Musa Publishing

Character Interview with Vera Jane Cook

2012-03-08T05:36:00.001-08:00

We are thrilled today to welcome Spider from Lies a River Deep to Musa blog.

***Thank you for coming to chat with us today. Why do you think Vera Jane choose you to represent her?

She knows my observations are based on instinct and a very keen perception of people.

***Tell us a little about yourself?

I am a cat named Spider. I live in a little Eye-brow Colonial on Lilac Lane in Chanaakya. We face the river, which Bessie loves. She talks to the river, when there’s a storm though she fears it and shuts the shades.

***What is your birth date?

9 x9 years ago I was born, March maybe, it was cold.

***What do you wish people would know about you?

I can speak to the Gods, especially the one of rain.

***What music do you listen too?

Wind and River music. Is there any other kind?

***What is your perfect evening?

I like being in my favorite chair by the fire. Sometimes I’m on Bessie’s lap and she strokes me. I like that.

***What do you do to relax?

Watch rabbits break into Bessie’s herb garden.

***Is there anything you wish Vera Jane Cook had kept her mount shut about?

Yes, I do not have a pudgy tummy that falls to the floor. I am sleek and still beautiful, though I’ve been around a while. Any dialogue about me should reflect my still trim and handsome form.

***Do you feel you were portrayed fairly?

Yes, I had my own voice, how many cats can say that?
***What really pushes your buttons?

Hummingbirds I can’t catch

***What’s you biggest turn ons?

Kibbles that look like fish

***What are your biggest Turn offs?

Dogs who run amuck in my back yard.

***What’s your perfect day?

I like Apollo’s reign, when the sun is out, but he’s a fickle God. Thunder thrills me, much more passion to it.

***What’s your favorite Ice cream flavor, Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry?

Just plain milk will do, ice cream is too hard to slurp.

***Do you believe in ghosts?

Of course, I see them down by the river.

***What is your biggest fear?

Bessie will plug up all the holes in our house and the mice won’t get in.

***Why should the readers be interested in your story?

Well, it’s not really my story, its Bessie’s. If it were mine I’d tell you how she found me under a car and took me home when my eyes were barely open, and even though she didn’t look like my mother, I was sure she was. If it were my story you’d hear how I had to put up with Bessie’s dog Halo, how he bit my tail and wouldn’t share the pillow. Well, if it were my story you’d hear how Lily brings me kibble and Richard overfeeds me and Chauncey’s voice always soothed me, and how my favorite word is melancholy, which Chauncey taught me. If it were my story you’d be aware that I always know when it’s going to rain. You’d know too that Davey owes me back scratches and belly rubs and I always know what’s in Bessie’s heart, which is always open, even when she thinks it’s not. But like I said, it’s not really my story.

Happy Reading, I hope you like my book: http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=195

Other Books by Vera Jane Cook

Canine Characters, Oops, Felines Too by Vera Jane Cook

2012-03-03T07:24:00.001-08:00

Maybe it’s not so odd that dogs appear in all my books. I grew up with them. They fold into the fabric of my youth like my Aunt Kitty and my Uncle Jack. Memory images squared off in black and white. Color came later, with my Shih Tzu, Charlie.

I heard that my grandfather loved German shepherds. Two of them have materialized from the vapors of my creativity. Since my first novel was really centered around stories from my youth, a regal shepherd suddenly appeared on the page, as if any subliminal thoughts of my grandfather were terribly incomplete without his beloved dog. Being a bit eclectic I tend to write in different genres. I have also written a fantasy novel that I’m soon about to sequel. In that book, a white shepherd was sent to lead my character, who just happened to be a witch, to the infamous Church of Loudon, where my heroine's fate lay buried in the stones. Needless to say, the white Shepherd was a saint, never showed his teeth, just his heart.

It’s not easy to write dogs into the dialogue. They don’t speak. Well, not usually. But they do provide a wonderful opportunity for description and humor. In my books, they attach themselves to me as they do in life: endearing, annoying and absolutely wonderful little dominances, sprightly companions, balls of fur that gather and wind up on my black blazers, not to mention my walls.

I never had a Chihuahua but one just happened to materialize in my third book, coy and clever; she controls the characters around her with the iron hand of a five star chef. It’s difficult to think of a dog as being coy and clever but I have a Pomeranian who fits the bill. She lured me into adopting her by pretending to be docile and sweet. She always gets fed when she’s hungry and has literally learned the English Language. It’s a terribly egocentric interpretation of our language because it always has something to do with her little desires and it is always connected with food. She has even learned to recognize the music from The Today Show and begins barking at seven A.M., the moment she hears it. Today Show theme song translates into “Now she’s going to walk me and then she’s going to feed me. Big Bow Wow; let’s move it.”

I also wrote a science fiction novel. I did mention I'm eclectic, didn't I? Well, like a flying saucer sent to unhinge my world, into the story line came a wonderful old country mutt, the kind that little boys love. My plot, as you can imagine went back and forth between my main character’s befuddled adulthood (he believes he was abducted) to his all American boyhood, when the adduction took place. It isn’t his first grade school teacher who appears to him so many years later, nor even his Mom and Dad; it’s Crocket, the dog that had his heart to such a degree, that like the shepherds before him, this friendly old mutt comes back to lead the way home, to provide the answers sought.

Interestingly enough, when I was single I had a dog named Starlight, a beautiful black and white Sheltie mix. A friend once said that in human form she would live in Paris and own a millinery shop on the Champs-Elysees. She’d be a flirt, a pretty little seductress. I could definitely see that. In my singleness she was my family, friend and companion; she filled the gaps left by disappointment; she always made me happy and took my attention off wallowing in everything that wasn’t working in my life. It is no wonder then that when one of my female characters in another one of my books, more contemporary and earthbound, gets separated from her spouse, she gets a dog, the kind you cuddle and name Elvis, someone whose ears perk up when you arrive home, whose heart beats just a little faster when he hears your key in the lock, a puppy dog who picks up your cologne and awaits your arrival with baited breath.

In the novel I’m writing now, a pug demanded his way into my creation, cute and ornery and as annoying as a fly at lunch. I never had a pug either but it hardly matters. I never had a King Charles spaniel but in another one of my books, she showed up, too. This little puppy fit the character who loved her, gracious and full of spunk. I guess I can always count on the writing process to reveal my take on the world. I’ve never met a person I’ve ever liked that didn’t warm to dogs. Why should I create characters that don’t relate to the wonderfulness of these magnificent beings? You can easily find your soul mates, your likeminded friends, the people you’d chose to make up your world if you could. They are the ones who can’t pass by a dog without a smile. I guess that in my writing, my world is of my making and within my world, dogs rule.

But hold on to your hats, folks, in my newest release on March 2nd, in Lies a River Deep, meet Spider, a black cat that does talk. Did I mention I love cats too.?

Happy Reading, I hope you enjoy my latest release: Lies a River Deep

http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=195

New release with Viki Lyn

2012-03-02T09:12:00.002-08:00

New Release - Ryan’s Harbor

When I set out to write my Woodland Village series, I didn’t plan on each story featuring a son having to come to terms with his father as a subplot. Sometimes the subconscious mind takes over when writing a story, and well, anything can happen!

In Blue Skye, Drew must learn to stand up to his father’s expectations. In Ryan’s Harbor, Martin Pierson feels like his father blames him for his brother’s death. He takes this belief and owns it.

When I completed the third book in the series, John’s Match, I realized again, I had a father playing a significant role in one of my character’s life. John has a very loving relationship with his father, and must learn to accept his father’s illness.

This week Ryan’s Harbor is being re-released – and I’m so happy to have it available once again. I had so much fun writing this book, and creating Fantasy Arts – Ryan’s computer game company. I’m one of those gamers, and if I had another chance at a career, I would have liked to design computer games. It’s fun to be able to live vicariously through my characters! There is a LAN party scene where Ryan kicks butt and blows up his competition. The man’s an animal when it comes to gaming!

Here’s a blurb and excerpt:

The boys of Woodland Village are back. This time it's Drew's brother, Ryan Adams, that's going through a crisis of doubt. He's always been the guy who breezed through relationships, never getting serious with the women he dates. He doesn't know why, but one-night stands and pretty women don't seem to give him that buzz like before. Then one night, at his brother's barbecue, he encounters Drew's assistant, Martin Pierson.

Martin agrees to design Ryan's new building for his gaming company - Fantasy Arts. As they spend time together in and out of the office, their working relationship grows into friendship and something more. But Martin can’t forgive himself for causing his brother’s death to allow for love. Ryan wants to be Martin’s safe harbor, a steadfast place where Martin can heal his heart. But can Martin put his trust in the notorious playboy of Woodland Village?

Excerpt

Ryan drove into the Fantasy Arts parking lot at three a.m. He recognized his team’s cars and smiled at their determination to play all night. He pulled in next to the Jeep and shut the motor.

What a night! He hadn’t had that much fun since…well since his days spent with Steven.

Martin turned in his seat and faced Ryan. “I had a great time. Thanks.”

Wasn’t he just thinking that? “Yeah, me too.” How lame, but suddenly he had blank-brain.

Martin looked down at his hands and then at Ryan as if expecting something, but Ryan had no clue what he wanted.

“Well, it’s late.” Martin reached for the door handle. “Next time I’ll take all your money.”

Ryan leaned over the stick shift and let his hand rest on Martin’s thigh. “Like hell you will.” When they’d switched to pool, he’d won thirty back. He looked forward to a rematch.

Martin looked down at Ryan’s hand, his smile wavering. “Gotta go.”

Ryan pulled back as Martin let himself out. From his rear view mirror, he watched Martin pause, look up at the sky and then back down, before resuming his walk. He was surprised when Martin stopped suddenly and turned. He came around to Ryan's side of the car and tapped on the window.

Ryan rolled down the window and Martin peered in, his eyes glittering green and catlike in the dark. "I forgot. I need your input on the final details of the atrium. Let's meet in a couple of days at my office. There are some issues we need to consider."

Ryan couldn't help but stare into those feral eyes. They seemed to hypnotize him. "Ah, sure. The atrium, right."

"Are you okay?"

He forced a smile. "Yeah, just tired."

Martin tilted up Ryan's chin and stared down with all seriousness. "Christ, I'm a fool."

Without apology, Martin took Ryan’s mouth prisoner with a hot, earthy kiss full of fire.

Ryan's heart drummed in his chest; he was too stunned to react. He let Martin's tongue explore freely, expertly drawing out their breaths. The moist tip of Martin’s tongue licked across his lip, his teeth nipping and sucking, teasing the seam of his mouth. Strong hands gripped his hair and held him steady as the crafty tongue invaded his mouth. Their tongues met and a bitter taste of beer hit the back of his throat.

Fuck, the man can kiss!

This brought up images of what else Martin was capable of doing with that experienced mouth. This is what he'd wanted since Martin had stepped foot into Fantasy Arts.

Happy Reading! I hope you enjoy my book.

To get your copies of Viki's books Click Here.

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com
http://www.vikilyn.com/blog
http://www.twitter.com/vikilynromance
http://www.facebook.com/vikilynromance

WALK LIKE A MAN: How a Woman Writer Captures a Man’s POV

2012-02-29T01:33:00.000-08:00

How a Woman Writer Captures a Man’s POV by Donna Del Oro

How does “She tipped up her chin at the stranger, resisting the man’s attempt at intimidation” become “He shot the stranger a don’t-fuck-with-me look”?

In order for a female fiction writer to avoid caricature and instead capture the sensibilities of a male, her mindset must change. As we all know, POV is vital in accurately portraying a male character (or any character, for that matter) and thus creating and sustaining verisimilitude. A story hinges on how believably the POV portrays/expresses the character in question, and that believability extends to gender. Even if you jump POVs from hero to heroine, the male POV scenes MUST BE MASCULINE, and therefore DIFFERENT in VOICE, ATTITUDE, and LANGUAGE.

The two sexes are different. We have different world views, mindsets, expectations and preoccupations. For example, one psychologist’s study showed that men think about sex at least sixteen times per day; assuming sixteen hours of wakefulness, that’s a minimum of once per hour. Conversely, women contemplate sex one-third as often. Isn’t it a marvel how men find time to start and fight wars, when so much of their conscious mind is preoccupied with sex? Or find the time to fill a weekend as an armchair quarterback? Are sex, sports and war games their main preoccupations?

Another preoccupation is their sense of “manhood”, their need to prove themselves “manly”. Watch a fence-enclosed playground of children some time. Little girls will reasonably enter and exit via the open gate. Not little boys. The five-foot high cyclone fence becomes a test of physical strength and agility—a challenge of manhood, if you will, and a string of little boys will dare each other to climb over. The little girls look on, some puzzled by the boys’ illogical behavior, others openly admiring the little daredevils who need to resist the lure of logic.

Read the novels of male authors to learn the male mindset. From the cerebral, artistic but nonetheless lethal Mossad assassin, Gabriel, of Daniel Silva, to the military action heroes of Brad Thor; from the political thrillers of Vince Flynn to the police procedurals of Michael Connelly and John Lescroat, to the scientific adventurers of James Rollins and Steve Berry—the male gender has his own distinct Point of View. And that includes, of course, his VOICE, ATTITUDE and LANGUAGE.

So, how to capture a man’s worldview, or—as the German philosophers call it—“weltanschauung”? Sparingly. A male fiction hero uses action more than speech to convey his worldview. A female writer not only has to reflect his POV in inner dialogue and reflection (or narration), but also in his actions and his spoken words. Or lack of them. For a male character, long silences are common. Daniel Silva’s Gabriel, the Mossad agent whose cover is Renaissance art restorer, spends days silently restoring his canvasses while simultaneously plotting his next mission. When a male author writes men’s dialogue, he does so sparingly. When a female author writes men’s dialogue, there is almost no difference between the male and female characters. We don’t realize how little men really speak.

Dialogue, of course, has to reflect the character. Men don’t talk as much as women. This is not stereotype or cliche. The same applies to little girls and boys. Several psychological studies have rated female speech as four to five times more frequent and denser than male speech. There’s more profanity, too, in male speech and many more sports metaphors. How many times have you heard a man say, “Time to get the ball and run with it”? Or “The ball’s in your court”, “I’m going for broke”, and—one from the military—“It’s all FUBAR, man”.

When FBI analyst, Jake Bernstein, in my sexy spy-thriller, A BODYGUARD OF LIES, gazes at the medieval-era Iron Maiden torture chamber in the dungeon at Cardiff Castle, he reflects on man’s inhumanity to man, and then thinks immediately of his German-Jewish grandfather’s survival guilt. He thinks outloud and, in a moment of spontaneous candor, shares his grandfather’s suffering with Meg, the grand-daughter of the woman he’s investigating. In the next moment, he covers his embarrassment by seizing and kissing her. A moment of vulnerability takes a more aggressive, sexual turn. Men’s rule: Never show your weaknesses.

In another scene, by-the-book Bernstein crosses the line and risks his career by becoming sexually involved with Meg, but only after confirming in his own mind Meg’s innocence. He rationalizes his involvement with the needs of his investigation, but soon assumes the role of protector for both the target—the grandmother—and the target’s grand-daughter. Jake shows, not by words of affection, but by action alone his feelings for Meg. That his investigation has been compromised creates a moral and practical dilemma for Jake, which he deals with in his own inimitable way. His lonely search for love supercedes the need for justice, but only temporarily. Ultimately, Jake turns things around. Justice does prevail in the end, but not in the way some might expect or hope.

Surliness, cynicism and sarcasm are all accepted male attributes, especially in tough “alpha” males. From the lone gunslinger to the “Mission Impossible” stoical action hero, the alpha male feels, suffers, but never complains. Especially not to females. He might be flawed, drink or smoke too much, pick the wrong woman, or put himself in life-threatening situations, but HE NEVER COMPLAINS and NEVER CRIES. Remember an incredulous Tom Hanks exhorting his female baseball players, “There’s no crying in baseball!”? There are unspoken mottos of machismo among men: NO CRYING EVER. TAKE IT LIKE A MAN. WALK LIKE A MAN. TOUGHEN UP AND STAND TALL. Those attitudes are deep-seated and intrinsic to a male’s psyche. My seven year-old grandson already has incorporated those mottos into his outlook and behavior, and the male role models in his life are sensitive, educated, verbally gifted men. Somehow, through osmosis of cultural mores, little boys learn what is necessary to WALK LIKE A MAN.

“Defending the Caveman”, a one-man comedy show, reminded me recently of the male mindset and male speech. Men tend to get confused when women are verbose. Like their canine counterparts, they look for tone of voice and body language because they know that women don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say. Look at classic passive-aggressive power struggles between men and women. Men have difficulty arguing back, so they are more inclined to switch to passive-aggressive mode. They don’t like taking orders from a woman, and so if a woman nags a man to be home by five o’clock sharp, you can bet he’ll find something to do until five-thirty. Passive-aggression is a man’s stock in trade. Or he’ll take the opposite stance and just tell you to “fuck off”.

As a rule, however, men tend to clean up their language when in mixed-gender company, and that’s one of the main appeals of men-only clubs and teams. In such an environment, they can blow off steam, scratch themselves, belch outloud, insult each other with “dickhead” and “butt-wipe” and laugh. And still remain good buddies. Imagine women going up to their girlfriends with a greeting like “Hi, fatty” or “Still wearing that old, ratty shirt?” That’d be the end of that friendship. With men, such insults are just friendly talk, a sign of good-humored male-aggression and tolerance. Listen in on a men-only poker game. Or go see the musical, “Jersey Boys”. There’s a reason why men loved that musical but hated “Mama Mia”.

Listen to men when they don’t realize a woman is around. Very hard to do because their sexual antennae always lets them know when a female is nearby or within earshot. But if you can avoid being detected, just tune in to them and listen with an open mind to their speech. It’s hilarious and, for a woman writer, quite an education. Go ahead. Do it. You’ll see what I mean.

Get to know Patricia Yager Delagrange

2012-02-25T22:09:00.000-08:00

Musa is thrilled to Host Patricia Yager Delagrange author of Moon over Alcatraz.

Patricia Tell us about yourself…

I’ve had the greatest opportunity ever to be a stay-at-home mom. My son is now 17 years old and my daughter is 13. It’s the most important job I’ve ever had. I will never forget the time my daughter came home from school and told me her friend asked why her mom didn’t have a “job”. After getting over feeling insulted, I realized both my kids were becoming more independent then asked myself what I’d like to do with my “freed up” time. I went to the Apple store, bought a MacBook, and decided to write a book.

Tell us about your Book…

Moon Over Alcatraz is about a couple who loses their baby in childbirth and how their lives veer in directions away from each other during their ensuing grief. Even though it has it’s sad parts, there is definitely happiness sprinkled throughout the novel...and it has a “happily ever after” ending.

What are your five favorite Novels?

Jodi Picoult’s 19 Minutes, Richard Pauls Evans’ Michael Vey, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cover series, John Grogan’s Marley and Me, and Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook.

Who is your favorite Hero/Heroine you have written?

My favorite heroine is Brenda Cavanaugh in my book Brenda’s Wish. She’s a divorced mother of a 17-year-old son whose ex-husband is murdered. It deals with her and her son’s lives after that incident and how it affects them is both tangled and positive.

Who is your favorite Hero/Heroine you have read?

One of my favorite heroes is Tom Booker in Nicholas Evans’ The Horse Whisperer. I love the way he believed in the possibility that a mentally injured horse could be happy again and be reunited with his “person”.

What’s your favorite movie?

My favorite movie is Gladiator. My friend told me about it and when Russell Crowe came onto the screen, I was never the same! I fell in love and have seen that movie a gazillion times. Who else could wear a dress made out of armor like that and look like a hunk?

What is your favorite quote?

Corny, but “If you don’t have an iPhone, you don’t have an iPhone” has stuck in my head for months. If someone makes a comment where this quote is appropriate, I use it. Hey, everyone knows what you’re talking about when you say it.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

I would live in Santa Barbara, California. I got my Bachelor’s degree in Spanish form U.C. Santa Barbara and lived there for eight years. It’s so beautiful there with the gigantic palm trees waving in the sea breeze, the long boardwalk along the beach where you can ride your bike, perfect weather. I always loved living there.

How can readers find you?

Musa link: http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=150

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Over-Alcatraz-ebook/dp/B006UJEE3E/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327940072&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moon-over-alcatraz-patricia-yager-delagrange/1108112331?ean=2940032996682&itm=1&usri=moon+over+alcatraz

BBQ? Carolina, Tennessee, Texas or Kansas City?

None. I haven’t eaten meat since 1976!

Kurt Minnifield from “Dead Reckoning”

2012-02-23T12:22:00.001-08:00

Today we have Kurt Minnifield from “Dead Reckoning” at the Musa Blog...

Q: Why do you think Paul Stansfield chose you to represent “Dead Reckoning?”
A: Because I was one of the ones in the thick of everything, I guess. I was both victim and victimizer, you could say. Plus my dashing good looks and charm don’t hurt either! (Laughs).
Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
A: I come from a small town in western New York state, called Warsaw. Graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a degree in communications—meaning I was prepared for nothing, basically! (Laughs) Took a job at a local theater building sets, and filled in for a sick actor once, and got hooked. I was never one of those Method types, though—they often take things too far. At the end of the day, you’re still pretending, no matter how much preparation you’ve done.
Q: Where do you live?
A: After the events of the story I relocated to the Pacific Northwest. I won’t say where, because I’m sick of talking to reporters (this one interview excepted). I really like it—it’s beautiful, and the people are laid back, cool, and tolerant, even to fictitious people. Although the time zone is a bit of a bitch. NFL games starting at 10 A.M? Outrageous!
Q: What do you wish people would know about you?
A: Mainly, no matter what I and some of the others did--and some of it, let’s face it, was dreadful—we had good reasons. I think anyone would have responded in a similar way.
Q: Is there anything that you wish Paul Stansfield had kept his mouth shut about?
A: Looking back on it, I’m aware of how much I criticized other characters, was kind of negative at times. But I did say, and think these things, so I can only blame myself. But otherwise I thought it was fair—it gave every side a chance to explain themselves, in a way.
Q: When were you born
A: 1986. And my parents looked the part in the photos of me as a wee kid. Big hair, parachute pants, I tease them a lot about it.
Q: What music do you listen to?
A: Classic rock, some punk and hardcore, old school rap, and as a guilty pleasure—a little disco. So bandwise, my favorites are The Beatles, The Stones, The Kinks, Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, Run DMC, Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys, The Sex Pistols, The Misfits, GWAR, and The Village People.
Q: Where have we seen you before?
A: Nowhere, unless you took in New Paltz theater productions. Or a foot fungus commercial. Or a video for the worst hair band I ever had the misfortune to hear. Wolf Blade? Wolf Sword? Something awful and ridiculously cliché like that. Even with the idiotic “umlauts for decoration, not actual pronunciation” crap. Because we can all agree that punctuation makes you a badass, right?
Q: What is your perfect evening?
A: An abandoned roller rink, a case of Mad Dog 20/20, and a giraffe! No, just kidding. A small gathering of close friends, a barbeque, and later, a Wes Anderson movie.
Q: What is your favorite sports team?
A: The Buffalo Bills, baby! Alas, I was too young to see them much during their sort of heyday in the early 90’s. Although my parents said I cried for weeks after fucking Norwood missed that field goal…
Q: What are your biggest fears?
A: Clowns, velvet, and commitment! (Laughs). No, probably it’s that I ever have to go through something like the “Dead Reckoning” events again.
Q: Why should readers be interested in your story?
A: Because it’s the most comprehensive account of a really fucked up situation. And maybe as a warning, to show how tiny mistakes can mushroom into disaster.
Q: What are your turn ons? Turn offs?
A: Jeez, what is this, a Playboy Centerfold interview? Next question.
Q: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
A: Mint chocolate chip. I’m green all the way!
Q: Will we be seeing more of you, or are you stepping out of the limelight?
A: Emphatically stepping out of the limelight. My five minutes of fame felt like a century. More than enough for me, thanks

Buy your Copy of DEAD RECKONING at Musa Publishing Now.

Writer Wednesday with Linda Benson

2012-02-22T05:35:00.001-08:00

Genre-Jumping in eBooks: and why it matters

I write for young people. At least that what it says on my website: Linda Benson – books for young readers. http://lindabenson.net And on my blog, it says I’m a Young Adult and Middle Grade Author. http://lindabenson.blogspot.com

But my newest book, The Girl Who Remembered Horses, which came out in November/2011 from Musa Publishing, has been warmly received and widely read by readers over the age of 30, and many over the age of 40. Or 50. What gives? It’s a post-apocalyptic story featuring a teenage protagonist who dreams of horses, magnificent creatures that she’s never seen, while her clan gleans recycled items from a barren landscape in a future world.

The book is labeled YA for young adult, but might just have easily been labeled middle grade, for readers 9-12, or fantasy, or equine fiction (with very real horse details) or fiction for animal lovers (it also features dogs and goats) or even speculative fiction or science fiction. Not to mention adventure. At the moment, The Girl Who Remembered Horses is racking up great reviews on Amazon, and is #1 on the Goodreads list of Fantasy Books Featuring Horses. Here are some samples of recent reviews, taken from Amazon and Goodreads:

Linda Benson has ventured into what may well be completely unknown territory: a post-apocalyptic horse story.
The Girl Who Remembered Horses is a post-Apocalyptic middle grade novel but without the darkness and misery that seems to come with so many books these days.
This is a whole new imaginative take on the well-loved story of a girl finding her horse.
It pulls you in with a whisper, wraps you up in its arms, and leaves you feeling really good about having read it.

Because The Girl Who Remembered Horses came out first as an eBook, readers of all types and ages are finding and enjoying it. But would this have been true in a bookstore, where it would have to find a place on just one shelf? What shelf would you place it on? In the children’s section? The young adult? Wherever you chose to put it, it would certainly get overlooked by lots of people who seem to be enjoying it.

One of the beauties of eBooks, in my opinion, is that they are easy to find and to buy (with prices so much lower than a hard cover book) so readers tend to take a chance on reading something they might not normally pick up in a bookstore, or even be able to find, for that matter. Especially for those books that are hard to peg, or that cross genre boundaries, eBooks provide a great way to attract new readers.

I have two more novels due out from Musa Publishing this year. The first is called Six Degrees of Lost and it’s about a lost dog. Or perhaps it’s about two teens on an unexpected journey – you’ll have to read it to find out. The second is called Walking the Dog, and it’s about some kids walking dogs. Or maybe it’s about a girl in trouble and a boy too young to help her.
Earlier in my writing career, I had my genre all picked out: I thought I was a children’s author who focused on animal stories. But somehow, my themes seem to get deeper and my audience seems to get wider. If being an eBook author allows more readers to find my work, then I’m all for it. Genre-jumping, I mean.

Meet Author Nya Rayne

2012-02-19T00:00:00.007-08:00

Today we welcome Nya Rayne to the Musa Blog. Her book Storm's Fury released this weekend.

Nya tell us about yourself…

I am a paranormal and futuristic romance writer who lives in North Carolina. I have been in love with fiction since I picked up my first copy of V.C. Andrews at the age of 11. I wrote my first story when I was 15, which amounted to about nothing, but was so much fun to write that I kept doing it. I’m a serious advocate for reading and writing. When I’m not writing, I can be found volunteering at the local ASPCA.

Tell us about your Book…

Well, here’s the book in a nutshell:

A street-wise hustler, Stormy has been running most of her life from the creature that killed her family. However, when she meets Fury, a being so stubborn he could give a mule lessons, running is no longer an option. When he claims he’s her protector and the other half of her soul, Stormy would rather take her chances with the beast chasing her.

His dogged determination to protect her and his seductive expertise spark to life dreams she’d all but given up on: dreams of belonging to a family, and of having a life where running is nothing more than exercise. But with vile creatures hunting her, demanding her blood, and pack members who want her head instead of her help, Stormy will have to find away to place her trust and heart in Fury’s care. If she can’t, then neither of them will have a future to dream about.

Who is your favorite Hero/Heroine you have read?

Gosh, I read such a medley of novels I have a favorite from each genre. Let’s see, in romance it would have to be Grigori from the Carpathian Series. In the crime genre, it would have to be Lucas Davenport from Prey Series, and in the thriller genre Jack Reacher. In fantasy its Peeta from the Hunger games and in YA it would have to be Jacob from the Twilight Series.

Yeah, I’ve never been good at following directions…lol.

If you could only have one vice what would it be?

I would have to have myself a glass of wine right before bed. I would have said a cigarette, but it’s been over a year since I quit, so I could never pick that nasty little habit up again. Not that I don’t still crave one every now and again.

What do you prefer Roller Coasters, Carousels or the bumper cars?

Definitely bumper cars. My therapist said that it’s a control thing, but the hell does she know? (lol)

Who is your favorite Character from one of your books and why?

My favorite character right now is from Storm’s Fury. Stormy. She’s so headstrong that sometimes she hinders herself, which is exactly like me. She’s imperfect and she’s knows it and accepts it and even though she longs for more and for a place to belong, she’s afraid to give voice to it because all she knows is disappointment. Once again, this is very close to the real me, so I can’t help but to love her.

Do you listen to Music when you write, if so what?

Not all the time, but when I do it’s a mixture of rock, country, R&B and alternative. I like a little bit of all genres; from Nickleback to Rascal Flatts to Muse.

What is your favorite quote?

It would have to be “Shut up and listen”. It’s short and to the point. It’s such a powerful statement that it doesn’t matter whether you’re young or old, or what nationality you are, by following it, we could all learn something.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

It would probably by Tokyo, Japan. I’ve always had a love for everything Asian. Even if I can’t live there, I have to at least visit.

Are you a Plotter or a Panster?

Panster, that’s me. I try to plot, I really do, but it never works past the first three or four chapters. I like to let my stories take on a life of their own. The few times that I’ve forced myself to plot the story ended up disjointed—if that makes any sense.

Name 5 things that are on your desk right now?

I don’t really have a desk, but on the kitchen table that I call me desk, there is a vase full of flowers, a stapler, bills I’m trying to ignore, the plug for my ipod, and a Sherrilyn Kenyon novel. There’s a whole lot more, but you only asked for five…lol.

What is your biggest distraction when it comes to writing?

Awesome question!! It would have to be my cell phone. I swear the moment I get into a groove, someone has to call or text me. It doesn’t matter the day or the time, it always happens. Yeah, I know, I could just turn it off, but who does that nowadays…?...lol.

BBQ? Carolina, Tennessee, Texas or Kansas City?

Definitely Carolina and if you tell me anything different you’re going to have to meet me out back!!

Buy your copy of Storm's Fury at Musa Publishing

Here's the link to my blog: http://www.blogger.com/logout-redirect.g?blogID=7577583041873722434

And here's my facebook: www.facebook.com/nyarayne

Author Interview—Paul Stansfield

2012-02-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

Today we welcome Paul Stansfield author of the Zombie Book Dead Reckoning.

Available today at Musa Publishing

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A. I’m a Jersey guy across the board—born and raised there, and graduated from Rutgers. (But no, thankfully I’m nothing like the “Jersey Shore” folks.) I’m an archaeologist by trade, and have worked in over 20 states. I’ve excavated both historic and prehistoric sites, as well as hundreds of burials. Horror is my favorite genre, for watching movies, reading books, and writing. To play armchair psychiatrist, I wonder if that might stem from my extreme fear of anything horror-related as a kid. Even after-school-type specials gave me nightmares. Perhaps my obsession with the genre is a way to combat, and “beat” these childhood fears.

Q: Tell us about your book.

A: With “Dead Reckoning” I wanted to write a story where people do terrible things to one another, including killing each other, yet no one is the “bad guy,” so to speak. Every character has a valid and moral reason for what they do, due to misunderstandings and coincidences. I thought this would be an interesting twist on the “psycho/monster kills everybody” cliche.

Q: What are your five favorite novels?

A: It’s tough to choose only five, but since you have the metaphoric gun to my head, I’d say, “The Shining,” by Stephen King, “The Exorcist,” by William Peter Blatty, “The Silence of the Lambs,” by Thomas Harris, “A Simple Plan,” by Scott Smith, and “Little Big Man,” by Thomas Berger.

Q: Who is your favorite hero/heroine you have read?

A: Michael Corleone, from “The Godfather,” by Mario Puzo. I love how he starts out determined not to be directly involved in the family business, yet eventually finds himself the head of the most powerful crime family in the country. At various points he makes the decision to get involved more deeply, for reasons that are quite logical, and understandable. And yet it’s a slippery slope, and by the end he’s hopelessly corrupt. It all seems to point out that even the smartest, most independent, most moral people can be seduced by evil.

Q: What do you prefer—roller coasters, carousels, or bumper cars?

A: Roller coasters, definitely. The rides are invigorating and fun in and of themselves, plus there’s the added spark caused by the fleeting moments of terror, the feeling that “I’m going to die,” or “Did those carnies who set this up do a half-assed job?” So it’s a way to experience terror in a safe kind of way—kind of like reading a frightening book, or watching a scary movie.

Q: What are you working on right now?

A: Promotions for “Dead Reckoning,” including things I’ve never done before—blogs, ads, websites, etc. As for writing, I’ll be going back to a story about the parents of a probable killer.

Q: What’s your favorite movie?

A: Despite my love of horror, I’d probably go with “Better Off Dead,” a 1985 teen comedy directed by Savage Steve Holland and starring John Cusack. It’s absurd, PG-rated, sweetly romantic, and yet, I find it hilarious.

Q: Do you listen to music when you write, and if so, what?

A: No. I’m lazy and unproductive enough, I don’t need any distractions! And it would be—I can’t have any music, or background TV noise, etc.

Q: Which of your covers is your favorite?

A: I only have the one cover thus far, but I think it’ll stand up nonetheless. It kind of reminds me of a heavy metal album cover (which is a compliment). I like the fear in the foreground zombie’s face, and that the background one is striking a weird crucifixion-like pose. Also like the objects underneath the figures—don’t know what they are, it just adds to the mystery. The extreme gore is a plus, too—very appropriate and nicely gross.

Q: What is your favorite quote?

A: “I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds!” said by Oppenheimer when he watched the first atomic bomb test. It’s his translation/paraphrasing of a passage from the Hindu book the Bhagavad Gita. I appreciate the overall sinister tone and slightly awkward phrasing. I just like the sound of it.

Q: Where do you find your inspiration?

A: It can come from anywhere. Occasionally it’s from another book, movie, or TV show. Frequently, it comes to me as I’m doing something else, like taking a long walk, or driving. Sometimes in a dream. Even a time or two while on the can!

Q: Name five things on your desk right now.

A: Books (including “Ishi in Two Worlds,” and the 2009 edition of “Who’s Who is Baseball,”), pens, paper, a 2012 hard-to-get horror movie guide (“Video Screams”), and a four pack can of Penn tennis balls (Championship Titanium, Extra-Duty Felt).

Q: When did you discover you could write?

A: As a student I tended to do well on essay questions. Teachers sometimes remarked that I expressed myself well in writing. I always had a desire to write. The stories I wrote as an 11-12 year are still stored somewhere in house.

Q: Bar-B-Q; Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, or Kansas City?

A: As I mentioned, I grew up in the North, where BBQ isn’t as popular, or at least isn’t a structured, regionalized point of pride. My travels as an adult haven’t taken me to Texas or Kansas City yet. So, I’ve only had Carolina, which was very good. I would like to give the others a try, however. Several subtypes have my attention, too, such as Kentucky (which evidently is mutton-based, and I’m a huge fan of lamb meat), and some of the Texas variants (West reportedly largely uses goat meat, and South allegedly often uses cow heads).

Meet Skye Taylor from Blue Skye

2012-02-16T05:36:00.000-08:00

Thank you Skye for coming to chat with us today. Why do you think Viki Lyn choose you to represent her?

Well, I know that Viki has a soft spot for me. I’m pretty easy going and love talking with people. I also know everyone in the Village. Not that I’m a gossip...but if you want something answered, you can come to me. Drew might stop in, but he’s pretty shy when it comes to talking about himself. (Skye grins) I’m not so shy.

Tell us a little about yourself.

(Skye tugs at his diamond studded ear) I’ve always wanted to be a painter. Both my parents were artists. Dad painted realism and my mom was a ceramic artist. She loved working with clay but dappled in a lot of mediums, and taught me to explore different ways to express myself. My dad taught me to paint. He drilled into me the fundamentals of drawing and composition. A great education now that I look back, but oh boy, I was rather rebellious and wanted to do things my way. (Skye laughs) Still do.

Where do you live?

I live in Woodland Village, my hometown. It has easy access to Manhattan by train. There’s a marina and beaches, and even wooded areas west of the Village. When I graduated from high school, I couldn’t wait to leave for New York. That’s where all artists went to, our Mecca if we wanted to be a success. It’s funny how my life turned full circle, and I’m living back home in my parent’s cottage. (Skye flashes his brilliant smile) I love it here, living on the beach, having Drew back into my life. It’s perfect.

What music do you listen to?

I grew up listening to rock. My parents dug all the old rockers like Zepplin, The Grateful Dead. But I also like Duran, Duran and Psychedelic Furs. Throw in some Queen and Supertramp. Yeah, I know, old stuff but that’s pretty much what I like. On my iPod right now is Hey Soul Sister so I’m not always listening to yesterday’s music!

Will we be seeing more of you or are you stepping out of the limelight?

Viki wrote my love story in Blue Skye, but I’m always around, making sure my friend’s are doing okay. I’m kind of the go-to guy when my friends are having problems. Drew tells me I should hang up my shingle and charge a nickel. (Again, that knock-out grin) I have cameo appearances in Ryan’s Harbor and John’s Match, so you’ll still see me.

What is your perfect evening?

Fucking Drew into the sheets. Yeah, man, I know raunchy. Seriously though, he’s my all.

Speaking of Drew Adams, I see he isn’t here.

Like I said, he’s shy. He’s a very serious guy, but when we’re together, he loosens up. We share so many memories, and I love that were always making new ones. We have the same intensity of passion for our careers and understand that about each other.

Tell us more about you and Drew. Why him?

I’ve known Drew since Junior High, when we had gym class together. He hated me at first, wouldn’t even talk with me. He thought I was some weird kid with hippie parents. It was at a party, I think it was at Rob’s house, when we started hanging out together. That’s when I knew that he was special. I loved him since. Unfortunately, it took us several years apart to get it right. Drew is from one of the wealthiest families in the Village. He always had high expectations placed on his shoulders -- be the best, be the brightest, and tow the conservative line. That meant marriage and family. I had to come back into Drew’s life to shake up his world.

Is the man wearing the bandana on the cover a fair representation of you?

Wow, yeah, about the cover. Drew and I are damn young in that picture. I’ve filled out somewhat, more muscular (he rubs his chest). I still wear the bandana when I’m painting or flipping burgers on the BBQ. Drew’s taller and more slender, and grew out his hair, but has the same blue eyes and blond hair.

What are your biggest turn-ons?

Drew’s hands, his ass and those incredible blue eyes. A good steak and glass of red wine. Ah, let’s see, the final paint stroke, and a finished painting.

What are your biggest turn-offs?

Intolerance. Someone telling me how to think. Brash loud people with nothing to say.

Why should the readers be interested in your story?

It’s a love story and a story about forgiveness and second chances.

Happy Reading!

Skye Taylor

http://www.vikilyn.com
http://www.vikilyn.com/blog
http://www.twitter.com/vikilynromance
http://www.facebook.com/vikilynromance

Embrace the Process with Eleni Konstantine

2012-02-15T05:14:00.000-08:00

I’ve come to realise that I’m not an every day writer.

That is, in writing new drafts. I’m a burster. I write in bursts at a time. Don’t get me wrong, I constantly have stories going around in my head and I love thinking about them. But I can’t seem to sit down and write a set amount of words every day. I’ve tried it again and again, but it just doesn’t work for me.

I think the only time I’m consistent with that is when I have writing challenges a couple of months a year, or an odd week here and there. But that’s it, if I go beyond that, the creativity dries up and then it can take a long time before I’m ready to write.

So, I say, embrace your process if it works. In January, I knew I wanted to submit two short stories, so with the deadlines in mind, I wrote the short stories in fits and bursts.

One thing I used waiting room time. Waiting rooms is a favourite place to write. It passes the time and I don’t feel like I’m wasting it. And believe me, in the past few years I have been in more waiting rooms than I can count. That burst of writing is a breath of fresh air and sometimes the change of environment brings a new flavour and inspiration to the story that I didn’t think of initially. I think writing by hand helps that process too.

Then when I type things up, things also change in the transcription. I’ve had whole stories go in a different direction. That doesn’t mean the writing before this is wasted. It’s just inspired something else. It’s all part of the process.

And it’s not just writing that I use the waiting room time on. This past week, I had printed out a chapter to edit on paper. I use this technique here and there, as sometimes the change from the screen helps to see the piece of writing with different eyes. I have picked up on things that I didn’t on the screen. Again, it’s my process and when my brain needs that change, I use it.

Also, like writing, I can’t edit for hours at a stretch. I move around and let the work percolate in my brain. It works for me, and rather than waste precious time on staring at the screen only changing a word or two, I allow this process to happen, and then I can edit or polish the work to a higher standard (or so I hope).

It took me a long time to accept that my process, while different, works for me. I tried to conform, but I think embracing your process reduces stress and lets you get on with the job at hand – to create stories. Which is what it’s all about. Who cares how you get there.

What about you? Do you have a process which isn’t considered ‘normal’?

Eleni Konstantine is Fantasy and Paranormal fiction writer, and has had a number of shorts published. Her stories range from flash fiction to novels. She blames her mother for her writing bug because as a child she was given many books, including illustrated fairytales. That and a love of Greek mythology, and Eleni was destined to become a writer.

Her short stories ‘Stormy Divide’ and ‘Angel Eyes’ will be published with Musa Publishing in June 2011.

You can find Eleni at her website (http://elenikonstantine.com/)

Liese Sherwood-Fabre's Top Ten Famous Couples

2012-02-12T22:12:00.000-08:00

Top Ten Famous Couples

Hello!

I’m Liese Sherwood-Fabre, and my short story “Virtual Harmony” will be appearing on February 14 as a free read through Musa Publishing. I’m very excited about sharing this romantic tale with Musa readers as well as my thriller set in Russia coming out in May.

While I pondered what to share for this “top ten” blog, I heard a news story about King Edward VIII and Wallis Warfield Simpson, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and recalled how the British king gave up his throne for the woman he loved. The narrative reminded me of other famous couples and the concept of “soul mate”--where two people are so compatible, they complete each other’s being. In “Virtual Harmony,” Connie seeks her soul mate after his playlist mysteriously appears on her computer.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I developed a list of ten other famous couples—historical and fictional—who can also be considered soul mates:

1) Romeo and Juliet found love despite a deep-seated family feud

2) Anthony and Cleopatra marriage ended the reign of the Egyptian pharaohs

3) Roy Rogers and Dale Evans made beautiful music on horseback

4) Scarlet O’Hara and Rhett Butler’s relationship spanned the Civil War and beyond

5) Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Becall’s May-December relationship set Hollywood buzzing

6) Pierre and Marie Curie shared a love of science and a Nobel Prize

7) Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo’s complex relationship was chronicled in her paintings

8) John Alden and Priscilla Mullins had one of the earliest courtships in the New World

9) Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett shared their love through poetry

10) John and Abigail Addams’ love survived a revolution

Can you think of some other famous couples I might have missed whose stories represent the concept of “soul mates?”

Liese Sherwood-Fabre

http://www.liesesherwoodfabre.com/

"Gimmick-free, old-fashioned storytelling"

Pauls Top Ten Zombie Films

2012-02-12T01:23:00.000-08:00

Top Ten Zombies Movies, from Paul Stansfield

Since my book (“Dead Reckoning” due out February 17th) is about the tragedy that unfolds when a cast and crew filming a low-budget zombie movie meet a group of Luddite campers, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss my Top Ten zombie movies. To a zombie geek such as myself, whittling the vast number of films I love down to just ten was rather agonizing. I made an effort to include the major types—a couple of George Romero’s movies (of course), a few Italian opuses (opii?), and a few intentionally funny/satiric films. Just missing the cut were “Day of the Dead,” “Zombie Holocaust” (AKA “Dr. Butcher, M.D.”), “Let Sleeping Corpses Lie” (AKA “Breakfast at the Manchester Morgue”), “Dellamorte Dellamore” (AKA “Cemetery Man”), and “Prince of Darkness,” among others. Movies listed in order of release.

“Night of the Living Dead” (1968) Directed by George Romero. The Granddaddy of the zombies-are-flesh-eaters theme. Also originator of the idea that every dead body becomes your enemy (with rare exceptions). Before this movie, zombies were basically fleshy robots, controlled by others, usually in small numbers, and therefore, not as dangerous and frightening. NOTLD changed this forever, and created zombies as a new horror archetype. Its unflinching violence and pitch black tone also were innovative at the time. Truly, this could be said to be the “Citizen Kane” of zombie movies, in that it affected this subgenre and the whole genre of horror profoundly. It’s never been the same since.
“Dawn of the Dead” (1978) Directed by George Romero. Continues and tops the elements from NOTLD. The hordes of the dead are expanding, and are threatening society. Romero’s social satire (present in all of his movies, but most noticeable here) is a statement about how consumer culture in the form of shopping malls makes mindless drones of us all. Very entertaining, with likable characters, good action, and incredible, gruesome gore.
“Zombie” (1979) Directed by Lucio Fulci. Fulci’s tour de force about zombies running amok on a tiny Caribbean island. Nasty, sweaty, and disturbing, yet oh so fun at the same time. Includes two unforgettable scenes—one a horrifically painful and graphic death from a splinter of wood, the second a fight between a living corpse and a shark (!) And the latter is real, not CGI.
“Burial Ground” (AKA “The Nights of Terror”) (1981) Directed by Andrea Bianchi. Another “spaghetti dead” offering, with all the typical elements of that—poor acting, ludicrous storyline, gratuitous nudity and gore, sleaziness of every kind. To paraphrase John Waters, it’s indefensible, and therefore awesome. You’ll probably feel the need to take a shower afterwards. Also notable for the industriousness of the zombies—they show use of tools, and have problem-solving capabilities.
“The Beyond” (1981) Directed by Lucio Fulci. More Fulci, with all his trademark extreme violence and gore. A woman discovers that the Louisiana hotel she’s inherited is over one of the doors to Hell. The whole film has a dreamlike quality, or more properly, a nightmarish quality.
“Dead and Buried” (1981) Directed by Gary Sherman. A series of bizarre murders in a quaint New England coastal town bedevils the local sheriff. Especially when the victims later seem to reappear. Boasts an effective plot and good acting, along with spectacular special effects. Oddly poignant, too.
“Return of the Living Dead” (1985) Directed by Dan O’Bannon. Clearly meant as a satire of zombie movies (and does an excellent job at this) but also tense and frightening. The dead are a revelation, too--smarter and nearly indestructible. Originated the fast zombie idea over fifteen years before the zombie-ish folks of “28 Days Later.”
“Re-Animator” (1985) Directed by Stuart Gordon. Loose (in every sense of the word) adaptation of the H. P. Lovecraft story, where university med students learn how to raise the dead, with devastating (yet often humorous) consequences. Delightfully graphic in every way.
“Braindead” (AKA “Dead-Alive”) (1992) Directed by Peter Jackson. Before “Lord of the Rings” Peter Jackson put out low-budget, often gleefully gross yet imaginative fare like this. Completely over the top in all ways—there’s gallons of blood, a zombie baby, ghoul on ghoul sex, reanimated intestines (!), and disturbing Oedipal events. Despite all of these things (or because of them?) it’s also a sweet love story, and very (intentionally) funny. Beware the Sumatran Rat Monkey!
“Shaun of the Dead” (2004) Directed by Edgar Wright. Another zombie satire, and one of the best. The dead return to life in England, menacing a slacker and his circle of friends. More of a comedy than horror movie, but has some intense moments.

Deb's House and Garden

2012-02-10T22:12:00.000-08:00

"House and Garden"

a paranormal short story (Thalia Imprint at MusaPublishing.com)

by Deb Victoroff

First of all, I want to thank Musa Publishing for their hard work, and their exceptional taste ;) in selecting my short story for publication. No really, I’ve read my fellow author’s stuff and I am flattered to be in such august company. These are talented people and I would spend more time promoting their stuff if I didn’t have so little time to promote my own.

I have always been a humorist, or considered myself so – I suppose you’d have to ask my readers of my humor essays and horoscope parodies whether they thought I was funny. My very first attempt at a short story was several years ago I wrote a piece set during the 2004 presidential elections when every day there’d be a new sex scandal wherein the idiot candidate would be caught with some equally idiotic bimbo on his lap, or in his car, or at a motel, and the candidate would ruin his career, but the bimbo would become famous, and get a book contract or a reality TV show. I took that to its logical conclusion wherein the woman would use this newly found fame and parlay it into a run for the presidency herself – since it became obvious all one needed to get on the ballot was fame. Some things never change.

Anyway, as soon as the elections were over, the story was outdated so I never pursued it. But I was always interested in the short story form, and equally interested in horror, or paranormal fiction. Of course Stephen King was an author whose work I consistently read. Pop culture to be sure, but absolutely enjoyable. I also grew up reading the works of lesser-known authors whose stories appeared in the billions of Playboy magazines we had laying about the house (did I mention I had 4 brothers?). If you’ve never read “The Manuscript of Dr. Arness” by the artist Gahan Wilson, do yourself a favor and google it, or find it somehow; it is amazing. You will be blown away at the end.

My short story “House and Garden” was inspired by real events. My old boyfriend Hal and I purchased a little cottage on a tiny neglected peninsula on Long Island. Just after we bought it he got a new job, which required his working in the city (Manhattan) and meant I would be spending the first weekends alone at the house. I looked forward to this – I was planning on gardening for the first time and making the garden pretty with lots of flowers and a little stone path, perhaps foxglove, irises, Montauk daisies. I had big plans. But first I had to deal with the overgrowth of a backyard that had not been touched in years. There were vines strangling the trees, choking the rose bushes, weaving through the lawn. It was just as I describe in the story: the lawn was like walking on a field of pencils strewn about.

As I confidently started out with my clippers, my first mission was to take care of these old vines. But I soon learned that they were too strong for my clippers: I practically took off my thumb holding them and attempting to cut them off the trees. The clipper blade kept slipping, always aiming for my fingers. Bugs came out of nowhere to attack me and climb into my shirtsleeves; everything that had jaws or pinchers bit me and stung me. I pushed a wad of weeds into a trash barrel to compact it and the thorns punched through and punctured my hands. As evening came, and the mosquitoes started on my ankles and worked their way up to my face, I was really beginning to feel like the garden did not like me there trying to gentrify it.

I thought: this is something Stephen King would write about. Maybe I should try to write it myself?

In this short story, the lead character Elise Lambert is absolutely based on me – but I am only the most skeletal of templates. Elise is not intended to be an adorable, chipper, good-natured young woman. She’s a bit of a loner, not good at personal relationships, somewhat judgmental with a superiority complex that comes from assuming that others are going about life the wrong way, and that’s why they don’t “get” her. These traits lead directly to her assumptions about how easy it will be to shape her garden to how she feels it SHOULD look, changing things to suit her. She likes to be in control for sure. She’s a film editor by trade, and the cutting and shaping of stories has given her an unrealistic sense of how life can be modified to one’s tastes.

So I am by trade a film/video editor and although I have no illusions about the real world vs. the filmed world, I thought someone for whom those worlds blurred together would make for an interesting character. Also, I am different from Elise in that I like people and enjoy their company, although I enjoy blocks of time alone for sure. I hope I am slightly less of a social misfit than Elise…

With regard to what I want to get out of this experience (of writing a short story): I would be honored and flattered to scare my readers. I would be disappointed to hear that my reader felt that the story was ok, but not scary, or not scary enough. I don’t know how people will respond to it… talk about scary: writing something and asking the public to read it is absolutely terrifying! I am in awe of writers who can do this well. I remember reading “The Shining” by Stephen King. I started out in my own room reading and by the middle of the story, I was in my roommate’s room, lying on her feet like a child who had woken from a bad dream. I had to be in a room with another person. That’s a talent I would love to have! For any writer, making the “audience” respond, in whatever way you intend, be it tears, laughter, or horror, that’s the name of the game. A story is ultimately just typewritten symbols, shaped into words, put on paper in a certain order. If you can make another person react emotionally to those little black symbols, that collection of words that you as the writer put in an order that you chose, isn’t that wonderful?

And it really doesn’t depend on a genre for me – any style can effectively touch someone. I like chick lit (Nora Ephron, Carrie Fisher), and spy novels (Le Carre, Ian Fleming, Ken Follet), everything really. I must say a book that I read as young kid and which I will never forget is Madeleine L’Engle’s “A Wrinkle in Time”. That story had everything. I was frightened in the middle, and sad and sentimental at the end. I wonder if kids still read that?

Ok. Here’s a bit from the beginning of my story as a taste of what you’ll find...

"We’re home, Solo," Elise smiled, as Solo lifted a leg and peed on a bush, then trotted around the side of the house and disappeared.

Elise unpacked the car and walked up the porch stairs to the front of the house. As she put her key into the door, she felt a wispy touch on her cheek. She reflexively stroked at it, and saw tangled in her sweater cuff, an enormous black spider. She screamed and backed against the screen shaking her hand as if it were on fire.

“Get off, get off, get off!” she cried.

Her heart raced, she twisted and jumped back. She looked again at her sleeve, her eyes wide with fear. Nothing. It must’ve fallen off. She looked down at her feet but saw nothing. Sighing, she said aloud, “My God, what a baby I am.” Her heart slowed a little as she reached for the doorknob.

She looked at her screen. She’d put an elbow clean through it; it looked like a mesh blossom blooming on one side of the door. Her elbow was bleeding.

Well she was a homeowner now, she thought, and this would be the first of many small injuries and home repairs. She blamed it on the spider. Spiders had always frightened Elise; the multiple legs, those horrific faces, and the way they appeared out of nowhere…

“Get used to it, kiddo,” she said to herself, “you’re on their turf now.” Solo came around the corner, inquisitive, and Elise let him sweep by her into the house. “Good boy,” she said. “Let’s get inside.” She followed Solo into the house, turning once more to scan the porch, and closed the door.

Happy reading! I hope you enjoy my book.

For interested readers, here are links to purchase my short story:

http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&zenid=8qpail6jvjq9n1doh9k49j7am6&keyword=victoroff

And my website – which I promise you is fun – also links to my other writing:

http://web.me.com/dcvdickens/House_and_Garden_Short_Story/Welcome.html

Finally, my Facebook Fan Page:

http://www.facebook.com/HouseAndGardenThriller?ref=ts

Liese Sherwood-Fabre Meet the Characters

2012-02-09T04:58:00.000-08:00

Alexandra, thank you for coming to chat with us today. Why do you think Dr. Liese Sherwood-Fabre choose you to represent her?

Who better to tell their story than the person herself? I mean, Dr. Sherwood-Fabre knows me intimately, but I know myself even better.

Tell us a little about yourself?

I was born and live in Stop-100, a closed, secret city in Siberia. My father died when I was young, and my mother raised me. Things were good for us until the fall of the Soviet Union. We were part of the elite, working in government laboratories and receiving special benefits. Then, the government shut down many of the scientific facilities, sold off some assets, and reduced staff at the Institute where my husband and I used to work. Of course, I’d already quit because our daughter, Nadezhda, was born with a bad heart. We were then forced to live on our savings when my husband lost his job too. It has been very hard for those outside of Moscow, but we have each other and our good friend Vladimir who has always been there to help us through the bad times.

Do you feel you were portrayed fairly?

I think Dr. Sherwood-Fabre tried to explain why some Russian scientists find job offers from other countries, like Iran, attractive. Hers isn’t the first to tell our story. Richard Preston described our plight in a March 9, 1998 New Yorker article “Annals of Warfare: The Bioweaponeers,” and Ken Alibek and Stephen Handelman told of the Soviet Union’s bioweapons research in Biohazard.

When you have a sick child and no way to get the care she needs, the money these countries offer becomes much more appealing.

Just don’t let the FSB (formerly KGB) find out about it. Don’t tell anyone, but I think one agent has been following me.

What is your biggest fear?

Losing my daughter. I have already lost my mother and father. Losing her would end my life.

Why should the readers be interested in your story?

Because it describes one of the most basic emotions—a mother’s love for her child. I would do anything for my Hope, my Nadezhda, and no one—not the Iranians, not the FSB, not whole Russian government itself—will stop me from saving her.

Liese Sherwood-Fabre Web page: www.liesesherwoodfabre.com

"Good old-fashioned, gimmick-free storytelling."
Saving Hope, coming to Musa Publishing May 4, 2012!

www.musapublishing.com

Building a Brand with Lydia Nyx

2012-02-08T00:14:00.000-08:00

Hello! I'm Lydia Nyx, a new author with Musa Publishing. My historical gay romance Blue Gray Lines recently appeared in the 'More Love Notes' anthology. I'm proud to be part of this publishing house and to be working with some wonderful editors. I'm excited to take part in Writer's Wednesday and hopefully I can impart some knowledge today!

Still being a fairly new published author, I thought I would share some of the things I've learned about getting noticed and building a 'brand' as a new author. Here are a few tips for those of you still navigating the waters of this vast and sometimes confusing industry, the way I am:

1. It should be obvious but--write!

The only way anyone is going to notice you is if you have a product to show them. I'm published in numerous anthologies and I submit often to anthologies for two reasons. One, it gets me out there to readers. Since I'm new, it allows people to sample my work without taking a risk or making a huge monetary and time investment. Hopefully, they'll like what they read and seek out my longer works. Two, it establishes a working relationship with publishers, so I can learn more about them, create connections, and make the best decisions for my career. Write, write, write, so you can submit, submit, submit! And then readers will read, read, read!

2. Embrace social networking.

You might not like Twitter and Facebook, but millions of people do and they hang out on them. If you want to connect with readers and other authors, you need to at least participate a little. I've been a big fan of Twitter for years so it was easy to transition into a 'professional' account, but it's very different in tone than my personal account. Especially when you're a new author, be careful what you say and do on social networks--anything you say can and will be held against you! Be friendly, informative, helpful, and chatty. Promote yourself, but don't cram your work down people's throats. Rather, invite them to come to you and open up room for discussion. The more personable and approachable you are, the more people will want to chat with you! Rather than being a constant advertisement for yourself, let your personality advertise for you.

3. Make friends--or at least acquaintances--with other authors.

Especially those who have been in the game for a while--they have great advice to give and examples to live by. Also, it's always nice to have someone around who understands exactly where you're coming from. Who knows, you might even find some really good friends or even a mentor! Also, authors who are friends promote each other.

4. Don't take reviews too seriously.

There's something to be learned from even the worst of reviews--and the best of them--but if you let them haunt you, your self-esteem will crash and you'll never get any work done. Taking things with a grain of salt isn't just true of bad reviews. If you spend too much time patting your own back and basking in your glory, you'll forget to continue doing what got you that adulation in the first place. There's a kernel of truth in every review, good or bad, but take it and move on to your next work, understanding a review is only an opinion and you can't control what other people think. And if someone gives you a really bad review, remember: a publisher thought it was good enough to pay you for it!

5. Don't think you have to spend tons of money to promote yourself.

Paid ad space, promotional swag, and attending conventions are all great, but there are tons of other ways to get yourself out there if you're a starving newbie author: social networking, blogging, guest spots, link exchanges, free promotion amongst authors, and participating on mailing lists are just a few things. Don't think you have to put off eating this week to promote your latest release. If you have the money, that's great, use it. But if you don't, you don't have to be left out of the game.

Learning the ropes when you first jump into published author-hood is always a little tough, but there are lots of people out there to help you, and lots of advice being published for free…like this blog post!

*******

Lydia Nyx is from Cleveland, Ohio. She writes everything from contemporary to historical, as well as paranormal, horror, and urban fantasy, and she prefers all her fiction with a male/male twist. She currently resides in a little apartment with her teenage son and a crazy cat and spends countless hours of the day entertaining the dirty fantasies in her head. As a 'day job' she works as a waitress, which gives her lots of free time to slack off and plot stories. Writing since the age of 13, she has always wanted to be an author, and hopefully one day writing will be her only 'day job.'

Find Lydia at her website: http://www.lydianyx.com/

And her blog: http://lydianyx.blogspot.com/

Tasty Tuesday with Cheryl Rhodes

2012-02-07T04:58:00.000-08:00

A Canadian Tradition - Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo Bars are the great Canadian treat. A delicious piece of Great North heaven. Every bite is good to the last crumb. My mother often made Nanaimo Bars, a relatively easy no bake square. Likewise every mom in Canada must have made them because eating them seems to be a part of every Canadian kid’s childhood. My mother was from Scotland and she said they were very familiar to London Smog Bars but that was the only time I heard her refer to them as another name. They were always Nanaimo Bars to me but I’m sure there are similar incarnations with other names.

Nanaimo? What’s that? Its a city on Vancouver Island off the west coast of British Columbia about 100 miles north of Victoria , the province’s capital. In the 1950’s a housewife from the Nanaimo area submitted the recipe to a regional cookbook and the rest is kitchen history.

People from other parts of the world have no idea what I’m talking about when I mention a Nanaimo Bar, unless they’ve traveled to Canada and sampled it. Not even my BC born aunt who moved to California in the 1940’s. I was staying with her in Del Mar one Christmas in the days before the Internet and I said I sure wished I had my recipe for Nanaimo Bars with me. Although my aunt was not familiar with them she remembered her sister had handwritten the recipe years before and mailed it to her, so there we had it. Now the challenge became to find Bird’s Eye Custard Powder. In my mind I clearly visualized the mostly yellow tin with the little birds on it but I could not find it at the local Albertson’s. Back home in the grocery stores the can was on the shelf near the pudding and Jell-O boxes. I was willing to settle for any American made cans of custard powder but they did not exist. There was a market in downtown Del Mar with imported foods and there I found a small can of Bird’s Eye Custard. About a third of the size of a can of Bird’s Eye Custard back home but seeing as how I only needed a couple of tablespoons for the recipe it would do. I made it and the Californians who tried it loved it.

No kidding! Who wouldn’t love a Nanaimo Bar? A chocolate, coconut, walnut base, with a middle custard icing, and a firm chocolate topping. They’re sold everywhere in Canada : grocery store bakeries, coffee shops, Costco, church bake sales... The only place they don’t sell it anymore is in Tim Hortons. And yes, they used to sell it there back in the days when Tim Hortons offered tarts, éclairs, and a couple of other baked goods to go along with the donuts. It seems almost unCanadian that Timmy’s no longer sells them!

Over the years I’ve seen various variations of the Nanaimo Bar in grocery store bakeries, mainly messing with the custard middle, and adding flavors such as mocha, Irish Cream, and peppermint. I’ve also seen the topping changed to white chocolate. Well, I’ve more than seen. I’ve sampled all the variations! I’ve even been a renegade and messed with the Nanaimo Bar at Valentine’s Day. I take cinnamon heart candies and spell out “I love you”. I’ve also made a Nanaimo Bar in a heart shaped cake pan, but I guess during one of my moves it went missing and Valentine’s Day Nanaimo Bar is back in the square pan. Though I guess spelling out “I love you” is redundant. Nothing says I love you more than sharing a Nanaimo Bar!

This recipe freezes well - if any pieces are left over to freeze that is! Here is my Mother’s recipe.

Nanaimo Bars

Crust:

½ cup butter, softened

¼ cup granulated sugar

5 tbsp. cocoa

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

2 cups graham wafer crumbs

1 cup coconut

½ cup chopped walnuts

Special Icing:

¼ cup butter

3 tbsps. milk

2 tbsp. vanilla custard powder

2 cups icing sugar

Top Layer:

4 squares semi-sweet chocolate

1 tbsp. butter

Place butter, sugar, cocoa, vanilla, and egg in bowl. Set bowl in pan of boiling water. Stir well till butter has melted and mixture resembles custard. Combine crumbs, coconut, and walnuts, mixing well. Add to cooked mixture. Pack evenly into 9" square pan.

Cream butter. Combine milk and custard powder and add to butter. Blend in icing sugar. Spread over cooled base. Let stand at least 15 minutes to harden.

Once custard has cooled, melt chocolate squares with butter in microwave oven or in a dish placed in boiling water. Spread over custard icing. When set, cut into bars.

Get to know Cheryl at

http://cherylrhodes.blogspot.com/

The Pinocchio Effect~ S.G. Rogers

2012-02-05T06:57:00.000-08:00

The Pinocchio Effect

Question:

1. To transform a short story into a full-length novel, what must occur?

A) Don’t even attempt it. Pick up a hammer and smash your thumb repeatedly as a reminder of just how painful such an effort would be;

B) Place the manuscript on a Medieval torture device known as The Rack and turn the crank until the tale is long enough;

C) Plant the story in a sunny backyard spot under a mound of fertile soil. Add water, and wait until your novel reaches maturity; or

D) Be prepared to take your characters, settings and plot where no one has gone before. (Theme song from Star Trek plays here)

We haven’t even addressed the question of why you’d want to turn your exquisite cupcake into a multi-layered creation worthy of Ultimate Cake Off. Because, to paraphrase adorable little Oliver Twist, you want more. Your story has a great premise, terrific characters, and you’d like to spend some quality time developing what happens next—or what came before.

So far, I’ve adapted two short works of fiction into novels. The first one was written as an hour-long television pilot. That teleplay eventually became a published 78,000-word young adult fantasy novel, The Last Great Wizard of Yden. The second story was written for a sword and sorcery magazine, but I always felt I’d rather arbitrarily stopped the action to keep the word count below 8,000. Now, Tournament of Chance is just under 80,000 words.

My next adaptation will be Apocrypha, the paranormal free read featured this month at Musa Publishing. Apocrypha was a fun story to write because demon Jem goes through a huge character arc. Plus, the end of the story has a really great platform for what comes next. I’m looking forward to working on it because I’ve laid in some action and romance threads that are begging to be brought forward and woven into new tapestry.

Have I inspired you to pull out one of your trunk stories and get cracking? You might want to consider the challenges before you move forward. Be prepared to dig painfully deep to make your adaptation readable. Writing short stories isn’t necessarily easier than writing longer length fiction, but it is different. The former might be akin to a fifty-yard dash whereas the latter is more like a marathon. As my manuscripts developed, I was constantly exhorting myself to try harder—to be more creative, funnier and wittier. I had to trot a veritable ‘parade of horribles’ in front of my heroes in order to give them higher mountains to climb. If I didn’t sit back with a gasp and think, How awful! I can’t do that to him/her…my efforts weren’t good enough. In other words, just because the characters, setting, premise and a rudimentary plot are already established, that doesn’t absolve you from the responsibility of actually writing the darn book. Did you think it did? Then the answer to Question 1 above will be A. Ouch.

~ S.G. Rogers

Being dedicated to the diabolical doesn’t seem to satisfy Jem anymore. When the gorgeous demon poses for elderly artist Greer Richmond, the two form a connection. Greer senses good in her, but Jem rebels against the idea by going on a Vegas bender. After Jem gets word Greer is about to die, she inexplicably wants to make sure he gets to heaven—but her boss has other plans. As penance for her interference, Jem is assigned to take one of Greer’s descendants instead. Unfortunately handsome Dare Richmond awakens feelings in Jem a demon isn’t supposed to have. Will Jem be able to complete her task, or has fate dealt the demon an impossible hand?

Download S.G. Rogers’ short story Apocrypha HERE, free as part of Musa Publishing’s Twelve Days of Christmas celebration. Look for S.G. Rogers’ Asgard Adventure series (April 2012), beginning with The Druid. Nordic mythology gets a modern twist in The Druid, in which an adventuresome woman meets an Immortal hero from the pages of a book—bigger than life and twice as Elvish. To learn more about S.G. Rogers, visit her blog at www.childofyden.com.

All About Ravens by L.K. Mitchell

2012-02-03T23:07:00.000-08:00

All About Ravens

My middle-grade novel Keeper of Directions is all about ravens. What's so special about ravens? In my worldview ravens are tricksters and shape-shifters. I come from a multicultural family and ravens are a part of our everyday life. I also live in Alaska and ravens are a predominant bird here. Despite looking like large crows, though, ravens are different. Ravens are rather large, averaging nearly two feet tall with a four foot wingspan. Ravens have wedge-shaped tails and large sharp beaks. Plus, ravens have a lifespan of nearly 40 years and crows only live about 8 years.

Ravens figure into my world mostly because my children, who are Tlingit, belong in a Raven clan, the T'akdeinaan. I was adopted into that clan and given the name Yéilk Tlaa, Mother-of-Cute-Little-Raven. My eldest daughter is named Yéilk', Cute-Little-Raven. She is an instructor of the Tlingit language, an endangered Native American language. The Tlingit alphabet has fifty letters and at least thirty sounds not found in English. The Tlingit language is often said to be the most complicated language in the world. Our elders say that many of the sounds come from nature. Whenever my daughter teaches the language she instructs her students to observe Raven. If you tilt back your head and open your throat like a raven does it can help form some of the complex sounds.

Although Keeper of Directions is purely fictional I drew upon on my knowledge of raven behavior to write the novel. This comes from my own culture plus reading about ravens and studying their behavior. I can differentiate between crow's cry and the call of a raven. So far scientists are aware of ravens having at least 30 different calls.

Myself, I come from indigenous people, the Sáami of Scandinavia. It is thought that we once had clan organizations and among them was a raven clan. It is widely known that ravens will follow wolves in order to cache in on their kills. In the Sáami worldview the raven has special feathers that lead it to the wolf kills. I put some of this mythology into the novel.

Raven mythology is found in many cultures throughout the world: Great Britain, Ireland, Tlingit, Norway, Sweden, Koryak, and Australia, among others. In the Tlingit culture it was Raven that first let light into the world. In another creation story from the Kamchatka Peninsula, Raven creates land by dropping his feathers on the earth.

So the next time you're out walking around your neighborhood, take note of the black birds in the area? Is it a raven or is it a crow? Does it have purple/black plumage? Is it flocking with others or just sitting by itself on the top of a telephone pole? Maybe if you stop and listen to its throaty call, you'll realize that it's a raven. Stay awhile and listen. Maybe Raven is telling you a story of how he once spit water from his mouth creating all the waterways in the world; or maybe he's just resting a bit before heading home to sit, once again, upon Odin's shoulders.

Lance, a ten-year-old boy with Asperger's Syndrome, and his smart-mouthed, teenage sister are taken under the wing by a clan of shape-shifting Ravens who're preparing for a great war at the Arctic Circle and who've claimed Lance as the next Keeper of Directions.

While on a vacation from the U.S., ten-year-old Lance learns that a raven named Rose has been stolen from the Tower of London. The Ravens kept at the Tower are a clan of shape-shifters entrusted with keeping the natural world from the chaos of global warming, floods, and earthquakes. The Ravens' control is maintained through war with the ancient DiLong: the Komodo people. Back home in Seattle, Lance and his teenage sister Vivi are caught up with the search for Rose and the warring shape-shifters heading to battle for control over the Directions. Lance is chosen as the apprentice Keeper of Directions but have the Ravens made a wise choice? Lance has Asperger's Syndrome. Can a ten-year-old Aspie and his smart-mouthed, teenage sister help set the natural world in order?

Keeper of Directions was released January 6th, 2012 by Musa Publishing.

L.K. Mitchell blogs at http://pocketfulofcharms.blogspot.com/

and her website is http://www.lkmitchell.com
Her twitter address is @pocketfulcharms and her Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/L.K.Mitchell.author

Keeper of Directions

Hunters Find by June Kramin

2012-02-02T20:35:00.000-08:00

I always say I have no idea where I’m heading when I start a new novel. Hunter’s Find was no exception. I have to admit that the way Hunter’s Find turned out surprised even me. I will always say how my characters are bullies and I only do what they say, but this was a special surprise.

The story starts off with Hunter finding a woman in the bushes. He gets her to the hospital and waits with her until she comes to. Until she tried to escape, I had no idea the role Mandy was going to take on. And until Hunt busted her, I had no idea he was the town Sheriff.

The lies Mandy tells him to get him to cooperate made me think, “Damn, girl. You can really lie when you want to.” And Hunt falling for her? I wasn’t surprised. What did surprise me was finding out Mandy was working undercover for the FBI and got involved in the mob and who she was really after.

Writing Hunter’s Find for me was like I was reading it. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

This was my 1^st thriller and I have to say, I’m very excited to be releasing this one with Musa under their Melpomene – Mystery/Suspense line.

I didn’t plan on their being a sequel but hey, I only do what my beta readers (and the voices in my head) tell me to do. I’ll be submitting that soon. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Tagline: Helping your prisoner is one thing. Falling in love with her is another altogether.

Blurb: Hunt is a small town Sheriff who finds himself in for more than he bargained for when he discovers Mandy beaten and unconscious. After repeated attempts of escaping him, he finds himself now her captive instead. Mandy convinces him she’s after her husband who has kidnapped their daughter and will stop at nothing to find her.

Although his instincts tell him differently, Hunt becomes involved with her and agrees to help. What he doesn’t know is there is no child. Mandy is hiding her involvement with the FBI and the mob, and after revenge. Hunt is in over his head tracking her husband to the isolated cabin and the backlash it causes a year later.

Excerpt:

Mandy kissed his neck gently a few times before settling her head on his shoulder. “Not bad for a gimp.”

He smiled and stroked her back. “Wait until I’m all healed up, doll.”

She sat up enough so she could look into his eyes. “You think we won’t kill each other before the opportunity presents itself again?”

“The opportunity is always there. We just have to learn to seize the moment.”

She playfully slapped his arm again. “I’m serious, Hunt. You hate me. What’s with the sex all of a sudden?”

“I don’t hate you. You just have a knack for pissing me off.”

“And the difference?”

“One on one, when you’re not trying to run away from me or deck me or my men, you’re a very fascinating woman, Amanda.”

“And when I’m not?”

“You are an absolute spitfire in bed.”

“I’m serious, Hunt.”

“So am I.” She glared at him. “Okay. Honest time? You’ve intrigued the shit out of me since the moment I found you. Sure, you drive me nuts, but this whole ‘mystery lady’ thing is kind of a turn on.”

“You’re such a straight arrow, Hunt. Besides the whole throw away gun thing. This isn’t going to work.”

“Why? Because you’re involved in something that will probably lead me to hauling your ass away in jail?”

“Would you?”

Hunt sat them up but held her in place, wrapping his arms low on her back. “I can’t help you when you don’t tell me what this is.”

~*~*~*

Here’s the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwJhLCUG3vk

I hope you enjoy reading Hunter’s Find as much as I enjoyed writing it!

To buy your Copy CLICK HERE

Release Date, Feb 3, 2012

Website: http://www.junekramin.com/
Blog: http://www.junekramin.com/blog-3
Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/JuneKramin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/junekramin

Meet Grandma Edna.

2012-02-02T05:16:00.000-08:00

Welcome Grandma Edna,

Thank you for coming to chat with us today. Why do you think Vera Jane Cook chose you to represent her? Because Sassy doesn’t like the limelight. Actually, I don’t either but Seth is too shy, Dudley is long gone and El can’t be trusted. So it’s me, like it or not.

Tell us a little about yourself? I can’t say I never killed anyone but I can say it was always the right one.

What is your birth date? Well, let’s put it this way, when I was born motion pictures had just learned to talk.

Where do you live? What is it about that area that drew you there? I inherited all the land of Carter’s Crossing. I’m a Carter. Inherited the house too. Luckily the Yankees didn’t burn it when Sherman marched his men through my state and my grandfather took buckshot from a Union officer.

What do you wish people would know about you? I don’t like anyone knowing anything about me, adds an air of mystery.

What music do you listen too? It certainly isn’t rock and roll.

Will we be seeing more of you or are you stepping out of the lime light? As long as Sassy needs me, I’m not going anywhere.

Where have we seen you before? Well, it wasn’t on the cover of Vogue. Maybe in Beaufort, buying China?

What is your perfect evening? Sitting on my porch, in my rocker, under the stars.

What do you do to relax? I take a hot bath.

Is there anything you wish Vera Jane had kept her mouth shut about? Funny you should ask me that, let’s start with incest? Murder? Revenge? Infidelity? I mean, those things are not proper to discuss, novel or not.

Do you feel you were portrayed fairly? Well, no, not in the beginning. Later maybe. I did mellow.

Tell us about what drew you to him/her? The only man I ever loved was a bastard, what else do you want to know?

What really pushes your buttons? Questions like this.

What’s your favorite sports team? Oh, come on. I’d rather watch bees build a hive.

What’s you biggest turn ons? I hope you don’t mean sexually? I can’t seem to remember.

What are your biggest Turn offs? Hairy legged men in shorts.

What’s your perfect day? Why? I like sunshine because the world is made right. Rain whispers the threat of transition. Snow brings too much memory of regret. Sunshine is sweet, can’t get enough of its kisses.

What your favorite Ice cream flavor, Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry? What’s the matter with butter pecan?

Do you believe in ghosts? Of course I do, got a cat haunting my bedroom.

What is your biggest fear? Dying.

Why should the readers be interested in your story? It’s the story of Sassy, my dear granddaughter. She didn’t have it easy, she bled, perhaps, too much, but when the healing came, she triumphed. Readers should be interested in getting what you want no matter how long it takes, and living long enough to begin anew.

Happy Reading, I hope you enjoy my book.

http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=161

http://www.verajanecook.com

http://www.verajanecook.com/blog

http://www.facebook.com/vera.j.cook

The Dreaded Sagging Middle by Libby Mercer

2012-01-31T21:14:00.000-08:00

Now is this post going to be about my less than stellar abs? Or will it be about the uninspired mid-section of a novel in progress? Actually, it’s about both.

Pantser (noun): an author who writes without doing outlines or other prep work. In other words, an author who flies by the seat of his/her pants

I am a true pantser. I can’t count the number of times I’ve written outlines and/or character bios with the purest of intentions, but once it comes to putting the words down on paper (or on the computer) the story never fails to defiantly sashay in a different direction entirely. It’s taken me a while, but I’ve come to accept the fact that I always have been and always will be a pantser. However, that makes the sagging middle all the more challenging.

When I first start a story I have a general idea of what will happen, and once I’ve found my rhythm I’m usually off to a rockin’ start. As the words fly onto the page, the major plot points start to take shape in my mind. I’ll be writing merrily along until I’m about 1/3 of the way in and then… BAM! I hit the sagging middle.

I’m super-psyched about the opening and I know the ending is going to be explosive, but what about everything in between? What’s the best way to keep up the action all the way through?

Well, I’ve found that the sagging middle is a great place to work on secondary plot lines, or to introduce an interesting new character – one who’s essential to the plot, obviously. No new characters for the sake of pure entertainment. Maybe I’ll think about creating minor setbacks that prevent the main character from reaching his/her goal… If the ending is going to be explosive, I like to set off a few sparks in the pages leading up to it.

Of course sometimes the best thing to remedy a sagging middle is to step away from the story for a while and give the brain a chance to re-boot. I find this is a great time to work on my other sagging middle.

Forget boring old crunches. I purchased a Swiss ball/stability ball a few weeks ago and I’ve been having a great time trying out different moves to work on my tummy muscles.

On my particularly lazy days (don’t laugh) I’ll simply sit on my stability ball. Fitness trainers concur: even just sitting on the big old beach ball-looking things forces you to use muscles that you wouldn’t use if you were seated in regular chair. Of course it helps if you move around a bit – back and forth as well as front to back. In addition, a little bouncing goes a long way. It’s now common knowledge among health and fitness folks that bouncing on a stability ball helps with lymphatic drainage.

So there you have it. Don’t let that sagging middle drag you down. Fellow Pantsers: if you’re stuck in the Sahara of sagging middles, I say plop down on a stability ball and start bouncing. Could be just the thing to get those creative brain cells moving around again…

Please check out my blog: http://libby-mercer.blogspot.com/ for book news and other fun stuff.

Tasty Tuesday with Tracie Ingersoll Loy

2012-01-31T00:15:00.000-08:00

SLIP INTO the NIGHT

Growing up in Washington State, apple desserts were in abundance from apple cakes, apple pan dowdy, pie, crisp, you name it. It seemed like everyone knew someone with an apple tree. When I thought about Tasty Tuesday I thought it might be something my character Jeannie Rogers would host at her café. When I created Jeannie and her café, I embraced my love of baking and memories of my childhood walking into homes with the aromas of baking. So it made sense to include my Aunt Elizabeth’s apple crisp designed to feed a huge crowd. Like so many things from family recipes, nothing is written down but you throw this together and add that and the next thing you know you have the luscious dessert.

My cousins and aunts and uncles would gather in the summer up at the island where my aunt and uncle had an oyster farm. My aunt was the best baker and when you walked into her kitchen the aromas would tickle your nose. All these years later my cousins still meet for an annual picnic and the food is terrific. Besides the Dungeness crab, oysters on the spit, clam chowder, we cousins-off-the- island bring the desserts. So I’d like to honor my Aunt Elizabeth with her recipe for apple crisp.

My Aunt Elizabeth’s Apple Crisp

9 inch square baking dish or one similar. ( I use 11 x14 stone baking dish when I know a lot of people are coming.) I like using stone because of how everything bakes so well. Coat the sides and bottom with butter. (I know call the cardiologist)

10- 15 medium apples. Use a mix of 2-3 different kinds baking apples but include a couple of granny smiths. They give it a nice tang. Because I’ve become lazy, I use an automatic apple peeler that I picked up at one of those kitchen shows, which makes peeling 10 -15 apples easy. Put the slices in a big bowl and put in a cup of brown sugar, 4- 5 shakes of the cinnamon (or as much as you like), 3-4 tablespoons of flour and stir it all up so the apple slices are coated. Put in the dish. Cut off some slim cubes of butter and dot the apples. The more dots of butter, the better the taste. Now you are ready for the topping.

Topping: 2 cubes of butter, 1 cup of brown sugar, ½ c. flour and crumble it all up – sometimes I add it oats or chopped walnuts for a variety. Use a fork to mix it up. Then you can sprinkle it on the sliced apples and pat it down gently. Now for the baking. I find 350-375 F. (180 c) degrees works best - until everything is bubbling up into the crumble and the smell of apples and cinnamon have filled the kitchen. About an hour to hour and half.

Enjoy warm with ice-cream or whipped cream.

For more information about Tracie Loy:
www.tracieloy.com www.twitter.com/TracieLoy
Facebook: Tracie Ingersoll Loy

Liz's Secret

2012-01-30T05:39:00.000-08:00

I have a secret to tell you.

I love romances. I love the idea of the hero/heroine getting the girl (or guy), of love triumphing over all. One of my favorite movies is Princess Bride, and it’s no wonder that I’m so attached to it. Action, drama, romance, true love. These are the things that make my heart go pitter-pat.

It’s quite possible that I should have spent my pre-teen years reading something other than every superromance I could get my hands on, but it’s too late now to worry about permanent damage.

Still, I am also an incurable romantic at heart, which is why, I suppose, it was perfect for me to edit our first romance anthologies. Love Notes and More Love Notes embody so much of what I love about romance; there’s the magic, that timeless quality to any story about meeting the other half of your soul; and there’s the heartbreak when it hangs on a precipice of human error, our happy ending just a breath away from disaster. And of course, the love notes. Letters, lists, scraps of paper with hope and romance pressed into them like dried flowers between the pages of a book. Sometimes the notes can’t be put into words, and that’s when we have music, soaring and aching, the score notations guiding us along the path to romance and, we hope, a happily ever after.

That’s why I love these anthologies, each with four beautiful novellas that made me fall in love again and again, and I’m so proud to have been a part of them. I hope you all feel the same!

Buy Link

Sometimes words on paper are magical, especially when lovers meet again and again.

Love is never a lost cause, and sometimes all it takes is a few special words written down to make all the difference in the world. Wayward cupids, lonely vampires, long-lost loves, and mysterious strangers come together in this collection sure to warm to your heart and steam up your screen. Read our Love Notes--four Valentine's stories from four outstanding romance authors Sam Cheever, Helen Hardt, Sloane Taylor and Xakara and then maybe write a few letters of your own!

Featuring:

Cupid Only Rings Twice (Sam Cheever)

When lonely cupid falls Damios for Rori Fost, the young woman he’s supposed to seduce with the perfect love note, magic and romance aren’t far behind. Can he save her from the Love Demon without ruining his chances at her heart?

Reunited (Helen Hardt)

Twenty years after leaving her hometown and her first love behind, Kathryn comes home to find that she was never forgotten by the man who has always mattered. But there’s more than just lost time between them…

Its Sweetest Form (Xakara)

Eaton is a Vampire with a problem; he’s in love with his roommate and best friend, Tessa. Tessa’s in love with Eaton… and also their Werewolf roommate, Brahm. Can they all three learn how to express their feelings before everything falls apart?

Masquerade (Sloane Taylor)

When she meets the man of her dreams on her way to a masquerade ball, Clancy throws herself into the evening – and Vittore’s arms – with abandon. But with her time in Venice coming to an end, Clancy has to make a move for more, or give up her dreams yet again.

Buy Link

Love always has perfect timing.

Across battle lines, foolish games, and conflicting tempos, love always finds a way. From rock and roll to symphonies, modern day geeks to 19th century soldiers, this collection of sexy and romantic stories shows even the loneliest of moments can be made right when the perfect note is delivered. Let More Love Notes find a home in your heart, a reminder that love happens all over, any time, any place. Written by four of the hottest authors in gay erotic romance--Lydia Nyx, Scarlett Parrish, Viki Lyn and Jenny Urban--these stories will definitely add an edge of spice to your Valentine's night.

Featuring:

Blue-Grey Lines (Lydia Nyx)

Wendell Davis is a rarity in 1864 Missouri–a man of eligible age and good health not fighting in the Civil War, thanks to his cruel mother’s manipulations. However, Wendell’s lifelong lover, Declan Kelly, is away fighting on the side of the Union. Parted for two years, communicating only via letters and bombarded by the horrors of war even on the home front, Wendell is starting to lose hope. The only thing that can bring light back into Wendell’s gray world is a reunion with Declan–something he’s going to have to fight his own war to achieve.

Burn (Scarlett Parrish)

Austin Lombard is desperate to forget a bad relationship the night he goes out with only one rule in mind: no names. But when he meets a gorgeous, irreverent Scotsman, Austin’s resolve is put to the test again and again as the night goes on. “James” is smart, a great kisser, and everything Austin would want in a date. But Austin resists; he’s had enough of names, and enough of relationships. Hasn’t he?

Lover’s Trill (Viki Lyn)

Ten years ago, Leo walked out on his classical piano training and his violinist boyfriend, Andre. Now a successful rock star, Leo runs into Andre in Vienna. Can they find a way to bring their polar worlds together, or will the remembered hurt be enough to drive them apart forever?

The Heart is a Stringed Instrument (Jenny Urban)

Cellist Brandon has never wanted a relationship or seen the point in tying himself down to that one someone he’d have to live with. When a series of random hook-ups with the hot new guest conductor becomes about more than sex Brandon finds his world changing, even as Mark’s time at the orchestra winds to a close.

Bio:

Elizabeth Silver is (in no particular order): an editor, a writer, a nerd, and an international woman of mystery. She is addicted to expensive teas and yummy books, wishes Superman was real, and – if pressed to choose one or the other for the rest of her life – would pick cheese over chocolate. She is also the Head Editor of Musa’s Erato GLBT imprint, and says it’s the best job in the world.

Blog: http://www.urbansilver.net

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LizSilverWrites

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizsilverwrites

Sitting Down with Luke Walker

2012-01-29T09:20:00.000-08:00

Musa welcomes Horror author Luke Walker today. Lukes new novel The Red Girl is now available at Musa Publishing.

So Luke tell us about yourself…

My name is Luke Walker and I’m a 34 year old horror writer. My first book, The Red Girl, has recently been published by Musa. My short story The Christmas Present was the featured story in a recent issue of Musa’s emag Penumbra, and several of my other short stories have been published online over the last couple of years.

Tell us about your Book The Red Girl…

Five people who used to be much closer friends than they are now are haunted by the ghost of another friend who killed herself ten years ago. When they gather in their hometown to try and work out what’s happening, they enter another side of that town. Here, it’s permanently night and the population has been replaced by evil entities who are hunting the friends with the sole purpose of killing them. If they can find out why their friend killed herself, they might be able to find the way back to the safe world.

What are your five favorite Novels?

Firstly, it has to be It by Stephen King. I first read it when I was twelve which was the perfect age for me to do so. It became an immediate favourite and that hasn’t changed in more than twenty years. As for the others: 1984, Dracula, Weaveworld and The Woman In Black have to be in my list. Saying that, there are plenty of others to make up a top ten or even twenty of my favourite books.

Who is your favorite Hero/Heroine you have written?

It changes quite often. I’ve got a lot of time at the moment for Stu Brennan from The Red Girl. This is a guy who wants only to be a dad, husband and friend but who is forced into a nightmare of ghosts and murder – and he’s got no idea why.

Who is your favorite Hero/Heroine you have read?

Good question. My favourite characters in fiction are the ones who are as human as you and me. I don’t want superheroes or brooding tough guys. I want real people who bleed. I want fully-rounded characters. Jack Torrance in The Shining is a good example.

If you could only have one vice what would it be?

Well, I do like a tipple so can I say a few beers? Either that or doughnuts. Which I now realise makes me sound like Homer Simpson.

What do you prefer Roller Coasters, Carousels or the bumper cars?

Bumper cars. Which might be because I can’t drive. Going in a bumper car is the closest I’ll ever get to driving for real.

Who is your favorite Character from one of your books and why?

Tough one. I try to do my best with every new book and that means expanding on the characters. At the moment, it’s probably a guy called Keith from my current book. When I originally planned him, he was pretty thin in terms of personality. A few thousand words in, he took over and told me what he was like. Abrasive, suspicious, resourceful and quick-thinking. I like him a lot.

If we’re talking Red Girl, then possibly Karen. She keeps her friends together when they’re faced with their deaths at every moment. Maybe she does it because she’s the only woman in a group of five and the guys listen to her in ways they don’t with each other. Or maybe she’s just the sort of person they all need to keep them alive.

What are you working on now?

I’m editing my most recent book prior to submission and planning its follow up. I’m also kicking about an idea for a totally separate book. It’s not even at the planning stages yet, but I like the feel of it. I think it could be a bit of a departure for me, but we’ll have to see.

What’s your favorite movie?

Without question, Night Of The Living Dead. The simple reason for this is it’s the greatest film ever made. And anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

Do you listen to Music when you write, if so what?

Always. I tend to start off with loud stuff (Therapy? Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, AC/DC, Ministry for example) and get quieter as come closer to the end of my writing session. It depends what I’m writing. If I need to keep myself pumped up, I keep the loud stuff on.

Which of your Covers is your favorite?

The cover for The Red Girl is my sole cover at the moment. It’s no lie to say as soon as I saw it, I loved it. Valerie Tibbs did a great job. She listened to my ideas and came back with a spot on picture.

Do you remember how you felt when you sold your first book?

Overjoyed. There was some email back and forth, then when I got the reply of ‘we would like to publish it’, I couldn’t have been happier. I started writing my first book when I was 21 and I’d be working on short fiction for a few years before that so it was a long time coming, but definitely worth it.

What is your favorite quote?

If we’re talking about writing, then this one from Neil Gaiman: “Write your story as it needs to be written. Write it honestly, and tell it as best you can. I'm not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter."

If we’re talking generally, then this from Dracula: “There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights.”

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

Hmm…tough one. Can I have my own tropical island? I could live with that.

Are you a Plotter or a Panster?

A plotter although I don’t go into excessive detail in the early stages. I like to have a rough idea where the story is going in terms of scenes, but I’m happy to let it go its own way. If I trust it, it takes me in the right direction.

What Genre do you write and why?

Mainly horror. I like dark fantasy, too. Basically anything that lets me explore frightening subjects. The cool thing is ‘frightening’ means different things to different people. It covers everything from a spider to a missing child. There’s a lot of scope for a writer to explore and a lot of ways for me to (hopefully) scare people.

Where do you find inspiration?

Anywhere and everywhere. It can come from a conversation about nothing in particular with a friend or hearing a thud from another room which turns out to be a cat jumping from somewhere or a sudden rain shower on a sunny day. I’m not a fan of the whole sitting around and waiting for inspiration to strike. I just keep my eyes and ears open. If inspiration comes and the time isn’t right to write that story, I have no problem without letting it sleep until it’s ready. That can be a few weeks or years. Makes no difference to me. It all gets written in the end.

Name 5 things that are on your desk right now?

A glass of water, a cup full of pens and a pair of scissors (for some reason. I have no idea why), a photo of my wife and my phone but only because I’m charging it. That’s it. No fifth, I’m afraid.

What is your biggest distraction when it comes to writing?

I don’t tend to have distractions. My wife knows how important it is. She knows it’s a second job so she lets me get on with it.

What is one Genre you won’t write and why?

Romance. I wouldn’t dream of writing in an area (I should be specific – I mean the genre) I know so little about. It would be insulting to the people who read and write it.

What genre haven’t you written that you would like to try?

I sometimes think about writing a dark crime thriller but I have a suspicion it wouldn’t be long before it turned into something supernatural. It’s just the way I’m wired.

When did you discover the need to write?

I’ve always had it. It wasn’t so much a discovery as just something that came with me. I always loved stories so writing my own wasn’t a big leap. I started taking it seriously when I was about 14 and kept writing more or less all the time. My early stuff was a learning process even if it wasn’t very good fiction.

BBQ? Carolina, Tennessee, Texas or Kansas City?

Haha. I honestly have no idea what that means. I’m English, damn it. We only have bbqs in the twenty minute gap between rain so I’d have to say a burnt burger and a lager. How’s that?

BUY YOUR COPY OF THE RED GIRL NOW

Our First Anthologies

2012-01-28T12:07:00.000-08:00

Love Notes

$5.99

Word Count: 80000

Author: Musa Publishing

Heat Level: 4

ISBN: 978-1-61937-211-5

Genre Erotic Romance

‘Letter to Kathryn’ by Helen Hardt

‘Cupid Only Rings Twice’ by Sam Cheever

‘Love In Plain Sight’ by Xakara

‘Masquerade’ by Sloane Taylor

Sometimes words on paper are magical, especially when lovers meet again and again.

Buy Link http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=173

More Love Notes

$5.99

Word Count: 80000

Author: Musa Publishing

Heat Level: 4

ISBN: 978-1-61937-213-9

Genre M/M erotica

‘Lover's Trill’ by Viki Lyn

‘Blue Gray Lines’ by Lydia Nyx

‘Burn’ by Scarlett Parrish

‘The Heart Is A Stringed Instrument’ by Jenny Urban

Love always has perfect timing.

Buy Link http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=174

Meet Erato Author Viki Lyn

2012-01-26T21:07:00.001-08:00

Musa is thrilled to welcome to the Musa Family Author Viki Lyn who is releasing her Blue Skye Novel and is part of the brand new Anthology More Love Notes.

In September, I traveled to Eastern Europe. As with all my travels, I come away with impressions of each place I visited.

Anyone who knows me can understand my passion for coffee. I’m always in search for the best cappuccino. New York’s Via Quadronno still holds the honors, but I found a close second at Budapest’s famous Café Gerbeaud, known for its tortes and pastries since 1858. Located on a pedestrian plaza, it was the perfect place to people-watch. Not only was the cappuccino wonderful, so was the 'baked just right’ crispy cookie and the arty red and black cup.

Vienna is the only city where you can sip a coffee drink or down a pilsner while listening to live opera piped from the opera house. Music is literally in the air.

That really left an impression on me, so when Liz asked me to consider writing a short story for More Love Notes, I set my story in Vienna.

My short is titled Lover’s Trill.

The opening scene is set in Vienna, at Café Sacher, where Leo is drinking a coffee with his guitarist Sid. After Leo leaves the cafe, he wanders the winding streets taking in the music and architecture. When he stumbled upon a poster with the image of his ex-lover, he begins to wonder – what if...

More Love Notes - an anthology of romantic GLBT stories:

Love always has perfect timing.

Here’s a blurb for Lover’s Trill:

Happy to wander aimlessly, Leo slipped his hands into his fleeced-lined jacket. Living in LA, he forgot how cold it could be in February. He turned the corner and sputtered to a halt. Staring at the poster pasted to the side of a building, he didn’t need to read the name spelled in bold letters across the poster to know who it was. He could never forget that face in rapture — when playing or getting off. Music and sex had invoked the same feelings in Andre Revele. Passion was passion, and that man always had both in spades.

The black and white picture showed Andre playing the violin. Numbness swept across Leo as he stared at Andre caressing the bow in those slender-fingered hands — such artistic hands on a large man. It had been love at first sight — or at least lust — when Leo had walked into the practice room.

He could still remember a youthful Andre, not quite grown into his robust physique, as he played the last stanza of Bach’s Concerto in E. The violin’s notes had faded into magic dust, the music echoing in the atmosphere long after the performance was over. Bright green eyes peered through dark lashes and sensual pouty lips morphed into a shy smile. That’s all it took for the seed of love to be planted in Leo’s musical heart.

He scanned the poster for the dates of the virtuoso’s concert. Tomorrow night was the last performance. Leo shuffled on his feet, unable to move away. He bit his lip and traced the image of Andre. Did he dare go?

***

I’m also very excited to announce the release of Blue Skye, reedited, reissued and reformatted, and now available through Musa Publishing. This is book one in the Woodland Village series, introducing Skye Taylor and Drew Adams and their friends.

After years apart, two childhood friends are reunited-- but will Skye settle for less than love and will Drew face his greatest fear?

Skye Taylor lives the artist life in Manhattan, openly gay and proud. Drew Adams, socially conservative and from one of Woodland Village’s wealthiest families, lives within the limits of his father’s expectations. A successful architect, Drew is content with his work and his marriage. The secret he desperately hides remains safely hidden behind lies and deception, so he thought.

Best friends in high school, Skye and Drew were inseparable. Quiet and serious, Drew was drawn to the outgoing Skye and his hippy loving parents. Then graduation night changes everything. Uncontrollable urges are discovered in a night of passion, a love Drew refuses to acknowledge, a love Skye refuses to deny. Skye leaves town, leaves Drew and leaves all his feelings behind. But he never forgot Drew and that one night that changed their lives.

Years later, painful memories surface with Skye’s arrival and Drew’s carefully constructed world begins to unravel.

You can read an excerpt at: http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=1

Happy reading! I hope you enjoy my books.

Buy links:

Blue Skye: http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=170

More Love Notes: http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=174

I love hearing from my readers. Here’s a list where you can contract me and hear about my latest musings and releases:

website: http://www.vikilyn.com/

Blog: http://www.vikilynromance.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vikilynromance

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/vikilynromance

Mr Forever Character interview

2012-01-26T11:40:00.000-08:00

Today we welcome marriage therapist Dr. Caleb Paden. Dr. Paden, tell us about The Forever Marriage that you created.

Caleb: I'm so glad you asked. Spreading the word about Forever is my life's ambition. Forever is a proven method for keeping marriages together and creating a stable home for children to grow up in. The seven principles in Forever correspond to each letter in the word forever:

F -- Friendship above all physical encounters.

O -- Open communication.

R -- Really listen.

E -- Explore each other's world.

V -- Validate each other's dreams.

E -- Each person must use good manners.

R -- Respect.

Wait a minute. We're talking about marriage. Shouldn't love be a part of it?

Caleb: No. Absolutely not. Love and passion are the enemy. Forever has no rollercoaster of emotion. No one fights or shouts or slams the door, leaving their kids to wonder when or if they'll return.

Gee, it sounds like you have some childhood trauma you need to work through.

Caleb: That's not--

Olivia: He sure does. I'm Olivia Wells. I'm going to loosen up this stuffed shirt while he's staying in my inn. First of all, we're going to add a few things to his misguided theories: Sex, tenderness, intimacy, needs, kissing, and sentimentality. Now we can call it Forever Stinks.

Caleb: This is my interview. You're not supposed to be here.

Olivia: Why Caleb, I believe you're yelling at me and showing emotion. We're making progress already.

Excuse me. We need to get this interview back on track. The title of the book is Mr. Forever. Does this mean, Caleb, that you're Olivia's Mr. Forever?

Caleb: No. I would never involve myself with a woman who doesn't respect my theories.

Olivia: Oh, he's involved with me, all right. But he's absolutely not my Mr. Forever. He'd have to believe in love first, and that will never happen.

Well, this should be interesting…

Happy reading, I hope you enjoy my book. --Sara Daniel

http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=105

http://www.SaraDaniel.com

http://www.facebook.com/SaraShaferDaniel

http://www.facebook.com/SaraDanielSaraShafer

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

Character Interview Mr Forever by Sara Daniel

2012-01-26T01:48:00.000-08:00

Today we welcome marriage therapist Dr. Caleb Paden. Dr. Paden, tell us about The Forever Marriage that you created.

F -- Friendship above all physical encounters.

O -- Open communication.

R -- Really listen.

E -- Explore each other's world.

V -- Validate each other's dreams.

E -- Each person must use good manners.

R -- Respect.

Wait a minute. We're talking about marriage. Shouldn't love be a part of it?

Gee, it sounds like you have some childhood trauma you need to work through.

Caleb: That's not--

Caleb: This is my interview. You're not supposed to be here.

Olivia: Why Caleb, I believe you're yelling at me and showing emotion. We're making progress already.

Excuse me. We need to get this interview back on track. The title of the book is Mr. Forever. Does this mean, Caleb, that you're Olivia's Mr. Forever?

Caleb: No. I would never involve myself with a woman who doesn't respect my theories.

Olivia: Oh, he's involved with me, all right. But he's absolutely not my Mr. Forever. He'd have to believe in love first, and that will never happen.

Well, this should be interesting …

To buy a copy of MR FOREVER click here

www.SaraDaniel.com

www.SaraShafer.com

www.facebook.com/SaraDanielSaraShafer

www.facebook.com/SaraShaferDaniel

www.twitter.com/SSaraDaniel

What a Character! by Cordelia Dinsmore

2012-01-25T04:59:00.000-08:00

What a Character!

Non-writer friends simply fail to understand when I lament that my characters are not behaving themselves. I get odd looks. One man had the audacity to suggest that the characters are only real in my head, so I have complete control over what they say and do. Say what?

Admittedly, some of my characters are not totally real. I’ve never yet met a living, breathing, green-striped hippopotamus. But I’ve seen one or in my head. So don’t ever tell me my characters are not real.

Not all characters are born fully developed. Often they are in the embryonic stage. They rely on their creator to transform them into believable beings. Perhaps you have gone through the process of giving life to one or more characters. It can be a fun process, or it can be extremely painful. Some characters take forever to reveal themselves to the extent necessary to make them three-dimensional. But for them to convince the reader that they are, they must become more than the flat portrayal that some readers never see past. In my head, my dead Aunt Louise!

Sometimes, however, a character pops out of the head-womb kicking and screaming to tell her story. And she isn’t going to shut up until you, the vessel she has chosen to bring her about, listens. She not only knows herself, she refuses to be swayed by any of your ideas as to possibilities of change. This type of character can be overwhelming. But they will infuse into your writing a level of life that might otherwise be missing.

One morning, several months ago, after the real people in my house had left for the day, a young girl spoke to me. She didn’t tell me that she was a runaway slave, but I knew it. She didn’t tell me her name, either, but I knew that. She simply began telling her story. I listened carefully, not wanting to miss a single detail. She had a unique voice, one I had never heard in my own head, so I knew I had to pay attention.

She made me feel a wee bit weird. This was my first encounter with a character that was so alive. At first I thought maybe I should ignore her and keep the whole incident to myself. But she was such a feisty little thing; I knew she had much to give.

So, of course, I began writing her story. Many people can’t understand how real our characters are to us. But if they would stop and think about it for a moment, it would make perfect sense. How else can we keep a reader’s interest in the stories we share, if not by making the characters real? I love action-packed stories of espionage, with a hint of a love affair thrown in, but if the characters are one-dimensional, or unreal, I quickly lose interest.

Now I’ve told you my darkest secrets. An entire community of beings possesses my mind. Anyone else care to share?

You can find me at http://cordeliadinsmore.blogspot.com

Or vidamaemaynard@gmail.com

Or https://twitter.com/#!/grammy2kiera

Tasty Tuesday with Grace Wen

2012-01-24T01:58:00.000-08:00

THAI GRILLED BEEF SALAD

In my romance novella Hard Bargain, Brad pampers Jenna by making her a sophisticated Thai grilled beef salad for dinner. I find cooking together at home more romantic than going to a restaurant (even more so if he's also catering to my every need). It's much more private, and you can both get tipsy without worrying about how to get home.

This salad is my go-to summer salad. It's light, but surprisingly filling, and the tart-spicy-salty-sweet flavor combination sparkles in the mouth. Like Brad, I'd serve this with a dry Riesling. Pre-dinner nookie makes a great appetizer.

1 flank steak (about 1 1/4 lbs.)

For the marinade and dressing:
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp. peeled and minced fresh ginger
3 scallions, white part only, sliced
2 to 4 Thai chilies or jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
3 tbsp. sugar
1/3 c. fish sauce (recommended) or soy sauce
1/3 c. freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tbsp. Asian (dark) sesame oil

For the salad:
1 oz. Asian rice noodles
1 head Boston, bibb or red-leaf lettuce, broken into leaves, washed, and spun dry
1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 cucumber, seeded (optional) and thinly sliced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 c. fresh mint leaves, plus extra sprigs for garnish
1/3 c. fresh cilantro leaves
1/3 c. fresh basil leaves
1/4 c. chopped dry-roasted peanuts

Score the steak on both sides with a wide crosshatch pattern. Place the steak in a nonreactive baking dish or sturdy Ziploc bag just large enough to hold it.

Place the garlic, ginger, scallion whites, chilies and sugar in a large nonreactive bowl and mash to a paste with the back of a spoon. Add fish sauce or soy sauce, lime juice, sesame oil and 3 tbsp. of water and stir until sugar is dissolved.

Pour half the marinade over the steak. Cover or seal and marinate for 1 to 2 hours in the refrigerator, turning the steak several times to ensure it marinates evenly. Reserve the rest of the marinade as a salad dressing.

Cover the rice noodles in cold water and soak for 1 hour. Taste. If the noodles are tender, drain well. If they're still tough, cook in boiling water 1 to 3 minutes. Drain, rinse in cold water, and drain well.

Prepare grill for direct grilling (i.e., grilling directly over the heat source) and preheat to high.

Line salad plates with large lettuce leaves. Tear smaller leaves into roughly 2-inch squares. Place the lettuce pieces, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, mint, cilantro and basil in a mixing bowl with the reserved dressing, but do not mix yet.

When the grill is ready, brush and oil the grate. Place the steak on the hot grate and grill until cooked to taste (about 4 to 6 minutes per side for medium-rare).

Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let it rest for 3 minutes. Cut the steak into paper-thin slices at a 45-degree angle so you get wide slices and not skinny beef "noodles."

Toss the salad and loosely mound on the lettuce-lined plates. Place a mound of rice noodles in center. Arrange beef slices on top. Sprinkle each salad with peanuts and garnish with a mint sprig. Serve immediately.

Serves 4

Source:
"How to Grill: The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques" by Steven Raichlen"

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Andy Dunn's Top Ten

2012-01-21T22:10:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Favorite Books and Obsolete Apple Software

10. Fishies

This was an early game/screen saver/time suck that simulated an aquarium. There were three or four different kinds of virtual fish that swam around, occasionally turning to look at you. When you hit the "t" key on your keyboard, you were "tapping" the aquarium glass and the fish would scatter; to "feed" them, you'd hit the "f" key. Pressing the space bar caused either a SCUBA diver or a submarine to move across the foreground.

9. Dune by Frank Herbert

For the longest time, my favoritest book evarz. I first attempted to read it in fifth grade, which would put me at about 11 or 12. Yeah. I had a better time of it about two years later, but much of the political nuance evaded me until later. I mostly read it for the science fiction aspects, obviously, carrying around copies of different editions of the paperback for the better part of seventh and eighth grades until the covers dissolved. Everything after the third book was pretty much a waste, I'm afraid.

8. The Newsroom

Broderbund's rudimentary desktop publishing package was a bit awkward to use. Each page was divided into five or six panels (the five panel layout allowed for a headline/banner and four blocks of text), and each one had to be formatted individually. A total PITA when you have panels 1 through 4 and 6 in Courier, and number 5 in Helvetica. It also allowed illustrations through the onboard graphics library, and you could alter them using the mouse.

7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

I can identify with so much about this book: the awkwardness of adolescence, the desire to fit in and be accepted. I still haven't gotten many of those issues but Kinney's humor and drawings took the edge off.

6. Magic Window

To quote Bill the Cat, one of my favorite philosophers, "Oop! Ack!" This word processor was a nightmare. The most unusual feature of this program was the behavior of the cursor. It remained stationary on the screen and the text would trail behind it in a poor imitation of a typewriter, (SARCASM WARNING) making navigation through your open document a breeze. (FURTHER SARCASM WARNING) At least the text wrapped at the end of a line and you didn't have to worry about hitting the RETURN key.

5. WordPerfect

For the longest time, my word processor of choice. I was very proficient in it during my time at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Center for Continuing Engineering Education, back in the days before Microsquash had successfully gotten its slimy tentacles into 94% of the U.S.'s homes and offices. I used it at home until I had to stop using my G3.

4. Edie by Jean Stein/Swimming Underground by Mary Woronov

These are a biography and autobiography, respectively, about people who were in artist Andy Warhol's orbit. Edie is about Edie Sedgwick, one-time muse and Superstar at Warhol's famed Factory, and Swimming Underground is by Mary Woronov, later best known as Miss Trogar in Rock 'n' Roll High School. Both books are about interesting women and provide insight about not only their lives but also more information about Warhol and what a rat bastard he was.

3. Role Models by John Waters

Say what you will about his films, but John Waters, my favorite American director, is a fantastic essayist. He has a real passion for his beliefs and ideas, which come through beautifully in his writing. He's bright, witty, whimsical, and pure genius.

2. The Animated Thumbtack Railroad Dollhouse & All-Around Surprise Book (Evening Edition) by Louis Phillips and Lynn Braswell

Ye gods. I remember finding this book at the library when I was in fifth grade or so, and it was a scream. A parody of children's activity books, it features fake history lessons and puzzles combined with real history and puzzles all hosted by a woodcut of St. George, and it's still a scream. Very Monty Python in its presentation; it has warnings that if you do not read it within one week of purchase, it will self destruct and since it's the evening edition, you can't read it in the daytime without express permission of the publisher and author.

1. Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin

I've read this series about six or seven times, possibly more, since I first found it in 1984 or so. At the time, I was struggling with coming out, having begun the process in 1981, and it just spoke to me. The writing is engaging, if a bit preposterous at times, and the characters just come alive. I've never cried so much and so hard over storylines as the ones Maupin has created. In fact, he's one of the greatest influences on my writing.

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