I’m visiting Judy Penz Sheluk’s blog and chatting about open mic readings and my writing journey.
If you have a few minutes, drop by Judy’s blog.
Inspiration Between the Lines
I’m thrilled to welcome Soul Mate author Linda Bradley to my blog. Today, Linda shares her favorite quotations and her debut novel, Maggie’s Way.
Here’s Linda!
It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.
Henry David Thoreau
This world is but a canvas to our imagination.
Henry David Thoreau
The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.
Ernest Hemingway
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.
I dream of painting and then I paint my dream.
Vincent Van Gogh
Me: I dream of words and I write them.
Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open.
Stephen King
Sometimes you have to go on when you don’t feel like it, and sometimes you’re doing good work when it feels like all you’re managing is to shovel shit from a sitting position.
Stephen King
Some days you get the bear, other days the bear gets you
Proverb
Me: Dear Bear, Pride is righteous. Let’s not let it destroy the journey.
Set your course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship.
Omar Bradley
The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.
Jane Austen
To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.
Jane Austen
Harry: I have never lied to you, I have always told you some version of the truth.
Erica Barry: The truth doesn’t have versions, okay?
Something’s Gotta Give (Jack Nicholson/Dianne Keaton)
Me: I’m with Erica on this.
Put blinders on to those things that conspire to hold you back, especially the ones in your own head.
Meryl Streep
Blurb
Middle-aged, Maggie Abernathy just wants to recuperate from cancer during the solitude of summer vacation after a tiresome year of teaching second grade. Maggie’s plans are foiled when precocious seven-year-old, Chloe McIntyre moves in next door with her dad, John. Maggie’s life changes in a way she could never imagine when the pesky new neighbors steal her heart. With Maggie’s grown son away, her ex-husband in the shadows, her meddling mother’s unannounced visits, and Chloe McIntyre on her heels, somehow Maggie’s empty house becomes home again.
Buy Links
Bio
Linda’s inspiration comes from her favorite authors and life itself. Her women’s fiction highlights characters that peel away outer layers of life to discover the heart of their dreams with some unexpected twists and turns along the way. Her writing integrates humor found in everyday situations, as well as touching moments that make readers connect with her characters. Maggie’s Way is her debut novel, in her Montana Bound Series. She is currently working on Maggie’s Fork in the Road and Maggie’s Montana.
Linda has an Associates Degree in Interior Design and a Master’s Degree in Reading and Language Arts with undergraduate work in Elementary Education and Fine Arts. She wrote and illustrated a children’s book titled, The Hunter for her Master’s Degree. Linda is a member of RWA, as well as the Greater Detroit Chapter of RWA.
Linda has two grown sons, lives with her husband, and rescue dog in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Where to find Linda…
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Interview with Romance Debuts
Leave a comment – you could win an e-book of Maggie’s Way.
Spotlight on Scarred Protector
Blurb
Angels and demons are not what you think. They are aliens, and the Midworlders are their representatives on Earth. An Angelic Midworlder called Heath goes to the aid of Evie who is about to be attacked by Demonics. He soon discovers she can see the angels and demons around her and is in grave danger. He is captivated by Evie who has physical and mental scars like him. They are tortured souls who are deeply connected by his past. There is an evil lurking inside Evie that could kill them both.
Excerpt
Heath’s wings erupted instantly from his back as he swooped down from the car park roof and caught Evie in his arms before she hit the ground. A fall from that height would have killed her and he refused to lose another person. It had been hundreds of years since he had lost someone before and it wasn’t happening now. Not on his watch and in his area.
Lightening cracked through the sky and his whole body tingled as if he was absorbing the energy as he grabbed her. For a moment he wasn’t sure if the energy was coming from her and not from around them as they hovered unmoving. It didn’t matter for now. Charles would be out of action and paralyzed from the waist down, but it wouldn’t last for long. He needed to get Evie over to Pergor and get her a guardian before any more demonic Midworlders showed up. Fighting one he could cope with, but fighting a group of them would incapacitate him for too long.
Something else was up as well as his messages were not getting through to his enclave. Help wouldn’t be coming anytime soon. The last thing he said to his people was he had received a message from an Angelic about to pass over, and that she had found a human in distress. If he had known the distress was that the human didn’t have a guardian he would have brought a whole crew with him to protect her.
There were a lot of questions he needed to ask this female. That wasn’t going to happen in hurry as she had passed out. He wasn’t sure if it was from the fact she had been caught by a man with wings or the burst of energy. As he peered at her he could swear he could see little sparks of energy all around her. It made her glow like a light bulb. His own body still tingled from the burst. He could recover from being hit by lightning but he wasn’t sure how a human would cope.
Of course she might have passed out because most humans don’t have this sort of thing happening to them. He had picked up from her mind she had just lost her father. To be coping with such grief and the attack from Charles made him admire this woman’s tenacity. She had brought a smile to his face when he had seen her boot connect with Charles’s groin.
He stopped ascending into the sky and hovered and allowed himself a moment of reflection as he gazed down at her face. What was going on here? She cradled against his chest and he had to admit he liked the sensation. He didn’t touch people unless he had to and had forgotten what it felt like to have a human pressed against you. It brought out protectiveness in him.
Her reached up and touched her cheek with his fingertips. The glow was gone from around her body, but the tingle still remained. She felt warm, too warm, as if she was running a fever. He moved his hand away surprised at himself. He never let his emotions show and yet he felt drawn to this strange woman with the wet and bedraggled fuzzy hair. It must have been the jolt of lightening affecting him. She looked so vulnerable and yet he had seen her be tough against Charles. She hadn’t known what she was taking on but she had fought well. He didn’t know her but he liked her feistiness. It was irrelevant. He needed to stop these pointless contemplations and concentrate on saving her.
The other people in Pergor who he would ask questions of were never keen to give answers, but answers were what he needed. He had seen what the people from his Homeworld were like this past year. His friend, Ridge, in America had found his life partner, but had struggled to get any information from Pergor, their outpost between Earth and home used to be a place of solace but these days distrust was the word he would use to describe it. When Ridge had gone to Pergor with Nicole, no responses had been forthcoming and they had even attacked her or had been willing for her to die. In that instance her Angelic guardian had been removed by Sayell, a demonic Midworlder. How the hell did Evie end up without a guardian at all? It didn’t make sense. How long had she been like it? He had to assume Charles had been as surprised as him or he would have brought his own back up as well. More questions.
Thunder roared around him as he opened his mind to form the conduit to Pergor. The lightning and thunder became faint as the sky grew dark and starless around them. He would not let anyone hurt her. He would die protecting her if he had to. After all dying would be a relief from this existence of coping with the failure of the past.
“What the fuck is happening?” Evie yelled.
Heath peered down and even in the darkness he could see she was wide eyed as she struggled to get away and pushed against his chest. There was no tranquil female in his arms now. Where she thought she was going was beyond him as they were high above the ground. To be honest he couldn’t blame her for freaking out. He had to consider what to say next. At this close range he could try and convince her to hand over her thoughts to him, but he already had a feeling she would not be willing to do that after everything she had seen so far.
“We’re leaving Earth, to go somewhere to get you a guardian angel,” he said, as he flapped his wings as the stars started to disappear around them. He hovered in the space between worlds not yet able to make the contact with Pergor. He could feel the pain start to build in his temple knowing the connection was trying to form.
She thumped his chest as she wriggled and yelled. “If a guardian angel is what I’ve seen on people for years, I don’t want one. Half of them are dark creatures waiting to kill whatever they see and the other half look like self-serving pixies after what they can get, so get stuffed and take me home. I just want to be left alone.”
What she said just added more questions to the list. “Evie. There’s nowhere for you to go. You can’t stay here between the worlds, and I won’t let you go back or you will be found again by Charles and his associates. I offer the only alternative.” She huffed but stopped wriggling. He changed his mind and considered she was more annoyed than scared. “I want to reassure you I’m not associated with those dark guardians.”
“You sure? You look pretty dark to me. If I have to choose I’ll go with a pixie angel like dad had. Will it keep that creep Charles away from me?”
“I will certainly try to get you an Angelic guardian, and no, Charles won’t be able to touch you then. You have to trust me while I take you to a place not of this world. I know it is a lot to ask after what has happened, but you should give your mind over to me.”
“You can take me wherever you want as I don’t seem to have much choice. Go for it, but I’m not giving my mind over to anyone. Trust me you wouldn’t want to be in there anyway. You lot think you’re dark and yet you don’t know anything.” Evie mumbled, as she shook her head as if to rid herself of a buzzing bee. “If you knew my life you wouldn’t even be suggesting going anywhere near my mind.”
She grabbed on tight around his neck and his whole body tingled in the same way it had when they had been in the middle of the lightening. He needed to concentrate on making the connection with Pergor, but instead he found he was thinking more about how Evie smelt as she held her face close to his. She had the aroma of lemon and vanilla and he closed his eyes as he drew her cent in as she pressed close to his chest. It had been a long time since he had felt anything more than the general need to protect. He wanted to make things right for this human as he sent his thoughts out to the post on Pergor. He could feel himself harden which often happened when their wings came out; the difference was he felt it was the closeness of this woman affecting him. He never let such basic instincts take over and yet again wondered what was happening with this female.
Bio
Maggie Mundy lives in Adelaide, Australia and is a member of Romance Writers of Australia, and the local chapter SARA (South Australian Romance Authors). She recently completed a Bachelor of Arts in Drama, English and Creative Writing at Flinders University. She had a short story published in the RWA Topaz Anthology Little Gems in 2010 called Sea and Vines. She has four books out with Rogue Phoenix Press. Two erotic novellas called Blood Scent and Blood Oath and paranormal romances called World Change and World Apart. She also has a supernatural thriller with Soul Mate Publishing called Hidden Mortality and paranormal romances called Unknown Protector and Scarred Protector.
She has also performed for many years in corporate entertainment for which she wrote her own sketches, which probably explains why her head is so full of characters. She loves writing speculative fiction and romance but thinks falling in love can be scary, especially in her stories where creatures of the night really exist.
Where to find Maggie
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Soul Mate Publishing
A Different Kind of Groundhog Day Message
Each year, I join in the fun and anticipation surrounding Groundhog Day, hoping Wiarton Willie (Ontario’s groundhog) will predict an early spring. A feeling that is shared by millions of Canadians and Americans who are also focusing on their respective groundhogs, among them Punxsutawney Phil, Shubenacadie Sam, Balzac Billy and Buckeye Chuck.
Last year, I came across a thought-provoking post about Groundhog Day on Editor Bob’s newsletter.
Here is Editor Bob’s evergreen post…
In NYC, we crave the luminous skies and warm weather which are still months away. I am recovering from the cabin fever. All is frozen outside but certainly not my heart.
As a curious explorer in school, I used to enjoy weather forecasting by observing the activity of a groundhog at Staten Island Zoo where on February 2, the groundhog comes out of the burrow all day and the ceremony is open for all.
As it looks at its own shadow it indicates the continuation of cold dry winters while if there is an umbrella of clouds, it stays outside predicting the arrival of spring. The behavior of this intelligent rodent helps in predicting the waning of winter or the onset of spring. I find this phenomenon fascinating.
Last evening as I was sitting with Fred, my retired, reformist friend, at the pub, he enlightened me with his perspective of the Groundhog Day which was rather unique and interesting. It gave me a new insight.
Fred said, “You know Bob this day reminds me of my lonely days, I emerged from my coldness only to find my own shadow which was as solitary as my pride, my seasons never changed till I transcended my attitude and eventually, I made great friends who enveloped me in love and warmth. More I open myself to camaraderie, the springtime of my life continues.”
The only prerequisite for long-lasting happiness is to stop walking in your own shadow. We are the weather prophets of our life. So pause and reflect, are you warm or cold today?
That Hippy Bag
I hadn’t planned on spending Day 1 of Life after Breast Cancer Diagnosis in a mall, but my friend Karen insisted. “Once those chemo appointments start, you’ll have no time to shop. Get everything now, and you won’t be scrambling later.”
As we walked through the mall, I mentally planned my shopping list: nightgowns, pajamas, a new robe, comfy day clothes. I was surprised when Karen pointed to my black, leather purse. “You’ll need a larger bag for when you start your treatments. Something more durable that’ll hold its shape.”
I started to argue and then stopped. After all, she was the seasoned warrior who had already traveled this path.
Continue reading on Vicki Batman’s blog.
Fun Friday
10 Interesting “Behind the Scenes” Features – Desire in the Arctic
I’m thrilled to welcome author Stacy Hoff to the Power of 10 series. Today, Stacy shares ten “behind the scenes” features of her upcoming release – Desire in the Arctic.
Here’s Stacy!
1. DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC takes place in Gates of the Arctic National Park, which is America’s most remote and least visited US Park. It is also the only US Park located in the Arctic Circle. Visitors can only access the park by plane, unless they want to hike five miles from the nearest highway and then cross a raging river. (A plan not recommended by the US Parks Department, by the way.)
This is a photo of Gates of the Arctic National Park. The Brooks Mountain Range is in the distance. Tundra is in the foreground. The stormy weather shown here is accurate—a snowstorm can happen at any time, even in June. (This picture, courtesy of the US Government, is public domain.)
2. Once park visitors arrive, they will find no facilities of any kind and no ranger station. It is advised that only “expert” campers attempt to stay. All campers however, regardless of ability, are asked to check in at the park ranger station in Fairbanks with their camping dates, and further advised to also give their “vacation” information to loved ones. This way, a search and rescue mission can be launched if a camper fails to return. (Which is highly possible.)
The hero in my story, William “Redd” Redding, is a former Special Ops Marine who is an expert camper. He is familiar with all kinds of survival situations, and has spent time in Alaska.
3. My heroine Ana Davis, on the other hand, is a New York City native. The only hiking she’s done is in Central Park.
I grew up in New York City, too, so I can relate to Ana. The below picture is one I took of Central Park, which is not too far from the television station where Ana works. I wrote Ana’s point-of-view as if it were my own. I kept thinking, “what would I experience upon seeing Gates of the Arctic?”
4. I researched all the wildlife in the Arctic Circle for story authenticity. To do this, I traveled back to my old home in New York City to the American Museum of Natural History. Here I visited the exhibition hall of North American Mammals. Below is my picture of the museum’s wolverine exhibit.
This furry guy pops up in my story. But don’t view wolverines as a cuddly pet. They are a lot deadlier than the look! Think of them as a cross between a giant weasel and a bear. (Would the famous X-Man be named after a wuss?)
5. I am a reality TV junky, so my DESIRE series is based on a survival/reality TV show where the characters have to survive the most brutal of wilderness situations for twelve days in order to win a million dollar prize. (I’m sick that way.)
I have been watching these survival/reality shows for a few years, especially ones that take place in Alaska. Here are some of my favorites: Railroad Alaska, Life Below Zero, The last Alaskans, and Buying Alaska. (Yeah, I know the last one is about home buying, but when I say I’m hooked on Alaska shows, I mean it.)
6. DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC is the sequel to DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES. I have traveled to the Everglades, but not the Arctic Circle. Going back New York City was as far as I was willing to go towards researching this new book. Hey, what can I tell you? Unlike Wolverine, I am a wuss.
At least I survived seeing alligators in the Everglades during an airboat tour. (I also saw them in Disney World. You can see them, too, here in my photo.)
7. For DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC’s cover, I worked with the artist to get an accurate depiction of Gates of the Arctic in June, which is when my story takes place. The original cover was much colder looking, with lots of ice and snow. But there is some greenery in June, although that does not mean a sudden snowstorm can’t kick up.
Here is the final version of the cover.
8. I had no idea was I going to write this sequel when I penned DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES. When I finally decided the story needed to be continued, I picked a survival climate that was the exact opposite of Florida’s heat and humidity. Cold weather kept things interesting for me, and hopefully for the reader, too.
9. “El Nino” has brought a relatively warm winter to those of us living in New England. That’s good, because I hate shoveling. But it does kind of kill the Arctic mood. Luckily, when I started writing DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC last winter, there was plenty of snow on the ground to keep me inspired.
The wolverine tracks pictured below are ones I wouldn’t want to see when my back yard gets snowy. Luckily for me, these paw prints were spotted in Gates of the Arctic.
Oh, but wait a minute! That’s not lucky for my characters. Hope they stay strong! (Photo courtesy of the US Government, and is public domain.)
10. Although I write all kinds of romance, from contemporary to dark “new adult,” I must admit that action/adventure stories are some of my very favorites to write.
Click on the covers for the Amazon links.
Thanks to Joanne Guidoccio for having me on!
Where to find Stacy…
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Amazon
Sunday Humor
Thanks to Andy Behnan for sharing…
After getting all of Pope Francis’s luggage loaded into the limo at the airport, (he doesn’t travel light), the driver notices the Pope is still standing on the curb.
‘Excuse me, Your Holiness,’ says the driver, ‘Would you please take your seat so we can leave?’
‘Well, to tell you the truth,’ says the Pope, ‘they never let me drive at the Vatican, and I’d really like to drive today.’
‘I’m sorry, Your Holiness, but I cannot let you do that. I’d lose my job! What if something should happen?’ protests the driver, wishing he’d never gone to work that morning.
‘Who’s going to tell?’ asks the Pope with a smile.
Reluctantly, the driver gets in the back as the Pope climbs in behind the wheel. The driver quickly regrets his decision when, after exiting the airport, the Pontiff floors it, accelerating the limo to 205 kmh. (Remember, the Pope is Argentinian, and Fangio the famous racer was Argentinian)
‘Please slow down, Your Holiness,’ pleads the worried driver, but the Pope keeps the pedal to the metal until they hear sirens.
‘Oh, dear God, I’m going to lose my license — and my job!’ moans the driver.
The Pope pulls over and rolls down the window as the cop approaches; but the cop takes one look at him, goes back to his motorcycle, and gets on the radio.
‘I need to talk to the Chief,’ he says to the dispatcher.
The Chief gets on the radio and the cop tells him that he’s stopped a limo going 205 kph.
‘So bust him,’ says the Chief.
‘I don’t think we want to do that. He’s really important,’ says the cop.
The Chief exclaims, ‘All the more reason!’
‘No, I mean really important,’ says the cop.
The Chief then asks, ‘Who do you have there, the mayor?’
Cop: ‘Bigger.’
Chief: ‘A senator?’
Cop: ‘Bigger.’
Chief: ‘The President?’
Cop: ‘Bigger.’
‘Well,’ says the Chief, ‘Who is it?’
Cop: ‘I think it’s God!’
The Chief is even more puzzled and curious, ‘What makes you think it’s God?’
Cop: ‘His chauffeur is the Pope!’
Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Be Dancing
I’m thrilled to welcome author Mariposa Cruz to the Power of 10 series. Today, Mariposa shares ten excellent reasons why you should be dancing and her latest release, Package Deal.
Here’s Mariposa!
1. There’s nothing like hearing your favorite song while on the dance floor. Best of all when you hear that song again whether you’re doing dishes or stuck in traffic, you’ll be instantly transported back to the dance floor.
2. With such a broad range of genres, there is dance for everyone. If you like a Latin beat but feel intimidated by Salsa’s spicy rhythm, try Bachata. The basic step for Bachata is easily learned in one lesson making it a favorite for club lessons. If you can do a box step, you can do Bachata.
3. The history of many dances involve a cultural blend of a variety of music genres and myth. Bachata was once danced in the peasant neighborhoods and brothels of the Dominican Republic. Cumbia was originally a courtship dance brought by slaves to the coastal towns of Columbia. While I don’t know where the true history ends and myth begins– dancing unites people across culture and time.
4. It’s fun twirling in circles while your skirt whirls around, acceptable on the dance floor—less so in other public places if you are over the age of six.
5. You have the chance to get your bling on. Whether you’re in tight blue jeans or a slinky black dress nothing dresses up an outfit like sparkly hoop earrings or rhinestone dangles.
6. For writers the dance floor is a great source for stories. My experiences in clubs and dance class were the inspiration behind my Rhythm and Romance series. Reno has a vibrant Salsa scene and I knew it had to be the backdrop for “Package Deal”.
7. Your gym does not serve margaritas or mojitos. Where else can you get a cardio work out and finish with a refreshing cocktail?
8. If you’re single, dancing is a great way to determine the measure of a man. Is his lead rigid and controlling? Does he fix you with an icy stare with every missed step? If you notice any red flags on the dance floor it may be time to waltz in the opposite direction.
9. Whether you’re on the dance floor or watching from the sidelines the show is fascinating and always changing. Where else can you see a fashion show, high drama and amazing dancing all played out in on a single stage?
10. You meet people of all ages from all walks of life on the dance floor from college students to retirees.
Blurb
Widowed attorney, Liz Grant, buries her grief in a deluge of paperwork. On whim she takes a free dance lesson at the club Eclipse where the mojitos are cold and the Salsa is hot. She falls for Salsa’s spicy rhythms and Patrick Cavanaugh’s sexy grin. But can Liz handle the dramatic change of tempo in her well-ordered life?
Patrick has all the right moves, but struggles to keep his balance as his adult daughter spins out of control. Will their love survive off the dance floor?
Bio
Mariposa Cruz balances writing with working as a fulltime corporate paralegal. As a writer she has interviewed a variety of characters from cowboy crooners to rock divas. Her articles have appeared in local magazines and indie newspapers. She currently resides in Reno, Nevada.
To find out more about Package Deal, author interviews and classic horror movie reviews check out:
In the Finals
Thanks to everyone who voted for The Coming of Arabella in last month’s Creme dé la Cover Contest. I won and will receive a 1/4 page ad in the February issue of InD’Tale Magazine.
The Coming of Arabella is now competing in the finals for the month of January. The winning cover will be featured in a full page ad in the magazine!
I would appreciate your vote here.
Joanne Guidoccio 