Saturday, September 15, 2012

May You Find Hope...

What does hope really mean to you?  We all hope for more, for greater, and for those sometimes unattainable dreams like marrying Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, or for my male readers, Megan Fox.  Yes, we dream.  We hope. 
Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo!
When I began writing The Vampire’s Hope I finished the novella in one week.  The concept of hope (and Vampires) kept me writing.  How?  Before I began, as I was doing my normal research, I found that the ancient Greeks believed that the last evil to escape Pandora’s Jar (not a box as commonly assumed) was Elpis, or the spirit of hope. This spirit of hope was seen as only an extension to suffering. 
What a fascinating concept.  As I mulled over the Greek’s philosophy, I realized what a great story this idea could make, and The Vampire’s Hope was truly born. 
I have put many hours into this novella and finding my own center on the idea of hope.  Yes, hope is a beautiful and wonderful thing.  It keeps us thinking about those things that we desire, the soul mate we dream about, or the outcomes we desperately need.  Delving deeper however, I find moments when hope drives complacency, and lulls people into a false sense of security in the life they have created.  We hope for things that may someday fall into our laps…we blindly hope and we fail to act in ways to achieve our dreams. 
It may come as a surprise to most who have read my dark romances, but I’m a passionate optimist.  I always see the glass as half full, I always hope, and I refuse to give up my dreams.  This book has helped to remind me that I should hope, that I should have a goal, but I must be determined and driven to action.  May you also find hope in this dark, insightful, and fascinating novella, The Vampire’s Hope.
Happy Reading—
Danica Winters


Author Bio:
Danica Winters is an award-winning romance author based in Montana. She is known for writing books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and often a touch of magic. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Montana Romance Writers, and Greater Seattle Romance Writers. She is a contributor to magazines, websites, and news organizations. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, the outdoors, and the bliss brought by the printed word.
Danica has several published works including Curse of the Wolf (her award winning novel), The Devil's Angel, A Christmas Miracle, and The Vampire's HopeHer next novel will be released later this winter/early spring. 

Please feel free to head over to facebook and 'like' her page.  Or find her on her website!

Conjuring With Words-Writing Coach Available

Many thanks to Jenni Connor of Books to Go Now for inviting their authors to participate in the Blog party!  And heartfelt thanks to the creative minds at Goddess Fish for opening this great venue, Party Pavilion.  May we all enjoy a very productive fall.
When I'm not writing, I'm teaching.  I love helping new writers find their voices, and I love working with established writers on lengthier projects. My client, K.R. Sands, has been nominated for The Story Prize for her short story collection, Boy of Bone.  Yes, I do editing, but I'm primarily a writing coach--it's a great joy to help clients overcome their blocks, to see them grow in confidence and clearly express their stories.  Listening is a big part of my job.
To find about about an initial one-hour consult at no charge, check out my website or send me an email: hmallon@navpoint.com



Did You Put the Cat to Bed?

So many of us have been there!

Your young children are adorable cherubs, your husband's clueless, and you're hanging by a thread.  Izzy hadn't counted on pregnancy--or twins--but now she's close to the edge.  Will she jump into being a victim, or...?



Looking at her husband, she whispered his name. 

“What?” He jerked toward her, but his eyes didn’t gel, as if she were a TV set on mute and her voice came from another source.

“Harris,” Izzy said firmly. “I used to be an artist.  My brain has desiccated to the size and texture of a gummy bear.  I am stressed.  I’m seriously thinking of taking an overdose.  I am thinking of having myself committed.” 

“Come again?” Harris blinked.  “What time is it?”  He looked from her to the wall clock, and back again. Then he asked, “Did you put the cat to bed?” 
 
Buy "Cat to Bed" Here

"Like" my FB author page

Redemption for a Rogue Out Today!

The Regimental Heroes Series are Historical Victorian, and all the stories in the series center around men men who fought in the Crimean War where they were cut down by the Russians. I have tied in stanzas from the Charge of the Light Brigade poem. They are all basically struggling with the 1850's version on Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome after their return to upper crust society in England. Comment to win a free pair of Fall earring and story 1 or 2 in the series. http://www.amazon.com/Redemption-Rogue-Regimental-Heroes-ebook/dp/B009B59SJE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347747999&sr=8-1&keywords=redemption+for+a+rogue+jennifer
Visit me at www.jenniferconnerbooks.com http://jenniferconnerwriter.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.conner2 http://www.bookstogonow.com/sweetjenniferconner.html http://www.bookstogonow.com/historicalromancejenniferconner.html http://pinterest.com/jennilynnjac/

You Say You Want a Revolution

This is my most autobiographical piece of fiction.  I haven't said that often, given the story, but this community of awesome women writers seems like a good place to be up front.

The final crisis scene at the pond was one of those moments you don't forget.  I found myself in the position of victim and savior at the same moment.  ...And no, my own story didn't turn out this badly in the end.  Check the published piece out on the excellent Books to Go Now site!

Or purchase here: Amazon Link

Have you used material from your own life in your fiction?  Do you feel a need to disguise characters/change situations, etc.?

Marianne Stevens at Romance Books '4' Us

I'll be spending the day with Marianne Stevens at Romance Books '4' Us on November 16th.

Stop by and say hi!

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

Join me on November 7th at Romancing The Book

I'm spending the day with Jen at Romancing The Book on November 7th.

Stop by and say hi!

http://romancing-the-book.com/author/romancing-the-book-reviews

Helen's Tips for the Shabby Gourmet & Free Book Give-Away

One commenter will be picked at random and will receive the choice of any e-book from www.WandaDeGolier.com or www.VeeMichaels.com



Mustard on Top's heroine, Helen Smiley, a self-proclaimed shabby gourmet shares her tips for turning ordinary food into extraordinary meals.


Let me introduce myself, my name is Helen Smiley, and I've made a living turning ordinary food into gourmet food. My specialty is hotdogs, but the rules I apply to them can transform nearly any food. Turn those blah meals into something fun and have friends rave at your next potluck.

If all else fails, there is a cheating list at the end of this blog. (Shh-don't tell)

1. Use fresh herbs. Sprigs of curly parsley or cilantro on top will give your meal a fresh look. Of course you can use the herbs in the food too.

2. Taste. Taste. Taste. I cannot overstate tasting your concoctions as you put them together. Veggies, herbs, and cheeses are not created equal. Taste and adjust, taste and adjust, that's my motto.

3. Be fearless, but only in small quantities. Many discoveries have come from mistakes. I'll take a small portion of whatever I'm cooking and experiment. It's fun. Who would have thought chocolate-covered potato chips would be good. That may be a bad example since chocolate is good with most anything, but you understand.

4. Mix textures and colors. It's interesting to the mouth and to the eye.

5. Presentation. Have you ever had a pancake with strawberries for eyes and blueberries for the mouth or a salad arranged like a work of art? If your family or friends are smiling before they take a bite, it's bound to taste better.

(Shh… here's the cheat list: Cheese can fix almost anything. If something is too bland, add cheese. Chocolate can fix the things cheese can't. And if nothing helps, don't sweat it. Nobody is perfect and your family and friends will forgive you. That's it, simple rules to live by.)

****

Wanda DeGolier is proud of her recently released novel: Mustard on Top. Mustard took several years and many versions before she sent it to publishers. It had been set to release with one publisher that went out of business a week before it was supposed to release. Wanda took six months to edit it again before submitting it to Books To Go Now. They snatched it up and finally, it's been freed from the confines of Wanda's brain.

Mustard on Top is a playful, romantic suspense novel about one man's quest to establish a relationship with his seventeen-year-old son and the woman he'd been forced to abandon. What he gets is redemption, renewal, and relish on a whole-wheat bun.
Please read and enjoy!

www.wandadegolier.com         www.veemichaels.com

Interview with Lily Sawyer Books Blog Spot on September 25th

Come join me at Lily Sawyer Books Blog Spot on September 25th.

I'll be spending the day talking about my latest release Klutzy Love.

http://lilysawyerbooks.blogspot.com/

Passionate Cooks Cook Book

My Lip Smacking Pork Roulade was selected to be in the All Romance Cook Book. I'ts a great honor. It'll be available for a free download in October.


All Romance will be advertising Passionate Cooks on the home page of AllRomance.com, OmniLit.com, AReCafe.com, SmartBitchesTrashyBooks.com, and DearAuthor.com. We will also be advertising in the Wildfire Newsletter, on Facebook (PPC ads), and through the BlogHer Network (which reaches 45 million women every month). In addition, we’ll be publicizing the release on our various social network outlets and via press release.

 
With over 150 terrific recipes, there’s something in Passionate Cooks that will appeal to every appetite and every level of culinary expertise

Check out their Faceboook page for details.

http://www.facebook.com/PassionateCooks

Romance Lives Forever Oct 10th

Come join me in on October 10th. I'll be joining Kayelle Allen for an exciting interview.

http://romancelivesforever.blogspot.com/p/guest-blogger-faqs.html


Contact me at:








 
You can purchase my books at:


 


 

Interview with Rosanna Leo's Room Oct 3rd.

Come join me at Rosanna Leo's Room on October 3rd.
 
I'll be giving away a free copy of Klutzy Love.
 


Contact me at:








 
You can purchase my books at:


 

 

Flamingo Blues giveaway!

Come by and comment and I'll enter you for a free copy of Flamingo Blues. Book one of The Corny Myers Series.



Corny Myers has a unique psychic ability; she can communicate with animals.

 In the pursuit of the perfect Christmas getaway in Victoria BC; Corny steals a tour bus; returns a flock of stolen flamingos to their favorite lake; buys Steve, her tough-as-nails Seattle cop boyfriend, front row seats to the Cirque du Soleil; and she gets a bright and shiny new key.
Contact me at:
 You can purchase my books at:
 
 

Mustard On Top: Prologue (Not in Book) and Book Give-Away

One commenter will be picked at random and will receive the choice of any e-book from www.WandaDeGolier.com or www.VeeMichaels.com


Mustard on Top: This prologue is not included in the book and gives insight into Ben and Helen's relationship.

Prologue:
1994 Nalley, Washington

Ben Smiley lifted a purple, varsity jersey from a pile of folded laundry and tossed it onto a heap of clothes meant for Goodwill. His bedroom door flew open, and his mother pointed a bony finger at his stereo.

“Turn that down.”

Ben swung his arm back and twisted the knob. One more day and he’d be free. “What’s up?”

She stood in the doorway. “Helen’s here.”

Helen. An ex. Sort of. If Ben had exes, which he didn’t. He glanced at his suitcase, picked up a pair of pants, and tossed them in.

“She knows you’re leaving in the morning?” his mom asked.

Ben shrugged. “Probably.” He hadn’t talked to Helen in a few months, but in the small tourist town of Nalley, on the western Washington coastline, a Florida State football scholarship for the local kid was big news. Not that he needed a scholarship.

He sorted two more items before his mother walked away.

Who knew what Helen wanted? Probably saying goodbye since she hadn’t attended his going-away party. No surprise there, she wasn’t the partying type. Ben went to greet her.

Helen stood with her hands clasped in a tight ball over her abdomen staring at the family photos dotting the walls. She wore ordinary, loose-fitting cutoffs that showcased her tan, long, slender legs. Strands of her waist-length, chestnut hair fell in stark lines over her pink T-shirt.

Memories of their mingled flesh, her firm, round breasts, and her soft skin had him thinking of sex.
“Hey Helen. What’s up?”

Helen’s gaze skittered around the room and settled on his face. Her eyes reminded him of a stray dog's—resigned, hungry, yet hopeful. An uncomfortable lump formed in Ben's throat.

“Can we talk?” she asked.

Ben blew out a breath then called over his shoulder, “Mom, I’m going out for a few minutes.” He glanced back. Helen was staring at her feet, and Ben followed her gaze to her sandals. One of the brown straps hung loose, and she wiggled her free big toe. Scuffed and worn, they appeared to be ten years old. Helen had always been on the other side of fashion.

“Wait here a sec.” Ben retreated to his room to get his keys and wallet. He walked past her, pushed through the front door, and held it open. “We can talk in the car.”

Once Helen stepped outside, Ben bounded by her taking the steps two at a time. In the late summer heat, his shirt clung to him as he hurried to Venus, his vintage Corvair convertible.

Helen covered half the distance to the car when Ben popped open the passenger's door then jogged around to the driver's side. Whatever she had to say, he wanted her to be quick. He had a date with a plane in the morning and mentally he'd already left.

The car was at least ten degrees hotter inside, and Ben put the top down. It clicked into place as Helen slid in next to him and slammed the door. She gave him a strained look that made him think tears would follow. He hated tears.

They drove in silence for three blocks. Helen’s muteness annoyed him. “So, what’s up?” he queried.

“Well—”

The wobble in her voice had Ben clenching the steering wheel. He hit the gas, and they jerked forward. “Oops. Sorry.”

Helen began again, “I know this is really bad timing and everything.”

Dread congealed like a bowling ball in his gut. Helen studied her hands in her lap. “Just say what you need to say.” Ben burst out.

“I’m pregnant.”

No, he thought, no. I am going to college. In Florida. Baseball. Football. Girls in bikinis. Ben glared at her. Her eyes were red and glistening. “No you’re not,” he said.

“I did the test three times.”

Anger squeezed his chest making it difficult to breathe. His future was planned, and Helen wasn’t it. Nor was fatherhood, at least not for many years.

Pretty but shy, Helen had been a virgin when they’d started dating. He'd wooed her for three months before she'd slept with him. She’d been nervous, and the evening had been a bungled, messy affair. They’d dated a few times afterward, but Ben’s interest in her had waned. Her shyness, once attractive, grated on him. Plus, there were always other girls. “How do I know it’s mine?” Ben asked.

He barely saw Helen's hand before she struck his cheek. “Ouch.” Ben rubbed his stinging face.

“I should have known you’d be a jerk,” Helen spat.

“What? It's a legitimate question.”

“Stop the car. I want out.”

Letting her go and acting as if he’d imagined the entire interaction would have been easier, but Ben ignored her. “Look, I’m sorry. Okay?”

Helen crossed her arms under her breasts and glared.

“What do you want to do?” he asked.

“Keep it,” Helen shot back pursing her lips so hard one of her dimples showed.

Ben shrunk in the seat. “You’re still in high school.”

“I’ll get a GED.” Defiant anger had replaced her tears.

“I’m leaving for college tomorrow.” Ben was pleading.

“Of course you are.”

There were ways out of the mess if only Helen would agree. Adoption. Abortion.

As Ben turned the car onto a street running parallel to the Nalley boardwalk and the vast, blue-black Pacific Ocean, his anger over having no say in the matter flared. “What do you want me to do? Marry you and get a minimum-wage job, so we can live in poverty for the rest of our lives?”

“You know Ben? I really didn’t expect anything from you, but I thought, as a courtesy, I’d tell you you’re going to have a child.”

“Don’t have a baby just to spite me,” Ben growled.

“My God. You are such a selfish, self-centered dweeb.”

The pain reflected in her eyes made Ben bite back his retort. He’d always liked Helen, and, as an only child, he was used to getting his way. “What about adoption?”

“I want out of the car."

"I'm not going to dump you on the boardwalk." Dumbfounded, Ben rotated the steering wheel and hit the gas. The engine roared, and Helen’s dark, straight hair lashed in the wind.

Ben skidded to a stop in front of his house.

Helen opened the door and was stepping out before he’d even even the ignition. Taut muscles had him wanting to spring from the car. He ought to do something. “Helen.”

She whipped around, her eyes blazing. “What.”

Ben recoiled. She had an inner strength he’d never seen before, and he knew she'd have the baby and raise it too. He wanted to say that he’d stay in Nalley and help, but the words wouldn’t form in his throat. “Do you need some money?”

“Go to hell.” Helen slammed the door and took off at a run.

“Fuck.” Ben pounded his fists into the steering wheel. A baby was a game changer. “Damn it.” Venus rumbled beneath him, seeming as unsettled as Ben. Ben glanced at his home. He didn't want to be a dad, and the idea of being married made his stomach churn.

He needed to think and jammed the gearshift into first, burning rubber as he pulled away from the curb. Minutes later, he'd departed Nalley, and headed south on Interstate 5.

Venus wrapped around him like a security blanket. His car was his lair—it was where he’d drunk his first beer; where he’d touched his first breast, and as sure as anything; where Helen had gotten pregnant. Wind tousled his hair, shouting in his ears while Ben wrestled with his thoughts.

As the hours melted one into the another, Ben came back to the same idea: he’d been trapped by the oldest trick in the book. For Helen, marrying into the Smiley family would be a step up, hell, a whole ladder up. Just when he'd convince himself Helen deserved to be abandoned, he’d remember that he’d been the one to pursue her.

The sun went off duty, leaving a haze the night sky devoured. Towering pine trees lined the highway casting ominous shadows while the gas gauge hovered at empty. It was time to turn back. He’d thrown his fit and was ready to accept his fate.

He was Ben Smiley, he could make it work. Helen and the baby could move to Florida with him. He'd still get his degree and play football. A highway sign noted he was twenty-three miles from Portland, and that a gas station was at the next exit. As Ben drove down the exit ramp, the air about him calmed.

The station, situated at the base of the ramp, was boarded up. Ben assumed another must be nearby, and unsure how much further the next exit would be, took his chances and drove toward lights in the distance.

A squat, industrial complex came into view. The group of buildings were in a clump as if a gardener had dropped a handful of seeds. Ben turned into the first parking lot hoping to find a convenience store or someone to ask about the nearest gas station.

The lot, as large as a football field, was dotted by streetlights. Parked near the entrance sat a single, boxy car. Lights shined from behind one of the buildings and the rumble of engines shook the ground.
Ben drove toward the lights and turning the corner he found a small group of men standing in a loose circle. More people hovered in or around scattered cars that were running with the headlights burning. His presence seemed to cause a stir, because heads swiveled in his direction. Unease lodged itself in
Ben’s chest. He raised a hand in greeting. No one reciprocated.

Ben’s discomfort turned to slight terror upon noticing the bandanas slashed over foreheads, the backward hats, and the baggy pants.

Stupid, stupid day, he thought. Instinct dictated he leave, but a tall black man had stepped in front of his car. “Excuse me,” Ben yelled. “I’m trying to find a gas station.”

The man didn't respond.

Ben checked his rearview mirror when he heard the rev of an engine. A car had pulled up behind him. On the passenger side, a figure approached and in his hand was a gun. Panic-stricken, Ben scanned the parking lot for the quickest exit. The median to his left was eight-inches high minimum. Could the Corvair scale it?

“Get out the car with your hands up!” Ben’s gaze swung toward the oncoming man who was pointing the gun at Ben’s face.

Ben threw his hands up in surrender. “Not necessary. I’ll leave.”

“Get the fuck out the car.” The speaker's casual tone added menace to the command. He tilted the gun sideways, taking aim.

“I’m lost—”

A shot exploded and Ben ducked, flattening against the seat.

“I said get the fuck out the car, lest you want a bullet in yo head.”

Ben was acting like a coward. Unwilling to mow someone down, Ben stretched his hands in the air and inched his way up. When he could see over the seatback, he yelled, “I’m here by accident. I just want to leave.”

Another pop shattered Ben’s windshield, raining shards of safety glass on him. Ben dropped back down.

“Get. Out. The. Car.” The voice was as smooth as a bullet. And getting closer.

It felt as if a vise grip were squeezing his chest. They want the car, Ben tried to convince himself. His hands high, he sat upright. Glass tumbled off him. Two more men had guns trained on him. “I’m getting out. Don’t shoot!” Fear caused his voice raise high in pitch.

Moving with slow exaggeration, Ben opened the car door and stepped out. Another man, ebony colored with large, white eyes, approached.

“Spread your legs.”

Ben’s gaze slid to one of the guns pointed at him. It glinted in the Corvair’s headlights. His legs trembled as he stepped wider. The ebony man stepped closer reaching for him. Ben flinched.

“Settle down.” The man ordered before patted Ben's ribs with both hands. Ben fought the urge to pee as the dark-skinned man probed his legs.

“He’s clean,” the man announced.

“Bring him here,” someone said.

The man who’d searched him wrapped an impossibly large hand around Ben’s bicep and yanked.
Stunned, Ben moved toward the center of the group. He looked around hoping to escape, but was terrified he'd be shot if he ran. He was shoved between two men, the leaders if Ben had to guess. One, white and covered with freckles, the other black with dreadlocks. Freckles and Dreadlocks. Ben focused on the taller of the two. With dark chocolate skin, Dreadlocks had a wide, flat nose and a scar that ran below his left eye.

“This is a misunderstanding.” Ben’s voice wobbled. “I was just looking for a gas station. You can check my car, it’s—”

“Shut up,” Dreadlocks said.

Ben clamped his mouth tight and looked into the scrutinizing eyes of the freckled guy. His fuzzy, copper hair created a halo around his spotted face. Two guns tattooed in black along his jawline came to the end of the barrel at the cleft in his chin. Ben tried to maintain eye contact and to appear innocent.

Afraid to talk, afraid not to, he unconsciously shook his head ‘no’.

“What the fuck is that? Some kind of signal?” Freckles demanded. The harsh tap of a pistol beat drum-like against his temple. Pressure in his bladder had him on the verge of peeing, and blood rushed in his ears making them ring.

“I swear I was just looking for a gas station,” he managed.

“Who sent you?” Freckles asked.

The lights in the parking lot began to tip and spin. The onset of dizziness had Ben fighting to keep his balance. “No one. No one sent me.”

Freckles jabbed a gun into his gut as if the one at his head weren’t threatening enough. "I said. Who sent you?”

The sound of rushing water grew louder as Ben’s vision swam in and out of darkness. “I just—” Then everything went black.

Ben became aware he was lying on something hard before a severe pounding behind in his eyes distracted him. He pressed his hands to his temples when he heard shouting. Disoriented and dizzy, he froze. Renewed horror washed over him as he remembered his situation.

Half expecting someone to shoot him, he opened his eyes to slits.

Blue Converse tennis shoes were inches from his face. Not wanting to draw attention to himself, he peeked up and paused. A gun, held by a freckled hand, was close enough that Ben could have reached out and touched it. Freckles' fingertip caressed the trigger. Suddenly, the shouting stopped.

Ben took in the scene. Freckles and Dreadlocks were locked in a stare while he lay on the pavement between them.

Relieved they'd lost interest in him, he looked back at Freckle's gun. Freckle's trigger finger had grown taut and was deadly white. The weapon, for one horrible millisecond, pointed at Ben’s face as Freckles swung it up. Ben shouted as the gun exploded.

Ben gawked with morbid curiosity as Dreadlocks, faceless and raining blood, staggered back. Someone pushed him in the other direction, and Dreadlocks stumbled forward tripping over Ben’s leg before falling.

Before Dreadlocks had hit the ground, gunfire erupted.

****

Wanda DeGolier is proud of her recently released novel: Mustard on Top. Mustard took several years and many versions before she sent it to publishers. It had been set to release with one publisher that went out of business a week before it was supposed to release. Wanda took six months to edit it again before submitting it to Books To Go Now. They snatched it up and finally, it's been freed from the confines of Wanda's brain.

Mustard on Top is a playful, romantic suspense novel about one man's quest to establish a relationship with his seventeen-year-old son and the woman he'd been forced to abandon. What he gets is redemption, renewal, and relish on a whole-wheat bun.

Please read and enjoy!

www.wandadegolier.com         www.veemichaels.com

Interview with Sharon Kleve, Author of The Corny Myers Series

I spent Wednesday morning with Best Selling Author Sue Lyndon.
Check it out.

http://www.suelyndon.com/2012/09/interview-with-sharon-kleve-author-of.html

Interview with Sharon Kleve, Author of The Corny Myers Series

Sue Lyndon: Hi, Sharon! Tell us a little bit about your newest release.

Sharon Kleve: Klutzy Love is a Paranormal Romance and the third book in the Corny Myers Series. It takes you back to when Corny and Steve first meet.

Corny is a hot chick with a great job that she loves. All that changed in the blink of an eye when her boss had an accident involving an oversized rubber band. She’s still a hot chick, but her boss is dead.

Steve Spears is a seasoned narcotics cop who ends up wanting to strangle Corny on a regular basis. After finding out Corny’s dream of opening a pet detective business, he decides he doesn’t want a girlfriend who routinely puts herself in danger. That’s his job!

Corny misses Steve, but she’s getting on with her life. She decides to get a month’s worth of dating out of the way in a single night, by combining her three favorite things—men, food, and alcohol.

Steve’s big gun and cop’s intuition saves Corny’s life, but not from another trip to the emergency room. He makes Corny promise never to get hurt again—she agreed, but has her fingers crossed behind her back.

Sue Lyndon: Where can readers find your newest release?

Sharon Kleve: Klutzy Love is available on
Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.

Sue Lyndon: If you could be the hero/heroine in any novel, who would it be and why?

Sharon Kleve: I'd love to be Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum. To have two sexy, dangerous men like Joe Morelli and Ranger fighting over me would be a girls dream.

My heroine in The Corny Myer Series is similar to Stephanie Plum, but with a psychic twist. She speaks to animals.

Sue Lyndon: Do you like to listen to music while you write?

Sharon Kleve: Yes, I absolutely have to have music on while I write. I still have a day job and even there I have a small radio that I keep on low while I work. I have very eclectic taste in music. I like to write to Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Madonna, and Taylor Swift. I love pop music from the 60's, and 70's like Atlanta Rhythm Section 'So In To You' and Bobby Bloom 'Montego Bay'.

Sue Lyndon: Coffee or tea?

Sharon Kleve: I'm a Starbucks snob, through and through. (Double, tall, soy, latte)

Sue Lyndon: What inspired you to start writing?

Sharon Kleve: Well, because the little voices in my head tell me to—seriously, I’ve always talked to myself—now I put the voices on paper.

I was a late bloomer and didn’t start my love of reading until I was in my twenties and then I couldn’t get enough of the wonderfully, smutty Harlequin books with really sexy hot guys on the cover.

I’ve worked in the government sector for fifteen years and always dreamed of having a job that I could work from home. This crazy idea came to me one night, after reading a particularly sizzling romance. Why not try my hand at writing one? So, out of the blue I told my husband I was going to write a Harlequin novel. He said, “Okay.”


I figured I’d read enough of them, I could write one—no problem. Eight thousand words later; I realized it was harder than I thought. I also realized, I wasn’t writing what I was most comfortable with—animals.

I put my Harlequin attempt on the back burner and started writing “The Boss from Hell”. My boss, who I adored, had been fired and his replacement was a living-terror. It was really easy to come up with material to write about and of course I threw in a bunch of romance and of course animals. Ninety thousand words later I was still optimistic that I could write for a living, but I’d need a lot of support, my cat couldn’t give me. The support came in the form of Romance Writers of America and all the people involved in the local chapter.

Several of the members of my local chapter read my book and made numerous suggestions, one of them came from an independent publisher—Books to Go Now. She told me to put the novel aside for now and try my hand at a short story. That’s where I incorporated the paranormal aspect to my writing and it really clicked for me.

I submitted ‘Flamingo Blues’, as a Christmas short story to Books to Go Now and I was offered my first contract. ‘Be Mine’, a Valentine short story, is book two of ‘The Corny Meyers Series’ and in addition to a contract, I won the holiday contest too. Woo hoo! Klutzy Love is book three of ‘The Corny Myers Series’, which came out in August 2012.

That's why I started writing….

Sue Lyndon: Where can others connect with you?

Sharon Kleve:
http://www.sharonkleve.com/

http://authorsharonkleve.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/sharonrkleve

https://twitter.com/#!/SharonKleve

https://pinterest.com/srkleve/

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=tab_pro

https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/106597108511066054614/106597108511066054614/posts#106597108511066054614/posts

Sue Lyndon: Tell us about your upcoming writing projects.

Sharon Kleve: I'll have the fourth book in The Corny Myers Series, St. Patrick with a Bite, completed soon. Also, Flamingo Blues, Be Mine and St. Patrick with a Bite will be published as an anthology later this year.

I'm especially excited about my recipe, "Lip Smacking Pork Roulade" was chosen to be in "Free Recipes from the Hottest Romance Authors Passionate Cooks." The cookbook will be offered for FREE on All Romance sites including AllRomance.com, OmniLit.com, and AReCafe.com beginning in October. A short biography along with my link to my website and ARe author page will be added at the bottom of my recipe page. In addition, they will feature Klutzy Love in their Wildfire newsletter during the month of October. The newsletter subscriber list is currently over 135,000.
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/passionatecooks.html








Free eBook giveaway!

Book three of The Corny Myers Series was released in August.



Comment and I'll draw a name tomorrow morning for a free download of Klutzy Love.


Corny is a hot chick with a great job that she loves. All that changed in the blink of an eye when her boss had an accident involving an oversized rubber band. She’s still a hot chick, but her boss is dead.

 Steve Spears is a seasoned narcotics cop who ends up wanting to strangle Corny on a regular basis. After finding out Corny’s dream of opening a pet detective business, he decides he doesn’t want a girlfriend who routinely puts herself in danger. That’s his job!

Corny misses Steve, but she’s getting on with her life. She decides to get a month’s worth of dating out of the way in a single night, by combining her three favorite things—men, food, and alcohol.

 Steve’s big gun and cop’s intuition saves Corny’s life, but not from another trip to the emergency room. He makes Corny promise never to get hurt again—she agreed, but has her fingers crossed behind her back.


Will He Come Out in Time?

I am thrilled to be included in the new release party for Books to Go Now!  My spanking-new story is "Casual Day at the Crazy House."

Sarah's father moved into the bathroom five months ago, running his business via wireless and eating meals brought up on a tray.  Will he come out in time to attend her high school graduation?  Will Sarah's grandmother find a shrink who's willing to make bathroom calls?  And why does that new girl in Sarah's English class dislike her so much? Buy on Amazon

Comments welcome! One commenter will be chosen at random to receive a free copy of my story "'You Say You Want a Revolution'" 

Agatha and Moe Interview & Book Give-Away

One commenter will be picked at random and will receive the choice of any e-book from www.WandaDeGolier.com or www.VeeMichaels.com



Mustard on Top

Mandy-Rachel Hines Interviews Agatha and Moe

The following is a transcription of Mandy-Rachel Hines Interview with Agatha Cashman and Moe, friends and business partners of Helen and Ben Smiley. Helen Smiley (of Mustard on Top fame) is the owner of an illustrious chain of hotdog stands.

Mandy-Rachel: I'm Mandy-Rachel Hines and I'm here with Agatha Cashman and Moe… Moe it dawns on me I don't know your last name.

Moe: Just Moe like Cher and Madonna.

Agatha: (chuckles) Old habits die hard.

Mandy-Rachel: Okay. So, Agatha in the story, you urge Helen to turn Hot Diggitys into something more. You bring up, and are quite pushy about, the idea of franchising. Are you sure surprised by the way Hot Diggitys has taken off?

Agatha: Not really. Helen's recipes are unique and the concept of gourmet hot dogs is something most people like. I am surprised that I convinced Helen to try.

Mandy-Rachel: This a question for both of you: What is your favorite hotdog?

(Agatha and Moe look at each other and smile.) Agatha to Moe: You go.

Moe: Hands down the DerFoodle.

Mandy-Rachel: Darn, Hot Diggitys had stopped production of those before I could try one.

Agatha: I shouldn't admit this, but we get Helen to make them just for us.

Mandy-Rachel: Oh? Does that mean she might bring them back to the product line.

Agatha: No, the liability issues are to great.

Moe: That's not all that's great.

(Agatha smacks Moe on the leg.

Mandy-Rachel: You two really do act the way you're portrayed in Mustard on Top. Now that you've helped launch a successful chain of restaurants, what's next on the horizon for Agatha and Moe?

Agatha: Well, Moe's been introducing me—

(Moe clears his throat.) Moe: Don't you think we ought to leave a little mystery for the readers?

Agatha: You mean like your last name. Or real name.

(Moe winks at Agatha.)

Agatha: No plans yet, but stay tuned and eat your veggies.

Wanda DeGolier is proud of her recently released novel: Mustard on Top. Mustard took several years and many versions before she sent it to publishers. It had been set to release with one publisher that went out of business a week before it was supposed to release. Wanda took six months to edit it again before submitting it to Books To Go Now. They snatched it up and finally, it's been freed from the confines of Wanda's brain.

Mustard on Top is a playful, romantic suspense novel about one man's quest to establish a relationship with his seventeen-year-old son and the woman he'd been forced to abandon. What he gets is redemption, renewal, and relish on a whole-wheat bun.

Please read and enjoy!

www.wandadegolier.com         www.veemichaels.com

Enter to win a pair of Fall Earrings Swag and EBook choice

Comment on my Blogger post with email and enter a chance to win one of 10 sets of Fall Earrings and your choice of story 2 or 3 in the Regimental Heroes Series.

New Release Today Comment to WIN!

Hi Everyone. I am super excited for the release today of the 4th in my Regimental Heroes Series, Redemption for a Rogue.
Redemption for a Rogue Told by everyone, including his father, he is slow-witted, Lord John Mitchell is willing to do almost anything to avoid helping run the family estate or care for his orphaned nephew. His lifelong battle learning to read and write has convinced him his father is right. After the death of her husband in the Crimean War, Vivienne Ravenhill needs financial stability for her son and herself. When Lord John’s father suddenly dies, he is thrown into taking on the estate and the family’s mill. Are John’s learning disabilities something he can overcome in order to handle this responsibility? Will Vivienne find a place in his home...and his heart? An interesting look at tackling dyslexia in 1855. Check back to Win!

Writing in the Gaps & Book Give-Away

One commenter will be picked at random and will receive the choice of any e-book from www.WandaDeGolier.com or www.VeeMichaels.com



Writing in the Gaps by Wanda DeGolier

For most writers, writing is a hobby. Even for those lucky enough to get a contract with an advance, those who have been there warn us, "Don't quit your day job."

So how are fully employed mothers and fathers, husbands and wives supposed to make it happen? When do we write? And let's not stop there. Once published, we have to promote ourselves. Yep, we must maintain a website, blog, do social media, and on and on. And don't forget to read. Remember what fueled your writing passion to begin with?

If we can't fit eating healthy and daily exercise into our days, where does writing fit in? Before or after the laundry? When everyone else in the home is in bed? Before work? To what lengths do writers go to make it happen?

I queried my friends and found many of them squeeze writing in at night when the rest of the family is asleep. Some, with children at home, write while their kids nap. Others set aside lunch breaks or get up early. Still others have specific times of the week, say one day they can write, while others grab time where they can.

A few, I'm not among them, become militaristic, they close doors and put headphones on refusing to interact with kids or husband. One tells the story of a fire fighter having to interrupt her because her apartment building was on fire. That's a woman on the edge!

So we have this fire in our bellies, and only get gaps of time, sometimes as short as five minutes, how does a writer get into the mindset and create. Is it even possible?

One famous writer made notes on napkins while she worked as a waitress. If you're not quite that focused, here as some tips:

Music:
Some writers say they use music to quickly set the mood. It helps put them find their voice and transports them into another setting quickly. Others say music is distracting.

Meditation:
Okay, this isn't mentioned often, but I've found it effective. When I meditate it generally calms my wandering mind and helps me to stay focused on my goals.

Competitions:
Sometimes it helps when writers to have external motivation. There are many competitions that challenge the writers to write, say, one hundred words a day. Being part of something bigger often works as a good reminder.

Setting Goals:
Having goals helps many writers to stay focused. For a goal to be good, it must be something the writer can control, say submitting a manuscript, versus something she cannot, such as getting a contract.

Plan Your Time to Write:
Even if it's fifteen minutes, deciding to write each day will help keep your head in your story. Otherwise, you may find you have to reread what you've written, thereby taking half your time.

What I've learned is there is no golden bullet. Without the luxury of writing full-time, writers must add the task of learning how to be productive in little windows of time. Yay! We can add time management and focus to our list of skills.

Wanda DeGolier is proud of her recently released novel: Mustard on Top. Mustard took several years and many versions before she sent it to publishers. It had been set to release with one publisher that went out of business a week before it was supposed to release. Wanda took six months to edit it again before submitting it to Books To Go Now. They snatched it up and finally, it's been freed from the confines of Wanda's brain.

Mustard on Top is a playful, romantic suspense novel about one man's quest to establish a relationship with his seventeen-year-old son and the woman he'd been forced to abandon. What he gets is redemption, renewal, and relish on a whole-wheat bun.

Please read and enjoy!

www.wandadegolier.com         www.veemichaels.com