Bri Clark's Blog, page 10

Fresh out of a Pennsylvania penitentiary armed with a marketing degree, Kate Neilson heads to Wyoming anticipating an anonymous new beginning as a guest-ranch employee. A typical twenty-five-year-old woman might be looking to lasso a cowboy, but her only desire is to get on with life on the outside—despite her growing interest in the ranch owner. When she discovers a violent ex-lover followed her west, she fears the past she hoped to hide will imprison her once again.


 Heroine Interview: 1.       KATE NEILSON, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
This is embarrassing, but I have a feeling people who knew me in Pennsylvania would say the most interesting thing about me is the fact I spent five years in prison. I like to think I’m interesting because I’m a totally different person now than when I was first incarcerated. Don’t get me wrong! Prison was awful. I never want to return. Lots of bad stuff happened to me there. But some really good things also happened that changed my life—for the better.
2.  What do you do for fun?
Line dance! I had never tried line-dancing before I moved to the ranch. It’s loads of fun and great exercise.
3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it?
I avoid telling people what my life was like before I came to Wyoming. When I lived on the streets in Pittsburgh, I committed about every crime a person can commit, except murder. I know someday, somewhere, somehow, people here will discover I’m an ex-felon. I dread seeing their responses when they find out who the real me is, so I’m pretty vague about my history.
4.  What are you afraid of most in life?
I’m afraid my boss will find out about my past and I’ll lose the internship I’m doing at the ranch to fulfill requirements for the marketing degree I earned while I was in prison. Working on a guest ranch is a dream come true for me, something I’ve longed for since I was a little girl. Plus, I love the Whispering Pines ranch. It’s beautiful here and the people are really nice. It’s a great place to work.
5.  What do you want out of life?
I want to live a normal life and have a real family to call my own. I spent most of my younger years in foster homes and my teen years either on the streets or in jail. That’s why I need to keep my internship, which has the potential to become a permanent job. It’s hard for ex-felons to find work, especially work they like. With steady employment, I can be a productive citizen, one who contributes to society rather than takes from it.
6.  What is the most important thing to you?
This may sound strange, but I think I need to grow up in some aspects of my life and become more childlike in other areas. I didn’t have much fun as a kid, so I can be too serious at times. Plus, some things happened to me when I was young that make it hard for me to trust people—and God. I became a Christian in prison, so learning to trust God is what I want most in life, but it’s hard to let down my guard. I have a sneaking suspicion that growing up and becoming more childlike are both somehow intertwined with trusting God.
7.  Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?
Now that I’ve become a Christian, I’m fascinated by the Bible, partly because the two women I admire the most, my Great-Aunt Mary and my good friend Dymple, have both shared their love for God and his Word with me. I also like to read novels, those where the good guys and gals not only win but become better people. I have to admit, however, that after living on the streets, I find the plots of some books a bit too idealistic.
8.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My first reaction was to say I’d change my past. But I’m learning God has a plan and a purpose for everyone and everything that happens to us. Still, I wish I could have known my parents and my brother longer. I barely remember them, which makes me sad.
9.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
My real family had a cocker spaniel named Trudy. She was a sweet dog. I miss her almost as much as I miss my parents and my brother. Here at the ranch, the owner, Mike Duncan, has a collie named Tramp. 10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?                                    Though it would be interesting to visit the West when it was first being settled and to talk with early pioneers, I’d probably want to return to the days just before I lost my family. I couldn’t change what happened to them, but I could hug my mom and my dad and my brother again and again and tell them how much I love them.

Though debut novelist Rebecca Carey Lyles grew up in Wyoming, she and her husband, Steve, currently live in the neighboring state of Idaho. She enjoys the creativity and beauty that abound throughout her adopted state as well as opportunities to hike, camp, snowshoe and cross-country ski in the midst of God’s grandeur. While hiking in the Wyoming mountains one summer, she came nose-to-nose with—well, several feet from—a beautiful white wolf. Currently, she’s working on a Winds of Wyoming sequel titled Winds of Freedom. http://www.beckylyles.com; http://www.widgetwords.wordpress.com




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When Characters Take Over(And Mama Chin’s Quick and Easy Cinnamon Rolls Recipe)

Thanks Bri, for this great opportunity.
Today is about one of writers’ occasional but major frustrations: when characters in a novel draft suddenly appear in a book and take over, sometimes a scene, sometimes a plot, sometimes the whole book. This happens to me at least once in a novel, sometimes more. Somebody pops up and says, “Here I am. I’m saying this and doing that, deal with it already.” Then I, the author, get up, stomp around the room, curse, hopefully colorfully, and realize that often the character is a great gift. A gift that requires the writer, me, to do some more work, sigh. But usually the new character has something to say/do/change that improves the book.
Here’s one of my favorite characters that popped up and took over, darn and bless her, and a recipe from her restaurant, Mama Chin’s Save On Café. For more of Mama Chin, read Starke Naked Dead, my mystery novel out April 28th!Mama Chin’s Quick and Easy Cinnamon Rolls
For the rolls:2 cups flour (Mama Chin uses unbleached when she wants a bit of fluff, or whole wheat when she wants a nuttier flavor, or half and half when she’s in an indecisive mood. Note: whole wheat will make these rolls a touch drier and more crumbly and people will use their fingers to catch every crumb.)½ tsp. salt (may be omitted)¾ cup milk (soy and rice milk also work)2 generous tsp. baking powder4 tbs. butter or margarine or Crisco (But Mama Chin only uses butter and would slap your wrist if you suggested anything else. She thinks she’s being wild and crazy using whole wheat flour. Okay, she’s a traditionalist, but the Save On has been in business for almost a hundred years with the same family owning the café, so sometimes tradition works!)1 generous cup walnuts or other nuts (may be omitted)(You can also add 1 cup raisins or other dried fruits, but don’t tell Mama Chin as she hates raisins. She thinks they look and taste like rabbit pellets and she’s not talking about rabbit food.)
For the filling:4 tbs. butter softened (Again with the butter, Mama Chin buys it by the caseload.)½ cup brown sugar(And Mama Chin buys almost as much brown sugar.)2 tsp. cinnamon (or more if you like cinnamon)1 tsp. vanilla
For the topping:4 tbs. butter4 tbs. brown sugar2 tsp. cinnamon (or more)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Topping: Melt the 4 tbs. butter in an 8-9 inch round cake pan. Remove from heat. Add the 4 tbs. brown sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon. Mix well and create a thin layer over the bottom of the pan.
Filling:Cream together the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
Rolls:Sift dry ingredients together. Blend in shortening. Add milk until dough forms. Roll to ¼” thickness, in more or less a rectangle. (Mama Chin always says that imperfection shows it’s homemade.)  Spread the filling in a thin layer with a spatula. Now is the time to add walnuts or dried fruit on top of the filling. Roll like a jelly roll tucking the ends as you go. Then cut into six rolls (for HUGE rolls) or 1” slices. Place rolls in pan and bake at 425 for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 325 for another 15 minutes. Done. Eat!


For more about Conda (and more recipes!) visit her blog Condas Creative Center http://condascreativecenter.blogspot.com.


For more on Conda’s writing visit her author page on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/author/condadouglas.
And thanks again to the Belle of Boise, Bri Clark!


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I couldn't be more thrilled to introduce today's guest blogger, my favorite Collie, Dakota. Take it away.
Confessions From a Collie Hero. [image error]

Folks, I’ll have to make this fast because Emily, you know her, Special Agent Emily Dahill, is due back soon and she hates it when I use the computer. Heck, she thinks I’m talking with my girlfriends in Scotland. Yeah, well she could be right. Okay, so maybe once or twice, a day. But she’s on it all the time talking to her fiancée, Jarrod. I ask you, is that fair or what.
Anyway, what I’d love to know is the why? Why is this series named after her. I mean really, Emily Dahill, CID Series. Talk about anemic. It’s got no oomph, no pizazz. The name just sits there like a steaming pile of poop on a cold day.
Look at the stories, who get the best lines. Her. But, who catches the bad guy? Me. And not only do I catch the bad guys or at least point out they had snuck into the area but I get the best and biggest fish. And what are my thanks, a can of dog food and dry kibbles. While she gets? Steak. Oh sure, she might toss me a bone now and then, pun intended, but only when she remembers to get the steak with one.Let’s look again at the series title. Emily Dahill, CID Series. Well, what about Emily Dahill and Dakota Series. I mean, really, I do at least half the work so shouldn’t I get half credit. Big deal, I’m on the cover of the first book but no one knows that’s me much less that I’m the hero. Heck, I had a few blog friends even ask why I wasn’t on the cover. Once they realized I was the cute one with the fur, long nose and soft brown eyes they understood.
And the stories. Is there just once my name is mentioned in the title? NO. It’s Dog this or Dog that. Come on Emily, let’s give credit where credit is due. Doesn’t she know that there are collies and the rest are just dogs. To my highly advanced collie brain she is trying to disparage my breed, of which I might add there are more books and movies about the collie than any other breed.
And look at the second story. If nothing else she should have called the Christmas story something like A Kebi Christmas or Kebi’s Miracle. To call it A Dog Gone Christmas, yeah it’s a sweet title and there’s a collie puppy on the cover but let’s give credit where credit is due, to Mom, and I might add the bestest mom in the world, next to Alison and even I’ll admit it Emily, at time.In the latest book, A Body in the Attic, there’s no dog reference in the title which is a relief. Of course I’m on the cover so that’s not too bad. Guess Lindsay got tired of my complaining. In this book I really get to show you the kind of investigator I am. With my help Emily comes close to catching the brown-haired man and I show everyone where the hidden stash of money is hidden, right under their noses. But, you’ll have to read the book to find out what I mean.
Oops, got to go, I just heard Emily come up the drive and I don’t want her catching me writing this. She gets a little testy when I talk about her behind her back.Emily Dahill, CID Part 1
Final Mission-After being seriously wounded in a copter crash in Iraq Sgt. Emily Dahill meets her new partner as she embarks on her new Army career as a CID agent. Who could this new partner be?A Body in the Snow- Emily and her partner, Dakota, cross bullets with their most determined foe. Who will survive?Right Place, Wrong Day-On leave to hang with friends Emily gets the surprise of her life.Dog on Fishing-When it comes to knowing how to fish, and catch the big ones, never underestimate your partner. He might surprise you.
A Dog Gone Christmas
When a call for paws goes out, five friends bring their collies without question to a friend’s house. They learn the collies are needed to help seven children with the grief of losing a parent in Iraq or Afghanistan. Now, with seven friends, four collie yearlings and their mother, they set out to help the childrenNot far away a mother hopefully leads her seven puppies to safety from a man intent on selling them for illicit purposes.By a miracle of fate the two mother collies find each other right before the man sells the puppies.That Christmas morning will be one the children will remember all their lives and they are united with the puppies.A Body in the Attic
Special Agent Emily Dahill, Dakota along with her team of technicians are sent to Master Sergeant Annabelle Carlyle’s Victorian style house for what they think is a simple break-in. What they find however, turns out to be even more ominous and far reaching.A secret passageway leads to a mysterious gunshot. When the prime suspect is cleared they still have no clue who the shooter is, or why. Could the shooter be the same individual who took a shot at Dakota? Add into the mix the FBI and their unexpected involvement in the case.Soon they learn the break-in had been a cover-up for a more nefarious crime. One that involves Emily’s nemesis, the brown-haired man, and millions of dollars being sent to terrorists.Will they solve the case before the money disappears forever and more bodies turn up? Not even the inestimable Dakota is sure.

LINKS FOR EMILY DAHILL, CID PART 1
Astraea PressAmazonBarnes & NobleBookstrand

Links for A Dog Gone ChristmasAstraea PressAmazonBarnes & NobleAll Romance

LINKS FOR A BODY IN THE ATTICAstraea Press   Amazon   B&N



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I am delighted to be here today as your guest blogger, Bri. My debut novel “Bonded by Crimson” has been released on January 28th, and it is available in all formats at Black Opal Books, Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks



My heroine Kate Rokov, discovers her “destiny” when her fortune reading friend attempts to “read” it from the cup, I chose to blog about coffee reading, a favourite pass time activity in Croatia and as you read along, you’ll learn it is popular in many countries. In my research on the topic I have learned this has a name. According to Wikipedia it’s called:
Tasseography (also known as tasseomancyor tassology) is a divination or fortune-telling method that interprets patterns in tea leaves, coffee grounds, or wine sediments.
The first inklings of tasseography can be traced to medieval European fortune tellers who developed their readings from splatters of wax, lead, and other molten substances. This evolved into tea-leaf reading in the seventeenth century, a short time after Dutch merchants introduced tea to Europe via trade routes to China.
Scotland, Ireland, and England have produced a number of practitioners and authors on the subject, and English potteries have crafted many elaborate tea cup sets specially designed and decorated to aid in fortune-telling. Cultures of the Middle East that practice divination in this fashion usually use left-over coffee grounds from Turkish coffee (see below) turned over onto a plate.


Traditionally, coffee readers use Turkish coffee or any coffee that has grinds that sit at the bottom of the cup. Most of the liquid in the coffee is drunk, but the sediment at the bottom is left behind. It is often believed the drinker of the coffee should not read their own cup.There are at least two forms of coffee reading. Both require that the cup be covered with the saucer and turned upside-down. Some traditions, such as in Romania, require that the sediments in the cup be swirled around - - the inside of the cup until they cover the majority of the cup's inside surface a no-no in Croatia, means you are “making” you own fortune. Other traditions, such as Turkish and Middle Eastern, do not require this swirling but do require that the cup be turned towards yourself –handle - for showing your own fortune. The coffee grounds are given time to settle and dry against the cup before a reading begins. I should add here—If the cup is turned up too soon and the sediments have not dried and they are sliding toward the bottom, means the drinker will cry hard soon. Flip the cup back on its saucer and wait some more. (Peeking is allowed)Many interpretations for symbols exist, but one common thread is the color of the symbols. Since most cups used are white or ivory and the grounds are dark, strong contrast exists for the symbols. White is considered a "good" symbol foretelling of generally positive things for the drinker, while the grounds themselves are considered to form "bad" symbols.Symbols can be many things, including people, animals, and inanimate objects. Usually, the fortune teller will group nearby symbols together for a prediction. E.g. a flying bird near a path – you’ll receive a letter (news) that will cause you to go on a trip (or to act in some way.) After a reading, the drinker will be asked to "open the heart". This is done by placing the right thumb at the inside bottom of the cup and twisting clockwise slightly. This will leave an impression behind that the fortune teller will interpret as the drinker's inner thoughts or emotions.Some symbols and their meanings include: Symbols Symbol Meaning Apple achieving knowledge, completing school, getting diploma Flying birds good news Candle enlightenment Cat a deceitful friend or relative Dog loyal friend or relative Kite wishes will come true Raven death or bad news


Turkish coffee (also Arabic coffee, Armenian coffee, Greekcoffee, and more) is a method of preparing coffee where finely powdered roasted coffee beans are boiled in a pot (cezve), with sugar according to taste, before being served into a cup where the dregs settle. This method of serving coffee is common throughout the Middle East, North Africa, the Caucasus, and the Balkans.

BLURB
Love isn’t in the cards for her…
After her short failed marriage, Kate tries to rebuild her life and takes a position as a nanny to three small boys. She quickly grows to love them, but their father, terrifies her, while igniting a passion she didn’t know she possessed. Disturbed by his distant manner with his sons, Kate struggles to make him more involved in the boys’ daily lives. Her efforts are mysteriously supported by an entity that cannot really exist. Or can she? And if she does exist, is she really trying to help Kate, or just take over her body?
But when he deals the hand, all bets are off…
Six years after his beloved wife passed away, Matthias is still trying to become the father she wanted him to be. Not an easy task for a three-centuries-old immortal. His search for the ultimate nanny ends when Kate Rokov stumbles to his home and into his arms. The immediate attraction he feels for her seems like a betrayal of his dead wife, a love he’s harboured for over three hundred years. But when Kate is stalked by a deadly stranger, life he clung to in the past begins to crumble and break down. Can Matthias learn to trust and to love again in time to save his family from disaster, or will his stubborn pride destroy everything worth living for?


EXCERPTHe claimed to be immortal, but that was ridiculous...wasn’t it?
Kate’s heart hammered. The experience seemed so real. A low moan escaped her and she bit her lip. Soon warmth surged through her, causing her body to go limp. Her legs gave way underneath her, but Matthias—or whoever this man claimed to be now—wrapped his arm around her waist. His sweet, musky scent clung to her. Ecstasy filled her and she felt as if she hovered in the air. If he intended to kill her like this, she could imagine no better way to die. A voice echoed through her mind, speaking of undying love in centuries old Croatian.“Wake up,” he whispered close to her ear, his strong arms still locked around her.“I don’t want to.” Her head wobbled, exuberant with sheer happiness, a kind she had never experienced before.“You must.” He stroked her hair with tender fingers. “Wake up now.”“No. I want to stay like this. Forever.” She focused on his handsome face staring at her through her haze.His smooth cheek brushed against hers. “Me too, but you must wake.”The fog lifted and his image appeared, clearly now. She blinked once. Twice. What had happened? She pushed away from him and flattened her back against the wall.“You, you—”“You,” he said, pointing at her, “asked for proof.”



AUTHOR’S BIO

Zrinka Jelic lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and two children. A member of the Romance Writers of America and its chapter Fantasy Futuristic &Paranormal, as well as Savvy Authors, she writes contemporary fiction—which leans toward the paranormal—and adds a pinch of history. Her characters come from all walks of life, and although she prefers red, romance comes in many colors. Given Jelic’s love for her native Croatia and the Adriatic Sea, her characters usually find themselves dealing with a fair amount of sunshine, but that’s about the only break they get. “Alas,” Jelic says, with a grin. “Some rain must fall in everyone’s life.”Contact me @: www.bondedbycrimson.blogspot.comhttp://zrinkajelicromanceauthor.wordpress.com/Find me on: FacebookTwitter  Watch the book trailer: Bonded by Crimson




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A Woman'sPlace

            Last week, BookStrand released my thirdmainstream western romance, A Woman's Place and so my personaladventure continues. In other words, Yippee! I always dreamed of someday beinga writer. Then I wanted to be a published writer and this is when I quote thecliché, "You're never given a dream without being given the power to make it cometrue." You may have to work for it however.
A Woman'sPlace follows my first historical for BookStrand, A Man's World . In thatbook, a woman masqueraded as a gunfighter in 1887 Washington (state) Territory– actually, Trace was a pretty good gunfighter – everybody just thought she wasa man except the hero who figured it out and helped save her from the outlawwho stalked her. When A Woman's Place begins, Trace andZeb have been married for just over six months. Then renegades rob the bank sheowns in the town of Junction City.

Librariesprovided a sanctuary from home, even if I couldn't take the books back to "his"house, and I began to learn the world was bigger than I was told. No wonderwomen marching in the streets in support of the Equal Rights Amendment fascinatedme. That fascination guided my choices for the next several years, i.e. joiningthe Army Reserve, taking classes at Skagit Valley Community College andeventually I was able to attend Washington State University where I majored inEnglish and History. That led to courses in what was called American Studiesand Women's History where I discovered something new and forbidden in myfather's house.
            Women did things and they'd been doing them forcenturies.
I read aboutAbigail Adams who wanted the vote for women during the American Revolution andtried to convince her husband to include it in the Constitution. There were somany other women, abolitionists, suffragists, suffragettes, writers, poets,teachers, scientists, soldiers, doctors, nurses who were actively engaged inbuilding America.
And so muchof the information was recorded. It could be found in diaries, letters,newspaper articles and books written by the women who lived during those times.If they didn't write about it, they were written about! And being at WashingtonState University I had access not only to fabulous libraries, but also amazingprofessors who taught me how to find information. Research was a new adventuresince I was the first woman in my extended family to go to college, but I wasalso the first to graduate from high school.
I haveshelves of books in my office and I can pass up anything but a bookstore, orthrift store, or second-hand store. For fun, I check out the materialsavailable in the antique stores in the town of Snohomish – did you know it wasthe Snohomish county seat for years until the newly established company town ofEverett offered train stations for votes?
While writingA Man's World and A Woman's Place, the research didn't stop. I would hit the librarywhen my own books proved insufficient to find details I needed to know.  Yes, I do quite a bit of research on mycomputer now, but I have to admit that I still enjoy hunting down facts theold-fashioned way.  I don't need to hideat the library anymore, but in my mind it's the gate to Adventure-Land. I readeverything I can find about life in Western Washington, collecting oralhistories, textbooks and memoirs. I visit museums and historical societies andlisten to the stories that older residents told of their lives. I never knowwhat I will find, but a treasure trove of trivia waits and some barely knownfact will spark the next novel in my "Liberty Valley" series.
In addition to writingmainstream western romances, I also write writing young adult novels. I spend alot of time with teens both at the family riding stable and as a substitutemiddle/high school teacher. I love hearing what they think and say – the booksseemed to come about naturally out of both those venues. And of course, it'salways easy to find "beta" readers at the barn or the schools who are happy totell me when I make a mistake and need to rewrite, sort of a "turnabout is fairplay," time.
I'm delightedthe Stewart Falls Cheerleaders found a home with Black Opal Publishing. I havea terrific cover and my own real puppy is on it. I still don't know how we gothim to hold still for the picture – he's a whirling, horse-chasing,sister-puppy –attacking, cat-romping fellow at the best of times. But I have toadmit that when he's sleeping, he's downright adorable. He loved our snow inJanuary, but he does think that the cones I use to teach the kids to steertheir horses are actually made for puppies.
The Stewart Falls Cheerleadersare about a cheer squad at a private high school in western Washington, because"Sometimes, you have to be your owncheerleader." And these books have a special place in my heart – I think Ihave a new "fave."  In the series,selected girls overcome problems that life hurls at them.  The start of the series is Throw Away Teen. It'sthe story of one of those girls, B.J. Larson. She grew up in foster care,bouncing from home to home since she was a toddler and now she's in my fictionaltown of Stewart Falls, Washington living with an older couple, Liz and TedDriscoll.  As B.J. says, they'redifferent – kind of what she always thought grandparents would be like, onlynice. And Ted even gives her a puppy that she names, Guard-dog. Still, itdoesn't matter what anyone tells her, she knows she's passing through and willsoon be back in the group home or on the streets of Seattle.
Thesecond book, Asking For It is aboutdating violence. The flyer of the squad, Sarah Flynn thinks she's found the boyof her dreams, only to discover she's living in a nightmare. No matter how hard she tries, she can't seem to please him.  When she disagrees with him, it grows harderand harder to explain her constant injuries. Will she even survive toHomecoming, much less the end of football season?  Can she get out of this relationship alive?
I have two different websitesso if you like cowboys and western romances, pop in for a visit at www.josiemalone.com or if you're ready to go to Stewart Falls, see me at www.shannonkennedybooks.com
Either way, it was good to meet you!Shannon Kennedy
A WOMAN'S PLACE BLURB : Trailing a serial killer, Homicide Detective BethChambers is thrust into 1888 Washington Territory where she encounters injuredRad Morgan, a ruggedly handsome marshal who believes A Woman's Place is behind her man. Now, Beth must save Rad's life,apprehend the killer, and prove herself capable as a law officer.Formersoldier and survivor of Andersonville Prison Camp, Marshal Rad Morgan faces histoughest challenge in Beth Chambers, a determined woman from the future who'snever learned "her place."  But when heis shot and left for dead, he must put himself in Beth's hands if they bothwant to survive.Canthese two headstrong people put their pride aside and work together to find thedeadly killer and stop him before he destroys this world and their future?  As they fight for justice, love helps themdiscover A Woman's Place is what andwhere she chooses to make it. SHANNON KENNEDY/JOSIE MALONE BIOGRAPHY:  As a child, I loved to dream away the days in an oldcherry tree on my family's pony farm. In my imagination, the tree became abeautiful Arabian stallion, a medieval castle and even a pirate ship. I got introuble for making my little sisters walk the plank, but hey, they never brokeany bones. On rainy days, I headed for my fort in the hayloft. While the rainthudded on the cedar shingled roof, I read books, eventually trading CarolynKeene for Georgette Heyer. I used the setting of the pony farm for my secondromance from BookStrand. The Daddy Spell is a finalist in theColorado RWA Award of Excellence contest.
Today I live on the family ranch in the Cascadefoothills of Washington State in what was once a summer vacation cabin. It'sbeen modernized and even has indoor plumbing – woo-hoo!  I share the cabin with my two cats or maybe,they share it with me. I usually write at night after a long day on the ranch.Some days are longer and harder than others, but I still write from 8PM to 2AM,seven days a week. As a substitute school teacher, I love the school breaks butI'm just as busy, since there are 36 horses to look after, along with otherassorted animals.
With all the critters on the ranch, I don't have timefor a husband. As for kids, I have to give back the ones who come to learn howto ride at the end of each day. Now, I'm teaching the kids and grandkids of theones I taught way back when we started. I've had a lot of adventures over theyears – and in my next 50 years, I plan to write all about them. I hope youenjoy reading about them!


Wow Jamie! I love it. You are a very diversified author. I too love history and I'll have you know I am a descendant of Abigail Adams. My daughter was here for their history day at school We love her.  Thank you so much for joining me and I wish you tons of luck.

An Indie Voyage by Nancy Popovich
 
Thanks Bri, for the opportunity to write aguest post on your website.
After reading the great posts already present,I rethought what would be appropriate for my contribution, but found myselfwith writer's block. Writer's block? This is a virtually unheard of phenomenon for me while writing, my mindis always churning with ideas to forward the story. But this was different. Perhaps somethingwitty and tongue in cheek, something wise or even something intellectual woulddo the trick. Alas, no sudden inspiration. So, I decided to follow the advicethe ubiquitous they give to writewhat you know.
Not long ago, I had no practical knowledgewhatsoever regarding ebook publishing, indie or otherwise, other than the viewfrom my Kindle as I read other people's books. A sharp learning curve from myinitial "I can do that" toseeing my books on Amazon and Smashwords was climbed, step by step, sometimeswell, sometimes not.
Four or five stories languished on my computerfor almost ten years, and several more floated through my mind on a continualbasis. Having gone the traditional route and able to paper a room with therejections received (many other inquires never answered) I resigned myself tothe fact that these stories would never see the light of day.
Two factors kick-started my renewed wish topublish the stories in which I believed. My husband was diagnosed as terminallyill, and my laptop became a permanent fixture in our great room. I had theperfect combination of time and un-encumbered access to my computer, thendiscovered the wondrous world of Smashwords. The possibility of self-publishingopened a new door.  
As anyone who has gone this route willconfirm, it's not as simple as finishing your book, checking for typos anduploading to a website. Publishing a polished book acceptable to readers is nota solitary process. Beta readers, critiques, professional editing and a greatcover are all crucial parts of the package. You become your own publisher andas well, publicist, which necessitates learning social media if you don'talready. It's all part of the steep learning curve.
But the world of indie publishing is agenerous one, and there is a wealth of expert writing and publishing advicefreely available on the internet. You can subscribe to sites such as this oneand learn more than you thought possible about the world of writing, marketingand building a platform. Who would have thought several years ago when I had myaha moment, that my latest book,Malice & Murder would have five-star ratings on Amazon. That alone makesthe climb worthwhile, missteps included.

Malice & Murder is a tale of friendship, loyalty and adetermined quest for a murderer. In the act of saving the life of his friendand fellow agent during an intelligence mission, Steven Hunter is badly injuredby a bullet. When he surfaces, it is in a familiar childhood place where hesees his lifelong friend, Charlotte. There is a small wrinkle. Not only didtheir torrid affair end badly, she's been dead for five years. Charlotte'sghost asks for his help to find her murderer, but will he agree?http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007AW96WE    http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/134180

Bio of Nancy M. Popovich                A native ofMontreal, Nancy has lived and worked in Western Canada for over forty years. Anauthor of fiction, mostly mystery/intrigue, the book that began the familydynasty upon which most of the books are based, is most accurately described ashistoric fiction, possibly even a love story.            An artist, mostly of flora andfauna, Nancy has works in private collections in many places around the world.            Nancy is an all-breed Dog Show Judgelicensed through the Canadian Kennel Club, and has had the privilege of judgingin many corners of the world, including Australia, Taiwan, New Zealand, South Africa and the UnitedStates.
Information:Website:              http://www.nancypopovich.comTwitter:                                @NancyP48Facebook:           Nancy.M.PopovichAmazon:              http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005ZS6EJISmashwords:     http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/NancyMPIndependent Authors Network: IANhttp://www.independentauthornetwork.com/nancy-m-popovich.htm

Thank you ever so much for guesting and sharing your journey Nancy. I too have had similar experiences and I can say that I've found to not feel alone is a great comfort to many. Thanks again. 

MOST ROMANTIC LINE EVERMona Karel
            I'm going to limit this to books.  Whenever I discuss most romantic lines in amovie, my friend Michelle brings up "Last of the Mohicans," and "I will comefor you."  Yeah, that one's prettyromantic but my mind always goes to "Yours, Mine, and Ours."  The original one with Henry Fonda and LucilleBall.  Yeah, long time ago, in a timewhen movies were about people more than position.  Henry Fonda was a mid level (noncommissioned) officer, and Lucille Ball was the widow of the same.  No officers, no fancy houses, just amazingacting.  There is a marvelous piece ofdialogue between Fonda and a teenage boy about the reality of romance being farmore than a quickie in the back seat of a car.            But this is about books.            My early favorite authors were Mary Stewart, HelenMacInnes, and Elswyth Thane.  Thane wrotehistorical fiction with romantic elements, following a Williamsbug Va familyfrom before the Revolution to the beginning of World War II.  Amazing books, wonderful complex charactersand romance infused on every page.  Butmy most romantic line came from Mary Stewart's "My Brother Michael."              In this, Englishwoman Camilla has recently broken off herengagement to an overbearing male and is in Greece in an attempt to learn tolive her own life. She meets American Simon, in England to learn more about hisbrother's death while working undercover during WWII. As an aside, "My BrotherMichael" has the classic first line for a Romantic Suspense book: "Nothing everhappens to me..."  What a perfect set upfor an adventure!            As the book progresses, Camilla and Simon spend more timetogether, eventually both staying at an archaeological base.  In separate rooms which would probably not betolerated today, but is a large part of the book.  There is the obligatory "other woman," alicentious French woman who tries very hard to make a play for Simon.  During a late night encounter in the hallway,the French woman asks Simon to come fix the tap in her shower since thedripping is driving her nuts and she just can't sleep.  Camilla asks Simon later if he plans to helpout the French woman, and he answers: "Taps bore me."            Oh, my.  What aperfect line, and how I wish I written something like that.  "Taps bore me."  Without any extra verbiage, no descriptionsof the expression on his face, or the relief in her mind, Mary Stewart made itoverwhelmingly obvious that the sexy French woman has no appeal to Simon.  At the end of the book, they have solved themystery of Simon's brother, Michael, and are at an ancient statue, offeringhomage.  Simon places an ancient coin atthe base of the statue, and Camilla mentions she has nothing to offer.  So Simon says: "We can share."  There is no sex in this book, not even akiss, yet you have no doubt they will be sharing more than that coin.              I remain in awe of Mary Stewart's subtlety, and wish Icould come up with such a wonderfully romantic phrase.  Lacking that, I can offer a brief bit from "TeachMe To Forget," coming out from Black Opal Books on May 12.                                                ***
            "Did you mother teach you how to bake?" As aconversational gambit, it covered many areas. It brought in the opportunity ofdiscussing his early life, which would be a good starting point for theinterview. It also reminded him he had a mother who had instilled respect forfloundering females along with the ability to cut shortening into flour.            He nodded.            She felt her temper-that distant, barely known part ofher she kept segregated from her daily life-pull at its chains, demanding sometime out in the world. She repressed it automatically.            "You must be excessively hungry, Mr. Merritt,"she said graciously. Mademoiselle would have been so proud of her."Perhaps you are not a morning person?"            He smiled, finally bringing his devastating sky bluemorning gaze fully upon her face.            "I thought perhaps if I filled my mouth withbiscuits, I might keep my foot out of it for a while."                                                                                                                          ***Bravo Mona! I love this post and have never considered one liners, beyond a bad pick up. But alas I have educated in most delightful way. What do ya'll think? Got any of your own favorite lines?

First ChaptersBy Roy Hayward
I like first chapters.  I have to confess that I have readmany more first chapters than I have last chapters.  Many many more. As an aspiring writer, I also write first chapters.  Again, I writemany more first chapters than last chapters.  This is because I often endup re-writing first chapters after I get to the last chapter, and because Ihave started more stories than I have finished.
A first chapter is just like the opening line, it needs tocapture the reader and make him or her want to read more, want to read thesecond chapter, and hopefully the last.
This is something to think about if you are writing. Recently, I wrote a first chapter.  Here it is, please tell me if itmakes you want to read more.
_____________
"What is she doing here?"  AskedBent."She is with me."  RepliedTravis evenly."Well, you can't go through withit."  Said Bent."I already have."  RepliedTravis."I'll find a way to stop you." Argued Bent."No, you won't."  Said Travis."Maybe I already have."  SaidBent, and then he laughed in a half crazed way that made me want to wipe thesmile off of his face.  The fact that he shared the same face as Travismade the feeling even stronger.  You never think about these kinds ofthings unless you meet twins who have led very different lives.  You neverrealize how much of what makes you look the way you look is not your features,but the person behind your features.  These two men presented an evengreater example of how true this really is.
Both men are know as Travis Bent.  In timetraveling circles, Travis is know, both as one of the greatest heroes, and mostnotorious criminals of all times.  I had been learning from him, and forseveral personal years been trying to capture him.  As my teacher, he hadfirst recruited me into the subculture of time travelers.  I had been aphysics student majoring in engineering when Travis had asked me to come meetsome people.After that night, that lasted several personalmonths, I was part of the society of time travelers.  
"Personal time" in this case, is atime traveler concept.  Every traveler carries some kind of time keepingdevice.  This device both facilitates time travel, and keeps track of theactual passage of time for the traveler.That first night that I met with Travis wasthe first time I traveled in time.  When I returned to that place in time,only seconds had passed.  Yet I had been traveling for months.  Thosemonths were personal months of time that passed for me, but not for non-timetravelers.
Keeping track of personal time passage is animportant thing for a traveler.  The traveler society wasn't a formal societylike the Girl Scouts or Free Masons.  It was more like aSorority/Fraternity relationships after graduation.  Time travelersrecognize each other, and lend a hand to keep each other's secrets. Except for the Travis I call Bent.
I use the surname Bent to provide somecontext.  Like many things, context is the only way to truly communicatewhen dealing with time travel.  There are basically two Travis Benttravelers.  Something has or will happen that is a kind of breakingpoint.  And the two versions, Travis and Bent, were the outcome.The way Travis explained it to me was that hehad fallen in love with a woman.  But he didn't bring her into thesociety.  Then while he was traveling, another traveler took her away. The details here are sketchy.  Something about the "truth"being largely a mater of perspective.  I know, it sounds like nonsense. Well, the Travis that we are trying to catch, killed the other travelerand the woman.  He claims it was an accident.
Killing other travelers is not tolerated. The classic prohibition of a man killing himself or progenitor in thepast, and thus create a paradox is a real and present danger.  So allkilling is forbidden of travelers and those around them.  
This makes Bent a wanted man.  Exceptthat there is also a Travis Bent that never met the woman.  It looks likeBent, changed the past of the woman so that they would never meet.  Hefigured that this would keep him from ever falling in love, and thus neverkilling the other traveler.
But something both expected and unexpectedhappened.  It didn't change his past, but it did spawn an alternateoutcome.  So at the point where Travis met the woman there emerge twotime-lines.  It is a time trap.  No one on this side of the trap cantravel farther back than that time.  As far as we know, no one frombefore, can travel into this side of the trap.
Travis recruited me to come up with a solutionto this problem.  And I did.  The solution requires both versions ofthe Travis Bents to travel back to before the trap at the same time.  Icall it a "merge" of time-selves. Unfortunately Bent has his own plan.  Heis convinced that the problem is the other Travis.  He believes that if oneof them is killed.  The timeline will heal itself.  Which is why heis holding a gun on my Travis at the current moment.  But he didn'timmediately shoot him.  
This means he has doubts about his plan. It means we have a chance to convince him.
Both Travises laughed.  It was kind ofun-nerving. 
"We have to go back." Continued Travis."How can you be sure?" Questioned Bent.  "You really have a lot of faith in this girl if youare going to risk everything.""The math works out, and we have bothtried our own ways long enough.  It's time." "Well I haven't really 'tried' my planyet."  Observed Bent, pressing the barrel of the gun into Travis'temple."Your plan is rather final." Replied Travis.  "Its time to try this.""I'm not ready."  ComplainedBent."It's time." "I don't want to.""It's time.""Do you have to keep on saying 'It'stime' in response to everything I say?""Yes."  Travis said, and with asmile.  "It's time."
Most time travelers where not physicists, theyare more hobby travelers.  And they specialize in an area of time. Some become so intertwined into their favorite time, that theyalmost never come back to their original time-line.  Other travelers aresight see'er  travelers.  They travel to famous times and collectsouvenirs.  Most of them stay out of trouble. But some times there areissues when they go back to the same time more than once or end up messing withtheir own time-line.   
They tell me this is uncomfortable enough thatpeople seldom make that mistake twice.  And they tell me our time keepingand traveling devices normally warn us if that is a danger.Travelers like Travis and me study time travelitself.  We travel short and long distances in time to see how it works. And there are some experiments that would normally take too long toconduct if you couldn't time travel.The results of these studies are difficult toshare or publish outside of the community of time travelers.Bent lowered his gun, and Travis brought themboth over to where I was sitting.  "How far back do we need togo?"  They both asked."Not far."  I answered. "I am calculating that if we just take both of you back to just before thetrap was created, that two things will happen.  First, you will merge backinto one person.  And two, that the trap will dissolve.""I have to merge with him?" Bent said indicating Travis."Don't make it sound like such asacrifice."  Travis replied.They both seemed to be getting a perverse kickout of talking to each other.  Or themselves."Lets get this over with."  I stoodbetween them and reached out and touched each one lightly on the elbow.  Asecond later, the timer hooked to my belt chimed and we entered the field.Time travel doesn't require a vehicle. There is no dust or debris to get in your eyes.  And it doesn't requireother shielding.  There is no radiation or other dangers.  Thedangers are all in the act itself.
A moment later we were there.  Or I guess'then' would be more appropriate.  And at first I didn't understand whathad happened. 
There was only one Travis Bent.  So thetheory had been proven.  Re-integration was possible.  It wasn'tfatal.  And we had traveled through the trap, so it should be gone.But there seemed to be a side effect. Travis looked at me.  He smiled for a second.  Then he looked at theother me.  This was not going to go well.
"We have to go farther back." I said."I'm not ready."  The other mereplied."Not this again."  SighedTravis."This is your fault ofcourse."  I told him.  The other me just hit his shoulder."The theory worked, but we didn't go backfar enough."  I told the other me.The other me was backing away from both ofus.  "I think this needs a bit more work.""More work?"  I asked. "Don't you remember the personal years of study that we have committed tothis already?""Of course I do."  The other mereplied tossing her hair.  "But there are other factors that we nowhave to calculate in.  And data to be analyzed and factored in."As she said this, the other me reached down toher belt, and touched a button on the timer.  Instantly the fieldenveloped her and she disappeared."We have to follow her."  Iinsisted to Travis.  "She has to listen to reason.""If there is one thing that both of usshould know by now, its that she will."  He replied. "Given enough time, she will."_____________
So there it is.  A very short story/firstchapter about time travel.  (one of my favorite topics.)  Besidesexploring time travel, I hope that you want to find out what happens next inthe story, and find out more about the people that you have met.  Does it? Please help a writer out and let me know.

Roy thank you so much for guest posting. It takes a lot of courage to put your work out there to be critiqued. I applaud your desire to be better and to learn and grow. It's those writers that are in it for the long term. So what say ya'll. Roy needs some advice so let's hear it.

JoKinchington, Guest Blogger 7 April 2012
Title:  Heaven and the Afterlife?
Any of youever watch Ghost hunters or Paranormal State or any of those other popularshows that explore whether or not we have contact with others AFTER we aredead? I know, I know, a lot of you, and myself most of the time, figure it'sall just made up.  I have to agree, onthe shows, anyway, there is no clear way to tell whether or not what ishappening is genuine....
I recentlyread a book titled "Encountering Heaven and the Afterlife" written by JamesGarlow and Keith Wall.  I got the book atfirst because it was a free Kindle download, but also, because I, like some ofyou, have often wondered about the Afterlife. The book is a compilation of experiences of people with the afterlife,those who have had Near Death Experiences and those who feel they were contactedby a close friend or family member after they had passed away.  Garlow also points out that although theBible seems to confirm the ability of spirits to interact with the living afterdeath, it also cautions us never to SUMMON a spirit, which can be dangerous.
 Now, I am of the Christian faith and I fullybelieve there IS an afterlife, in heaven, but I have often thought about beingable to be contacted by family after they have died.  That being said, I have had a couple ofexperiences myself that I think about often. 
The firstexperience was about 20 years ago.  My(then) husband who was in the Army, had gone ahead of us to his next post, Ihad stayed behind to let the kids finish school.  I was sleeping on a twin mattress in ourliving room floor, so I could hear the kids in their bedrooms if they needed mein the night. One night I woke up to someone, or something, pushing my facedown into the mattress.  It was veryfrightening, and I began to panic.  Acouple seconds later the pressure was released and I felt someone stroking myface and telling me everything would be okay…I saw no one, but I knew in myheart the voice was that of my Grandmother, who had passed away yearsbefore.    The second experience followed closely on thefirst, again, I awoke to hear my grandmother whispering my name in my ear andsaying all would be well…I remember even feeling the warmth of her breath. 

So, right,sounds crazy?  Maybe it is.  Or maybe I just miss her so much I imagine itall…  I have had a few experiences sincethen, the most recent being last week.  Iwas in the office and one of my volunteers was standing with her back to thedoor and talking to me as I faced the door. I saw someone come in behind her and at the same time I saw this person,my volunteer was turning around as she felt someone behind her.  She looked back and me and said, "Did you seethat"…and I had…
I know thatwe can easily explain away all of these experiences as dream states or sharedhallucinations, just as Near Death Experiences can be explained away by the byproducts of a dying brain…however, it has always been odd to me that all NearDeath Experiences seem to be pretty much the same despite different cultural,language and religious backgrounds. So, that'smy thought for today.   I'd like to hearfrom all of you, have you ever had any experiences such as mine?  What do you think about the whole issue oflife after death? 
Wow thank you so much for sharing this amazing post. Those are some most interesting experiences. I believe in unusual phenomenom myself. In fact we lived in a house that was haunted then burned when I was a child. It was of evil so I believe it could have been a demon or something along those lines. 
 

Kay DeeRoyal ~ Turning Back the Hands of Time?!!
Hello Bri, thank you so much for the opportunity to guestpost on your awesome blog site. Lovely place to hang out!Quick into of me, Kay Dee Royal: I love writing! *grins*Paranormal and fantasy erotica romance are a couple of my favorites, but I'vepenned contemporary erotica and plenty of shorties in those genre as well. My muse is taken away by strong, intelligent, confidentheroines and rescued by wild, rugged, beastly heroes, both of which harborshadowy secrets of intrigue and fun. (My muse loves the escape ~ LOL)Blogs: http://www.kaydeeroyal.blogspot.comhttp://ravencraftrealm.blogspot.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/KayDeeRoyalFB: http://www.facebook.com/Kaydee.royal
Okay…on to bigger and better stuff ~ like…


TurningBack the Hands of Time?!! Can you imagine the possibility of being afifty-five-year-old widow who never bore children and lived with the ability topsychically read animals? Now, imagine that same woman's image in a mirror reflectedback at her as a thirty-year-old.Sounds divine, doesn't it…you might even be feeling a bitenvious if you're over thirty…(me, too).She stares at herself…elastic skin, lean muscle, all tracesof gray hair gone, turning this way and that, suddenly realizing, dang, I'm feeling pretty agile, too. Shegained back her youth…how you ask?Let's just say a Lycan named Chance has everything to dowith it. Oh, so sexy and freeing ~ and might burn your eyes and curl your toesif mentioned here…exactly how it happens that is. *grins*I know you hate me now ~ but Bri rules the site (LOL), andit's forbidden to burn eyes and curl toes on it…but, I can share a bit.Here's a bit about Olivia and Chance's story ~ Staring Intothe Eyes of Chance (a paranormal erotica romance and 1st book of theLIIA: Lycan International Investigation Agency series).



Tagline:  Olivia swears off menuntil she meets Chance, a Lycan alpha. He ignites an undeniable hunger they canonly sate together.Blurb:Olivia endures athirty-four year passionless marriage, discovering her dead husband'sphilandering history at his funeral. She devotes her energy and life-longsensitivity with animals to her wildlife refuge and preserve.Chance, a Lycan alpha andleader of the Lycan International Investigation Agency (LIIA) throws himselfinto his investigations. He chooses to neglect his duty of finding aprimal-mate after watching his father become an empty shell over the loss ofhis.A murderous rogue packdraws Chance onto Olivia's wildlife preserve, sending Olivia's animalsensitivities into overdrive. Chance and Olivia discover a sizzling forcedriving them together.Will they succumb to itsenticing tether, or fight to resume their loveless lives apart?


ExcerptOlivia closed her eyes, calling upher animal sensitivity ability, while shoving down her own panic. After yearsof psychically working with animals, she knew they sensed panic and fear. Herbreathing needed regulating. Olivia relaxed as best she could andopened her mind. She sensed the wolf; masculine. He came across with an urgentneed to protect, more like helping her feel safe. Another howl, with a deep andsinister timbre, shattered her concentration. A stab of electricity zippedthrough her, pumping adrenaline and tightening every muscle. This howl camefrom farther inside the forest than the first one. She sensed aggression in thewolves within the forest, ready for battle. Her heart drummed against her ribsin anticipation of an answering call, and she couldn't stop the tremors runningrampant in her belly. Instead she saw the lights go outthrough her closed eyelids. She opened her eyes and saw nothing but blackness. Nine o'clock on a September evening, what did she expect? Damnpower company! Hopefully Lacey sat in the Jacuzzi and wouldn't come runningout.She lay listening for any sound. Herown breath, the loudest panting she'd ever heard, came in at a close second toher heart banging against the walls of her chest. Slowly, she sat up. The backof her head throbbed, her spine hurt, and the front of her body ached,especially her breasts. She bent her legs to stand and in that same moment ajet of hot mist coated her face. Wolf breath. Olivia froze, tamping down therun-for-your-life urge. Her mind reached toward the beast beside her, searchinghis energy markers, his emotions, urges. She read him as curious, stimulated.Maybe a misread of…sexually stimulated? She sat back on her haunches, figuringif she stretched at least four feet of her five-foot ten frame, maybe she'dappear larger. His breath assailed her from above, she remained squatted. Damn, this thing is huge!He sniffed the top of her head, downby her ear, licked the length of her neck and up the side of her face. Anotherhowl close by, echoing near the tree-line, got the wolf's attention. He raisedhis head from her and shoved her body back with his own. She went down on herbutt, folding her legs sideways. Fur from his backside pressed into the frontof her, including her face. Olivia turned her head away and took a breath. Ashiver began in her belly and inched through her arms, legs, and up her neck.She sensed his urgency, he must move and his need…again, to keep her safe andagain something else, another misread? He moved back, his head next to hers.A growl vibrated, harsh and deep, beside her ear. Olivia jumped when he yippedinstead of howled. He circled her, stopping behind her. A sudden scratch ofclaws and pebbles from rain washout near the barn pelted her. Air swirledaround her as the wolf leaped over her head in the direction of the woods. Olivia's breath whooshed out like aballoon being released. Tears welled and trickled down her face. The wolf'ssize was about as abnormal as it got. She'd never heard of any wolf being thatlarge. She'd done plenty of research on the species, brushing up for the wolf pupshe rehabilitated and released back into the wild years ago when Ray and shefirst opened the refuge, before they owned the preserve property.Olivia pushed herself up onto wobblylegs, her stomach lurched, and before she could blink, vomit spewed. She retchedhard, falling onto her hands and knees, weak and crying, something she hadn'tdone since Ray's funeral. As if on cue, all the lights popped on, illuminatingher shadow against the barn wall. Oh, that's lovely. Damn power company. A howl, and then another and another,echoed from different locations in the forest. Her forest, her wildlifepreserve, not a place for a beast like her visitor, and most definitely not aplace for the aggressive lot in the forest. She swiped her face with the bottomof her shirt and looked toward the woods. About thirty yards away in the mowedmeadow, her wolf circled with another, close-in-size, milky-eyed wolf with adeformed face, both spot-lighted in the yard light. They flashed razor sharpteeth and glowing eyes, with the exception of the one's coated eye. Theirvicious growls and snapping jaws filled the air. Olivia found her tranq gun onthe ground and grabbed it. By the time she turned for a shot, she saw the tailend of both wolves leaping into the woods, her wolf chasing the other. Olivia leaned against the barn,adjusting her position in accordance with her pain. She thought of the curiousreadings she sensed from her wolf, not sure of their meaning. She neverquestioned first impressions from readings anymore. Years of experiences provedfirst intuitive readings rang as authentic truth in almost every case. She closed her eyes and pictured herwolf looking at her for the first time, the way his head snapped in herdirection and how their gazes met and connected. She touched her neck, slidingfingertips up her cheek where his tongue touched her skin. Her breath caught,heart raced, and her eyes opened wide. She laughed out loud, maybe in relief,maybe in a small fit of hysteria, or maybe because she consider that wolf as"her" wolf. Her "stimulation" readings from him threw her off, knowing itwasn't a possibility.Muse It Up Publishing Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/6rubdud Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007G4HDKSStaringInto the Eyes of Chance Coffee Time Romance Buy Link
Hope you enjoyed theexcerpt…I'm also offering a PDF copy of Staring Into the Eyes of Chance as aGIVEAWAY.  2-ways to win.Give aguess at what you think opens the floodgates to youth for Olivia.1st-WayLeavea guess today and be entered into a drawing (will happen tomorrow  (4-7) sometime after noon EST) for one lucky winner.2nd–Way There will be another drawing on 4-30…so keep upthe guesses/comments for that second drawing. You could be the lucky winner.MUST LEAVE A MEANS OFCONTACTING YOUGood Luck!!Links to find me:Blogs: http://www.kaydeeroyal.blogspot.comhttp://ravencraftrealm.blogspot.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/KayDeeRoyalFB: http://www.facebook.com/Kaydee.royal
Thank you, Bri. Thank you everyone…I've had a wonderfultime.
Well first of all that was a dang fine post. I always look forward to your posts and those of the other Raven Craft Sistas. You guys are all so very animated. And just so you know I literally clicked the Amazon Link while posting this and bought the book. LOL