More Heavy Thunderstorms in Texas!

We have a river flood warning today, no wonder. It rained sometime during the night as I found standing water in a few areas. And it was sprinkling when I took the puppies out, but also looking extremely ominous, lightning, thunder, dark clouds.

Now it’s pouring.
storms in the morning (640x427)more storms an sunrise (640x427)storms in the monring and sunrise (640x427) storms dark (640x427) (2)
And that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. No rain, or very low the rest of the week!

Have a super great Saturday! I only wrote 400 words yesterday. Had to run a ton of errands, and then I worked on 4 Celtic bears. So I’ve got to make up for it today, if I can.

So off to write unless I have to shut down. *sigh*

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Tadpoles and More Tadpoles!

I love the warm weather of Spring and Summer,  always have, and one of the reasons is the critters. As a child, I was pretty much the tomboy, and if it was alive  (and not poison) I'd try to catch it. When I was six, after a hard rain, I remember taking my sand pail and catching as many crayfish as I could find. No one had taught me how to catch them, I just seemed to know to keep away from those pinchers.

Another time I collected a large jar of praying mantis eggs from various spots around our yard and brought them inside, which horrified my mother. She made me take them back outside. Which, I learned with my own child, was the smart thing to do. We had one hatch inside his bedroom and baby praying mantis were everywhere!

Beneath the edge of my grandparent's porch, was a favorite spot for granddaddy longlegs, and to my sister's horror, I allowed them to crawl up and down my bare arms, still do.

But one of my favorite things are the frogs. As a child I caught every one I happened upon.


I have a Koi pond in my backyard, and every year we have a multitude of frogs that return to mate and to lay their eggs. Each night I go to sleep to their own special orchestra. Then come the tadpoles, hundreds of them, gathering around the edge of the water close to the warmth of the sun. The first batch of tadpoles recently turned into hundreds of tiny toad frogs no larger than the nail of your little finger. If you've never seen one, they are the cutest things ever.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Summer!

Gwyn



Barnes and Noble Book Signing, Waco, Texas

book signing, Waco
Lovely time at the book signing, and if you can see in the picture (Debra Jupe’s, author to the far left), I had Kissing the Highlander, Phantom Fae, and Jaguar Pride available to sign. More autographed copies are still on hand at Barnes and Noble, so if you are looking for a great compilation of Highland novels, a fun fae young adult, or a hot and sexy jaguar shifter story, they are there!

I want to thank Lorelei for working so hard to make it a success, along with Ken, who set it up at the store. He was really wonderful and made it super special. Thanks to all our readers who made it to the story. Everyone ended up winning fancy chocolates and one won a Nook, and everyone received free drinks. Truly a wonderful time had by all!

From left to right, Debra Jupe, Linda LaRoque, Lorelei Buckley, Me (note how patriotic I am with my wolf and flags shirt), Nese Lane, and Susan Owens.

Have a super great Saturday. It’s gloomy today, and I love it. The sun will beat down on us soon enough. :)

Back to edits! :)

Terry
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

A Step Back in Time for a Historical Romance Author

I love history, and that’s why I primarily write historical romances. I have a three-story series of Victorian novellas, The Disciplinarian, The Disciplinarian’s Daughter and The Bet with Red Sage Publishing, and a Roman saga called Conqueror Vanquished with Ellora’s Cave.

So imagine how excited I was on a recent trip to Los Angeles to be able to visit the Getty Villa in Malibu, which is dedicated to Greek and Roman antiquities.

This place was amazing. It’s built to resemble an Italian villa in the ancient town of Herculaneum, which was buried by volcanic ash when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79. (Yes, Herculaneum was buried along with Pompeii.)

Walking through the villa museum is like taking a step back in time to witness how the Romans actually lived in the first century.

Every room off the central atrium houses incredible ancient treasures. But by far the most impressive… and jaw-dropping… piece in this living museum is a seven foot tall statue of Hercules (Heracles). It is almost 2,000 years old and has only had THREE owners!




The statue was discovered in 1790 buried near the villa of the Roman emperor Hadrian, who ruled from 117 to 138 A.D. (Yes, he was the man who ordered Hadrian’s Wall built in England, to separate the Roman conquerors from the native ‘barbarians’ to the north. ) This statue of Hercules was apparently commissioned by Hadrian around 125 A.D. In 1792, two years after its unearthing, it was bought by an English collector, the Marquess of Landsdowne, to become part of his private collection. Almost two hundred years later it became the property of J. Paul Getty. 

Another masterpiece of ancient art on display at the villa is this delicate, paper-thin gold leaf wreath, which was made in 300 B.C. but incredibly still maintains its bright gold color. In ancient Greece, wreaths were given to athletes as prizes in contests. This one is so fragile that they keep it in a glass case inside an environmentally controlled room.



Another highlight for me as a writer of ancient Roman warriors was this statue of a Roman soldier wearing full military parade armor. And hey, the body of the man under the uniform is impressive, too!



The Getty Villa is an amazing place. It’s almost inconceivable that some of the antiquities there are more than two millennia old. Who knows, maybe I was so drawn to it because I was Roman in a previous life!  How about you? Is there a time in history, or a place in the world that you feel a strong connection to?  Share your story!

Leigh Court



May I?

May I ask how it got to be May? Is the world spinning faster on its axis? Yesterday I was lamenting the snow and today it's instant summer. What happened?

I guess it doesn't matter except the passage of time can be so...well, weird. Like when I'm reading. I can sit down and read for what seems like a little while and the check the time to discover that I've been reading for over an hour. Does this happen to you?

I get lost in books, and those books are what I strive to emulate when I write. When I'm writing, I think about that reader who wants to sit and enjoy a book somewhere far away from it all. The one who wants to visit another world. The one who just needs a word hit.

I'm that read on any given day. Reading relaxes me. It gives me a place to go when the place I am is not what I want it to be. It cheers me up and sets me straight when I'm whining about something. Reading does something that none of us can do all the time--it gives. Reading gives us so many things and never takes anything in return. How many things can you say that about?

I guess I'm gushing about my favorite hobby because I just read an article about a woman learning to read at 35. How great is that? It made me realize how lucky I am that I learned how to read at a young age and how blessed I feel to have read so many books by this point in my life. For some, having books lying around to read isn't a fiscal reality, and so I know how lucky I am that I can have books to read whenever I want without ever having to venture to the library (where, btw, I would happily die covered in my favorite novels).

So today I'm just writing because I'm grateful I can read and write and that I can share those activities with others. I think sometimes I take for granted that I can enjoy the written word, and today I'm especially grateful, after seeing the struggles of others, that I have this skill and can use it to amuse myself for hours on end. I hope you are, too. Happy Reading!

Read All Summer for 99 cents!

SLA15FINAL
14 Full-length Novels and Novellas
Available as a boxed set for a limited time - on sale now for only .99!
Regular Price $6.99 Buy Links
B&N: http://indi.uno/1JtFltd 
 
A savings of more than 75% if the books were purchased separately
 
Summer is heating up with 14 traditional romances from USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors, brought to you by Book Boyfriends Cafe. Foreword by USA Today bestselling author, Leanne Banks.

Cora Rules by Mel Curtis, USA Today Bestselling Author. NBA coach Trent Parker is a stickler for the rules, until he meets Cora Rule, the biggest rulebreaker of the Rule clan.

Surrender to Love by Raine English, USA Today Bestselling Author. When Tara Spencer agrees to spend the summer caring for her ailing grandmother, she has no idea how her life will be changed by the handsome stranger next door.

The Merry-Go-Round by Author Donna Fasano, USA Today Bestselling Author. When Lauren divorces her husband, her life quickly turns into a 3-ring circus. Will she step off the merry-go-round--or reach out and grab the brass ring?

Twist of Fate by Patti Forsythe, USA Today Bestselling author. Rebecca Perris is on a dangerous quest to find her sister, but when she meets Aaron al-Rashid again, it’s her heart that’s at risk.

Her French Count by Mona Risk, USA Today Bestselling Author. A Da Vinci Code in a French Chateau. The lovely American architect has turned his life upside down, but are his chateau and a missing statue worth endangering her life?

Love Me Forever by Ari Thatcher, USA Today Bestselling Author. Escaping to Maui to get over her divorce, Jen runs into her first love, who blew her off at the end of her vacation. Matt had given up hope of ever finding her again. Can he convince her to give him a second chance?

Playing the Rookie by Rachelle Ayala, National Bestselling Author. A rookie pitcher and a sports intern on the rebound connect to get over their exes. Will their fling turn into true love or destroy both of their careers?
  
Duke of Devonwood by Carly Carson, National Bestselling Author Sparks fly as Miranda plots to gain control of her inheritance from a modern day Duke who tries his best to resist her wiles. Can both of them win?  

True North by Kelly Collins, National Bestselling Author. Alexa leaves Los Angeles with a scarred heart, a beat up car and a secret. She’s fleeing her hopelessness to find her future. Can a sexy stranger mend her heart and be her compass?

Fashion Victim by Suz deMello, best-selling, award-winning author: Hot isn't a hot enough word to describe corporate raider Fletcher Wolf, but since he's suing couturier Cara Fletcher for, oh, a gazillion dollars, she figures she shouldn't hit on him…at least not too hard.
  
Season, Unforgettable by Keta Diablo, National Bestselling Author. He promised his mother he'd wrap up the Pine Bay project, and he would have if not for a nature lover who can't be bought at any price. Now he's fighting for the other side, fighting to recapture his abandoned dreams, and fighting to win her heart.
  
Most Likely to Turn up the Heat by Cheryl Harper. Sue Walker’s “no soldiers, no cops, no coworkers” policy doesn’t stand a chance against injured cop turned high school security guard Max Holt. His mission to return to Dallas and danger could be the deal breaker.

My Favorite What If by Lyssa Layne, National Bestselling Author. Jacob "Smitty" Smith and Sloan Talbott have both have been hurt. Neither is looking for love. Will one week in paradise be a fling to remember or could it possibly lead to something more?

Relay For Love by Susan Ann Wall, National Bestselling Author. A cancer survivor who celebrates in silence…a widow who remembers the man she lost…a fight back where two hearts battle to be together.
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An Interview with Red L. Jameson + Giveaway!

As a military historian by day, sometimes Red does feel a bit clandestine when she writes romance at night. No one knows that while she researches heroes of the past and present, she uses everything for her characters in her books. Her secret's been safe . . . until now.
She lives in Montana with her family and far too many animals but never enough books.

She loves her readers, so please feel free to contact her at http://www.redljameson.com


Q: Welcome! Thank you for being our special guest today, Red! Please tell us about your upcoming release.
A: Duchess of Mine is available for preorder right now, and it will be released June 9!!! Squee! Here’s is the blurb:
**Book 4 of The Glimpse Time Travel Series, where mythical muses play naughty matchmakers**

Seventeenth century Highlander Michael Cameron should have been prepared for his journey to Philadelphia in 1895. After all, it wasn't the first time he'd been kidnapped by two mischievous muses, who delighted in taking him by surprise and shuffling him off to far-flung lands and eras. But nothing could have readied him for angelic Gabriella Murray, the Duchess of Northampton. She’s a beautiful, lovely, gorgeous—did he mention just how bonny Gabby is?—duchess, and he’s a lowly Scot. How is he going to solve the missing children case the muses have given him with such a distracting woman?

Becoming friends with a muse, Gabby feels her life has taken a turn for the fantastic, which suits her fine, since being a duchess is gray and depressing. So, when that muse asks her to go on an adventure imitating her idol, Sherlock Holmes, of course she says yes. However, Michael, who is to play her Dr. Watson, is quite possibly the most handsome and intriguing Highlander she’s ever encountered. Lord, Sherlock never had to contend with an overwhelming desire for Watson. How can she concentrate on the case when he’s more fun than she’s ever had before?

As Michael and Gabby hunt through the mean streets of cities such as Chicago and Detroit, they dive deeper into a world of danger and violence. Fighting against their growing attraction to each other, they race against time to find the children, knowing that with every corner they turn, they might be too late.

Q: Sounds awesome! What inspired this story?
A: Funny you should ask, because I write about muses and I did have a real muse for this story. I LOVE reading all genres, and sometimes I get on a nonfiction kick. I was on one such kick, years ago, when I found the author, Erik Larson. I have such a crush on this man’s writing! He writes historical books that I can’t put down, and the first book I read by him was The Devil in the White City.  It was while reading this book, while Larson follows one of America’s least known but most heroic detectives of all time, that I started to wonder about the detective being followed himself—followed by two characters who wanted to help him solve a mystery, help him because the detective was enduring overwhelming personal grief while a nation watched him do his job. Talk about pressure. Hence, I came up with my hero and heroine who do, indeed, follow Frank Geyer during an infamous case of his.
Q: Please tell us about your other books.
A: I have three other books in The Glimpse Time Travel Series: Enemy of Mine, Highlander of Mine, and Cowboy of Mine. They are available everywhere electronic books are sold!
Q: Why do you write romance?
A: It took me years to finally write romance. I have written since I could hold a crayon, and my poor brother was strapped into his highchair, so he couldn’t run when I told him my stories. However, for most of my life, I wrote in secret. I had one philosophy professor who, after reading some of my work, told me he hoped to find my books one day. I was flattered, but it took even more years to finally think about writing professionally. I started by trying my hand at more literary writing, to which I didn’t feel I fit. Then I wrote a cross-genre series under a different name that bombed. The thing is: I’d secretly been writing romance novels all along. It just took a lot of time, having my career blow up in my face, and finally getting the courage to do what I wanted to do all along. And I have to say, I’ve never been happier. I am probably one of the loudest advocates for romance now, and am a proud writer of the genre too! Go romance!
Q: What do you enjoy most about writing romance?
A: I love writing every single scene, but I especially love—at the risk of sounding like a pervert—the love scenes and the happy ending. (Teehee, is someone out there making a joke about a love scene and the happy ending being the same thing? Sorry. I’m horrible!) I do love building the tension between the hero and the heroine, but when they finally can express their love, then they can express how they want to love each other forever…gosh, that’s my favorite part.
Q: What inspires you? What motivates you?
A: There is so much to inspire me! Where do I start? I have an amazing family and friends, and I live in a little bit of heaven—although, it’s been raining nonstop for more than a week now, and I’m not too fond of that. Everyday I find inspiration in so many things. Even television shows, make me think about something I could write. And I am motivated to continue to write because it brings me such joy when I do. I’m not going to stop that! :)
Q: Would you like to ask readers a question?
A: I would! In my Glimpse Time Travel Series, it centers around four Highlander brothers. I’m curious about what you love the most about Highlanders? The kilt? The brogue? The brawn? The kilt? Hee-hee! Let me know your favorite thing about Highlanders and my son will randomly select a reader to giveaway an ecopy of soon to be released Duchess of Mine
You can find Red L. Jameson at . . .
Twitter: @RedLJameson
You can preorder Duchess of Mine at . . .
And coming soon everywhere electronic books are sold!

Welcome to the World Little Man!

I'm a grandma again! This time my son and his wife welcomed a beautiful little boy into the world. At 9 lbs, 9 oz, he's a big boy! So, for your Monday morning enjoyment, can you stand a little baby boy sweetness?


With daddy just an hour or so old


With mommy getting ready to go home from the hospital


Gotta get a pic of me holding my little man! Soon!

Natasha
The Cottage Next Door
Her Royal Masquerade
Her Royal Bodyguard
Her Royal Masquerade
www.natashamoore.com

A Trip Means Research or Research Means a Trip!





When I took a trip to Scotland, I was there for research--to learn about the castles, the layout of the land, the weather, flora, just all sorts of things. Did they have any trees?

When I went to New Mexico, it was to see the wolves at Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary.

Here I am petting Zoerro, the ambassador wolf that has done some promo work for Game of Thrones. How cool is that?

But I also considered the landscape for a story. Would it work for wolves? Or cougars? Or some other story? Here, you see trees, and there were trees in some areas, like at the volcano and ice cave we visited. But there were vast areas where very little was growing. I wondered how anything could survive out there as little water as they have.

When I returned to Central Texas, I felt relief to see GREENERY, trees, water!

I've been to many of the places I write about and it really does give a a feel for the area--more so than just reading about it and perusing pictures. It gives you a real sense of being there, because you have been there.

For one thing, it's a lot drier. And we were on dirt roads a lot, so dusty. I kept looking for signs of life and saw none. And yet, I know it exists. When we were at the ancient Chaco ruins, I saw several lizards and a jack rabbit close up. On the way on and off the reservation--we took pictures of angora goats, wild horses, and sheep with their shepherding dog, cattle, and elk, none of them fenced in, all just roaming free.






I thoroughly enjoyed visiting New Mexico and the wilderness out there with my friends and am ready for the next road trip!

I also autographed books at the Barnes and Noble in Albuquerque, Books-a-Million in Abilene, and Barnes and Noble in Lubbock. The weekend before, I signed books in Milwaukee, Greenfield, and Wauwatosa, WI.

Barnes and Noble, Wauwatosa, WI

Which is another reason for me to take a road trip!

Have a super great Saturday! I'm still proofing She-Wolf Leader of the Pack before I turn it in. Deadline quickly approaching!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear: Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com



Summer Lovin' Anthology

Who would like to read 14 contemporary romance novels/novellas for just 99 cents?
This summer anthology is on pre-order now, and will be available on May 19. But what I really want to do is invite everyone to our Facebook party, also on May 19 because we're having some fabulous authors, including one I've been reading for years - Jayne Ann Krentz. I'm definitely going to have a fan moment there! Oh, and I almost forgot - Jennifer Probst! She's an author many of us here on this blog know and she also has a new book coming out next week.

In addition to plenty of fun, we have great prizes and giveaways so please join us here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/378702042312928/

Here's a list of all the participating authors:  

Carly Carson
Jayne Ann Krentz
Stella Cameron
Leanne Banks
Jennifer Probst
Rachelle Ayala
Raine English
Suz deMello
Mimi Barbour
Melissa Keir
Mona Risk
Cheryl Harper
Jude Ouvrard
Cheri Allan
Ari Thatcher
Mel Curtis
Kelly Collins
Kimmie Easley
Donna Fasano
Susan Wall
Patti Forsythe

Is this not a great list? Sorry, we can't bring the man candy to life in your house :), but if you've ever wanted to party with any of these authors, here's your chance. Simply click on this link and accept the invitation. We'd love to have you!

https://www.facebook.com/events/378702042312928/

And one more thing: Someone made a video of how romance authors behave behind the scenes. Take a look:

https://youtu.be/Vg3dsHX5Ua8

Summer Lovin' Anthology is available for pre-order here:


Amazon: http://indi.uno/1JlFwr0

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Esg3xH

iTunes: http://indi.uno/1DgZbre

Kobo: http://indi.uno/1NS3rPq