Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The Fabulous Lena Austin & Chance to Win!

I had the pleasure of meeting Lean Austin when she, Lucynda Storey and myself were taking our first tentative steps into the world of writing. The three of us met at a local writers group and hit it off immediately. Before the meeting broke up, we decided to become critique partners and spent several years sharing our successes and rejections. As life tends to do, things changed. Lena moved away and connected with a new critique group, Lucynda became a publisher and I continue to muddle through with writing, still in the same location and same desk. But the one thing that hasn't changed is our friendship, love and respect of each other. I'm delighted to have Lena here to share her latest release with us.

Sit back and enjoy the talents of Miss Lena Austin!

Lena is offering a PDF of Dire Wolves: Silence, to be drawn from today's commenters.

Blurb:

“One funeral wasn’t enough for you?” said the kidnapper’s note…

Deafened in an attempted murder, Detective Cameron Douglas is involuntarily retired from the force, despite his willingness to continue with the investigation of the murder of the mayor’s secretary. Now, it’s personal.

ENT therapist Noel Miller is a vampire with a few scars of his own. He wants to be more than Cam’s interpreter and instructor in deaf culture. He could help Cam, if only the werewolf will let him into his life and heart.

Then the murderer strikes again. Right at Cam.

Excerpt:

“Danse Macabre” was a lousy choice for a ring tone, but Detective Cameron Douglas always thought about it when he had the least amount of time to change the ring to something else. The tune was the last he’d ever hear. Cam didn’t know that sad fact, or he’d have changed the ring sooner.

Cam snatched the phone out of his pocket and flipped it open as soon as he saw it was his boss, Lt. Kraynak. “Hey, Mark! You caught me just leaving the mayor’s office.”

“Yeah?” Mark’s voice always sounded nervous, but at that moment, he sounded as squeaky as a girl. Cam always wondered if Mark was as closet gay as Cam himself. “How’d it go?”

Cam sighed. The investigation into the death of the mayor’s secretary, Margaret Lund, was supposed to be kept very quiet and low-key. “We got the blood from her apartment at the lab, looking for DNA. They seem to be consistent with the defensive marks found on her body despite floating around in the St. John’s River for a while. I’ve got a few good leads.”

He had to be vague. Cam couldn’t exactly tell his boss he was a werewolf and he’d caught an odd, masculine scent in Margaret’s apartment. He knew any sort of masculine odor didn’t belong in that apartment because Margaret and his mother had been lovers for over twenty years. Not exactly what you want the whole world to know. Mom had been in the closet all her life, and he wasn’t about to out her when she was mourning “Aunt Maggie’s” death. Dad would turn over in his grave, the day care she’d run for fifteen years would close, and her life would be in ruins. What she and Maggie had enjoyed just wasn’t ever going to be public, and that wasn’t admissible evidence anyway.

He could see it now. Him, on the witness stand. “Yes, Your Honor. I’m a werewolf you see, and I sniffed this odor…” He winced, even to himself.

“I don’t like it, Cam. You shouldn’t be on this case. Ms. Lund was your mother’s best friend. You could be called prejudiced in court.” Mark popped another gumball in his mouth. Cam heard it rattle against his teeth before it crackled as he chewed it into oblivion. Mark’d been trying to quit smoking again, and kept a gumball bank on his desk.

“I don’t like it, either, Mark. Where His Honor got the idea I’d be the only detective who could do the job is beyond me.” Cam was in sight of his car at last. The covered parking garage across the street from City Hall was a piece of shit like all the rest of downtown. Half the security cameras didn’t work at the best of times, and the roof leaked whenever it rained. So where was he parked? On the roof. In the rain. Of course. So he was wet. It was Florida. Not like he would melt. He was a werewolf, not a witch, and this wasn't Hollyweird.

The beep in his ear made him jump, and the caller ID told him it was Mom. "Hey, I'm at my car. Hang on a sec." Cam flipped over to his mother’s call and sat down on a bench about fifty feet from his car, in the shelter covering the elevator. "Hi, Mom." He frowned and noticed the hood of his car was slightly ajar. That was odd. He distinctly remembered changing the oil the previous Sunday and slamming the hood closed because he hated working in the hot sun.

He never heard her answer. Hell, he never heard anything except the biggest boom on the planet.

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1447

Monday, September 27, 2010

Suffering CRS

Do you too suffer from CRS? I call it Can't Remember Stuff, but it's been around for years and I can recall hearing it as a child from the adults, but they referred to it as "can't remember shit."

Now I know of what they spoke. I do well to remember my name some days. When you live in a dream world, I guess it stands to reason. My brain is always playing with scenes, characters and ‘what ifs,’ which causes me to forget where I put something down, that I was suppose to turn three blocks back, or as in last night, to turn on the damn alarm clock. Can you say over slept?

We all have those days and you don’t have to be a writer to experience them. I had to search for other excuses before I took up the pen on a ‘for real effort’ basis, but trust me they happened.

I know it’s not just me, but there are days it feels that way. So I have a question/request today. Will you share your moments of CRS? I don’t want to feel alone.

Lizzie

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Cat Johnson Delights us Today!

Let's give a big welcome to the delightful Cat Johnson!


Hello everyone!
September has proven to be a busy, busy month in my little corner of the world. I started the month with a live reading of a scene from my bull rider book, Unridden, to a full house at Lady Jane’s Salon, held the first Monday of every month at Manhattan’s Madame X lounge. I’ve just returned, and am still unpacking all the great promo I got to bring home, from the Authors After Dark Romance Convention held in Secaucus, New Jersey. And at the end of this month I’m traveling to Connecticut for a full weekend of professional bull riding competitions when the PBR is at the Mohegan Sun Arena where I will likely be, you guessed it, handing out promo for my bull riding books! Once a promo ‘ho, always a promo ‘ho I guess.

Speaking of promo, myself and a few other authors got together and handed out recipe books. I of course contributed a recipe to go with my Unridden, which I would love to share with you here. AND as a thank you to all those who stopped by here at the blog today and left a comment, I’ll have Lizzie choose one lucky commenter at random to receive the full recipe booklet from me by snail mail!

Enjoy this recipe for Cowboy Corn Salad. It couldn’t be easier to make and it tastes so good! I list canned corn but if you’ve got some cooked ears left over from dinner, just cut the kernels off and use those.

Thank you, Lizzie, for the invite!
Cat

CAT JOHNSON’S COWBOY CORN SALAD

1 can corn (drained)
1 pint grape tomotoes
1 small red onion (chopped)
1 green pepper (diced)
Juice of one fresh lime
2 TB olive oil
Salt/Pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients and serve room temperature.



Blurb for UNRIDDEN
http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/unridden


When country boys meet a city girl, everyone is in for a wild ride.
Studs in Spurs, Book 1
Slade Bower and Mustang Jackson are living the high life on the professional bull-riding circuit. The prize money is big, the bulls are rank and the women are willing. But something is missing.
For Slade, waking up in a different city with a different woman each morning is holding less and less appeal. Even Mustang’s creative attempts to shake things up don’t help. Then along comes a big-city author who’s like nothing they’ve ever encountered. Something about her makes Slade sit up and take notice—and Mustang is always up for anything.
Romance writer Jenna Block has a problem—her agent thinks a cowboy book will jump-start her career. A born New Yorker, Jenna doesn’t do cowboys, not on paper, and definitely not in real life. Luckily for her there are two cowboys ready, willing and able to take her out of her comfort zone in every way that counts…and some ways she hadn’t counted on.
Warning: This story contains two hot cowboys, one very lucky woman, hot ménage sex and lots of bull.

BIO

As an award-winning author of contemporary erotic romance in genres including military, cowboy, ménage and paranormal, Cat Johnson uses her computer so much she wore the letters off the keyboard within a year. She is known for her creative marketing and research practices. Consequently, Cat owns an entire collection of camouflage shoes and cowboy boots for book signings and a fair number of her consultants wear combat or cowboy boots for a living. In her real life, she’s been a marketing manager, professional harpist, bartender, tour guide, radio show host, Junior League president, sponsor of a bull riding rodeo cowboy, wife and avid animal lover.
To learn more about Cat, please visit ...www.catjohnson.net

Monday, September 20, 2010

I Wasn't This Bad, Was I?

When my son was young I wished on him “Kids just like you when you have a family” and guess what…wishes do come true!

I spent several days visiting with my ‘baby boy’ and his family this past weekend, and it brought back so many memories. The climbing up and jumping off “break your neck” places, the ignoring what Mom & Dad said, the loudness, all the potty humor and all the non-stop energy in general.

So when we loaded up the car to take Nana to the airport yesterday and the squabbling, yelling, pushing and shoving to get in started, my darling boy turned to me and asked, “I wasn’t this bad, was I?”

What to say, what to say? The initial response was a “hell yes.” But I stopped and thought about all the times when he delighted my heart instead, of my being on the verge of pulling my hair out. Then I looked over at the man he has become…one that makes me very proud.

At that moment, instead of going with the gut response, I said…”You had your moments, but most of them were good.”

I hope when his son’s ask him “Was I this bad” as their children are bouncing off the wall, Grandpa will remember our conversation and respond in kind.

Enough musing for today! This is one hectic Monday and I have to get rolling. Wishing everyone a great week!

Lizzie

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Welcome Dominique Eastwick!

I recently met Dominique during the Aspen Mountain Press anniversary celebration and I'm so glad I did! She's a caring, talented lady who has given me inspiration on a couple of things and I now count her as a friend. So join me today in welcome the wonderful, Dominique Eastwick!


Dominique Eastwick is a wife to an amazing husband who allows her to follow her dreams where ever they might take her and mother of two wonderful boys who add joy and humor to her life in so many ways. Dominique has been writing since she was fourteen but is thrill that her First book Hunting JC was released this year through Aspen Mountain Press. Dominique is currently writing the Sequel TONY’S HAVEN which she hopes to have published by the end of the year.


You can reach Dominique through her webpage http://www.dominiqueeastwick.com/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dominique.eastwick
or on twitter http://twitter.com/DominiEastwick]
Dominique loves to hear from her fans so feel free to email her at Dominique_Eastwick@yahoo.com

Here's a recipe Dominique graciously shared...yum!

So summer is fading and Fall is approaching, not that you could tell by the 90 degree weather we are having in the southeast this week, Yet, with my favorite Season fall approaching we also enters Soup Season so I thought I would share with you my favorite soup recipe. Curry Pumpkin soup it’s quick and easy and warms you up.

Curry Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 cup (1 small) chopped onion (optional)
• 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 can (15 oz.) Pumpkin
• 1 can (12 fl. oz.) Evaporated milk
Directions:
MELT butter in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes or until tender. Stir in curry powder, salt and pepper; cook for 1 minute.

ADD broth and pumpkin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in evaporated milk. Transfer mixture to food processor or blender (in batches, if necessary); cover. Blend until smooth. Serve warm.

"Hunting JC is a contemporary romance filled with suspense, great sex, heartache, healing, and best of all love...The drama that unfolds will keep you reading this story until the very end." Just Erotic Romance Reviews 5 stars

"There are moments that are touching beyond belief, lines you'll read over and over because they are that darn sweet, and humor to keep it all running until JC and Hunter finally make up their darn minds! " Got Erotic Romance Reviews 4 Diamonds


Just a taste of Dominique Eastwick's
Hunting JC

As Hunter cleared the doorframe, he was attacked, not by a mugger or drunken man, but he was attacked by her, J.C. Her hand twined through his hair and brought his mouth down to hers. Her lips moved under his, begging him to open to her, begging him to give her a try. She took his hand and placed them on her full breast. Her nipples immediately pearled in his hand. His mind screamed to stop this now, but his body didn’t seem to be listening. From the moment her soft, full lips touched his, he was putty in her hand. He knew his only hope of survival was that she had not yet become aware of it.

"J.C..." he moaned into her mouth as he said unconvincingly, "We can’t do this."

"Shh," she hushed, pressing her breasts further into his hands. "Just feel me, let me feel you."

"Jacinda, will you listen to me?"

"Not if your words have anything to do with, this isn’t right. Or Jacinda, this can’t happen between us."

"Exactly, that is..."

"Shh," Jacinda pressed her fingers against his lips. He felt the electrical vibrations that were humming through her fingertips. "Please let me do this for you. I want to taste you."

Five words were his undoing. I want to taste you

BUY IT NOW
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/contemporary/erotica/hunting-jc/prod_288.html

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Darkreader...final notice

If anyone knows Darkreader please ask her to contact Kate Douglas about her win. This is the final notice and if Kate doesn't hear from her by September 12th, the win is void.

Lizzie

No Guest Today, but I'm Dishing

Today's scheduled guest didn't make it, so I'll enlighten with what's happening in my world. Sit back and be prepared to yawn.

My goal for today is to wrap up DEAD Memory, the latest in the DEAD series at Aspen Mountain Press. Once I type those magic words...THE END, then the real fun begins...I hit print and will spend the weekend correcting and revising in order to have it my editors hot little hands by Monday. In this book, life gets confusing for a vampire who wakes up quoting
bible verses, hungering for blood and not knowing he's a vampire. The werewolf heroine realizes somethings not right, but hey, she discovered this guy in daylight, wearing a cross and when he does come too, he's talking about the Lord taketh and giveth...plus, his head wound isn't healing. Doesn't matter what her mother said...no way can he be a vampire. Then there's the demon...not really such a bad guy, more like misguided...especially since he's under Beelzebub's control. Confined to the debts of Hell the Evil One has to use Minions who can operate on earth. Throw in a gay werewolf, the old gang from prior books and jeepers, no wonder I have a headache!

Beyond that, today is the Honey & my anniversary. That translates into getting my butt in gear and wrap up the book with another battle to save the world from evil. So everyone have a great weekend and think of me slashing away with red marker...oh and tonight, partying with a little bubbly...or maybe a lot!

Lizzie

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Message for Darkreader

Hi Darkreader,
You're one of the winners for a copy of a Kate Douglas book and she'd love to hear from you on your book selection.

Lizzie

Sad Heart Today

Today I'm still very sad at the new received in a phone call early yesterday. My family has lost someone near and dear to us, and even though she lived a long, full life, the sadness is still there.

When I married Illa's only son, I came with baggage in the form of two children from my prior marriage. She welcomed all three of us with an open heart and my children called her "Grandma" just like her two grandson's did. Through the years she was there for me and our little in joke was if her son and I split, she got to keep me.

The sudden death of her son and my husband left us both floundering in grief, but we clung together and supported each other. She encouraged me to move on and establish a new life. When I remarried a few years later, it was with her blessings.

So it is with a sad heart that I say, thank you Mom. Thank you for all that you gave me in the way of love, support and laughter through the years. I hope this finds you in a better place and with the loved ones you've lost.

I'll always remember the Mother of my heart and strive to make you proud.

L

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Kate's Winners!

The following need to contact Kate Douglas at kate@katedouglas.com to give her info on your choice book.

SINn
Darkreader

Thank you again Kate for spending time with us.

Lizzie

AUGUST Winner!

Good morning everyone. What a beautiful day here in the West!

Time to announce the Faerie winner for August.

Stacey, you're the lucky gal!

Email me at lizzietleaf@comcast.net with you snail mail info.

Congratulations!

The Kate Douglas winners from yesterday will be announced later today.

Lizzie

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Welcome Kate Douglas

I am delighted to have Kate Douglas join us today. I met Kate at a Romantic Times convention several years ago and though a lot higher on the author scale than yours truly at the time (or even now), she made me feel at home and included me in several discussions. She's an awesome nice lady and FUN! Love her work and love the woman...her attitude inspires me.
So, without any more yammering from me...here's Kate Douglas. And be sure to watch the trailer at the end of her excerpt. Really cool!


First of all, thanks to Lizzie for the chance to commandeer her blog today! I love guest blogging because it gives me the chance to bug an entirely new group of readers—and yes, in the back of my mind is this little voice whispering “fresh meat....fresh meat...fresh...”

Okay...yeah, sorry! I am losing it. My only excuse is, it’s been a really weird summer, starting with a redeye to NY for BEA shortly after getting home from the Romantic Times conference in Ohio—NY was two days of non-stop book stuff and then a flight home to California at 0-dark-hundred. Then it was back to work on StarFire, the third novel in my DemonSlayers series so I could finish it and start work on Wolf Tales 12, the final book in that series.

And trust me, folks...that was not an easy book to write. My editor generously offered to let me bump it up from 90,000 words to around 115,000, which meant I could expand my original premise for the book, but that’s a lot of book, and with all the new babies to keep track of (face it...that much sex, you’re GONNA get babies!) I had a whopping humongous-size pack of Chanku. And there was a totally unexpected NEW character who popped in which just isn’t supposed to happen when you’re trying to wind up a long series and put an end to things...but I finally finished it over the weekend (and believe me, writing that final scene between Anton and Keisha was NOT easy) and sent it off to my beta readers. If all goes according to plan, it will go in the mail to my editor this week, only about two weeks overdue. (I’m hoping she doesn’t notice how late it is.)

Anyway, between three trips that are more work than they sound like because I live so frickin’ far from the airport that travel TO the airport is shorter than the trip in the air, writing two books (and a novella I forgot to mention that’s a charitable donation for an anthology that Lori Foster organizes every year to raise money for some excellent causes) and putting together proposals for two new series, I’m sorta losing it altogether.

And then, I had an “oh, CRAP” moment when I realized I’ve got two books coming out a week apart—HellFire, the second book in my DemonSlayers series, releases on August 31, and Nocturnal, an anthology I’m in with Jacquelyn Frank, comes out on September 7. My story in the anthology is Crystal Dreams, which is part of the DemonSlayers series, and it’s good. I mean, I really love the way it came out—it was one of those wonderful stories that just popped into my head and practically wrote itself. Wish more of them did that!

But that’s not what I’m blogging about—what I really want to tell you about is HellFire. If you read the first book in the series, DemonFire, you’ll know that the premise of the series is that demons are invading Earth, coming in through the vortex at Mt Shasta in northern California. In the first book, Eddy Marks ends up helping Dax the ex-demon fight demonkind. They enlist the help of Eddy’s dog Bumper, a pit bull/poodle mix, Willow, a tiny little sprite, and Alton the Lemurian, a man from the legendary world of Lemuria that’s believed to exist inside Mt. Shasta. A sort of “innocent bystander” is Eddy’s friend Ginny Jones. Ginny was one of those secondary characters who wouldn’t stay out of the limelight, and she ended up catching Alton’s attention.

And that is where HellFire takes off. Alton used a compulsion to send Ginny away from Mt. Shasta to protect her from demonkind. Under his mental suggestion, she goes to visit her cousins who live in Sedona, Arizona, which, of course, is where the demons have now moved their invasion. When Alton realizes how badly he’s screwed up and that Ginny is really in danger now, he heads to Sedona to help her. Only Ginny thinks Alton is one of Eddy’s old college buddies—she has no idea this tall good-looking guy with blond hair to his waist is really a mythical Lemurian warrior—or that he carries a sentient crystal sword, which is the only weapon the demon hunters have that will stop demons.

Ginny’s in for all kinds of surprises—some Alton’s and some of her own. The story was a hoot to write and I think you’ll really enjoy it. And, if you haven’t read DemonFire, this one will still make sense, but reading the first book will make it more fun. And when you finish both DemonFire and HellFire, then pick up a copy of Nocturnal and read Crystal Dreams. I’ve got first chapter excerpts of all three of these books, along with all my Wolf Tales and Sexy Beast stories, AND my Ellora’s Cave and Changeling Press books on my website at www.katedouglas.com. But, if you don’t have time to go to the site, I’ll post an excerpt here, just to give you an idea...Enjoy!

~~~*~~~
From HellFire, Book 2 of The DemonSlayers

She’d never been kissed quite so thoroughly in her life, never felt her body go soft and pliant so that it fit against a man’s with such perfection. His angles and ridges seemed to correspond perfectly to her curves and valleys. Where she left off, Alton began. When Ginny breathed out, he inhaled. Even their hearts beat in a synchronized rhythm, pounding at breakneck speed, faster and faster, yet keeping perfect pace.
One with the other.
Ginny moaned.
Alton groaned.
She plucked at his shirt. It pulled loose from his jeans and her fingers found warm, living skin beneath. His callused palm slid against her back, skin to skin, leaving a trail of heat and sensation wherever he touched her. His fingers wrapped around her ribs and softly stroked the full side of her breast.
She arched into him, silently begging for more. Her nipples puckered up against the lace of her bra as his fingers glided closer.
A car pulled into the parking lot. Lights flashed over them, dousing Ginny like a bucket of cold water. She ripped her mouth free of Alton’s and backed as far away as his arms allowed, breathing in and out in harsh, explosive breaths.
He leaned his forehead against hers and she felt his laughter before she heard it.
“Nine hells,” he said, gasping for air with each harsh breath. “Nine hells and then some. Woman...what you do to me!”
For the weirdest reason, his curse alone convinced her. No one said nine hells. Not anyone from this world. Still sucking air, she stared at his chest. If she concentrated hard enough, she saw the leather strap that crossed from one shoulder, over his chest, and around his waist on the opposite side.
“Turn around.” Ginny stepped out of his embrace and planted both hands on her hips. Damn it all if he didn’t do as she said. He turned slowly and she saw it then, the tooled-leather scabbard across his back with that damned crystal sword glowing through the design. The jeweled hilt stuck out of the top, glinting silver in the reflected parking lot lights.
“I can see it now.” She walked around him until she stood directly in front of him again and folded her arms across her chest. “I couldn’t see the sword before. Not at all. How come?”
Alton smiled and his green eyes twinkled. “It’s called a glamour, sort of a spell I cast to hide the blade from curious eyes. If you really want to see it, or if you know of the glamour, the sword will be visible only to you. It’s a simple compulsion, one that doesn’t take a lot of energy but it works for most people.”
He shrugged and laughter crinkled the corners of his eyes. “If it’s any consolation, I learned early on that a simple compulsion doesn’t work on you. For some reason, you’re much too powerful. That’s why I had to kiss you the night the demon’s avatar—that bear—attacked you. I tried a simple compulsion to make you forget, but it wouldn’t stick. I finally had to resort to a kiss.”
“That’s the only reason you kissed me? To make me forget?” She ran her tongue over her just-kissed lips, aware of a horrible, hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach.
He at least had the good graces to look embarrassed. “That’s what I told myself, and it did work, at least for a couple of days.” He placed both his hands on her shoulders. His palms rested, warm and solid, against her. “Truth? I was looking for any excuse I could find to kiss you, Ginny. I’m not sure why, but I thought you were absolutely fascinating the first time I saw you, huddled down behind that filthy garbage bin, swinging a piece of scrap lumber at a concrete bear five times your size. Even then I knew you were special.”
“You did?” That was the best she could come up with? Shit.
He grinned. “I did. I still do. I’m so sorry I got you into this mess. I sent you here because I wanted to keep you safe. I never imagined the demons would invade Sedona, but it looks like that’s what’s going on.”
~~*~~
Anyway, that’s just a teaser, and if you want more, the entire first chapter is up on my website at www.katedouglas.com. I told Lizzie I’d love to give away a couple of books this week, so if you leave a comment, you’re in the running for a copy of DemonFire, HellFire or Nocturnal—it’s entirely up to you. And if you’ve got any questions, please ask them and I’ll be popping in to check and answer.
Thanks again, Lizzie!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/katedouglas.authorpage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/wolftales
Website: www.katedouglas.com

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