BELLA....

Something very special... and a stunning surprise for me! THANKS to Kadian Tracey...

Guest Blogger: BRUCE SKYE

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Bruce Skye today - author of a wonderful new fantasy series called "The Deathsong Chronicles" - having read the first book, I can personally tell you it's a wonderful series! So, enter the world of the Grayrider, and see for yourself... We'll be grabbing a name from among the comments, too - and you'll receive a beautiful hardcover edition of the book as a thank you for stopping by.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A former technical writer, detail is important to Bruce Skye. His research for the Deathsong Chronicles included medieval armor and fortresses, as well as Celtic names and magic. "If you create a world, it must be consistent. And that's what I strive for Grayrider's world to be. I've built a database of material for each of the Deathsong Chronicles. Those databases aid me in keeping the world the same from book to book.

"When I wrote Grayrider, I followed the advice of Stephen King. I did not write the book following any sort of outline. I have no more idea than my readers do when I write a novel what will happen in the midst of the story. It makes it more exciting for both the readers and myself."

You can visit his website at http://www.bruceskye.com/

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Gabriel, the exiled king of Rivalin, comes before King Airell to warn him the Ansgarian army will invade his kingdom before the night is over. Airell tells him he has no one to send. Gabriel wants revenge for the murder of his family by the Ansgarians. He decides to fight the incursion without help.

As this takes place, Deirdre (Airell’s daughter), flees the kingdom of Cynyr north of Boadhagh. She knows now her mentor, Morrigan, created the Ansgarian army her father has fought for years. She goes south to warn him of her. Because Deirdre does not believe in herself, the young sorceress has difficulty in performing magic.

Once she is reunited with her father, she tells both he and Grayrider about Morrigan. Her power is growing; only Gabriel’s magical sword may yet destroy her. He must go to Cynyr to fight her. He agrees if Deirdre attends him, seeking her counsel. On that journey they fall in love and foil many efforts by Morrigan to kill Gabriel by both armies and sorcerers.

Grayrider fights Morrigan and sees his beloved slain by the sorceress before he is finally able to kill her. He returns to Rivalin brokenhearted. The ending is a complete surprise the reader will not expect at all.


From BRUCE:

A Non-Traditional Traditional Fantasy Tale

I must be honest: I’m a traditionalist. I love The Lord of the Rings. To me, Tolkien created the fantasy genre. And it’s a wonderful tale. However, my writing is modeled after Jack Higgins, the suspense author. So, what does that mean I offer fantasy readers in my work?

Grayrider, the first volume of The Deathsong Chronicles, is traditional fantasy. But before you say “not another one,” hear me out. My books have complex, well-rounded heroes and villains. One reviewer has commented: Skye has a talent for vivid descriptions that will make you feel like you are in the middle of the story. His great character development and strong story line make this a great read. I enjoyed it and look forward to more Deathsong Chronicles.

However, just because I’m a traditionalist, doesn’t mean my characters are clichéd. Cristel, in her review of Grayrider on the Robots and Vamps blog, wrote the following:

I really like the characters in the novel because they are unique versus the typical fantasy archetypes. Gabriel (Grayrider), the revenge seeking warrior, possesses a magical sword that deals death just by being drawn. It cannot be sheathed until someone dies.

My emphasis on characterization lends to the realism of the storylines. This also helps me create a very suspenseful novel. Reviewers have written about this as well: Wow, this is such a great book. I just couldn’t stop reading it. Grayrider offers the reader everything they could need in a story. There is romance, sword fights, magic, and more to keep the reader entertained. The story line moves at a fast pace and keeps the reader very involved. I found that I could not put the book down.

So, although this is a traditional fantasy story, it is also very non-traditional.

GUEST: LaVerne Thompson

Hello again! I have a wonderful special guest for you all to meet today, a lady met in the odd coincidence that we have very similar book covers for our last releases, same cover model. So, I really hope you enjoy meeting this wonderful lady and author... Over to LaVerne now....

My name is LaVerne Thompson and I write contemporary, fantasy and sci/fi romances. I also love reading this stuff. My first published work is a short, PROMISES a contemporary romance from Red Rose Publishing, also coming soon from Red Rose is MASQUERADE part of a series about three sisters. Also available on Mar. 3rd from Freya's Bower is COME TO ME. I have several things in various stages but my next release is HOLD ON from Red Rose Publishing availabe today. It's a novella, a contemporaray romance with a touch of suspense and a dash of violence. Have you ever been stalked? If you want to know more about my work visit my website http://www.lavernethompson.webs.com/ or friend me on myspace myspace.com/lavernethompson

HOLD ON
By LaVerne Thompson

Blurb:

One phone call changed both their lives.

A real life knight in shining armor, except he isn’t in armor he’s in a suit. But the first time Lena Douglas lays eyes on Stephan Grayson that’s what he seems to her. He saves her from a violence that still haunts her nights, but at least he’s there to hold her should she wake. But the nightmare’s not over, it stalks them both now. Something from her past that will not let go.

But then neither will Stephan. He saved her once and he’s not about to let anyone, especially Lena stand in the way of what is happening between.

But will Stephan always be there to shield her from her past?

Excerpt:

“911 Operator.”

“Hello…listen I’m at the corner of Broad Street and Denny Way. I’m looking into the second floor of a garden style apartment opened onto Broad, and it looks like there’s a…a robbery taking place.” Stephan spoke anxiously into the phone, his voice cracking mid-speak.

The emergency operator on the other end replied in a steady tone, “I’m dispatching a patrol car to the area sir. Stay on the phone with me. Are you one of the victims or do you know the people involved?”

“No, no it’s not me and I don’t know them. I’m in my car. Hang on, the light’s changing. I’m going to make a U-turn and park on the street so I can keep watch.” He ignored the car honking at him because he had cut in front of it. The building in front of him, and the woman in trouble his only focus. The sun hadn’t been down for very long, but the open lighted walkway in the three-story building allowed Stephan a pretty clear view.

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to remain in the car,” the operator insisted in a forceful voice. “How many people are involved?”

“Two, I think. A man and a woman, he grabbed her purse and she tried to run. Hurry!” he cried.
“Help is on the way. Please try to stay calm.”

“My God!’ the man exclaimed. “He just hit her… she’s trying to fight him off. He kicked a door open and…he’s…he’s trying to drag her in!” His words were coming faster, rushing to get the information out. “She’s fighting back. I can’t just sit here watching this.”

“Sir, please do not leave your car,” the operator said firmly. “The person could be armed as well as dangerous. Wait for the authorities.”

“I’m sorry. I’m already at the building. Tell the cops, when they get here, it’s the second building from the corner, second floor, the door at the top of the stairs. I’m going to leave my phone on so you can listen in, but I’m putting it in my pocket.”

Without waiting to hear a reply, Stephan did just that.

As he ran up the stairs he could hear a woman’s screams. Why isn’t anyone trying to help her? He had seen three other doors with apartment numbers on this floor. Surely one of them was occupied. It didn’t matter, he was here and he wasn’t going to do nothing. Too late, he wished he’d taken the time to grab a tire iron from his car. But he had stopped rational thought as soon as he glimpsed the woman in trouble. He’d just have to rely on being in good physical shape. It wasn’t like he was a fighter, in truth he used his mind not his muscle. Now he may have to use both, and so far he hadn’t been using much of his so-called intelligence tonight. An intelligent person would have waited on the sidewalk and pointed the cops in the right direction.

Stephan stopped at the now closed door he had seen the man kick open. A scuff mark near the bottom of the panel confirmed he had the right place. He put his ear to the wood but could hear nothing. Turning the doorknob he found it unlocked, and cautiously pushed it open. He slipped inside leaving it slightly ajar so the cops could enter easily.

Muffled sounds were coming from the interior of the condo. Taking a step in the direction of the noise, ragged cries suddenly rent the air. A hallway, probably leading to a bedroom, stretched in front and to the right of him. There were no lights on, but the blinds were partially open, and the glow from a street lamp provided enough light to illuminate the small room.

Glancing to the left he spied a kitchen. His heart pumped blood into his system, adding strength to his resolve. Moving quickly, he headed there first for a weapon. As soon as he pulled a knife from the block on the counter, the wail of a siren whined from a distance, at the same time he heard a scream that curled his soul.

Throwing caution out the window he ran down the short hallway, fear setting his pace. Stopping in front of the only room he gripped the open doorframe. The scene unfolding before him chilled his blood.

The dimmed overhead light showed a woman lying face down on the bed, and a man in dark clothing sat on top of her, straddling her legs to hold her down. She kept screaming and bucking to try to throw him off, but he kept laughing, and using one hand to hold both of hers on her head while he ripped her blouse with the other. So engaged in his activity, he didn’t even hear Stephan behind him.

Stephan wanted to stick the sonofabitch with the knife in his hand. But he spotted an empty metal potpourri bowl on a stand near the door. He didn’t want to shed any of the man’s blood on the woman if he didn’t have to. He put down the knife and picked up the bowl. Using all of his strength, fueled by his anger, he smashed it against the side of the bastard’s head.

Like a bowling pin toppling over, the man fell off the bed onto the floor, hopefully out cold for a while. When the weight holding her down disappeared, the woman on the bed flipped over. She raised her tear streaked face and her eyes momentarily collided with Stephan’s before shifting to the man on the floor. As her gaze returned to his, fear flooded her beautiful chocolate colored eyes. She gasped, and backed up against the headboard.

Even with puffy eyes, tear tracks on her face, and a bruise on her toasted almond colored cheek her beauty still shone through. Stephan’s heart, which had been racing before, stopped in mid beat. Wide round eyes, had captured his attention first, set in an oval shaped face with a bow for a mouth, centered off with the cutest nose that started narrow but flared at the end, even more as he watched her take a deep breath.

He held up his hands, but realized he still held the bowl. He slowly placed it at the foot of the bed. “It’s okay,” he said trying to sound reassuring and non-threatening. “The police are on their way. I won’t hurt you.” He spoke in very soft clear tones, to try to calm her.

“Th…that man. He tried…” Her voice came out jittery, husky.

“Shhh, it’s okay,” he said. “I’m not going to let him hurt you.” Stephan glanced down at the man stretched out on his back on the floor. “He looks unconscious, but maybe we should get out of here in case he comes to. The police are on their way.”

“Yes…yes, thank you.” She slid off the bed on the opposite side from where the man on the carpet lay. Her shirt had been ripped from the back up to the collar but remained in tact in the front. She wrapped her arms tightly across her stomach. Stephan took his eyes momentarily off the beautiful woman to check her attacker again to see if he had stirred.

The woman came around behind him and grabbed his hips in a death grip. He twisted to put his hand around her shoulder, and coaxed her to move forward in front of him. As he turned her toward the door, pounding footsteps echoed from the stairwell. “The cops are here, you’re safe now. Let’s…” That’s as far as he got before he felt hands clench his throat. “Run!” he managed to gasp before turning to face his attacker.

PROMISES- available now from Red Rose Publishing

HOLD ON-Coming Soon from Red Rose Publishing

MASQUERADE-Coming Soon from Red Rose Publishing

COME TO ME-available Mar. 3rd from Freya's Bower

Website: http://www.lavernethompson.webs.com/

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/lavernethompson

Let's have a little fun...

Some of you will remember seeing Mary Burton's name on my blog before... today, we're having fun!! So....

JUST IN TIME for VALENTINE’S DAY...

SWEET BUNS FROM MARY BURTON!

I hope you’ll tell your readers about Mary Burton’s buns! You know Mary for her romantic suspense novels DEAD RINGER and I’M WATCHING YOU and, of courses, for her novella in the New York Times best selling SILVER BELLS. To mark that publication, she shared a new recipe, Silver Bells Tea Cakes via book and food/baking blogs. Now, she’s sharing her favorite St. Valentine’s Day breakfast treat, Valentine’s Day Sweet Buns. “I love to have these for my sweetie on Valentine’s Day,” she says, but once again keeps us in suspense. She hasn’t told us yet whether or not she serves them in bed.

So, drop by Mary's website this week for this yummy recipe!! As you can see from the picture, they look delicious! (Click on the picture to go to the recipe, or follow the link at the bottom of this post.)

Visit Mary here: http://www.maryburton.com/
Find the recipe here: http://www.maryburton.com/blog/

ON SALE NOW!!!

Just in time for Valentine's Day - the #1 Best-selling BELLA SIGNORINA... If you haven't had the chance to read this short, sexy romance set in the splendid city of Roma, now is your chance to get it at a give-away price!!! This is truly one of the nicest things I've ever written, so I hope you'll drop by The Wild Rose Press and pick it up, even offer a review if you're so inclined....

BUY it here:
The Wild Rose Press

Set in Rome, Bella Signorina is a sweet, romantic story of two people who meet in a trendy caffè, and through the magic of dance and music discover they have many things in common. Bianca comes to Caffè Rosati every week, and for many weeks she's been watching a special man, a handsome, charming stranger who dances, flirts, and leaves alone each week. Bianca is a woman who enjoys her freedom, and has been hurt before, so she's not anxious to fall in love again. Something about the enigmatic Stefano has captivated her heart, though, and she is drawn to him in spite of herself. When she finally gathers her courage to approach him, and ask him to dance, little does she know that her entire world is about to change.

Stefano Esposito is a man who's past relationships have not left him much in the way of ideals about women. Many have claimed to love him, none have understood him. Stefano is a rare breed in today's world of fast-paced life and love. He is a gentleman, a man who many consider a little out of step with the times. For Stefano, falling in love is the completion of a soul, not the consummation of a sexual itch. He wants the woman in his life to respect, understand, and adore him, as he will her. When he meets Bianca, he wonders if he's finally found the one he's waited a lifetime for? She understands his internal conflicts, his desires, and his dreams, after only hours together.

When their attraction to each other flares too quickly and too intently, Stefano pulls back. Confused and uncertain, Bianca flees his beautiful home and business, and goes back to her busy life. But, once the dance has begun, is there a way to go back to what you knew before, or is it just a matter of time before the music lures you back to your dreams and, perhaps, makes them reality?

Available for a limited time at the sale price of $1.35 from
The Wild Rose Press

Sable Grey Magazine

The debut issue of Sable Grey Magazine is now available for download! It's a gorgeous PDF download, FREE, and filled with wonderful stuff!! So, check it out.... I've got a beautiful feature in this issue, as well as the seductive short story, The Proposition....

You can download the magazine HERE

Enjoy!!!

THANKS - always!!

Coming soon on Virtual Tour....

In February, I will be hosting author R. Scot Johns, who is on tour promoting this amazing epic fantasy... have a look...



To see more great promotional material, and read the first two chapters of this wonderful novel visit the website!

Fantasy Castle Books

Italia...

Modern Italian Network

For ALL People Passionate

About Italy and Italian Culture

Modern Italian Network is a private community

dedicated to providing its members

with a place to learn, share, save, and enjoy

Italy and Italian culture.

New from LISA JACKSON!

January 27th: Welcome to the announcement of Lisa Jackson's newest release!!

Today’s the day! Lisa Jackson and sister Nancy Bush are celebrating the arrival in stores of the first novel they’ve written together, WICKED GAME, a mass market original from Zebra Books. It’s been a long time coming. Back in 1981, they sat down determined to write and to be published and, with a friend, began their first novel. While Stormy Surrender never found a home, the siblings did get published—separately—and forged extremely successful and diverse writing careers.

Lisa, known for her best selling suspense novels, and Nan, an award-winning author of mysteries and a former script writer for All My Children, long discussed collaborating, but it was only recently that they were able to juggle deadlines and family to turn their ideas into reality in WICKED GAME.

Their novel—romantic suspense with a touch of the paranormal—takes readers to St. Elizabeth’s high school where wild child Jessie Brentwood vanished. Most in her tight circle of friends believed she simply ran away. Few suspected she was hiding a shocking secret—one that brought her into the crosshairs of a vicious killer. Two decades later, when a body is unearthed on school grounds, Jessie’s friends reunite. Most are sure the body is hers and the mystery of what happened to Jessie has finally been solved. Then one-by-one they begin to die, each in a horrible, freak accident that defies explanation.

Visit Lisa at her website: http://www.lisajackson.com/

Very cool Book Blog!

A big thank you to Denyse for posting this. It’s a great, new book blog—beneficial to Readers and Authors alike. Check it out during our January discussion and stay tuned to Lost in a Good Book at the WRDF site for more exciting events in the coming months!

Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction present the January Lost in a Good Book, Book Club Blog. With the success of our November book club blog and with interest from our readers, we are continuing throughout 2009 beginning with our handpicked selections for January. Join Lynda Cooker and Annette Snyder at Lost in a Good Book at http://romancewriterandreader.ning.com/ January 15th through the 31st, we’ll be discussing three fascinating novels. Eva Gordon’s, The Stone of the Tenth Realm, is a fantasy theme beginning in the real world of a concentration camp. Follow Sophie Katz as she overcomes the struggles in her world and fights evils of another dimension. Chelle Cordero shares her novel, Bartlett’s Rule, a contemporary romance of conquering trust issues and learning patience. Corruption’s Child, by John Lindermuth, gives us a taste of suspense and intrigue using a fictional Amish community as a backdrop. Each author offers a fabulous prize for participants of the Lost in a Good Book, Book Club Blog so make sure to head on over and browse the information about our authors and their work, read your selections and join our discussion. Explore a genre you haven’t tried or one that you know and love. For more information on our January selections, visit http://blog.elceepublishing.com/ . You’ll find the latest information on each novel and the authors who penned them. On the Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction site, you’ll find the latest about Lost in a Good Book and all our other group activities. As a reader, the WRDF Lost in a Good Book, book club blog is your chance to share your thoughts about our January selections with other readers and our authors. If you’re an author and wish to have your book considered for future selections, visit WRDF at http://romancewriterandreader.ning.com/ and click on the Lost in a Good Book banner.


Annette Snyder-Novelist
http://annettesnyder.atspace.com/
Viveka's War--Available Now
Intimate Flames releasing July 2009
http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/
http://www.growneb.com/
Lost in a Good Book--WRDF Book Club
http://blog.elceepublishing.com/

Thief of Hearts

This was written to be included in the upcoming novel A Perfect Beauty. The sections and chapters will be separated by poetics, vampiric in theme.... Please let me know what you think of the idea, and how this works for you, the reader. I'll grab a comment at the end of the day on Friday, (16th January), and you can choose a book as your thank you gift for stopping by and offering your thoughts and opinions. Much appreciated, believe me!

Now, to the Thief of Hearts....

Night falls slowly, a gradually enveloping darkness that slips over us, and hides our secrets in safe, unseen places. No one is immune to the night, some embrace it like a lover, others fill it with false sunshine, afraid of the things that might hide in the concealment of the shadows. Others seek answers in the moonlit shelter, sensing purer truths than those visible under the searing sun.

The silvery radiance of a pale moon is less harsh somehow than the inferno of the day star that gives our world life. In the softer, subtle coolness all things show a new facet of beauty. The cautious spirit of a fearful heart is lured into a sweet flirtation by a handsome Prince of the night. He knows the game well, has played for an eternity – he never loses. A kiss… a playful smile… sweet words that steal her trust… These are the weapons of his charm, natural as air, the essence of all he is, but so much remains carefully hidden in the shadows, kept out of sight. He tells her to trust him, and she does. She loves him, what choice does she have?

Night becomes a time to love, and know life as she has never known it before. His eyes, the blue morning sky against the black velvet of the darkness, smile at her, stars glittering in their ageless depths. She belongs to him – they both know it. He has stolen every secret that was once locked deep inside her. She has been claimed and conquered, won with the soft rush of his breath as he places a kiss on her flushed forehead, the sensuous purr of his voice as he whispers love to her yearning heart. She is captured, trapped within his being.

All of these secrets hide in the shadows, an exotic bait for a trap as old as time itself. It’s not until she wakes alone, to the flame of the sun, that a greater truth is revealed. She has no mysteries left for him to claim – and she loves a stranger whose trust was never hers…

This is the paradox that defines a true thief of hearts, and the master she will always adore…

Check this out!

This just in....

Today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch features bestselling Virginia romantic suspense author Mary Burton! FYI!

Click HERE to read....

Joan Schulhafer
Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting

NEWS!!!!

Buy the book HERE

Winter....

New Release: HEART OF STONE

Okay, here it is, the first release from Absolute XPress:

HEART OF STONE
ISBN: 10: 894817-04-4
ISBN: 13: 978--1-894817-04-2
Publisher/Buy: Absolute XPress
Genre: Action/adventure thriller
Pages: 66 - Price: $3.95
Cover by: Justyn Perry

Randall Stone is the stuff of heroes, a mercenary given a discharge from the army he has served with his life. But the government is still interested in using the skills they've taught Major Rand Stone, and he continues to work with his hand-picked team. Into his shadowy world a light has come, and in her love, Stone discovers unhoped for joy, and, perhaps, unbearable sorrow?

Read an excerpt HERE