Author of paranormal and romantic suspense. Follow her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alicia-Dean/131939826889437) or twiiter (https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_)
Today I’m featuring a brand new release from The Wild Rose Press. Please check out the book and the exciting trailer. Also, be sure to follow and like Nancy on Twitter and Facebook and visit her on all the other social media sites.
Nancy J. Cohen with Warrior Lord, The Drift Lords Series #3, Paranormal/SciFi/Fantasy Romance Novel
A fantasy wedding in Las Vegas turns into a nightmare when contest winner Erika Sherwood realizes she’s married an alien.
Fun Fact:
The author has been to most of the locales in this story. In particular, she used her experiences at a movie studio tour in Los Angeles and at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen as models for similar scenes in the book. In the Drift Lords series, theme parks and tourist attractions serve a nefarious purpose. Nancy enjoyed reimagining her visits to these various places, but there’s one location in Warrior Lord where the hero goes that she didn’t venture. Lord Magnor, expert swordsman and a Drift Lords warrior, must seek an audience with Hel, ruler of the underworld. There’s only one way to get there and no return trip. He has to use all his skills to survive. How far would you go if the world depended on you?
As I’ve stated previously, nearly each of my published work contains a mention of Elvis, even if only briefly. Below are a few samples from a handful of books…
Available now, but will be released on August 14th as part of a boxed set with other Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll Stories by other authors
Thicker Than Water – Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll
Jake fell silent and flipped on the radio. “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis was playing. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Did he remember how much she liked Elvis? How he’d teased her unmercifully about it? Nothing showed on his face, but he must remember. Or had he shoved every memory of their time together out of his mind?
Ravyn crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, purposely keeping her gaze above chest level so she wouldn’t see the way the tool belt slanted across his lean hips. “What do you want to know about me? I make candles and jewelry. I have one sister and a mother. I live alone. No pets. I like long walks in the rain and old music . . . you know, Otis Redding, The Platters, Elvis Presley. Anything else?”
He gave a satisfied smile. “See? Was that so hard? My turn. I work construction, and I have two sisters and two parents. One dog, a golden retriever named Dog. I don’t like long walks anywhere, and I’m not crazy about oldies. Not crazy about Elvis’s music, although the later stuff was pretty good. I like his movies, though.”
Caster’s Unfriendly Ghost (Coming this Fall)
“But one of my foster moms, Della, was different. She was good to me. She loved me. Really loved me. She was an excellent cook, and my favorite thing she made was peach pancakes. We’d sit together in the kitchen in the early morning hours before anyone else was awake, and we’d talk about…everything. She was the first person in my life who made me feel important. Who really seemed to care about me.” She paused. Bittersweet memories assailed her. Della’s comforting hugs. Her special smile. Listening to Elvis Presley music with her and watching her sweet face as she seemed transported to another time. Then, the night her husband came home from the hospital, looking ten years older…
“Suspicious Minds” by Elvis came on the radio and I turned it up, feeling my spirits lift. I had inadvertently become an Elvis fan in college while doing a paper on the impact of celebrities on society. Whether or not one appreciated Elvis’ talent, there was no denying he was a phenomenon, the likes of which had never been seen before and would probably never be seen again. Not only did I find I loved his music, I’d discovered why he had the impact he had. He had this boyish, southern charm, but at the same time, a deeply embedded raw sexuality that was powerful and intoxicating. It was fortunate that he only used that power for entertainment. If he’d been a terrorist or a cult leader, he could have easily taken over the world. I was only six when he died, a few years younger than his daughter. Had I been ten years older, I was certain I’d have been a part of the frenzied, screaming masses, fainting and tossing my panties up on stage.
Though the music coming from the party was muted, she recognized an Elvis Presley song, “One Night.” She grinned at Eli. “You like Elvis Presley? Isn’t he a little before your time?”
His lips twitched with amusement and he shrugged. “You might say I’m an old soul.”
He hesitated, clearing his throat before speaking. “I’ve observed a lot of people over the centuries.” He stared past her shoulder. “I remember one time you came out here, your Walkman hanging from your ear. You stood right over there. All by yourself. Dancing.”
A heated flush rose to her face. “You saw that?” She laughed to cover her embarrassment. “I was listening to Elvis Presley music. It made me feel better somehow. I guess that makes me a dork.”
He shook his head. “No. Your goofy dance made you a dork.”
“Hey!” she said with mock indignation. Then she shrugged. “It was kind of goofy.”
“Elvis, though. Not a bad choice. He was a talented guy. Nice guy.”
“You knew him?” A horrifying thought struck her. “Did you…”
“No. No, I didn’t take him. I took someone at one of his concerts. Afterward, I was curious. I followed Elvis around for a few days. I was awed by the effect he had on people. They were so drawn to him.”
“I can see why.” She cocked her head. “I bet you’ve met a lot of famous people. I never really thought about that. You can go anywhere, can’t you?”
End of Lonely Street (Coming January 7, 2015)
Mapleton, Tennessee, November, 1957
Toby Lawson closed her eyes and shut out all sounds of the diner, except for Elvis Presley’s voice. He was crooning about how she was the only one for him…no matter where he went or what he did… he’d spend his whole life loving her…
Rough hands landed on her waist and shattered the fantasy. She caught a whiff of hair tonic and too much cologne, and she snapped her eyes open. Wes Markham’s hateful face replaced the image of Elvis’ beautiful, crooked smile and smoldering blue eyes.
Very interesting article about Kindle Unlimited. I can see a potential benefit to Indie authors, if they are willing to go KDP Select. However, for small publishers, I’m not sure. Indie authors must go to KDP Select, and I assume traditional publishers have a choice, but what about the smaller publishers?
Feel free to share your thoughts, concerns, or endorsements. And, if you have any experience with Kindle Unlimited, we’d love to hear from you.
Very interesting article about Kindle Unlimited. I can see a potential benefit to Indie authors, if they are willing to go KDP Select. However, for small publishers, I’m not sure. Indie authors must go to KDP Select, and I assume traditional publishers have a choice, but what about the smaller publishers?
One thing, among many, that proves what an impact Elvis had on the world of music, and the world in general, is the deep admiration and respect that other celebrities had for him. Priscilla Presley and photographer, Christopher Amuruoso, created a magnificent book called Shades of Elvis, where various celebrities don Elvis’ famous glasses and pose for photographs. The book is gorgeous. The photos are black and white, and they are amazing. I don’t own the book yet, but I will soon. J In addition to the photos, many celebrities contributed statements about Elvis to be published in the book. I love hearing other successful, famous people speak about Elvis.
Below is a just a sampling of quotes about Elvis from celebrities (These quotes are not taken from Shades of Elvis)
“I remember Elvis as a young man hanging around the Sun studios. Even then, I knew this kid had a tremendous talent. He was a dynamic young boy. His phraseology, his way of looking at a song, was as unique as Sinatra’s. I was a tremendous fan, and had Elvis lived, there would have been no end to his inventiveness.” ~ B.B. King
“’That period was different. When Elvis was there, they were stopping everything. Elvis had the moment for real. While I’m here, its not all about 50 Cent, but it was all about Elvis.” -50 Cent
“Ask anyone. If it hadn’t been for Elvis, I don’t know where popular music would be. He was the one that started it all off, and he was definitely the start of it for me.” -Elton John
“He had total love in his eyes when he performed. He was the total androgynous beauty. I would practice Elvis in front of the mirror when I was twelve or thirteen years old.” -k.d. lang
“That’s my idol, Elvis Presley. If you went to my house, you’d see pictures all over of Elvis. He’s just the greatest entertainer that ever lived. And I think it’s because he had such presence. When Elvis walked into a room, Elvis Presley was in the f***ing room. I don’t give a f*** who was in the room with him, Bogart, Marilyn Monroe.” -Eddie Murphy
“There have been a lotta tough guys. There have been pretenders. And there have been contenders. But there is only one king.” -Bruce Springsteen
“…it was like he came along and whispered some dream in everybody’s ear, and somehow we all dreamed it.” -Bruce Springsteen
“When I first heard Elvis’ voice, I just knew that I wasn’t going to work for anybody; and nobody was going to be my boss…Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail.” -Bob Dylan
“A lot has been written and said about why he was so great, but I think the best way to appreciate his greatness is just to go back and play some of the old records… Time has a way of being very unkind to old records, but Elvis’ keep getting better and better.” -Huey Lewis
“Elvis was the king. No doubt about it. People like myself, Mick Jagger and all the others only followed in his footsteps.” -Rod Stewart
“He was a unique artist – an original in an area of imitators.” -Mick Jagger
“He was an integrator, Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn’t let black music through. He opened the door for black music.” ~ Little Richard
“Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn’t been an Elvis, there wouldn’t have been the Beatles.” ~ John Lennon
Today I’m featuring a brand new release from The Wild Rose Press. Please check out the book with the fabulous cover, and be sure to visit Dawn’s website.
Dawn Douglas with Paris Rose, a contemporary romance novella
Can the pain and problems of the past ever be overcome? Or is Lucy Rawlinson’s mission to win back her ex-husband truly impossible?
Fun Fact: Ideas for stories are always churning around in my head. I’d been wanting to write Paris Rose for a long time but it didn’t all come together until after a trip to Paris, when I was cooking a (French) meal at home and thinking about a short story I’d written a long time ago about a couple who’d parted over the devastating loss of a child. Even though that story was done and dusted, the characters in it wouldn’t leave me alone. I sat down and began to write Paris Rose.
I do not care for Elvis impersonators. I have always found them a bit cartoonish and unsettling. That is not to say I don’t enjoy a respectful tribute, even if the singer is dressed as Elvis. But, I find it very annoying when people think they sound like Elvis. No one sounds like Elvis. He was the one and only, always and forever.
Often imitated, but never duplicated:
I will have to say, though, I do have a few fond ‘impersonator’ memories. Not long after Elvis passed away, an impersonator put on a show in Oklahoma City. I don’t even recall his name, but he was respectful, and he did a good job. My sisters and I soaked up every radio show, every interview, every tv special, etc, after his death. So, of course, we had to attend that. One thing that sticks out clearly in my mind is when the guy sang “It Won’t Seem Like Christmas Without You.” The line in the song is, “If I get the one thing I’m wishing for, then I’ll see you tonight in my dreams.” The impersonator changed it to say, “Yes, Elvis, we’ll see you tonight in our dreams.” Which, of course, made my sisters and I sob uncontrollably. 🙂
For my fortieth birthday (which, it’s kind of odd that I celebrated since I’m only twenty-five, but anyway…), my sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Tom Zimmerman, took me to Memphis for my birthday. We were on Beale Street and a young guy dressed in a gold lamé suit was performing. He was adorable and respectful, and he sang very well, but he didn’t try to make his voice sound like Elvis. Those are the kind of ‘impersonators’ I can enjoy. Not the fat guys with black wigs and ridiculously bushy sideburns who lower their voice and think they sound like the King.
Below is a photo of my son, Presley. Some of you probably saw it on Facebook, but I still thought I would share it here. He is not an Elvis impersonator, and he normally does not wear Elvis Presley jumpsuits. 🙂 He does, however, love Elvis music. I didn’t force it on him, I swear. He was on a cruise, and he entered a Karaoke contest singing Elvis songs. I didn’t get to see it, but I would imagine, based on his personality, he really gave them a show. He ended up winning the contest, and they gave him an Elvis costume to wear and brought him on stage for the finale.
Although I wasn’t there to see it live, he brought home a DVD, and I watched that. It was so much fun! He did a really good job and put on quite a show. And, you guessed it, he made his mama proud. 🙂
Obviously, I can’t say everything I want to say about Elvis’ music in one post, so there will most definitely be more, so stay tuned. 🙂
In twenty-three years, Elvis recorded almost a thousand songs, although the number that was actually released during his lifetime was just over seven-hundred. Thanks to Elvis radio, I have the opportunity to hear a lot of those rare recordings and outtakes where Elvis was himself, and he was human, and having fun with the guys. I love the ones where he is laughing–his adorable, sexy, infectious laugh. The people who worked with him said he had a talent for arrangements and was a perfectionist, who would keep at it until he had the recording just the way he wanted. They also say he could memorize lyrics more quickly than anyone they’d ever known. It’s funny that, even with Elvis’ unparalleled fame and popularity, the only music he ever won awards for was his gospel. I’ve never been able to figure that out.
One thing I love about Elvis music is that it spanned so many genres. With blues, country, rock, pop, soul, and gospel, there’s something for everyone. I have three children, who all ‘like’ Elvis, but my twenty-one-year-old son, Presley, LOVES Elvis. I didn’t force it on him, even with the name, I promise. 🙂 He actually could have grown up resenting me for the name, but he is proud of it, and truly loves Elvis. He’s on a cruise right now, and he called me last night to ask me about the lyrics to Jailhouse Rock. He wasn’t sure he could remember them all. I remembered them, but not exactly in order. (I know, it’s shameless, but we only had a few minutes to talk, and I was under pressure to hurry, and that song has a lot of short verses. It’s hard to remember the correct order.) Presley was a finalist in a Karaoke contest (in which he’d earlier sung Suspicious Minds) and was going to be singing Jailhouse Rock in the finals. After we hung up, a memory came to me of when he was around fifteen months old, and he was slapping his little hand on the stereo saying ‘Wock, wock,’ wanting me to play Jailhouse Rock. I did, and he started dancing and bobbing his head and snapping his fingers. SO freakin’ cute! (I have it on home video. It’s precious!)
Oddly, some of my favorite Elvis songs are the lesser known ones; many of them only a true Elvis fan would have heard. I re-discovered this one recently, and was struck once again by just how beautiful his voice really was. It gave me chills.
This is one of my favorites of Elvis’ early recordings, Love Me. There’s something about the way he starts the song, that first line, that makes me weak all over. 🙂 Enjoy this adorable video of him singing the song on the Ed Sullivan show.
Over the years, Elvis’ music had brought me a great deal of joy. It sounds odd, but if I’m stressed or upset, I can listen to his music, and it makes me feel better.
I have a confession to make, though. I don’t ‘love’ every song Elvis ever did. Even some of his most popular ones were not my favorites; such as Love Me Tender, Hound Dog, Blue Suede Shoes. I know, I know, I should be ashamed. 🙂 However, there were plenty of his songs that I DO love, obviously. I could list them, but we don’t have all day, right?
What about you? What are some of your favorite Elvis songs?
I’m happy to feature two new releases from The Wild Rose Press. Please check out the books and follow the authors on Twitter and Facebook, etc.
Now, for a bit about the stories, some favorite lines, AND the fun fact tidbits…
Willa Blair with The Healer’s Gift (A Highland Talents Novella) – Scottish Historical Paranormal Romance
The Healer’s gift changes everything Coira thinks she knows about herself and her future.
Fun Fact:The Healer’s Gift (A Highland Talents Novella) resolves the story of one of the most tormented characters in HIGHLAND HEALER (Highland Talents Book 1). Coira MacDugall deserves the harshest punishment for her actions in the Highlands. But her clan’s new laird, Logan, defies her expectations. And the Healer’s gift changes everything she thought she knew — about herself and the people around her.
A few lines from the story:
“Ye bring me peace. Did ye ken that? I desire ye, I canna hide it. But ye bring me peace.”
!!! Ebook On Sale – Only $2.00 – 1/2 Price at The Wild Rose Press through July !!!
Sharron Riddle with Walking Sticks: The Gift, a New Adult paranormal novel
Is death the only way to stop the cursed walking sticks?
Fun Fact: The Walking Sticks was inspired by Maori Legends – Native New Zealanders – who believed in blue skinned, fair haired fairy folk years before the first white men arrived to their islands.
A few lines from the story:
“I know, but it seems like weird stuff has been happening ever since I opened the package. The stick in my room…” Kerry looked around, lowered her voice. “I locked it in my closet, and I heard it in there. Riva, I swear, it was trying to get out.”
While Elvis’s movies are often regarded as silly and pointless, many people, including myself, find them highly enjoyable. Admittedly, they are not classic, Oscar-worthy films, and Elvis himself wasn’t pleased with the roles he played. He wanted to be a serious actor and admired other actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando. The only movie he was really proud of was King Creole, which was a wonderful film where Elvis was allowed to excercise his acting chops, and he did a fantastic job. After he returned from the army, his movies became no more than a vehicle for his singing. However, I thought they were fun and entertaining. I admit, I’m slightly biased, but even many non-Elvis fans enjoyed his movies. Some of my favorites….
Jailhouse Rock – I recently re-watched this and fell in love with it all over again. Another serious role where Elvis put on a great performance. And, there were some awesome songs in this movie, such as Don’t Leave Me Now, Treat Me Nice, Young and Beautiful, and of course, Jailhouse Rock. Sadly, Judy Tyler, who co-starred with Elvis in Jailhouse Rock, was driving home from Los Angeles to Manhattan with her husband, when they were in an auto accident, and she was killed instantly, at twenty-four years old, before the movie was released. Her husband died in the hospital the following day. People close to Elvis said he took her death hard, and was never able to watch the movie.
This is my favorite scene in any Elvis movie, ever. (Ignore the foreign subtitles and enjoy…)
Fast forward to his final movie in 1969, Change of Habit, where he played Dr. John Carpenter and Mary Tyler-Moore co-starred with him. Yep, still sexy…
Another movie I loved was Live a Little, Love a Little, for many reasons, but a big one is that he said my name in the movie…and hearing Elvis say my name was a thrill! 🙂 A few of my other favorites were Tickle Me and Girl Happy. But, I could go on and on, of course. Because, well, I’m a huge Elvis fan, if you haven’t already guessed. Not only was it fun to watch Elvis in the roles, what made his movies even better was that he starred with a lot of well-known actors, such as Charles Bronson, Nancy Sinatra, Ann-Margaret, Richard Egan, Angela Lansbury, and Bill Bixby.
I remember when we were young, my sisters and I going to the movies at the Chieftan in Oklahoma City and watching Elvis on the big screen. Heavenly!
Listening to Elvis radio now, I hear a lot of interviews with his co-stars and all of them have great things to say about him, about what a nice guy he was, how easy he was to work with, how he didn’t act like a star, and the women say he was a great kisser. I can only imagine. 🙂
As I stated previously, I mention Elvis in almost all of the books I write. So, of course I’m going to mention him a lot in a story set in 1957. Below is a snippet from my upcoming short story, End of Lonely Street, releasing with The Wild Rose Press on January 7, 2015.
Blurb:
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?
Excerpt:
Noah glanced around the diner. Toby followed his gaze. The counter was lined with customers. A jukebox sat in the corner. Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight” now belted from its speakers. “What happened to college? I thought you were getting your teaching degree.”
She shrugged and took the dish cloth from her apron pocket. “That was the plan.” She wouldn’t go into how she’d had to put off her schooling to come home and see after her mother. Surely he’d heard the story about Constance falling asleep with a lit cigarette and almost burning down the house—with her inside it—from the town gossip mill. “I finished my three years at University. Now I have to complete my Post-Graduate Certificate of Education. I had to put that on hold for a while, so in the meantime, I’m doing this.”
“Great. That means I’ll see you often. Maybe we can get together for a movie or something? Jailhouse Rock is showing at the Bijou.”
Elvis and Noah at the same time? Her heart wouldn’t take it.
Before the break-up, she’d gone to the drive-in to see Rebel Without a Cause with him. James Dean had died less than a month earlier, and she cried throughout the entire movie. Noah had held her, comforted her. Let her cry on his shoulder. That was their last movie together. The night remained a sad memory for more than one reason.
Author Alicia Dean 