Monthly Archives: July 2011
Legs by Harper Alibeck – Book Review
Don’t be fooled by billing of this novel as merely a steamy romance. While the novel packs some substantial heat and there is a romance, LEGS is multi-layered, enchanting even, and I devoured it fairly quickly. Bad timing, misunderstandings and foolish pride stand in the way of love and I found myself gripping my e-reader as I plowed through the novel to see what happened next. The little bit of paranormal foreshadowing left me eager to read the next one as well.
Alibeck writes with crisp, sometimes humorous, prose and she moved the story on at great pace, while weaving in a creative and inventive plot. Yes, there’s a plot. See what did I tell you about getting fooled by the “steamy” part? Don’t misunderstand though, this novel has enough spice to make Emeril go “BAMM!” several times, but the sex furthers the story, drawing the reader into this great love that could be, if only the two people could just get out of their own way.
I’m probably not making sense; I’m tired after all, so you don’t have to believe me. Just read it for yourself. I bet you’ll be anxiously awaiting the prequel, as I am.
Flash-N Fridays – Recycled
Welcome to FLASH-N FRIDAY’S. In case your mind is in the gutter, you won’t find any naughty pictures in this segment. Just down and dirty flash fiction writing.
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: The art of Short Fiction is severely under-rated. If writer’s, and readers, stop to think about it for one minute, they would see that not only is writing a complete story with few words very hard to do, but it also can be used to hone a writer’s skill. In flash fiction you’re working with limited real estate, and each word chosen must work overtime.
** Maximum word count is 300. I’m not even limiting it to genres. (well, maybe erotic is out, but everything else goes 
Also, I have found that a great way to jump-start these little flash sessions is to browse for inspiring images like the one posted below the story. *******
Recycled
“I don’t think I understand.” I brushed the bagel crumbs aside and memorized how the sun reflected off my small, hopeful, diamond ring. He circled the kitchen, one eye on me. Vulture.
“Are you even listening to me?” He stared at me with a blank face, like I was not anyone he cared about at all.
“I always listen to you.” I hated when he did that. Like he was trying to find words that my simple brain could comprehend. Like I was a child. Like I was beneath him.
Of course, I had been beneath him. I had been on top of him. I had been beside him. Through it all– his divorce, the bankruptcy– I had been there. I had thought that was enough.
“Deena!” He exhaled deeply, his frustration curling out from his mouth like a long-held plume of cigarette smoke. “DO YOU GET IT?”
He spelled it all out for me again. He was leaving me for another woman. That, I didn’t get. How could he leave his “other woman” for another woman?
The logic was warped. Of course, I was no longer the other woman. His original was discarded last year, like I was being trashed now. Recycling…save the planet and all that crap.
“We’ll see.” Images of the two of us flashed into memory. On the trunk of his sedan. My favorite panties–silk with pink flowers– on his rear-mounted antenna.
Now I am parked outside his apartment, my motor rumbling like a hungry kitty.
I’ll wait until he comes out, watch him drive off, then I’ll follow him straight to hell. When he comes to the sharp corner on his way to her house, I’ll get mine, pulling over to listen to the hollow-tin echos from below.
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I hope you enjoyed this brief foray into my quivering cerebellum. Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming! ~Karen
Three-Ways Thursdays: Meet Author Heather Marie Adkins
Well, it’s that time again- time for another installment of Three Ways Thursday’s! So grab your poison (beer, wine, the hard-stuff- we don’t judge), slip into something more comfortable and prepare yourself for some rollicking good fun!
Today’s spotlight Author is the Quirky & Talented Heather Marie Adkins. Enjoy!
Part One: The Facts
Author: Heather Marie Adkins
Website: http://heather.bishoffs.com
Quirky Factor: Severe
My name is Heather Marie Adkins and I’m from North Central Kentucky. I’m a Witch who listens to country music and wears hippie dresses to the Rodeo
Part 2: The Book —-> THE TEMPLE
Vale Avari has a mysterious past and a laundry list of super-powers, but that’s nothing compared to what she finds upon moving from small town U.S.A to jolly-good England.
A chance dart throw lands her in Quicksilver, an off-the-map place with a big problem – people are dying, and word is, it’s supernatural.
At her new place of employment, a temple dedicated to the ancient Mother Goddess, Vale learns something even more shocking – women guards are disappearing at an alarmingly patterned rate; women who possess special gifts like her own.
Supernatural powers aside, Vale isn’t ready to believe in the Wild Hunt as the culprit, and she’s determined to prove the deaths are acts of human violence.
Plagued by a brute with a history of domestic violence and lusting after a dark-eyed man with a secret, Vale has a limited amount of time to discover the killer before he strikes again. In the process, she’ll learn things aren’t always what they seem and the supernatural might not be so extraordinary after all.
The Hunt could ride for her.
AVAILABLE AT:
Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Smashwords
Part Three: Nonsense!
I think I’m pretty unique, but when it comes down to putting examples to paper, it’s pretty difficult. 3 unique and quirky things about me:
- My boyfriend and I live in a suburban neighborhood but we own 4 dogs, 5 cats, 2 chinchillas, 5 chickens, and a betta fish. I also grow vegetables and herbs. We call our “farm” Le Maison Fou–the crazy house I wrote a “Meet the Family” blog here where I gave all the animals their own “author” bio.
- A year ago, I shattered my pinkie finger in Karate (I’m a black belt). After three surgeries, my pinkie no longer bends because it’s Fused. I type faster with nine fingers than most people can with all ten
- My entire family works in public safety–police officers, sheriff’s deputies, Parole officers, EMTs, military, and a bunch of firefighters. I followed in the same suit–I’m a police dispatcher. Our last name is well-known in town.
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I do hope you’ve enjoyed this segment of THREE-WAYS THURSDAYS and I want to thank Heather Marie Adkins for being with us. Until next time peeps!
~Karen
A Hidden Witch (New Release!) by Debora Geary – Review
A while back, I reviewed Geary’s first Indie published novel A Modern Witch (you can see that review here) and I had the pleasure of reading the sequel, A Hidden Witch as well. With the first book I developed a wicked case of puppy-love, but with the second I’ve become flat-out enamored with this series and the characters.
I stayed up far too late last night reading it, and in fact, I started on it the moment I downloaded it to my iPad. Even though I hated to do it, I eventually forced myself to go to bed at 2am, saving the last few chapters for when my eyes would stay open.
Today, during my breaks from work, I finished the novel. And I’ll let you all in on a slightly embarrassing secret. I actually cried. At work. Twice.
A Hidden Witch is just that good.
If you haven’t read the first book, A Modern Witch, go get it now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or wherever else you can. It’s also available as a paperback now too. Go on! Read the first and then the second book, so you can be like me- anxiously awaiting the third!
Book Two- New release!
The Amazon Blurb for A Hidden Witch:
Elorie Shaw, steeped in the traditions of the Nova Scotia witching community, but not a witch. The fetching spell must have goofed this time… or did it?
Travel to Fisher’s Cove, Nova Scotia, where Moira is matriarch and the old ways are nurtured and passed to the next generation. Where a crotchety old witch makes small children cry and builds walls around the silent pain in his heart. And where Elorie – sea-glass artist, inn owner, and Moira’s granddaughter – makes her home.
The old magics are strong here. Which is all fine and good until the fetching spell pulls Elorie into Witches’ Chat. Because she’s not a witch. Or at least not any kind of witch the old ways recognize…
Book One:
Conquer That First Draft – Guest Post
Today’s guest post comes to you from Arshad Ahsanuddin, author of Sunset (If you want to read a gritty, adult answer to the Twilight Saga, look no further!) Enjoy!
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So you have an idea for a book. Time to start writing. Some people would counsel to just sit down and start typing, and see where your muse takes you. This is referred to as “organic” or “seat-of-the-pants” writing. It works fine when you only have a germ of an idea or you’re brainstorming. In my experience, however, a little preparation can make a world of difference in the quality of your first draft, and the degree to which the manuscript has to be extensively revised during the editing process. Others violently disagree with me on this, so take my words merely as advice.
Never write randomly. Always plan an outline, even if you only have a rough idea of where you want to go with the story. Every scene has to have a purpose and a goal to which you are moving toward. It will stop you from writing yourself into corner more often than not, even if the details go right out the window once you start. You should have a clear idea of where you want to go, how you want to get there, and what you want to accomplish along the way. Then sit down and start writing, not before. Your outline will grow and adapt as you proceed. It should be frequently updated as more of the manuscript is completed, and divergences from your initial conception become apparent.
It isn’t usually a good idea to edit your work extensively as you go, because you will probably get bogged down in revisions and never finish your manuscript. The other reason not to edit an incomplete manuscript is that you will be working to unify the themes and structure of the earlier parts of your manuscript based on what you intend to write in the future, not what you will actually write. If your ending veers off in another direction from your initial intentions, then your early editing efforts may become outdated. Therefore, the first stage of editing should only commence once the entire manuscript is written and the structure of the story is complete.
As you write, consider different exercises to refine on the fly what you’re trying to express, so that it comes out of your head more precisely. Keep asking yourself basic questions to keep yourself on point. Does this make sense? Would it really have happened this way? Does this sound like something someone would actually say? Another possible technique is to read what you’re writing out loud. Often language that seems to be fine on paper will reveal itself to be awkward when you actually say the words.
Now press on. Even when you’re having trouble with a particular scene, don’t stop writing, or you’ll lose momentum. Consider letting it percolate in the back of your mind, while you jump ahead in your outline to write the next scene, then come back to the missing text when you’re done. Possibly, the exercise of writing what comes next will make what came before easier to process in your head. It might seem at times like the end seems out of reach, but if you concentrate on working through your outline in a consistent manner, then you have a blueprint that will eventually lead you to completion, and the burst of satisfaction when you finally write “The End.” (Not that you would actually put that at the end of your manuscript. Give the reader a little credit for noticing that there aren’t any more pages.)
Congratulations! You’ve written a book. All the good intentions you had at the start are finally realized and you have tangible proof of the fact that you’re a writer. Most people never start, or they come to a point where can’t think of what to write next and give up in frustration. By having a clear map in your mind from the start, you have avoided this pitfall, and crossed the finish line. Now you may finally cross the threshold into the editing process, from one level of Hell to the next. But that’s a story for another time.
Respectfully,
Arshad Ahsanuddin
LINKS
Website: http://pactarcanum.com
Twitter: @pactarcanum
Kindle eBook: Print edition (and video trailer)
Out of Time by Monique Martin – Mini Book Review
Just finished this book, and I’m pleased to say that I read it all in one sitting. It was just that compelling. Yes, it’s billed as a paranormal romance, but don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s all about a girl swooning over a sparkly, hunky Vamp. Because, well, that’s just been done to death.
A quick run-through (because I’m tired after reading for three hours straight without so much as a bathroom break). There’s ancient artifacts, dark family secrets, leaps through the time-space continuum, a Big Bad guy, a Speakeasy and, well- just read the book. I’m too literally sated right now to do anything but bask in the reading-afterglow.
Colin Preston Rocked And Rolled – Book Review
Reading this book made me realize that it has been a very long time since I’ve read a book with a youngish male narrator. Sure, I’ve read some James Patterson, but those don’t really count, as his stories are less about characters and more about suspenseful plots. This book Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled is male-character-driven, and I found the change out of my norm refreshing.
Boiled down to basics, it was the story of a young man, adrift during his first year of college for various reasons I won’t go into for spoiler reasons. It has quirky characters, like the Napoleon in the basement and the sage visiting Professor, and we always love Quirky around here. There’s also a good bit of musical commentary throughout (Colin is enamored with the Beatles and the novel is on 80′s time) which gives the novel an interesting flavor.
At times I felt a little irritated by the main character Colin. He thinks like a guy, and I don’t (unless we’re talking firearms, but I digress.) But it’s possible to care for someone and want to chuck them on the back of the head a time or two (just ask my younger brother!) and such is the case with this novel. I found myself pulling for dear, wounded Colin, hoping that he would come through his troubles like we have all been forced to do at some point or another.
The author, Bert Murray, wove common themes of friendship, love and betrayal throughout the story with considerable skill. In the end, I was glad to have read the book. If you are looking for a coming-of-age tale with interesting characters, a smattering of 80′s music and classic rock and roll, then Colin Preston Rocked and Rolled should suit you just fine!
This book is available at Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Flash-N Fridays – July 22
Welcome to FLASH-N FRIDAY’S. In case your mind is in the gutter, you won’t find any naughty pictures in this segment. Not unless you count this:
Now, I truly believe that the art of short fiction is severely under-rated. If writer’s, and readers, stop to think about it for one minute, they would see that not only is writing a complete story with few words very hard to do, but it also can be used to hone a writer’s skill. In flash fiction you’re working with limited real estate, and each word chosen must work overtime.
So, without further ado, here’s the inaugural Flash-N Friday’s post. I do hope you become inspired to try your own hand at the abbreviated art form!
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Free Floating
The day was a glorious one; the kind where everything is right in the world, down to the gentle breeze rippling the surface of the blue-green lake. The sun warmed Allison’s shoulders as she sat on the dock, trailing her toes through the cool water.
It was her first day off in months. Hal, her boss at the diner, didn’t give a hoot about tan lines or vacations. Nor did Allison, really.
A woodpecker’s knock echoed through the tall pines. Minnows darted past her toes, silver glinting in the late afternoon sunlight. The marsh grass rustled, lulling Allison into a comfortable peace. That blessed silence, that was what she’d been missing.
Allison sighed and stretched slowly, then stood and pulled off her shorts and threadbare tank top. She tugged at her bathing suit and stepped to the warped edge.
A raven squawked and took flight as Allison dove in. She disappeared below the surface, concealed under the murky cover. Second ticked by and the lake smoothed to liquid-glass. She floated in the inky water, weightless, until her lungs burned for oxygen.
She kicked towards the dock and blue sky, bobbing to the surface. Drawing a breath and shaking the water from her face, she reached for the dock’s ladder and climbed. Water rolled off her in sheets, tinkering to the water below.
“Bet I can hold my breathe longer than you can.”
Allison froze halfway up the ladder, the voice creeping over her skin like spiders. He was huge, disheveled, and had large, yellowed eyes shadowed under a prominent brow. His left hand twitched around a pistol as he crept closer, forcing Allison down to the water’s edge. He licked his lips and she knew.
There would be no last minute kick to the water’s surface this time.
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I’m toying with the idea of opening this segment up to guest pieces. I’ll see how well I can keep up with the feature first. Even for myself though, there are rules. Or mainly one rule: Maximum word count is 300. I’m not even limiting it to genres. (well, maybe erotic is out, but everything else goes Also, I have found that a great way to jump-start these little flash sessions is to browse for inspiring images like the one posted below the story. Okay, I’m done. Back to your regularly scheduled programming! ~Karen
Three-Ways Thursdays: Meet Author Jennifer Rainey
Well, it’s that time again- time for another installment of Three Ways Thursday’s! So grab your poision (beer, wine, the hard-stuff- we don’t judge), slip into something more comfortable and prepare yourself for some rollicking good fun!
Today’s spotlight Author is the devilishly talented Jennifer Rainey. I read somewhere that she was raised by Wolves. It’s probably not true, but how cool would that be! Enjoy!
Part One: The Facts
Author: Jennifer Rainey
Website: http://www.jenniferrainey.com/
Also: http://independentparanormal.blogspot.com/
Quirky Factor: High
Greetings! My name is Jennifer Rainey, but I prefer Jenny. I use Jennifer for professional reasons, but I still sometimes cringe when an associate calls me Jennifer, because while growing up, that meant I was going to be yelled at. I’m from Ohio, and I’ve never lived anywhere else.
(Here’s Jennifer… Isn’t she adorable!)
Besides being a writer, I’m an amateur paranormal investigator or ghost hunter, if you prefer. What that means is I like to catch ghosts and mount their heads on my wall. I have a lovely poltergeist mounted above my china cabinet, for example. … Or not, but wouldn’t it be cool if I did? I’m also a musician and singer in a folk band. People tell me I sing like Linda Ronstadt. Personally, I think I sing like Jennifer Rainey, but that’s just me.
THESE HELLISH HAPPENINGS:
Blurb: In 1707, hapless vampire Jack Bentley made a pact with the Devil in order to escape a vampire hunt. Dealing with Satan seemed better than your standard angry mob at the time. But three centuries later, Satan is ready to collect His dues, whether the vampire likes it or not. He’s taking Jack down to Hell, and He’s even got a job picked out for him down below: an eternal position at the Registration Office of the Damned.
Jack attempts to adjust to life on the Administrative Level of Hell where fire and brimstone have been replaced by board meetings and the occasional broken copier. But the whiny complaints of the recently-deceased and the legions of suited, cookie-cutter demons are the least of his problems. Try adding to the equation a dead ex-lover, a dangerous attraction to his high-ranking demon companion, Alexander Ridner, and the sticky and distorted anti-vampire politics of a Hell that is surprisingly like our own world.
AVAILABLE AT:
Part Three: Nonsense!
I live in the middle of nowhere. My high school was literally in a corn field. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are good things and bad things about living in a place like this, out here in the middle of Ohio. The food is great, but you have to drive for at least thirty minutes to get to a movie theater. There’s a great small town sense of community, but farm animals do tend to outnumber people. A neighboring town has a festival completely dedicated to the pumpkin (and what a magnificent gourd it is!).
But let me tell you something that’s really great about living out here in the middle of nowhere:The woolly worms. You think I’m mad. You’re probably right, but I’ll explain. In the late summer around these parts, woolly worms are born in the fields. These are fuzzy caterpillars, if you don’t know what I’m blathering on about. Now, these woolly worms have a taste for danger. They like to live on the wild side. These bugs would hop on a Harley and do wheelies if they could.
Now, I’m not the Worm Whisperer; they didn’t tell me all this, but I’ll tell you how I know. It’s August. You’re taking a country road out to your grandmother’s, you’ve got the windows down and your blaring what is, if you live out here, probably Lynyrd Skynyrd. And before you, crossing the toasty, dusty road, are dozens and dozens of woolly worms.
Forget bulls! This is the Running of the Worms! Zillions of little fuzzy darlings attempt to share the road with motor vehicles so they can suck up the sweet, sweet heat of the asphalt! You know, I can’t tell if they’re really brave or really stupid. Maybe a little of both. But it’s ridiculous little things like this that make me actually like living in lands uncharted. You don’t see that downtown, do ya, city-slickers?
And, by the way, there’s a game that comes with this two-month-ish long event, and there are two ways to play it. One way is to see how many woolly worms you can dodge as you drive…I imagine you can figure out the other.
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I do hope you’ve enjoyed this segment of THREE-WAYS THURSDAYS and I want to thank Jennifer Rainey for being with us. I have read her novel, THESE HELLISH HAPPENINGS, and I adored it’s quirky wit and inventive premise. You should go check it out right now. Go on, you know you want to.
Until next time peeps!
~Karen
Mental Shrillness by Todd Russell – And Why Short Stories Rock!
MENTAL SHRILLNESS by TODD RUSSELL
Website: http://toddrwrite.com/
This collection of short stories, MENTAL SHRILLNESS is a very good example of abbreviated fiction at it’s finest. I’ll get to the book itself in a minute, but first I want to discuss Shorts in general.
Not everyone is a fan of short stories, but I tend to think that has more to do with what readers are used to (printable novel-length fiction) because that’s all Traditional publishers have printed for years. But I can see the tides a’turning, and if more authors of Mr. Russell’s caliber put these collections out there, I think readers will see that shorts are not “lesser” stories, they are just condensed. And much easier to read while your standing in line at the Post-Office.
In fact, writing a top-notch story is arguably harder to accomplish. There is much less real estate involved, and each and every word must pack the proverbial gut-punch. Think of it this way, if you asked to explain something in under 50 words or with a 1,000 word limit, which do you think would be easier?
Now, with that said, not all Shorts are created equal. It’s very hard to tell a compelling, complete story, and sometimes the overall story may suffer. That is not true with this horror collection from Todd Russell. His prose is as cutting and sharp as a scalpel, and he minces no time in drawing readers into his warped world.
Most certainly not for the faint of heart, MENTAL SHRILLNESS explores, in bite-sized portions, universal themes of betrayal, lust, mental illness, undying love and desire, with disturbing finesse.
I was disturbed by these stories, especially Pains in the Glass, Falling In Bobbitt and Death Warmed Over, though not as much as I probably should have been. Instead of personally being grossed out, I was sucked into as a silent observer, very much involved in the stories. I could see them, smell them, hear them- essentially this book played out like short episodes in my mind. I felt more than I read, if that makes any sense.
The last story The Illusion whispered faintly of a specific Nathaniel Hawthorne story to me, but I can’t tell you why without telling you how. So instead, I invite you to read the story and post in the comments what story you think I’m referring to (explain yourself please as well) and there might be a goodie for whoever gets it right first. I must warn you though, the connection is tenuous at best, and I may be inventing it completely, but I do feel even my imagined binding-thread speaks volumes for the high level of writing in this collection.
The included Author’s notes are damn-near as interesting as the stories themselves, and it’s not everyday that you get to hear the method behind the madness. So, if you feel brave enough, drop a trail of breadcrumbs behind you, grab a flashlight, and enter into MENTAL SHRILLNESS.
Mental Shrillness is Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.
Co-Authoring Trend on the Rise
After some searching on the net, a little bit of Partypoker, and 1/2 of a blueberry bagel, I found what I was looking for.
POP-QUIZ:
–Is Patterson so benevolent that he grabs an aspiring author up by the shirtcollars, effectively saying, “Here my child! Hitch your wagon to my Star!” while posing for the photogs?
–Has Patterson written so many dang-blasted books that he can no longer grasp that illusive *unique* idea?
–Has Patterson fallen into a deep coma, prompting a greedy agent/ publisher to hire someone to churn out more money makers?
THE ANSWER: none of the above.
Publicity and Money seem to be the key to this mystery.
You see, shrewd Patterson has decided to use his notoriety in conjunction with a struggling writers time. It seems dear Patterson makes the outline, and co-A drafts the first full novel. A round of “change this” or “try something different here” ensues, then out pops a blue-faced spanking new novel a la’ Patterson.
Ingenious really. With co-authors, Patterson can mass produce original books (kind-of) that don’t suck, while reaping in the extrapolated royalties.
Patterson is a man with his eyes on the prize!
***So I wrote thisa while back, and addled-brained me forgot to post it. Still though, I think the topic is one of interest to writers as we see more and more co-authored novels hit the market.
Three-Ways Thurdays: Meet Author Shéa MacLeod
I’m super -excited to bring this new feature to the website, and I hope it develops into a weekly Quirky-fest. And I can think of no-better person to start the Three-Ways than today’s spotlight author– a Quirky, fascinating chic. I love her blog, and if you do one thing, check it out and subscribe to her posts. You won’t regret it!
PART 1:
Super Secret Writer Identity: Shéa MacLeod
Blog: http://sheamacleod.wordpress.com/
Even Super Secreter Location: London
Quirky Factor: SEVERE
Random Deets: I love Fluffernutter sandwiches, Brazilian dancing, and Spock.
Best book/Worst book Picks: Best book I’ve ever read… There are three that come to mind. My all-time fave is Stephen King’s The Stand. I’ve read the unabridged ridiculously long version more than once. I love it with all my heart. The Passage by Justin Cronin was incredibly amazing. It had all the horror and great story telling of King, but with more beautiful language (As Cronin is a literary writer.). Sometimes the literary-ness of it all did get in the way of the story telling, which is why I think King is better. Keep it simple. And now here’s one out of the ballpark: Dara Joy’s Ritual of Proof. Talk about controversy! A planet where women rule and men are treated much like the women of Edwardian England? Huzzah! I won’t say it was the best written book ever, but it was audacious.
Being an Indie Writer in London vs. an Indie Writer in America: I think that being indie is LESS respected in the UK, if you can imagine. But I have a lot of chutzpah, so I pull it off. lol I do find the surroundings very inspiring. There’s so much history and it’s so OLD.
Are you working on a new book? A sequel (to the one featured below)? When can we expect to see more? YES! The second book in the Sunwalker Saga, Kissed by Fire, is off to the editor. You’ll be able to read the further adventures of Morgan Bailey (This time in London. With DRAGONS!) sometime in August 2011. I’ve got three WIPs in the works. One’s the third Sunwalker book, and the other two are unrelated series.
Addicted to any TV shows? Totally. I’m a major TV addict. I’m addicted to all the CSIs, NCISs, Criminal Minds. And Bones! I’m peeved beyond imagining that Stargate Universe was cancelled, though I’m keen to try out this new show, Falling Skies. Everything’s better with aliens.
Pets, real or make-believe? Does a Guardian Angel named Bob count?
What’s the view from your window? A leafy street lined with Edwardian period houses.
Do you write on a schedule? When the mood strikes? I admit to not being terribly good with schedules. I write much better if I’m in the mood. That said, I make a point of sitting down and writing at least five times per week. Even if I only slog out a few words.
Did you celebrate the publication of your first novel? How? Hells yes! I drank port and ate Charbonnel et Walker Pink Champagne Truffles from Selfridges. Holy moly. Then I called/emailed anyone and everyone I ever met. Then I had a BBQ at a friend’s house. And drinks at the pub. Um, yeah, I celebrated! lol
(And just so you can put a face to the name, here’s Shea, looking all Mysterious and Writerly.)
PART 2:
Kissed by Darkness, Book One in the Sunwalker Saga
AVAILABLE AT:
THE BLURB: Danger is always on the menu for Morgan Bailey, a sexy and street-smart bounty hunter, who prowls the dark underworld of Portland, Oregon hunting creatures of the night. Morgan’s never met a vampire she couldn’t dust or a demon she couldn’t kill until she’s hired to destroy a new kind of mystical threat: the Sunwalker.
A powerful immortal once believed myth, the Sunwalker carries with him an ancient secret which, if left unchecked, will destroy Morgan’s world. Pursued by a passionate Templar Knight and the target of the local vampire clans, an ancient power is awakened within her, unlike anything she’s ever known. Morgan must uncover the truth behind her mission and about herself, before the Darkness lurking inside swallows her whole.
PART 3:
Random Thoughts of Awesome from Shea:
Yeah, don’t have any. But there are a few things I’ve learned in life. Important stuff I think you all should know. Probably your life will be incomplete if you don’t know these things.
1. Never say “fanny” in the UK. Trust me on this. It does NOT mean butt.
2. Photographs of Paris look way cooler if you use the grayscale setting on your camera. Even if you’re a crap photographer.
3. Richard Hatch made a better Apollo than Jamie Bamber. I should know. I was in love with Apollo. I was six. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, shame on you. You are out of the geek club.)
4. Even numbered Trek films don’t suck.
5. Agatha Christie was a flipping genius. Every author should have to study her in depth before ever putting pen to paper.
6. Not all food in Rome is good. However the wine makes everything go down easier.
7. Never, ever wish your life was more exciting. You might just get what you wished for.
8. Everything’s better with dragons.
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Thanks for checking out THREE-WAYS THURSDAYS! I hope you’ll come back next week for our next victim, er, I mean Author.
And thanks to the Fabulous Shéa MacLeod for stopping by!
~Karen
