New Release - Three Tiers for Win

If anyone has read and enjoyed Wedding Gown Girl, my debut novel that came out last year, you may enjoy Three Tiers for Win. I enjoyed the secondary character, Elaine, in Wedding Gown Girl so much that I had to write her story.

I think Three Tiers for Win was such fun to write. I love to watch the Olympics even though it only comes out every four years. Last year, for the London 2012 Olympics, my country did very well in swimming and one of our swimmers received a gold medal - Chad le Clos. Because Elaine is a real softy girl, I thought a nice alpha guy would be perfect for her. Professional swimmer, Winston Harper (Win) was created.

Like Kienna in Wedding Gown Girl, Elaine is also into weddings. Her wedding cake business is just taking off at the beginning of the book when she meets the handsome and kind athlete, Winston. Her overprotective brother, who is also a professional swimmer, creates a great barrier to their relationship. Kienna doesn't approve of him either. Elaine's rebellious streak makes the whole situation that more fun.

I enjoyed writing a book with a bit of intrigue and adventure. It's not a suspense, but there's some drama and nail-biting bits in the races.

Win, although alpha, is seriously flawed and broken. I think he was my absolute favourite hero of all my books. I love a hero with wounds who hides them with ambition or independence. Elaine is perfect to break through them but there is one hurt from his past, he isn't even willing to let Elaine heal. This causes the greatest conflict of the novel. I'm not going to share any more.

I'm offering three PDF copies of my book in the Rafflecopter giveaway below from 12h00 American time today until Tuesday.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Partial Conclusion

I promised some of my writing friends that I would write a post on the difference between organising my own blog tour and paying an official blog tour company to do one for me. For Dragonfly Moments, I was unable to organise a paid tour within the near future and knew that the publisher wanted me to do one soon so I went ahead and did my own. I thought it would be good experience, too. Tasty Book Tours approached me about doing a tour for Cosmetic Heart because Lisa, the manager, loved the look of my book. I couldn't resist the offer. So, that's how I ended up having two blog tours on at the same time. Hectic, but a wonderful way to compare which way works best for promo.

Here is my partial conclusion. I can't say fully yet how it's resulted with regards to book sales, but these are my findings:

Pro's of Own Blog Tour

1. It's fun.
2. You get to see how awesome your writer friends are in helping you out.
3. You can control the when's and where's i.e. what dates to set your tour for and where you will be featured.
4. You get to control how much you spend on your blog tour.

Pro's of Bought Blog Tour

1. You reach a much higher audience.
2. You mostly reach people who don't know about you and your books yet.
3. You get to feature on official review and tour blogs as opposed to just friends' blogs which sometimes have more traffic. Or rather they have the traffic of people who are specifically following the blog because they want to look for good books to read.
4. It's much less work. The only work is to send your blurb details, etc. to the tour host and to pay them, then reply to comments along the way.
5. The tour organiser made a banner specifically for my tour which I could advertise with.
6. She promoted my tour on her website.
7. I had an exponential amount more entries for the rafflecopter competition. 1230 as opposed to about 90. The bought tour was only five days long whereas my own one was about seven days long.
8. The tour organisers organised about three stops a day as opposed to my only one stop per day - she had all the contacts.
9. I obtained dozens of Twitter follows and Author Page likes.

Cons of Own Blog Tour

1. Surprisingly, I can't say it was cheaper. I had to still buy the Amazon gift card and the swag bags, and postage came to about the same as paying the tour host. Of course, I may not always offer swag bags. That was just my choice. In the end, I think it ended up being more expensive.
2. It was hard work organising people to post on their blogs and work out the right dates to suit everyone's schedule. I had to make sure the blog posts went up every day and their rafflecopter links were working.

Cons of Bought Tour

1. Some of the people didn't post my blog on their allotted day because of internet problems but that could have happened on my own blog tour. The organiser informed me all along the way when there were problems. But they were strangers to me and not as invested in getting the blog post up in time as your friends. One host posted quite late without a valid reason as far as I know.
2. Honestly, it is a little expensive for those of us who live in SA and have to pay a lot for dollars. I wouldn't be able to do one often but maybe one per book.

I had a sneak peak at my sales on Amazon for both books. Cosmetic Heart was significantly higher than Dragonfly Moments on rating. This is by no means conclusive and I have to wait for my royalty reports.

So in conclusion, I think to save tons of work on promo and to have more time to do what we really want to do - write, it's worth it to pay a blog tour organiser - a good one of course. I would definitely recommend Tasty Book Tours. But, I'm not totally put off organising my own tour and may do it again some time.

Tasty Book Tours

We Have a Winner (Six actually)

I am thrilled to announce the winners of my Dragonfly Moments Blog Tour Giveaway:

The winner of the $10 Amazon gift card is ...

Empi Darko (well done, Empi)

The five winners of the South African dragonfly gift bags are ...

Anne Lange
Donna Feyen
Gayle Pace
Donna Wharton
Lee Todd

Congratulations! Thank you so much for taking part.

I've sent all the winners an email already so check your inbox.

The End of a Journey

The last stop of my first blog tour for Dragonfly Moments today! I can't believe I got through this unscathed. When I first considered doing my own blog tour, I have to be honest, I put it off for a while. I was petrified. I didn't know how to use Rafflecopter and thought it quite daunting. I didn't know how to prepare a swag bag. I'm still not sure about that one but I think the key is to make it uniquely you. Heather, the owner of Decadent Publishing, suggested I put in a few things about my country so I have. Many readers are from the USA and would love to learn a bit more about the unusual setting of my book.

Well, let me first share a few of the ups and downs of this journey which started last week. Rafflecopter was great. I had more entries for my giveaway than I've ever had before. But there were some glitches. The code didn't always work on my friends' blogs. I discovered that Wordpress doesn't have the ability to put up the Rafflecopter table at the bottom of the blog post. You have to put in the link to the Rafflecopter website. Blogspot can be tricky, too, and it didn't work for all my very kind friends and fellow writers who hosted me on their blogs. In the end, the problems were ironed out.

The highlight of the tour was the wonderful comments from people on the posts. People who I have never met, saying they would love to read my book! I'm terribly insecure about the excerpts I choose for my books. I'm so worried they will put people off and sound so stupid, so to hear that people want to read my book after reading my excerpt, boosts my confidence and gives me that lovely warm fuzzy feeling.

I can't wait to see who won my $10 Amazon gift card and the 5 swag bags. I've been collecting the items for my bags over the last few weeks and making one of the items furiously after much trial and error. I can't wait to pack them up and post them to these people. I will get the result from Rafflecopter tomorrow and post the winners' names on my blog, Twitter and Facebook page.

Thank you so much to my really, really kind and friendly writer friends for allowing me to be on your blogs. You are awesome!

For those who haven't been following the blog tour up to now, you can have a last chance to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dragonfly Moments Blog Tour

Guess what? I've taken the plunge and organised my own blog tour with Rafflecopter and swag. Swag? I know, I didn't even know what that word meant over a month ago. Swag is a giveaway bag containing fun items usually related to your book. So, I've been furiously making dragonflies out of beads and have put together a booklet with South African recipes. I'm also giving away one grand prize of a $10 Amazon kindle gift voucher so if you're keen, please take part and comment or tweet at my different stops.

Below is the schedule of the stops I'll be making, starting today:

Wednesday, 4 September - Rebecca Crowley
Thursday, 5 September - Eva Lefoy
Friday, 6 September - Inge Saunders
Saturday, 7 September - Louise Rose-Innes
Monday, 9 September - April Vine
Tuesday, 10 September - Rae Rivers
Wednesday, 11 September - Cate Peace
Thursday, 12 September - Last stop - my blog.

I hope you enjoy the journey and get to meet some other writers, too.

Guest Author Interview - Empi Baryeh

Today, I have another African writer on my blog. She hails from Ghana and writes tender, passionate romance (something I'm very fond of.) She's talking about her book, Chancing Faith, which is a multicultural/multiracial romance. I have a fascination with multicultural/multiracial romances as I like anything that breaks tradition and the constraints of society. Book 2 of The Creators which I'm working on now is a multicultural/multiracial romance. I've wanted to write one for years. Anyway, I'm digressing from Empi.

Here's Empi's very interesting interview:

What is the best thing for you about being a writer?
Goodness. Where to start … I guess the simple answer is this: as a writer, I see a story in most things, which makes life a little more interesting, I think. My mind is always creating scenarios even when I don’t grab a paper and pen (read: laptop) the moment an idea hits, so I’m almost never bored with my own company.

What is the hardest thing for you about being a writer?
As a pantser, I find it tough to sit down daily (as I’ve recently resolved) and write. Now that I’m published, that’s the hardest thing about being a writer, because I feel it’s more important than ever to keep writing and to keep publishing.

What genre/s do you write and what genre is your latest release?
I write multicultural and interracial romance, but I do have some mainstream material in the pipeline as well (even though those have strong elements of romance). My stories are set in Ghana, but one of my WIPs moves my hero and heroine from Ghana to Sun City, South Africa. I’m very excited about that. My most recent book, Chancing Faith, is an interracial romance, though I have to say it is more of a cultural journey than a racial one.

What essential things have you learned about writing in the last year?
Keep reading and learning more about writing … and that if I want to make a career out of writing, I must write every single day – i.e. treat writing like a career rather than a hobby (hence the above-mentioned) resolution. This is a tough call for me, since I’m used to writing when the mood hits.

Who is your favourite heroine from your books and why?
To be honest, my favourite heroine is usually the one I’m writing about, so for now, it’s Patricia from my current WIP, Expecting Ty’s Baby. This is the book that comes after Chancing Faith. Patricia is a strong character and she’s a stubborn woman, which is a little different from what I normally do, and I’m having lots of fun writing about her.

What type of hero do you like? Super alpha, wounded or somewhere in between? Or even something totally different? You could give an example from a movie or well-known book.
I like all kinds of heroes, but I do find alpha males exciting. I love the things you can make an alpha say and get away with. They are just soooo scandalous. I think every man in the world should have some alpha qualities – or fake it. LOL. However, my heart lies with beta males in an alpha suit. Those are the heroes that make me think: I would totally fall for this guy if he were real. Those ones stay with me long after I’ve finished reading the book. I think I’d love to try an alpha male in a beta suit just for the fun of it…

Tell us about your journey in writing your latest book.
My most recent book is Chancing Faith and it was a long, but wonderful journey. As I mentioned earlier, I tend to write when the mood hits, so it took a long time to complete my first draft. The good thing was that because I’d been editing along the way, most of the original story made it to the published book.

It started back in 2004 with the idea that I wanted to write an interracial romance which wasn’t about colour, but it wasn’t until I saw a writing prompt, asking aspiring authors to write a first kiss scene that I actually wrote something. I got really excited about the prompt (if you’ve read any of my interviews, you know I love first kisses). I liked the scene I came up with and the story kind of grew from there.

It took four years of on an off writing to complete the first draft. In 2011, I entered it in an editor pitch competition and got a request for a full manuscript. And the rest is history :-)

Tell us three quirky or interesting things about yourself.
Hmm…
I like to make up words. (the latest being “Foremental” (the e is silent) – which combines forethought & good sense; works as an antonym of 'foreboding')
I think buses are sexy
Tea with lemon and honey is my cure-all – except, maybe, for a broken heart.

What rituals do you use to help you focus or get the words down on the page e.g. music or a snack?
Music. Definitely. Aside from that, I usually read over the last page or two to immerse myself in the story and soak up the mood before I start any new material.

Mention something unique about your books and your writing style.
Ooh. Tough one. I write African romance – i.e. African settings and African heroes/heroines, which is uncommon. African readers can easily relate to my characters, and for non-African readers my stories provide a cultural adventure. Most importantly, I write about people like you and me, stories that could happen to us…
And remember I mentioned I like to invent words? Yea, I always try to get away with slipping one of those in or at least finding a creative use for regular words. (insert evil grin)

What book would you like to work on next?
I’m actually working on the book after Chancing Faith, which is currently titled, “Expecting Ty’s Baby”.

Like its prequel, Expecting Ty’s Baby is a mixing of cultures, this time between an African-American hero and an African heroine. And it’s not smooth sailing. Throw in a secret baby and things get complicated.

I’m really excited about this story. Oh, and it’s definitely spicier than its prequel. *wink wink*

Give us a blurb of your book and if you want, a short excerpt.



CHANCING FAITH

HE DIDN’T DO SHORT TERM RELATIONSHIPS…
American ad exec, Thane Aleksander, doesn’t date co-workers either—until business takes him to Ghana, West Africa, and he meets Naaki. Now he’s at risk of breaking all the rules. Can he stop this headlong fall before it’s too late?
UNTIL HE MET HER!
Naaki Tabika has a burning need to prove, to herself and others, that she’s more than wife and mother material. To do so, she’s prepared to give up everything for her job. Meeting Thane, however, makes her want to get personal. But falling for her boss could destroy her career. Will she be willing to risk it all for the one thing that can make her truly happy?
Two divergent cultures, two different races, two career-driven professionals, only one chance at true love—will they find the faith to take it, or will their hearts be sacrificed on the altar of financial success?


TEASER EXCERPT
Thane knew he was in for it now. He could hardly believe he’d really done it...

He’d kissed Naaki. Kissed her! What the hell was he thinking? Thane tossed his jacket aside and yanked off his tie. Of all the stupid—

Raking his fingers through his hair, he muttered a curse. The urge to hit something assaulted him with a force that should have surprised him. The perfect punching bag would have been his own body, since it was apparent that he needed to pound some sense into his skull. Right now, the only thing pounding was his heart as it threatened to burst out of his chest, throbbing partly out of anger but mostly from his pulsing desire.

Damned if he didn’t still want her in his arms. She made him feel like a teenager—and not in a good way. Vulnerable wasn’t a desired state of mind as far as he was concerned. He sat down with the adjoining door in full view, still unable to comprehend how he’d dropped his guard. How he seemed so willing to let down his defenses around her.

He’d panicked in the elevator, allowed himself to be captivated. He’d worried about her, touched her as if he cared. She’d kissed him back, moaned against his lips and his knees had gone weak. He could have made love to her right there in the lobby. He could care about her, and caring was the last thing he could afford to do.

Dammit. Naaki wasn’t a woman you got involved with on a whim. He needed, at all cost, to avoid her—the woman who’d so easily brought him to his knees, who’d caused his body to come alive and made him want—

Just want.

Empi's book, Chancing Faith, can be bought here:
Black Opal Books
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
All Romance Ebooks

You can connect with Empi online at:
Her blog
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter

Guest Author Interview - Taryn Kincaid

Today, I have Taryn Kincaid on my blog, a fellow Decadent Publishing author who calls herself boring but is far from that! It seems to be a common trend amongst authors to underestimate how interesting they actually are.

Taryn is a former award-winning reporter and columnist, covering everything from fires and homicides, to corrupt politicians and hero dogs. Nowadays, she haunts courthouses. Taryn reads genres and writes paranormal and historical romance. She is the author of Lightening, Thunder, Frost, and Heat Wave, sexy paranormal romances for Decadent Publishing's popular 1Night Stand series; a Regency romance from Carina Press, and Sleepy Hollow Dreams, an erotic paranormal romance from The Wild Rose Press.

Taryn answered some questions so here they are:

What is the best thing for you about being a writer?

I think Mark Twain summed that up nicely: “The best thing about being a writer is having written.”

What is the hardest thing for you about being a writer?

Writing

What genre/s do you write and what genre is your latest release?

Currently, I’m all about the erotic paranormal romance, especially my SLEEPY HOLLOW series of 1Night Stand stories from Decadent Publishing. The latest is the smoking hot HEAT WAVE!  Although I do have a Regency romance [HEALING HEARTS] and a contemporary erotic romance [BLIZZARD] out there! My Sleepy Hollow series (plus BLIZZARD) will be released by Decadent Labor Day weekend in a print anthology! (Early release 8/29, for those of you for whom Labor Day weekend has not meaning!) I’m so excited.

What essential things have you learned about writing in the last year?

KISS: Keep it short, stupid!

Who is your favourite heroine from your books and why?

Currently, I love Zena Night, the heroine of HEAT WAVE. She was a problem child. I introduced her in LIGHTNING, her sister Lily’s story, and she was an over-the-top, sexy bad girl. I had to redeem her for HEAT WAVE. Quite the challenge!

What type of hero do you like? Super alpha, wounded or somewhere in between? Or even something totally different? You could give an example from a movie or well-known book.

Oh, I definitely love reading about the super alphas. But not if they’re bullies or get off on humiliation and inflicting pain.  Rhett Butler, the archetype alpha.

Tell us about your journey in writing this book.

Well, as I said, I’d already introduced the Zena Night character in LIGHTNING. So I had to develop a backstory for her that showed why she was acting out so much and so promiscuous. I also wanted to giver her a softer, more vulnerable side.

Tell us three quirky or interesting things about yourself.

I am boring as can be. Also kinda snarky. Which is why I have imaginary friends!

Three things, huh?

I’m not sure I can come up with three.

Here’s one: I used to collect small Chinese figurines known as “mud men” because they were sculpted from mud, then given color ceramic glazes. I don’t acquire them anymore – haven’t for years – but they still collect dust on my book cases, in my cabinets and on bric-a-brac shelves.

Sorry. That’s about all I’ve got!

What rituals do you use to help you focus or get the words down on the page e.g. music or a snack?

Coffee. Lots of it.

Mention something unique about your books and your writing style.

I am fond of the metaphor and simile. Perhaps overly so, sometimes. I love to play with my words,  even more than I like playing with my food!

What book would you like to work on next?

I’m working on a couple of secret projects. One involves food. One involves werewolves. Both are kind of departures for me…so we’ll see what happens there!

Today, she's talking about her new release, Heat Wave.

Sent into the human realm to retrieve prodigal princess, Zena Night, Bhyrne Raines is shocked and unprepared for his carnal reaction to the sexy succubus. In service to the succubus queen, the rugged enforcer must stifle the instant passion exploding within him. Fulfilling his royal duty doesn’t allow for quickie dalliances. His biological clock is ticking, and he begins to enter breedspawn, an intense and unstoppable frenzy of mating all fire-demon males must endure. But the more he wants to avoid Zena, the more he’s drawn to her.

Reluctant to give up her carefree life of partying among the mortals when the hot-as-sin Bhyrne comes to fetch her for the queen, Zena uses her succubus wiles to entice him, or at least delay the inevitable trip to the royal court. Once in the demon stronghold, hidden deep within the Catskill mountains, she learns the reason for the summons: she must choose a consort within two days.

With time running out for both of them, they each turn to 1Night Stand. With time running out, can Madame Eve come to the rescue?

Here's an excerpt from the novel:

Holy freeze gun, Batman. The words died before she managed to expose them to air. Her mouth snapped shut.

One of the Queen’s guards stood before her, huge and tall, nearly twice the size of most of the other males in the joint, a hella hunka supernatural male. Clearly not human, although Hugo Boss’d to his Adam’s apple in an apparent bid to fit in among the humans trolling for hot sex, illicit drugs, watered-down booze and loud music. Beneath the fabric of the unstructured designer suit, the toned muscles of a demonic warrior rolled like tidal waves. Even without the small lapel pin the uninformed might mistake for the The Rolling Stones’ logo, she’d recognize him for a captain of the guard. Maybe the Queen’s own Captain.

Hellfire and cotton candy. Trouble. T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
But, by the goddess, whattahottie! Despite her certainty that his presence in the club corridor boded ill for her, the force of her sudden hunger shook her.
Like lightening.
Thunder.
A desperate bolt out of the blue.
Instant connection to him on the paranormal plane, as if he’d wrapped her aura in gold chains and tugged her to him. But did that fast lane to heaven run one way or two? A grim expression straightened the lines of what otherwise might have been a generous, sensuous mouth. A military buzz cut had weed-whacked hair the color of iron. And it didn’t stop there. Without doubt, metal fortified every single cell in the massive male’s body, pure titanium flowing in his veins. The stern planes and angles of a hard-edged, swoon-worthy face set grimly as cement. Though he lounged in the hallway like any Archie or Jughead waiting in line to discharge his rented beer in a urinal, he exuded authority, his carriage and bearing such that he made the others look like a pack of Twizzlers. Oh. Yeah. More than a mere guardsman, she guessed. An enforcer.

Ruh-roh

Taryn hangs around a lot on Facebook and Twitter with her trillions of fans and pops in at Goodreads from time to time. You can catch her on her website, http://tarynkincaid.com, and her blog, http://dreamvoyagers.blogspot.com where she lives for comments!

Guest Author Interview - Cathrina Constantine

Two firsts on my blog today - firstly, I'm having a pre-release guest blog post. Cathrina's book comes out on the 24th August from Black Opal Books. In print and digital!! And secondly, she's my first author who writes another genre i.e. not romance.

As a teenager, I was fascinated by fantasy books about the battle between good and evil like Frank Peretti's book, This Present Darkness. There's nothing like that thrill of wondering how the good guys are going to overcome the overwhelming odds.

Cathrina Constantine's book, "Wickedly They Come" is a YA/Adult-paranormal thriller; a gripping, dark fantasy where the battle between heaven and hell is escalating, and earth is their battleground.

Cathrina's book is part 1 of a four book series, so for you series and adrenaline addicts, here is the cover and blurb:

Haunting visions, unusual strength, and special paranormal talents are the norm for Seeley and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Jordan. Their lives become perilous when the leader of The Black Order stalks them, trying to fulfill a prophecy to consecrate Jordan to his lord—Lucifer.

Previously homeschooled and naive, Jordan is inducted into the social culture of teendom at Elma High, where she encounters Mark, a mysterious new classmate who is hell bent on keeping her unscathed from the forces of evil.

I'm fascinated by the character, Jordan, as I homeschool my three kids.

Cathrina has answered a few questions about herself and her writing.

1. What is the best thing for you about being a writer?
I can work at home.

2. What is the hardest thing for you about being a writer?
The blocks, and then I over think and over write. I get wordy and dramatic. I need to tone it down and let it flow naturally.

3. What genre/s do you write and what genre is your latest release?
I write YA. My debut novel is a dark, paranormal thriller. It’s geared toward older teenagers to adults. I guess you could call it a YA Crossover.

4. What essential things have you learnt about writing the last year?
It’s time consuming and hard, mental work!

Who is your favourite heroine from your books and why?
I like the tenacious Jordan. She’s full of spitfire, and not afraid of anything—except the dating game.

6. What type of hero do you like? Super alpha, wounded or somewhere in between? Or even something totally different? You could give an example from a movie or well-known book.
I love Super Alpha with lots of wounds! Does that answer the question?
Of course, love that answer!

7. Tell us about your journey in writing this book.
It was a long journey from start to finish. Three years of writing, revisions, learning and honing my craft, and then composing countless queries. I was ready to give up when I started getting positive feedback. Then in two days time, I received three offers of representation.

8. Tell us three quirky or interesting things about yourself.
I don’t think of myself as quirky, more like plain and ordinary.

9. What rituals do you use to help you focus or get the words down on the page e.g. music or a snack?
I can’t listen to music. I tried, and found myself dancing and singing in the living room, neglecting my writing. Although, it was a nice break. I like complete quiet. I tend to drink too much coffee.

10. Mention something unique about your books and your writing style.
I think people will be somewhat surprised when they read Wickedly They Come. I wanted to inspire young people and adults by writing a powerful, action packed story with a message.

11. What book would you like to work on next?
I recently began a contemporary YA story with the main character being a boy, which is different for me.

12. Where can we buy your book?
My debut novel, Wickedly They Come will be released in print and digital on August 24, 2013. It will be available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more...

So, hold on for a few more days .... it's coming.

Here's a short excerpt from her book just to get that adrenalin pumping:

Evidently, Asa had finally decided the time had come to make their lives a living hell.

“Watch out!” Jordan cried.

The two goons knocked Seeley to the mat. They tied her wrists then hefted her to her feet, facing Jordan. The man with the bloody nose mopped his face and then, without warning, hit Seeley in the chin. Her head snapped back as Jordan screamed. Seeley held onto consciousness, though her head swirled and her throbbing chin began to swell.

“You bitch—” the man shrieked, glaring at Seeley. “I think you broke my nose.”He then walked over to Jordan, grasped her chin with bloody fingers, and drooled. “Young—tender—meat—”

The demon restraining Seeley sounded anxious. “Hank, we’re not allowed to kill her.”
Hank gestured to Seeley. “This lady’s fair game, there’s a high price on her head. We’ll be greatly rewarded.”

The other demons nodded with crooked smirks. “We’re allowed to stay and play as long as we bag souls for his gain. The more souls, the longer we get to stay.”

“Why? Don’t you like your fiery perdition?” Seeley said dryly.

Her remark infuriated them, returning Hank to gloat in front of Seeley. Using the distraction, Jordan subtly tried to weasel her way out of the chokehold.

With his left hand, Hank grabbed Seeley’s ponytail, tugging her face close to his red eyes. They looked like hot coals as he sneered. “We’re not ready to leave, not with all this fun we’re having. Souls are jamming the highway to hell—we just nudge them in the right direction.” A gawky sound rattled in his throat, forcing Seeley to breathe in his foul breath. “Your kind of souls are a pain in the ass.”

Hank dug a switchblade out of his pocket. With a decisive snap, he held the silver blade to Seeley’s throat.

A great, big thank you to Kathleen Bosman for featuring me on her blog today!!
It's a pleasure!

You can find Cathrina Constantine at these sites:
http://www.cathrinaconstantine.com
http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/cathrina.constantine.3
https://twitter.com/cathconstantine
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/16051029-cathrina-constantine

Giveaway of Cosmetic Heart

Cosmetics ... make-up ... looking glam. The fairer sex likes to glam herself up by painting her face. I envy those ladies with lovely dark eyebrows and eyelashes and clear complexions who don't have to plaster make-up on their faces just so they don't look ghostly or sickly. I'm one of those palefaces who has very fair skin so that you can see the veins under my eyes giving me dark rings. My eyelashes and eyebrows are invisible because they're almost white so I have to wear mascara and eyebrow pencil. But of course, working from home and yet being so busy means many days I don't bother to put make-up on.

My husband says it makes no difference whether I wear cosmetics or not. That takes the pressure off somewhat but doesn't make me feel comfortable going out. Although I like to wear make-up, I don't spend much money on it and normally look for bargains or mark-downs. The only time I will buy a brand name is when I need lipstick because I only like one colour - heather shimmer (I think it's Yardley.)

Cosmetics include face-creams and treatments. I've never really gone for the whole caboodle i.e. cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and anti-wrinkle cream. I simply wash my face with Dove soap and use a simple moisturizer bought at the grocery store. My skin is fussy and only seems to like this one type. I've even tried the expensive creams but my face either ends up feeling dry and taut like a leather purse, or itchy or greasy. I decided to go all natural this month and bought cocoa butter and coconut oil to make my own face cream. I'm very disappointed to say that it didn't work. Itchy, dry, and greasy - the whole lot in one!  So back to my usual I will go. One day, I will spoil myself with a beautiful facial when I don't have kiddies food, clothing, and school books to buy.

Anyway, that's enough of my very gory personal cosmetics details.

The heroine in my latest release started off being a make-up artist. Her father worked in the Durban Playhouse and she used to sneak out of his office and watch the actors practise their lines or even watch the make-up artists at the theatre do up the actors' faces. She wanted to transform people to feel beautiful so studied beauty technology. She obtained a position at a magazine to put make-up on the models for photo shoots but most of the time, she didn't have much to do. A dream she'd tucked away was to write articles for magazines but she didn't think she'd get promoted because of the chief editor's reputation for not granting internal promotions. Besides feeling frustrated career-wise, she's always felt like the black sheep in the family because her family all have degrees and top jobs.

When Daniel, her boss, asks her to pose as his fiancee who left him so that he may save face with his family, she agrees if he will change his promotions policy. Lisa doesn't realise how much her 'yes' changes her life and leads her on a path to face her fears and find answers to her deepest hidden desires.

You can buy Cosmetic Heart on Amazon or at Astraea Press.

I'm giving away a PDF copy of my book to a commenter of this blog post. Please put your email address in the comments block like this: joesoap(at)happymail(dot)com

Super Sweet Blog Award

I was nominated by Tista Ray for the Super Sweet Blog Award. Thank you, Tista!

This award is a great way to discover new blogs. So, let’s share it around and have some fun with it.

So, the rules for those nominated are:

1. Thank and link to the Blogger who nominated you.
2. Answer five super sweet questions. See below…
3. Include the super sweet blogging award in your post.
4. Nominate a baker’s dozen (13) other deserving bloggers (if you can.)
5. Notify your super sweet nominees.

Here are my answers to the questions…

1. Cookies or Cake?

I don't eat cookies and cakes anymore as I'm on a gluten free diet. I suppose I still love cake more, especially chocolate and carrot cake but without the dreaded gluten.

2. Chocolate or Vanilla?

Both.

3. Favourite sweet treat?

Lots of different things: ice-cream and chocolate sauce and chocolate mousse, and a firm favourite is sago pudding.

4. When do you crave sweet things the most?

We have a ritual of pudding every Friday night. That's our treat night. I crave sweet things pretty often though.

5. Sweet nickname?

Don't really have a sweet nickname but one that's used by my hubby is "Leen."


These are my nominees:
Rae Rivers
Romy Sommer
Zee Monodee
Nana Prah
Cathrina Constantine
Kiru Taye

No obligation to take part but have fun if you do.

I Have a Confession to Make

I have to say how sorry I am for firstly forgetting to post Nana Prah's blog post on time and then in the rush of getting it up, for forgetting to put her rafflecopter giveaway link on the post. I have been through some health challenges lately but still feel really bad for letting her down.

So, here it is, a link to enter the giveaway for her book, Love Through Time. She is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to three lucky people who enter her giveaways.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview and New Release - Nana Prah

Today on my blog is Nana Prah, a super author friend who has gone out of her way to encourage, help, and befriend me. She also has signed a contract with Decadent Publishing for the Ubuntu Line. I love connecting with other African authors and Nana is truly one of the friendliest of all. Her new release with Black Opal Books is called Love Through Time and looks so unique and compelling. I can't wait to read her sweet romance with a paranormal twist.

Nana Prah was born in Ghana, West Africa, raised in the US, and currently resides in Ghana where she loves her job as a writer and nurse educator. She has been writing since she can remember (in her journal) and has been an avid reader of romance novels since the eighth grade. She has finally been able to utilize the years and years of inadvertent research into writing her own romance novels where love always conquers all.

Welcome Nana.

What is the best thing for you about being a writer?

Giving all of these ideas roaming around in my head a place to settle and allowing other people to experience them.

What is the hardest thing for you about being a writer?
Finding enough time in the day to write as much as I want.

What genre/s do you write and what genre is your latest release?
I write romance. My release Love Through Time is a paranormal romance. The past lives aspect, which is integral to the story, categorizes it as paranormal. No one should expect a vampire or a witch to pop up as they read.

What essential things have you learned about writing in the last year?
There are so many that I couldn’t list them all. One is that ‘said’ is almost invisible to the reader and so instead of using more flowery words to tell who is speaking, the word ‘said’ will suffice. I learned this from Kristen Lamb’s blog.

Who is your favourite heroine from your books and why?
I currently have only one book released, so I’m not betraying my unborn (unpublished) heroines by answering this question. Jasmine is my favourite. She is intuitive, beautiful, super-confident, intelligent, and knows what she wants out of life. Plus she can kick ass like no body’s business.

What type of hero do you like? Super alpha, wounded or somewhere in between? Or even something totally different? You could give an example from a movie or well-known book.
I like a hero who knows what he’s doing when it comes to whatever situation is at hand, but he knows how to ask for help when he needs it. A hero who is proud, but won’t let his pride get the better of him.

Tell us about your journey in writing this book.
The idea for the book popped into my head and I started writing. There was nothing dramatic about the journey. Once I was finished I changed it from the first person POV of the heroine to the third person POV of both the hero and the heroine. Those changes were  more work than writing the whole novel.

Tell us three quirky or interesting things about yourself.
1. If it’s sweet, I’ll eat it.
2. I don’t leave the house without wearing lipstick or lipgloss
3. My honesty can be a tad bit unsettling to some people (liars in particular)

What rituals do you use to help you focus or get the words down on the page e.g. music or a snack?
I sit down and start writing. Once I start, things flow. It’s getting my behind to sit in the chair to write that’s the problem, social media likes to call me away like a siren.

Mention something unique about your books and your writing style.
My writing style is direct, kind of like me. I don’t try to express more than what I am saying. There is not a hidden agenda, so I hope people can relate to it. Love Through Time is a multicultural novel, but the emphasis is on the relationships, not race.

What book would you like to work on next?
I am happy to announce that I have a contract with Decadent Publishing’s Ubuntu line, which consists of romances set in Africa (I’m following in your footsteps Kathy).  My editor has encouraged me to write a sequel so I’m working on that.

Love Through Time

Defending her family – no problem. Recalling past lives – maybe just a small problem. Taking a chance on love again – well…

Jasmine Gibson has her world turned upside down when she meets gorgeous Sean Taylor. He’s the first man she’s been attracted to since her fiancé dumped her two years ago. But when the disturbing daydreams start, Jasmine begins to fear that her actions in a past life may have finally caught up with her.

Sean finds it impossible to stay away from Jasmine even though he can’t shake the inexplicable feeling of betrayal, simmering deep inside him every time he sees her.

To complicate things, someone is out to hurt Jasmine and every time she and Sean are together, the police have to be called. Even if Jasmine can make Sean trust her, the two of them may not stay alive long enough to enjoy their love this time around.

You can connect with Nana on her blog, Twitter and Facebook.

Buy Links for Love Through Time: Black Opal Books, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords.

The Other Side by Zee Monodee

Today, I have Zee Monodee, versatile and prolific writer, wonderful editor, and fellow African writer friend. She lives in the beautiful island of Mauritius which is north east of the eastern South African coastline. A place I would adore to spend a summer holiday at one day. She's also the managing editor of the Ubuntu line series which are African stories published by Decadent Publishing - the series "Dragonfly Moments" was published under.

Her new release "The Other Side" is the Ubuntu Line's third release.

Here's a bit about Zee before we go into some juicy details about her new book:

Zee is an author who grew up on a fence – on one side there was modernity and the global world, on the other there was culture and traditions. Putting up with the culture for half of her life, one day she decided she'd stand tall on her wall and dip toes every now and then into both sides of her non-conventional upbringing.

From this resolution spanned a world of adaptation and learning to live on said wall. The realization also came that many other young women of the world were on their own fence.

This particular position became her favorite when she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of writing – her heroines all sit 'on a fence', whether cultural or societal, in today's world or in times past, and face dilemmas about life and love.

Hailing from the multicultural island of Mauritius, Zee is a degree holder in Communications Science. She is a head-over-heels wife, in-over-her-head mum to a tween son, best-buddy-stepmum to a teenage lad, an incompetent domestic goddess, eternal dreamer, and an absolute, shameless bookholic. When she isn’t penning more stories and/or managing the Ubuntu line at Decadent Publishing, you can bet you’ll find her with her nose in her tablet, ‘drinking in’ a good book.

Here is a blurb of The Other Side. It is Book 1 of The Island Girls Trilogy.

Divorce paints a scarlet letter on her back when she returns to the culture-driven society of Mauritius. This same spotlight shines as a beacon of hope for the man who never stopped loving her. Can the second time around be the right one for these former teenage sweethearts?

Indian-origin Lara Reddy left London after her husband dumps her for a more accommodating uterus—at least, that’s what his desertion feels like. Bumping into him and his pregnant new missus doesn’t help matters any, and she thus jumps on a prestigious job offer. The kicker? The job is in Mauritius, the homeland of her parents, and a society she ran away from over a decade earlier.

But once there, Lara has no escape. Not from the gossip, the contempt, the harassing matchmaking...and certainly not from the man she hoped never to meet again. The boy she’d loved and lost—white Mauritian native, Eric Marivaux.

Back when they were teens, Eric left her, and Lara vowed she’d never let herself be hurt again. Today, they are both adults, and facing the same crossroads they’d stood at so many years earlier.

Lara now stands on the other side of Mauritian society. Will this be the impetus she needs to take a chance on Eric and love again?

Some interesting facts about the book:

1. Mauritius, where this trilogy takes place, is a small tropical island in the southern Indian Ocean. There are no natives, and the land has been entirely populated by immigrants. Under Dutch rule in the 17th century; French rule until 1810; then a British colony from 1810 to 1968 when it reached independence, the island is a mix of races and religions. Despite all races, cultures, and religions living together in harmony in what is termed ‘the rainbow nation,’an unspoken segregation still exists where descendants of colonizers (mainly the French who remained despite British rule) and descendants of African slaves, Indian indentured labourers, or Chinese traders. This is the backdrop Lara, of Indian descent, must face with Eric, whose ancestors were wealthy French plantation owners.
2. Back in the year 2000 (when this story takes place), divorce was an almost-alien, shunned & vilified concept. People were still supposed to marry ‘for life’ and a wife left her husband’s home only in her coffin. Those who dared brave this silent edict did it at the risk of becoming marginalized and cast away. Like Lara, the author, Zee, divorced her British husband and returned to the island to face such drama. Much of the divorce angle in the book comes from her own experience.
3. The theme of Second Chances is very prominent in Zee’s stories, because she herself, as a divorcee, found a second chance with a wonderful man she has now called her husband for over a decade.
4. Zee started penning this story after reading the epic novel ‘A Suitable Boy’ by Vikram Seth. She wanted to write a magnum opus; something to showcase ‘her’ world in Mauritius the same way Mr. Seth chronicled ‘his’ India. Alas, she found she was totally fluffy and did not do well at all with a literary bent. The result was The Other Side, a popular romantic comedy that had notes of Zee TV/Bollywood dramas with an island vibe.
5. The Other Side is Zee’s first-ever penned novel, written in the year 2005, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and thus decided to live her dream of writing a book. She drafted this book mostly during sleepless nights between chemotherapy sessions, the outpouring of this tale becoming her therapy to cope with her treatments.
6. The book trailer features images of locations mentioned in the story. The second image, at 0.08, is of the Grand Baie beach, where Lara lives. At 0.58 is the Swami Vivekananda International Conventions Centre located inland in Pailles, that Zee used as the inspiration for the centre Lara manages in Grand Baie. 2.09 features the Coin de Mire Island, a visual that can be admired from the terrace of Eric’s residence in Cap Malheureux. You can watch the trailer at this link: The Other Side Book Trailer

Here is an excerpt:

Lost in her thoughts, she rounded a dead corner of the hall, slamming into someone’s side. Disoriented and dizzy with confusion at the jolting oomph of impact against a solid form, she stumbled, losing control over her legs. She saw the walls moving up rapidly, but a strong pair of hands grabbed her under the arms before the back of her head hit the floor.

“Bon sang, mademoiselle! Où courez-vous comme ça?” a rich, deep masculine voice asked on the sharp yet lilting accent of white Mauritian natives.

Where are you running to, miss? he’d asked, from what her rusty French could figure out.

Away from you. Something inside her acknowledged the danger before she could process his words. She knew that voice. Her head spun again, yet her mind was very alert.

Could it be…? No, it couldn’t. Her brain had to be playing tricks on her. The sound with its particular accent belonged to the very distant past. How was she hearing it at this moment? Had she fainted? That’s it. She wasn’t conscious, and since she’d probably worked herself to exhaustion, the condition had triggered all sorts of switches in her muddled consciousness.

The image of the man from the airport burned itself into her mind, and she gasped. No!

“Is everything okay?” The chuckle had gone from the tone, replaced by worry.

Solid strength still held her ribcage, the back of the hands warm and smooth where they touched her arms. The heat from them went to her head, churning all coherent thought into a jumble.

Her mind had to be playing a trick on her. He couldn’t be who she was imagining. When, after a few seconds, it didn’t appear like she’d come around, doubt invaded her heart.

Your eyes won’t betray you, they’ll see the truth.

She risked a glance up beneath her lashes. She had to be certain if this was real or not. To know this was all a trick of her imagination….

Lara encountered a tall form with broad shoulders outlined in a short-sleeved shirt. The lapels of the opened collar framed a strong jaw and a wide, full, and sensual mouth was set in a worried line above a square chin. A fine, straight nose sent faint shadows over his lips.

She had to gulp back the ominous lump wedged in her throat. Her heart beat a hammering throb in her chest, and her mouth went dry. Her suspicions looked dangerously close to being confirmed, and the nagging notion played havoc with her thoughts. She closed her eyes.

When she opened them, she found herself staring into a pair of blue irises. A blinding flash went through her head, plunging her heart to her knees. She’d recognize those irises anywhere. Deep-set, bright, and laughing eyes the colour of the deepest ocean. The heavy, golden locks brushing his forehead accentuated the frown knitting his eyebrows.

Locks that had somehow broken free from the thick, smoothed-back hair. She itched to sweep them back, to run the tips of her fingers along his smooth skin, like she used to in the past, onto the soft buzz of hair he used to keep so short….

Her mind went into a crazy spin, and all her senses reeled as everything became a vivid kaleidoscope of colours. Her stomach heaved, and her knees went weak as her body became limp. But the man’s strong grip was still on her, and he kept her steady on her feet.

“Are you okay? I think you better sit down here,” he said.

The voice made its way into her perception, and she couldn’t suppress the relief that flooded her. His voice had always had such power over her.

He still hasn’t recognised me.

She’d changed a lot in the past decade, and with her head still bent forward, her hair shielded her face. She wanted to escape. She wanted to close her eyes, and then open them to find it had all been a dream. Or a nightmare.

But this was real, and how long could she remain incognito? Lara swallowed painfully. Of all the people from her past, fate had had to choose that precise person to shove along her path.

All of this battled inside her mind as she allowed him to lead her to a sofa. After having lowered her into her seat with extreme care and gentleness, her saviour sat down next to her, turning to face her profile. The movement triggered the air to move around him, and the smell of his aftershave—fresh, spicy, and very elusive—filled her nostrils and made its way into her foggy mind.

He still smells the same. Like a cool sea breeze wafting through the unique musk of a man’s warm skin.

Lara took a deep breath and gathered her courage. She would have to face him sooner or later. A part of her had always known she ran the risk of coming across him on the island. She’d preferred to hide from the probability, but she couldn’t run anymore.

So she lifted her head. A frown marred the wide forehead on the face she encountered. As devastatingly handsome as ever. Or maybe, even more than ever. His features were arresting, masculine, adult. No longer those of a teenager.

Her mouth went dry again, and her heart beat faster when the straight line of his lips broke into a large smile a few seconds later. His eyes lit up as well, and widened.

“I’ll be damned! Lara? Is it really you?” he asked, switching effortlessly to English.

She forced a smile and took a deep breath. “Hello, Eric. How are you?”

Buy links for The Other Side:

Decadent Publishing

Amazon

Release Day for Cosmetic Heart

I've been checking my emails almost every hour the last few days in anticipation of the release of my novel, Cosmetic Heart. My son woke me up at three this morning with a complaint about a tick from his cat so I grabbed for my phone quickly to check if it had come out. Sure enough, there was an email waiting there for me from the publisher. I struggled to go back to sleep after that.

Cosmetic Heart had a tumultuous journey in coming to being. Last year, for Nanowrimo, I buckled down and focused on getting a whole book done in the month of November. It was hard, especially seeing I actually didn't have the whole month but had to finish early to start writing exams for my kids. And in between that, I was sick with a spider bite (although I'm still not sure what bit me.) Somehow, the words kept on flowing and I even made my poor heroine, Lisa, also get bitten by a spider and get cellulitis like me. The good thing was, Dan fussed over her and looked after her while she was sick which brought them even closer. Although it also made all of Lisa's fears about a long-term relationship come to the surface.

The editing for my novel was quite a challenge. As seems the case with most of my books, (wink, wink,) they often need a strong content edit. Somehow, my characters do the strangest things sometimes. But after several run throughs, I finally felt confident that my book was neat and clean.

I really feel grateful to Katherine Tate, Supervising Editor, who was patient with all my changes right near the end.

The most fun parts of writing this novel were the research bits about cosmetics that you will find at the start of several chapters, some of the secondary characters and I loved the hero, Dan. Lisa really gave him a run around. A bit like me with my hubby who had to ask me to marry him three times and even then I said, "Wait, I'm not ready yet."

So, here it is. The cover for my new novel and the blurb.

Lisa works for a top South African magazine as the make-up artist, but writes articles on the quiet. When the chief editor, Daniel, asks for her help in posing as his ex-fiancée to save face with his family, Lisa agrees, hoping to obtain a promotion in return. She doesn’t expect to fall for the handsome editor nor to fit in with his family who love her unconditionally. But Lisa has more secrets, and she doesn’t believe in love and family. After Daniel finds out her secrets, will his forgiveness and determination be enough to cut through all the layers Lisa has put over her heart?

Buy links:

Astraea Press
Amazon

Movie Review and a taste of Book 2 of The Creators

One of my favourite movies of all time is "Love Comes Softly." It's a Hallmark made for TV movie so is probably an unknown to many people but I love it so much. I have to confess I'm such a softy that I cry so easily in movies. My family teases me constantly but I just can't help it. This is a movie where I cry almost throughout the whole thing.

What I love about this movie is that you're taken right into the very soul and emotions of the main character, Marty, and then close second into Missy's heart, the young mother-less girl. Marty has traveled west with her new husband, Aaron, to find a new home in early American history. They are just about to obtain land to settle after the long wagon journey, and Aaron, one morning, goes out to find his missing horse. On the way, he falls off the horse and hits his head on a rock. Marty loses her new husband that day and has to face a new life in the wild west all alone while dealing with her devastating grief.

Clark Davis' daughter, Missy, needs a female figure to look up to after her mother passed away. Clark gives Marty the absolutely least-romantic wedding proposal I've ever seen on TV. In the rain, by her late husband's grave, he asks her to marry him so she can look after his daughter and offers to give her money for her passage back east come spring. In a financially desperate situation, Marty agrees.

Missy is very resistant to Marty at first. I don't want to share the rest with you, but the story is a beautiful romance between Clark and Marty as well as a wonderful story of a girl finding the love of a mother again in Marty (after much quarrelling and resistance.) Maybe the reason I can identify so much with Missy is because I lost my mother at a young age, too.

"Love Comes Softly" reminds me a little of Book Two of "The Creators" series that I'm working on at the moment - a follow-on of "Dragonfly Moments." Rowena is a ballet teacher and Jamey is her most difficult student. On the week of her mother's passing, she takes her frustration out on Jamey. Jamey's father comes in a few days later to speak to Rowena. When he asks for her to give Jamey extra lessons, Rowena at first is reluctant until Cameron tells her how his daughter is missing her late mother. Rowena's grief of losing her mother fresh in her heart, suddenly identifies with her worst pupil just like Marty identified with Missy missing her mother. She agrees.

Much more patient with her pupil, they develop an immediate report. Jamey, who has her Dad wrapped around her little finger, keeps on pursuading him to invite Rowena over. Little does she know how much her Dad is fighting his strong attraction to Rowena while struggling to get over the memories of his late wife.

I won't let you know any more of my story as it's not even complete yet. I can't wait to get stuck into completing this gentle story of love and family.

If you're keen on watching the movie which is also part of a series, here is the link: Love Comes Softly
Here is the link to the book series which are inspirational: Book Series by Janette Oke

Guest Post - Clare Dargin

Today, I'm hosting Clare Dargin, a fellow Decadent Publishing author. She writes science fiction with a romantic twist. Today, she is talking about her book "Ice and Peace" which came out in April 2013 and is book two of her "Cold Warriors" series. She also wrote "Kybernatia," "Fugue," "Speculative Sky," and "Zenward's Magic."

So, welcome, Clare.

A Love So Close You Can Feel It

There's something about a hot guy in uniform who's touchable but at the same time out of reach. That kind of man was on my mind when I wrote Colonel Medoro Keegan in Cold Warriors. A man who has chosen to be an island onto himself, he is in a sea of humanity, yet is alone.

Unlike some heroes of this sort, they have no friends and live on the fringes of society. Keegan is anything but that. He has two very good friends whom he trusts, he is respected by his colleagues and is considered to be on the career fast track but on the inside, he feels like a hamster on a wheel. He's going through the motions but he ain't going anywhere.

All that changes when Caitlin Driskoll enters his life. In the beginning just a 'passenger' in a cargo manifest, she is but one of many who are to be sent out as cannon fodder for a military with dwindling numbers. In a frozen stasis for nearly a hundred years, because of a long gone medical fad, she awakens to find she has been recruited to fight in a war she knows nothing about.

From day one, her strength and her annoyance has been the light that shone in an otherwise darkened existence. Attracted to her, he fights between the rules of his job and society which says they can't speak, much less touch. They both struggle to not only survive but to explore the attraction they feel for each other.

In the second book, Ice and Peace:

A New Threat? After a long and vicious war, peace is on the horizon for Earth and its allies. However, a series of mysterious attacks on several secret military installations causes hostilities to rise once again.

Redemption. Having left under a cloud of disgrace, retired Marine Colonel Medoro Keegan is called back to duty.

Bound. His wife Caitlin, the only surviving member of her team, chooses to embrace life, albeit grudgingly, as a cryo soldier. Seen as sub-human, she is forced to serve a planet that denies her rights as a person.

Driven. Guided by their sense of duty and belief that some things are bigger than them, they are determined to risk it all.

Hope. The cost of war is high. Can their love and marriage survive? Or will it be killed off by the very same mission that brought them together?

Excerpt for Ice and Peace

“Sir,” a soft voice, feminine and sweet, beckoned his attention. He knew the voice, like he knew himself. His heart skipped a beat.

Rising slowly from his chair, Keegan cleared his throat and straightened his uniform. Suddenly, the room seemed unbearably long as he walked the three feet or so to be near her.

As he took in every detail of her, he was stunned silent. She wore a Marine Corps uniform with Navy insignia, with her hair neatly pinned off her neck and shoulders. Her clothes were pressed with a crease that could cut a major artery and her demeanor was impeccable. Something was not right.

Still, Caitlin was a sight for sore eyes. She was beautiful. Her petite frame was perfectly accented by the curves of her figure. And her brown eyes and coffee-brown skin was smooth, creamy.

Standing at attention, she did not meet his gaze. Though it was customary not to do as a sign of military courtesy, he could tell she was not doing it for that reason. Her gaze was different. Circling her, he tried to see if he could catch her watching him out of the corner of her eye. In fact, she appeared to be staring blankly ahead.

Peering directly at her, he spoke in a soft tone. “At ease.”

She relaxed.

“Cate. Can you hear me?”

“Yes, sir,” she responded mechanically.

Pain pierced his insides. She was definitely not there. Keegan placed his hands on his hips and hung his head in defeat. The one thing that was supposed to go right did not. For whatever reason, they had placed her in a deeper state of mental control than she’d ever been in. He controlled the hostile emotions brewing with him. Touching her face gently, he felt her icy skin.

This is unacceptable! Not here. I will not let this happen here. Not under my command.

“Chief, listen up,” he said in an authoritative tone. He knew in this state, it was the only way he could speak to her and still have her respond.

“Yes, sir.” Her gaze became even more distant.

Her response fueled his anger. “You are going to hightail it down to the doc and receive a full examination. Tell him it is based on my orders. He will know what to do. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

Knowing that she was under the influence of cryo neurotransmitters, Keegan figured the only way to combat it was to get someone to reverse it. They usually wore off once she was away from the stimulus triggers for a long period of time. But considering her stimulus triggers were high-ranking officers in uniform and combat situations, being around here meant she was going to be in a drone zone for a very long time. The last thing he needed was a zombie on board, especially one in charge of the lives others.

Only the jerks in psyche warfare thought doing this to someone would be a good idea. As long as he was running the ship, none of that would be allowed. There weren’t going to be any super zombies soldiers on board his ship. And he’d rollover in his grave before he let them do it to his wife.

“After you come back from the doc, you will report to me, understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are there any questions?”

“No, sir.”

“Dismissed.”

She did an about face before leaving the room. Keegan clasped his hands behind his back. In the blink of an eye, his joy had turned to sorrow. Now faced with the responsibility of looking after his wife, he wondered how could he handle the burden of command and still protect the woman he loved.

You can purchase Ice and Peace at Decadent Publishing and Amazon.
For the sci-fi lover in you, connect with Clare at:
The Embraced Blog
Clare's Blog
Yahoo Group

Author Interview - Zrinka Jelic

Today, I'm excited to have an author interview on my blog with Zrinka Jelic, a writer of a variety of romance genres from historical to time travel. She's answered some of my questions about writing and her latest book, Love Remains.

1. What is the best thing for you about being a writer?
To write, to let my fingers fly over the keyboard and let the story come out on the page. I do like to edit as well. It gives me the chance to go over that first draft and flesh out the scenes, the characters. Each time I edit, the story and its characters come more alive and jump off the page.

2. What is the hardest thing for you about being a writer?
It’s hard to keep the story interesting and with each chapter, to keep it turning up instead of down. That is why it’s important to map the story out before starting. Not necessarily plot it out in every detail, but just to get the main points down. If stuck, I take a break from it. I know that the direction of where to take it next will spring before me and when it does, then I move on. There’s nothing worse than trying to force the story out. I need to wait until the ideas pop in my head. So far it hasn’t disappointed.

3. What genre/s do you write and what genre is your latest release?
I write romances and within that, there are many subgenres. My debut novel, Bonded by Crimson, is a paranormal romance. My second novel, Treasured Chest, is a historical romance, and my newest release, Love Remains, is a time travel romance, but with a different twist. In time travels, the hero/heroine usually travel back in time, but in Love Remains my heroine goes forward where she is shown the way her life would be if she gave the love a fair chance. Would she learn her lesson and sacrifice her promising career for family when she is returned to her time?

4. What essential things have you learned about writing in the last year?
Writing requires lots of research and it could be distracting once you set on the journey to research one topic only to end up someplace you never intended to go. But that’s the internet, I suppose.

5. Who is your favourite heroine from your books and why?
It would be hard to single out one of them and not mention the others. I like Kate in Bonded by Crimson for her determination. Sirena (Carmen) in Treasured Chest is a bad ass pirate, got to love her. And Olivia in Love Remains is a hard cookie, corporate ladder climber, but with her back firmly pressed against the wall, she can adapt to any situation, even changing diapers.

6. What type of hero do you like? Super alpha, wounded or somewhere in between? Or even something totally different? You could give an example from a movie or well-known book.
I’d say a combination of both, but I do try to make them to be totally different. I mean, super alpha is nice and wounded soul is all right, but there are so many books out there with characters like these. I want to give it a fresh voice. Matthias in Bonded by Crimson is not entirely immortal and not a vampire, but after he struggled to figure out what he is and where he fits, he just learned to accept it and move on. Captain Marko in Treasured Chest is legendary for his seduction skills, but he dreams of a woman who’d put his skills to the test and he finds her — in a pirate. Tom in Love Remains is just a typical fatherly man, he cooks and cleans, and is amazing in bed.

7. Tell us about your journey in writing your book.

The inspiration came after I’d been laid off jobs solely due to the fact that I had to stay home with my sick children, and I was not offered the position, nor the extension of the contract after I informed my employer that I was having a baby. I understand the struggle between having to stay at home with young children and going to work to earn that pay check. Often there’s no choice and the stress of leaving your child with a stranger(s) is stomach wrenching. But the employers make things even more difficult by scrutinizing you for taking a day off here and there to deal with a sick child.

Love Remains
Olivia Owen, a busy, single, high-functioning, corporate executive officer, is not afraid to die a spinster for the sake of her career. But in an alternate reality world, bridged by the angel of her sister with Down syndrome, she meets Tom Medar, a dedicated, Croatian defense attorney who dreams of the right woman, but never has time to find her. Together, they foil an adulterous murder plot while discovering there’s room for love and family in their busy lives - but not before they are separated again.

When they awaken from their alternate world, will they be able to cross countries to find each other again?

You can buy Love Remains at Amazon, Amazon UK and Crimson Romance from the 15th July.

The Tasty Summer Reads Blog Hop

I'm joining in a fun blog tour of sharing summer recipes and a little bit about ourselves as authors. Thank you to Rae Rivers, author of "The Keepers: Archer" published by Harper Collins Impulse. She tagged me in her Tasty Summer Reads Blog Hop.

I'm in the middle of winter here in the southern hemisphere but what's the harm in sharing some refreshing recipes? We've had a very mild winter this year with only one week of frost and ice in our taps. I keep on waiting for the cold to arrive. It will probably smack us in the face with a snowfall in spring like it did about ten years ago in the town where I live. It doesn't snow often here so it's quite an occasion.

The recipe we share should coincide with our book release coming up. Interestingly enough, my book starts off right in the middle of African summer which can be scorching hot. Lisa agrees to pose as her boss's fiancee for his family New Year celebrations and while suffering heat exhaustion, she also falls for her handsome, playboy boss against her life plans. But Lisa's heart is much harder to win than Dan could ever realise as he begins to discover just how right she is for him, more than any other woman.

I don't have an exact release date but my book is due out near the end of this month. I can't wait.

Anyway, I'm going off topic. I think a refreshing homemade lemonade would have cooled Lisa down after she suffered heat exhaustion. Maybe she would have finished the whole jug seeing everyone else could swim in the pool while she had to sit under the awning. But Carine, Dan's mom, would have gladly made her another. See a recipe below. Now, I'm going to answer a few questions.

1)When writing, are you a snacker? If so, sweet or salty?
I generally don't snack much when I write. If I do, it's mostly sweet things like dark chocolate, chewing gum, or maybe dried apricots.

2) Are you an outliner or someone who flies by the seat of their pants? Are they real pants or jammies?
I'm a pants person - hate planning too much. Or could you say jeans or skirts? I don't like staying in my jammies all day. They're sacred to me. And besides, I'm not too keen on greeting an unexpected visitor in my pyjamas.

3)When cooking or baking, do you follow the recipe exactly or wing it?
The more I've baked, the more brave I've become to experiment. Oftentimes, I don't have the ingredients on hand or can't even get hold of them so have to improvise. So yes, I have learned to change things. If the mixture looks too dry, I add more liquid, or if it's too wet, I add more dry ingredients. One thing I don't change is the baking powder. Most recipes ask for far too much sugar or cinnamon so I lower that or even cut out the cinnamon altogether. I have even posted my own paleo recipes on Fast Paleo but they're not great. I don't think I would have the patience to actually keep a food blog but have considered it.

4) What is next for you after this book?
I'm working on two books at the moment. I have another book coming out in September - it's a follow-on from Wedding Gown Girl - Elaine, the bridesmaid's story. That truly was an absolute blast to write!

5) Last Question...on a level of one being slightly naughty to ten being whoo whoo steamy, where does your book land?
Probably in the tame old one. But there's plenty of steam in the hearts.

Recipe warning!

My kids love this lemonade and it's so easy to make. Not exactly healthy with all the sugar but the Vitamin C loaded inside would come in handy.

Lemonade

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup lemon juice (the freshly squeezed type is even better)
3 cups water, extra

Method

Combine sugar and water in a small pan, stir over low heat without boiling until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and simmer, uncovered, for two minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and stand for 30 minutes. Strain the lemon mixture into a large jug and add extra water. Refridgerate until required. It makes four cups.

I'm only tagging Zee Monodee (although she's already been tagged) for this one and tagging back to Rae Rivers.