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Sunday, May 29, 2011

Random Pic Sunday!

My question... what if you roll over?


Some things just don't need to be re-invented...


  Jacqueline Paige
http://jacqpaige.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Whoops!

I finished up After The Silence today and I'm thrilled with it.  Then again I always am until I do the final proof and edits and see all the plot blunders.

One of the first things I usually do when I start to work on a new story is google the name - I mean do you want to be the author of the second "New Moon" ?   Uh, no!
I didn't do this with my new trilogy I've been plotting and of course after I plastered it on my web site and mentioned it here numerous times I google it.  The trilogy name is already taken as was the name of the first book in it!   
Hmm...
So the trilogy I had named Sisters of Heart is now Sisters Within Magic  and book I that I had titled The Witch that lies Within is now The Witch Descends.

Now that I have those little details out of the way I can finish the writing part.

Happy Wednesday!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Random Pic Sunday!

I happened across this and it is one of those
pictures I just had to share.

I guess this is how you can take your fish for a walk?...


Hmmm...

On to other things

I'm thrilled to say I just have
to wrap up the last few chapters in 
After The Silence and then it's off to my 
CP - and if I get the thumbs up it will be
off to the publishers!

I have other news brewing, but I'm
waiting for the final word before I 
start splashing it around.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and
if you're in Canada - enjoy the holiday 
tomorrow!

Jacqueline Paige
http://jacqpaige.blogspot.com/

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Excerpt Thursday - Animal Trilogy

I found some time last week - at least it feels like it was last 
week - updating my site and adding excerpts to the things
I'm working on.

I've recently finished the first book in my Animal Trilogy -
Heart.  It's not all polished up just yet, but I am working on
it so I thought I'd share a piece of that one today.
~*~

Three women without knowledge of their true heritage...
Three men that have waited for their mate all of their lives...
Hearts and tempers collide with wild passions and animal instincts
in the Animals Trilogy  

~*~
Animal Heart Excerpt:


If nothing else I was warmer now.  How long would the rain last?  Did I want to wait it out and then try to find a washroom – in the dark?  I shook my head before I could go any further with that thought. There was no way I was getting out of this car until it was light out again, rain or no rain.  How many hours until daylight?  I debated very briefly whether I could squirm around and reach my purse to get my phone.  Highly doubtful.  Besides being cocooned in the puffy material, my phone off for a reason and turning it on just to check the time wasn’t worth the risk of Aiden being able to trace the location.  Truthfully I didn’t know if that was possible even though all the movies reference it being so, but understanding what type of man Aiden was and what he was capable of, I wasn’t taking any chances.
Working one arm free from the bag, I shifted far enough forward to reach the ignition; he couldn’t track my cars clock.  Turning the key, my heart sunk when I noted the time, there were too many hours left until dawn.  I looked out the windshield and froze, my heart jumped into my throat. Afraid to so much as breathe, I stared at the animal a few feet away from my headlight.  My brain first thought dog, but that was no dog.  That was a wolf; it had to be a wolf.  Were wolves that big?  It seemed bigger than in any pictures I’d seen.
I sat there looking at it, not sure if I should honk the horn would be a good idea or just if I should just sit and try not to get hysterical waiting for it to leave.  My car may be metal, but the roof was something this animal could probably get through. As I continued to stare at it I couldn’t help thinking it was a beautiful creature. It’s grey and brown fur looked soft and thick, not that I’d ever be able to find out if it was.  It was the way the haunting grey eyes watched me that made me decide not to honk the horn or scream as loud as I could – which had crossed my mind briefly.  I was fairly certain it was as surprised to see me as I was to see it.  Didn’t wolves travel as group?  A pack?  I wanted to look around and see if there were more in the trees, but the logical part of my brain told me I was better off not knowing.  I never argued with the logical part.
I’m sure I stopped breathing all together when it took a step closer to the car and then turned quickly back towards the trees.  As I was reaching for the keys it stopped and looked back at me for the length of two heart beats before it bolted into the trees and disappeared.  Turning off the key, I sat in the dark leaning back against the seat while I tried to remind my body how to take air in. In this moment with my heart was beating so loud I could hear it, or at least it felt that way, I reached the decision that I was not getting out of the car until daylight, and even then was questionable.  One more conclusion was also not turning the lights on again; my mental state was much better not knowing what else was outside of the car.  I checked to make sure the door was locked, I did know a wolf wouldn’t just walk up and use the door handle, but I felt better knowing I was locked in and more importantly other things were locked out.
Pulling my arm back into the sleeping bag, I shuffled down as far as I could and closed my eyes.  The sooner I slept, the closer daylight was to getting here.  Over the noise of the water beating off the car, I thought I heard a howl.  In reaction to that I slid as far down as possible into the material and squeezed my eyes shut hoping morning would just hurry up and arrive.

Jacqueline Paige
pop over to my site for more new excerpts
http://jacqpaige.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Its up

For those that have been emailing me wanting to 
pick up Twice Cursed through Fictionwise - it's up 
there now.




Jacqueline Paige

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Random Sunday - book tower

I had to share this one.
A spiraling tower made with 30,000 books!


You can read the story HERE

Jacqueline Paige

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Interview with Author Rie McGaha

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Author Rie McGaha
on a stop for her tour for Calen.



1. Who is Rie McGaha?
That depends on the day of the week! In general I'm a wife, mother of 12 and Nana of 33 and counting. I rescue animals, garden, and bake. In my cyber life, I'm an author, editor, reviewer, blog host, interviewer, and podcast producer.
2.  Calen is Book one in how many?  Do you have the next plotted or are you just simmering the ideas at this point?
Technically, it's one book in three parts. Orginally, I wrote the entire story as one book but the publisher thought for ebook purposes, it would work better as a three part series. Although when it goes to print, it will be one book again.
3. Do you ever have any problems with your characters doing what you want them to do?
Not really. My characters are usually the easiest part for me to write. It's the plot that can give me trouble at times.
4. While working on a story, do you type directly onto the computer or are there notebooks and plot ideas jotted down in various places?
For the past four or five years I've been able to type it all out on the laptop but I used to write everything out longhand in notebooks. It took me a long time to have the same flow with a pc.
5. I can’t wait to read Calen.  What inspired you to write it?
Like most little girls, I loved the fairy tales when I was growing up but as an adult I wanted my fairy tales with a little more pizzazz. So I wrote my fairy tale for big girls.
6. Do you have any other releases coming out soon?
Calen's brothers, Caleb & Arion will both be out later this year, and I'm writing an autobiographical book about the love of my life who passed away last December. I want our children and grandchildren to have something tangible to hang onto, and a way for our grandchildren to know their grandfather.
7.  What do you do when you’re not writing/editing or thinking about writing/editing?
Sheesh, I don't think there is any other time! I'm the review editor/coordinator for P&P reviews, a review editor for JR, but when I can, I love to ride the motorcycle.

Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure meeting you.

And thank you for stopping by!
Here is more about Calen and where you find Rie




When Calen MacLeod begins having dreams of an ethereal beauty who beckons to him, he passes it off as just having an itch he hasn't scratched in a long time. But when he leaves on a journey to find her, following the directions she's given him in his dreams, he begins to doubt his sanity. And when he finds himself high in the Mackinaw Mountains in a secret fortress with unicorns and a pink and white castle, surrounded by women, each one more beautiful than the next, it's a fantasy no man would want to wake up from. But Arianna is the only woman for Calen.

The women of the Fortress have lived in peace, hidden away from the humans who tried to annihilate them all. But now a 500-year-old demon is out to destroy the women's matriarch, Ariella, and he'll stop at nothing to complete his mission. When Calen MacLeod shows up, he throws a wrench into Damon's plans. Never let it be said Damon isn't ready for anything, but when he kidnaps Arianna and takes her to modern day San Francisco, is he ready to meet Calen, who will stop at nothing to save his ladylove?

EXCERPT:
"Take Thomas home and bury him," Calen said in a dangerously calm voice. "Tell Da I'll be home when I can. Don't let anyone leave the castle for any reason until I get back. And no matter what, unless I can tell you the password, do not, and I mean it, Caleb, do not open the gates!" He began walking again.
"What did you see, Calen?"
Calen fingered the stone hanging from his neck and remembered Arianna's words. Damon could make himself invisible, and only Calen could see him. "Damon. He was here. You didn't see him?"
Caleb shook his head. "None of us saw anything. We only heard you yell his name and take off."
"I saw him mount his horse and ride off into the forest. He's going to try to get into the Fortress, and I'm going to stop him. I'm going to kill him. There's no way of knowing if he has any other abilities—there may be more even Ariella doesn't know about—and I'm not taking any chances." Calen mounted his horse.
"Now take Thomas home and I mean it, Caleb, no one is to leave the castle until I return. And no matter what I say, if I don't know the password, don't open the gate. Kill me. Caleb, you have to kill me if I don't know the password, understand?"
Caleb shook his head. "No, I don't understand at all. I can't kill you, Calen, no matter what!"
"Caleb, if I don't know the password, then it isn't me and you have to kill me." Calen stuck his hand out, and Caleb took it. "Promise?"
Caleb squeezed his brother's hand and nodded. "I promise."
Calen spurred his horse and took off at a dead run.




Friday, May 13, 2011

Bloggers back!

That old saying is true - you don't know what 
you've got until it's gone...

Blogger wouldn't open for me all day 
yesterday or this morning - I missed it!!
Even though I don't post daily I still stop
in a read all my faves each day.
A lot of comments are gone now, so if you
did post and I haven't replied I apologize
now - I think Blogger ate them!!!

Now to play catch up... Be sure to stop 
by tomorrow I have Rie McGaha here
discussing her time travel fantasy book
Calen.

Here's Thursday's Excerpt on Friday.
This is a first peak at a new one I'm working
on the first in the Sisters of Heart trilogy -
The Witch That Lies Within



Tiring from the words they had all said to her many times before, Alana raised her hands in the air and sent a gust of wind through the circle.  “I cannot bear to hear this again, sisters.”  She turned and watched as Ella and Jane nodded to one another.  “I am not taking part in your scheme of evil darkness.”

Ella snorted in an unpleasant manner.  “You would break your word to each present here?”
Alana took a step back, bringing her close to the water’s edge.  “I would not.”  Her eyes quickly met that of Eden and Bridget before she finished.  “I would choose to revoke all I that I have been given than do unjust things to others that cannot defend themselves from your dark ways.”
Lenora gasped.  “You would not...”
Alana raised her hands.  “I would exactly.”
Jane stepped in front of Ella.  “For you to revoke your gifts, would you not be obliged to take all of ours?”
Alana shrugged.  “Mayhap it will, no one can be certain.”
Ella shoved Jane out of her way.  “You would not dare to try, young sister...”
Eden bent down at Alana’s feet and opened the bundle.  Alana opened her hands in front of her and bit her lip to stop from hissing as her sister placed small scores on her palms.  Keeping her focus on the three opposed, she prayed they could not see.  When Eden straightened and walked past Bridget, she knew the task was complete.
Alana clasped a hand each of Eden and Bridget and raised their arms, the blood from the shallow scores upon their hands mixed and brought to her a heat of power that only she could have bared.
“Sister, Eden, stop them!”  Lenora cried.
Alana closed her eyes and felt the winds circle her with recognition.  Beneath her feet the ground quivered, waiting for her to speak to it.  As she opened her eyes and focused on the three sisters she did not now touch, she felt the spray from the water at her back cover her in small droplets.  “I cannot be part of something that goes against all that I feel to be right, sisters.”  Tilting her head she looked at Jane.  “Join us in protecting what is just.”
Jane’s eyes widened and for the briefness of a heartbeat, Alana thought there was a small chance she might agree, but she shook her head and stepped beside Ella.  Woefulness filled her insides, even though she knew the outcome days before, her heart begged her to attempt. “Lenora?”  Once more she waited even though she knew another sister was lost to her.  Lenora backed further away and looked at the sand under her feet. “So shall it be,” Alana whispered.
Inhaling slowly she raised her eyes to the moon whose rays bound her to the sky above.  “I call ...”
“Wait!”  Ella’s voice was filled with panic.  “We can speak more of this and draw an end that pleases each one of us together.”
The fear jolted into her from the hands she held.  Without looking at Ella, she sought to feel what was in her soul.  Pain enveloped her heart as the truth coursed into her.  “Why speak of falseness, eldest sister?  I know what lurks in your heart and I must protect the innocent you wish to cause sufferance to.”
Raising her hands higher she spoke to the night. “I call upon the night and all of her energy, come to me and abet me with this, my last task.”  The winds swirled coloured leaves around her, she smiled and let the magic wash over, feeling the warm welcome of it just once more.  Lightening streaked through the clear sky above, she inhaled the power. “I seek to bind this three and three from doing any harm.”  A circle of flames burst around them, flicking as long tongues of three feet high, blocking the outside from entering and the six from leaving.  “I send for safe keeping all that we have, the gifts that you gave, to our furthest ancestors to keep within until there is a dire need of them.”
A stinging traveled along her flesh as the energies gathered, waiting for her leave go of.  “When a time comes that this three and three be together once more, awaken and come again...”  So much power was collecting inside her she had no choice but to cry a single tear, knowing that this was the last time she would feel it in this body.  “Collect inside the generations and carry us forward to a time long from now.”  She could hear crying, but was not to take a chance to see which sister or sisters it came from. “Select the one that bear good will and a honest heart and make her remember.  Remember the times of this six and behold the gifts we pass to her.”  A clap of thunder sounded across the sky, its cry echoing over the lake until it faded back into the night.  “I thank you from deep within and now set you free...” 
A strong tunnel of wind gust through the circle, stealing any more she had to speak.  Opening her eyes wider she watched as each sister dropped to the ground, leaving her the last one standing.  A burning washed over her, pulling at her until she thought she could bear it no longer, and then it was gone. Emptiness filled her as the flames swallowed into the ground.  Behind her the water was now lying calmly as it had been when they had arrived. The earth was now silent, as it had been. The rays of the moon seemed no more than a light in the darkness, without power and purpose.
A draining feeling passed through her, causing her legs to weaken under her until she dropped onto the sand and panted to seek to breathe once again.  Looking around, the others didn’t move, they just lay where they had fallen without a word.  When she glanced upon Ella, the hatred was clearly on her face.
“I will have vengeance.”  Ella hissed at her.
Alana rolled onto her back and looked at the sky, feeling like nothing more than a child again.  “You may seek to strive for such.”  She answered softly. It was wondrous to feel this once more.
Was she floating?  See seemed weightless enough to be.  Squeezing her eyes shut, she counted to ten before opening them again.
Hovering above a lake, she could see her own shadow cast on the water from the moon above her.
A dream, it had to be a dream.  The last time she checked none of her life skills involved floating.
Glancing around, she didn’t recognize the area below her. People were walking through trees, or maybe those were just children...
Where was she?
A voidness came over her, she felt like she was fading...
            What was that ringing noise?
Bolting up, Teegan looked around to realize she was in her own living room.  






Jacqueline Paige

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Tour winner

The winner from my Twice Cursed Book tour is....

LadyVampire2U

Congrats!!


Also a short after post regarding my
Romance Radio Network interview
I listened to it and I'm happy to say
Desmond did a marvelous job of helping
me sound like I know what I'm doing.
:)

Thanks so much Desmond!!!



Jacqueline Paige

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Interview with Author S.J. Wright

Today I have the pleasure of having author 
of The Vampire's Warden, S. J. Wright here
on my blog for an interview.

Thanks for stopping by S.J.

  1. Who is S.J. Wright?
I am a 40-year-old married Mom with two boys who grew up in northern Indiana with six sisters.  Now I live with my husband, our two sons and our Jack Russell terrier, Shelby in the Dallas, Texas area.

  1. Where did your inspiration for The Vampire’s Warden come from?
I wanted to come up with a vampire story, but preferred for the setting to be somewhere familiar to me.  My husband and I had a short honeymoon in Nashville, Indiana back in 2002, and we really love it there.

  1. Did you have any problems with your characters doing what you wanted them to do?
Sarah and Michael have been easy to write.  Alex is a little more of a challenge because of his history.

  1. While working on a story, do you type directly onto the computer or are there notebooks and plot ideas jotted down in various places?
When I write out anything to do with the story, it’s on the computer.  I detest my own handwriting.
 
  1. What’s next for you, any future releases coming out soon?
The second book in the Undead in Brown County series will be released at the beginning of June.  It’s called The Vampire’s Curse.  There may be two further books in the series.

  1. Who are three of your favourite authors?
Margaret Mitchell, Charlaine Harris, Philippa Gregory.  The Other Boleyn Girl is one of the few books that I read over and over again.

  1. What do you do when you’re not writing/editing or thinking about writing/editing?
My 4-year-old son, Cameron, has spina bifida.  He has limited use of his legs, so he keeps me very busy when he’s not in school.  Then there’s the usual daily stuff that Moms have to do.  Laundry, cleaning, etc.  I also read a lot.  I don’t concentrate on one specific genre, either.  In the past couple of weeks, I’ve read one true account of the Auschwitz concentration camp, a wonderful book called A Reliable Wife, which is set in Minnesota and St. Louis during the 1910’s, and The Gathering, by Kelley Armstrong.

  1. This one has absolutely nothing to do with writing, but I’m getting ready for True Blood Season 4!  Bill or Eric?
Eric!  I’m a huge fan of bad boy characters.  I’m really hoping that the first episode of the season will involve Sookie picking Eric up at the side of the road and keeping him at her house until he gains his memory back.  Let’s just hope they don’t skip that shower scene!  Sizzle!


I'm trying hard not to get distracted by the shower scene comment ... so we'll go right to The Vampire's Warden book details.


Blurb:
It was a flash in the moonlight, a blur of motion like I’d never witnessed before. No human had the capacity to move like that. When I found myself face-to-face with him there in the meadow, I knew without a doubt that the journal was authentic. I knew that my grandfather hadn’t been crazy at all. 

Because a foot away from me stood a vampire.


Sarah Brightman reads her grandfather's journal in stunned disbelief. What was once her grandfather's responsibility has passed to her father and now to her. She has become the Warden. Her life will never be the same.

This is part one of a three-part series. It is 31,880 words long.

Excerpt from book:
I was in the meadow.  Panic pushed through me in waves and my heart began beating savagely inside my chest.  No.  Not here.  I turned blindly to make my way back towards the main house.  That’s when I heard the voice.
“Ah, Sarah.”
The voice echoed around me, unfamiliar and oddly seductive.  The voice of a man.  It was endlessly alluring, smooth and sent little hot shocks up my spine.  But I could feel the dangerous undertones, the hint of deception as my brain tried to process the way my body was reacting.
“Who’s there?”  I called cautiously, glancing around.  Fear congealed in my gut, rendering my legs and arms powerless.  Whoever was calling me seemed to know me on a deeper level than I thought possible.  It terrified me.  There was a complete and deadening silence in the surrounding trees.  A nothingness that brought the fear to a heart-stopping crescendo.
I waited and my gaze found the boulders in the dim moonlight.  I was reminded of the last vision I’d had when I’d touched Alex.  The woman in the meadow, waiting expectantly.  But there had been no fear in her such as I felt now.  Only anticipation.  What had she been waiting for?  Who?  Why hadn’t she been afraid?
It was then that I saw a figure step out from behind one of the boulders.  His movements were fluid and graceful as a jungle cat.  He paused for a moment and then leaned back against one of the boulders, crossing his arms.  I couldn’t make out his features in the darkness, only the carefree stance and powerful build.  Even without the validation of physically seeing his eyes, I felt them on me just as I felt the ground beneath my feet and the ragged breaths coming in and out of my chest.
Then he spoke.
“At last.”  There was a breath of a sigh and I thought I saw his lips curve upward in an ironic smile, “My dearest Sarah.”  Again, that same melodic voice captured my attention completely.






Title: The Vampire’s Warden
Author: S.J. Wright
ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-1460989883 (CreateSpace-Assigned) 
ISBN-10: 1460989880 

Page count: 186
Genre: Paranormal thriller/paranormal romance
Price: $0.99
The ebook version of The Vampire’s Warden is available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NNVKAO,



The Vampire’s Warden blog can be found at http://vampireswarden.blogspot.com/.


Thanks again for being here today, S.J !!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Random Sunday

Yes, usually it's supposed to be a random pic, but with
mother's day and all that this day entails I didn't have time
to decide on a pic...

To all mom's-stepmoms-grandmoms-great grandmoms- 
foster moms- moms to be ...

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Later today / this evening my interview goes
live on Romance Radio Net - I still have
mixed feelings on this event - I'll listen to the
end result of this, but rest assured I will probably
be holding my breath the whole time!   I tend to talk
what my brain thinks and hopefully Desmond did some
lovely editing here and there.
:)
FOLLOW THIS LINK TO HEAR ME

Now, for all those Mom's out there that need to relax and
step into another world, I've selected one for you to send them to
(and NO surprisingly it is NOT one of my own books)
The author of this one is a friend, one I made just after I signed
that very first contract into the whirlwind of the publishing world-
in the beginning we spent a lot of time emailing with rants, 
questions as we felt our way around this new foreign realm 
and when I want to step away from my own writing and just 
fall into the perfect mix of fabulous characters and edge of my
seat page turning I turn to her stories 
(write faster J.A !!!)

Just check it out, you won't be disappointed!!

Just click on the pic to get there.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Jacqueline Paige

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Drop by

Today I'm over at Rabid Reads
being interviewed.  Stop by and leave
a comment to be entered in the draw
for a copy of Twice Cursed.


Tomorrow my Radio interview is over
at Romance Radio Net 


Jacqueline Paige

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Interview with Author Mysti Parker

Today I have Author Mysti Parker stopping on her
tour for A Ranger's Tale.



1. Who is Mysti Parker?
First of all, thank you so much for inviting me to be here today!
My author bio says: Mysti Parker is a full-time wife, mom of three, and a writer. Born and raised in Kentucky, writing has always been her first love. After many years of pursuing other things, she began her writing career in earnest in 2009.
That’s me in a nutshell. I’m also a decent cook, I hate shopping and people who don’t put their shopping carts back in the corrals. And I’m a big goofball.
2. Where did you get your inspiration from for A Ranger’s Tale?
I’m a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings, computer games, and any tales featuring Tolkien-ish fantasy. I also love romance.  I wondered what it would be like to create a world where the characters face realistic challenges alongside the fantastical ones, all the while searching for true love. Hence, the characters in A Ranger’s Tale were born. I think we can all relate to Caliphany’s impulsiveness and Galadin’s guilt. Of course, they must overcome these personal struggles while battle fire-wielding wizards, goblins, and a troll or two.
3. I understand this is your debut novel, how are you feeling about that now that it’s been released?
Like most authors, I’m uber excited, but I alternate from that blissful state to a state of nervousness. When you publish something, it’s like putting a little piece of yourself out there for everyone to see.  I’m excited to share the fruits of my imagination, though, and I hope people will enjoy reading A Ranger’s Tale as much as I enjoyed writing it.
4. Do you ever have problems with writers block?  If so how do you get through it?
What writer doesn’t? At times when I stall, I’ll just tackle one of the 5 million chores I have lying around. Better yet, I’ll crank out a short story and stretch my writing muscles. If I clear my mind for just a while doing something else, very often I’ll get that “aha” moment and know how to continue with the plot.
5. While working on a story, do you directly onto the computer or are there notebooks and plot ideas jotted down in various places?
When an idea hits, I write it down wherever I am. In a notebook, on a church bulletin, a napkin, the back of an envelope—the sooner I get it down, the more likely I’ll remember. One thing I do with a current manuscript is type out snippets of dialogue or ideas for subsequent scenes right on the manuscript itself, below the scene I’ve been working on. This is especially helpful if the idea is for the very next chapter or scene, and I can easily look back to see if the new idea fits and what needs to be tweaked.
6.  Do you have any future releases we should watch for?
A Ranger’s Tale is the first in a series of stand-alone novels set in the fantasy world of Tallenmere. Here’s a little insider information: Chapter Four makes brief mention of several characters who will be appearing in subsequent books in the series.
Right now, I’m working on Serenya’s Song, the second book in the series. It stars one of the prominent male characters of A Ranger’s Tale. Look for it in October, 2011. The third book in the series is Hearts in Exile, a tale of lost love…and dragons! It will be available in September 2012.
7.  What do you do when you’re not writing/editing or thinking about writing/editing?
I’m a full-time mom of three. If I’m not writing/editing or thinking about the process, then I’m taking care of kid-related things. Every other day, it’s food, food, food…that was a joke. Being a mom is a 24-hour, 7-day a week job. It’s the best and hardest job I’ve ever had.
Sometimes, the kids do sleep, so the husband and I indulge in our favourite TV shows: House, American Idol, and True Blood (if the new season will ever start). We just moved this past November, so we’re also going about the business of straightening the place up when we get a chance. I also go to church, exercise, and read a good book when I can sit down long enough.
8.  If you had one piece of advice for all those writers sitting out there procrastinating about making that first submission what would it be?
Go for it! Get that first draft finished, first of all. Don’t let it sit there nagging at you. Finish it, even if it’s crummy. Then, find yourself a group (online or in person) of other writers with whom you can share critiques. It’s a tremendous advantage to both receive and give critiques of others’ work. You’ll learn what to do and what not to do, and you’ll grow by leaps and bounds. Don’t depend on family and friends for their opinion. They usually won’t want to hurt your feelings.
Also, learn to self-edit. Read it out loud to catch things your eye misses. When you’ve got that polished-up manuscript, learn how to write a good blurb, query letter, and synopsis, then seek out the appropriate place to publish. The internet is your friend. Be persistent, and don’t give up.

Thanks for being here today, Mysti.
Here's more about A Ranger's Tale and where you can find Mysti

In the fantasy world of Tallenmere, the high elf, Caliphany Aranea, nearly a century old, has never been allowed to travel farther than a few miles out of the capital city of Leogard. Her father, Sirius, leads the Mage Academy, and after losing his only son, he expects Caliphany to take his place one day. The trouble is, she doesn't want to study magic and doubts she'll ever be as good a wizard as her father. She dreams of leaving Leogard to explore the world and strike out on her own--lofty goals for Sirius' daughter, who also happens to be King Leopold's niece.

When two brutes at Leogard Harbor attempt to kidnap her while she dreams of faraway lands, half-elf ship captain and ranger, Galadin Trudeaux, comes to her rescue. From their first chance encounter, to the finale, where Caliphany must decide where her heart truly lies, she and Galadin will face more adventure, more love, more heartache, than they ever thought possible. Through it all, they discover the power of forgiveness and of a love that stands the test of time.

EXCERPT:

Galadin
Cali stood and flung her bow over her shoulder.
I waved my hands at her. “Cali, I think you should stay here in the camp.”
“I will do no such thing.”
“The goblins aren’t to be taken lightly. They can swarm on you in an instant.”
“Which is all the more reason I should go along to help.”
There was no arguing with her, not with that stubborn set of her chin and those flashing blue eyes. Damn, she was beautiful when she set her mind to do something.
“All right, then, let’s go, but we have to be careful.”
We climbed the narrow path up the cliff side to the ancient temple. Bastivar was a crumbling, pillared fortress carved into the mountainside in honor of the goddess Innessa. Worshippers had long since vanished, and as long as anyone could remember, the only current inhabitants were goblins.
Hidari mi compli,” we chanted, and sneaked inside. Our eyes adjusted to the dim light in the entryway.
“I’ll draw some of them out,” I whispered. “Stay concealed, and when you see one coming, shoot it.”
Down one corridor, a group of three goblins came toward me. I aimed and shot one, then ran back when the other two charged. Cali’s first arrow barely missed my head, but she got one. I shot the last one as she readied another arrow.
“Nicely done,” I whispered. “Now, we—”
Achoo! Cali couldn’t stop her sneeze in time. She whispered, “I’m sorry.”
A great snarling ensued from within the main corridor. A horde of beady, yellow eyes came toward us.
       “Cali, run!”
She fled, and we ran down the cliff side as fast as we could without falling off. We reached the forest floor, and I looked back. Goblins streamed out of the ruins, so many that some fell off the cliff. There had never been this many before. It must have been a long while since anyone had cleared them out. We sped through the underbrush. Thorns scratched our skin and snagged our leathers, but they were gaining on us.
We reached the main path, and I grabbed Cali. “Give me my father’s sword.”
She unsheathed it and handed it to me. “Galadin, there’s too many. We’ll never fight them off.”
“Conceal yourself and run. Now!”
She clutched my sleeve. “I won’t leave you here!”
For the brief moment while the goblins closed in, I met her panic-stricken eyes. I’d never met a woman I would die for, until then. “Go!”
I pushed her on, and she turned to run. Goblins burst through the bush, and I readied my sword. Right and left, I swung, impaling and kicking them off the blade, chopping off spindly gray limbs, a head when I could aim just right. Piles of jerking bodies began to pile at my feet. The onslaught lessened, but before I could catch my breath, another wave of them burst forth.
One of them latched onto my arm, its jagged teeth sinking in through the leather. I cried out. Then, an arrow sank into its ugly body. Cali had come back, her next arrow nocked and ready. I shook the goblin off my arm. Still, they came, yet another wave.
She threw down her bow and ran to my side. “Galadin, get back!”
“What? No, I told you to run!”
“No time.”
She pulled me back, stepped in front of me, and held out her hands. Blue fire burst from her palms, like flaming blasts of lightning, but continuous, and dreadfully hot. I had to back away from the intensity of the heat. The inferno charred the goblins, turning them from gray, to black, to piles of ashes before my eyes. The fire consumed every bush and weed, everything in its path, until the goblins in the rear decided they were outmatched. Shrieking, they turned and hightailed it back up the cliff and into Bastivar.
Cali stared at her smoking hands. I ran to her, relieved to see that she wasn’t burned. But, she was weakened. I embraced her, letting her catch her breath, her head on my shoulder. I ran my fingers along her braid.
“I didn’t know you could do that,” I said.
She raised her head and peered into my eyes. “I didn’t either.”
Then, our lips met, and nothing else mattered.



Buy link for A Ranger’s Tale at Melange Books: http://www.melange-books.com/authors/mystiparker/parkerarangerstale.html
Buy link for A Ranger’s Tale at All Romance eBooks:  http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-aranger039stale-511665-143.html