A Belle's Sultry Summer Nights Ignite Your Passions Blog Hop Post (8/22-8/29)

SULTRY SUMMER NIGHTS: IGNITE YOUR PASSIONS BLOG HOP TOUR
(AUGUST 22-29)

When I think of Sultry Summer Nights I think of air forces bases, muscle cars, baby tees and short shorts. My summers as a teen went from the back roads of humid middle Tennessee to the cool nights of North Carolina mountains. There was always somewhere to be and a cute guy to pick from. In my youth I lived for the moment and have the scars to prove it.

Feature Friday: Fallen Idols...Paranormal Novella to read

Product Description

Falling: A paranormal contemporary romance novella with a feisty heroine, an immortal hero, and their wee trip to hell and back The trouble with falling in love is the long drop down… Alexis isn’t afraid of much. She’s never met a cliff she didn’t want to climb or a waterfall she wouldn’t plunge over. Yet when her fiancé leaves and takes her daring edge with him, she swears off love…. Until one wild night out at San Francisco’s latest hard-to-find, impossible-to-get-into new club where she discovers more than just a stiff drink awaits her inside, because the owner of this club is the sexiest man she’s ever met—and the most dangerous. A few hundred years ago, Jason made a very bad bargain with a very vengeful goddess. Now it’s time for him to pay up, either with his soul… or his heart. And when one long look at Alexis makes him understand just how hellish a life of unrequited love could be, suddenly the alternative doesn’t sound so bad. Only it turns out, the alternative isn’t just hellish—it is hell… and Alexis is the only one who can spring him loose. If, that is, she’s brave enough to try…

Writer Wednesday: Google + Lets hang out. I'll bring the Sass.

So I've been hanging around Google+ a little. Let me tell ya...I love it. I'm still learning and can't do everything yet. But what I have learned I got from Novel Publicity. In fact since I totally jacked this idea from Emlyn Chand Novel's creator. I am going to share the link to check out Google+ basics etc.

Google+ a comparison to other networks

Google+ an introduction

Google+ Let's Hangout

And now for the blatant copy cat I have pulled. Google+ has this amazing feature where you up to 10 people can literally hangout. It's similar to a Skype Chat room experience. Emlyn has what she call's Office Hours every Wednesday from 12-3 where she will talk writing, marketing, blog tour, blogs, book trailers, etc in her hang out. You can catch her here.

So I shall do the same thing only it's going to be on Thursday from 11-1 MST. I'll call it Let's Sassafras where I'll talk writing, editing, marketing, finding time to write, publishing etc.

If you aren't in Google+ yet. Leave your email in the comments and I'll send you an invite. Hope to see you guys tomorrow for my first Hangout. Click here to participate.

Note: Em's office hours are closed this week. But will start back next week as usual.

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." 

Six Sentence Sunday: Don't mess with a Glazier

Welcome to Six Sentence Sunday...Today you get a taste of Marie and Henry in my new release Glazier. To say Marie has a bit of a temper would be like calling the sun a little bright.

"“OOOWWW. What happened to four?” With his grip even stronger, he spun me into his chest. When he tried to wrap his other arm around me to trap me in his grasp, my head whipped back, and I popped him right in the nose. Shouting in pain, he let go and I fell to the floor. I hadn’t expected him to drop me. Rolling to my left side, I couldn’t find any part of me that wasn’t hurting."

To find out more about Glazier from book trailers to buy links go here.

And lets not forget to go back to Six Sentence Sunday for more fun and teasing.

Feature Friday: A Questionable Hero

Disclaimer: This novella is for 18 and older.

Product Description

Born of a mortal woman but raised in Hell by the demon that sired him, Abdamas is a halfling-proof incarnate of the war between good and evil that exists in each of us. Shaebiel is an angel warrior earning her ultimate salvation in Heaven by fighting demons like Abdamas who are in search of human souls on Earth.

In the heat of a raging battle, Abdamas sees Shaebiel and wants her. When the blade of another demon aims for her, Abdamas is injured while trying to save her. Shaebiel can't believe a demon has rescued her from certain death and takes her questionable hero home with her to heal him.

As they both fight and surrender to their desires, the conflict around them continues, and there is Heaven and Hell to pay for their actions. Through divine intervention they are offered a gift. But Hell is nowhere near finished with either of them, and the stakes are getting higher and higher.

Can a questionable hero sacrifice enough to redeem himself in the eyes of Heaven so that he may claim the love of an angel?

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.

 

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

Jimmy lifted the velvet box from his pocket, astonished that his hand shook a little. He was thirty years old, been on his own since eleven, a seasoned soldier after two wars, and he was the most afraid of his life. He doused another mug of homebrew, then looking into the swirling left over amber liquid in the bottom he considered he may be an alcoholic soon enough. What caused this man to drink more than usual and his hands to shake? Wilma Adams. His friends sister in law...eighteen year old sister in law.

A Belle's Roots...Rudolph

As promised an adolescent addiction and a nickname revealed.

I come from a town called McEwen TN. A town so small there is literally one hwy going through it and there is only one school...K-12. Anyway back in the 80's when I was like 4 I went into the locally owned Dairy Queen where the now deceased Mr. James made the most amazing little cheeseburgers. Anyway it was a week before Christmas and a couple of hunters had a truck with a deer sprawled across the hood. I saw it and came in sobbing they had killed Rudolph. Ever since I've been known by the owners as Rudolph.

So that's my confession...anyone else have any childhood nicknames or stories?

Writer Wednesday: Character Development Vlog Style

Character Development Sheet

Testify Thursday: Yeah I'm Published... What about it?

When authors I meet on the street or on social media find out I'm published. Then find out I'm with two publishers one of two things happens.

• They get this glazed look on their face and look at me like I'm the embodiement of everything they want to achieve. 
• Or they snicker say, "Two publishers... well when I'm published I'll only be with one publisher. I'm very loyal like."

                                                     
 Addressing "The Glaze"

• I think the best way to explain this is to tell you about a typical day for me. 

1. Bed time is at midnight most nights, because reading is requiring for this job either for reviews or to learn.
2. Up 5:30 AM for walking because I have to not be fat and this is the time I get to talk to my two best friends.
3. Kids up, 
4. Breakfast,
5. Facebook, Email, Twitter, blog
6. Vaccum, Bathrooms,Laundry, Making Beds, Dishes,
7. Facebook, Email, Twitter, blog
8. Bills, Phone Calls, Mother Chauffer,
9. Facebook, Email, Twitter, blog
10. Lunch, 
11. Facebook, Email, Twitter, blog
12. Dishes, Counters, Sweeping, Mopping,
13. Writing
14. Nap
15. Dinner
16. Facebook, Email, Twitter, blog
17. Baths, Bedtime, Prayer, Scripture Study

How's that glaze now? When I got published the only thing that happened was I had new motivation to write and build my platform. Well and I get paid to do it. Why do I do it you ask? Cause I freaking love it!

Addressing "The Snicker"

• SHUT UP! 

Seriously. Don't pass judgment on someone when you have never been in that position. Astraea Press publishes books that are described as "sweets". They don't want my work where I stab, kill and bludgeon people to death. Yeah I'm diabolical like that. But Stone House Ink loves that stuff. That the reason I have two publishers. And just because I'm feeling frisky I'm self published too. Booya Hater how you like them apples! 
How about it authors have you ever had this problem? 

Writer Wednesday: The Betas Part Two

Remember last week when i talked about how I was working with a critique partner or beta reader? You don't! Well go back here and then come back.


Status Now

• Since last Tuesday I have sent Mafia Seduzione my romantic thriller to my beta. I sent him a couple chapter and a blurb and finalized the cover art. At this point I am still waiting to hear back from him. 
• Since last Tuesday I sent my first chapter of Forever Witch my paranormal romance to my beta. She sent that back. I sent her the additional 8,000 words I wrote. She's gone over that and now it's waiting for me to go over it.

Thoughts on betas so far

I'm still sold that is a very positive thing. My great expectation is that it will make it much easier on the editors for my publishing houses I have come to care and appreciate at Stone House and Astraea.
Audrey(Astraea) and Chris (Stone House) I have worked with before and have not only a tremendous amount of admiration and respect for but desire greatly to make their burdens lighter. They do so much and like people that do a lot behind they scenes don't get much recognition.

Thoughts on two novels at once

I'm still very happy with that. My motor is rearing with Forever Witch right now. And that has worked out for the best since my Mafia beta hasn't got back to me yet. It's like I'm going with the flow. Usually being the control freak I am I would be freaked which would have stinted any flow at all. This way I'm much more productive.

So what's your thoughts? Your techniques?

Writer Wednesday: Critique Partners/Beta Reader...WTH Part 1

I know what you're thinking. But that's what the heck. You have a dirty mind! Shame Shame...If you know me then you have noticed that my online presence has tone down drastically. Why might you ask? Because I finally got the point. I'm wearing people out. I've also been busy doing what should always be the top priority and that is reading and writing. (No... no rithmetic.)

Status Updates...I'm Sorry It Became An Addicton

This is a post apologizing for my overzealous Twitter and Facebook status updates and tweets. As an author it's essentially the cornerstone of your platform. You want to share your newest blog post, then you see another great post, contest or idea and you want to share it as well. Next thing you know you have like 18 posts. Now for me with several hundred friends I don't notice it if others do it. However, those that don't your updates dominate their news feed. For those that this happened to... I apologize. I'm over it. It won't happen again.

My Life In Review: The Other Side of the Novel...The Reviewers Side

I once did a post on how an author today has many responsibilities...or wears many hats. (You can read it here.) One of those jobs I have is as a book reviewer. I know with that line several of you author's eye brows shot up to your hair line. If you want to know about review guidelines they are here. Anyways, there are two sides for me when reviewing. I'm sure it's that way for authors who review as well. I was thinking about this conflict and decided to address it. Here are a few scenarios I've had to deal with.

Six Sentence Sunday: More Glazier

The Great Jammy Adventure of The Flying Cowboy

Attention Jammy Adventurists! Your ticket to high adventure is right here within these pages-where you ll meet Noah and Jaden, the Flying Cowboy, Captain Bad Guy (who never wins) and you ll wonder why somebody hasn t invented a Get-Out-of-a-Jam Kit for real. This is a very unique hybrid coloring book-that the readers get to render however they want because-they get to color in most of the details. Perfect for kids; even better for adults, because the story is fantastic and short! Wow, what an idea.

Maude's Adventures: Raptor or Rapture?

The humidity in the sunroom was stifling as Maude’s sweat damp hair clung to her forehead. She pumped her legs and arms hard on the elliptical trying to get the emotions that plagued her out of her system. As she thought back over the previous day her pace slowed and the iPod’s music that blared in her ears faded to the background of her consciousness.

Friday was supposed to be great. With the schedule for the next, two weeks done and no one calling in Maude actually got to leave early for once beating the Friday traffic. All day Brian had been texting and emailing her updates. Gainesville was a good five-hour drive from Linden and she appreciated the ongoing contact. It assured her he wasn’t just toying with her at the time…boy was she wrong.

A beep on her cell phone, heard only because an ear bud fell out, brought her back to the present. Stopping the music and gliding her elliptical to a halt she grabbed her towel and water and checked her phone. It was a text from Diane. This was the fourth one since last night. She knew Diane wanted to know if Brian made it, if she was safe and how things were going. Maude would have to talk to her soon, just not yet.

A breeze blew in through the open windows with the smell of ferns and Dogwood. Since her plans for the weekend literally disappeared, she thought perhaps she would work in her flowerbeds. Maude took a shower feeling somewhat better and logged onto her Facebook. Diane had messaged her there as well. Scrolling through her friends’ status updates on her wall she laughed aloud at the obsessive attention “The Rapture” was getting all over social media.

Supposedly, some man that led a small Christian congregation had prophesied that the world would end today at 6:00 pm and all the people who were righteous would disappear. So if you were left here after six you were basically wicked. Posts like “should I wear sturdy tennis shoes or sexy stilettos for the rapture” made Maude roll her eyes. People weren’t wasting time utilizing the advertizing potential either. There were three event invites at the local music venues with titles based around the rapture.

A beep caught Maude’s attention. Picking up her phone, she had a missed call…Diane. Who was now calling again. Deep breath in, hold it, let it out. Maude hit the answer button.

“Hello.” she said.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Diane answered, the years of constant smoking giving her voice a deep gravelly timber never ceasing to make Maude smile.

“Just got out of the shower, that’s where I was when you called.”

“Killer.” Diane responded making Maude grin again at Diane’s signature saying for the last three decades.

“What you showering for? Work up a sweat?” Diane asked.

“Yeah I was working out. It’s really humid in the sun room in the morning.”

“Hold up…where’s Brian?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. All I know is all day Friday he emailed, called and text letting me know he was on his way. At 9:30, he sent me an email saying he was caught in traffic in Marian. I didn’t think anything of it since its Friday night and that is a college town. But it’s only a couple hours away. I stayed up until 1:00 AM. I was worried out of my mind.”

“I’m sure you’ve tried to call and text him. When is the last time you tried?”

“Around 11:00 this morning. My last words to him were Satan has a special place in hell for cruel ass holes like you. I’m sure he had this planned from the beginning. I swear I’m done with meeting men online! He was probably with his buddies while he sent those emails saying he was on his way.” A lone tear escape Maude’s eye. She wiped it and sighed.

“That’s one idea. What else do you think happened? He could have been in a wreck?” Diane suggested.

“No…I doubt it. I looked online there were no deadly wrecks at all between here and there that have been reported. Or any with serious injuries. That in itself is a blessing I guess for a Friday night.”

“Huh…” Diane replied. Maude knew she was trying to find something comforting to say.

“I did have a dream last night though.” Maude offered.

“Really…do tell.”

“Well I dreamed he stopped at a rest stop late last night. It was completely deserted except for some tractor-trailers. He went in and used the bathroom. When he came out, he thought he heard something. You know rest stops here they are surrounded by woods. Anyways he walked faster to his truck. But when he stopped to unlock the door something jump in the bed. He looked up and there looking back at him was Raptor.”

“What?” Diane asked.

“You know the dinosaur. Anyways, he took off running and then the rest of the Raptors surrounded him and they ripped him to shreds.” Maude finished. Silence was her reply.

“I fell asleep watching Jurassic Park Diane.” With that, Diane busted out in her raspy nicotine coated laughter. Maude smiled too. When Diane finally stopped the line got quiet again as if she was thinking.

“Or…” Diane offered. “He got caught up in the rapture…and it was early.” Maude laughed so hard she cried.

To see Maude's other adventure click below...

Number 1

Number 2

Number 3