Monday 29 April 2013

Books, Banter & Bites on my Dock…featuring Marci Boudreaux



Photo by Brianne Boulton
Welcome to my virtual dock in the wilds of Muskoka, where it’s always sunny and warm no matter what time of the year it is. Please pull up one of the dock chairs, sit your butt down, and be prepared to be entertained and enlightened. Today, I’ve got busy romance author, Marci Boudreaux stopping by for a visit. If you’ve never heard of this awesome author, here’s her mini bio:
Marci Boudreaux lives with her husband and two daughters. With
an abundance of pets and freelance writing and editing jobs, she somehow manages to find time to write contemporary romance and sometimes, just sometimes, a bit of erotica under pen Emilia Mancini.

Romance is her preferred reading and writing genre because nothing feels better than falling in love with someone new and her husband doesn't like when she does that in real life.

Marci is currently preparing to begin work on her Masters in Publishing because she still has time to sleep.

Okay, I’ve got the campfire all set up for us after our big girl banter, Marci, so let’s begin with a glass of sweet red wine I scored from Muskoka Lakes Winery. Are you sure you don’t want to wear a bug jacket like I’m wearing? I bought extras for our guests from Canadian Tire (my hubby’s favorite store) just in case the mosquitoes get out of control. Then again, wine works too. LOL! Oh, and I made a batch of your famous Mama’s Sweet Revenge Peach Cobbler to nibble on around the fire. If anyone is interested in trying out this sublime recipe, please click HERE and scroll to the bottom.  So, while the cobbler’s cooling, and we’re sipping and enjoying the sunset, let’s talk about your book, Unforgettable You

Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write Unforgettable You?

Unforgettable You was a great distraction for me. It was the first full length novel I'd written in several years. I was a full time student, editor on the college newspaper, a reporter writing for several magazines, not to mention a wife and mom to two kiddos. I needed something to do to relax. I had also just published a novella as Emilia Mancini so I was inspired to get to writing. It is a great escape for me and I needed that. As for inspiration....ha!...I don't even remember.

Women definitely need distractions! What sets Unforgettable You apart from other books in the same genre?

What I love about this book is it isn't just about the hero and heroine falling in love. The heroine, Carrie Gable, is the primary caregiver for her dead husband's mother, Doreen, who had Alzheimer's. Carrie and Doreen have a bond that is incredibly moving, Carrie takes incredible care of her and we get to see that. I think that is unique for a contemporary romance.

How long did it take for you to start and finish Unforgettable You?
 
With all I had going on, it probably took six months or longer. I spent a lot of time in the newspaper office romancing these two characters.

Six months is pretty speedy for someone as busy as you are. Kudos! Do you have any advice for writers wanting to write in your genre?

 
Romance is kind of a tough genre to find a way to stand out. There are so many amazing writers who share love stories and in so many ways. I think the best advice is to write what you want and don't try to conform to what to what others say you should write. If everyone conforms, no one will stand out.

Fantastic advice, and so true! What's next for Marci Boudreaux the author?

I have just released The Messenger through Secret Cravings Publishing. This is a book I wrote about 10 years ago. I pulled it off the shelf and reworked it, which was a horrible, horrible, HORRIBLE process. The bones were there but the meat was rotten. Grin. The story is about Evelyn Thomas, a reporter fresh out of college working for her father's newspaper. No one at the paper takes her seriously so when she stumbles on a chance to prove herself she jumps at it. Unfortunately for her and for her co-worker Wes Reilly, he's already on the story. Neither one is willing to give it up and end up having to work together to breath the story.

 
It's a romance, so you get one guess where that takes them. Yup, the bedroom.
 
Sounds like you’re not going to slow down anytime soon, Marci! Oh here, let me top up your wine glass. Are you sure about the bug jacket? I think you’re being swarmed. No. I guess the wine must have kicked in after all! Now, before you go, please let readers know where they can buy your book, and how to connect with you. Thanks for taking the time to share your novel and your wisdom with us on my dock this evening. Cheers and best wishes in ALL your publishing ventures, Marci.

Unforgettable You Buy Links: Musa Publishing and Amazon
 
Learn more about Marci Boudreaux on her website and blog

Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Books, Banter & Bites on my Dock…featuring Vonnie Hughes


Photo by Brianne Boulton
Welcome to my virtual dock in the wilds of Muskoka, where it’s always sunny and warm no matter what time of the year it is. Please pull up one of the dock chairs, sit your butt down, and be prepared to be entertained and enlightened. Today, I’ve got Regency romance author, Vonnie Hughes stopping by for a visit. She’s come all the way from Australia to be with us, though Vonnie prefers to be known as a New Zealander, since her family roots are strong there. If you’ve never heard of this awesome author, here’s her mini bio in Vonnie’s own words:

“I write Regency and Victorian romantic suspense and contemporary suspense. I try to make my historicals meaty without being didactic. Rules are the bane of my existence. Often those writing rules take me on a journey I did not expect. Ask any writer. I’m a pantster, but I still have to abide by rules such as external and internal goals, motivation and conflict – the stuff that strikes fear into all writers.
I prefer to write psychological suspense with small amounts of action. Don’t get me wrong – I like action as much as the next woman and Suzanne Brockman is my favorite author – but my writing seems to lend itself to the twists and turns of warped minds à la Ruth Rendell and Jeffrey Deaver. Which says something not very nice about me, huh?”

Ha ha, great intro! Love it, Vonnie. Vonnie? Wakie, wakie, Vonnie! I know it’s almost dusk, but it’s not time to go to bed yet. You’re probably still a little jet-lagged. BTW – thanks for coming on such short notice, as I know you’ll be celebrating Anzac Day with the rest of Australia on April 25th. Here, this margarita has got your name on it. It’s shaken, not stirred, just the way you like it. Help yourself to the crushed avocadoes on whole wheat crackers. I added some lemon juice and black pepper to give it a bite. Later, I’ve got some rum balls from Schat Bakery, to shock your taste buds. Believe me, it was sooo hard to resist buying anything else there! Now, before you get comfy and nod off again, let’s get on with our chat…   
Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write The Second Son?”
 
The Second Son is unusual because it is the prequel to a book already published almost two years prior by Robert Hale Ltd called Coming Home. These books revolve around a country estate in 19th century Wiltshire. The family name and the estate are called Trewbridge.
 
I love prequels because they reveal back story and roots to the original story or series. What sets The Second Son apart from other books in the same genre?
 
In Regencies the second son in a family is usually a young man of derring-do who, knowing he does not have to inherit the family responsibilities, goes out and lays waste to his life with gambling, wine, women and song. Then of course the older son dies and…you get the picture. In The Second Son, I made the hero a different sort of man, injured physically and emotionally from war. He carries a sour secret: all his life he’s has loathed his older brother, not because he is jealous of him, but because he mistrusts and dislikes him. So of course when that older brother dies, John, the hero, is a mass of nerves, contrition, despair and guilt. Yes, it’s a romance, but it is on the dark side.

I’m beginning to see the Mr. Hyde in your Doctor Jekyll. How long did it take for you to start and finish The Second Son?

It’s only 58,000 words and because it was filling in background for events that had already happened, it did not take long to write. About three months plus one month of revision and editing. (I have trouble getting the words down, but once they’re down I enjoy adding layers and revising etc. Anal retentive).

Seems like editing takes just as long as writing the first draft. Do you have any advice for writers wanting to write in your genre?

As far as Regencies go, there are many, many authors now who are writing Regencies who began writing in other genres first. So it can be done provided you do the research first. Wallpaper Regencies abound i.e. 21st century people dressed in 19th century clothes doing 21st century things. No!
 
Agreed. Research is the key to a well-written Regency. What's next for Vonnie Hughes the author?
 
The first of a Regency trilogy is being considered by Musa Publishing at the moment. I am also in the throes (and believe me, they are throes) of completing another romantic suspense set in New Zealand. Again, my hero is beset by anguish. As you can tell, my theme is wounded heroes and the women who rescue them.

And tell me what man wouldn’t want to be rescued by a strong, beautiful woman? Oh here, let me top up your margarita, and please help yourself to another avocado appetizer, Vonnie. Now, before the sun goes down and the fire flies come out, please let readers know where they can buy your book, and how to connect with you. I want to thank you for taking the time to share your novel and your wisdom with us on my dock today. Cheers and best wishes in ALL your publishing ventures, Vonnie.

The Second Son Buy Links: Musa Publishing and Amazon
 
Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website and blog

Stay connected on Facebook
The Second Son

Monday 22 April 2013

Guest Post: LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF by Eleni Konstantine



You do right? Or are you like most people and run yourself to the ground trying to keep up with the hectic pace that is the 21st century? The latter probably.

I’m a great believer in telling people to look after themselves. But do I do the same? The answer is sometimes, because I have to. I have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and I know that I will crash if I don’t have breaks. One thing that CFS has taught me, I can’t go weeks without looking after myself as I once did. Probably a reason for the onset of it.

So what can we do to look after ourselves?

Nap or Meditate
I love my afternoon naps and have them most days. It helps me re-energize. Can’t get to sleep? Don’t worry. Use that time just to close your eyes and relax. I can’t meditate properly as I tend to fall asleep and that’s okay. I think it’s my body’s way of letting me know I need the sleep.

Move
Move away from the computer. I find that I move a lot more during the day than at night, where hours can pass as I sit at the computer. During the day, I put laundry on to remind me to move. When it’s time, I empty one load and fill the machine with another. But at night, I put the alarm on the computer or listen out for the computer voice telling me the time on the hour. I do move - some of the time.

Exercise
I feel better on the days I exercise. Endorphins are released and the body benefits from the movement. I haven’t managed to get into a proper routine yet (CFS is awful for setting routines) but when I did exercise regularly, I felt much better and I was more productive. Of course finding an exercise you enjoy is the key. I go to Curves as it suits me the best and do Tai Chi.

Necessary ‘Pampering’

I need to have remedial massage every so often (ouch!), because it does help the muscles and movement. I have reflexology on occasion, and also chiropractor and acupuncture appointments more frequently. Basically it’s me listening to what my body (and brain) needs. So work out and try to work it into your schedule once a month.

Read
I truly believe reading feeds the soul. See my blog post on the Musa Publishing blog. It helps to re-energize and let our imagination run wild, and our inspiration and muse spark off as well.

Vege Out
I watch TV, but I tend to watch it when I’m so tired I can’t read. I love stories and this is just the visual form. I tend to record things and watch when I’m in the mood or have an hour or so that I want to relax and not think about anything but what’s in front of me. Currently episodes of Son of Anarchy and Boardwalk Empire are waiting for me. Both amazing shows with such complex characters.

Drink Water
Remember to have that water bottle on your desk. I find it better than grabbing a glass of water because I’m likely to drink more. However, if you are good, you can use the refill of the glass for ‘moving’ as discussed above.

Eat Regularly
My biggest downfall. I don’t eat regularly nor have a proper breakfast - though I’ve been trying to fix that. Because I don’t have a set routine this isn’t easy for me. If you’re hungry (even if you don’t know it), your brain doesn’t operate at full capacity and you can’t concentrate on your work. And eating brain food helps. Bananas, anyone?

Commune with Mother Nature
Being outside - even if it’s in your front or back yards helps us get out of that funk that we can get when we’ve been too long inside. I always feel better for it even if it’s for a short while. It’s been hot here in Australia so this hasn’t been doable lately. I love the beach, and don’t mind going and sitting on a bench and staring at the waves. Or even going for a walk to the local park.

Hanging Out with Kids or Pets
Kids live in the moment, and as adults we tend to think in the past or the future. They have boundless energy and love doing all sorts of activities. I draw and play board games with my godson. It’s an enjoyable time and ultimately the kids will say something that is hilarious, so it’s always fun.

My dog is the same - lives in the moment and loves to play ALL the time. That unconditional love and companionship is just priceless. All the above do help - if we can get them into the routine. It’s a work in progress for me. Maybe we need to schedule looking after ourselves into our diaries? What do you think?
Zeta will protect the one she loves, even if it means living in Hell.

Mastering a unique power was much safer for Zeta Kosmos with a mentor to help her along. Now that he’s disappeared, Zeta must continue alone with her calling—closing Gateways to Hell.

Daniel Richards is in the family business—Warding supernatural evil from causing havoc on humans. As such, he’s only interested in the safety of one-night stands. Until Zeta. This bad boy now wants a long, lasting relationship.

But Zeta can’t let go of her past, nor can she ignore the secret demonic threats against Daniel’s life. She’d rather fight demonic spawn and be dragged into Hell than allow anything happen to him. Can Daniel convince her to stay? Will she have to pay the ultimate price?

To read an excerpt from Gateway to Hell, please click HERE.

ENCHANTED REALMS - a short story duo

Stormy Divide
Will Ellie ever find a way home?

Thom may be used to the dangers of the forest, but nothing has prepared him for this. When he stumbles across a woman dressed in weird clothing lying on the ground during a storm, he has no choice but to help her.

Ellie finds herself in another world, having travelled through time and space thanks to what Thom calls The Rifts. The question is whether she will ever be able to find her way back, or if she will be stuck in this new world forever. Or if she will even want to go home…

Angel Eyes
What if the man of your dreams only existed in your dreams?

Vera’s dreams are haunted each night by a man she only knows as Angel Eyes. He feels more real to her than anything else in her life, including her fiancé. Vera must try to forget her childish dreams of soul mates and happily ever after… but are they really only dreams or can she find a way to be with Angel Eyes forever?

To read an excerpt from Enchanted Realms, please click HERE.

Eleni Konstantine is Fantasy and Paranormal fiction writer, with a number of shorts published. Her stories range from flash fiction to novels. She blames her mother for her writing bug because as a child she was given many books, including illustrated fairytales. That and a love of Greek mythology, and Eleni was destined to become a writer. Eleni lives in Adelaide, Australia, with her family and feisty American Staffy.

Learn more about Eleni Konstantine on her website and blog.

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Books, Banter & Bites on my Dock…featuring Patricia Yager Delagrange


Photo by Brianne Boulton
Welcome to my virtual dock in the wilds of Muskoka, where it’s always sunny and warm no matter what time of the year it is. Please pull up one of the dock chairs, sit your butt down, and be prepared to be entertained and enlightened. Today, I’ve got contemporary fiction author, Patricia Yager Delagrange—a.k.a. Patti— in my circle of writing friends, stopping by for a visit. If you’ve never heard of this awesome author, here’s her mini bio:

Fascinated by broken-hearted couples and atypical families, Patricia weaves engaging tales of men and women who create cohesive families where love reigns supreme. She sprinkles her books with intriguing characters who struggle to find balance in life after tragedy. Whether an unwed teenager, desperate widow, abandoned father, or a couple who stray from their marital vows, her characters form relationships impacted by their desire to create a family.

Aside from writing, her favorite things to do include riding her Friesian horse, Maximus, dot-to-dot for adults, and watching Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington movies. She spends a majority of her days writing while her two very large Chocolate Labs lounge on the couch cuddled next to her and her MacBook.

Patti is a fellow animal lover like me, so I’ve asked her to bring along her Chocolate Labs to play with my Yellow Lab in the lake while we’re chatting on my dock this afternoon. Need any SPF, Patti? You being from California, I bet you’re used to this heat pretty much all year round! And here, let me pour you a large glass of your favorite soda, caffeine-free Coca Cola®. I got up early this morning to go to The Independent grocer in town. Had a devil of a time trying to score some See’s Scotchmallows for you. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find them anywhere, so I picked up some Decadent Chocolate Chuck Cookies instead.

Now, before we get started, here’s the blurb for Patti’s most recent release Moon Over Alcatraz:

Following the death of their baby during a difficult birth, Brandy and Weston Chambers are grief-stricken and withdraw from each other, both seeking solace outside of their marriage; however, they vow to work through their painful disloyalty.  But when the man Brandy slept with moves back to their hometown, three lives are forever changed by his return.

 Such a sensitive subject, Patti. Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write Moon Over Alcatraz?

My inspiration came from Amber Alerts. I’d always wondered how the death of a child affects a family. My story starts with a couple losing their baby at birth and how they deal with that together. In their case it pulls them apart.

Heart-wrenching! What sets Moon Over Alcatraz apart from other books in the same genre?

I’d never read a fictional book that dealt with losing a child at birth and I wanted to write about that, now that I’m a mother. It was a hard thing to write about in an emotional sense.
It must’ve been, Patti. How long did it take for you to start and finish Moon Over Alcatraz?

I can write a book in about two to three months. It’s the editing that takes the most time - another three or more months and then several more months after it gets to an editor.
Quite the process! Do you have any advice for writers wanting to write in your genre?

I think it’s hard to sell the women’s fiction genre to an agent. It seems they want to call it romance. I’d be more comfortable calling it contemporary fiction since that’s what you’d call books written by Nicholas Sparks or Richard Paul Evans.
So, what's next for Patricia Yager Delagrange the author?

I just started my fifth novel. It’s another women’s fiction book and deals with a woman whose husband doesn’t exactly have the same philosophy about raising children. That’s one of the main factors which pull them apart, especially since she wants another child. She finds out he’s had an affair and though there’s a happily ever after, a bit of drama unfolds during the course of their lives together.
Your fifth novel? You certainly are a writing machine! More Coca Cola? Great, let me top up your glass. Um, Patti, isn’t that one of your dogs swimming toward the middle of the lake? Thought so. Okay, before we hop in the boat to go fetch him, please let readers know where they can buy your book, and how to connect with you. Thanks for taking the time to share your novel and your wisdom with us on my dock this afternoon. Cheers and best wishes in ALL your publishing ventures, Patti.
 
Moon Over Alcatraz Buy Links:
 
Musa Publishing


 
Learn more about Patricia Yager Delagrange on her website and blog

Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter

Moon Over Alcatraz

Monday 15 April 2013

When Your Ship Comes In…

Mostly everyone has heard the saying “when your ship comes in”, and usually it means “when your luck changes (from bad to good)” or “when things are running more in your favor”. My guess is that it’s probably a throwback to a time when air transport did not exist, and the transport of goods or loved ones took a very long time. Merchants waited and waited for goods to show up—that often did never show up—while their families grew hungrier, and lovers waited interminably for their suitor to arrive, or perhaps even a letter, which often took months to deliver, while their hearts grew sadder.

A modern take on this old saying would be something like:

·         When any investment or business venture suddenly becomes hugely profitable.

·         A sudden unexpected life changing event, like a huge lottery win.

·         A long expected positive event or development finally happens and changes the recipient's life.
I personally like the third point best. In the Tarot Cards, the three of wands portrays “when your ship comes in” beautifully. The card’s interpretation means a successful enterprise, as well as partnership and cooperation. The graphic is of a man who is looking out to the sea, watching the boats of his labors coming back to him, all full of new resources to fulfill his next goal.

On May 18th, 2012, my ship came in. I was finally a published author with my first book, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis securely under my belt. There was satisfaction for sure, but after the sweet feeling of success, I knew more had to be done on the promoting and marketing side, as well as writing the next book in the series. As I dipped my toe into the publishing waters, it rippled out to others whether they were readers or authors or reviewers or family to share my creative energy with them in a way I never had before. And as the first anniversary of my debut book release draws close, I can honestly say that if you want your own ship to come in one day, make sure you take the opportunity to cooperate with others if you wish to lay the groundwork for future success.
In celebration of the upcoming 1st Anniversary of my book release, I’ve reserved the whole month of May on my blog to thank all my readers, followers, and fans by hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway which includes an awesome prize pack, link to a Goodreads giveaway, partake in the Children’s Book Week Blog Hop, and post a smattering of time travel tidbits for your reading pleasure. Anchors away, and hope to see you there my friends! 

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Books, Banter & Bites on my Dock…featuring Lizzie T. Leaf


Photo by Brianne Boulton
Welcome to my virtual dock in the wilds of Muskoka, where it’s always sunny and warm no matter what time of the year it is. Please pull up one of the dock chairs, sit your butt down, and be prepared to be entertained and enlightened. Today, I’ve got romance author, Lizzie T. Leaf stopping by for a visit. If you’ve never heard of this awesome author, here’s a little bio about her:

Award winning author, Lizzie T. Leaf, started life in Kansas, continued her growing years in North Carolina, and currently shivers through the winters in Colorado. She has numerous e-Books of varying lengths and her first print novel, Struck by Lightning, won dual 2007 Beacon awards. Not a bad track record for a gal who came out of the closet with the dream to write after she turned fifty. Her current works fall into two categories…erotic contemporary or paranormal romance. When not writing, traveling, reading, gardening and family consume her time.

Wow, Lizzie has traveled a long way to spend an evening with us on my dock today. And look, the sun’s just starting to set. Beautiful reds and mauves tonight! Insect repellent, Lizzie? No. Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you. Now before we get into the nitty-gritty, here’s a dram of single malt scotch to help you cope with any mosquito bites you do acquire tonight. Hmm – maybe I should make that a double. After our chat, I thought I’d give us a generous scoop of ice cream I scored from Kawartha Dairy this afternoon. I decided to go with Moose Tracks®, but if you want something different, here’s the list of all their ice cream flavors, and we’ll take a drive over after our chat since the store is open late. So, Lizzie, let’s get this party started!

Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write Emerging Magic?

Emerging Magic - 2nd book in the Magical Love series...the series is centered around a Scottish Cailleach and I love Scotland. Taking some of the mythology I learned about while touring around the country, the idea came to make the Cailleach (the old woman of seasons) into a matchmaker. Push her out of her comfort zone.

Scotland is definitely on my bucket list to visit. What sets Emerging Magic apart from other books in the same genre?

Beyond Magic and Emerging Magic bring together beings that may be unexpected. Nothing like mixing things up.

True, that! How long did it take for you to start and finish Emerging Magic?

Emerging Magic took about six months.

You’re a real writing machine, Lizzie. Do you have any advice for writers wanting to write in your genre?

Let your imagination explore all possibilities.

Now that would make for a great bumper sticker! What's next for Lizzie T. Leaf the author?

Banshee Magic in the Magical Love series is next on the schedule. For my other series, DEAD Viking and DEAD Santa are on tap for this year.
Sounds like you’ve got everything planned out, Lizzie! Oh here, let me top up your glass. Are you sure about the insect repellent? I think you’re being swarmed. No. I guess the scotch must have kicked in! Now, before you go, please let readers know where they can buy your book, and how to connect with you. Thanks for taking the time to share your novel and your wisdom with us on my dock this evening. Cheers and best wishes in ALL your publishing ventures, Lizzie.
 
Emerging Magic Buy Links: Amazon and Barnes & Noble   Learn more about Lizzie T. Leaf on her website and blog  Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter

Monday 8 April 2013

A Canine Call to Action…

Nemo rearing to go!
Imagine getting a frantic call from your neighbors to ask if you can help look for their missing dog. Yup, that’s the call I got last week. Now before I go on, this dog – a 10 month-old poodle/shih tzu mix named Pushi – was lost somewhere in an 18 acre forest. There’s still quite a lot of snow on the ground, which makes you feel like you’re in a video game trudging across the terrain and jumping obstacles. Not fun. My neighbor and her hubby had already combed the area where Pushi was last seen for two hours. Her request was a total no-brainer. Of course I would help! I dressed for the task and packed up my trusty yellow Labrador Nemo in the back of my car, and off we drove to my neighbor’s property.

If you’ve ever lost a pet, you’d know that sickly feeling in the pit of your stomach you get when a pet goes missing. To many people, pets are like their children, a family member who gives nothing but unconditional love to their owners. When I used to work at the local animal shelter, I’ve seen people break down in sobbing relief when they are reunited with their pets. It’s a humbling experience, and you end up hugging them and telling them everything is all right. Not wanting my neighbor to endure the pain of losing her puppy, I said a quick prayer to Saint Antony (the saint of lost things – trust me it works) and together with Nemo, I let him loose to search for their lost dog.
As we followed my dog, going this way and that, negotiating the uneven ground, I heard a faint bark and stopped. Nemo must’ve heard it too and high-tailed it toward a group of pine trees. There we found Pushi, her leash all tangled up around the trees. She was both frightened and happy to see her mistress after her ordeal. I’m not sure what she thought of Nemo in that moment, as he’s ten times her size! My neighbor was beyond grateful and asked me in for a glass of scotch to celebrate our victory finding Pushi. No arm twisting was required – she had me at scotch! Of course Nemo was rewarded with treats and attention, though I believe he just thought it was more of a game than a duty.

It’s amazing how our pets connect us to our humanness. That we would do anything for them, and
Pushi - seven hours after her ordeal
they would do anything for us. Love and loyalty can come in all forms. Mine happens to be a four-legged, 100 pound yellow Labrador with an insatiable desire for Milk Bone biscuits and walks in the forest. As for Pushi’s adventure, it turned out a ‘happily ever after’ for her and her family. Thank you, Nemo and Saint Antony!

Wednesday 3 April 2013

Books, Banter & Bites on my Dock…featuring Nancy DiMauro


Photo by Brianne Boulton
Welcome to my virtual dock in the wilds of Muskoka, where it’s always sunny and warm no matter what time of the year it is. Please pull up one of the dock chairs, sit your butt down, and be prepared to be entertained and enlightened. Today, I’ve got fantasy/romance author, Nancy DiMauro stopping by for a visit. If you’ve never heard of this wicked-awesome author, here’s a little background information about her:

Nancy DiMauro is a mommy, writer, lawyer, and farmer. Her condo-raised husband agreed to move
out to the country with her 12 years ago because living on a horse farm was her dream. They have two horses in their front yard, and two dogs, three hermit crabs and four cats in the house. Her dear hubby has managed to resist the pleas for a partridge in a pear tree so far. But, he doesn’t realize she planted a pear tree this last spring.

Anyway, she’s lucky enough to have two boys (soon to be 14 and 12). Nancy has been a practicing trial attorney since 1995, and in her free time, she writes. Actually, she’s pretty regimented about when she writes – between 9pm and 11pm 4-5 nights a week. After all, being a writer is one of her jobs.

Since Nancy loves the early morning (I think it’s a must if you live on a farm), she arrived VERY early this morning, and has brought along her favorite appetizer and sweet treat. Now since it’s too early to serve chicken wings, I’ve popped them in the oven to keep warm. In the mean time, we’ll snack on some of her Sesame Seed cookies with our morning tea while we’re chatting and watching the sun come up from my dock. Thank goodness, I managed to slip into Huntsville yesterday to grab some teas from Flotron’s Tweed and Hickory, one of my favorite local shops!

If you wish to sample either the wings or cookies at a later time, Nancy was sweet enough to bring both recipes. She’s my kind of guest! Here are both recipes:
Chicken Wings – single batch

½ cup soy sauce
¼ cup oil (olive is ideal)
1 tbsp. meat tenderizer
1 tbsp. dry mustard
¼ cup lemon juice
1 tbsp. molasses
¼ tsp. crushed garlic
½ tsp. “Accent”
2-4 lbs. wings.

Mix all ingredients together, Marinate, covered, for at least 12 hours, 24 hours is better. Stir occasionally.
Place on a foiled greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

 
Sesame Seed Cookies – Recipe feeds an extended Italian family (and don’t ask about the calorie count).

1 lb. Crisco (I like using the Crisco blocks over trying to scoop it out of the can)
6 eggs
1 lb. of confectionary 10X sugar
6 heaping Tsp. of Baking Powder
1 Tsp. Vanilla
6-7 cups of flour
Sesame Seeds.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream Crisco, add eggs on at a time while creaming.
After all 6 eggs are incorporated; add sugar and baking powder slowly into the mixture.
Then add the Vanilla. Slowly add the flour into the batter until the mixture has the consistency of cooking dough. I add one cup at a time in the beginning. When the dough starts to become more incorporated I add ½ cup a time. The dough should be soft and not sticky.
Roll Dough into logs about ½ inch thick. Cut into 1inch – 2 inch long pieces. Roll the pieces in toasted sesame seeds. Place on cookie sheet.
Cook until bottoms are lightly brown, about 10-15 minutes.

ENJOY. These are great dunked into your morning coffee (or tea, in my case).

So let’s get to business, Nancy. Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write Flashes of Life one of the short stories in Paths Less Traveled?

On one of the Writing Excuses podcasts, Mary, Brandon, Howard and Dan were brainstorming story ideas to show how it might be done. They posed a question about halloysite clay. And sort of challenged the listeners to figure out how to use it in a story. So, I started wondering, how in the world was I going to do that? The neat thing about halloysite is that has naturally occurring nanotubes and may be used to disrupt electronic signals. So, maybe, it would also repel psychic powers. Hum, I can work with that. Then came a long internal discussion about how and why, but since those elements are in a later story, I won’t go into them now.
 
But that story was going to be a murder mystery. So, now I needed my heroine. I started thinking about what a curse being a psychic could be if you were very strong but your talent was so limited as to be practically useless. So, I started playing with the idea of a psychic who could pull memories from the dead. But that wasn’t enough for me. How else could I make her an outcast? I use to have a boyfriend who saw people as colors more than features. One of the people in my building walked by my door one day and he jumped back a step. When I asked him why? He said a flash of orange had just walked past. I knew that orange blur as Sally (not her real name). So, what if my psychic didn’t feel emotion but saw it? I loved the idea of expressing emotion through color. Vonna was born.

Flashes of Life started its life as the prologue of the murder mystery and as Vonna’s origin story. She decides that she doesn’t want the life laid out for her, and chooses another path. Once Flashes was done, I realized that the novel length story I had been outlining to go with it really was better suited to a position later in a series. What? I was writing a series, how did that happen? Anyway, Flashes became a story in its own right.

Oh, I know all about how a series can get started! What sets Flashes of Life apart from other books in the same genre?
 
My kick butt heroine. There are female detectives. There are female psychics. But to my knowledge, Vonna’s the only psychic detective out there.
 
Sounds like you have a winning combination there, Nancy! How long did it take for you to start and finish Flashes of Life?
 
It took me about three months to get Flashes to the point it could be marketable. I originally planned on submitting it to the Writers of the Future Contest, but then had an opportunity to submit it to Musa Publishing. I spent another month on edits after Musa accepted it. So, about four months of work.
 
I do believe I’m a tad jealous of your speed. Do you have any advice for writers wanting to write in your genre?
 
Keep working. Keep mashing together ideas that don’t seem to go together until the puzzle pieces fall into place. Most writers give up before they achieve their publishing goals. Don’t give up.
 
Such sage advice, too. So, what's next for Nancy DiMauro the author?
 
I just finished the first draft of my erotic romance, New Bohemia: Just One Night. It needs to cool off a bit before I can start on edits. I’m editing The King’s Falcon, which follows the other kick butt heroine from the Paths Less Traveled short story collection. And I’m outlining Vonna’s next novel, a thriller about a serial killer targeting feline based shape shifters. My goal is to have the rough draft of that story done by ThrillerFest on the 4th of July.
 
All I can say is move over Allison DuBois here comes Nancy DiMauro and Vonna! Sounds like you’re one author who knows how to juggle your life! Oh here, let me warm up your tea, and please help yourself to another cookie. Later, we’ll dig into those chicken wings, and enjoy a Vodka Gimlet together. Now, before the sun hits the dock, please let readers know where they can buy your book, and how to connect with you. I want to thank you for taking the time to share your novel and your wisdom with us on my dock today. Cheers and best wishes in ALL your publishing ventures, Nancy.

Buy Links: Musa Publishing and Amazon

Learn more about Nancy DiMauro on her website and blog
 
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Monday 1 April 2013

And the Winners are…

Just a quick post to announce the winners of the Kick-Butt Character Hop and Goodreads giveaway I was part of this past March. I want to thank everyone who participated in either one or both of these awesome giveaways. BTW – I had 748 people entering my Goodreads giveway! Readers rock! And now on to the announcements – drum roll please…

 The winner of an ecopy of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis goes to Elizabeth Hyatt!
The winner of the signed limited edition paperback copy of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis goes to Kayla Cook!

Congrats to both winners! And just a reminder to please time travel responsibly. Cheers!