Snippet Sunday - Cloudburst Ice Magic - More Than Pretty Words

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Cloudburst novella, Cloudburst Ice Magic, a paranormal romance sequel to Christmas I.C.E. Magic in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology. Cloudburst Ice Magic is out now. You can catch last week's snippet HERE.

In this snippet, Zach has gotten his audience with the Matriarch of Mistwater Tarn. He tries to pass off his interest in Lily as simply friendship. Icedora isn't buying it.

"One of the SAR professionals is a friend of mine, and I can’t leave her out there to die if I can help it.”

The small woman took two steps to him and grasped his jaw with her taloned hand, scanning his eyes.

“Ah, she means more to you than friendship.” A smile curled her lips around her protruding canines. “You’re mated to this human, yes?”

How in the Ninth Hell did she see that? It didn’t matter. He couldn’t lie to a ten thousand year old Ice Demon and get away with it.

Zach swallowed hard. “Yes, Matriarch, we mated the winter before last and she is human. But I swear by Freya, the mating was honorable and accepted by the Goddess.”

Oh, let's hope Icedora isn't as traditional as his parents. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Cloudburst Ice Magic, here's the blurb:

Avalanches may bring down more than snow…

Working for the Search and Rescue team at the Cloudburst Resort in Colorado, Lily Sinclair figures she’ll do all the rescuing from now on. When hikers are caught in a spring blizzard, Lily and her partner head into the storm. Cut off from communication and facing deadly conditions, Lily fears she’ll never see her Ice Demon lover before death claims them.

Zach Snow encouraged Lily move to Cloudburst to grow and learn, but missed her every day of their months apart. His plans of moving to Colorado get pushed up when he receives her text explaining her situation, and saying goodbye. He must negotiate with the local Ice Demon clan to work in their territory to rescue Lily and the hikers before the Spring Fling blizzard kills them. But he’s running out of time.

Between the amorous hiker hitting on Zach, Lily’s self-doubts, and an avalanche bearing down on them, Zach and Lily must rediscover the love they first kindled in a Christmas ice cave, and create their own Cloudburst ice magic.

Cloudburst Ice Magic is available at Amazon, All Romance, Barnes&Noble, and Smashwords.

#ThursThreads - Week 133 - Winners

Week 133 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. And so great to have so many new faces in the crowd this week. Welcome! Great thanks to George Varhalmi for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Kirsten Blacketer | @KirBlacketer
• Olivia Starke | @OliviaStarke
• TwiAddicAnne
• Charles W. Jones | @ChuckWesJ
• Jason McKinney | @jason_mckinney
• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• P.T. Wyant | @PTWyant
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Wendy Strain | @WendyStrain
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Charley Emma | @Charley_001
• Even Sultry | @EvenSultry
• Susanne Matthews | @jandsmatt
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Kelly Heinen | @Aightball

George says: The story had a lot of compassion and well done. Enjoyed it from beginning to end.

Silver James | @SilverJames_

George says: The back and forth banter was fun and brought life to the tale. Now where does it go, Silver knows.

Even Sultry | @EvenSultry

George says: Love the ending, it was a unique tale.

Week 133 Winner

Jason McKinney | @jason_mckinney

George says: This was a great tale, I enjoyed it from beginning to end. The twist was slick, no pun intended.

“What the hell is he up to?” said Mikhail, watching Sergei walk his post along the perimeter fence. Sergei paused to tug on a section of wire fence. “Stupid’s been doing that for two hours. He walks his post, pauses, and pulls at that section before continuing on.”

“Maybe that’s his escape route.” Lipa peered at Sergei with her scoped AK74. “Perhaps I should do something about it.” She trusted the new transfer as much as Mikhail. “Maybe he’s a rebel sapper.”

Mikhail’s reply was cut off by explosions and gunfire from the base’s west end. “Contact, western sector,” cried their radios. “Rebels armed with RPGs and… Shi-”

Mikhail and Lipa watched their sector. Sergei stood watching them, smiling. A Russian military truck plowed through the fence. Figures leapt from the truck, opening fire as they landed.

“He’s a rebel,” cried Lipa. She fired and Sergei fell. “And that was that,” she spat. She looked to Mikhail, but he was dead.

Lipa sprinted and was almost to her position when something landed on her, knocking her unconscious.

It was nighttime when she awoke. She’d been tied naked, and spread eagle to the ground, illuminated by a spotlight.

“Don’t struggle,” said a voice beyond the light.

Lipa struggled.

“You won’t be raped,” said Sergei, stepping into the light.

“I killed you.”

“Bullets are now ineffective.” His mouth, hands, and uniform were bloody.

“What are you, monster?”

“Dear, clichéd Lipa. You don’t know a damn thing about me.”

And that was that.

Congratulations Winner Jason, Kelly, Silver, and Even! Don't forget to 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. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 133

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today, so get your flash ready. Writing a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 133 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. 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 8 PM Mountain 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 133:

Rock nerd, paleo-geek, mining geologist, and honorary cowboy, George Varhalmi.

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“You don’t know a damn thing about me.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Mid Week Tease - Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack - Mine, mine, mine

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

Today I'm offering snippets from Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack, a paranormal romantic suspense. Jeff Lightfoot is the heir apparent to the Callowwood Pack and now Julianna Morris has returned to her hometown for her dad's funeral. This is his POV and he's getting a whole new perspective on things at a crucial time in the turnover of pack hierachy.

Mine! Mine! Mine!

Jeff watched the burgundy Camaro slide away through the sunshine and clenched his fists at his sides to keep from bounding after it. He was fast enough to catch up to Julianna Morris, but it wouldn’t be appropriate for the future packleader of the Callowwood Pack to run after a female like a rabid dog. Protocols had to be followed and appearances had to be upheld. He tried to remind his cock of that, but the damn thing had a mind of its own, and right now it told him to run after his True Mate, appearances be damned.

“Dammit, calm down!” he snarled, and pounded his fist against his thigh hard enough to divert his attention from his groin to the pain. “You have to go back inside and face all those bitches and their families.”

The idea made him snarl even harder as he ground his teeth. He didn’t want any of them. They might be alpha females, true enough, but most were simpering, self-aggrandizing whelps wanting him only for his position and the prestige it gave them and their families. Every one of them thought she deserved to be the Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack.

Emphasis on bitch, he thought nastily, gulping great breaths of air to settle not only his hard-on but also his primal fury.

Pack policies and leadership protocols required him to interview several alpha female candidates for the position of his mate and Luna, the top Alpha female, for the betterment of the pack. It was tradition, left over from a time when Mates were few and far between. The pack needed a balanced leadership of male and female protection by their Alphas, but the Alpha’s True Mate hadn’t always appeared. The elders of each pack decided, if the future Alpha’s Mate did not appear, the leadership would be chosen by competition, and the future Alpha would choose from a group of likely alpha female candidates who passed a series of tests.

Times had changed. More Moon Singers—werewolves—lived among the humans now and finding True Mates was much easier. However, the tradition of the Luna selection remained in place for the Alphas, and he was bound by his rank to follow it. Before Julianna Morris had returned to Callowwood, the political requirements hadn’t bothered him.

Now everything had changed.

Holy First Canid, even her scent beguiled him. The combination of climbing gardenia and heated ponderosa pine forest wrapped around him with sensuous fingers. His hard-on flared again, along with uncertainty. Why didn’t I know she was a Moon Singer before?

Jeff had been attracted to Julianna ever since she’d started to develop breasts and hips. She’d flaunted herself at him all through her high school years with her cute, tight shirts and pants, sexy summer dresses and flirty attitude. Raging hormones filled her scent, taunting him with her delicious feminine musk. It was all he could do to treat her like another little sister and stay away from her, throwing himself into cold showers and punishing exercise routines. He’d never been so buff.

Whenever his mind demanded he take her and fuck her hard, he only stopped himself with two thoughts. First, she was too young and not nearly ready for sex, despite her beauty and innocent flirting. Second, she wasn’t a Moon Singer. She hadn’t smelled like one or acted like one, and her parents were human.

When the hell had that changed?

And when had she become his True Mate?

Available at Amazon | Bookstrand | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...
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Snippet Sunday - Cloudburst Ice Magic - Everyone is Someone

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Cloudburst novella, Cloudburst Ice Magic, a paranormal romance sequel to Christmas I.C.E. Magic in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology. Cloudburst Ice Magic is out now. You can catch last week's snippet HERE and an exclusive excerpt HERE.

In this snippet, Zach and Cade Cliffrose have hiked up to the Mistweaver Tarn and have spoken with the guards. Zach finds out a lot more about Cade than he thought he knew.

Cade inclined his head and Zach followed him under the archway, his mind churning.

“You didn’t tell me you were from the San Francisco Peaks area.”

Cade winked. “You never asked outright and I did say my home range melts every summer.”

“I never would’ve guessed you were from there. Everyone I’ve met from the area seemed really full of themselves.”

“Yeah, that’s why I leave most of the time. Gotta go back every now and again to talk to family, though.” Cade shrugged. “Granddad likes to pretend he’s a god or some shit like that. Drives me up the crags.”

Good to know the clan has a history. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Cloudburst Ice Magic, here's the blurb:

Avalanches may bring down more than snow…

Working for the Search and Rescue team at the Cloudburst Resort in Colorado, Lily Sinclair figures she’ll do all the rescuing from now on. When hikers are caught in a spring blizzard, Lily and her partner head into the storm. Cut off from communication and facing deadly conditions, Lily fears she’ll never see her Ice Demon lover before death claims them.

Zach Snow encouraged Lily move to Cloudburst to grow and learn, but missed her every day of their months apart. His plans of moving to Colorado get pushed up when he receives her text explaining her situation, and saying goodbye. He must negotiate with the local Ice Demon clan to work in their territory to rescue Lily and the hikers before the Spring Fling blizzard kills them. But he’s running out of time.

Between the amorous hiker hitting on Zach, Lily’s self-doubts, and an avalanche bearing down on them, Zach and Lily must rediscover the love they first kindled in a Christmas ice cave, and create their own Cloudburst ice magic.

Cloudburst Ice Magic is available at Amazon, All Romance, and Smashwords.

#ThursThreads - Week 132 - Winners

Week 132 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. Great thanks to Harris Channing for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Rafe Brox | @etcet
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Charles W. Jones | @ChuckWesJ
• Charley Emma | @Charley_001
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Nellie Batz | @solimond
• Sandi Layne | @sandyquill
• Even Sultry
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Harris says: First of all, let me say that I really enjoyed everyone’s entry. I read them as they came in and then reread them and as Siobhan knows I struggled with my decision.  SO, I walked away from the computer and then let my mind wander. The stories that came back to me during my meanderings are the ones I chose. Thanks to everyone for allowing me the pleasure of reading your work. Keep writing.

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Charles W Jones | @ChuckWesJ

Harris says: He set a mood immediately. The darkness of the storyline and the female character’s fears were well conveyed.

Even Sultry

Harris says: Even did a great job of description. He drew me in with his bored, jaded empress.

Sandi Layne | @sandyquill

Harris says: Sandi gets an honorable mention for the style of her writing and her gotcha ending. Yeah, I know…I didn’t see it coming!

Week 132 Winner

Silver James | @SilverJames_

Harris says: Her snippet showed her characters personalities right away. The attraction, the tension and the excitement were all there. The writing was smooth and entertaining.

Something feral flashed in the depths of his eyes. She refused to be intimidated, stepping closer, crowding him and jutting her face to his.

“Take it back.” She issued the demand through gritted teeth.

“No.”

She’d anticipated this would be his response. “You don’t know a damn thing about me.” Good god, did his nostrils flare? Was he…sniffing her?

“I speak the truth. You want me.”

“Do not.” Blood laced with adrenaline surged through her body. Fight or flight instincts roared to life. The corner of his mouth quirked into a smirk she wanted to slap off his face.

His arm snaked around her waist and pulled until she was pressed against his body. All of his body, including the erection jabbing against her stomach. Heat followed that adrenaline rush but she refused to look away.

“You are mine. Don’t fight me.”

What the hell? “This is the twenty-first century. I’m not yours.”

“You will be.”

She inhaled sharply and her aching breasts collided with his bare chest. His hips rolled and she wanted to match the motion. She stopped her reaction in the nick of time. “Let me go.”

“Never.”

“Neanderthal.”

“No. Wolf.”

Her heart skipped a couple of beats and she could almost feel her eyes dilate. The fight drained away as the instinct to run took over. She kneed him, escaping into the underbrush.

“Run. But know you’ll never be free.”

He was right. He’d hunt her to the ends of the earth..

Congratulations NINE TIME WINNER Silver, Charles, Even, and Sandi! Don't forget to 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. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 132

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. It's Thursday today, so get your flash ready. Writing a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 132 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. 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 8 PM Mountain 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 132:

Cover artist and erotic romance author, Harris Channing.

Harris on Facebook

Harris on Google Plus

Harris on Twitter

Harris on Goodreads

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

 

The Prompt:

“Take it back.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Mid Week Tease - Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack - Still Friends

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

Today I'm offering snippets from Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack, a paranormal romantic suspense. Julianna Morris swore she was human until she shifted for the first time. Now she's returned to her hometown for her dad's funeral and has to hide it from the one guy she's crushed since high school. Jeff Lightfoot always treated her like another little sister and now that she's a werewolf she has another reason to stay away from him. Even if it's the last thing she wants.

“Actually, I’m a little tired.” Julianna turned to her mother. “Mom, I think I’m going to go.”

“What? Why?” Beth’s face creased with concern.

“I’m tired, and I just need to be alone.” She shrugged uncomfortably. “Too many people around for me.”

“Do you want a ride home?” Jeff’s voice promised comfort and sweet intimacy, but his expression showed only friendly concern.

“No, thank you, I can drive myself. But can you take my mom home? We came in my car.” She began to push her way out of the booth. Her mother moved aside, and Jeff followed, making her heart flutter with excitement despite her fatigue.

“Of course. I’d be happy to do that.”

“Thanks, Mr. Lightfoot.”

He stiffened with surprise at her formality and pulled her to face him. His nostrils flared as a tremor shifted through her body with his touch.

“Call me Jeff. ‘Mr. Lightfoot’ is too formal for friends.”

“Are we friends, Jeff?”

He cocked his head, thoughtfully. “I always thought we were. Didn’t you?”

Can we be friends with benefits?

“Sure.”

“‘Sure’ as in you’re humoring me, or ‘sure, you guessed it’?”

“The latter.”

His eyes narrowed. “But that isn’t what you want? To be friends?”

Boldness bubbled up and she lifted her chin. “No, it isn’t.”

“Ouch!” He thumped himself in the chest with one hand. “What do you want, then?”

“Do you really have to ask? I thought it was pretty obvious from my pathetic efforts to throw myself at you all those years ago.”

His eyes turned gold as he grasped one hand, squeezing unconsciously. “You were my little sister’s friend. It didn’t seem right to court you then.”

She raised her eyebrows dubiously. “Is that your excuse?”

He laughed. “Not an excuse, a reason. You’re still bold as ever, though.”

“I’m still six years younger, Jeff, even if I’m no longer your sister’s friend. Has anything really changed?”

“You have.” His hand squeezed hers again. “You’ve changed a lot.”

“Actually, I haven’t,” she stated with a disappointed smile. “I’m still the same girl who threw herself at you all those years ago. I’m just older.”

Julianna pulled her hand free and shook her head, sorrow sliding through her. She wished she was different, more exciting or glamorous. But at the end of the day, she was still Julianna Morris, the girl with the larger-than-life-crush on Jeff Lightfoot. If he hadn’t seen it then, why would he see it now? 

Available at Amazon | Bookstrand | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...
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Snippet Sunday - Cloudburst Ice Magic - The Silver Times

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Cloudburst novella, Cloudburst Ice Magic, a paranormal romance sequel to Christmas I.C.E. Magic in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology. Cloudburst Ice Magic releases on Monday, August 11, 2014. Tomorrow! You can catch last week's snippet HERE and an exclusive excerpt HERE.

In this snippet, Zach has made the 9 hour drive to Cloudburst from Vegas, and he gets some help from another Ice Demon, Cade Cliffrose. Cade has connections with the local clan and gives Zach some pointers on how to approach them. Cade is the first one to speak.

“The clan’s small, so I suspect we’ll be meeting the Matriarch. Make sure you’re in your true form when we go.”

“Will do.” While he loved being with humans and all their brilliant colors of life, being in his own skin relaxed Zach. “What’s her name?”

“Icedora Mistweaver. I’ve heard she’s one of the oldest Ice Demons outside of Europe. Been here since the Silver Times.”

“Since the last Ice Age? Holy shit, that’s ten thousand years ago.”

Good to know the clan has a history. ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Cloudburst Ice Magic, here's the blurb:

Avalanches may bring down more than snow…

Working for the Search and Rescue team at the Cloudburst Resort in Colorado, Lily Sinclair figures she’ll do all the rescuing from now on. When hikers are caught in a spring blizzard, Lily and her partner head into the storm. Cut off from communication and facing deadly conditions, Lily fears she’ll never see her Ice Demon lover before death claims them.

Zach Snow encouraged Lily move to Cloudburst to grow and learn, but missed her every day of their months apart. His plans of moving to Colorado get pushed up when he receives her text explaining her situation, and saying goodbye. He must negotiate with the local Ice Demon clan to work in their territory to rescue Lily and the hikers before the Spring Fling blizzard kills them. But he’s running out of time.

Between the amorous hiker hitting on Zach, Lily’s self-doubts, and an avalanche bearing down on them, Zach and Lily must rediscover the love they first kindled in a Christmas ice cave, and create their own Cloudburst ice magic.

Cloudburst Ice Magic is available at Amazon, All Romance, and Smashwords.

#ThursThreads - Week 131 - Winners

Week 131 of #ThursThreads had some terrific tales. I'm honored to see all of the returning writers and read your stories. Thank you for coming back again and again to write and for helping me celebrate these years of flash. Great thanks to Layla Wolfe for judging this week. Be sure to check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on FB to keep up with news, etc.

Entries:

• Anna Lund | @AnnaLund2011
• Alice Wilson | @Ali_OMalley
• TwiAddictAnne
• Silver James | @SilverJames_
• Sandi Layne | @sandyquill
• Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil (prose)
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil (poem)
• Cate Derham | @Cate_Derham
• Kelly Heinen | @Aightball
• Charley Emma | @Charley_001
• Anastasia Vitsky | @AnastasiaVitsky
• Louisa Bacio | @Lousiabacio
• Theresa Breaux | @theresabreaux
• Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Alice Wilson | @Ali_OMalley

Layla says: Alice's tale about the smitten student for somewhat the same reasons—it just terrified me! What is she going to do next? How will she blow the whistle on the teacher?

Sandi Layne | @sandyquill

Layla says: Sandi's story also makes me want to know what’s up. Why are the kids there? What the hell is going on?

Anastasia Vitsky | @Anastasia Vitsky

Layla says: Anastasia's story of speed and bad impulse control also scared me into wondering what was going to happen.

Hunter Frost | @HunterFrostMM

Layla says: Hunter gets the award for the cutest, most poignant story.

Week 131 Winner

Kelly Heinen | @Aightball

Camera shy: Kelly Heinen

Layla says: This story about the drug addicted wife as the winner. I think everyone is terrified of being arrested—and being out of control or a slave to some substance/someone else is a close second. And I want to know why she towers over her husband.

All 6'7" of me towers over my husband. Tucked into a corner of the couch, blood dripping from his lower lip, his chest heaves with every breath. I rear my fist back, teeth clenched, eyes narrowed.

"Take it back."

He shakes his head, sweat beading on his forehead. "No. You're using again and I want you to stop."

My fist slams into his cheek. "Shut up, that's not true."

I grab his phone, throwing it against the wall. He bolts from the couch, but I'm faster. I glare at him, spittle flying when I grind out my next words.

"I'm not using again."

I swing, connecting with air. The back door slams. I run down the stairs, the back door crashing against the house. The world spins for a moment before I spot him.

"Jack!" I roar.

Gravel flies behind my shoes as I run for him. Foolishly, I left my gun in my truck. Dirt filters through my nose and down my throat. Facedown on our gravel drive, a knee drives painfully into my back. The cold metal of handcuffs yanks my hands behind my back.

"I'm sorry."

Jack stands by as I'm dragged to a police car, the lights on top too bright. Someone in a brown uniform shoves me in the back. I don't listen as my rights are recited. I focus on Jack as another man embraces him. My head bows as one single tear rolls down my cheek.

Congratulations Winner Kelly, Alice, Sandi, Anastasia, and Hunter! Don't forget to 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. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! :)

#ThursThreads - The Challenge That Ties Tales Together - Week 131

Welcome back to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked. I hope you had a good week away. Did you miss me? :) It's Thursday today, so get your flash ready. Writing a #flashfiction thread! Welcome to Week 131 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? You're welcome to join the FB #ThursThreads group where we'll do events and make announcements. 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 8 PM Mountain 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 131:

Leather jacket fan, archery expert, and erotic biker romance author, Layla Wolfe.

Layla on Facebook

Layla on Google Plus

Layla on Twitter

Layla on Goodreads

And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together.

The Prompt:

“Shut up, that’s not true.”

All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

Mid Week Tease - Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack - Not Quite Alone

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

Today I'm offering snippets from Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack, a paranormal romantic suspense. Julianna Morris swore she was human until she shifted for the first time. Now she's been invited to her long time crush's home for a party and an older woman is trying to explain everything that's going on around Julianna. And she finds out she's not quite alone.

“Take me to my seat and sit beside me for a moment. I’ll try to explain as quickly as I can before you must play your part in this pageant.”

Sebrina directed them to the table closest to the podium and Julianna helped her into her seat . Reading the place cards, she noted Sebrina shared the table with Richard, Tawny, and Jeff. She spied her own name on a place card beside Sebrina’s and was grateful someone had seen to it she’d sit with the few people she knew, even if they were the hosts of the party.

 Julianna took her seat beside the older woman and smoothed her skirt in an effort to stave off her jitters. Still, her heart pounded, and she hoped she presented a serene and confident façade. Her gut told her something big and frightening barreled her way, a runaway train of events she couldn’t stop. She could see the light coming, but she felt tied to the track.

“Now then, daughter, there’s no reason to be so concerned.” Sebrina patted her hand where it unconsciously clenched in her lap, and Julianna forced it to relax. “I know you’ve only recently returned to Callowwood, so all of this will be a rude shock or worse, but the timing cannot be helped, and you must do the best you can with what’s presented to you.”

 “What’s going on, Sebrina?”

The old woman settled herself in her chair. “Since you’ve been home, I’ve scented when you’ve changed into your Sister form, but she seems to have taken most of your choices from you when you changed.”

Julianna blinked. “My Sister form?”

“That of the Moon Singer, the dusky brown wolf who is the other half of your soul.”

Julianna felt all the blood leave her face. “How do you know about that?”

“Don’t look so worried, daughter. We all knew what you’d become the moment you returned.”

“All?” Julianna repeated weakly.

“Everyone here at this gathering.” Sebrina frowned a little, cocking her head to one side like a curious dog. “You’re now among more of your kind. Did you not know? Everyone here is a Moon Singer. You’re sitting with the members of the Callowwood Pack, the largest and strongest werewolf pack in the north central Basin and Range.”

The words hit Julianna like thrown stones: Everyone here, werewolf, your kind.

Julianna swallowed hard and gripped her chair tightly. Holy shit! All of them are werewolves.

Available at Amazon | Bookstrand | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...
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Snippet Sunday - Cloudburst Ice Magic - Careful What You Wish For

Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Cloudburst novella, Cloudburst Ice Magic, a paranormal romance sequel to Christmas I.C.E. Magic in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology. Cloudburst Ice Magic releases on Monday, August 11, 2014. Tomorrow! You can catch the first snippet HERE and an exclusive excerpt HERE.

In this snippet, Lily Sinclair has a new job as Search and Rescue at the Cloudburst Resort and she and her partner Randy are stuck out in an ice shelter. The blizzard has socked them in and no help is coming. Everyone has gone to bed and she's keeping watch over the stove, lighting it periodically to keep heat in the shelter.

God, Zach, please get the text. She closed her eyes and imagined him standing in his ice cave wearing nothing but a grin in his natural form. His beauty never failed to excite her and a fierce yearning to see him again burned through her chest. I miss you and love you.

The truth came hard. She sat in an ice shelter hoping nothing crashed down on them and she finally admitted she loved him.

Way to go, Lil. He’s not here to tell, is he? Her brother’s voice mocked her gently. She wished her phone had juice so she could text Zach. Classy. Say it in a text.

“Fine.” Her whisper barely disturbed Randy’s snores. “Then send Zach to me out here in the Rockies and I’ll tell him in person.”

Careful what you wish for, Lil.

She snorted. “As long as we’re wishing, I’d like Zach to move to Colorado and be my permanent partner in everything, including SAR.” Hell, she’d settle for just seeing him again.

What's that saying, Spit in one hand, and wishes in the other... ;) There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.

If you're interested in more from Cloudburst Ice Magic, here's the blurb:

Avalanches may bring down more than snow…

Working for the Search and Rescue team at the Cloudburst Resort in Colorado, Lily Sinclair figures she’ll do all the rescuing from now on. When hikers are caught in a spring blizzard, Lily and her partner head into the storm. Cut off from communication and facing deadly conditions, Lily fears she’ll never see her Ice Demon lover before death claims them.

Zach Snow encouraged Lily move to Cloudburst to grow and learn, but missed her every day of their months apart. His plans of moving to Colorado get pushed up when he receives her text explaining her situation, and saying goodbye. He must negotiate with the local Ice Demon clan to work in their territory to rescue Lily and the hikers before the Spring Fling blizzard kills them. But he’s running out of time.

Between the amorous hiker hitting on Zach, Lily’s self-doubts, and an avalanche bearing down on them, Zach and Lily must rediscover the love they first kindled in a Christmas ice cave, and create their own Cloudburst ice magic.

Cloudburst Ice Magic will be available at Amazon, All Romance, and Smashwords on August 11th 2014.

Mid Week Tease - Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack - Don't Be So Grabby

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

Today I'm offering snippets from Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack, a paranormal romantic suspense. Julianna Morris swore she was human until she shifted for the first time. Now she's been introduced to the local pack as a Luna candidate (Alpha female prospect) and she's learned the females are often used as sex toys by higher ranked alpha males. Not her happiest moment. Her "Sister" self is the wolf side.

Julianna strode confidently through the house toward the front doors, her fury banked but still smoldering as she tightly gripped her purse, in which she’d dropped the token. She’d sought out Jeff, but he’d disappeared while Richard gave her the pendant, and he was nowhere to be found under the tents.

It figures he’d make me look for him so I can seek his approval for departure!

As she passed a darkened hallway to her right, a male arm reached out of the darkness and jerked her against a hard body. Rage blazed hot as she crashed into the wall of flesh with an unladylike grunt of surprise, but it dropped into icy fury as she slammed her elbow into her assailant’s gut.

Her Sister’s nature surged into the forefront of her awareness and she turned on her attacker with pent up ferocity.

He yelped as she stomped down on his instep, twisting in his arms. Then she shoved his shoulders back against the wall and slammed her knee into his groin. He collapsed, panting and groaning, when the irresistible scent of the desert rain penetrated her adrenaline rush.

Understanding dawned.

She’d just kneed Jeff Lightfoot in the balls! It would’ve been funny if she wasn’t so angry. His original grip had been sexually domineering, complete with raging hard-on.

“Jeff?” She grasped his shoulders. “What are you doing?”

“What the hell was that for?” he groaned, cupping his crotch protectively.

“Haven’t you learned never to grab a woman out of the darkness?” Julianna shook her head as some of her anger drained away. “I lived in the big city for a long time. More than one man tried to take me down. Are you okay?”

“No.” He sounded strangled, and she had to hide a smile. “Can’t breathe.”

“Sorry.”

“Damn, woman!”

“Damn, yourself! Why did you try to grab me?”

“I didn’t want you to leave yet,” he whispered as he slowly straightened up. His face looked a little gray, but it might have been the dim light. “I wanted to say a more private good-bye, but I think I’m only going to say good-bye to my balls. Shit!”

“I am sorry, even if I was defending myself.” She bit her bottom lip. “Do you want to sit down?”

Available at Amazon | Bookstrand | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

Thanks for stopping by and happy reading. If you want to read more from other authors, click the link and enjoy...
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