Wait is a four letter word

If you've followed the Belle you know that waiting and anything vaguely resembling patience is  not my virtue.

I'm a woman of action and persistence comes more naturally than waiting.

However, there are times in your life where you really do have to sit still. Where you have to literally wait for the things around you to align so that you can proceed. That scripture , Be still and know that I am God, really comes into play here.

Moolight Rises...Vincent Zandri Drowns

Product Description

“Life sucks. Then you die. Or, if you’re Dick Moonlight, first you die and then you live.”

Dick Moonlight is dead.

Really dead this time, now that three President Obama-masked thugs dressed all in black and communicating only with hand-held voice synthesizers pressed up against their voice boxes have beat the life right out of him inside a dark, downtown Albany alley. What are the thugs after? A box. Size, weight, description unknown. They also want him to stay away from his newest and only client: a handicapped nuclear engineer of dubious Russian heritage by the same of Peter Czech.

But then, now that they’ve killed him, Moonlight’s problems seem to be over. In fact, as he undergoes an out of body experience, his soul floating above his train-wreck of a corpse inside the Albany Medical Center I.C.U., he feels pretty damned good. Great in fact. To make death all the more sweeter, his one true love, Lola, is standing by his bedside. With her long dark hair draping her chiseled face and big round Jackie O sunglasses hiding tear-filled eyes, she appears every bit the grieving sig other. Nothing could make the dead-and-gone Moonlight prouder.

But then something happens. Something bad. A man enters into the I.C.U. Some young guy. He takes hold of Lola’s hand, and pulls her into him. Together, the two share a loving embrace over Moonlight’s dead body. Now, what seemed like a peaceful death is anything but. Moonlight wants back inside his body so he can face-off Some Young Guy and find out if his true love has in fact been cheating on him. At the same time, he wants to find out the true identity of those thugs who killed him so he can exact his revenge. No doubt about it, Moonlight needs to live if he’s going to uncover some pretty painful answers and take care of business.

Like a little kid dropping down a playground slide, Moonlight slides right back inside his bruised and broken body. Opening his eyes the white light blinds him. He feels the pain of his wounds and the pain of his breaking heart.

Life sucks, then you die.

But Moonlight rises.

Review 

Dick Moonlight is one of my favorite characters. Perhaps it's because he reminds me of so many ex boyfriends who were damaged beyond all hope, were sexy as all get out, and a bit of an alpha male. Or maybe it's because as much as I want there to be the happily ever after for him it will not happen. That's just not Moonlights destiny. But he still tries to give it to others...and that dear reader is the endearing trait that makes me love Dick Moonlight so much.

You can tell from the amazing blurb the essentials of what happens. And everyone knows that the Belle does not give spoilers. It's all about my opinion. I bet by now you are wondering when I'm going to start bashing Moonlight Rises because of that title. Well welcome to disappointment because that's not going to happen.

Moonlight Rises is tearing up the Amazon ranking system as we speak. Which is not surprising it's a Zandri. What do you expect. His writing is versatile, signature, and classic noir with a modern edge. If you like dark plots, real characters with flaws and honor, then you'll love Moonlight Rises.

As for Vincent Zandri drowning...and this isn't about that rumor circulating involving a hot tub in Cairo. He hasn't even been there in a while. It's about drowning in success. Vincent has landed a contract with a traditional publisher while he is still creating with is local indie pub Stone House Ink. Congrats are due all around to Vincent.

Moonlight Rises is a book to read especially on a dark storming night all alone.

Romantic Thriller Review Wired

Blurb

Mary Elizabeth and Charlie’s marriage is fading away as Charlie tries to just get along and Mary Elizabeth struggles not to disappear completely. A murdered teenager is discovered at the local teenage hangout on a bluff high above main street bringing back memories to Mary Elizabeth that she would rather forget but may hold the key to saving an entire town. But when the bodies keep popping up everyone must struggle with feelings of guilt, shame and redemption.

Review

Now those that read this blog know that I am a sucker for romance and thrillers. Well in Wired I got both. Martha Carr's writing is an interesting blend of characterization, plot, and dialogue that is so real and dynamic you think you are reading a movie. Only the screen is in your head. I'll also mention movie rights are being discussed. I'm not surprised.

It is expected in any novel that the reader identify with the main protagonist. That the readers feels what they feel, cries with them, roots for them and just all around connects with them. While you will feel, cry and even root for Mary Elizabeth it is hard to like her...until the end.  From the first paragraph I didn't hate her but I didn't like her. Charlie, her husband, was typical yet layered. It's obvious he has a much better relationship with their adorable son. It takes talent to make a reader to feel so strongly about the characters as I did in Wired.

Martha has a craft similar to thriller authors like Vincent Zandri where they reveal a little here and there. And then at some point you start having these moments where things begin to click but still leave you surprised with the ending.

However, her writing of the sexual scenes and thoughts were tasteful yet emotional and poignant like the romance authors I adore some much.

I highly recommend Wired. It's a great read especially for right before Halloween. 

Tour Notes: Enter to win 1 of 3 free paperback copies of this novel on the official Wired blog tour page. The winner of the give-away will be announced on Wednesday, October 26 – be sure to enter before then! Just can't wait to read Wired? Pick up your copy in the Kindle, Nook, or iTunes stores or visit Smashwords with the coupon code AK95A to receive a discounted price (just $2)! Don't forget to vote for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll for this tour. The blogger with the most votes wins an Amazon gift card and a special winner’s badge. I want that to be me! You can vote in the poll by visiting the official Wired blog tour page and scrolling all the way to the bottom. Learn more about this author by visiting her website, Facebook or GoodReads pages or by connecting with her on Twitter. You'll definitely want to check out Martha's Mystery Blog--each week a new short thriller is serialized Monday through Friday. The entries are nice and short, easy to read via smart phone or tablet. It's all at www.MarthaCarr.com.

Writer Wednesday: Writing it's the B word.

No not that b word! But to some authors it's just as offensive. Business Yes my fair reader it is and today I will address it. Well not so much I will address rather I'll quote and link to a couple of very successful people in the industry who put it out there clear and concise.

Often I'm asked How are your books doing? or Are you doing well? Which are just cloaked questions that really are saying Are you making any money?

I'm great at deflection so I usually do that and leave the conversation without really answering but the asker thinking I'm doing great. Because really I am!

I'm still in my first year since I landed my first contract as a published author. By the end of 2011 I'll have nine publications to add to my platform, as well as a successful blog, four professional websites I review four, I contribute at Ravencraft's Romance Realm twice a month (that's a very new one), as well as being regularly sought after for a guest poster on other blogs. And that's just what I do other than writing. To top it all off in less than a year after attending the Idaho Book Extravaganza (a conference I highly recommend) I will be participating now as a featured speaker.

Saturday Sweets: Sezuzione is Italian for Seduction

Image cutesy of http://www.lifeinitaly.com/fashion/man-suits-2.asp

"She knew that their first meeting was by chance. It had been at her favorite coffee shop. She’d spilled hers on his expensive Italian shoes in her hurry to get lost in the latest romantic thriller. When she apologized, his smile was lopsided, like her brother’s. The rest of Antony, though, was sublime…the epitome of Italian masculinity. A professionally tailored suit fitted around his broad chest left little to the imagination.

She melted under the heat of his well-traveled brogue. Her blush enticed the Italian businessman because it made the cream of her skin fairer, bringing out auburn highlights in her hair. Before he could speak further, she excused herself. Not much later, he found her in her corner and ever so gently pushed her book down, his eyes meeting hers. He asked to join her." 

Writer Wednesday: To Miss a Manuscript

After being on vacation for two weeks and away from my latest WIP Eternal Witch, the sequel to Familial Witch, I didn't realize how much I missed it! Is that even possible? If I wasn't an author I'd be considered clinically insane. But luckily I am an author. Shew...that was a close one. The loony bin has been trying to get me for years.

But why is it OK to miss a manuscript or to even mourn one? I've read authors who wrote novels that were never published that sigh in interviews and dab at unshed tears over they fact that their beloved characters will never be seen. Then others rejoice over the fact sometimes years later they are able to get a contract and publish their beloved long ago buried ms.

So back to my Eternal Witch...I think it's the characters and their story. It's all up in my head and needs to get out. I'm so close to finishing that first initial draft and I NEED to get it out. I'm scared I'm going to forget something or suffer an accident causing amnesia and their story will never be finished. EEK!!

I think I may be having a bit of my smartypantsdiva moment. You think? So to my critique partner's bitter delight I'm about to load her up with a whole flipping MS.

What about you? Ever missed a WIP, MS or perhaps characters from a series you love?

Writer Wednesday: Blogs on Kindle...I'm there are you?

So I recently found out that blogs subscriptions can be set up via your Kindle. I know right, AWESOME! I was thinking wow this is great my Kindle goes everywhere with me and if not my it then my Kindle app on my iPhone. Yeah you have to pay a little fee but that's for the convenience. Here Kindle explains it best....

Kindle blogs are fully downloaded onto your Kindle so you can read them even when you're not wirelessly connected. And unlike RSS readers which often only provide headlines, blogs on Kindle give you full text content and images, and are updated wirelessly throughout the day.

So I immediately go a hunting for my favorite blogs. The disappointment set in no one I already subscribe to was on there. Oh the agony...then a thought occurred. (imagine the Grinch grin here) What if I added my blog then shamelessly plug it encouraging my other friends I love to follow to do it as well? And so here's today's post.

Now for the shameless plugging....



 PSS... As soon as you set yours up come back and let me know so I can subscribe. I'm so excited to find a way to keep up with blogs now!!!

A Belle's Roots...A love story from a few generations before Part Two

Wilma looked through the closet of her best friend Betsy. She didn't have many clothes but that was OK cause she borrowed what she needed from her sister Rita or Betsy. There were enough between them and coming from a family with nine children sharing was a lesson learned early.

"Toots," Betsy called. Toots was a nickname Wilma got when a small child. Only no one knew why or who started it. "You go ahead and get anything you want. In fact wear this blue sleeveless top with these white knee pants. It will bring out your eyes and when that fool Jimmy sees you he'll be rethinking spending his precious leave time with Bob instead of you." She said shoving the outfit in Wilma's hands.

After their morning chores and breakfast they walked to town. That was the great thing about Erin the railroad ran right through it and there were no strangers in the small town. Betsy swung her hands to and fro along the folds of her high back sun dress. Wilma listened to her as she talked on and on about the latest boy in town.

A long high whistle sounded interrupting Betsy's tirade. She turned, her shoulder length blond hair flipping around and arched a brow as she planted a hand on her slim hip.Wilma followed Betsy's glare having it fall on a handsome boy with dark hair and dark eyes. He walked toward them a half smile on his face leaving behind a Chevy with the hood raised.

"Betsy Darling you are looking mighty pretty today in that dress." He said winking and calling her by her first and middle name. Betsy smiled back. "Whose this other pretty lady with you?" He continued his flirtation nodding his head toward Wilma.

"This is my friend Wilma but everyone calls her Toots." He nodded toward Wilma and she smiled crossing her arms suddenly furious that James wasn't who she was with. If things had gone as she thought they were she should have been in his arms with a ring on her left ring finger.

"I'm Danny Allen. Why don't you two come sit on the porch and have a couple cokes." Wilma and Betsy shared a look then walked quickly to his porch. Cokes were a sweet and rare luxury for the two girls.

They hadn't been there long when Bob walked up toward the porch and he didn't look happy. Wilma squared her shoulders and put what she hope was a blank look on her face.

"Toots I've been looking everywhere for you. Jimmy is up at the house...been waiting all morning too." Bob pointed toward his home by the railroad tracks.

"Well if he was so eager to see me why didn't he take the opportunity to do it yesterday." Wilma replied before taking a long sip of her Coke. Danny and Betsy looked on wide eyed but quiet. Bob had a temper and Betsy was his sister and knew to steer clear. Color drained from Bob's face as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

"Now you get your hind end up there now you hear!" He yelled pointing again down the tracks.

"If Jimmy wants to see me let him know that I will be sitting right here." Wilma replied sitting her now empty glass bottle on the wooden porch beside her before meeting Bob's steely glare. Huffing he turned on his heel and headed in the direction he had pointed so many times before. Shortly her sister Rita followed attempting the same thing Bob had, still unsuccessful.

However, before Rita left she shared a death blow to Wilma. Jimmy was up there waiting to propose. He had showed the rings the night before to Bob. Betsy sat down beside her in the swing while Danny politely went to fetch more Cokes.

"Are you sure you don't want to go up there now Toots?" Betsy suggest leaning toward and lightly touching her hands fisted in her lap. Wilma took a deep breath and picture her backbone straight and solid.

"If those rings were meant for me then I should have seen then before Bob." She insisted. Then heard the familiar growl of a Ford driving too fast in the direction of the base. Wilma sighed then started on her second Coke.


Now I just want to point  out that there is a lot of creative license in this post. It's like hearing a family story then adding your own romantic imaginations to it. A lot...how about I call a spade a spade...a tremendous amount. LOL If you missed part one it's here.

 

Review of Godchild and a How To Be Friends With a Best Selling Author

So this post is supposed to be a review of Godchild (which is 99 right now) and an interview with it's author Vincent Zandri as part of his blog tour with Pump It Up Books. Well you aren't going to get exactly all that. But you will get your review and something more of an observation about Mr. Vincent Zandri.

If you didn't know Vince and I are colleagues and friends or online friends is probably more spot on there. I speak to Vince often usually through emails that resemble im chats with really long pause times in between responses and signatures that say "sent via blackberry" or "sent from Bri Clark's iPhone" (Oh you guys know I am not going to have not crapberry!) I know what your thinking how did a Amazon bestselling noir author become friends with a romance author? Believe it or not we actually have covered that before here.(FYI I'm the blonde bombshell)

So when you are friends with someone you notice little changes in their behavior when things are off. Now I'm not saying Vincent is on drugs or is doing illegal things or anything. I'm just saying I've noticed he's very very busy.( By product of success.)With that said I could not in good conscience do an interview when I knew that I might be able to ease up his schedule a little bit. So if you want to gripe about it in the comments go ahead. However, you can go here and see the review and interview of the prequel to Godchild the Innocent that I've done with him before. So pick you lip up go to your room and have your feelings then come back and check out this review.

The Monsieur of Noir... Vincent Zandri

A review and an interview....

SOMETIMES THE PAST DOESN'T COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU! IT COMES BACK TO KILL YOU!

Thirty years ago, teenager Rebecca Underhill and her twin sister Molly were abducted by a man who lived in a house in the woods behind their upstate New York farm. They were held inside that house for three horrifying hours, until making their daring escape.

Vowing to keep their terrifying experience a secret in order to protect their mother and father, the girls tried to put the past behind them. And when their attacker was hunted down by police and sent to prison, they believed he was as good as dead.
Now, it’s 30 years later, and with Molly having passed away from cancer, Rebecca, a painter and art teacher, is left alone to bear the burden of a secret that has only gotten heavier and more painful with each passing year.But when Rebecca begins receiving some strange anonymous text messages, she begins to realize that the monster who attacked her all those years ago is not dead after all. He’s back, and this time, he wants to do more than just haunt her. He wants her dead.

Trailer for The Remains

The Remains was voted the No. 1 Amazon Bestselling Hot Hard-Boiled New Release and was No 8 on Amazon's Romantic Suspense list. It was published by the rising star of a publisher Stonehouse Ink. This novel was two firsts for me. It was my first noir genre novel and was also my first taste of Vincent Zandri. I have to say I'm addicted to Zandri now like a southern woman needs gossip. The noir genre is a big leap for me. Romantic fantasy, paranormal romance and romantic adventure are my genres of choice to read and write. You will notice the key word being "romance."

The Remains by all indications was an accidental romantic suspense...I still felt every exclamation point!

 I connected with Rebecca in a way I have only done from female authors before. Most reviews you will read (there are plenty)about the The Remains will talk about how suspenseful, frightening and scene setting it is. Believe me it is all those reviews and more. However, for me I enjoyed another element. It was subtle and woven in like the center piece of a braid, hidden but needed for a tight rhythm. It was Rebecca.

Rebecca has lived a life of tragedy from the painful experiences of a childhood event, to the loss of her twin and finally the ending of her marriage. Nevertheless, through all that she happily endures. Her love and empathy for those around her is inspiring. If Zandri ever tires of noir he obviously has more than potential for romantic suspense.

Vincent Zandri...The Monsieur of Noir
Vincent Zandri is an award-winning, bestselling novelist, essayist and freelance photojournalist. His novel As Catch Can (Delacorte) was touted in two pre-publication articles by Publishers Weekly and was called "Brilliant" upon its publication by The New York Post. The Boston Herald attributed it as “The most arresting first crime novel to break into print this season.” Translated into several languages including Japanese, Russian, French and the Dutch, Zandri’s work has also been sought out by numerous major movie producers, including Heyday Productions and DreamWorks. Other novels include Moonlight Falls (R.J.Buckley), Godchild (Bantam/Dell), and Permanence (NPI). His newest thriller, The Remains (Stone House) will be published in July, 2010 in E-Book and in November, as a Trade Paperback. Forthcoming novels include The Concrete Pearl (Stone Gate), a new detective series starring the brassy but beautiful construction business owner, Ava "Spike" Harrision, and the re-publication of the classic, As Catch Can (Stone Gate).
I was able to speak with Mr. Zandri... here are the spoils of that interview.

What is noir? Noir is my passion! It's truly American literature...dark detective type novels. When Europe caught on it became known as noir. Noir is French meaning dark, gloomy or black.

How do you write women so well?  As a child I was surrounded by women...I still try to do that as an adult. (can you see the smile in that line?) I had a single mother, two older sisters and I'm very experienced in relationships. What can I say...I love women.(see the smile again)

Have you ever received a bad review? No.. at least not professionally or from a blog review. Thank God. (He thanks God a lot. It's sincere too.)  However, I had one by a reader on Amazon, it's still there and I remember it well. This douche (yes he said douche) said I should be classified in the same pile of junk as LaHane. And I thought that's a good pile to be in.

Was The Remains meant to have a romantic element? No absolutely not. I had just ended my relationship with my second wife. That relationship very much inspired this novel. Don't get me wrong I loved her and we are still very close.(insert smile again) I didn't get much done creatively during our six year relationship. When it ended I went into a writing frenzy and the end result was The Remains.

Do you consider yourself a character writer? You set the scenes so realistically.  I like to set up the circumstances and then imagine how that character would react.

Do you base your characters off real people? Of course. I even use their real names until the end. (I'm curious if he will have to keep his laptop locked after that one.)

What's a typical day for you? Always have to have a good cup of coffee...at home I make it. In Italy I found myself going out for coffee. A great cup of coffee is essential for an author. I put on what's lying around and write a while. There is always writing to be done...whether on a novel, for my blog, or an article. I'm a gym rat so I always work that in. I have three kids so anything they need. I enjoy cooking for them.

After reading The Remains and now Moonlight Falls and Moonlight Mafia as well as interviewing Mr. Zandri this is my conclusion. I already knew he was a gifted rising author. However, now I find that he is wickedly brilliant and witty with as much baggage as his characters. Just like his characters he perseveres through the trials of circumstance and finds the joy of the moment. Which really I think is a requirement for any great author. Can you be a cutting edge anything and be described as delightfully normal?

Sexist reader convinced...

Sweet Dreams

Book One In The WJA Series Mark Appleton faces his worst nightmare as he hunts a killer, but little does he know that he is the one being hunted. Kirk Weston is a detective with the Detroit police department. His life, although not going as planned finds himself investigating a mysterious group known only as the WJA. Just when he is about to make a breakthrough on the case something terrible goes wrong? He finds exactly what he is looking for!
 
 
Sexist reader converted...a romantic fanatic convinced...Sweet Dreams is told from not only one but two male POV’s, something I usually avoid. It is a suspenseful action adventure thriller; this is a genre I avoid like someone on a diet avoids buffets. However, thanks to Patterson’s Sweet Dreams I will become morbidly obese on suspenseful thriller fiction, also known as Noir.


Sweet Dreams isn’t the typical beginning, middle and end book. Patterson has a way of weaving the threads of not only one but two men’s lives. Mark Appleton is a successful and happy business/family man. It’s only when a violent personal tragedy unleashes the destiny he was trained for that he really begins to live. Kirk Weston is a reluctant hero. Divorced, unkempt, and arrogant your first impression of Kirk is far from positive. As you experience the thought process of Kirk’s investigative techniques you begin to appreciate his unlikely but effective methods. By the end you are cheering for him just as much as Mark Appleton. As these two men’s lives run parallel and criss cross yet without meeting it leaves you satisfied for the moment; yet salivating for more. Which you will get since Dream On is available now.

bought this series for my fourteen year old son. He was very happy with it. Well as happy as a fourteen year old boy allows people to know. I knew he liked it alot when he couldn't put it down then asked when the third book would come out. I then read it myself. I was really impressed. It was also a great experience in that my son and I began to discuss the WJA series. Any parent who knows how hard it is to talk to a teenager will understand the significance of this experience. The WJA series would be a great Christmas present this season for teenager and adult alike since Patterson only writes what is considered clean fiction.

Author Interview with Aaron Patterson

Aaron Patterson lives in Boise Idaho with his wife Karissa and three children, Soleil, Kale, and Klayton. Aaron is the author of the bestselling WJA series. SWEET DREAMS, DREAM ON and IN YOUR DREAMS. He also began a line of "Digital Shorts" which are E-book short stories. His first in the line is "19."



I was able to ask Mr. Patterson some questions about his techniques and books. Here are the spoils of that interview...



 How long did it take you to write Sweet Dreams?  30 days.


So that’s the Raw unedited draft? Yes. I like to just sit down and write.

So your not the type of writer that does outlines and chapter outlines? No I write in sequence. I usually don’t know how it ends until I’m 3/4ths of the way through. There comes a point in my books, well it’s happened every time so far, that I have this epiphany and it all just comes together or falls into place is more like it such as with Sweet Dreams. When I began it I knew I wanted to do some sort of secret organization, that was the initial premise. Then the story kind of wrote itself. Like the dream effect…I was working out at the gym and it came to me. I literally left the gym and had to go right it down immediately.

Did you plan on Sweet Dreams being a series? No. Initially I didn’t. However, every book ultimately defines itself and at the end of Sweet Dreams I knew that Kirk and Mark’s story would continue. So now we have Dream On (available now) and In Your Dreams coming out in Summer of 2011. I’m curious to see how readers respond to how it wraps itself up.

Mark and Kirk are polar opposites, however they are both effective in their own way. Would you say that they are your own alter egos? Every character has a part of you...you create them. Just like every character created is a representation of someone real initially then they take on a life of their own.

You are finishing up your 4th book, Aierl, now, compared to your first novel did the writing come easier? Yes. Sweet Dreams was very choppy. Each novel I write it just gets smoother and smoother.

 Aierl is your first YA novel, can you tell us a little bit about it? Of course, It’s set in two time periods, I jump between the two. The past being around 2100 BC and the other present day, in the past there is an angel who has left heaven and fallen in love with a mortal. They marry and produce offspring. There is a demonic group who are after their offspring for disposal. Then in present day you have Airel who begins to have all these strange symptoms and abilities and thinks she is sick. She is kidnapped and finds out she is a descendant of this long ago angelic/mortal race.

Sounds amazing...When will Aierl be released? The ebook will be available around Christmas 2010 with the print to follow in the spring of 2010. StoneHouse Ink will have all the up to date information.

After speaking with Mr. Patterson my opinion of him would be best described as the humbled brilliance of a talented author and accidental publisher.  Just like the characters of the WJA organization he desires nothing but the betterment of his fellow authors. To find out for yourself visit his blog at The Worst Book Ever .

Thank you Mr. Patterson for your time and your talents.

Bri