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Thursday, June 23, 2011

Excerpt Thursday - From Mystic Perceptions

I just received an email from a reader that is completely
in love with Jac from Mystic Perceptions so I thought I'd
put up an excerpt today from that one.
It's the most rewarding feeling when people actually
like what you've written for them!  :)






Mystic Perceptions - Book 1 in the Hidden Senses Trilogy


Reid walked back into the office and stopped as soon as
he saw the expression on Jacinda’s face. She was standing
behind his desk and it only took one glance at her face to
know he hadn’t closed the file open on his desktop.

Brent walked over to him, wincing, and quickly took
one mug from him. “I’ll—uh--be back.”

He watched Brent almost run from the room. Coward.
“I’m researching--trying to find a lead for you--and
you’re researching my past?”

Okay, so it sounded bad when she put it like that. “I like
to know who I’m working with.” He set the cups down on
the table, safely away from the angry woman, and she was
definitely angry--there was no guarding that emotion from
showing.

Stepping around his desk, she glared at him. “Then
ask!”

She stood there glaring up at him with her hands on her
hips, almost daring him to push her further. And the part he
had trouble swallowing was she looked so appealing like
that he wanted to go over and hug her. Appealing? Where
had that insane thought come from? Here she was looking
like she was going to rip his head off and hand it to him and
his mind was tossing stuff like that at him. His own thoughts
jolted him into action. He walked with long strides over
behind his desk. “Why did you move away?”

Flinging a hand towards the computer monitor, she
hissed. “Can’t you read? I’d helped convict the son of a very
powerful man and didn’t want to spend the rest of my life
looking over my shoulder.”

He frowned at the article on his screen briefly before he
looked over at her. Asking was making her angrier. “Is that
why you changed your last name?”

Putting her hands back on her hips, she dropped her
head down to look at the floor and took a deep breath before
answering. “Partially. Brown is a very common name and
looks much neater on a business card than Brown-Straton.”

Every word she spoke came out in a clipped, controlled
voice. He was sinking here. “Why do you avoid people?”

Her head popped up and brown eyes burned into him.
“I do what?”

 “Avoid people; you walk through a room making sure
you’re close to no one.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Do you like being close to
strangers, Detective?”

He jammed both hands into his pockets and shook his
head.

“Are we finished?” When he nodded she spun and
grabbed her purse, heading towards the door Brent was just
stepping through. “I’m going to get some air!” she hissed as
she moved past him.

Brent rolled his head towards his stupefied-looking
partner. “That went well.”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe--you should go try to fix it?”

Reid blew out a breath.

Grinning, Brent walked over to stand in front of him.
“Okay, setting aside that whole pride thing--which you seem
to have gotten more than anyone’s share of--she has gotten
us further with this case in two days then we’ve gotten in a
month.” Reid just stood there and looked at him. “And the
Captain will hit the ceiling if she walks out when the chief,
mayor and all those other big guys find out she quit because
you’re an ass.”

“Well, they all know that, so that shouldn’t be too
shocking.” Grinning, he shrugged. Guilt stabbed at him; he
let out a deep breath. “I’ll go talk to her.” Unclipping his
gun, he set it on the desk.

Brent smirked. “Is that so you don’t shoot her or so she
doesn’t beat you with it?”
Giving him an annoyed look, Reid walked towards the
door. “Bit of both,” he mumbled to himself.


I'll be holding another draw in August, stay tuned
for more information on that!
Jacqueline Paige

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Interview with Author Katie Salidas

Today I have the pleasure of having Katie Salidas stop by
on her tour for Karma and Melodies.







  1. Who is Katie Salidas?
I am Super Woman… Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, I can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons.  I can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, I still find time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). I can do all of this and still have time to write my novels.

Sorry… I can’t even write that with a straight face.

Lies all lies.

Here’s the reality. I’m a sleep-deprived, overworked, mom who just doesn’t know the meaning of the word balance. Writing is my passion and so is my family, so I try to do it all when I can. Needless to say that leaves me feeling pretty exhausted most days.

  1. How long have you been writing?  What inspired you to start?
I’ve been writing since I was little. I always loved to make up stories and characters. It’s just a part of who I am. My first official writing project, was a novel I attempted to write when I was 14. I had just finished reading the Vampire Diaries series and wanted to make my own teenage story. I had most of it written and then was told we were moving from Texas to Nevada. Sadly those pages were all lost in the move. Though that accident hurt, it didn’t stop me from writing. I don’t write YA style stuff any longer, but I do still write about vampires and other such creatures of the night. They’re just so much fun to work with!
 
  1. Do you ever have problems with your characters doing what you wanted them to do?
All the time! LoL. I call that writer’s block. It’s also the reason I am a pantser. When I first started to write “officially” I thought I had to plot out every detail of my story ahead of time. Then my characters revolted! The refused to do what I had set out for them to do. That stalled my story and made me so frustrated at writing, I almost gave up. Then, I got some sage advice. Just relax and “free write.” I took a break and let myself write other things without a pre-planned plot. It was then that I learned I was a pantser. I don’t work well with strict rules and outlines. Now that I know that, my writing has become easier and my characters are more cooperative.
That’s not to say I never run into writer’s block. I still do from time to time, and there are many days where I have to scrap whole chapters because I have written myself into a corner. But, even with those stumbling blocks I’m still writing and creating.

  1. Pick one character from Karma & Melodies and tell us about them.
I’m going to go unexpected for a moment and talk about Mikey. He’s not one of the main characters but he was just so much fun to write about. He’s my male diva! He’s the guitarist in the band Normal Paradox and he has a slight prejudice against supernatural creatures.
What made him fun to write about was the conflict between him and Kendra (a vampire) and also his love for his band. He needed to keep Kendra around for Marcus’s sake but he hated every minute of it. Kendra creeped him out, he worried that she was going to use him for a midnight snack, and also didn’t appreciate the effect she was having on his lead singer, Marcus. However, even with all of that anger, he couldn’t tell her to take a hike, or drive a stake through her heart because ultimately she was a necessary evil.
The temper tantrums he threw and the names he called her along the way were just so much fun to write. I have to admit, I love writing argumentative characters.

  1. What’s next for you, any future releases coming out soon?
I’m actually prepping my latest book, Pandora’s Box for release in July. This book is number 3 in my Immortalis series and promises to be the most exciting yet.
Synopsis.
After a few months as a vampire, Alyssa thought she’d learned all she needed to know about the supernatural world. But her confidence is shattered by the delivery of a mysterious package – a Pandora’s Box.
Seemingly innocuous, the box is in reality an ancient prison, generated by a magic more powerful than anyone in her clan has ever known. But what manner of evil could need such force to contain it?
When the box is opened, the sinister creature within is released, and only supernatural blood will satiate its thirst. The clan soon learns how it feels when the hunter becomes the hunted.
Powerless against the ancient evil, the clan flees Las Vegas for Boston, with only a slim hope for salvation. Could Lysander’s old journals hold the key? And what if they don’t?
And how welcome will they be in a city run by a whole different kind of supernatural being?
Werewolves…

  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?
Most of my writing is done on my laptop. I love the portability of it. I do, however, have a few notebooks lying around and I have notes on my phone as well.

  1. What do you do when you’re not writing/editing/promoting or thinking about writing/editing/promoting?
You mean there is something else besides writing/editing/promoting? LoL.
Actually, all of my non-work time is devoted to family. I work so many hours on the computer doing just that, writing, editing, and promoting that they often feel neglected. Weekends are work-free time (otherwise the family would mutiny). And family dinner, movie night, and game night are a staple in our house.

  1. This one has absolutely nothing to do with writing, but I’m getting ready for True Blood Season 4!  Bill or Eric?
Eric, definitely Eric!!! Even when reading the books, I really enjoyed the  chemistry that Eric and Sookie had. I know the TV series is vastly different than the books, but even taking that into consideration, the chemistry is there!!! I’m team Eric and I can’t wait for season 4 to start!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Here's some more about Karma and Melodies


Kendra used to spend her days organizing events for Café Enigma while daydreaming about Marcus, the sexy lead singer of Normal Paradox. But all those dreams of becoming Mrs. Rock Star died, along with her mortality, the moment Hector entered her life and turned her into a vampire.

Ten torturous years later, Kendra finally escapes Hector and runs straight into Marcus. (Well, actually, he hit her with his car, but that's beside the point.) The accident leaves Marcus concussed and a few pints too low, forcing Kendra to share her blood to save him.

Sharing her blood doesn’t just heal Marcus’s wounds; it bonds him to Kendra in a magical “can’t live without you” sort of way. Now he’s professing his undying love to her, and Kendra’s not sure if he’s for real or just experiencing the side effects of their new blood bond. Either way, the two of them can’t be separated without suffering suicidal levels of depression, and the band needs to hit the road for the rest of their cross-country tour.

Kendra’s content to travel with the band and explore her new-found relationship, until whispered threats from her master, Hector, start invading her dreams. He’s tracking her down, and she can feel it. She knows the horrors he’s capable of, and if he finds out about Marcus, Hector will do everything in his power to destroy him.

If she stays, Marcus is doomed to Hector’s wrath. If she goes, the repercussions of their bond might kill Marcus. Both options will break Kendra’s heart. If they’re truly meant for each other, they’ll have to find another way....


Here's where you can find Katie
Twitter
http://twitter.com/QuixoticKatie



Sunday, June 19, 2011

Random pic Sunday & I'm back!

I have not been neglecting the virtual blogosphere..
For the last three weeks I've been hip deep in work

trying to get caught up on everything so I could run away
and hide up north for three days!
I'm back - a little sore, a little sunburned but much more
relaxed then when I left.
We did some canoeing, some hiking (of course a four hour
trail might have been a bit much to start with considering we 
thought it was a moderate level trail but then found out afterward it was a difficult level trail - but we prevailed!) and a lot of sitting doing nothing but watching the trees sway in
the breeze.

Here's the picture story version of part of our adventures:

 After you trek down "the easy start of the trail" it helps fill
you with a false sense of being in better shape than you
thought you were ... and then the hard part begins
Going back up...
and further up....
up with obstacles ....
after and hour of down and an hour of up we found this
perfect little place to rest
(at this point we were thinking we had this thing beat)

pfft!

and still we go up

Just before this part there were stairs - a lot of stairs
as it went straight up the side of rock.  We were fooled into
thinking the stairs would be a wonderful thing - we were wrong!
To get up them we stopped at least five times and were all ready
for a nap by the time we reached the top.

2 1/2 hours later we were rewarded with this view.

an escalator right here would have been perfect
when we realized we now had to go back down to get
back to where we left the car.

Almost four hours from when we began, just under 8KM (5 miles)
later we got back to the car - deciding next time out we were
going to read ALL of the description of the trail before we
skipped down the path leading up into the wilderness.

I'll have more to post this week, some exciting guests coming
up and hopefully some good news on a few other things!

I was just informed that I needed to at least put a picture of myself
on my blog from the trip, so here's me taking a much needed rest
with one of my girls.



Jacqueline Paige

http://jacqpaige.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Interview with Roxanne Rhoads

Today I have the pleasure of having Roxanne Rhoads here
discussing her latest release Paranormal Pleasures.


Roxanne will be giving away a copy of Paranormal Pleasures
in ebook format - so be sure to leave your email addy when
you comment!!




1.     1.  You are a very busy lady.  Tell us a bit about Roxanne Rhoads.
Busy may be an understatement. I am a workaholic in need of vacation. LOL.
In addition to writing paranormal fiction, I freelance write for several blogs and websites. I also promote and review books at Fang-tastic Books, write a column for Night Owl Book Lover’s Magazine, and occasionally review books for Night Owl Reviews.
 I also own and operate the online book tour company, Bewitching Book Tours,  which specializes in paranormal and urban fantasy book tours.
And I’m also a book publicist for Entangled Publishing and occasionally do freelance PR for authors- currently Laura Bickle/Alayna Williams is one of my freelance PR clients.
Told you I am a workaholic. J

2.  Paranormal Pleasures is quite the amazing collection of stories.  Where do you get your inspiration from?
My muse is very eclectic. I never know when a story idea will pop up or new character will appear.
Sometimes a line from a song will spark an idea, sometimes a photograph or a painting. Sometimes ideas pop into my head when I’m thinking about something else- like making a grocery list- and all the sudden a story idea works its way in or maybe a character’s voice whispers in my ear.
I believe inspiration is everywhere; you just have to learn to listen to the strange little whispers that most people ignore.

3. Do you ever have problems with your characters doing what you wanted them to do?
Oh yeah. In a novel I recently finished (first of a series) I intended on one character to just be a side character, supporting cast. He wasn’t supposed to be a love interest for the heroine at all. Well, he had other ideas. Before I knew it there he was staking his claim and vying for her affection.  What started as regular, though troublesome, romance turned into a love triangle. At this point I’m writing book 2 and I don’t even know who will end up with the girl.

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?
It’s a bit of both. I still do my best thinking with a pen in my hand so my notebooks are filled with ideas, character profiles, plot arcs, and so on. But usually when I am ready to actual add to the story and work within the text I sit down at the computer and type everything. It just became too tedious to write everything out longhand then type it all up.

5. What’s next for you, any future releases coming out soon?
I don’t have any dates right now but like I mentioned above, I recently completed the first book in a vampire/witch erotic romance series. I hope that will be coming out in the near future. I am working on book 2 of the series. I also have several paranormal erotic short stories and novellas in progress along with another novel, currently a stand alone and could probably be labeled as paranormal chicklit. One day I may find the time to finish up a couple of the waiting projects.

6. Who are three of your favourite authors?
Only 3? That’s hard I have a huge list- let’s see- Kim Harrison, Annette Blair, and Nicole Peeler are three right off the top of my head.

7.  What do you do when you’re not writing/editing/promoting or thinking about writing/editing/promoting?
You mean I’m supposed to have a life outside of words and books? J
I read every night- that’s my way to unwind. But that still involves books and words.
Outside of book… I love to garden. Right now is my big gardening season because everything has to get in the ground. I spent the last weekend getting bruised by yard equipment, bitten by bugs, blistered from hand tools and burned by the sun- all to get my seeds, seedlings, flowers, plants and Japanese Maple trees in the dirt before the season gets away from me. Once that’s done I just have to remember to water and weed until harvest time.
When it’s not outdoor weather- which would be like 9 months of the year here in Michigan, I love to craft, decorate and redecorate my house (even if only in my head or on my wishboards), and search for unique vintage and antique “treasures”.

8. This one has absolutely nothing to do with writing, but I’m getting ready for True Blood Season 4!  Bill or Eric?
Vampire wise Eric is so much sexier- but as far as True Blood goes I’m all for Alcide. Strange because I’m normally a vamp girl but in his case, Alicide’s just my type- tall, dark and rippling with muscles. So what it he turns furry…unless my allergy to dogs extends to werewolves- now that would suck. LOL.


Thanks so much for stopping by today, Roxanne!!!


Now, here's more about Paranormal Pleasures - a book you need to put on the top of your TBR list!!





Title: Paranormal Pleasures Ten Tales of Supernatural Seduction

Author: Roxanne Rhoads
Publisher: Bewitching Books
Genre: Paranormal erotica
ISBN: 0615470386 / 9780615470382
Page Count: 138

Book description:
Ten tantalizing, erotic tales of vampires, witches and demons grace the pages of this short story collection by Roxanne Rhoads.

Step into the darkness and let these tales tempt and tease to satisfy your paranormal cravings.

Eight of Roxanne Rhoads' previous eBook publications appear in print for the first time, along with two brand new, never before published tales of supernatural love and lust.

Extended Description

A Last Goodbye

New witch Marissa is learning the ropes of being one of The Others. One of her mentors is vampire Deirdre, a tall beauty who really irritates Marissa. Marissa is extremely pissed when she shows up to Dante's Ball and finds Deirdre there with Marissa's recent ex-boyfriend, Jeff. The one she was encouraged to break up with because of his humanity. Deirdre explains her reasons for bringing Jeff and offers to help Marissa say goodbye to him in a way none of them will ever forget

Overkill... (Read more)
A Last Goodbye

New witch Marissa is learning the ropes of being one of The Others. One of her mentors is vampire Deirdre, a tall beauty who really irritates Marissa. Marissa is extremely pissed when she shows up to Dante's Ball and finds Deirdre there with Marissa's recent ex-boyfriend, Jeff. The one she was encouraged to break up with because of his humanity. Deirdre explains her reasons for bringing Jeff and offers to help Marissa say goodbye to him in a way none of them will ever forget

Overkill

Vanessa is tired of her boyfriend Simon’s promiscuous vampire ways and stakes him, repeatedly- not close enough to the heart to kill him but close enough to make it hurt. But now she’s had a change of heart and considers embracing the sexual world of the vampire instead of being jealous of it.

Witch in the Middle

Ariadne is a witch torn between two men, a vampire and a human. Her heart doesn’t want to choose but the men force her to make a decision that could break her heart, unless with the help of the Goddess all three of them can come to a mutually acceptable…and enjoyable agreement.

When It Storms

Devon’s witchy girlfriend becomes insatiable every time a storm rolls around and he’s more than happy to give her exactly what she needs.

Monster Inside

Shannon’s never seen her vampire boyfriend, Logan, vamp out before. Then one night he has to kill to save her life. Can she ever look at him the same way again?

The Questioning Concubine


Elita, a pure blood witch, has come home to find who or what killed her parents and to take her rightful place as the head of the coven. After five years of investigating and exhausting all conventional methods at her disposal, she decides to do the one thing a good witch should never do—summon a demon. The demon is not what she expected. Elita is soon swept up in his power… and her own.

Renata

The residents of the sleepy little town of Flushing, Michigan had no idea a vampire lived among them, seducing and drinking from all the men in town. Renata walked among them, blending in, taking only what she needed. One night, while she was on the prowl for fresh blood at a carnival, a handsome carnie caught her eye. She had no way of knowing he was a vampire hunter and was there for her.

Sea of Blood

Liana made Nerissa a vampire centuries ago in the islands of Greece but she’s never tired of her companion or the way she hunts her prey.



A Halloween to Remember

What says Halloween better than a wild party at an old Victorian mansion complete with its own cemetery? Perhaps meeting the man of your dreams thanks to the magic of Halloween.

Adena can’t believe her eyes when she spots Dimitri in the library- he looks like something straight off the cover of a historical romance novel-the type of guy she’s always dreamed of. Too bad he disappears before she has the chance to introduce herself. When she finally spots him again later that night she decides she’s not letting him get away again. Adena thinks she’s finally found the one. Until she wakes up alone the next morning- in the cemetery.

Halloween magic brought them together but will it be strong enough to keep them together?


Witching You A Merry Christmas


Witch Vicki has been leery of vampires ever since she was attacked five years ago. Daniel's a vampire and he's been secretly in love in with Vicki for two years ever since becoming Vicki's partner in The Guardians a supernatural group of paranormal crime fighters. Daniel loves Christmas and hopes the spirit of the holidays will soften Vicki's hatred of vampires and help her see him in a new light. Will he get his Christmas wish?



Multiple ebook formats at Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54836

Reviews:
“I felt the lust, I felt the chills, I felt the desire and of course I felt the spookiness. This story is set in my favorite time EVER - Halloween! And I do have to say that Ms. Rhoads definitely has a flare for the very hot side all the while keeping my interest piqued. This story definitely has all the elements of a hot erotic, spooky Halloween, and a love tale that will have the hopeless romantic fall in love all over again.”~A Halloween to Remember reviewed by Cecile Smith Night Owl Reviews
“Renata is a saucy heroine who’s sexy, smart and totally self sufficient. With the to-the-point character driven plot,  Renata made for an overall delightful read...Throw in an unexpected twist and loads of blazing sex, and the outcome boils on high for a gooey-warm ending.The Questioning Concubine was sizzling-smooth, eyeballs-meets-mind goodness. The writing flexes its wonderfully visual muscles while my mental senses happily quivered from the intake.
Humorous, spicy and sweet…definitely reading-time well spent.” ~Renata and The Questioning Concubine reviewed by Patrice F., Joyfully Reviewed

“Narrated with gutsy charm by Marissa, a young witch in training, this story begins with her outrage at finding Deirdre, the beautiful vampire who is training her, together with Jeff, Marissa's idiotic but well endowed ex-boyfriend. This story goes places that Marissa would never have anticipated, and she finds a new way of controlling her literally explosive orgasms.”~A Last Goodbye review from Goodreads
“Wowza! A Halloween to Remember is sizzling hawt! It is a quick little short that is a powerhouse of erotic pleasures for the reader and most likely for their partner after indulging in this decadent Halloween treat! Ms. Rhoads pushes the buttons on every erotic floor with this wicked orgy of sinful pleasures as she manages to deliver a treat that is both a stimulating and steamy paranormal of carnal indulgence as well as a romantic and sensual love story.”~A Halloween to Remember reviewed at Bitten By Books

Short read filled with lust, hot sex and steamy scenes. Overall an enjoyable read, storyline present, idea and concept unique. The cover caught my eye ! An ideal short but hot read , recomended to all. !! ~A Halloween to Remember reviewed by Katrina Whittaker rated it 4 stars at Goodreads