Have You Been to the Playhouse?

There are 4 stories in the Paolo's Playhouse series and they are all available now for download. Haven't checked them out yet? Here they are.

FLAUNT IT

He’ll put her on display, if that’s what it takes to keep her…

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 1

When it comes to sexy and sassy, Piper, the most popular waitress at Ben’s bar, has it all going on. Now that they’re dating, though, Ben wishes she’d dial down the skimpy clothes and flirty attitude, and her habit of dancing around the bar and flashing to her favorite song. Every teasing peek at her body, every laugh at some customer’s lousy joke, is certainly good for business—but it sends his jealousy meter into the red zone.

Sure, they’re dating, but he’s no muscled, tattooed stud with diamonds in his ears. How can he compete, especially when she refuses to even spend the night at his place?

Desperate, Ben books a room at his friend Paolo’s fantasy club, hoping an erotic night in front of a two-way mirror will get her exhibitionist streak out of her system. Praying it won’t prove his greatest fear—that she lives only to show off. And he’s not that special to her at all…

RISK IT

Time to put out…or get out.

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 2

On the outside, Amy has the American dream. Two busy kids, a job she loves, a big house thanks to her husband’s climb up the corporate ladder. What she hasn’t had in a long time…is sex. Sure, she’s too exhausted at night to think about it, but maybe Will’s long hours at work aren’t the real reason he rarely touches her anymore.

Feeling her marriage teetering on the edge, she rents the voyeur room at Paolo’s Playhouse. Maybe bringing back the memory of the one wicked thing they used to do together will relight the sparks.

Will loves his wife, but she’s never been one to take chances—except for the time before kids, when they’d camp out in a club’s back booth, getting all worked up watching the dirty dancers. Their careers have seriously cut into their “us” time, and if she’s booked them a sexual playroom, it sounds like she’s serious about solving the problem.

When Will shows up way, way late, Amy wonders why she bothered, and if her plan to relight the flame has only made it painfully clear that it’s too late to try.

BIRTHDAY GIRL

It’s not the age. It’s the attitude—and a healthy dose of kink.

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 3

For Shannon, turning thirty means getting serious. Responsible. Old. She can’t help dreading the day she has to leave her spontaneous, crazy, young self-image behind. Then there are all those unfulfilled items on her to-do list, like that threesome she and her husband, Ty, used to fantasize about. It fell by the wayside, right along with their neglected bag of sex toys.

Her birthday dinner starts out like any other…then her present arrives at the table. Marc, an old college friend, whose edgy persona tickles her in all the right places. And that’s not all. Ty’s reserved a room at Paolo’s Playhouse—for all three of them.

By the time the playroom door closes behind them, Ty’s and Marc’s intimate touches and wicked whispers have roused her hormones to a fever pitch. But when kiss comes to nipple clamps, Shannon’s not sure she has the courage to step off the edge of fantasy and fall headlong into reality…

PLAYTHING

One taste of everything she ever wanted…how can she walk away?

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 4

Julianne’s the epitome of a successful businesswoman. But where her boardroom reality is full of decisions, her bedroom fantasy is the exact opposite—allowing a lover who knows what he’s doing to strip her of the need to make any decisions at all.

When she reads an ad for Paolo’s Playhouse, her long-ignored need twists inside her, too sharp to ignore. Trembling, she picks up the phone, and Paolo’s charm, lyrical accent and empathy soothe her fear just enough to agree to be the Playhouse’s bondage toy. One look at Paolo the following night, and she wishes she’d struck a different bargain. To be his alone.

Paolo can’t take his eyes off the brave and beautiful woman with hair like the fire he sees in her soul. Her sexual need to be bound matches his own powerful need to be the one to bind her. Tonight and always.

Except Julianne agreed to only one perfect night. Now he must convince her it could be the first night of many for them—if only she will trust him.

I loved writing this series of short stories about four couples whose lives are changed by visiting Paolo's Playhouse. Stop by see what it's all about!

Natasha
SILKEN CANVAS - Coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com

Laurel O'Donnell and Angel's Assassin

Please welcome our guest, Laurel O'Donnell!

Laurel O'Donnell has won numerous awards for her works, including the Holt Medallion for A Knight of Honor, the Happily Ever After contest for Angel's Assassin, and the Indiana's Golden Opportunity contest for Immortal Death. The Angel and the Prince was nominated by the Romance Writers of America for their prestigious Golden Heart award. O'Donnell lives in Illinois with her four cherished children, her beloved husband and her five cats. She finds precious time every day to escape into a different world to bring her characters to life in her writing.

Q: Welcome, Laurel! Please tell us about your latest release. And do you have a review you could share with us?

A: Angel's Assassin is the story of redemption.  It's a story about Damien the assassin who longs for freedom, but discovers he wants more when he meets the woman he is to kill. 

Blurb: Damien is an assassin, a man with no home and a tortured past. Sold into slavery as a young boy, he is trained to kill with cold calculation, without remorse. As a reward for his ruthless success, he is given a chance to earn his freedom from his cruel master. One last mission. One final person to slay…

Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness, beloved by all her people. She lives her life trying to atone for her mother’s cruelty by being a fair and just ruler. Secretly she fears that one day her mother’s murderer will return for her.
When Damien enters Aurora’s life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart with shadowy secrets of his own.
Can Aurora’s light heal Damien’s dark spirit or will his evil consume her? The eternal battle of good versus evil, love versus hate, dark versus light, all come to a shattering climax in this historical romance set in medieval England.

Here's a review from the Indie Bookshelf -

“Everyone loves a good medieval romance! And it's been awhile since I've read my last one. Seriously. I think it's been about 2 years!! So I was very excited to read Angel's Assassin, to say the least.

In order to gain his freedom, Damien, an assassin has one more task to complete, to kill the lovely, Lady Aurora. He's ruthless, cold hearted, and has no interest in his next victim.

Until he discovers that Aurora is more than just another mission. She has a passionate heart that sees the good in everyone, including Damien. He has four days to finish his task. And Damien has to decide which one is more invaluable: his freedom or Aurora's life.

Something I appreciated was the manner of Ms. O'Donnell's writing. It flows with just enough descriptions, and conversations to keep you easily focused.

Damien- What I enjoyed about him so much was he wasn't a brooding hero. He WANTS someone to love to him. His past has left many scars on his emotions, but it's so apparent to see that he doesn't want to be the person he is. He desperately wants a way out!

Aurora- Has a very compassionate heart that wants to help everyone out. She is a beautiful person, and to everyone around her it's easy to see that the beauty is also inward too.

I felt like both of them together was a good match. Their both trying so hard not to be what everyone expects. Both of them have hidden secrets that no one knows, and the two of them are scared to find out what the other would think if those secrets were revealed!

Another thing that I thoroughly liked was that even though this book focuses on Damien and Aurora. There are other characters mixed into the book- both evil/innocent- that give the plot an edge and make you want to know what exactly is being hidden from everyone! I like a good amount of mystery. It makes me all the more anxious to click on to the next page!!!

Angel's Assassin is a great read. Very well done, Ms. O'Donnell!!”

Q: Sounds fascinating! What inspired this story?

A: I wanted to write a hero and heroine who were opposites (even the words in the title are very contradictory).  Damien is such a dark hero, he doesn't even see himself as a good person.  And Aurora is exactly opposite.  She sees good in everything and everyone. 

Q: Why do you write romance?

A:  I love that there is a happy ever after for the characters.  Romance has stories of hope and happiness after overcoming tragedy.  They are feel good books.  I mean, the things these characters go through and still manage to have a happy ever after gives hope to us all!

Q: I agree. Did you choose the title of your book and if so how did you do it?

A:  Angel's Assassin.  Well, Damien is an assassin, so that part is pretty straight forward.  And Aurora is his angel.  J  I chose the title Angel's Assassin because it is contradictory.  Whoever heard of an Angel who had an assassin?  But it also fits the story.  Dark and light.  Good and evil.  It's a perfect title for this book.

Q: I love the contrast! Please tell us about your favorite character in the book.

A:  It has to be Damien, the hero.  He is such a tragic hero.  He doesn't see himself as worthwhile or good.  He has been through so much, sold into slavery by his father, abandoned by his brother, taught to kill mercilessly by a tyrannical master.  And yet, there is goodness in him.  Only Aurora's love can heal him.  And throughout the entire story, I was hoping that she could!

Q: Which element of this story was the hardest for you?

A: The ending!  I just couldn't find the right ending.  I wrote four different endings.  Each ending before the final one didn't seem right to me.  It didn't give the most satisfactory ending to Damien and Aurora's love.  When you read it, please let me know what you think!  But I love this ending.

Q: What's next for you?

A: I have epublished my backlist of medieval titles.  I have a paranormal romance out with Pink Petal Books entitled, Immortal Death.  I have published Angel's Assassin.  I am working on my Lost Souls urban fantasy series.  Next for me is another episode for Lost Souls, entitled Deception.  I'm hoping to have that out by the end of the year.  After that, I'm working on another full length medieval romance, and contemplating a medieval series.

Q: Would you like to ask readers a question?

A: I do have a question for readers.  I've been playing around with the idea of short medieval stories.  For instance, I'm doing an urban fantasy series called Lost Souls.  They are about 75 pages long, so they are short stories.  I was thinking of doing something similar only set in the medieval era.  A medieval series.  Would you be interested in reading a series of short stories in medieval times?

Here's an excerpt for you from Angel's Assassin!  Enjoy!

Damien watched the startled expression cross her eyes, heard the gasp stop in her throat.  His fingers trembled.  One quick move…  How innocent she was.  How trusting.  How foolish.  Foolish in her blind faith and trust in him.

He had waited a long time for this moment.  His freedom was within striking distance.

Her lips parted in a silent gasp and she lifted her chin beneath the pressure of the blade.  “Damien,” she whispered.

Betrothed.  Anger flared through his veins at the thought of Ormand laying his hands on her, at the image of him kissing her and tasting her as he had.  Is that why Roke wanted Aurora dead?  So no one else could have her if he could not?  Were Roke's thoughts thick with jealous rage just as his own thoughts were now?  Did that make him just as evil and twisted as Warin Roke?

He had to do it now.  He felt himself swirling toward oblivion.  He was becoming lost.  Lost to his mission, lost to his freedom, lost to everything he held dear except for her.  Damien looked at the silver blade he held to the white skin of her neck.  Your freedom means everything to you.  He pressed the dagger up tighter against her throat.  Her beautiful, smooth, white, flawless throat.  Do it. 

She should be afraid.  Why wasn't she moving?  Why wasn't she running or trying to talk him out of it?  Would she stand so motionless before another assassin like this?  All of his victims had struggled and fought for their lives, especially when they knew their end was near.

Aurora stood before him, her chin held high, unflinching, unmoving.  Unafraid.

Damien clenched his teeth tighter.  Trusting, he thought with bitter disdain.  No one trusted him.  No one.  Not his father.  Not his colleagues.  No one.  And rightfully so.  He was an assassin.  He brought death.  He was death.

And yet…  Aurora stood before him, imperiously, bestowing goodness on him with a simple glance.

His hand shook, his fist tightening around the handle of the dagger.  “You're wrong about me,” he snarled.

In her eyes, in her stunning blue eyes, he saw absolution.  Damien could not move.  His freedom was at hand.  Just a little slash with his sharp dagger.  But this was Aurora.  She was so damned pure and innocent.  He wanted desperately to kiss her.  He wanted to have her.  She was dangerous to him.  So dangerous.  That thought could not save him from his desperate need for her.  Damien growled low in his throat.

He threw the dagger aside and grabbed her shoulders, pulling her against him tightly, pressing his lips to hers.  It was a frantic, despondent kiss.  A punishing kiss.  He would not give up his freedom.  Not for anyone.  It was all he wanted.  It was all he needed.  She would not stand in his way.

Angel's Assassin is available at Amazon.

I'd like to thank all the authors at Fierce Romance for allowing me to share Angel's Assassin with your readers.  Thanks everyone!  :)

What a wonderful and intense excerpt! Thanks so much for being our guest today, Laurel! Everyone, please visit Laurel online:

Website - www.laurel-odonnell.com

Blog - www.herstorycalls.com

Twitter - http://twitter.com/laurelodonnell

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/LaurelODonnell.author

Look-out, June Cleaver!

*This post was originally supposed to appear in August. However, the system shows it was never posted, and I can't find it. So here it is again. If you've seen it, I apologize. If you've not seen it, happy reading!

So lately I've been feeling very wifely, and I have to tell you why. First, let me put this in context so you'll understand my giddiness. Growing up, I was sort of a fairytale princess fan. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and especially Snow White--these were my role models. They were chicks who were born beautiful and who attracted thrill-seeking, virile, studly men ready rescue them from evil step-mothers and happy to give them beautiful children and a life that would make Martha Stewart look downright domestically challenged.

I loved the idea of the happy ending, even if I had no idea what happened after the carriage actually got to the castle and the prince and princess hopped out tugging passionately at her corset and his sword. I figured that such a life involved eating quail at state dinners, making sure a servant kept alligators out of the moat, and some kissing (how else would would we propagate future kings and queens?). Marriage to me was the girl in the pretty dress being swept off her feet by the handsome guy who slew dragons just because he thought she was kind and had great taste in--what else?--dresses. And possibly dwarves.

Laugh if you will, but I had no idea what marriage really meant until I grew older and the elder women in the family enlightened me that it was a...are you ready for this? Relationship. Like something based on more than a fair maiden's ability to enchant animals with her singsong voice or a young man's skill in picking up women by simply kissing them while they're asleep. I learned that marriage required many communication and domestic skills that I lacked in abundance, and I realized that perhaps I might live a long (hopefully), lonely (not so hopefully) life by myself due to my total ineptitude as a life partner.

Then I met my husband, who didn't seem to notice that my house-keeping skills were, no matter how well-intentioned, pathetic. He didn't mind that my buying any living plant meant he'd end up taking care of it due to my being born green thumb-less. He appreciated that I bought cars based on color and fond memories of childhood vacations. And most of all, he seemed to like my venting, finding it a humorous commentary on the state of my profession in the 21st century.

However, being raised as I was, I'm always thinking that he deserves a "real" wife, one who makes June Cleaver clutch Ward a little tighter lest the very hint of her estrogen captivate him. One who can deliver a baby while baking a cake AND vacuuming AND hosting a dinner party for dignitaries from Iceland. I think we all have these inadequacies from our upbringing that we cultivate whether we want to or not, but luckily there are those moments when we do something that makes us feel like we are Super Wife, ready to leap piles of dirty laundry in a single bound. For me that moment came yesterday.

Yesterday my hubby, who'd been working very hard at some manly task, started cooking dinner. He always cooks the steaks, as that's one of his premier skills. I knew he'd work very hard at cooking them just right, and I'd volunteered to do clean up duty, but still, I wanted to do more. It just so happened that my friend taught me a few weeks ago how to make a special kind of martini, and Hubby LOVES them. So, I mixed a batch of the delectable elixir and poured him a glass, serving it to him like June would serve Ward after a hard day doing whatever it was Ward Cleaver did (what the hell DID he do?).

The surprise and gratitude in his expression was all the reward I needed. I regularly make him food and drink, but since he doesn't know how to make this type of martini, I'm kind of a goddess to him now, at least in the martini department. I know it sounds old-fashioned and lame, but just being able to serve my spouse while he did the equivalent of a caveman dragging home some woolly mammoth for dinner made me feel, well, wifely.

What about you? What do you do that makes you feel like, even though you try to be a great partner all the time, that you hit the mark right on? Is it making your man martinis? Dumping the trash? Laundering his undies? Please do share! :)

Nothing to Fear

Since Halloween is just a couple weeks away, I thought I'd pull out one of my first releases, my only Halloween themed story, to feature today. Nothing to Fear was my first release from Ellora's Cave, although not the first story I sold to them. And it was my first BDSM story.

A lot of firsts for a little Quickie.

Blurb:

Mason Blake's dark good looks and domineering personality give Kelly Long all sorts of forbidden fantasies that frighten her. When she agrees to help out at the community Halloween haunted house, she never expects to be tied to a bed, playing damsel in distress to Mason’s masked, whip-wielding villain.

Kelly can’t run away from Mason this time. He knows she’s fighting her sexual needs and he hopes that a few hours of playing out her fantasies with him will prove to her that bondage - and Mason - are nothing to fear.


Excerpt:

Kelly froze in the doorway as a tall masked man, dressed from head to toe in black, stepped away from the bed. A black hood covered his entire head except for holes for his eyes, nose and mouth. The sleeveless black T-shirt clung to his sculpted chest and his muscled arms were tanned. Black pants and shoes completed the intimidating outfit. Her heart pounded so loudly she couldn’t hear what Lisa was saying. “Dress? Did you say something about a dress?”

Lisa rolled her eyes. “You can change behind that screen in the corner. The dress is on the chair behind it.”

No way was she going to be taking off her clothes in the same room with…who was this masked man? This tall masked man dressed like a…a…

Kelly whipped around to look at Lisa. Wasn’t she supposed to be her friend? “What’s wrong with what I have on?”

“Jeans and sweatshirt just don’t project the same image as a dress,” Lisa said, already walking toward the hallway, ignoring Kelly’s pleading look. “Gotta run. You and Mason can work everything else out.” She glanced at her watch. “You’ve got less than half an hour before the first group will be coming through.” Then she was out the door, shutting it behind her.

The slam of the door echoed in the silence. Kelly turned around slowly and looked up into the deep, dark eyes staring at her out of the mask. Of course, it was Mason. Her hands shook as she clasped them together in front of her. Oh God, it was Mason.

He slid the mask off his head. His eyes were what had first attracted her to him, and they were still like melted dark chocolate. His head was shaved smooth as always, a dark shadowy hint of hair on his head and jaw. The diamond stud in his ear twinkled beneath the light from the chandelier.

“Hello, Kelly.” His deep voice was a touch amused. Well, she didn’t find anything amusing in the situation. He was the one man whose mere touch frightened her because it made her desire things she shouldn’t want. Made her crave things she didn’t understand. Just a glance from him made her weak in the knees and made her want to drop to her knees before him.

And right now the thought of being tied to that bed with Mason standing over her froze her to the spot at the end of the bed. She avoided his eye, but in doing so focused on the bed, the black velvet bedspread, the tall thick bedposts at each corner. Would he stretch her tight when he tied her to the bedposts? Or would he give her wiggle room? And the thought of her body wiggling beneath Mason’s heated gaze made her shiver. But was it from fear? Or excitement?

“You better get changed.”


Nothing to Fear is still available to download from Ellora's Cave

Or in print as part of Taboo Treats.

Natasha
Silken Canvas - coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com

It's been a while...

Wow, it’s been a while since I last blogged. I actually took the time to go back and find my last Fierce Romance entry. It was in December of 2011. I had been rattling on about winter and how it looked like we weren’t going to have a white Christmas.

For the record, we didn’t.

There’s a good reason for my prolonged absence. Right after that non-white Christmas I talked about in my last post, I discovered that I had breast cancer.

I go into detail of my diagnosis, etc, in a blog I started (and sadly have not kept up with). It’s here, if you'd like to read it.

The last ten months have, by far, been the most difficult of my life. My diagnosis was quickly followed by five months of chemotherapy and then surgery. I’m pretty sure that I’ve cried more tears this year than in the rest of my life combined. But I also learned a lot about myself, too. I learned that I’m tenacious. I learned that I have more patience—and more guts--than I ever thought I had. I learned that your life can change in an instant—which, sure, I already knew that was the case. We all know that’s the case. But knowing about it and experiencing it are two very different things.

The "more guts" part I mention above? That showed up when it came time to shave my head. It had to have been one of the hardest things I've ever done. Good thing I looked okay without hair, huh? :)

Chemo... Awful,yet life-saving.

My husband--my ROCK--and I at a wedding this summer.

All year long people have told me how strong I am. How brave. Honestly, I’m not sure I’m either of those things. I’ve never been so scared as I was this year. But I said from the get-go that I would do whatever it took, whatever my doctors told me to do, to fight this thing.

And I did.

I met with my oncologist on July 20^th, ten days after my mastectomy. On my paperwork, he wrote the letters NED. That means: No Evidence of Disease. I am now considered to be cancer-free!

Am I cured? No. There is no cure for cancer. Can it come back? Sure, it can. I hope like hell that it doesn’t, though.

Right now, I’m in the middle of reconstruction. I have a few more surgeries coming up—one next month and the rest sometime next year. I still go in for treatments every three weeks (not chemo, but a targeted therapy). Those treatments will continue until next April or May. The process of fighting this disease certainly is a long, drawn-out one. But hey, my hair is growing back, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about that! 

Hair!!!!

Just as thrilling is that fact that I’ve started to write again. I took most of the year off simply because I’m the type of person who, when the going gets tough, my creativity tends to freeze up. Over the months, I’d work here and there on the book I started in 2011, and I’m happy to report that I finished writing it last week! It was one of those life-changing moments for me. I typed “the end,” then bawled like a baby—but it was a good bawl. A happy bawl. A very accomplished bawl, and an even more relieved bawl. The book is titled My Tye, and will be out  hopefully before the end of the year through Ellora’s Cave. I’ll tell you all more about it some other time, though.

For now, I’d just like to say it’s great to be back. We all know October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so let me sign off with a reminder to not only check yourself, but to remember to offer some personal kindness to those already living with the disease. There was nothing more special to me than having a meal made by a friend, or having someone step in to take me to doctor visits when my husband couldn’t. That was another thing I learned this year. It’s the little things, every day, that mean so much.

Nancy Lee Badger's Time-Traveling Highlanders + Book Giveaway!

Please welcome our guest today, Nancy Lee Badger!

Nancy Lee Badger loves chocolate-chip shortbread, wool plaids wrapped around the trim waist of a Scottish Highlander, the clang of dirks and broadswords, and the sound of bagpipes in the air. After growing up in Huntington, New York, and raising two handsome sons in New Hampshire, Nancy moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. Nancy is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, and the Celtic Heart Romance Writers and also writes as Nancy Lennea.

Q: Welcome, Nancy! Please tell us about your latest release.

A: My latest release is My Banished Highlander (Sept. 1, 2012) and is Book #2 in the Highland Games Through Time series. Kilts, castles, Highlanders, time travel, and romance.

Q: What is the story behind the story?

A: My family and I have volunteered for many years at the New Hampshire Highland Games. In fact, we recently returned from this year’s festival with photos, ideas, and great memories that I will use in upcoming books in the series.

Q: I love Highland Games! How did your story’s setting impact your plot or characters?

A:  In this book and its predecessor, My Honorable Highlander, I set the present-day portions at the fictitious New England Games. I use ideas I have picked up from visiting several games from Maine to Georgia, and added portions of each into my story line. I chose the time period around 1600 in ancient Scotland for my stories as many things threatened the Highland clans around that time. Politics are a b*tch no matter where or when you live, I guess.

Q: How do you choose names for your characters?

A: Most of the time, names pop into my head. I make sure to search their origins on internet ‘names’ sites, and I also have a book on baby names. Attending Scottish Games means that I have met thousands of people with interesting Scottish first names as well as their clan names.  My first and second books dwell mainly on the Gunn, Mackenzie, and Keith clans. My husband is a descendant of the Gunn Clan, who once fought the other two clans. Research has given me great ideas.

Q: Did you choose the title of your book and if so how did you do it?

A: The first book changed names four times. I knew I wanted ‘Highlander’ as part of the name. I feel this gives a reader an instant idea of the book’s setting. My first book’s hero was an honorable man who planned to give up his freedom by marrying the niece of an enemy in the name of peace. When he met my heroine, his honorable thoughts were tested again and again! The hero in Book #2 is less than honorable. Cameron is accused of treason, kidnapping, and causing the death of a clansman. Forced to make his way in a future world, Iona literally stumbles into his arms.

Q: Which element of this story was the hardest for you?

A: The hardest part was knowing my hero was destined to feel pain…physical and emotional. Sorry, but it was the only way to get through to Cameron that he was lusting over the wrong woman. Too bad he almost died in the process. Thankfully, my heroine, Iona, knows how to use a spell book.

Q: Please tell us about your other books.

A: I started out selling two very different books to different publishers who released them at the same time! Secret Love Match (Red Rose Publishing June 2010) is a contemporary romance set in New York City and Baltimore. Dragon’s Curse (Whispers Publishing June 2010) is a Scottish historical paranormal set mainly on an island off the west coast of Scotland. Each was fun to write and were written simply because an idea popped into my head, and off I went. Since then, I have released 9 books, 4 of which I have self-published.

Q: Please describe your journey to publication.

A: Exciting, scary, hopeful, stressful-but a good stress, more like “Am I doing everything I can to release the best book possible?” As an older woman, whose children have left the nest, I was able to plan my ‘retirement’ from the workforce and write full time. It has not been easy, but my family is very supportive. It is much easier to keep reaching for your goal with cheerleaders on the sidelines!

Q: What do you wish you’d known before becoming published?

A  I soon realized that the money does not fall into your lap. Time is the culprit. Editors, covers, promotions all take time. Time is a reoccurring theme when it comes to royalties and, after 4 years of striving to be a published author (and two years since that first book showed up on a publisher’s website) I am seeing some money trickle in. Luckily, I have a wonderful husband who agreed I should quit my stressful job as a 911 Dispatcher to do what I love.

Q: What’s next for you?

A:  Funny you should ask. I recently volunteered at the huge New Hampshire Highland Games and attended the Georgia RWA Moonlight & Magnolias Writers Conference in Atlanta. Next week I am heading to the Stone Mountain Highland Games in Georgia. Using research, photos, and ideas from the games and from spending time with other authors, I am well on my way to writing my next book in the series, My Reluctant Highlander.

Q: Would you like to ask readers a question?

A: Yes, and I would like to offer a prize to a reader who leaves a comment with an answer to this question: “What Scottish first name do you recommend for a hero who is of Scottish descent, lives in present day New England, is very wealthy in the business world, but spends weekends competing as an athlete at Highland Games?”

The winner will have a choice of an e-book of either My Honorable Highlander or My Banished Highlander. (Please remember to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win.) One of the names may show up in the next book!

EXCERPT

Cameron smiled, and everyone clapped. He and Iona walked hand in hand to the grand table on the dais. Food and drink appeared as if by magic and a bagpiper played a gay tune. Haven and Kirk disappeared up the stairs, while Fia sat on Marcus’ lap. Her color was still too pale until Marcus dropped a gentle kiss on her lips. Her cheeks pinked, and she looked one-hundred percent better.

Iona inhaled the scent of tallow candles, roast venison, and the sweetness of cider. Her stomach was in knots, so she nibbled off their shared trencher while Cameron spoke to old Dorcas. Skye sat alone in the corner and Iona thought she probably missed sparring with Jake.

A feeling of dread hovered, a feeling she wanted to ignore. Cameron picked at his food, then rubbed his abdomen. Was he revisiting the horror when the sorcerer stabbed him? Perspiration beaded on his forehead, and his skin paled.

“Cammie, are you sick?”

“Aye, something is not right and…” His voice trailed away, and he slumped over the table. His tankard went flying and Iona jumped to her feet.

“Cammie!”

Wow what a cliffhanger, Nancy! Great excerpt!

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Thanks so much, Nancy, for being our guest today! 

Some Random Things

Today's post is a bit of bits and pieces. That's because that's how my brain is functioning right now. The truth of it is, I'm being "meeting'd" to death at work. I have meetings on top of meetings every day, and nothing ever seems to come from them except...more meetings. If you've never experienced this, I hope you never do. If you have, then I'm sure you'll understand why I seem so scattered. Okay, well, I am a flake, but now I'm even more random, if that's possible. I might be talking about War and Peace and then, without warning, just switch to

Time. There's never enough of it, it seems. As a writer with a day job, I struggle with finding writing time. I've not had much these last several months, and it's making me cranky. Sure, some of my books will be re-released shortly, but those aren't entirely new (although they are revised and updated), although I do have one brand new release coming soon. It's gotten so crazy that when my hubby asked me what I wanted for my last birthday I said writing time. Seriously. Keep the gifts. Keep the cake. Give me writing time and I'll be a happy girl. Christmas presents? Forget it. Give me a day on my computer pounding out stories, and I'm good to go. What could be better than that? I think

Computers. I've been contemplating getting a new computer for some time. Not because I want to, but because mine makes noises that range from metal grinding on metal to a singing parakeet with laryngitis. That can't be good, and since my computer is the primary tool I use to write, I think I should investigate purchasing a new one. Luckily, I just made a sale that will allow me to get something new, but I'm stymied as to which way to go. Should I go with a desktop again? I don't really think so. I'm thinking laptop. I hate the short battery life, but I treasure the mobility and the space-saving design. Should I go with a PC or try Apple? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated, so send them my way, either via comments or e-mail. They don't have to be very long. They can be

Short. That's what this blog post is, but if I don't end it here, I'll ramble on for hours about random things like visible bra straps (No!), the upcoming Presidential election (Elect Frank Drebin!), chicken salad sandwiches (Yum!), and my latest release (more next week). I hope that your autumn is going fantastically well and that you're enjoying this short respite before the holidays get into full swing.

Happy Reading!
Cameo