Friday, March 30, 2012

#ThursThreads - Week 16 - Winners


Week 16 of #ThursThreads had some great tales! Thanks to all who entered this week. I'm honored to see all of you and read your stories. And it was great to have some returning "faces" join us along with our regulars. Huge thank you to judge Goran Zidar for reading through all of them.

Entries:
  • Kimberly Gould | @Kimmydonn
  • Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
  • Nicole Wolverton | @nicolewolverton
  • Wakefield Mahon | @WakefieldMahon
  • Nancy Porter | @ModernBard1024
  • Greg Nance | @acenance 
  • Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
  • Stacy Bennett-Hoyt | @Rowanwolf66
  • Jeffrey Hollar | @Klingorengi
  • @Phoenixlavan
  • Tina Seeborg | @tinaofborg
  • Charles W Jones | @ChuckWesJ
  • David A Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
  • Sarah Aisling | @SarahAisling
  • Revo Boulanger | @RevoBoulanger
  • J. M. Filipowicz | @SuperHappyJen
  • @LupusAnthropos
  • Miranda Gammella | @MLGammella (first entry)
  • Miranda Gammella | @MLGammella (second entry)
  • Robert Mahone | @Computilizer
  • Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
  • Jen DeSantis | @JenD_Author
  • Jalisa Blackman | @J_M_Blackman
Goran says: There were so many good, funny, and interesting entries it was hard to come
up with just four.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Nancy Porter | @ModernBard1024
Goran says: An excellent way to clear a room, I now want to know what the real discussion is going to be about.

Revo Boulanger | @RevoBoulanger
Goran says: I was totally able to visualise the characters, it was a strong scene done well in such a short passage.

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
Goran says: As a bit of a sci-fi fan myself, this one left me wanting more... what were these people about to get into.

Week 16 Winner


Goran says: I chose this piece for a couple of reasons. Earl was cast as a tragic hero and there was depth to his character that appealed to me. Despite his huge ego "oh yeah, it was that big" he was brought low by those he believed were his intellectual inferiors... so much for his great size and much vaunted intellect.

There was no halting ambivalence or trepid insecurity in Earl. His humongous feet would tote his massive frame, into even a delicate situation, in the most confident gait. Whatever air not displaced by his immensity would be sucked out of the room by his enormous ego. Oh yeah, it was that big. I guess it would have been easy to imagine arrogance as the root cause of his present predicament.

Earl was bound by four chains, spread eagle and on display, in the great hall of the Vicor. He had strode right up to the elders, denouncing any intellectual heft in their recent decisions, and accusing them of caring more for the appearance of governing than actual governance. This had not been the first time that Earl had berated the council. But, it would be his last.

Earl’s impassioned oratory and gestures had been made illegal in less publicized edicts of the elders. That’s right, Earl had been trapped. Although the current elders lacked the cognitive abilities of their predecessors, their authority was absolute. They would make an example of this overbearing man. Ironically, the source of his greatest strength would work to precipitate his demise. Earl had to die.

Congratulations Robert, Nancy, Revo, and Cara! Claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! :)

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here and I hope to see you all back next week for #ThursThreads. :)

His Old Chevy #100words for the #FridayFictioneers

Welcome back to #100words with the #FridayFictioneers hosted by Madison woods. Today's snippet of a WIP was inspired by the photo below. This story is tentatively entitled The Cloudburst Bar & Spa and has just a little bit of magic as well as romance. It is just a little longer than 100 words, but I wanted to offer a sense of surprise to the tale.

Moira’s strides carried her down the winding road skirted by early spring forest and barbed wire. The old fence posts showed their graying age, but they still held the rusted wire faithfully if not straight.
Rounding a corner, her heart jumped into her throat when she caught sight of an old, rusted Chevy pickup, nosing the wire like a curious puppy.
Aiden’s pickup.
Squinting to see through windshield glass reflecting sky, she slowed her steps. When had he come back? And why had he parked here?
A shadow moved within the cab and Moira froze, not certain she felt fear or elation when Aiden pushed open the truck’s door.
        He met her eyes boldly, shocking her again. “Hello, Moira.”

Thanks so much for stopping by. Be sure to check out the other authors who participate in #FridayFictioneers. Happy reading! :)

Thursday, March 29, 2012

#ThursThreads - The Challenge that Ties Tales Together - Week 16

 

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. Can you believe it's almost April? Me neither. But right now it's Thursday, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! Welcome to Week 16 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Need the rules? Read on!

Here's how it works:
  • The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
  • The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
Rules to the Game:
  • This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
  • Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
  • Post your story in the comments section of this post
  • Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
  • Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
  • The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
  • The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. ;)
How it benefits you:
  • You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
  • You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
  • Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 16:


The epic fantasy reading Aussie, Six Sentence Sunday and sci-fi author, Goran Zidar.

 
And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

"Oh yeah, it was that big."

Away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThread. Good luck! :)

Monday, March 26, 2012

Author Spotlilght: London Saint James

Good morning. Today I have to opportunity to introduce multipublished author London Saint James. London is an author of romance, from sweet to erotic, and has several stories to entice you. Her latest release from Evernight Publishing is entitled Eternal (The Heart of Winter Book 4), currently on sale at Evernight.

BLURB

Romance writer Winter Wells has found her new life with Hollywood Hottie, Cayden Cain, a blessing and a curse.  He is the blessing.  His career is the curse.  Involved in an unprecedented web of strange events, and wound in a string of lies about to break with devastating consequences, Winter must battle ghosts from her past that threaten to harm Cayden.  Faced with a choice she always knew would be inevitable, can the fairy tale of their relationship beat out the odds of their reality and really come true?

EXCERPT

Wednesday evening had arrived, and I was standing on the balcony of my bedroom when it started to rain. I lifted my chin to the heavens, toward the dark night sky, and the cold drops hit my face, cheeks, lips, and hair. It didn’t take long before I was soaking wet. The ivory long sleeve shirt I wore was plastered to me, and my jeans were beginning to soak through, but I didn’t care. All I could think about was Cayden. How could I ever live without him?
“Winter!”
In the distance of my mind, I heard Cayden’s voice calling out to me.
“What are you doing?” he asked. “Winter. It’s too cold. You are going to get sick.” Cayden’s arms encased me. He pulled me from the rain, into the warmth of the bedroom. He let loose of me and almost sprinted into the bathroom. I saw him pull one of the large fluffy white towels from the cabinet. He turned with a sense of urgency, and immediately came back to me. “What are you thinking?” Once he reached me, he unbuttoned my shirt, peeled it from my wet skin, and threw the soaked garment to the floor. Cayden whipped the towel out. It made a snapping sound before he wrapped the dry warm towel around me. “Winter, baby?”
Cayden stared at me. The expression upon his face, one of pain. He rubbed my arms with his hands as if the friction would warm the coldness I felt in my heart. It hit me. I wasn’t speaking.
“Sorry,” I said.
“Love, what were you doing standing in the cold rain?” He glanced down at my feet. “And you don’t have on any shoes.”
“I don’t know. I was just thinking. I guess I stopped paying attention.”
“Take those wet jeans off, too,” he instructed before he headed back into the bathroom for another towel.
I shed the jeans and left them in a wet lump in the middle of the floor.
“I love you,” I said when he came back.
He threw a new towel over my hair and started to rub it dry. “I love you, too. Tell me what is wrong?”
I placed my face to his chest, burying away my pain and taking in the scent of him. “Nothing is wrong.”
“Winter, tell me,” he pressed.
“Nothing, it’s nothing. I go a little crazy when you’re gone, but you are home now. We are together. That’s all that matters.”
“I have missed you,” he said. Cayden’s arms circled my waist and he picked me up from the floor. My feet dangled. “Do you know how much I hate to be away from you?”
“I know how much I hate being away from you.”
The towels fell to the carpet when I draped my arms around his strong neck and my legs around his perfectly tight waist, hooking my ankles behind his back. Cayden laughed his low musical laugh and brushed his nose into my hair. “I love how your hair smells. It’s like flowers and fruit, peaches.”
“I have missed you so much, Cayden.” I kissed him. It was a long time before I released him from my kiss.
Cayden’s eyes, silver-gray, flashed. “I think maybe you did miss me. But never bet it is as much as I have missed you,” he assured with his brilliant bright white smile.
I shivered. Whether from his eyes, words or touch I do not know, but probably from the combination of all of them.
“Cayden, make love to me.”
“You’re still cold,” he said. “Come on.” He carried me into the bathroom.
“I don’t care how cold I am. Please, make love to me.”
Cayden put me down. My bare feet felt the cool tiles beneath them. Cayden walked over to the stereo. He pulled back the glass wall panel and turned it on. He bent down, took off his black Adidas, and stripped off his socks. He placed them inside his shoes. With an underhanded toss, he threw the shoes out the bathroom door. They made a dull thud on the carpet in the other room when they landed.
There I stood. In the middle of the bathroom in my bra and panties, my hair tangled and wet, goose bumps covering my skin, mascara running down my cheeks, and probably looking pathetic, but I could not keep my eyes from Cayden. He turned on the steam and hot water in the shower. Placed his hands under the stream of water that was shooting down from overhead. He turned around, smiled tenderly, and closed the glass doors. The water hit the glass of the shower and mixed into the sound of the rain that pelted the roof. Everything melted into the music that played, becoming a symphony of rain.
“Please,” I said.
Cayden looked at me intently. He raked his penetrating gaze over my body. “I have every intention of making love to you, but I need to get you warm first.” His fingertips traced down my cheek, over the surface of my lips, down my throat then over my right shoulder. The warm water that was still on his hands trickled over the surface of my skin in every place he touched me. I trembled with his touch. Softly, he rubbed the mascara smudges from my cheeks.
“Cayden…,” I whispered.
“You are so utterly beautiful.” His lips skimmed over my shoulder, and his fingers made their way to the front of my bra. “I can't believe how beautiful you are.” With dexterous skill, he unhooked the golden clasp, sending my bra sliding down the surface of my skin until it hit the tiled floor at my feet.
“Cayden, I need you,” I murmured against his chest.
“Baby,” he whispered against my neck. “You have me. You know I’m yours.”


Please note: Eternal is the final book in a 4-book continuing series, The Heart of Winter. It's best if read in order. You can find Eternal (The Heart of Winter Book 4) at the following links:
All Romance Ebooks
Amazon
Evernight
Bookstrand
Smashwords

You can find out more about London Saint James here:



Thank you so much for stopping by and please check out all of London's books from Evernight Publishing. Happy reading! :)

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday - Her Devoted Vampire - Aborted Escape


Welcome back, Sixers! Thank you for returning each week to comment on my little snippets and if you're visiting my blog for the first time, welcome! I really appreciate your comments and I'm grateful you've taken time out of your day to read my Six Sentence Sunday snippet. I realize the list is long and there are a lot of authors, so thank you for visiting. I have my own favorites and a few of them are Gem Sivad, Zee Monodee, Cate Masters, and Morgan Kearns.


In this snippet of my recent release Her Devoted Vampire, Bridget Shanahan thinks Fredrick MacGregor has kidnapped her, so she tries to escape. When he realizes she has left his house, he comes after her, frustrated that she didn't believe he was there to protect her. Perhaps it was because he dislocated her shoulder trying to make her stay. Maybe. ;)

This time, Fredrick lifted her off her feet and threw her kicking and snarling over his shoulder. Bridget wanted to scream with frustration, but she didn’t want to waste any energy. Instead, she rained blows on his backside with her good arm, twisting her body off of his shoulder, and trying to slam her knees into his guts. He merely tightened his arms around her knees and hips, ignoring her hands entirely. Her fury mounted, and she opened her mouth to bite him through his mock-turtleneck sweater.
“Do that,” he growled as he lugged her back toward the house, “and I will show you what biting really is.”


*Shiver* Ever thought of biting a vampire? That could be fun... Thank you for stopping by and happy reading! :)

Friday, March 23, 2012

#ThursThreads - Week 15 - Winners


Week 15 of #ThursThreads had some great tales and a great turnout! Thanks to all who entered this week. I'm honored to see all of you and read your stories. And it was great to have some new "faces" join us along with our regulars. Huge thank you to judge Anna Meade for reading through all of them.

Entries:
  • Lisa McCourt Hollar | @jezri1
  • Toni Wyatt | @Toni1777
  • Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
  • Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir (first entry)
  • George Edwards | @WritingDystopia
  • Charles W Jones | @ChuckWesJ
  • Nicole Wolverton | @nicolewolverton
  • @LupusAnthropos
  • Nancy Porter | @ModernBard1024
  • Stacy Bennett-Hoyt | @Rowanwolf66
  • Wakefield Mahon | @WakefieldMahon
  • Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
  • @Phoenixlavan
  • Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir (second entry)
  • Jen DeSantis | @JenD_Author
  • Maureen | @Emyrldlady
  • Kiera Packard | @laststop_intown
  • Kimberly Gould | @Kimmydonn
  • Jeff Tsuruoka | @JTsuruoka
  • Jeffrey Hollar | @Klingorengi 
  • Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
  • Jalisa Blackman | @J_M_Blackman
  • Nellie Batz | @solimond
  • Sarah Aisling | @SarahAisling
  • Aurora Lee | @AuroraLee
  • Greg Nance | @acenance
  • Robert Mahone | @Computilizer

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
Anna says: The description in Cara's story was elegant and yet concise; it drew a picture quickly of a fearless heroine facing down an unknown threat, with a nice twist at the end.

Jeffrey Hollar | @Klingorengi
Anna says: Jeffrey's use of the prompt was offered seamlessly as science fiction; without dumping information, he showed us a man yearning for home, surrounded by failing technology.

Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
Anna says: Mark's post-apocalyptic visions were stark, where Facebook is still around, but there is no one to be social. Will we read about the end of the world on social media?

Week 15 Winner


Anna says: Nicole's blend of humor and horrifying results made me laugh out loud. The balance of the plausible and implausible elements was strictly maintained and the end was just right.

Bullshit. That’s what it was, clear and simple. He read the texts and the prophecy, but there’d been nothing in there about this.

Katie’s fingers wrapped around Marvin’s chin, tilting his head right, then left. “Maybe if you wear a hat? A nice fedora will draw everyone’s eyes up. No one will even notice.”

He didn’t even need a mirror to see the large purple horn protruding from his forehead. Oh yeah, it was that big. Good thing Katie was short, or it would have poked her in the ear—she was peering at him out of the corner of her eye now, fumbling with something in the cabinet.

“I’m never leaving the house again,” Marvin said. Sulking and wailing wasn’t becoming of a sixty year old man, but who ever heard of a guy randomly sprouting a horn? All he’d done was light that good luck money candle he’d bought at the market down the street, and that’s when it had happened. Bam! It’d been like someone was shaking his head like a snowglobe.

Katie held a bottle of makeup. “Maybe if we put some concealer on it? We can say it’s just a big zit.”

The doorbell rang. Marvin snarled and stomped to the living room. It was Mrs. Hernandez, the lady from the market.

Katie’s voice called from the bathroom, “You can tell everyone you’re a unicorn!”

“What?” he asked after throwing open the door.

Mrs. Hernandez stared. “My son sold you the wrong candle.”

Congratulations Nicole, Cara, Jeffrey, and Mark! Claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! :)

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here and I hope to see you all back next week for #ThursThreads. :)

A New World #100words (well 200) for the #FridayFictioneers

Good morning and welcome back. Madison Woods hosts the FridayFictioneers and this week I've combined her photo prompt with that of #FridayPictureShow hosted by Jen DeSantis. Both are supposed to be 100 words, so I combined them for 200. If that's too much, just read the second half meant for Madison's prompt. This is a WIP that seems to be developing a little flashfiction at a time, but the title hasn't come to me yet. :)


Bethany stared in fascinated wonder as the Centaurs led her past a dark stream. Twelve ornate lamps stood sentinel to the chuckling water on a path made of mossy rocks. In the light, she swore she could hear mournful feminine voices singing.
The big centaur noticed the direction of her gaze. “Take a lesson from them.”
“From who?”
“Those were the Twelve Dancing Princesses. When they entered the Dryad’s forest without permission, the local Dryad’s Garden turned them into lamps to warn other humans away.”
Bethany gulped. “What about me?”
“That is for the Council of the Elders to decide.”

Fear trickled down her back. She hadn’t come here on purpose. The Princesses had defied their father, and evidently the Dryad’s Garden, to visit here, but Bethany had stumbled across it by mistake. They wouldn’t punish her for that, would they?
Looking into the scowling face of her escort, her hope drained away. Bethany’s gaze drifted up into the night sky, framed by pale white branches of dead trees. They looked like skeletal fingers desperately seeking sustenance. She shivered.
“This place is creepy.”
“This is the Sacred Grove. Do not stray from my side.”
“Why?” Bethany crowded closer.
     “The Dryads’ response will be swift and deadly.”

Thanks so much for dropping by. For more #FridayFicioneers, please visit Madison's site. Happy Friday and happy reading! :)

Thursday, March 22, 2012

#ThursThreads - The Challenge that Ties Tales Together - Week 15


Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. Did you see Avril Ashton's interview yesterday? No? Well check it out and you might find something new to read. ;) But now it's Thursday, so what should you be doing? Writing #FlashFiction, that's what! Welcome to lucky Week 15 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Need the rules? Read on!

Here's how it works:
  • The prompt is a line from the previous week's winning tale.
  • The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count.
Rules to the Game:
  • This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250.
  • Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count).
  • Post your story in the comments section of this post
  • Include your word count (or be excluded from judging)
  • Include your Twitter handle or email (so we know how to find you)
  • The challenge is open 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time
  • The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. ;)
How it benefits you:
  • You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we're all about promotion - you know you are!)
  • You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog!
  • Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus

Our Judge for Week 15:


The writer, actor, aesthete, geek, & unrepentant, whimsical Luddite, Anna Meade.

 
And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

"He read the texts and the prophecy."

Away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThread. Good luck! :)

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Interview with Arden Windham from Far From the Usual by Avril Ashton

Good morning. Today I'm turning the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked over to multipublished author Avril Ashton while I feverishly edit a MS and attend to some SEALS - Yeah, yeah, guys! Wheels up in two minutes. I know! I'm coming! - So, take a moment and enjoy Avril and the heroine from her latest release, Far From the Usual, out now from Evernight Publishing. Check out the hot cover!

Yeah, all right! SEALs calling. I'm outta here. Take it away, Avril. :)


At the behest of author Siobhan Muir, I invited Arden Windham, heroine of Far From the Usual, to sit down with me for a chat. Arden readily agreed and she came in wearing a white tank top, torn denims, and black Converse high-tops. Her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail. Dark glasses covered her eyes, but she removed them, peering across the table at me as she sipped her coffee.

Av: Arden, thanks for agreeing to sit with me for a few. I understand you’re busy.
Arden shrugs: It’s cool
Av: Tell us a bit about you. Loving your name.
Arden grins: Thanks. I was named after my father. His name is Dennis.
Av: You and your father have a very…strained relationship. Do readers get to see you resolve some of your issues?
Arden: That’ll be giving stuff away, right? Readers will have to…read…to find out.
Av: Can you at least let us know if your issues have been resolved. Good or bad?
Arden: I can’t.
Av: Can’t what?
Arden: Can’t let you know. *she waves a hand* Next question.
Av: Ah, talk about your best friend Indy
Arden: What about her?
Av: Are you two still close?
Arden: We are
Av: Do you think she should get her own story?
Arden laughs: Hell yeah! Payback is a bitch.
Av: That it is. Are you ready to talk about you and Cam?
Arden squares her shoulders: As ready as I’ll ever be.
Av: What was your first impression of him?
Arden: He came across as really, really cold. And mute. Cause the bastard rarely spoke, at least to me.
Av: But you found him attractive?
Arden: Who told you that?
Av: That’s a question.
Arden: I didn’t like him. Hell, sometimes I still don’t.
Av: How’s the relationship between the families?
Arden: In one word? Fucked.
Av: Do you care one way or the other? Does it affect your life?
Arden: I try not to let it. It’s not easy, but I’ll be damned if others will dictate my happiness or who I love.
Av: Does that mean you love Cam?
Arden: Damn woman, read the freaking book!  

FAR FROM THE USUAL BLURB: He’s her ex’s brother, yet Arden Windham aches to be in Cam Mercer’s arms. The man is rude and obnoxious, his blue eyes cold and unfeeling, but he makes her body melt. Being with ex-con Cam is nowhere in her plans, not if she wants the affection she’s worked so hard to gain from her overbearing father. Still, Cam’s touch is unlike anything she’s ever felt and Arden finds herself having to choose between her wants and her needs.
Cameron Mercer is his family’s black sheep, a man apart. For six months he watched Arden waste her time with his twin and now she’s free, he’s not waiting another minute. He’s on a campaign to get her off the tight rope she’s been walking. There’s a rebel behind that smooth façade and he’s on a mission to set Arden free. Too bad she insists on putting up a fight.

Excerpt

Arden held herself upright with her hip propped against her car as she waited for Indy to come out from the bar. Cam left her standing in the darkness, getting into his truck and driving off while she struggled to accept the ramifications of what she’d done.
She promised her father she’d be on her best behavior and this so wasn’t it. He’d have a coronary if he ever found out about this. Let’s not forget, too, that Cam was Clark’s brother.
Brothers.
She tugged on the ends of her hair and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. The crotch of her thong was soaked through; her flesh felt swollen and extra sensitive. She needed Cam in the worst way and she just knew she’d end up doing all kinds of things she’d regret before the night was through.
“Hey.”
She looked up as Indy approached.
“Are you okay?” Indy eyed her up and down. “Did you get busy?”
Indy had been after her to make a move on Cam, pointedly ignoring Arden’s plea to go somewhere when she spotted his truck in the parking lot earlier.
“We didn’t.” She shook her head and got into the car. Buckling herself in, she laid her head back and sighed. “I’m fucked.”
Indy grunted as she got into the driver’s seat. “Not yet, you aren’t.”
“He’s not part of the plan, Indy.” She stared out the window. “No drama. The Mayor’s daughter can’t be caught fucking an ex-con.”
“So don’t get caught.” Indy touched her shoulder. “Look, have you questioned why your father put you on all these weird restrictions? Ever since you came here, you’ve been all uptight and buttoned up. Being the quiet, unassuming daughter isn’t your shtick.”
“But it has to be.” She’d been away from her father for far too long, she couldn’t bear to be apart anymore. “It’s been years since I’ve been in the same state as my dad. He asked me not to embarrass him, not to cause any scandals, and I refuse to.”
Indy frowned. “You and Cam getting your freak on isn’t the same as what happened with Justin. You didn’t know he was a scumbag drug dealer.”
Arden snorted. She always felt like such a fool when reminded of the man she’d loved, who she thought loved her. Turned out Justin was one of the biggest drug dealers on their New York college campus. Everyone knew, except her. And she’d been the fool who had to call her father up to be bailed out of jail for a crime she’d never even thought to commit. 
“Cam.” She whispered his name. “He doesn’t even like me, he told me that. But I—”
“But you’d like to know what it feels like to have him blow your back out.”
Arden laughed. Indy had a way with words. “He would.”
“Yeah.”
They sat in silence, the possibilities swirling in her head.
“He’s Clark’s brother.”
“Clark’s your ex,” Indy reminded her. “And let’s face it, golden boy wasn’t always up on his game, was he?”
Arden had no complaints regarding sex with Clark; he’d been a generous lover. Never left her hanging, but didn’t have her swinging from the chandeliers, either. Their bedroom exploits had taken a hit the weeks leading up their break-up since he’d started working late hours on a new project.
He’d begun sleeping around and she hadn’t called him on it, she simply cut him off. Their relationship had been smooth sailing up to that point. No arguments and no big declarations of love. She’d cared about him in the beginning, liked that he was a good guy with a legit job and low-key personality. He didn’t demand anything she hadn’t been willing to give and maybe she’d been a fool in assuming that was what it took to build a life together.
She folded her hands in her lap. “Drive.”

You can find Far From the Usual at the following places: 


And you can find Avril Ashton and her hot romance at:
Follow Avril on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/#!/AvrilAsh

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

Monday, March 19, 2012

Interview with Tegan Murin from Passion's Flight by Shannan Albright

Good morning. Yesterday, I was talking with my friend and fellow Las Vegas author Shannan Albright, and she told me the most amazing tale. I'd been bugging her to get me an interview with Tegan Murin, the enforcer from her recent release, Passion's Flight. Tegan is notoriously prickly, so she said she'd at least go talk to him to see if she could get anything more out of him to share. Below is the transcript of their talk.


I finally found The Asp Bar in the seedier part of Las Vegas. If not for this interview, I would have turned around and headed back as fast as my cowardly ass-end could go. Several blocks away from the Fremont Experience, the neighborhood in which the small bar sat was run down. Homes stood vacant with foreclosure stickers stuck to the doors and only a few were occupied, if all the old broken down cars littering the driveways and sidewalks were any indication. On one side stood an empty lot, chained and padlocked, filled with overgrown weeds and dirt, everything about this place was just as I wrote it.

Very surreal and a part of me wished I could take a moment more to investigate my surroundings further. Fortunately I’m smart enough to know how stupid that would be. Besides I had an interview to do which I was already late for.

I parked and locked my car, praying it would still be untouched when I came back out and hurried inside the bar. Again I was hit by a strong sense of Déjà vu. The bar was nearly empty, but then again the hour of day had a lot to do with that. Most of The Asp clientele were night dwellers, though I was surprised to find Mari behind the bar, her newly braided hair clinking with the swaying of her beaded hair. Her smile was warm, brown eyes lighting up with genuine pleasure as she moved toward me, leaving the bar. Now I’m short, standing at five foot three and rounded with lots of curves, yet next to this ancient vampire, I felt like a lumbering bull moose. Small boned, she stood the same height as I, but her body was leaner and more toned than mine could ever be.

Nope, I wasn’t jealous, really. Oh, hell maybe a little.

Without a word she led me to where Tegan waited with a scowl on his face. Even with the dark look the man was a walking sex ad. Could anyone be sexier? His gaze swept over me, bringing goose bumps up my whole body, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt very few females could refuse him anything.

As breathtaking as a fallen angel, his dark hair fell in dark waves past his broad shoulders framing his chiseled face. Green eyes snapped with irritation and I found myself swallowing nervously. With a weak smile, I slid into the booth and pulled out my pad and pen, feeling his gaze boring holes in me as I prepared for our interview.

Mari asked if we needed anything and I piped up with an Ice Tea, immediately regretting my decision as they both gave me a look that spoke volumes. Wimp, yeah, that’s me. Mari left us with a laugh and a shake of her head. Beads clattering off in the distance, guess that Ice Tea was a no-go.

“Um, sorry to be late, there is the usual traffic jam on the I-15,” I explained.

“There’s always a traffic snarl on I-15. You wanted this meet, so what do you want to know that I haven’t already given you?” Tegan got right to the point.

“Look, Tegan, just a few questions in your own words and I’ll be out of your hair, I promise.”

He studied me for a seconded before nodding his head in agreement. “Fine, let’s just be quick about this. Want to get back to Kyra and still have to prepare for patrol tonight.”

“How are Kyra and you doing?”

His whole body relaxed and a smile played over those sensual lips of his. Kyra was one lucky girl. “Great, couldn’t be happier except for the few times when I need to leave her at HQ, then I’m not quite so amiable.”

Oookay, moving on with the questions then. I looked down at my list and chose the next one. “How are you and your step-father getting along these days?”

“We’re getting there. I spent a long time hating the man so it’s going to take time to get past it all. Nicolai is a very patient and tenacious man, so we will get there.”

“What do you think of Marcus as the new Consortium’s leader?”

That brought a full out smile to his lips, transforming his already handsome face into a masterpiece of lethal beauty. “Out of everyone I have ever had the pleasure to serve under, Marcus Valerian was made for this position and I stand by him in this endeavor one hundred percent.”

“What part do you think you’ll play in the new world order?”

“As little as possible, if I have my way. Let’s face it, I’m not the kind of guy who is good at all the diplomacy crap. I’m more the guy who kicks ass and takes names.”

I bit back a chuckle. Knowing Tegan as well as I did, I could never see him being politically correct about anything. So yeah, he would be best behind the scenes, otherwise he may just cause an international incident.

“With Marcus and Tambra expecting twins do you ever think about having children?”

“Hell yeah, Kyra and I are practicing every day, sometimes three to four times a day.” His grin turned sinfully wicked and my mind turned to silk sheets and dark chocolate. Oh, shit, that was just wrong. After all, I am happily married, but damn, the things I can imagine.

With effort I steered my thoughts back on course. “I’m doing Zeke’s story next. Is there anything you want to share about him?”

“Nope, but maybe you can share with me something about the guy.”

I found myself more than a little curious as to what Tegan could possibly want to know about his best friend. “What can I possibly learn about him that you don’t already know?”

He leaned in conspiratorially across the booth. “Why the hell does he wear those shades? He even sleeps with them on. I’ve never seen what his eyes look like and in fact wondered if he was blind at first, but nawh, he wouldn’t be able to fight like he does if he couldn’t see.”

Humm, that was a good question, and one that I knew would be difficult to get out of Zeke. In fact, it seemed there was a lot Zeke didn’t share with himself, even with his best friend.

“Before I wrap this up, is there anything you would like the readers to know about you?”

“Yeah, just this, if you run into me in a dark alley, turn around and run like hell, cause if I’m there, sure as shit I’m with something much nastier than a mugger.”

Well, with that said, I thanked Tegan. He just nodded and I got the hint it was time for me to get my ass back to the safer side of the city and get ready for my interview with the enigmatic Atlantean Enforcer Zeke.

Passion's Flight is the second in Shannan's Dark Breeds series and is pretty hot stuff. If you like vampires and were-creatures, this is a wonderful introduction to the dark side of Las Vegas. You can find it at the following vendors:

All Romance Ebooks
Amazon
Bookstrand
Evernight Publishing
Smashwords

If you'd like to get read the first story in this series, please look of Dark Passion Rising at the same places, and also at:
Manic Readers
Barnes&Noble

If you'd like to find out more about Shannan Albright, you can find her at:
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Romance You Can Sink Your Fangs Into
Website

Thanks for stopping by and leave a comment if you're interested. Shannan loves to talk to fans. Happy reading!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday - Her Devoted Vampire - Suspending Disbelief


Welcome back, Sixers! Thank you so much for return each week to read these snippets. I truly appreciate the comments and I'm grateful you've taken the time to stop by. The Six Sentence Sunday is a long list and there are several authors vying for your attention, so thank you for visiting me. :) I have my own favorites I visit each week and a few of those are Zee Monodee, Kallypso Masters, Cara Bristol, and Ruthie Knox.


This snippet is from my recent release Her Devoted Vampire, where Bridget Shanahan wakes up in Fredrick MacGregor's house and is convinced he's kidnapped her for his own nefarious reasons. She's had a rough day.

“That’s just great. A perfect ending to a perfect day.” She sighed, slumping back in the bed. “Stabbed, kidnapped, and naked in a stranger’s bed. It just doesn’t get much worse.”

“Except, perhaps, being kidnapped by a vampire with a house full of werewolves,” he suggested, a half-smile curling his kissable lips.


Oh man, if I had a nickel for every time a sexy guy has told me that one...Wait. He's not kidding? Thanks for stopping by and may the luck of the Irish be with you today. :)

Friday, March 16, 2012

Outside of a Dog #100Words for the #FridayFictioneers

Welcome back to the #FridayFictioneers. Today my story is a little longer than 100 words, but you needed the little extra to get you there. Here's the photo that inspired it.

“How do you know he went in there?” Cassie asked as she pulled her Sig.

“Caught a flicker of motion out of the corner of my eye.” Jack raised his Glock and darted across the street.

They crept along beneath the windows of the old abandoned brick school building, their soft soles crunching on broken glass and garbage.

Jack held up his hand and she froze behind him.

“What?” she whispered.

He tipped his hand forward, pointing. “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”

Cassie blinked at the scraggly mutt wagging his tail at a dumpster. “I didn’t know you were a literary man.”

He chuckled as they moved. “Just loved the Marx brothers.”

For the record, I don't think the dog in the photo is scraggly, it just fit better with the story. :) Thank you for stopping by. If you'd like to read more of the #FridayFictioneers, please check out host Madison Woods' site. Happy reading!