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Mannerly Mayhem

Shannon Curtis | May 16th, 2012

As a writer, I have learned two things: 1) characters pop into your head and will not leave you alone until you satisfy their ego (i.e.; write their story) and 2) People think you’re crazy when you start talking about the hero and heroine as if they’re REAL PEOPLE. And because, as the writer, you don’t think you’re crazy, then you’re even crazier because you’re in denial…

Guarding JessWell, Noah drove me crazy. For a big guy who doesn’t talk much, he sure got annoying. That’s why Guarding Jess is Noah’s story – it was the only way I could sleep peacefully. When I first started plotting this story, I had to try and think of a strong woman who could match my hero, but would also tease out his gentler side. The initial plotting stage also happened to coincide with my interaction with a tel-co customer service representative from hell.

Have you ever had one of those experiences when someone was so incredibly rude that it took your breath away, left you shaking with rage and utterly flabbergasted that the company actually continued trading with such poor representation? When I shared my story with others… wow, it was like opening the floodgates. I heard stories about rude behaviour at parties, at soccer games, in parking lots – during job interviews!

That got us all talking about manners, etiquette, and BANG! Jessica Pennington, my heroine, emerged. I needed to study etiquette – and I’ve learned it is an absolutely fascinating subject. For example, the origin of the handshake was so folks could greet each other (possibly on a country road) and show that by using their right hand they were bearing no weapons, and not intending to attack. A friendly greeting. The word ‘etiquette’ came from the French, meaning ‘ticket’. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the French royal court would draw up daily lists (tickets) of events, and include an expected dress code.

So etiquette and manners are a general observance and consideration of those around you, with our social interactions. As with all things, you’ve got to take the good with the bad – the social faux pas – or as I call it, the ‘whoopsy’. You know what I mean, when you say or do something that is so embarrassingly wrong… who else has been asked when their baby is due WHEN THEY’RE NOT PREGNANT!!!??? That’s my favourite. There’s no going back after that one.

I’m going to share a whoopsy with you. I once introduced a friend to another very good friend, one whom I’ve known for many years – only to get the second friend’s name wrong. I still haven’t lived it down. Or there was that time when I was absently watching my child do something funny and burst out laughing – at a funeral. Or that – no, wait! I’ve told you mine, now you tell me yours: what have you said/done at an inappropriate time, and wished the earth would open up and swallow you? A comment will be randomly selected to receive a copy of the book that started the whole McCormack Security Agency series, Viper’s Kiss!

Here is an excerpt from Guarding Jess – hope you enjoy!

Something clicked loudly in the brown parcel Jessica was holding, and all three of them looked at it. Jessica froze, a chill spreading over her shoulders and down her arms.
Ollie froze. “Was that—?”
“Yes,” Jessica whispered.
The man standing in front of her moved with a speed that left her stunned. He grabbed the parcel from her arms and ran to the office corridor. He pulled open the garbage chute and tossed the package in. He turned and raced straight for her.
“Take cover,” he yelled.
Jessica’s mouth dropped open in horror as screams filled the office. Before her brain could register the danger, a hard body hit hers, tackling her to the ground and rolling her along the carpeted floor. An explosion splintered the glass doors to reception. The floor they lay upon trembled. Jessica managed a terrified peek over a broad shoulder before it obscured her view, and the hard body covered hers protectively.
Smoke filled the reception area, and foul-smelling embers floated to the floor.
She turned wide eyes from the falling ash to the man lying on top of her, his chocolate-brown gaze eyeing her with a calm intensity.
Ollie’s pale face popped into her peripheral vision.
“He isn’t the client, Jess,” she said shakily. “He’s your bodyguard.”

Psst… for the month of May only, Guarding Jess has the special sale price of $0.99 – so get it quick

Shannon Curtis has worked as a switchboard operator, dangerous goods handler, logistics centre supervisor and real estate administration manager, and now writes copy and content by day, romantic suspense by night!

Follow me on Twitter: @2BShannonCurtis
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Posted in Books, Carina Press, Contest/Giveaway, Excerpt | 7 Comments »

Drink Deep and Drink Oft, Yo Ho!

Jennifer_BrayWeber | May 15th, 2012

“Ah. Rum and a new flintlock. Brings a tear to me eye.” ~ Henri, The Siren’s Song

Pirates sure loved their liquor. Who could forget the Pirates of the Caribbean scene where Elizabeth Swann burn’s Jack’s stash on a deserted spit of land to signal a passing ship for help. Poor Jack was beside himself. Oh yes, pirates loved their sauce. Perhaps it was pirate Richard Haines who said it best with this sentiment. “A life without liberty is not worth living. But a life with liberty and no beer mug ain’t much better.” Hear! Hear!

As colorful as pirates were, both in fact and fiction, so were their choices of poison. They guzzled rum, beer, brandy, and wines.

But man needs water to survive. Fresh water, also known as sweet water, was a precious commodity because stagnant water often soured in their casks. Think – slime in the ice machine. Yuck! So to make the water more palatable, rum, beer, or wine was added. The mixture was called grog and was rationed out to crewmen daily.

Pirates were quite creative in their elixir concoctions, too.Untitled

Bumboo was an alcoholic beverage of rum, sugar, lemon and lime juices, and nutmeg. Drink this, mate, and you may stave off a bout of scurvy.

Arrack was made from fermented fruits, grain, and sugar cane. Toke was liquor made from fermented honey. I’m not entirely convinced that these drinks were sweet to taste.

Kill-Devil rum included booze, beer, and raw eggs. Eww!

Hangman’s Blood, a potent medley of various strong liquors, could knock even the most hardened fellow on his arse. It was probably best not to smoke while drinking this mixture for fear of igniting. Whoosh!

In The Siren’s Song, pirate Captain Thayer Drake’s rum drinking is one battle he can’t seem to win. Perhaps Gilly, the beautiful songstress he saved from drowning, will help him kick the habit. But not after one particularly exasperating evening with her. Instead, he hits the bottle harder than usual, stirring gunpowder into his rum. Yes, pirates did do this. Gunpowder contains saltpeter which was believed to deaden sexual desires. It was also thought to inspire courage and aggression before heading off into battle.

To read an excerpt of The Siren’s Song, click here.

Want more? Click here for your copy of The Siren’s Song.

As far as swilling goes, I think I’d fit in just fine with the pirate brethren. From rum and cola to the fruitier Jamaican Sunrise, I love rum drinks. What’s your favorite rum drink? Not a fan of rum? What is your adult beverage of choice?

Jennifer Bray-Weber hopes to one day live out her life as the island goddess she was meant to be somewhere in the Caribbean. Until then, she lives in her native state of Texas with her real life pillage-and-plunder husband and two spirited daughters. Catch up with her at www.jbrayweber.com.

Posted in Authors, Books, Excerpt | 22 Comments »

Blimey! Pirates Need Love, Too

Jennifer_BrayWeber | March 28th, 2012

Some might say I have an obsession for pirates. By the looks of my office filled with pirate paraphernalia, skulls, and emptied rum bottles, lots of emptied rum bottles, they might be right. Long before Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl sailed onto the silver screen, I had a great interest in pirates. From Peter Pan, to the Goonies, to Erroll Flynn, to Russell Crowe’s Master and Commander, and of course, Captain Jack, these tall sea-worthy tales tickled my fancy.

But Hollywood romanticizes pirates. Truth be known, pirates were a nasty, often blood-thirsty lot. However, there was once a pirate, Sam Bellamy, driven to his occupation by one of the most powerful sources of motivation—love.

Bellamy arrived in Cape Cod from England around 1714 where he met a young woman named Maria Hallett. Together they fell madly in love. But he was a penniless sailor and her wealthy family denied him her hand. To win their favor, he set out to seek his fortune by the quickest means – he joined a pirate crew, of course. With a strong will and expertise in his craft, it wasn’t long before Bellamy became one of the most successful pirates of his time. During his reign of terror in the Caribbean, he captured some 50 ships, including a fine slave ship, the Whydah. He chased the Whydah for three days. Without ever shooting his shipboard guns, the Whydah surrendered and Bellamy took the prize for his own. Now laden with riches, Bellamy charted his course north, back to his love, Maria. But as he reached Cape Cod, a terrible storm raged. Just a mere 500 feet from the shores of Cape Cod, the Whydah broke apart, tragically taking nearly all on board, including Bellamy.

PhotobucketAh, those swashbuckling pirates. Bellamy could easily be the inspiration for a redemptive hero in a romance novel. And who doesn’t love a pirate captain who needs redemption? Are you thinking Captain Jack Sparrow? Yeah, me too.

In A Kiss in the Wind, Captain Blade Tyburn pulls double duty as not only an opportunistic pirate but also as an infamous libertine known far and wide by swooning ladies, jealous husbands, and watchful fathers. Even the mighty fall and he may have met his match in Marisol, a knife-wielding, beautiful thief. Batten down the hatches. There are stormy seas ahead for these two.

Click here to read and excerpt from A Kiss in the Wind.

Want more? Click here for your copy of A Kiss in the Wind.

Do you have a favorite pirate, either fictional or real? How about a favorite pirate movie? I’d love to hear from you.

Jennifer Bray-Weber hopes to one day live out her life as the island goddess she was meant to be somewhere in the Caribbean. Until then, she lives in her native state of Texas with her real life pillage-and-plunder husband and two spirited daughters. Catch up with her at www.jbrayweber.com.

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Posted in Authors, Books, Excerpt | 14 Comments »

I Will Die For You – The Romantic Suspense Bodyguard

Carol_Stephenson | March 28th, 2012

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If you’re a diehard romantic suspense reader, you probably nodded in agreement when ‘bodyguard’ appeared on a list compiled by neuroscientists of the most popular heroes in Harlequin romances.

Who wouldn’t want a sexy hunk providing 24/7 protection? A fearless, resourceful man willing to give his life to protect yours? When we read a bodyguard romance, we know the hero will get the job done even in the most dangerous situation. Here is a man who can overcome any obstacle even those set by the heroine.

Add into the mix enforced intimacy, which is tailor-made for sexual tension. After all, the idea of being looked after is seductive in itself as a fantasy. The Alpha male bodyguard offers the heady brew of testosterone and tenderness.

Then there’s the blasting to smithereens of the bodyguard code ‘thou shalt not get involved with a client’. What a delicious right/wrong dilemma confronts the protector for he knows if he’s looking at the heroine, then he’s not looking at others. That cool, calm yet watchful demeanor can go right out the door for the right woman. Of course, that woman continues to get into trouble heightening the push/pull for the hero.

In my latest Carina Press release, HER DARK PROTECTOR, set in south Florida, the justice system is on its last legs as corruption has permeated its highest ranks. Only Gail Malloy, a state attorney with a death wish, is determined to bring down a notorious drug lord once and for all and becomes a target herself. Fortunately for her, a stranger is keeping watch, determined to keep her alive.

Haunted by tragedy, business tycoon Jason Hawke joined a secret organization dedicated to maintaining law and order. With his chance at revenge finally at hand, he’ll do anything to keep to keep Gail alive to put the crime boss away. Even if it means keeping her with him day and night.

I’d love to hear what draws you as a reader to bodyguard stories! Carol

READ EXCERPT

BUY HERE!

~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~

Award winning author Carol Stephenson lives in southeast Florida with her beloved Shih Tzu. She’s an attorney by day and author by night. She’s best known for her emotionally drawn, hard-driving romances. In her free time she indulges in travel, photography and competing on a trivia team.

You can follow Carol here:

WEBSITE; FACEBOOK; TWITTER;
NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

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Posted in Carina Press, Excerpt | 5 Comments »

We Can Make it Better, We Can Stand Up

Larry_Benjamin | March 22nd, 2012

I’ve been following the It Gets Better campaign—absolutely a good thing but I think another message is you can make it better—by being you, by rejecting the judgment of others, by refusing to measure yourself against the yard stick of others.  We as writers, as parents, as people living in a society need to do a better job of teaching our young people it’s okay to be different, that words, the judgment of others only have the power we invest them with.

I have always believed this to be true, have always tried to live my life as if it was, have tried to make it true in the stories I write.  My characters are determined to find their place in the world; if they cannot find a place, they make a place.  It was important to me that the men in What Binds Us be strong individuals even if they didn’t always feel strong or know their own strength.  Thomas-Edward and Matt are both lonely and desperate to be loved yet they do not see the love between them, theirs to take if only they will reach for it.  Oh they get there, but only after Thomas finds the courage to say “I love you,” even as he has no hope that his love is returned.

When Dondi’s mother rejects him, he walks away but he doesn’t struggle, doesn’t look back; he simply moves on.  When she rejects Dondi, Colin does not stand up for his brother; he loses both his brothers as a result.  I had a dear friend, gone now, who used to tell me: Larry, you have to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything. It is only after he stands up to his mother, finds the courage to challenge his past actions that Colin reconnects with his brothers―when they need each other most.

One of my favorite scenes in the book—and one of the hardest to write—is when Thomas and Matt come out to Thomas’ parents.  Matt tells his father.  “Your support is important to Thomas—to us—but you should know that with or without your support we intend to build a life together.”  Damn.  How can you not love a man like that?  He meets his challenges head on, makes his position clear.  He knows they may not be accepted as a couple but he doesn’t, not for a minute, intend to accept the idea that he doesn’t have a right to carve out a life for himself and the man he loves, doesn’t have the right to love him.

Like the characters in the book, like everyone, I face challenges, the occasional moment of doubt, and don’t always rise, at once, to meet them.  What Binds Us sat in a drawer for nearly 20 years.  Why? Because publishers told me there was no market for the story.  And I let their truth become mine.

What dreams have you abandoned because someone told you your dream was impossible?  More importantly what are you going to do to reclaim your dream?

More anything, I hope What Binds Us will inspire readers, will inspire those who need inspiration, to stand up for themselves, for what’s right—whether it’s their right to be who they are, love who they choose, or just stand up for the unknown, unknowable kid next to them who is being bullied for simply being.

What fictional character has inspired you?

Larry Benjamin considers himself less a writer than a wordsmith—an artist whose chosen medium is the written word rather than clay or paint or bronze.  His passion is words.  What Binds Us is his first book.  When he’s not writing or blogging, or walking the dogs, he can be found on his website, on Twitter or Facebook.


Thomas-Edward is only a teenager when he escapes his working-class neighborhood. He’s ready for anything – except the arrival of Dondi Whyte in his life. Sophisticated and dazzlingly handsome, Dondi quickly becomes the center of Thomas-Edward’s universe, introducing him to a world full of drama, passion and feuding families.

When their relationship fails, they remain uneasy friends until Dondi invites Thomas-Edward to his family’s summer house. Thomas-Edward is immediately attracted to Dondi’s mysterious brother, Matthew – and finds himself hopelessly drawn to both men.

As time passes, Thomas-Edward develops a unique bond with both brothers as they orbit around each other, although he knows only one of them can be his lifelong love. Will the three of them be able to find a way to hold on to each other? Or will love, its loss and the threat of death destroy their connection once and for all?

What Binds Us is available now at Carina Press, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Posted in Carina Press, Cover Art, Excerpt | 8 Comments »

Shy Guys and Giveway

Dev_Bentham | March 21st, 2012

What is it about a shy guy that’s so appealing? Maybe we empathize. Who among us hasn’t felt awkward, afraid, even terrified, in the presence of someone we’d like to impress? Maybe when we encounter shy guys, with their hemming and hawing and shuffling feet, the sweet way their eyes skitter across our face, it brings out our inner nurturer. Or perhaps we sense that shy souls are more interesting than their more gregarious counterparts.

Mark Apostopolopos, the main character in my debut novel, Moving in Rhythm, suffers from pathological shyness. It’s a serious condition and in his case, means that he has a full blown panic attack in the presence of any man he finds attractive.  Imagine that when it counts most, your heart pounds, you hyperventilate, your mind goes numb and you can’t utter a single cohesive statement. It would put a serious crimp in your love life. Click here for the blurb or to read an excerpt.

I think what makes Mark so appealing to me, is that he works hard to get his life to make sense. Although he hasn’t told his family he’s gay (he thinks, what’s the point if he can’t manage a relationship?), he knows himself. He’s afraid all the time, and yet, when it’s important, he works through his fear as best he can. He’s a nice guy living with a terrible condition. It’s almost impossible not to root for him to find love.

Comment on this blog for a chance to win a copy of Moving in Rhythm. What do you find appealing (or unappealing) about shy guys?

Buy Moving in Rhythm from Carina

Connect with Dev:

Twitter: @DevBentham

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dev-Bentham/227931843928203

Webpage: www.devbentham.com

Dev Bentham lives in Northern Wisconsin where she spends long cold winters at her kitchen table dreaming of heart-warming romance and hot, passionate love.

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Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press, Contest/Giveaway, Excerpt | 22 Comments »

Nerds are Sexy–even 19th century nerds

Erastes | March 20th, 2012

One thing I’ve found about many men over the years is that many of them have…how can I put it politely?…Interests. Hobbies.

Obsessions.

Come on, we’ve all met them. If it’s not football, it’s trains. Or Star Trek, or cars, or stamps, vintage wine, body-building…you name it, there’s a guy somewhere with a passion for it to the (almost) exclusion of everything else.

Up to recently, most of us have shied away from nerds because the last thing we want to be seen with is the dating equivalent of the Chess Club but in recent years there’s been a positive renaissance of the Nerd.  Shows like The Big Bang Theory and Beauty and the Geek have turned the Nerdy into the “oh, he’s actually quite cute under the Star Wars monologuing.”

Personally, I’ve always loved a geek. One of my favourite moments in film is the scene where Marilyn Monroe is describing how little geeky guys turn her on.

I think my favourite geek is either Professor Brian Cox OBE or Dr Sheldon Cooper

Professor Brian Cox

Yes, Quite Interesting, I hear you say, but what’s that got to do with anything, Erastes?

My new novella – A Brush with Darkness – which came out yesterday, 19th March, has a geek as a central character. He’s not interested in physics or Star Wars (just as well, seeing how it’s set in 19th century Florence) but he’s an artist and as such, totally consumed by his art. He doesn’t see the world the way most of us see it, but sees it as a collection of lines and circles–think of da Vinci’s cartoons–and most importantly, the way that light shines on every object.

…for what is art but the fall of light on objects unseen? Light falling on the edges of my world had mapped it out for me as a child. Light drew my eye from my earliest memory, that of my mother leaning over the kitchen table, her body in shade, but her golden hair lit with the ray of sun that poured through a high window. The shine of dust motes in daylight. The fuzzy glow of a candle flame. The myriad, mad colours made by a hearth fire and a child experimenting with wood and other fuels, just to see the differing hues in the dancing flames.

He might be mildly more exotic than the chap dressed in a wookie outfit going to Comic-Con but he’s every bit the obsessive – and it’s that obsessive personality that leads Michel to fall irrevocably in love–with the subject of his newest commission, Yuri.

Then he stepped away from the curtains. The light hit the sides of his face, and my world, as I had known it, ended. My mouth dried. My eyes felt as though they were being seared from the insides out. A darkness crept over me, as if I’d looked too long at the sun, and just for a moment, I thought there was some enchantment cast upon me, a spell where just to look upon him had robbed me of my sight.

It would have been ironic indeed if such beauty could rob a man of his vision. Men were not born to be so beautiful. Such exquisite features were the masks of gods and heroes, not mere mortals suddenly stepping into a pool of light in a chilly opera house.

A Brush with Darkness – pre-order now

Check out Jessewave’s Reviews for more information about the book or read a longer excerpt on my web site

Take it from one who’s been in love with obsessives before. When they fall in love, they do it hard!

Who is your favourite geek?

—————

Erastes is the penname of a female author who lives in Norfolk, England. Ruled by her pets and her computer, she sometimes surfaces, looks at the world in disgust and disappears again. Her website is www.erastes.com and she can be found as Erastes all over the place from Facebook to Twitter and beyond.

Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press, Excerpt | 8 Comments »

We do it for the love

C.J. Barry | October 4th, 2011

When I started writing science fiction romance, I had no idea what I was doing. No clue about markets or distribution or craft. I didn’t even know that the genre I was writing had a name. One day, I just decided that I wanted to write a book, and since I grew up reading science fiction and romance, the combination worked for me. I was so excited and passionate about every word. Plus, hey, I’d read so many books, how hard could it be to write one?

Cohl slid forward another meter. Instinctively, he whipped the laser pistol sights toward a small black object that sailed silently through the air and landed in a heap ten meters from his feet. He squinted under the dimmed lights. It didn’t move. Looked like cloth.

Then another dark object dropped a few meters from it. Was that a sock? He lowered his weapon. What the hell?

The sock’s mate landed next to the first one. Cohl stepped out from his cover and stared at them. He looked up just in time to snag a pair of pants out of midair aimed at his head.

Tess emerged from behind a nearby container, smiling triumphantly and sporting nothing but a black lace bra and matching panties. It took a while for him to notice her weapon pointed at his chest. His was hanging limp from his hand, much like his jaw.

“Gotcha,” she said smugly.

Her breasts peeked luridly from behind the lace. His gaze skimmed down the slender waist and firm legs in direct proportion to his rising body temperature.

He tossed his laser pistol to the floor. “I surrender.” (Unearthed)

Over the next few years, I learned that writing was the hardest job I’ve ever done, my genre was called SFR, the market is quite small, and the readers are fiercely loyal. I also learned that love is love, no matter what planet you set it on or where your characters are from or what kind of craft they drive/fly.

He looked ready to kill as he tossed the suit down and stepped toward her. She stepped back.
“Is that damn plate all that matters to you?” He wasn’t even blinking.

She raised her chin. “Yes.”

“Just so you can become a Majj?” He took another step toward her, the heat of his anger reaching her.

“Now you’re getting it,” she shot back.

“There’s nothing else to you?”

“No.”

“You’re wrong,” he charged, his voice steely.

She blinked at him in surprise. Then shook her head. “My work is my life, it’s who I am. It’s all that I am.”

“Wrong,” he repeated, taking another step and backing her to the wall.

“Ask anyone,” she stammered. “If I lose my career, I lose everything I am. I lose myself.”

“Wrong.”

His mouth closed over hers and if she’d had anything else to say, it was quickly forgotten in the great rush of blood from her brain. (Unraveled)

Love truly is the universal language. It’s why we are here. It’s why we sacrifice, how we connect, and how we keep going when all seems lost. These stories, they are you and me and every soul on this planet. We all tell our love stories in different ways—through music, literature, art, song, food, volunteering, nursing, gardening, and in all the many jobs we hold every day.

“I’ll help you across,” he said quietly.

Lacey shook her head. That meant “No, I’m not going.” He as an intelligent life form, he should be able to figure that out.

Zain took her clenched fists in his hands. He looked down, frowned and carefully pried open one of her fists. She winced and realized blood creased her palm where her fingernails had dug in.

She heard him say something softly, and hen he pried open her other hand.
Slowly, his gaze rose to hers. She waited for him to tell her that her fears were stupid and ridiculous. To tell her in a lengthy, humiliating lecture how she should be able to conquer them like a normal person.

Just like Robert.

Instead, he wrapped her fingers in his and gently pulled her toward him.

“Look at me,” he whispered, and she promptly lost herself in his dark eyes. (Unleashed)

The thing about love is that you don’t know what you’re doing. There’s no guide book, no classes, no training. Sometimes, you just have to hold your breath and jump. How hard could it be?

“You can’t hold it in forever,” Torrie whispered.

A hard shudder shook Qaade’s body as if her words gave him permission to release. He took a deep breath and held it.

She waited as long seconds passed, almost afraid of what might happen when he finally let go. And then he threw his head back and roared like a wounded animal. The plaintive howl pierced her soul and brought tears to her eyes.

Over and over again he roared, unleashing his anger and grief for his lost people.

She wrapped her arms around his torso and held him tightly, trying to get through to the man beneath the pain.

Steam rose from his skin with each tormented outburst, and her tears soaked the back of his shirt. It was like watching him be torn apart from the inside.

How could she have doubted him even for a moment? (Unmasked)

Here’s to jumping.

CJ Barry
www.cjbarry.com
The series on Carina Press
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CJ-Barry-Readers/300678919146
http://twitter.com/#!/cj_barry

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Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press, Excerpt | 5 Comments »

What did I do on my summer vacation?

Cindy_Pape | August 31st, 2011

In a word, wrote. Now I know this might seem like work—and it is, but it’s the best possible job in the world, so I mind a little less that I didn’t take any long stretches off. I just sent Motor City Mage (Urban Arcana Book 4) and now it’s on to other projects.

Now that my kids are out of high school, there’s less delineation of “summer” in my house, although since my husband works for a university, some people are surprised to hear that. However he’s one of those non-classroom type employees, so his schedule is a normal business one, not based on the academic calendar. Therefore summer means hotter days, and more cooking on the barbecue, but otherwise, there’s not much to set it apart from spring and fall anymore. And while I kind of miss the distinct seasonal cycle in our lives to some extent, the steadier flow is certainly more productive for me as a writer.

So here we are, on the very last day of August, looking autumn in the face, and I have to say, I didn’t do much with summer. No overnight trips, a few day jaunts to Renaissance Festivals and other local events. I love live music and shopping at craft fairs, plus in my world, dressing up is always a bonus. I think these kinds of trips are great for story inspiration. We’d hoped to hit a couple museums, but I think those will have to wait until fall—not a big problem. Of course the local library is a frequent stop. When I do take a break, I love to sit outside and read. Now that I have an e-reader, that’s even easier. I’ve been devouring my fellow Carina authors’ work. It’s very good stuff! I promise.

But if you happen to be looking for one last summer read of your own, or an early fall mental getaway, I’d love for you to take a look at Motor City Wolf. Greg is one of my all-time favorite heroes, and Fee was a hoot to write. Romantic Times Book Reviews called it “charming and original” and “imbued with fun.” I’ll be giving away one free download to a random commenter at the end of this post, so let me know what you did on your summer vacation to enter the contest. (don’t forget to leave an email so I can reach you if you win.)

Thanks for reading and have a great autumn!

~Cindy  (www.cindyspencerpape.com)

Motor City Wolf

Urban Arcana Book 3

By Cindy Spencer Pape

Buy link: http://bit.ly/nv0Tlm

Blurb:

Motor City Wolf Cover

Less than a year ago, Fianna Meadows was a pampered noble in the Faerie court. Then she was exiled, turned mortal and forced to work for a living—in a werewolf bar in Detroit, no less! Still, Fianna has to admit her new life isn’t so bad…particularly when it comes to Greg Novak, the bar’s sexy owner.

For Greg, keeping his hands off Fianna has been a challenge. But his sense of honor won’t let him get involved with a woman put in his care, even if Fianna is eager to explore her new feelings of lust. Resisting the temptation to claim her gets even harder when Greg’s grandfather, the region’s Alpha, orders him to marry and Fianna agrees to pretend to be his chosen mate.

Fighting his attraction to Fianna isn’t Greg’s only problem. Someone is killing werewolves and attacking other paranormal beings in Detroit. He vows to do whatever it takes protect both his pack and Fianna—even if that means giving her up…

Excerpt: (PG-13)

With a loud, metallic clang, the door at the top of the steps slammed shut.

“What the fuck?” Greg ran up the stairs two at a time. “Not funny, assholes.” He pounded on the steel door with his fist. “Let us out.”

Fianna dropped the box of garbage bags and clutched the pole of a shelf. “What’s going on?” She was only faintly claustrophobic, she reminded herself. And surely, Greg would have them out in no time.

“I swear, if this is Vince or Lana playing a prank, I’m going to rip their tails off with my teeth,” he snarled, throwing his shoulder into the door to no effect.

“Why would they do that?” It didn’t make any sense at all.

“To throw us together, princess.” His voice softened at the nickname, which he’d originally used in such a derogatory tone when she’d first come to work for him. “I believe my brother and cousin think we ought to be a couple.”

“Really? Lana hasn’t said anything of the sort to me.” Although the other woman had been urging Fianna to wear tighter jeans and lower necklines, and she had gone out early tonight, leaving Greg and Fianna alone. “Can’t we phone someone for help?” She pulled her cell phone from her pocket.

Greg shook his head. “No signal. We’re too far underground. Sorry, Fee, I think we’re stuck here for the duration.”

Posted in Authors, Behind the Scenes, Books, Carina Press, Contest/Giveaway, Cover Art, Excerpt, Random conversation | 27 Comments »

Athletes Make The World Go Round

Jeanette_Murray | August 30th, 2011

PhotobucketIn my first release for Carina, The Game Of Love, my hero and heroine are high school athletic coaches. Brett Wallace is a football coach (and a former pro). And Chris St. James is the new girls’ tennis coach at the same high school. Oh, and of course, she was a former pro too. Quite the complex situation, right?

They say write what you know. I don’t know who “they” are, but I think they have a good point here. I know sports. I was, in every sense of the word, a total JOCK in high school.

Okay, here’s your warning. I’m about to shamelessly show you a few pictures from said high school jock days. This is your chance to turn back. If you continue, you can’t say I didn’t warn you. Oh, and it’s okay. Feel free to mock me. Everything from high school is mock-worthy, if you ask me.

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I played varsity volleyball and tennis, and I loved every minute of it, especially tennis. Tennis was a huge part of my life. I have some fantastic memories from my time on the varsity tennis team…like our run for the state title my sophomore year. Or playing doubles with my best friend our senior year. And some disappointments…like losing in three sets in the state finals our senior year. But those disappointments only molded me into a better athlete, and a better person.

Not to mention…look at my legs! Yeah. Playing sports definitely keeps you in shape! Ah, to have my eighteen year old body again… And have you seen my hero on my cover? Uh, yeah. I’m not gonna be kicking him out of my bed anytime soon. Let’s face it. Athletes are hot. There’s nothing wrong with a character with a permanent case of the “dropsies” who couldn’t catch a beach ball if their puppy’s life depended on it. But something about a life-long athlete just really revs my engine.

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If you want to see how Brett gets Chris’s engine revved up, you can check out my campy book trailer HERE. (Hey, I never claimed to be Sophia Coppola!) You can get a taste of the story HERE with an excerpt reading by yours truly. Want more than just a taste? You can get the whole story right HERE!

To celebrate my two fictional coaches making their debut, I’ve put together a very real Coaching Kit (pictured below). It includes a cute clipboard, a stopwatch, whistle, football, can of tennis balls, The Tennis Lover’s Book of Wisdom, and The Game of Love Playbook. And you can win this bundle by simply answering one question: What sport (and its athletes) gets your motor running? Do you have a secret lusting for a man who can swing a (golf) club? A major desire to go ruck with a rugby star? Feverish dreams of playing tonsil hockey with a goalie? Can’t stop watching the women’s beach volleyball…uniforms? Leave a comment, and one lucky winner (via random drawing) will receive this entire package! Contest ends August 31st, 11:59pm Eastern time.

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Jeanette Murray is a contemporary romance writer who lives with her sweet & sassy little girl, a dumber-than-expected Goldendoodle and her husband. She loves to post pictures on Facebook, she tweets whatever’s on her mind, and she blogs on the regular. Head on over to www.JeanetteMurray.com to find out more about the author, the books, the dog, or all the above.

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Posted in Carina Press, Contest/Giveaway, Excerpt | 12 Comments »

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