November 9, 2015 · 3:00 am

A Criminal Christmas – Tidbits, Favorite Lines & More… 8 Stories, 8 Authors, 99 Cents!

I am thrilled to share my latest release, a Christmas anthology with 7 other authors. Settle back and take a peek into the stories and get to know my fellow authors. And, guess what? The ENTIRE anthology is only 99 cents!

Click HERE for the Amazon/Kindle Buy Page

Click HERE for the Barnes and Noble/Nook Buy Page

Alexa Grace – Deadly Holiday

Tantalizing Tidbit:

In Deadly Holiday, all of the characters from the previous three Deadly Series books play a role. The characters return to search for a lost boy, fight breast cancer, deal with the personal financial impact of a bad economy, and seek a Christmas miracle.

Favorite lines:

“He then tiptoed to the big rocking chair where he sat and gazed with wonder at the tiny baby kicking her legs beneath the pink blankets in the bassinet next to him. With his index finger outstretched, Shawn ever so slowly stroked the velvety soft skin of her arm, and then smiled with delight when her tiny hand clutched his finger and she cooed. She was named Mylee. Her middle name was Faith, because Mom said that faith was the only thing that got her through the days he was missing. She told him that faith would get them through all the days ahead.”

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

I’m from Indiana and one year we were snowed in for the holiday and it was great. My brother, sister, and I went sledding and then had hot cocoa in front of the best electric fireplace. One of my best holiday memories.

Contact info:

You can visit my website at – http://authoralexagrace.com

Subscribe to my newsletter at – http://eepurl.com/sJ-Df

Friend me on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexaGrace

Tweet me – @AlexaGrace2

Join my street team at https://www.facebook.com/AlexaGraceStreetTeam

Ann Charles ~ The Old Man’s Back in Town

A sizzling, suspenseful SHORT STORY wrapped in a puzzling mystery that will leave you hungry for more.

Tantalizing Tidbit:

The story is set in the town of Goldwash, Nevada, which is a fictional town I created based on the real ghost town of Goldfield, Nevada.

Favorite lines:

“That woman was nuttier than a squirrel turd. Her leaving was my good fortune.”

“Well, well, well. Look what Santa brought you, Monty, a hunka-hunka burnin’ heartache. You must have been naughty this year.”

“Montana, think about what you’re up against. He’s twice your size, built up with years of prison bulk and revenge, and probably pissed as hell at the woman who helped put him behind bars.”

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

My favorite memory is making Buckeye candies (little peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate). I make them now with my kids, who eat one for every ten we dip, I swear. Ha!

Contact info:

(website) www.anncharles.com (Facebook) Ann Charles Author; (Twitter) AnnWCharles; (Pinterest) AnnWCharles

Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano ~ Holiday Justice

When the wrong Santa comes down your chimney…

Tantalizing Tidbit:

Misty’s:

The story contains viewpoints from 4 of our characters. It was fun to revisit Grey, Sydney, Caroline and Mitch all over again!

Adrienne’s:

I can hit a bullseye from 220 yards with a .308 sniper rifle.

Favorite lines:

Misty’s:

A clang behind them made Mitch whirl, ready to jump on whoever was coming up the fire escape. A second later, Sydney’s head popped up over the roof edge.“What the hell are you two doing?”

And that’s when an idea—a terrible, awful idea—formed in Mitch’s head.

Adrienne’s:

His eyes narrowed, and even through the cold, she spotted the simmering heat that always charged her body, made her tingle with anticipation because their love of cupcakes didn’t necessarily include eating them. The things they did with cupcakes should, in fact, be illegal.

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

Misty’s:

Watching Christmas movies. I love all of them from White Christmas to The Grinch!

Adrienne’s:

Spending Christmas Eve with my extended family. We do a variation of the Feast of the Seven Fishes and I look forward to it every year.

Contact info:

Misty:

website: http://www.readmistyevans.com

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

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

Adrienne:

To sign up for Adrienne’s newsletter or for more information on Adrienne’s books please visit: http://adriennegiordano.com. Adrienne can also be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AdrienneGiordanoAuthor, Twitter at http://twitter.com/AdriennGiordano and Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/AdrienneGiordano. For information on Adrienne’s street team, Dangerous Darlings, go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/dangerousdarlings.

Kim Hornsby ~ Christmas Interrupted (Dream Jumper Christmas)

How well do you know your neighbors?

Tantalizing Tidbit:

Christmas Interrupted is a Stand Alone Novella but continues from the last Dream Jumper book (if you’ve read the series.) I did not give away much of anything so readers can go back to the first book, read the series and still enjoy all the twists and surprises in all three books. And I included a recipe for Christmas cookies!

Favorite lines:

“I heard the woman jumped off the widow’s walk to her death and soon after the husband and kids moved away.”

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

Christmas Caroling! I love to get a group of kids together to go door to door singing.

Contact info:

www.twitter.com/kimhornsby www.facebook.com/kimhornsbyauthor

www.kimhornsbyauthor.net

Jacki Delecki ~ Marriage Under Fire

A Christmas Wedding with the Grayce Walters Mystery Gang!

Tantalizing Tidbit:

The house where Maddy and Hunter are on a stake out is a friend’s house.

Favorite lines:

“No way would Maddy Jeffers admit, even under the threat of torture, that her killer shoes were killing her.”

He was a professional soldier, a top-notch intelligence officer, and the idea of a wife—not any wife, but Maddy—terrified him. This assignment made Belarus and Yemen seem like child’s play.

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

Singing Christmas Carols, baking Christmas cookies with my mom.

Contact info:

www.jackidelecki.com

FB: Jacki Delecki Twitter-@jackidelecki

Lori Leger ~ Christmas 911

Last minute Christmas shopping can be downright deadly!

Tantalizing Tidbit:

I, personally, have never had to call 911, or known anyone who’s been a 911 dispatcher, but I found plenty of information on different sites. The story takes place in Beaumont, TX, so I was able to pull up info from their area. My son-in-law is a cop, so he helped me out with the info for the weapons and ammo, and even whether or not a gunshot would shatter or fracture the door glass. I also had inside info from a dear friend who works at the courthouse in Beaumont to know at what point the bad guys could help a prisoner escape. She told me they had one prisoner appear at the courthouse and he nearly escaped by putting a ham sandwich between his skin and the ‘shock belt’ they place around their waist (like a taser) so that it didn’t shock him when he went to escape. He jumped down some stairs and hurt his leg, so they caught him.

Favorite lines:

(Scene set-up) 8 1/2 month pregnant Cori, is telling Luke, the 911 dispatcher, how her husband had left her for another woman because Cori couldn’t have children. Her husband wrapped his car around a tree while his girlfriend was giving him oral sex. “Yeah. Here’s a tad more irony for you. There he was, wanting to procreate, but his last DNA ends up . . . well, one can only assume where it ended up, I guess.”

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

I rent two cabins on a lake about an hour from our home and our family spends the weekend there, usually two weeks or so before Christmas. This will be the first time in seven years we don’t do that…and I’m kind of bummed about it. 😦

Contact info:

Twitter: @LoriLegerAuthor FB: llegerauthor , lorilegerauthor, cajunflairpublishing Blogspot Blog: lorilegerauthor.blogspot.com WordPress Blog: cajunflair.wordpress.com Website: www.LoriLegerAuthor.com

Alicia Dean ~ The Twelfth Day

Tantalizing Tidbit(s):

-I wrote this entire story in a weekend and revised it in a few days, along with working my day job and other projects.

-My ex-husband and son helped me with a research question.

-My model for the hero was James Marsden and for the heroine Kate Beckinsale.

-My heroine loves science and dislikes football, which is the exact opposite of me.

Favorite lines:

A ping sent icy chills over her skin. The familiar, terrifying music played and the words, On the eighth day of Christmas appeared. Along with an image of a figure—a young man, blank eyes staring at the ceiling—lying in a dim room.

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

I have lots of great memories from my childhood, but my favorite memory/tradition is with my own three children. Even though they are grown and don’t live with me, every year on Christmas Eve, the three of them spend the night with me and we wake up the next morning and open gifts and the stockings ‘Santa’ filled during the night. Even the three years I lived away in Kansas City, we managed to keep the tradition. I know that will end when they have families of their own, but in the meantime, I’ll just enjoy and appreciate it.

Amara Draska ~ The Way Evil Does

A story about right, wrong, and what you can’t stop yourself from doing.

Tantalizing Tidbit:

My POV character, Rebecca, is a departure from the norm. She has inner demons to contend with and makes different choices than many of us would. Before this was published I considered modifying her character to conform to the expectations most readers have for a female lead, but it bothered me to see her changing into someone else. In the end, I stuck to my original vision of Rebecca with her kind heart, quirks, awkwardness and bad behavior.

Favorite lines:

And even though he was gagged, the part of his mouth that was still visible showed a smile. He was grinning the way evil does when it knows it has you.

It felt so damned good to be with him, but at the same time it also felt sick and wrong, and much like the contrary mixture of sweet and sour in Chinese food, it was delicious as hell. God help me.

He had gotten under my skin, turning frigid on me after my remark about his desperate, delusional horseshit. In retrospect, that had been the wrong approach to take with him.

Favorite Christmas memory or tradition:

We always make snowball cookies (proper name: Russian Teacakes). It just wouldn’t be Christmas without them.

Contact info:

Website: Amaradraska.com

Twitter: @amaradraska

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Amara-Draska-548417351945912/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

8 Comments

Filed under Author Blog Post, New Release

Tagged as 911 dispatchers, 99 Cents, 99¢, Adrienne Giordano, Alicia Dean, Ann Charles, Christmas romance, erotic, FBI romance series, Groundhog Day, Holiday Justice, holiday novella, holiday stories, Jackrabbit Junction, Justice Team series, Military romance, Misty Evans., murder, Mystery, new release, paranormal, Psychological, romantic suspense, Romantic suspense series, Seattle, Short Mystery, suspense, The Justice Team Series, Twelve Days of Christmas

November 6, 2015 · 7:59 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 66 – Late Halloween Story and Elvis’ Scottish Ancestry

[INTRO: I am a die hard, card carrying Elvis fan and have been for as long as I can remember. There is so much about Elvis to love; his incredible singing voice, his generous spirit, his looks (the most gorgeous man ever), his movies (yes, his movies. They make me happy, so critics can just shush), his service in the army, his magical presence on stage, his transcendent charisma, and…I could go on and on. As a matter of fact, on my 50th post, I believe it was, I DID go on and on. I listed 50 things I love about Elvis. It wasn’t difficult. I am an author and I mention Elvis in almost every story I write. I named my son Presley. I was fortunate to see Elvis in concert three times. I have been to Graceland five times… See? I love Elvis. I have been blogging weekly for more than a year, but going forward, I will blog every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. My life is insanely busy and I found myself missing weeks from time to time. This way, I’m more likely to be consistent. Hopefully, even if you are not an Elvis fan, you appreciate something about him and will find my posts interesting. Feel free to comment. Thank you so much for stopping by!]

Today’s post:

This will be brief. I wanted to post it last Friday, but did not. So, please bear with me on my ‘Halloween’ themed post.

On Elvis radio, I heard a story of a couple who visited Scotland and had a strange encounter. The story goes like this…

On a trip to Scotland, Tony and Agnes went to a pub where they drank until three in the morning. They staggered out and headed to the place they were staying, but they lost their way and ended up in the countryside. They headed down a dirt path, guided by a full moon. After they walked for what seemed like hours, Tony noticed a flickering fire in the distance. When they reached the fire, they discovered a barn. Loud hammering and banging came from inside. They stepped into the doorway and discovered it was actually a blacksmith shop. A man stood with his back to them, hammering away on a glowing orange horseshoe on an anvil, unaware of Tony’s and Agnes’ presence. Tony called out to him, and the blacksmith turned. The couple thought he looked familiar, perhaps an actor… But the black hair and sideburns suddenly registered…Elvis Presley. The blacksmith wiped his brow and spoke in such a thick Scottish accent that even Agnes, who was Scottish, couldn’t understand him. He wielded the hammer and glared at them. Freaked out, they hurried on their way, making note of where the shop was located so they could return the next day, in the safety of daylight. The next morning, they returned to the spot and there was nothing there, no barn, no blacksmith, no fire…only rocks, dirt, and grass. They learned that other people had seen this ghostly blacksmith and his forge.

In 1973, an American publication called Weekend Magazine printed the story. Elvis read it and loved it, he thought it was fantastic. He learned that his ancestral home was Lonmay, a remote Scottish hamlet in Aberdeenshire, and that a blacksmith named Andrew Presley lived there. Andrew married Elspeth Leg in Lonmay in 1713. Their son, Andrew arrived in North Carolina in 1745.

How spooky-cool is that? And, as if Elvis weren’t sexy enough already, his ancestry is Scottish. Here is a timeline of his roots:

This past Halloween, Elvis radio took votes on the ‘spookiest’ Elvis songs and held a countdown to number one, which was Edge of Reality from the movie, Live a Little, Love a Little. I’ll have to say, this song/performance kind of freaked me out as a child. Check it out…

Fun stuff, right? Did you know about Elvis’ Scottish ancestry?

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EOLS Charity

Elvis was known for his giving heart and charitable work during his lifetime. Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Enterprises have continued that tradition with their involvement in various charities. In 1984, The Elvis Charitable Foundation was formed. The EPCF created a scholarship fund for students majoring in the arts. The charity also contributes to one of Elvis’ favorite charities, Goodwill Homes, a Memphis facility that provides counseling and services for abused children and their families. The EPCF also assists numerous other charities, especially focusing on arts, education and children’s programs.

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.

All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

6 Comments

Filed under Elvis Presley, Entertainment

Tagged as Alicia Dean, Amazon, Beale Street, Edge of Reality, Elvis fan, Elvis Presley, Elvis Scottish Ancestry, Graceland, Halloween, Kindle, Live a Little Love a Little, Memphis, Rock and Roll

November 4, 2015 · 10:08 am

Tuesday Two-Minute Writing Tip – Building Character – Now I need YOUR help….

Got two minutes? Then check out this week’s quick tip:

(My apologies, I didn’t get this published yesterday (Tuesday), so this will be a ‘Wednesday Two-Minute Tip. 🙂

Hello and welcome…I am a freelance editor and an editor for The Wild Rose Press, as well as an author. I often struggle with my own writing, and I have found that sometimes, a little reminder of ways to improve the process can be helpful, so, I like to share these moments of brilliance with others :). But, in this busy world of ours, who has time for pages and pages of writing tips? That’s why I’ve condensed mine down to quick flashes you can read in (approximately) two minutes. Enjoy…

Disclaimer: All of my tips are suggestions, and are only my opinion. And, for the most part, there are exceptions when going against my advice will make your story read better. Take what works, leave the rest.

I am afraid that, rather than being a character driven writer, I am a plot driven writer. The ultimate goal is to be both, to create realistic, sympathetic characters readers connect with, and a plot that showcases them, helps them grow, and keeps readers intrigued. I am SO not there yet. But, I am always trying to learn, trying to improve. When I set out to write a book, I think of something awful that could happen, then I come up with a character to fit the scenario by asking myself, what kind of person would this be the most devastating to?

For my upcoming WIPs, I am determined to create rich, compelling, realistic characters readers can connect to and want to get to know. I’m asking for your help. What characters, in tv, books, movies, have really stuck with you and why? What qualities make you connect to fictional characters? I have been thinking about this recently, and considering some of the characters I have loved the most. Using television, here are some examples of the qualities I admire and why I love these characters:

Leslie Nope – Parks and Recreation – She is a very good friend. She works hard, and she’s passionate about her town and her job. All her life, she has had the same dream, to be in politics. Her flaws are that she’s a bit controlling and sometimes a bit neurotic. One of her good qualities, her integrity, is also a flaw. She sometimes goes too far in doing the right thing, confessing her mistakes, etc.

Raylan Givens – Justified – First of all, he’s yummmyyyy. But that’s not really his most compelling trait (or is it…? 🙂 ). Raylan is very good at his job, but he makes mistakes. He is tough, but sometimes he gets his ass kicked. He respects the law and abides by it, most of the time. In order to see justice done, he’s bent the law a few times, even broken it. He’s risen above his poor and troubled childhood and become successful, yet he hasn’t forgotten his roots, and that the hill people in Kentucky are his people. He’s protective of them, but polices them at the same time. He’s cool, but not in an over the top way with cockiness and cheesy lines.

Gemma Teller – Sons of Anarchy – People think I’m nuts, but Gemma is my favorite character. She’s tough, but loving. She loves her family beyond all else, and will do whatever it takes to protect them. In the world of Samcro, the ‘whatever’ is more extreme than most of us regular folk can imagine.

Dexter Morgan – Dexter – Sigh…. My favorite character of all-time. And he’s a serial killer. But, he’s a serial killer who kills other killers. Admirable, right? And he does it in such a cool, creepy way. I adore Dexter and miss him sooo much. He is an intriguing, sympathetic character, even though, especially early on, he can’t feel emotion. It’s fascinating to watch him attempt to get along in the ‘normal’ world and fake emotion, all the while being privy to his true, inner thoughts and demons. Dexter’s most admirable qualities are that, even though he is a killer, he has a code he lives by, and he follows that code to the letter (for the most part…), he’s very, very clever, he’s good at what he does (hmmm, this seems to be a recurring theme in my admiration for characters), he’s loyal and although he only loves a few people, he loves them deeply and will do anything to protect them, even from himself. Oh yes, and he’s very creepy and very sexy.

So…now that I know what I love about certain characters, the challenge is creating a character that others will feel that way about. But, I’m at a bit of a loss as to how to do that. I am challenging myself to learn and work hard and figure it out. Does anyone out there have tips for me? What characters do you admire and why? What are some things you do, as a writer, to create memorable, sympathetic characters?

Until next time…happy writing!

*** If you would like to send me a few sample pages (around 7500 words or so, even though I will not edit that many on the blog. It just gives me more to choose from) for me to edit and share on an upcoming blog post, please do so in the body of an email to AliciaMDean@aol.com. Please use the subject line: “Blog Submission” This is for published or unpublished authors. In the email, please include whether you would like me to use your name or keep it anonymous, and whether or not you would like me to include any contact info or buy info for your books. Also, you can let me know if you would like for me to run my edits by you before posting on the blog. Please keep in mind, this is for samples to use for blog posts. I will not edit or use samples from all the submissions I receive, but I will use as many as possible.

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How to write a novel? That is the question. There are probably as many answers to that question as there are people who ask it.

Wanting to write and actually doing it are two very different things. I am well acquainted with the sometimes grueling process of churning out a story. Over the years, I have tried many methods for creating and completing manuscripts, and have tweaked and honed it down to a workable (for me) process.

Using specific examples from one of my own novels, Without Mercy, I share my method in this mini how to book. The first eight steps actually deal with plotting while the last two are designed to help expand your outline into a well-developed draft. There is no one, perfect way to create a story, but there will be a method, or methods that work for you. I’m not sure if this is the one, but it works for me. Only you can decide if it also works for you. Fingers crossed that it does!

*** Warning – Please do not purchase without reading a sample. (This is solid advice for any book, fiction or non. If you are not intrigued in the sample, you will likely not enjoy the book)

Amazon: Click Here

18 Comments

Filed under For Writers, Tips from an Editor

Tagged as #2MinTuesTip, Amazon, Creating Character, Dexter, Editing advice, Fiction Writing, Free, Freelance editor, Gemma Teller, How to Plot, Justified, Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, Leslie Nope, Parks and Recreation, Plotting tips, Quickand easy writing tip, Raylan Givens, Sample Edits, Sons of Anarchy, Two minute Tip, Varying sentence structure, Writing fiction, Writing tips

October 23, 2015 · 11:09 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 65 – Elvis Refurbished with the Philharmonic Orchestra

(Sorry I missed last week. The past few weeks have been insane. It’s the first week I’ve missed in the more than a year since I started this weekly blog. I didn’t even do a re-post :()

A new Elvis album is releasing October 30th with several of his recordings reworked to include the Philharmonic Orchestra. I have mixed feelings about this, but for the most part, I don’t enjoy it. I was going to blog on another Elvis related topic, but when I got into my car this morning and turned on Elvis Radio, Priscilla was a guest DJ and they were playing tracks from the soon to be released ‘If I can Dream.’

Before I knew that’s what the program was about, the first thing I heard was the last part of ‘In the Ghetto,’ except something was a little off. It didn’t hit my ear right. For one, the song ended with female back up singers singing several repetitions of the words in the ghetto. I didn’t care for it, and I knew that wasn’t they original version. Then, I understood when I heard Priscilla and the regular DJ, Argo, explain that it was a track from this new release.

Don’t get me wrong, some of the songs are great, although I can’t say they’re an improvement, not by any means. As I’ve mentioned before, Elvis had a knack, an ear for arrangements and he knew how to make his music the best it can be. The Philharmonic Orchestra is phenomenal, no doubt about it, but Elvis music is ALREADY the best it can be. They just aren’t needed. Elvis loved the Joe Guercio orchestra, and he hired them to play for him. If they were good enough for him, they are good enough for me.

I would have liked to listen to the entire show, but was unable to. I think it’s repeating at 9 p.m. this evening, but not sure if I’ll be able to hear it then. I will have to say, I did enjoy Priscilla’s comments when she introduced ‘Steamroller Blues.’ She said Elvis’ performance of the song was sexy, sex appeal, sexy, sexy. She said he was ‘naughty’ all the way through. (I paraphrase, but that was the gist). She sounded almost giddy. 🙂 See, he has that kind of impact, even over his ex-wife after all these years.

Here are a few samplings from the album. In this one, ‘What Now, My Love,’ to me the orchestra drowns out his voice:

This is ‘You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling’ and here, they are not as intrusive as they are on some. Just look at that sexy performance, though. I love the way it starts out with Elvis’ back to the audience…

Here is a complete list of the tracks:

Disc: 1
1. Burning Love
2. It s Now Or Never
3. Love Me Tender
4. Fever (Duet With Michael Buble)
5. Bridge Over Troubled Water
6. And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind
7. You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
Disc: 2
1. There’s Always Me
2. Can’t Help Falling In Love
3. In the Ghetto
4. How Great Thou Art
5. Steamroller Blues
6. An American Trilogy
7. If I Can Dream

All in all, while I love that the world is keeping Elvis’ music alive and going strong, although actually, the music itself could do that, I wish they would remaster his original versions simply by using whatever new technology they have for sharper, clearer sounds, but leave them unaltered. After all, why try to improve on perfection?

What do you think? Am I over-protective and way off base, or do you agree? 🙂

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EOLS Charity

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

1 Comment

Filed under Elvis Presley, Entertainment

Tagged as Alicia Dean, Amazon, Beale Street, Elvis fan, Elvis playing bass, Elvis playing drums, Elvis playing guitar, Elvis playing piano, Elvis Presley, Graceland, If I Can Dream, Jailhouse Rock, Joe Guercio, Kindle, Memphis, Phil Harmonic Orchestra, Rock and Roll

October 21, 2015 · 11:34 am

Devil’s Eyes – Michael Myers, a Romance Hero?

Our OKRWA Chapter held a ‘Romancing the Monster’ contest where we could write a no more than 500 word scene involving some kind of monster or horror character. It had to involve romance, or at least an attraction and absolutely could not be more than 500 words, which is a bit tricky to pull off. It had to be a specific character, not just a werewolf or vampire, etc. Well…as twisted as it may be, I’ve always felt that Michael Myers of Halloween fame was kind of sexy. (I know, I know, I SAID it was twisted). So, I chose him to feature in my contribution to the contest. I coordinated the contest, so I made myself ineligible to place, even though the judges didn’t know which story was mine, or that I’d even contributed a story. I just couldn’t resist the fun of writing and submitting. 🙂

In the spirit of the season, I’m sharing my mini-scene here. If you’ve seen the movies, even just the first one, you’ll ‘get’ a lot of the references.

I’m going to check with the other entrants and see if they object to my sharing their stories as well. Stay tuned…(of course, you all want to know the winners, right?)

Devil’s Eyes

Haddonfield, IL 1992, Halloween Night

Brisk October wind bit into Doctor Phoebe Loomis’s flesh beneath her thin jacket. Dry leaves skittered down the sidewalk, sounding like cracking bones.

In the aftermath of the murders, the darkened neighborhood was silent. Along the street, houses were adorned with witches, goblins, and grotesquely smiling jack-o-lanterns. One particularly creative individual had transformed his yard into a cemetery, complete with headstones and an open grave with a ‘corpse’ lying next to it.

Red and blue strobe lights painted the faces of the officers leading the killer from the house. Michael Myers, wearing charcoal-gray coveralls and a blood-sprinkled white mask, towered above the two men.

Her pulse skipped, and she took a deep breath to still her racing heart. What was wrong with her? How could she be attracted to a…monster? Tonight, he’d killed five teenagers who’d been partying in his childhood home—thrill seekers, fascinated by the legend of Michael Myers. He’d taken countless lives since his escape from Smith’s Grove Sanitarium in 1978, where he’d been incarcerated for fifteen years after he murdered his teen sister, Judith, on Halloween—at six years old.

After her uncle’s death last year, Phoebe took over his psychiatry practice. Daily, she’d devoured Michael’s file. Yes, Michael had committed atrocities. But atrocities had been committed against him too. A relative told of how Judith abused him. All these years, he’d been killing his sister over and over. His tormented soul cried out to Phoebe. She couldn’t explain it any more than she could explain sunrises. They simply were.

Tomorrow, she would meet with a man who murdered without conscience. And tonight, like many others, she would dream of his touch, his kiss…

She grimaced. If the authorities knew of her twisted fascination with Michael Myers, not only would they not let her near him, they’d lock her up as well.

****

The interrogation room door opened and Phoebe snapped her head up. Michael—sans mask, wearing an orange jumpsuit, hands and feet shackled—stepped inside. His eyes—her uncle called them Devil’s eyes—were black as a midnight sky. But unlike her uncle, she saw more than a soulless killing machine in their depths.

Michael eyed her warily and dropped into a chair. He was handsomer than she expected. Dark, tousled hair and, other than a jagged scar running along his rugged jawline, he was…beautiful

She offered a tentative smile. “I’m Sam Loomis’ niece, Phoebe.”

He rested his shackled hands on the tabletop. His dark gaze, so intent it stole her breath, locked onto her face. Tingles skated over her skin and she glanced away.

When his touch landed on her hand, she jerked her head up. Michael’s firm lips had softened—not quite a smile, but something…pleasant.

“Phoebe…” His gravelly voice sent shivers along her flesh. “I’ll tell you my story.” Relief surfaced in his ebony eyes. “Then maybe, I’ll find peace.”

She clasped her fingers around his and nodded, smiling through tears. “I’m here for you. As long as you need me.”

7 Comments

Filed under Author Blog Post, Entertainment, For Writers

Tagged as Halloween, Michael Myers, OKRWA, Romancing the Monster

October 17, 2015 · 7:21 pm

Mysteries of the Macabre Halloween Anthology – 6 Authors Share Fun Facts & Favorite Lines

I’m happy to introduce my fellow anthology authors. I’ve enjoyed getting to know these ladies (although I already knew Leah), and I had a blast working with them on this collection. Sit back and enjoy as they share a fun fact and some of their favorite lines from their stories…

6 unique stories by 6 authors…

Available here: (Click on the ink to be taken to the buy pages)

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

And now, the stories… (In order of how they appear in the anthology)

SCARRED ~ Alicia Dean

Blurb:

Sometimes, the most haunting scars are the ones beneath the skin.

When Natalie Jayne moved away from her home town ten years earlier, she left behind painful memories, along with Simon, the man she loved. Now, she’s back on Halloween night to attend a memorial marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic passing of her childhood friend, Jessica. Rumors that Simon was responsible for Jessica’s death unnerve her. Even more disturbing is her unsettling attraction to a masked stranger she meets at the event. Her gift may be the key to unlocking the truth, but will it also lead to heartbreak?

Fun fact:

‘Scarred’ was first written as part of a blog post where each member of my OKRWA writing group contributed a scene to create a story. One of the characters in the story was Cupid’s ghost. My hero, Simon’s, original transgression was that he had murdered Cupid in a blind rage. And that was how she became a ghost. 🙂 In the course of the story, he atoned for his sin.

Favorite Lines:

As the lies fell from his lips, Simon’s chest felt as though it would cave in under the weight of Natalie’s pain. She looked so stricken, so disappointed. He steeled his resolve. Better to disappoint her now than to destroy her later.

What I’m working on now:

A Christmas romantic suspense as part of the Criminal Christmas Anthology (I must really like anthologies…)

GRANDMA’S WAY ~ Elvy Howard

Blurb

Generations of greed culminate in a young girl.

Fifteen-year-old Caroline only wants to go to the Halloween Dance, and only one person stands in her way, Momma, who forces her to sort and pack her dead grandmother’s belongings instead. Discovering a shocking secret of Grandma’s brings Caroline new hope, or will salvation lead to her downfall?

Fun Fact:

Caroline’s story began as a flash-fiction exercise where an item was presented as a prompt. I worked like the devil to get an entire story in under a thousand

words, but accomplished the feat and enjoyed trying something new. Fleshing out those five-hundred words into a short story was great fun. There was so much to learn about Caroline, Momma, and poor, dead, Grandma.

Favorite lines:

“I think the reason I can’t focus on geometry is because I’m still so sad.”

“Get off your soapbox, Caroline. It’s not going to work.”

Caroline figured she’d probably played out the dead Grandma card, and wished she hadn’t.

What I’m working on now:

My latest novel is about a newly-wed teenager posing as an adult in 1953, traveling with her husband from where he had been an Air Force instructor in Mesa, Arizona, to Lexington, Virginia, his home town. It’s my first attempt writing something not based in what I call the nebulous now, and I’m enjoying it. I’ve located some people even older than me, who were teenagers in the early fifties. They have been a wonderful resource for all sorts of background information.

Contact

Blog – ElvyHoward.com

Email – contact@elvyhoward.com

BLOOD MOON ~ Leah St. James

Blurb

Is Ronnie’s imagination playing tricks on her, or has the Harvest Moon Slasher been reborn?

One Halloween night, a killer terrorized a strip of Virginia beachfront, murdering a dozen young women whose only crime was walking the beach with a boyfriend. Now, fifty years later, book reviewer Ronnie can’t shake the feeling that another has come to take his place.

Is it nothing more than her vivid imagination running wild, or are the spirits stirring, warning of approaching danger?

Fun Fact:

I’ve always been fascinated with full moons, maybe since watching old werewolf movies as a kid. The “blood moon,” caused by a total eclipse of the moon, is also the subject of a prophecy that its occurrence is the sign of the end times. I’d love to explore that in a story some day.

http://www.endtime.com/four-blood-moons/?gclid=CIzZ25fYpsgCFQFsfgoddSIKuw

Favorite lines:

“On the beach, two lovers kissed. Behind them, the moon—hanging giant and hazy red in the sky—dripped feathery tendrils into the sea, painting crimson tips on the dancing waves.”

What are you currently working on?

Currently I’m finishing up the sequel to my first novel (“Surrender to Sanctuary”). It’s called “Sanctuary’s Promise,” and it picks up the story of FBI agents David Owens and Anna Parker who (in book one) went undercover in a secret society to solve a murder. They’re back in hot water, only this time it’s even closer to home.

Contact:
Website: LeahStJames.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeahStJames?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeahStJames

THREE, AFTER MIDNIGHT ~ Alexa Day

Blurb:

Deirdre lost her husband, Cameron, one long-ago Halloween night, but every Halloween night brings the chance to get him back. She just needs to find a man willing to … get between them. Trip seems like a perfect choice. With his hard body and open mind, surely he won’t mind letting Cam borrow him for a night. If he’s into it, they’re in for one mind-blowing reunion. But if he resists, will Cam’s spirit be strong enough to protect her from the man she chose for him?

Fun Fact:

Readers have asked Alexa about the relationship between Cam and Deidre–wondering if there’s a future for the two lovers. The first time she got the question she smiled to herself and thought, Deidre already has a pretty sweet deal!

Leah chose her favorite line from Alexa’s story:

He’d loved her like a stranger who hoped to see her again, or at least one who hoped to be remembered fondly in girls’ night gossip.

What are you currently working on?

Sci-fi erotica.

THE TIMESHARE TRIP ~ Renci Denham

Blurb:

How many of the Seven Deadly Sins can Crystal and Roy commit in one seven-day cruise?

Crystal and Roy never thought they could afford an all-inclusive seven-day trip to the tropics. After all, canned chili dinners and a wine cooler at the quick mart were the highlights of life in the trailer park. So what if the trip Crystal won required a time share presentation? It’s not like their credit would pass anyway. But is the resort everything the web page on the computer said it would be?

Fun Fact:

This was 10 years of HARD work!!!!!

Favorite lines:

“Well, that’s five bucks too much. I could have made you one out of duct tape.”

“Oh, it’s a surprise, too. I’m telling you though, it will make every woman there want to jump my bones.”

”Costa Rico. That’s part of Mexico, right?

What are you currently working on?

“The Crown of Nebuchadnezzar” and my dissertation

Contact:

Find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/renci.denham?fref=ts

THE FARM STRAY ~ Rohn Federbush

Blurb:

The discovery of an abandoned farm in the Michigan countryside triggers a vision of the farmer’s past—or is it more?

A young couple exploring the Michigan countryside stumble upon an abandoned farm. Drawn by its forlorn appearance, they explore. Eventually they’re chased away by the irate farmer, but not before the wife becomes intrigued by a weird kitchen latch at the back door, an elephant-headed rocking horse, and a rusting iron ring the size of her palm.

Back home, she’s pulled into memories she shouldn’t have. Did the farm’s spirits lure her into theirs, or did the old farm merely trigger her own?

Fun Fact:

My husband loves being part of the real story.

Favorite lines:

(I believe) The……… earth-bound soul used by eyes to capture relevant photographs of her home.

What are you currently working on?

The contrasting future of young people in small towns or big cities is explored in my newest Novella “Hastings Dead.”

Contact:

Website: http://www.rohnfederbush.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohnfederbush

19 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as Amazon, Anthology, Barnes and Noble, Blood Moon, erotic, Ghost hunter's find, Ghosts, gothic romance, greed, Halloween, Kindle, Legacies, Naughty and Shocking, Romance, satire, serial killers, survival, suspense, True Crime

October 12, 2015 · 11:17 am

Ten Moments that Changed My Life by Andrea Downing – And her Western Historical Romance, Loveland

Please help me welcome Andrea Downing, who is sharing a Wild Rose Press Western Historical Romance and 10 moments that changed her life…

TEN MOMENTS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

28 Comments

Filed under 10 Moments that Changed My Life, Author Blog Post

Tagged as Cowboys, western historical romance, Wild Rose Press

October 10, 2015 · 8:56 am

8 Alicia Dean Wild Rose Press Ebooks – 99 Cents Each!!!

Author Alicia Dean

End of Lonely Street ~

“…In this short story Alicia Dean captures what it feels like to be a fan of Elvis while also giving you a well written romance…” ~ Amazon Review

Click here to purchase from Amazon

Click here to purchase from Barnes and Noble

Caster’s Unfriendly Ghost ~

“…a delightful story full of wit and poignancy…” ~ Amazon Review

Click here to purchase from Amazon

Click here to purchase from Barnes and Noble

A Knight Before Christmas ~

…With mystery, suspense, a few surprises, and a lot of love–both familial and romantic–A Knight Before Christmas captivates… ~ Long and Short Romance Reviews

Click here to purchase from Amazon

Click here to purchase from Barnes and Noble

Truly Madly ~

…this one had all the elements of suspense that kept me guessing, as well as reading, until the very end… ~ Amazon Review

Click here to purchase from Amazon

Click…

View original post 178 more words

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 64 – Elvis and His Instruments

While Elvis was not known for being a musician, he actually could play a few instruments. Of course, he did not need that talent. His phenomenal voice, charisma, stage presence, and incredible knack for entertaining were plenty. Not to mention his acting and his talent for producing. (He had a big part in producing his music and had an ear for picking out the perfect songs)

Some Elvis instrument facts…

In the recordings for the movie, Jailhouse Rock, when Elvis sang ‘Baby I Don’t Care,’ he was the one playing electric bass. Bill Black played only the upright bass and didn’t feel comfortable yet with the electric.

Elvis only knew a few guitar lead licks, but he played a unique rhythm guitar. He had so much rhythm in his body, and it transferred to his hands when he played guitar. His special brand of rhythm guitar can be heard on songs like Blue Christmas, One Night, and Reconsider Baby. He did play a little bit of lead in the ’68 special. Johnny Cash once said that Elvis didn’t really know a lot about the technique of guitar playing, but he was great and Johnny could ‘listen to Elvis play rhythm guitar all day long.’

(Black leather and a sweaty chest…oh my…)

One very unique guitar skill that Elvis displayed was when he would turn it over and slap the back of it, almost like a drum or bongo sound. He did this in the recordings of “Wear My Ring Around Your Neck,” “Treat Me Nice,” and it can really be heard in “Don’t Be Cruel.” (video of the recording below)

He also could play the piano quite well.

Finally, a very little known fact, while this was one area that Elvis definitely did not excel, he played a little drums.

Elvis and Dolores Hart from “Loving You” playing a few drum licks

Elvis and Boots Randolph

Of course, when you sing, dance, and look like he did, and have the star power he had, those other skills are not necessary. They’re just icing on the cake for a man who was the whole incredible, amazing, delightful package. 🙂

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

EOLS Charity

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

END OF LONELY STREET – Now Only 99 Cents!

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Click Here for Kindle

Click Here for Nook

10 Moments that Changed Maureen Bonatch’s Life – And her new release, Grandma Must Die

I love the title and premise of this story. Can’t wait to read it. I also love the answers to Maureen’s ’10 Moments that Changed My Life.’ Check it out… (and isn’t it an adorable cover?)

Grandma Must Die

A Touch of Magic Series Volume 1

Maureen L. Bonatch

She’s a witch hunting a spell. He’s hunting witches and falling for her.

Blurb:

Carman has worn out more towns and last names than impractical shoes protecting the secret of her magic blood. But when a friend goes missing, and another is infected with a deadly spell, Carman must choose. Expose her magic blood by curing the spell—or stop the infection from spreading by killing the source…the grandmother.

Magic bounty hunter Dylan has scoured libraries of banned magic paraphernalia seeking a method to distinguish genuine witches from impersonators. He suspects unorthodox librarian Carman might hold this information tighter than the hair he’s dying to unleash from her bun. With a past as hidden as his sleeve of tattoos, Dylan discovers he’s been used to gain Carman’s trust and their passion risks more than mixing mortals and magic.

Excerpt

…once she’d started Carman couldn’t stop,

the book beckoned. Pressing its spine against her palm, begging her to search within the pages to find the answers she’d unconsciously sought her entire life. As she lifted the book, her scalp tingled and her hair elevated like a halo.

“Whoa.” Dylan shielded himself with his hands. “Put it back, slowly, because this is reminding me too much of the incident with the chest. Having my apartment blown up from magic isn’t covered in my rent.”

The plastic evaporated in a puff of smoke in Carman’s hands and the book unsealed with a sigh. She smiled, the welcoming warmth emanating from within its pages against her palms. Why had Mother kept her from this? This is what she’d been waiting for.

As curiosity overtook his common sense, she detected Dylan’s cautious approach. He stood close enough to peer over her shoulder into her book, but far enough away to avoid touching her.

After the shockwave the last time their skin met, he probably worried he’d ruin another pair of pants. Carman closed her eyes, absorbing the power from the book. The delicious feeling evoked a sensation like melting chocolate, sweet and satisfying.

“I remember hearing about her, Esmeralda Wrath. I wonder if this was her book?” Dylan’s warm breath caressed her shoulder.

Carman opened her eyes and examined the page. To stare right at a photo of the most powerful witch of all time…her grandmother.

Ten Moments that Changed My Life

This was a challenging task. I could easily rattle off events occurring in my lifetime that rocked the world. I could dissect the many moments in my writing career that devastated or inspired me. Instead I chose to reflect upon little things that changed me and/or my outlook on the world.

The first time I wore my contacts in junior high. Until then I’d assumed everyone saw the world the way I did. I had no idea how much I’d been missing. I discovered many things I’d assumed looked one way, actually looked very different. I walked around, mouth agape; staring at the world I’d only seen in a blur since I’d refused to wear the thick, black-framed dorky glasses.
When I submitted my first essay in junior high. I was certain the teacher would love it and encourage me to devote my life to writing. She didn’t, and she wasn’t good at providing the encouragement I needed at that age.
Using my first word processor. If anyone else remembers correction tape and a manual typewriter then you can certainly understand my glee.
The introduction of mixed CD’s and ITunes: I love music and my IPod is set to shuffle all the time. To have the ability to choose songs without buying the whole CD or holding a tape player to the speaker (which the DJ always interrupted the song!) was exhilarating.
The day I got married. A few weeks after it set in that I wasn’t playing house. This was now my home, and along with all the fun, came the responsibilities.
Receiving my Masters degree. I hadn’t planned on college. I took business courses in high school. Earning a postgraduate degree made me realize I could achieve most anything I set my mind to.
My first back injury. Made me realize I am not invincible and that health isn’t something to be taken for granted. Nor is the ability to roll over on your own. 😉
The sonogram for my twins. Five months into the pregnancy of what we’d thought was a single child we discovered I was carrying twins. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
9/11. Not only because of the changes and fear it brought to the world, but also because my twins weren’t quite 2 weeks old. I feared what kind of world I’d brought them into. Also, it is my birthday and until this happened, no one apologized for my being born that day before.
Being a parent. My life changed from the day I became pregnant and continues to change in a million different ways each year. The joys and frustrations make me question my competency for this role some days and reveal in the unexpected rewards on others.

So tell me, what little thing changed your life in a big way?

Prize: One free ecopy of Grandma Must Die from a random comment drawn by Alicia Dean on October 7, 2015 (release day)

Bio:

Penning stories boasting laughter, light suspense and something magical in the hope of sharing her love of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary world.

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Maureen-L.-Bonatch/e/B00KHY1KK8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mbonatch

Blog: http://www.maureenbonatch.com/blog/

Website: http://www.maureenbonatch.com

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/1AV4L

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/maureenbonatch/

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3103486.Maureen_L_Bonatch

16 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as bounty hunter, Fantasy, giveaway, Halloween, humor, Magic, new release, Romantic Comedy, steamy romance, Witches

Author Alicia Dean

A Criminal Christmas – Tidbits, Favorite Lines & More… 8 Stories, 8 Authors, 99 Cents!

I am thrilled to share my latest release, a Christmas anthology with 7 other authors. Settle back and take a peek into the stories and get to know my fellow authors. And, guess what? The ENTIRE anthology is only 99 cents!

Alexa Grace – Deadly Holiday

Ann Charles ~ The Old Man’s Back in Town

Misty Evans and Adrienne Giordano ~ Holiday Justice

Kim Hornsby ~ Christmas Interrupted (Dream Jumper Christmas)

Jacki Delecki ~ Marriage Under Fire

Lori Leger ~ Christmas 911

Alicia Dean ~ The Twelfth Day

Amara Draska ~ The Way Evil Does

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 66 – Late Halloween Story and Elvis’ Scottish Ancestry

EOLS Charity

Tuesday Two-Minute Writing Tip – Building Character – Now I need YOUR help….

Got two minutes? Then check out this week’s quick tip:

Disclaimer: All of my tips are suggestions, and are only my opinion. And, for the most part, there are exceptions when going against my advice will make your story read better. Take what works, leave the rest.

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 65 – Elvis Refurbished with the Philharmonic Orchestra

EOLS Charity

Devil’s Eyes – Michael Myers, a Romance Hero?

Mysteries of the Macabre Halloween Anthology – 6 Authors Share Fun Facts & Favorite Lines

I’m happy to introduce my fellow anthology authors. I’ve enjoyed getting to know these ladies (although I already knew Leah), and I had a blast working with them on this collection. Sit back and enjoy as they share a fun fact and some of their favorite lines from their stories…

6 unique stories by 6 authors…

SCARRED ~ Alicia Dean

GRANDMA’S WAY ~ Elvy Howard

BLOOD MOON ~ Leah St. James

THREE, AFTER MIDNIGHT ~ Alexa Day

THE TIMESHARE TRIP ~ Renci Denham

THE FARM STRAY ~ Rohn Federbush

Ten Moments that Changed My Life by Andrea Downing – And her Western Historical Romance, Loveland

Please help me welcome Andrea Downing, who is sharing a Wild Rose Press Western Historical Romance and 10 moments that changed her life…

8 Alicia Dean Wild Rose Press Ebooks – 99 Cents Each!!!

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 64 – Elvis and His Instruments

EOLS Charity

10 Moments that Changed Maureen Bonatch’s Life – And her new release, Grandma Must Die

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