lines that started it all.

The Reverend Mother used to tell acolytes that if men were going to brawl, they should at least be naked and glistening with oil.

Leda’s money was on the hulking brute with the Cydian blade, but right now she needed the other guy to win. That one had information she needed, and she wasn’t going to get it if he got himself killed. She was just about to intercede when her quarry tripped on his feet and knocked himself out cold.

Idiot.

Touch Of Fire comes out in print on April 28. Find it at:
Amazon
Barnes & Nobles
My Bookstore and More
Read an excerpt at Samhain Publishing

Thanks, Rose Marie for letting me hang out at your blog…and recalling fond memories from my childhood.

Maria, aka: Bob-And-Weave

Again With This?

2009-04-13T23:22:00.000-04:00

I lost my groove. I can't seem to stay focused on writing. I think work and life is to the blame. Seriously, I feel like I'm doing everything myself. Working to pay bills, paying the bills, cleaning the house, laundry, dishes, cooking etc.

By the time I'm all done with that, I don't much feel like writing. Yeah, I know. There are people who do much more...but they sometimes have husbands that help out.

Not me. Mine plays video games all day. It pisses me off, but I didn't write this to bash him...though I really want to (I'll stop before I incriminate myself).

No, I just needed to vent.

Ugh.

GUEST BLOGGER: Shelley Munro

2009-04-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

My guest blogger for this week is Shelley Munro. Please give her a very special warm welcome as she is also hosting me at her blog today. You can read my post at http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog.

Heeeeeere's Shelley!

***
Reality Shows with Shelley Munro

Firstly, thanks to Rose Marie for inviting me to guest at her blog.

Today, I thought I’d talk about reality shows. The chances are that most of us have watched a reality show on television. They’re popular with viewers of all ages and topics of great discussion and debate amongst fans. It’s difficult to switch on the television and not hit one of the many reality shows currently gracing our screens.

So what is a reality show? Wikipedia defines reality shows as a television show that’s unscripted, shows dramatic or humorous events and features the man on the street instead of professional actors.

When I first considered writing this article, I thought reality shows were a modern invention. Not so. According to my research, reality television shows have been around since the late 1940s. Shows such as Candid Camera, You Asked For It, and the Miss America Pageant were around in the late 40s and early 50s. They’re all forms of reality shows.

In the last ten years, the popularity of reality shows has exploded. Millions of us tune in to watch shows such as American Idol, Survivor, The Amazing Race and Fear Factor.

Reality shows fall into several categories:

1. Documentary

These are shows such as 1900 House and Regency House. Directors plan the plots with the participants taking part in prescribed activities.

2. Elimination

The participants take part with the aim of winning a prize. One by one, the contestants are eliminated with the last person receiving a prize, often monetary in value. American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, The Biggest Loser and America’s Got Talent fall into this category.

3. Makeover

An expert or group of experts take ordinary people and “improve” or make them over. Examples are Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, Extreme Makeover, and What Not to Wear.

4. Renovation

Several shows concentrate on renovating homes and work spaces. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a show that fits into this category.

Some reality show participants have found fame after their appearances such as many of the American Idol stars. Others have become media celebrities or gone on to host television shows. Love reality shows or hate them, the current popularity means they’re here to stay. These days, directors push boundaries, making some shows contentious and controversial. Some shows are unabashedly sexual. A fairly new show The Moment of Truth, where contestants are asked questions about their lives and things they have done, certainly pushes past my comfort zone. It makes me wonder about the reality shows of the future. How far will we push under the guise of entertainment?

I took the concept of a reality show and asked myself what will happen in the future? My books, SEX IDOL and FALLEN IDOL, are the result. They are both futuristic stories and are my version of what might happen with the reality shows of the future. Sex Idol features Antonio and Sasha, reunited lovers who compete for first prize in the inaugural Sex Idol contest. Fallen Idol features Bob and Rafi, old friends who compete for first prize and find love along the way.

You can read the blurbs and excerpts of both books at my website.

http://www.shelleymunro.com/books/sex-idol/

http://www.shelleymunro.com/books/fallen-idol/

What do you think about reality shows? Like them or hate them? Do you have any favorites?

Shelley Munro writes erotic romance for Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. You can visit Shelley and read excerpts at http://www.shelleymunro.com/

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_television

New FAR Interview

2009-04-02T15:55:00.002-04:00

I've been interviewed at Fallen Angel Reviews. Check out the link:

http://fallenangelreviews.com/Interviews/2009/March-LindaL-RoseMarieWolf.htm

GUEST BLOGGER: ND Hansen-Hill/Melody Knight

2009-03-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

I am happy to have once again as my guest blogger, N.D. Hansen-Hill, writing as Melody Knight!

***

http://www.ndhansen-hill.com/images/Bane%20Of%20His%20Existence%20sml.JPG

Writing Changeling Novels

Well, it's done. Bane of his Existence is live. Carnal Passions has taken it on, given it a gorgeous cover, brought my work into public view.

So, how do you write a werewolf book? Or a book about any type of changeling? Werewolf and vampire changelings are easier than most. The legends are so old, the lore so ubiquitous that you don't need to explain the process of transformation. You can describe it in graphic terms, but most readers who pick up the book will already know what happens when the moon is full. They will have expectations regarding your wolf's transformation. As for appetite? No real need to find reasons for blood-sucking vampires, since it's a common enough natural event in the world of vampire bats and insects. As for werewolves, and their voracious appetites for flesh, human and otherwise, well, we're all familiar with predators and carnivory. Being carnivores for the most part ourselves, it's not really all that difficult to excuse it in others.

So where does the idea of romance come into this mix? Is it because we like our heroes and heroines tortured? Forced to act against their will? We empathize with event-driven actions; with madness, moon or otherwise, to excuse the evil. Passion drawn from bloodlust is still lust. It's down to the nitty gritty, the surge and purging of impulse. The connection, of good and evil, yin and yang, is powerful, as is the connection between two with a common affliction, needing to conceal their questionable activities, their changed forms, from the world.

And, of course, there are love and loyalty, the strength of friendship, the bonds of secrecy, the shared confusion in lives subject to powerful forces beyond their control. And now, a glimpse of Bane of his Existence:

Bane of his Existence
To find a soul with common ground,
Primate traits mixed up with hound,
Confronting evil, and compulsive feast,
To capture, curb and love the beast.

He saw her the moment she came onto the floor. Homing in on her like that wasn't normal. Usually, he tried to tune out extraneous noise and activity and concentrate on his phone caller. Not today.
She was holding some papers, and scanning the cubicles. Charlie couldn't help himself—he was holding his breath. Please be looking for me. Please be looking for me. There was a chance, slim maybe, that she'd recognized him, too.
Her hazel eyes alighted on him, fixed, held. She smiled, but it was tremulous, nervous. Charlie had been acting on instinct up till now—only the instincts weren't the ones he'd been born with. They'd been acquired under a full moon, some years back. It was time to dig up the appropriate human responses to deal with this situation. At the moment, though, his mind felt abnormally blank. What now?
~
Oh my God. Verity stood there, feeling foolish in the extreme, well aware that any moment one of the team leaders would be coming over to help her out. If they asked who she was looking for, or what she needed…
I got nothin'. I don't even know his name.
And it was too late to pretend she hadn't seen him. There was only one thing to do…
Straighten up. Confidence first. Play the part.
Oh, hell. She couldn't believe she was doing this.
She headed his way, her eyes focused lightly on her surroundings, doing her best now to avoid his eyes. Her brain was working frantically on a reason to approach him. It was work time. If she hit him up for a coffee date, would that be harassment?
Oh, shit. It was. It is. Because it's not like he can turn me down. She was management, and as much as she liked to belittle any differences between their jobs, those differences would seem a lot more glaring to him than they did to her. She knew, because it hadn't been so very long ago that she'd been in his position.
Crap. Crap. Crap.
Crap. Crap. Crap. And damn.
~
This is it. The moment. In his dreams, during his howling soliloquies under the full moon, he'd had it sussed. He'd known exactly what to say and how to woo her. All that longing, translated into a passionate night, of…what? Doggie style interaction? And that mating for life thing? Were they still subject to that? Being on the cusp of the moon the way they were?
Shit! Charlie blushed, bright and red. He hadn't had a response like this in years, and leave it to the Wolf Girl to bring it on. Resentment rose as he realized that some of his co-workers not only noticed her attention, but that she was now headed his way. Add that to his baboon-butt red face, and there'll be enough yack to sustain the team for weeks.
Good move at a time when I—when both of us—should be keeping a low profile.
He stiffened, his eyes narrowing. She's got to be the vector—the one who infected me. He could easily picture himself getting close to her—close enough for her to bite him. Why had she come down here, anyway? To find other victims? In his heart, he knew it was stupid, but the irritation and traces of bad temper he'd been fighting all morning resurfaced. When she reached his cubicle, Charlie let her have it. In a rumbly voice that would have better suited a growl, Charlie held out a small dish of snacks he kept in his drawer. "Treat?"
He noticed her hand shook a little as he poured them into her palm. She put them in her mouth and her eyes widened. She was really enjoying them.
Charlie, in contrast, was beginning to feel decidedly evil, especially when she exclaimed, "Delicious! What are they?"
He sighed, then gave her a humorless toothy grin. There's no backing out now. He tugged open the drawer all the way, and showed her the box of Tender Treats. "On days like this? I just can't get enough of 'em."

http://carnalpassions.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=17

Thank you, Rose Marie, for inviting me to visit today!

Regards, and best wishes,
Norah/ND/Melody
www.NDHansen-Hill.com www.MelodyKnight.com

I Just Had a Thought...

2009-03-28T14:48:00.000-04:00

...I know that's scary territory, so don't even mention it.

About my thought...I'm thinking of revamping one of my short stories I have on Fictionpress. Maybe I can tweak it enough (like how I did with Changed) and turn it into another novel. I think it might be a good idea, but I need to think on it more.

What are your thoughts?

GUEST BLOGGER: Elena Bowman

2009-03-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

My guest blogger this week is Elena Bowman! Let's give her a warm welcome. ~applause~

***
Good Morning. I'd like to thank Rose Marie for having me stop by her blog today to introduce myself and talk about my latest release…The Barbarians.

I'm Elena Dorothy Bowman and I write in several genres including science fiction, mystery, romance and the paranormal. Although I must admit I didn't realize I was writing a paranormal series when I started to write it, I thought it was a mystery series wrapped around a love story. I started out writing science fiction mainly just to see if I could, and before I knew it I had introduced a romance that spanned two planets light years apart. I will admit when I started to write this first book I didn't expect it would turn out to be a series of four. Neither did I think that writing my first mystery novel would turn into a series of three or that it would be considered a paranormal series. But then, when one writes about ghosts, and ancient prophecies, knights and strange happenings, I guess it was bound to be. As to the Barbarians, it is the third book in the Sarah's Landing Series and has just been released by Write Words, Inc.'s Cambridge Books.

“SWEEPING, VIVID, AND IMAGINATIVE, this new installment in the “Sarah’s Landing” saga is sure to keep its readers in page turning mode!” —Nina M. Osier, Eppie winning author of Regs,Interphase, and several series, including and first of the new Minders Series, High Places

“A VULNERABLE EARTH SHIP. A suicide. What comes next? Read this book before you go to bed and you’ll be awake all night. Go ahead!” —Mary Cox-Pace, author of At the Gate Called Beautiful, and editor and illustrator of Christmas in the Country

“AMAZING. Just when you think the Sarah’s Landing Series can’t get any better, Bowman does it again! In Barbarians the story continues as an attack by an alien armada is launched against both Theon and Earth.” —Arline Chase, author of Killraven, Ghost Dancer, and the Spirit Series, Spirit of Fire, Spirit of Earth, Spirit of Wind

"SHOWS THAT EVEN against unsurpassed obstacles, across vast distances of space, a family's love can still conquer all..." —Ray Morand, author of the Red Knight Chronicles, Army of the Dead, Dark Elf, etc.

On a whim, Joshua's son Andrew, teleports to the alien planet to visit his half- brother Adam. There was a time when he lived on that planet he visits at a drop of a hat, because he can. But now he calls the Planet Earth home. The Barbarians opens with Andrew's unannounced trip to Theon, the planet his alien brother calls home.

Memories stirred deep within him as Andrew swept his eyes across the boundless deep green valleys and plush hills. Behind him, Star City glistened in the background in mute testimony to the existence of life in a seemingly otherwise silent world. But for the dying echo of his call, which shattered the eerie stillness, not a sound could be heard.

"Where did he disappear to now?" Andrew demanded frowning. "I'll bet he's off somewhere with Maia."

His thoughts turned toward Ballard's younger daughter and his frown deepened. If she was missing as well, then Adam discovered another hiding place where they could be alone. He would only be wasting his time searching for them. Andrew knew he would never find them unless and until Adam wanted him to.
Maia is all Adam thinks about these days, Andrew thought. Guess he doesn't have time for anyone anymore, including me. But then he didn't know I was coming. How could he? I didn't know myself. Well, maybe next time. He remembered a time when it was different. When no one could come between them — not even his mother.

I enjoyed writing the Barbarians as with the other books in the series and hope the readers will enjoy it as much as I did.

The Barbarians will be available at Amazon.com in March. ISBN# 1-59431-658-9

For more information on Elena's books, visit her website at: http://elenadb.home.comcast.net for reviews and excerpts.

I Need to Get Back in the Saddle

2009-03-18T23:07:00.002-04:00

I haven't written a word in probably a month. It's been crazy at work, crazy at home. It's a wonder I haven't completely lost my mind.

I want to finish my vampire story so I can start on the sequel. I want to start promoting my books so I can get some sales going. Things have been pretty bad, but I blame most of it on the economy.

Something needs to be published this year. Yeah, I know...Changed comes out in e-book and Dark Moon Magick in print (though only the gods and the publisher know when THAT'S gonna happen), but I want something new. I want to draw in some new fans.

Maybe this summer...

GUEST BLOGGER: Terri Williams

2009-03-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

My guest blogger for this week is Terri Williams! Feel free to leave comments!

***

I have had experiences with the Paranormal for as long as I can remember. But the summer of 1987, would change my perception of the unknown and spark a love that would eventually grow into a passion for the field. I have just had my first book published, based on our(myself, 2 of my cousins, and our best friend) experiences during the summer of 1987. I wanted to tell my story so that other people experiencing similar phenomenon would have someone thay could relate to and realize they are not alone. If my story helps one person to cope with their own frightening situation, then I've done my job.

My book is available online at:
http://www.xlibris.com/
http://www.amazon.com/
http://www.borders.com/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
And
http://www.booksamillion.com/

Below is an excerpt from my book...A Haunting Among Friends

“As I turned to go out of the door, the flashlight went across one of the doll’s face, and I saw something on the doll’s face out of the corner of my eye, so, I turned back around, and leaned closer to see what it was, I thought it was dirt, so I reached out and touched it, but when I brought my hand towards my face, I seen it was something liquid” he said. He dropped his head in his hands and sobbed some more, a little harder this time. Our Mother hugged him tight. None of us said a word for at least five minutes. He gathered himself one more time before he continued with his story. When I realized what was on my hand, that’s when I jumped up and was going to run out of the room, but instead I tripped and fell through the ceiling. Our Mother asked, “Gregory honey, what was on your hand that scared you so much?” He covered his eyes again, and cried. Through his hands he said, “It was BLOOD!!” Our Mother looked like she had just seen a
ghost herself. All of the color in her face had vanished. “Blood, are you sure Gregory?” “YES!” he screamed, “If you don’t believe me, go look for yourself, see look at my fingers, it’s still there.” Sure enough, there was dried blood on the tips of his fingers. And he had no cuts anywhere. She helped him to his feet, and to the bathroom. On their way into the bathroom, I heard our Mother tell him that she would help him clean up, and that he should lie down until our Father got home, and he and I could take them upstairs and show them the dolls. Gregory began to cry harder at the mention of the dolls. When he was finished in the bathroom, he laid on his bed and covered his head and eventually fell asleep.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom (Mini-Review)

2009-03-13T11:33:00.000-04:00

For more info: http://www.amazon.com/Five-People-You-Meet-Heaven/dp/0786868716/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235233958&sr=1-1

This was a short novel that I read in one day, but I will never forget it. It was a touching, somewhat disturbing story that left me thinking about my own life and wondering who I will meet in heaven. Definite recommendation to everyone.

An Update On Doc Visit

2009-03-11T17:55:00.000-04:00

Well, it didn't go well.

They did the exam. His vision hasn't changed since his last exam a year ago, but they checked it to get an idea of what they were working with.

For years, he was told by other doctors that he had problems with his retinas. Turns out, that's not the case. It's the optic nerve, mostly. It's not connecting properly, they say. The nerve is atrophied (sp?) and has been since birth. The doc compared it to a cable connection. The cables are all there, but they're just getting a bad connection. No matter if you have it hooked up, you still won't get a picture.

It's sad news for us. He's really disappointed. I nearly cried at the doc's office because I had been really hoping and praying too.

There is no treatment, no surgery that can correct this, though Hubby is damn determined to find one. But the doc advised us against experimental procedures, stating she doesn't want him to lose what he has, in case it doesn't work.

I don't know. I told him that the doctor knows what she's talking about, but he swears up and down he read something about optic nerve surgery. I don't know.

I'm just going to spend the rest of the day with him, and hope we can find something cheerier.

Nervousness

2009-03-11T07:54:00.001-04:00

Hubby has an appointment today to get his eyes checked out. We are going to find out once and for all if there's something they can do surgery-wise to improve his vision. The state claims he's too blind to drive, but he passed a motorcycle safety course last summer. They still don't think he can drive, despite having a moped/scooter thing.

It makes no sense.

Just recently he found out that there's a place in town that deals with retinas specifically, and that's his problem so..

~fingers crossed~

Praying for good news.

Also, being off BC pills is making me irritated ugh. I hate hormones.

GUEST BLOGGER: Moira Rogers

2009-03-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

Please welcome today's guest blogger(s), Moira Rogers!

***

Good morning! We'd like to thank Rose Marie for having us stop by today to introduce ourselves and talk about our latest release, Crux.

We're Bree and Donna, and together we write paranormal romance and urban fantasy as Moira Rogers. We've been at it for about a year and a half now, and it's been an absolute blast.

Crux is the first book in our new Southern Arcana series, a collection of urban fantasy books set in New Orleans, featuring shapeshifters, spellcasters, and the occasional psychic. It's a little different from some of our other stuff, because it has mythology and arcs that can--and will--span multiple books...as long as our editor keeps buying them.

This book is also very special to us because it's the first one we ever wrote. This universe and the characters in it are what prompted us to begin this wonderful journey, and we're glad to be able to share that now. So glad, in fact, that we feel like celebrating with the biggest contest we've ever sponsored, hosted by Bitten By Books. We're giving away a new 8 GB iPod Touch, perfect for music, movies...even ebooks with the free Stanza application! There are plenty of ways to enter, so come by and check it out.

In the meantime, check out Jackson and Mackenzie's story. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we loved writing it.

To find her destiny, she must trust him with her life…and her heart.

Southern Arcana, Book 1

Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States. He and his partners have never met a case they couldn’t crack…until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.

New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker. After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose. But crazy doesn’t explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.

When her well-meaning boss puts a PI on her case, Mackenzie comes face to face with the incredible truth: magic is real, and whatever spell has kept her hidden and separate from the paranormal world is rapidly deteriorating.

With time running out, she has no choice but to trust Jackson as he struggles to uncover the truth of her past—and her destiny.

Product Warnings: This book contains devious schemes, epic battles, forbidden love between a shapeshifter and a spellcaster, nosy secondary characters, furniture-endangering sex and a woman fighting to choose her own destiny.

Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris (Mini-Review)

2009-03-06T11:28:00.000-05:00

For more: http://www.amazon.com/Grave-Surprise-Harper-Connelly-Mysteries/dp/0425214702/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235233743&sr=1-1

This is the second book in Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly series, and it was a pretty good read. It was predictable in places, and I kept wondering to myself, why some of the characters did the stupid things they did (like return to the cemetary, at night, duh). Being a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse series, I find this series to be lacking in the charm of her Southern Vampire stories, but still a good read.

That Was Weird

2009-03-05T10:00:00.001-05:00

Whatever that stuff was on my face went away in a few days. It was weird. I'm trying to remember if maybe there was something different I ate, or medicine I took that I may have had a reaction to, and nothing comes to mind.

Oh well.

GUEST BLOGGER: Sheila Stewart

2009-03-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Please welcome this week's guest blogger: Shiela Stewart!

***

Tempting the Darkness
Book 5 in the Darkness Series

What would you do if you knew someone you loved was dying? Would you do whatever it took to save them? Would you be willing to turn them into a vampire?

In my latest novel, Tempting the Darkness, I deal with that very issue. The hero, Cooper Hawthorn is going to lose his wife, Gabriella, to cancer. His love for her is so great that he is willing to do just about anything to save her. But she’s made him promise never to turn her into his kind. So instead, he places her in a cryogenic stasis for twenty years while he searches for a cure.

When the idea for this story came to me I had no idea how close to reality it would become.
I began writing Tempting the Darkness in early August of 2008. I was gung ho and couldn’t wait to get into the story. Everything just flowed from my finger tips and I would spend hours of every day telling the tale of two lovers forced to be apart due to an illness, and the lengths one would go to save the other. I thought, what would I do if it was me. How would I feel if I knew someone I loved was dying and there was nothing I could do to save them? I began to pour my heart into the story.

Then on August 13th, my father passed away suddenly from lung cancer.
Cancer.

It stopped me in my tracks. The very thing I was writing about was now happening in my life.

There was nothing I could do for my father. The cancer was so progressed that there was nothing anyone could do for him. Exactly what I was writing about with Gabriella. Though Gabriella was still young and my father was nearly eighty, there were too many similarities for me to continue with the story. I considered scrapping it, telling my editor I just couldn’t go on with it, but my stubbornness refused to let me give in. So I continued. By far, this was the hardest book I have ever had to write but now that I have, I’m glad I did. Did it help me cope with my father’s death? I can’t really say yes. But I know if I had scrapped it, I would never have forgiven myself. The story had to be told and though I wrote the majority with tears in my eyes, I’m glad I finished it.

My question to you is…How far would you go to save the ones you love?

Tempting the Darkness:

For twenty long years, Cooper Hawthorne has kept the brightest light in his bleak existence a deeply hidden secret. All this time, his beloved Gabriella has slept safely in cryogenic stasis, awaiting the day he finds a cure for her terminal cancer.

As love blooms amidst the Darkness, and still no cure in sight, loneliness drives Cooper to drastic measures. He awakens Gabriella and breaks his last promise to her—by turning her into a vampire.

Gabriella’s sense of betrayal weighs heavily on her attempts to deal with what Cooper has done to her. Pushing him away, she turns to his friends for support—and finds she isn’t the only one hurt by his actions.

Cooper fights the temptation to use his powers to wipe her mind of the damning memories. But, when he comes face to face with the monster that created him, he knows what he must do.

Will Gabriella be able to save him before it’s too late? Or will the Darkness swallow him whole?

Excerpt:

How did you tell the woman you loved more than life itself that she was going to die? “Dr. Stanton called me this morning.”

Her eyes perked up as she looked at him from beneath the brim of her hat. “Philip called you? What did he want?”

Cooper stood, gazing out at the land before him. The sky bloomed a serene brilliant blue, yet his heart ached. “They call for rain later today. I was hoping to take you for a picnic later this evening but I might have to alter those plans.” He flinched when her hand touched his shoulder.

“Cooper, I know you well enough to know when you are stalling. If it rains, then the tulips will be happy. Our picnic can always wait until next weekend.” She turned him to face her. “What did Philip want?”

Oh, she was such a vision, his Gabriella. Her long, brown hair flowed like blankets of silk over her frail shoulders. Those big, brown eyes of hers would haunt him for years to come. Taking both of her hands in his, Cooper drew in a calming breath. “Your cancer has returned.”

She looked down, taking in a deep breath. “As I suspected.”

He touched her face, drawing her attention back to him. “I don’t want to lose you, my precious love.”

“I’m not ready to leave you just yet either.”

“It’s worse this time.”

“I know.”

“I would do anything to keep you here with me.”

She took a step back. “Not that.”

“No! Oh no, that wasn’t what I meant. I gave you my word that I would not turn you. There’s a way…” He took her hands in his once more. “An experimental procedure that would allow you to sleep in stasis until a cure can be found.”

She cocked her head to the side. “How do you mean?”

“Cryogenics. What happens is you are put into a coma, then frozen in sleep while I, along with Philip, look for a cure.”

“What if one isn’t found?”

“I will never stop until there is.”

“But I will be without you. You without me.”

He caressed her face with his hand, her skin as soft as silk. “You will be asleep. You won’t know you’re without me. My time will be spent finding a cure. I won’t sleep until I do.”

She leaned in to brush her lips over his. “Darling, you’re a vampire, not a robot. You need sleep as well as I do.”

He closed his eyes to capture the moment. “You know what I meant.”

“I do. I love you with all my heart, Cooper.I know you will do everything in your power to cure me of this retched disease.”

Yes, he would. “Then I have your consent?”

She smiled. It was a picture he would carry with him forever. “You have my consent.”

For more information on my Darkness series please check out my website at www.shielasbooks.ca
Each week on my website I post a short clip from my current release. It’s to the right of my website under Moment’s of Darkness clip. I hold contests for those who have signed up for my newsletter involving those Moments of Darkness clips. The sign up form for my Newsletter is on my website below The Darkness Video.

And be sure to check out my blog, Dark Cravings. http://darkcravings.blogspot.com/

Please, leave a comment. One commenter will be a lucky winner of an ecopy of Tempting the Darkness.

Thank you so much, Rose Marie, for hosting me today. And thank you to the readers for popping in to read just how Tempting the Darkness became a book truly written from the heart.

I'm The Splotchy

2009-02-27T23:48:00.001-05:00

I started getting hives on my face last night. At first, I thought it was a bug bite, cause it kind of looked like one and it itched.

Then it started to spread. I have hives mostly on my jaw-line and cheek area, spreading up to my forehead. It's not really bad, but it's bothering me that I don't know what it is.

I've taken antihistamines and used some cortisone for the itching. If it doesn't get any better by Tuesday, my day off, I'm hitting the doctors.

Undead and Unwed by Mary Janice Davidson (Mini-Review)

2009-02-27T11:21:00.000-05:00

To read more about this book: http://www.amazon.com/Undead-Unwed-Queen-Betsy-Book/dp/042519485X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235233616&sr=8-1

This is was a hilarious book. I had tried to read some of Mary Janice Davidson's other works, but I couldn't get into them. This one, however, was a fairly easy read. I got through it in about half a day. There was quite a bit of sex in this novel, but I was thankful that it wasn't in the first chapter or first page, like some novels. All in all, I think I'm going to give the rest of this series a shot.

GUEST BLOGGER: MJ Fredrick

2009-02-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week's guest blogger is MJ Fredrick! Please give her a warm welcome, with lots of comments!

***

The book Hot Shot was born the summer of 2000, when the wildfires in Colorado were so bad. I live in Texas, but a member of our writing chapter, Cindi Myers, had just moved to Colorado and would email the loop about how bad the fires were and how brave the firefighters were. Another member said, “Hey, wouldn’t that make a good story?”

I thought so J

I’d been a member of San Antonio Romance Authors for three years at that point. I’d written several romances, but nothing was sticking. (I know now it’s because they stunk. Really really stunk. No conflict, clichés, unnecessary twists…and I was too stubborn to see it.) But I was tired of rejection and wanted to write something for me.

From the moment I had the idea, though, the story grabbed me, though it’s been through several incarnations. At first it was more of a Hanover Street story, where my hero was fearless until he found true love, but editors didn’t find it all that heroic. Also, Peyton wasn’t always a reporter. She was an aide for a congressman, but through research I learned she couldn’t go out on the fireline without training, and what fun was that?

Gabe Cooper was my first alpha hero. I’d written two single dads, a George Bailey-ish hero, a wishy-washy vet, and a cop, but Gabe Cooper came on strong. He didn’t take BS from his ex-wife, from the heroine, from his crew. I loved that about him.

My heroine Peyton didn’t. But that made it even more fun to write because she gave what she got.

Here’s an excerpt:

“I agreed to this for one shift only,” he said. “After this fire is contained, you’re out. You do your job without question, just like the rest of my crew. Got it?”

Her chin had tightened stubbornly as he spoke and he prepared for an argument, but she
merely nodded. Okay. Something was not quite right with her not saying anything. After all, she’d come over here. So why was he the one wanting to ask questions?

He settled on, “You drinking plenty of water?”

“I’m fine.” She stumbled, belying her words, and he resisted the urge to reach out to assist her. She wanted to see what the job entailed, she better stay on her feet.

“You’ll be more comfortable on the trail.”

“I’ll be all right.”

Damn, she was hardheaded. Determination, he understood. Stubbornness just to prove she could do it was something else. “This is the easy part. We have a thirty-degree incline ahead of us.”

She grimaced. “And when we get there?” she asked, a little out of breath.

He showed no mercy, couldn’t afford to. Besides, if he kept up this pace, maybe she’d go
back to the others. How long could he keep up the curiosity excuse? “You know the drill. We cut line, cut down trees, stop the fire and go home.”

“As simple as that?”

This time he stumbled. “Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t.”

She snatched her hand back from where she’d reached out to steady him. “You really love this, don’t you? The whole ‘my crew can do what no other crew can do’ mindset.”

He cast her an incredulous glance. “Are you giving me attitude, rookie?”

“I wasn’t aware you needed any.”

Now she was giving him mouth. No one in fire camp—outside Jen—had ever spoken to him like that. He kind of liked the awe with which most of the firefighters regarded him.
He kind of liked the attitude too.

He slowed to get a look at her. She already appeared exhausted. She’d removed her fire shirt and wore a white T-shirt so fitted it couldn’t be cool. Her lacy bra was visible through the thin knit. She’d pulled back her hair and locks of it fell toward her face, brushing the skin of her cheek, her throat. He thought, just for a second, to push her hair back into place but tamped down the urge, instead thinking her exposed skin was going to blister all to hell. He gave his attention back to the trail where it belonged. “So why are you doing this? There are easier ways to get the story.”

“Do I seem the type to take the easy way?” She sidestepped an outcropping of rock with an agility he hadn’t expected.

“I don’t know,” he drawled. “I haven’t seen enough of you to know.”

He bit back a chuckle when she blushed. Had he stumbled onto some guilt over their sexual attraction?

“Put your fire shirt on, Michaels, and go back with the crew.” He kicked at the smoke
hanging low on the ground. The smoke could hide the fire; they could come up on it without warning. The sheer challenge of the lethal hide and seek thrilled him. “It won’t be long now.”

Hot Shot is available in print now!

Sufficient Grace by Darnell Arnoult (Mini-Review)

2009-02-20T13:34:00.000-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/Sufficient-Grace-Novel-Darnell-Arnoult/dp/0743284488/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232217324&sr=1-1

I really liked this novel. It had wonderful characters and was well written. However, there were times when the language and dialogue seemed to draw away from the story. Overall, it was a good read. If you like Southern fiction, it's a recommended read.

GUEST BLOGGER: Elizabeth Jewell

2009-02-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today's guest blogger is Elizabeth Jewell. Be sure to check out her websites and the links in the following post. Comments welcome!

***

Crimson Star, which came out last month at Changeling Press, is a prequel to my Heat Stroke story Solar Flare. Because Solar Flare was so short, I didn’t get much time to explore the background of the Crimson Star, although I did squeeze in an abbreviated history.

The few sentences that popped up in Solar Flare made me want to know more. So I decided to plan out a series based on the idea. From that seed came Trev and Ash, and the origin story of the Crimson Star. I hope to write a bit more about these two, since there’s still so much to learn about this futuristic world where vampires still exist and can bask in the light of the Crimson Star.

Buy Link for Crimson Star: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1063

Elizabeth Jewell’s website: http://elizabethjewell.kabeka.com
Elizabeth Jewell’s blog: http://elizabethjewell.blogspot.com

Excerpt link: http://www.changelingpress.com/content.php?utype=note&uid=3337

When Light Breaks by Patti Callahan Henry (Mini-review)

2009-02-13T13:32:00.001-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Breaks-Patti-Callahan-Henry/dp/0451218345/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232217181&sr=1-1

A beautigully written story of lost love, this book enchanted me from beginning to end. The characters were intriguing and the story wonderfully written. I only wished there could've been more.

Bummed

2009-02-10T23:24:00.000-05:00

So, my chat at Fallen Angel Review Chatters group wasn't so great. I was there for four hours and only two people even bothered to respond. Felt like I was talking to myself.

Oh well, I went through with it.

I need to get back to writing soon. I took a couple days off from it, but I really need to get back in the swing of things. I don't know why I get so worked up over deadlines. It's not like I really have any at the moment...well, except for a short story for Infernal Dreams I've started plotting.

I think it's because I have this mindset: if I write more, I'll get more exposure, more sales, more money, more fans. Therefore, I must write fast and get as many books out there as I can. Some authors seem to publish half a dozen books a year.

I'm beginning to understand I can't do that. I have to do this at my own pace, whether it'll be two months, or two years. I'll finish my next series. I know it.

But will people forget about me in that time? It's not like a lot of people are scrambling to buy my books. Most people don't even know I write books, or care, or even know I exist. But those that do...will they forget me in the years it'll take me to write another story?

Yeah, bummed is an understatement.

GUEST BLOGGER: Dehanna Bailee

2009-02-10T08:00:00.003-05:00

This week's guest blogger is Dehanna Bailee, who writes much in the same vein as myself ( werewolves!). Please welcome her! Comments are welcome!

***

My name is Dehanna and I've been in the industry for almost a decade. My debut novel was a paranormal romance titled "True Nature," which was received well by readers and reviewers, and since its release I had some fans who'd been quietly nudging me to write another werewolf-based tale, thus came "For Better or Worse."

Published by LiteraryRoad.com, "For Better or Worse" is a modern-day story about a woman, Sandra, who just wanted a simple life with some sense of normalcy--what she has is a home invasion gone terribly wrong, an old boyfriend hot on the prowl, and one very, very angry husband--which leaves the question, will this werewolf in hiding be able to prove she isn’t going to leave her husband while trying to protect him from the consequences of an unanticipated slaying?

This short excerpt is where Sandra runs into her "hot-on-the-prowl" ex-boyfriend at a convention:

She paused, running the fingers of one hand up his jacket as if to straighten his lapels. “Look, I know it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other but I do have other reasons for attending and I don’t want anyone to think--”

“Think what, Sandra? That you’re enjoying a wonderful evening in the company of an old friend? What wrong can come of that?”

An intimate image came to mind. “I can think of--”

“As can I, but even if I’m a creature of the night, I’m still honorable. I won’t go beyond the bounds you set.”

“Yes. I know. It’s just...”

“What? You don’t know if you’re the one who can keep them?”

Kahne pulled away, q shining gleam of humor tinged with desire surfacing in his deep green eyes. She bit her lower lip then dropped her gaze. “Things aren’t like that anymore.”

He lifted her chin with his knuckle. “Are they not? I’m no fool, Sandra.”

She stepped away from him. A chilly breeze encircled her, dousing some of the heat. His attraction was magnetic. He could have any woman he wished for but it seemed his heart was still hers, just as it had been so long ago. Yet, things had changed. He’d been reassigned overseas. And the long distance relationship simply didn’t work for her. She wanted consistency. Regularity. Normalcy.

Sandra paused at the edge of the rail, letting her gaze drift out across the vast expanse of mountains. Seeing the endless places to roam before her made her itch to explore the wilds further.

Kahne came up behind and encircled her waist, planting a small kiss on her shoulder. His heat warmed her from the chill while her mind screamed a warning.

“Tell me,” Kahne whispered. “What is it he has that I don’t...”

If you'd like to read more of "For Better or Worse," or find out about my other recent (and past) releases, please visit me online at http://www.dehanna.com

FBOW is available in ebook format from LiteraryRoad.com, Fictionwise.com, Amazon.com, Mobipocket.com and other e-retailers. (ISBN 9781934037539)

I'm Over At FAR Tomorrow!

2009-02-09T16:56:00.002-05:00

I'll be over at Fallen Angel Reviews Chatters group from 11AM-3PM tomorrow. I'll be chatting about the Moon Series, including the last book Dark Moon Magick. I will also be discussing my upcoming paranormal romance, Changed, coming soon from Red Rose Publishing.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FallenAngelReviewChatters

Head on over and join so you don't miss out!

I'm Guest Blogging Tomorrow!

2009-02-06T16:06:00.000-05:00

I am guest blogging tomorrow on the Samhain Blog.

Check it out! Visit www.samhainpublishing.com and click weblog. I'll be posting at 3 PM. Comments welcome!

Empress Orchid by Anchee Min (Mini-Review)

2009-02-06T13:29:00.000-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/Empress-Orchid-Anchee-Min/dp/0618562036/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232217011&sr=8-1

This novel was tough for me to get through. I can't explain it, but I wasn't too excited about the plot. It was well-written, I admit, but it just wasn't the book for me.

GUEST BLOGGER: Leah Braemel

2009-02-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

I would like to welcome Leah Braemel to my blog today. She is the guest blogger this week! Her post is as follows:

***
First of all, I really want to thank Rose Marie for inviting me to blog here today. This week has been a whirlwind for me. You see, last Tuesday, my first novella, Private Property, was released by Samhain Publishing. I didn’t sleep more than two hours for a week beforehand. I didn’t think I was nervous. I sure didn’t feel it, but once it released, I started sleeping again. I needed it. Because having your first book release is nerve wracking and exciting and exhilarating, and well, you can insert your own adjectives here.

Since I first decided to ‘get serious’ about my writing two years ago, I’ve discovered that the writing community, especially the romance writing community is an amazing group. They’ve cheered me on when I pitched my first manuscript to an editor. They commiserated with me when I received my first rejection. They’ve been a tremendous support structure.

This past month hasn’t been any different. People like Rose Marie who have never met me offered to host me on their blogs. Other people sent me congratulatory emails upon my book’s release – some I’ve met at conferences, and some are just people who I’ve exchanged emails with over a post on this loop or that, but never met face to face.

When I expressed shock that my book reached the top spot on the Samhain bookstore Bestsellers’ list, everyone else sent me emails saying “So why are you shocked?” But I was taken by surprise. Totally and completely. But the authors at Samhain, and those I know over at the Toronto Romance Writers, and strangers who have just seen my name on a loop, have been so gracious, so supportive, I couldn’t have gotten through this week without them. So thank you all.

If you’re interested in reading more about my first book, Private Property, you can read an excerpt here. If you’re interested in reading about my upcoming release, Personal Protection, check out my website at http://www.leahbraemel.com/

The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn by Robin Maxwell (mini-review)

2009-01-30T12:48:00.000-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Diary-Anne-Boleyn/dp/0684849690/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227246041&sr=1-1

I really enjoyed the historical references in this book. However, I didn't like how it jumped around, especially with Queen Elizabeth's recollections. It was an enjoyable novel, nonetheless.

I Has Cover Art!

2009-01-28T20:06:00.001-05:00

I have new cover art for my upcoming paranormal romance, Changed!

Michelle Keefe did the art for this one. I love it! What do you think?

You can read more about Changed at my website, www.rosemariewolf.com

GUEST BLOGGER: Karen Lewis

2009-01-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

I am very happy to announce my guest blogger for this week, Karen Lewis! Below is her blog. Comments are welcome!

***

The reopening of cold case murder mysteries has always fascinated me. If a crime cannot be solved at the time, what chance is there of doing so many years afterwards? I have written several novels on this theme. LISA, an erotically haunting mystery about the murder of a young woman, is my most recent. The story takes some unusual twists and turns before its shocking conclusion.

It has been twenty years since Lisa Craig was found murdered in a park at midnight. Her killer was never found. When the case is re-opened, reporter Scott Preston falls increasingly under Lisa's spell. Her long red hair and flowing green cloak haunts his dreams. Then he uncovers new and disturbing evidence, which indicates an inefficient police investigation.

His editor decides to stage a re-enactment of the crime on its twentieth anniversary, with Meg, the newspaper's receptionist, taking the part of the murdered girl. This piece of macabre theatre takes a dangerous twist when Meg is found unconscious and almost freezing to death in the same spot where Lisa Craig was discovered two decades earlier.

Scott is convinced that whoever killed Lisa, is also responsible for Meg's attempted murder, and when he finds out Meg has survived, will almost certainly be intent on silencing her before her memory returns. It is therefore, with a sense of impending danger that he doubles his efforts to uncover the truth about the Lisa Craig case. He must stop a murderer before he strikes again; a very unlikely murderer, as it turns out, who is much closer to home than anyone could have imagined.

Here is an excerpt:

The young woman walked briskly through the deserted streets. Her footsteps drumming a staccato on the sidewalks. She was a striking figure with her long auburn hair, and swirling green cloak.

A frosty moon rode high in the fitful sky, and a train whistle wailed in the distance. She glanced nervously around her, as she approached the eerie darkness of Roanoke Park.

Silent rows of evergreens loomed overhead; their bristly arms reached out to ensnare her. She quickened her pace, head bent low against the wind.
The sudden cry of a screech owl startled the nervous girl, and she broke into a run.

She raced past the isolated park just as the
moon slipped behind the clouds. Her breath froze on the frigid air, and the urgent tempo of her footsteps echoed through the midnight stillness.

But there was now another sound, far more sinister. Barely perceptible at first, it grew louder and more persistent, until there was no doubt. It was the menacing beat of another pair of footsteps,
heavier than her own and gaining on her with alarming
speed.

She ran across the road, in a desperate bid to escape, but was grabbed roughly from behind. Her agonized screams were cut short by a hand clamped cruelly over her mouth. Kicking and struggling she was dragged into the hovering darkness of the waiting park.

Her body was discovered the next morning by a neighbour out walking his dog.
* * *
The celluloid images flickered on the projection screen before being replaced by a series of declining numbers

“So what do you think?” Lieutenant Neil Slater switched on the lights and invited everyone to help themselves to coffee.

This dramatic re-enactment of the possible events leading up to a murder was part of the Vancouver Homicide Squad’s unsolved crimes program. They were hoping to interest the press and media into publicizing it.

“I remember the case well.” Said Scott Preston, the Morning Herald crime reporter. If you only knew how well, you’d be shocked, he admitted silently. “The victim’s name is Lisa Craig, and she was murdered twenty years ago.”

“That’s right,” Slater nodded. “You wrote an update on the case a couple of years ago.”

“It didn’t produce any new evidence though, which was disappointing,” Scott said. He recalled that the murdered woman had been only twenty-three years old when she met her killer on that freezing midnight in Roanoke Park. A receptionist for Mitford Realty, she lived with her mother and aunt.

He should know. My God he’d absorbed every detail of the tragedy for years. Lisa Craig obsessed him. The re-enactment of her murder had shaken him to the core.

Scott excused himself and went to the men’s room. His mirror image looked tense; anxious blue eyes, fair beard and an earring. He washed his hands and tried to compose himself.

When he returned to Slater’s office, he said, “The boyfriend was the prime suspect, wasn’t he?”

Slater nodded. “His name is Garrick Boyd, and they worked at the same place.”

http://www.literaryroad.com/product.php?ISBN_num=508

www.karenlewisnovels.blogspot.com

The Wedding Dress by Virginia Ellis (Mini-Review)

2009-01-23T12:52:00.000-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Dress-Virginia-Ellis/dp/0345462378/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227245866&sr=1-7

This was a fast and easy read. I found it a bit predictable at times, but the ending was happy and that was worth it. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

GUEST BLOGGER: Sherry Derr-Wille

2009-01-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Attention everyone,

This weeks guest blogger is Sherry Derr-Wille. Please welcome her. Comments are welcome!

***

I’d like to start by saying that I’m honored to be a guest on Rose Marie’s blog today. That said, I’m Sherry Wille writing as Sherry Derr-Wille. It was suggested that I tell you about how I was feeling when I was writing my latest book, but since I have 43 books in print and work on 7 books at a time, I’d rather tell you about my writing journey.

It all began in 1961 when my sophomore English teacher assigned anyone who got an A on the first test to sit in the back of the room and write for a year and mushroomed from there. I received my first e-contract form Awe-Struck Books in 2002 and Whiskey Creek Books published my first book in 2003. Since then I’ve been busy. At first it was with books that I had written over the past 40 years but once they were depleted, I started working on new books. Most of my works are series and cover many genres.

So far for 2009, I have the following books coming out: THE TOUR, SEASONS OF LOVE, WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR, GRANDMA, TALL ELK’S WOMAN, ROUND TREE, UMBA, D-O-L-L-S GRACE and SEEKING SIR GWAIN. Hopefully there will be more, but not unless I finish writing them.

My advise to new writers is finish the book, Finish The Book, FINISH THE BOOK, and yes I was shouting.

My newest book, JOSEPHINE’S JOURNEY is available from Wings and can be found at www.wings-press.com and www.derr-wille.com.

In this book, Josephine is embarking on a journey to find the son she hasn’t seen in far too long and perhaps love.

Josephine had just come out of the kitchen when she saw her son enter the saloon. The exact replica of his brother in Missouri, he looked good in his Levis and chambray shirt. “It’s good to finally have you back, Quade,” Red greeted him.
Josephine studied her son’s face. It was evident that he found the comment worrisome.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice more mature than it had been nine years earlier.
“It’s nothing bad, Quade,” Red assured him. “You have a visitor. When she arrived, I sent Sam down to the fort and learned that you’d gone to Canada with Crooked Snake to bring his boys back. We’ve made her very comfortable.”
Josephine smiled. She wondered about the part about sending Sam down to the fort. She decided Red had misspoken, because they all knew about Quade going to Canada when she had arrived.
“She?” Quade questioned.
“I had to come, Son,” Josephine said as she stepped into his line of vision.
“Ma? How... why...” without further words, he rushed to embrace her.
“I always worried about what happened to you. Your father swore if you ever returned he’d kill you. I prayed every day for God to keep you safe. When we didn’t hear from you, I was afraid you’d been killed. Then your letter came and it was as though God answered my prayers. Quint wanted to come with me after we got your wire, but with the harvest he’s too busy to leave the farm.”
“I can’t believe you came alone.”
“I wanted to come. I decided that there was no reason that I couldn’t make the trip. I’m not exactly helpless you know. I lived with your father long enough to learn how to defend myself. As a matter of fact, I rather enjoyed traveling alone. I met some of the nicest people. I think the fact that I couldn’t stand the thought of knowing where you were and not seeing you gave me the courage I needed. Of course, I do have to admit, your wedding to Hannah gave me another reason to come. I’ve heard that the wedding hasn’t taken place yet.”
“Ah, no, it hasn’t.”
“Good. I can hardly wait to meet her. It’s not that Red, Shirl, Grace and Sam haven’t been good to me, but I’m anxious to see where you’ll be living.”
“Just how long have you been here?”
“I arrived two weeks ago. When will you be returning to the reservation and your wedding?”
Quade took his mother’s arm and directed her to one of the tables. “I think we need to talk about this, Ma.”

Again, thank you for this opportunity.

It's Crazy Cold

2009-01-17T12:30:00.002-05:00

Temperatures here in Indiana were down to -15--not including the windchill--this past week. It's been miserable.

On top of it, I've had a toothache. Try working 8 hours a day in retail, then writing at night, with your tooth throbbing.

Yeah, loads of fun.

GUEST BLOGGER: Sapphire Phelan

2009-01-13T08:00:00.002-05:00

I am very pleased to welcome my first guest blogger of 2009, Sapphire Phelan!

***

A Journey Into Learning About the Supernatural

Writing paranormal romances can be a journey in itself. I know something about supernatural legends and myths—I’ve been reading up on them ever since I was a child. But there are still new things that I have to learn. New things to discover, much to my delight.

Like demon names. When I started writing my erotic urban fantasy, Being Familiar With a Witch, I had to research demon and angel names for the characters in my book, including my hero, Charun Adramelch. Each demon named in there is based on real demon names. Except one, Jacokb, the head of the Familiars, who has an interesting secret about himself.

This story started out as a 10,000 word story and was to be published by an e-publisher that closed its doors not long after it had opened. Lucky for me, they never sent me the contract and so, the story was mine without any worry. Now, Phaze Books http://phaze.com will have it available January 26th and it is more than a short story. It’s a small book, but a book nevertheless, first in a trilogy of the two main characters. The journey of the first story in their lives is finished, ready for readers to get to know their secrets and desires.

Why all the fascination with angels and demons? Like vampires shapeshifters, and ghosts, it seems that the public wants to see more and more stories, books and movies about these beings. Maybe it is because we want to question beyond the veil—learn more about it. Maybe it’s because they are stronger than us—able to wield magic and powers that we can not begin to understand. Whatever the reason, the paranormal is something I do not think we will not stop wanting for the immediate future.

That’s fine with me. I will keep writing them, especially further on the new adventures of Tina and Charun. And I will enjoy digging up the dirt on supernatural knowledge for my books.

Sapphire Phelan
http://FantasticDreams.50megs.com
www.myspace.com/SapphirePhelan
http://SapphirePhelansPassionCorner.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SapphirePhelansParanormalNewsletter

Being Familiar With a Witch
ISBN: 978-1-60659-118-5

Being Familiar With a Witch Blurb:
Tina doesn't know she's a witch. It will take Charun, her demon Familiar, to convince her to make love with him and let loose her witch powers.
For if she doesn't, then with the demon army about to bring Armageddon to the Mortal Realm on Halloween, she won't stand a chance in Hell.

Excerpt:

Tina tottered across the school playground to join the crowd of children that surrounded the two kids playing jacks. She forced her way between one chubby boy in blue pants that barely fit him and a dirty T-shirt and her best friend, Melanie Gonzales. She saw that the champion was Daisy Jax, a girl bigger than all of the third graders in her class. Daisy had been held back twice and was mean, and liked to beat up anyone smaller than herself.

It looked like she had forced Jimmy Potter to play jacks with her. Tina noticed the boy’s shaking hand as he opened his grubby fist and dropped the jacks onto the cement. He was first to try and pick them up, but fumbled the tiny ball and missed the first jack. With a snicker, Daisy scooped up all the jacks but one. She missed it, but took a second turn and picked it up.

She had cheated. She stared at Jimmy, a dare gleaming in her piggish eyes. He didn’t say a word, just stood up and moved away. No one else dared to say that she’d cheated. It was known on the playground and in the class to never become a satellite in the bully’s orbit, otherwise she would beat you to a pulp. So those in the crowd stood silent and stared down at their feet, each one hoping that she or he wouldn’t be picked.

She swept her gaze around the mute face, pausing at each one, until she halted at Tina’s.
Pointing a finger with a dirt-crusted fingernail, she snarled, “You! Get down here. You’re next, Tina Epson.”

Quiet as a mouse, Tina sat down across from her. She scooped up the jacks and opened her hand, sending them flying across the ground. Her vision blurred, then blacked out. A second later, her vision came back and she saw that she had every jack in her hand.

Has it happened again?

She took her gaze from her hand and looked up to stare dumbly at the angry girl. Murmurs filled the air and she heard the shuffling of feet moving away. No one wanted to be near her when Daisy began punching her.

Daisy stood up and clenched her hands into fists. “You’re dead, Tina Epson. You know the rules here. Only I get to win. I’m bigger and meaner, and I’m going to knock your block off.”

Tina’s vision blurred again. Heat roared inside her body and every sound seemed muffled, like someone had plugged up her ears. Then she blacked out.

Someone kept trying to wake her up and Tina smacked at the offending hand shaking her shoulder. She just wanted to stay in bed.

“Go away, I wanna sleep, Mommy.”

“I’m not your mommy, Tina. Get off the ground, ‘cause Mrs. Leigh is coming here fast.”

Tina sat up and rubbed her eyes. When she drew her fists away she saw Daisy laying unconscious several feet away. Frightened, she jumped to her feet. That was when she saw she was on the playground and not in her bedroom, and saw Mrs. Leigh scurrying over to her, surrounded by all of Tina’s classmates.

She swept her gaze back to Daisy. “Oh gosh, Melanie, what happened?”

Melanie shook her head. “I don’t know. One minute, Meanie Daisy was about to punch your lights out and the next, there was this big kaboom and she was over there, knocked out. As for you, you were laying down, asleep. It was weird.”

“What’s going on here,” demanded Mrs. Leigh as she bent over Daisy and shook her, then checked the girl over when she awoke and sat up. The teacher whipped her head around to stare at both Tina and Melanie. ‘Well, someone answer me. Tell me what happened here.”

“I don’t know,” said Tina.

The teacher swung her gaze to Melanie. “Melanie Gonzales, what did you see?”

Melanie shrugged, toeing a tiny rock on the playground. “I didn’t see anything, Mrs. Leigh.”
Mrs. Leigh got Daisy to her feet and led her away to the nurse’s office. Later, the class heard that an ambulance came and took the girl away to the emergency room where her parents met her. A week later when she returned she was quiet and no longer mean to the other kids. She kept to herself and, when they all graduated to fourth grade, none of the kids saw her again as she and her parents moved away to another state.

Are You A Fan of My Blog?

2009-01-12T20:39:00.001-05:00

I just put the Followers widget on my Blogger, so if you like to visit my blog and read the posts, now you can have easy access to it.

Hope everyone's having a good week!

Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (Mini-review)

2009-01-09T12:50:00.000-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Flower-Secret-Fan-Novel/dp/0812968069/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227245643&sr=1-1

This was a beautiful and heartwrenching story. I loved the characters of Lily and Snowflower. Through their tough times, they stuck together, until betrayal and misunderstanding tore them apart. I only wished the story had a happier ending. And the footbinding! Oh My God! I really felt for the girls who went through it. I cried along with them.

Part Two of Moon Over Me, Available Now!

2009-01-07T15:38:00.000-05:00

Head over to www.rosemariewolf.com to check out Part Two of my free read, Moon Over Me. I just uploaded it.

Enjoy!

An Excerpt from Dark Moon Magick

2009-01-06T18:05:00.000-05:00

Mainstream Romance: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal (Shifter)
ISBN: 978-1-60435-158-3
Cover Artist: Brenda Porter
Editor: Melissa Glisan
Word Count: 108,140
Release Date: October 23, 2008

Werewolf Rose Barnett has a serious problem: She's pregnant and unsure who the father of her child is. To make matters worse, her husband, Jason, is gone, unknowing that she is even carrying a child and a new werewolf arrival to the PRDI brings a wave of unexplained "accidents", that threaten her and her unborn child…

As Rose's pack bands together to uncover the truth behind the accidents and keep her safe, Jason works ceaselessly to find out the truth behind his growing psychic abilities. When an unexpected psychic call for help leads him to a research facility, Jason meets a strange woman who may be the key to discovering his true self. But before he can return home with his findings, he must stop a new threat before it is too late for them all.

Warning this title includes graphic language, violence and some sexual situations.

Excerpt:

“Yeah, she's definitely a were.” He stopped outside of her room. “She's new, but she sounds almost like she knows what she's talking about.”

“Yeah, and I don't like that about her.”

“Rose -- ”

“No, Glen, listen to me. I'm getting a strange feeling about her. I can't explain what it is, but it's like I've met her before. I don't like her.”

“Don't tell me you're developing psychic powers, too.”

Rose sucked in a breath at the verbal blow. She didn't need the reminder about why Jason had left. She closed her eyes. Her headache had begun to pound ruthlessly against her sinuses. She felt the pressure just behind her eyes and nose. She rubbed the bridge of her nose again.

“No, I don't think so. It's instinct. The wolf doesn't like her. And I can't even catch her scent to tell if I do know her or not.”

“Probably not, Rose. If you did know her, then I think I would too. I didn't recognize her scent.”

“Wish I could be sure of that myself,” Rose grumbled. “I can't help being suspicious.”

Glen sighed a bit and touched her shoulder. “I suggest you don't let it bother you. You've got too much on your mind anyway. Go lay down. Rest for a bit. I can handle anything that comes up.”

She knew better than to argue with him. Besides, she was too tired. She only nodded in agreement. Glen watched her a moment.

“It was kinda funny though, when she thought we were a couple.” A grin widened on Glen's face. Rose shuddered overdramatically.

“Gross.” She stuck her tongue out at him and then laughed when Glen embraced her. It was easy to laugh when he did it. He wrapped one arm around her and hugged her close.

“I love you, kid.”

She kissed his stubbly cheek. “Yeah, I know. People just can't help it.”

“Damn straight. Glad you're not upset any more.”

“I'm too tired to be upset.”

“You are looking a little pale.”

“Yeah, I just need to lie down for a bit. Been busy today.”

“I know. Get some rest. Do you want me to wake you in a few hours for dinner?”

“Yeah, sure. That'll be fine.”

“Good. Maybe we can finish showing Nola around then. She'll probably be hungry then too.”

Rose's smile faded. She didn't like the idea of being around Nola again, but it couldn't be helped. How strange that her attitude changed from wanting to meet her, to loathing the young woman in such a short time after meeting her. It was probably her hormones bothering her. She nodded a little to herself at the explanation.

Glen squeezed her shoulder. “I'll see you later.” He kissed the top of her head. “Sleep well. Oh, and you can give me the admissions papers later so I can file them away.”

“All right. Thanks, Glen.”

He smiled at her one final time then walked away. His footfalls echoed and disappeared as he vanished down the hall. She waited outside her room for a moment before pulling out her key and unlocking the door.

She pushed it open easily and entered. The room was dark, but Rose's werewolf vision cut through the shadows quickly. It was great having night vision, she had always thought, but now she wanted to see nothing but the back of her eyelids.

She shut the door behind her and flipped the light switch on. Regardless of how well she could see in the dark, she needed light. Her room was well furnished; Glen had seen to that. Some of the furniture from the cabin she and Jason once shared was supposed to make it feel more like home, but it did the opposite. It made her feel alone, trapped. It reminded her constantly that Jason was gone and might not be coming back.

She dropped her keys on the desk near the door, pausing once to look at the dark computer screen. She hadn't turned it on in weeks. Her job writing human interest articles was long gone. Her editors claimed her work was lacking and sporadic. She missed several deadlines, so they let her go. Rose didn't really mind. Money was no longer an issue since she had received part of Claire's inheritance. The job held too much stress anyway.

Still, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of remorse that she was no longer doing what she loved, writing.

Even her creative urges seemed quelled. The books she had once written and self-published seemed like a dream. They hadn't done well. Her portrayal of the supernatural didn't seem fantastic enough and they flopped. Her books were never destined to be best sellers, but Rose had always been determined to follow up with something better. That dream had fallen into dust after Simon stepped into their lives a second time.

Without her writing and her job, there was nothing Rose could do. She didn't want to stay at the cabin alone in her condition. The place had been destroyed by Simon in one of his violent searches for her and Jason. She didn't want to stay there with the reminders of Jason and the remnants of Simon's destruction. Glen had been gracious to offer her a position on the PRDI team and to allow her to live there.

She sighed and sat down on the edge of her bed -- our bed, she had to remind herself.

Rose eased back among the pillows and closed her eyes, her arms folding over her stomach. She could feel the baby move around. She pressed her hands against her stomach and felt the baby's firm kick.

The kid would be born in a month or so and then what? Like it or not, she was alone in this. The thought made her sinus headache feel worse, and she closed her eyes. It felt like a jackhammer was pounding on her brain and a knife slicing through her heart. She moved her hands from her stomach, no longer wanting to feel the baby move. Instead she rested them on her chest, feeling the steady beating of her heart. It was a wonder it beat at all, she thought.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T19:49:00.001-05:00

Have a wonderful and safe 2009!

What are your resolutions for this year? I want to just get on track with my books again.

Update on Guest Blog

2008-12-30T21:33:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone,

First off, I want to send a big thank you to everyone who requested a guest spot on my blog (rosemariewolf.blogspot.com). The response was overwhelming and many of the spots went fast.

If you requested a spot and were denied, or haven't heard an answer--I'm sorry.

However, there are spots left for June, as well as the rest of 2009 through September, which I am not taking requests for just yet. The dates I am taking just now are:

2-Jun
9-Jun
16-Jun
23-Jun

If you would like any of these days, contact me at rosemariewolf AT gmail DOT com.

Guest Blog Spots Now Open for 2009

2008-12-29T10:27:00.000-05:00

Promo Opp: Guest Blog Spots Now Open for 2009

Hello everyone!

As promised, my blog is reopening to guest blog spots for 2009. Currently, I am only taking bloggers for the first half of the year and spots fill up fast. If you’re interested, send an email to rosemariewolf AT gmail DOT com with the day you like, or for more information. The schedule for days is listed below. It’s first come, first serve, so if you don’t hear back from me within 3 days, the day you requested has been taken.

This is a great promo opportunity, so don’t miss out!

20-Jan
27-Jan
3-Feb
10-Feb
17-Feb
24-Feb
3-Mar
10-Mar
17-Mar
24-Mar
31-Mar
7-Apr
14-Apr
21-Apr
28-Apr
5-May
12-May
19-May
26-May
2-Jun
9-Jun
16-Jun
23-Jun
30-Jun

Happy Holidays

2008-12-24T10:18:00.001-05:00

Whatever it is you celebreate, have a wonderful holiday season!

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Mini-Review)

2008-12-19T12:30:00.002-05:00

For More: http://www.amazon.com/Water-Elephants-Novel-Sara-Gruen/dp/1565124995/ref=ed_oe_h

This novel was very well written. I found it graphic at first, and I wasn't sure what to expect from it. I liked the ending especially, as it seemed very hopeful. Circus life definitely seems like a rough path.

Yeah...

2008-12-07T22:50:00.002-05:00

I've not been feeling well the past few days. Here's an update on what's up.

Works been hell. Did a lot of overtime the last two weeks. It's retail and Christmas. Do the math.

We had our first snowfall, and second, and third. It was slick and driving was no fun. I hate winter.

I didn't win NaNoWriMo. I'm glad I participated though. I've got some great ideas, if I could just sit and write. I'm so exhausted. Maybe after Christmas.

Anyway, I'll write more later. Have a great week!

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (Mini-Review)

2008-12-05T12:24:00.000-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Saga-Stephenie-Meyer/dp/1594133298/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227245175&sr=1-1
Honestly, I can't see what the fuss is about with this book, unless it's a new generation opening their eyes to vampires in fiction. The book was slow starting. I was wondering when it was ever going to get interesting. The characters were whiny and didn't really seem true to real-life. There were parts of the book I did like, but they were few and far between. I felt as if I had read this story before, because there are so many others that are very similiar.

I don't know if I'll read the rest of the series.