FRIDAY STIR FRY: Weird Times

 I used to collect teddy bears. If I still did, I would adopt this one. He looks lonely. And worried. Kind of like a lot of us during this weird time. 

I know a lot of people adopted pets to help them through quarantine and beyond. That's not for me. Not that I don't like animals, I just don't want to take care of one. I have a tough enough time taking care of myself. The feeding, the walking, the grooming is all so tiresome.  I don't want double duty. Plus pets die eventually. I've seen many people really tore up when their pet dies. I don't need that sadness in my life, especially now when the world is filled with it. 

But, a teddy bear would be the next best thing. I could cuddle it, pet it, talk to it, take it on car rides. And, the only care it needs would be an occasional dusting.

Amazon, here I come.   

FRIDAY STIR FRY - New Book!

Please welcome another talented author friend of mine, Samantha Holt. She writes wonderful historical romances that will captivate you from the very beginning. Her new release, When A Rogue Loves A Woman, debuts next week. Enjoy this preview and be sure and enter the Rafflecopter give-a-way at the end of this post.

When a Rogue Loves a Woman

Rogues of Redmere book 2

Notorious rogue, Lord Nathaniel Kingsley always tended to leap without thinking. Becoming a smuggler, adopting a sheep, getting engaged to Miss Patience Grey….

Patience has no need for a fiancé, or a husband. For once in her life, she wants to prove she’s just as good as a man and she does not need Nathaniel Kingsley getting in her way. With her brother injured, it is up to her to continue her family’s work…and that means tracking down a French spy and ensuring said spy will turn.

Unfortunately, no one believes she can do it alone. Which is where Nathaniel comes in.

Nate is happy to be of service. Why pass up the opportunity to repay an old friend, especially with a little intrigue along the way? Find the spy, play escort to Patience, return home to continue smuggling. Easy.

Or at least it would be if the stubborn Patience would let him do his job. The breeches-wearing woman is determined to do it all alone and, he has to admit, there’s something quite distracting about a woman in men’s clothes.

Can he keep his attention from her long enough to complete their mission and persuade Patience to let him do his job and protect her? A job he’s beginning to find he’s enjoying a lot more than he thought he would…

Available from Amazon and all other vendors for 99c for release week.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jQOfOJ

Other vendors: books2read.com/u/4N1lL6

Excerpt

      “There would have been many a heartbroken lass had you really been engaged,” Drake said. His grin grew wicked. “I was looking forward to offering my comfort and condolences.”

Nate shook his head and ignored his friend’s jest. Instead he turned his attention to the ale in his hand. It would be his last for a while. He’d need a clear head for what was to come, especially if he was to keep that minx under control. If her own mother could not make her wear a dress, what chance did he have?

Either way, he was looking forward to the challenge. Smuggling was all well and good but they had only gone out once in the past month and all had been quiet. No excitement to be had. He was rather looking forward to the chance to indulge in some espionage and adventure.

Of course, Jacob Grey was aware of their illicit activities. Being a government agent had meant they had helped him before. He was one of the few residents of Penshallow who quite understood who was behind all the smuggling that took place in their small fishing village. Most thought Knight the face of it—the big, brooding, scarred hulk of a man opposite who spoke only when absolutely necessary.

At present, Knight’s attention was on something near the bar. Nate flicked a glance over but could see nothing of interest. Only the usual overly drunk patrons gathered while Louisa, the innkeeper, worked her hardest to keep up with demand.

Other patrons littered the room, gathered around small tables. Some had cards in their hands while all had drinks. The Ship Inn was not the most savory of places but it was out of the way and the food was good. Not to mention Louisa was uncannily good at ensuring the customs men never came near the place. She had saved their skin many times and they repaid her help generously, ensuring she had a good supply of excellent French wine.

“You were a damned fool, signing up for this,” Nate’s brother said, thrusting a finger at him.

“What was I to do? You were off enjoying yourself with Hannah. Far too much it seems.” His brother’s gaze darkened and Nate immediately ceased any idea of talking of Red’s fiancée. Hannah was currently installed in lodgings in the village while they awaited the license for their marriage and to finalize all the details. His brother was, unbelievably, utterly in the love with the woman. It was not such much the woman he had fallen for that surprised Nate but that his brother had the ability to fall so heavily for her. Red had always been too busy to think of love or even marriage.

Drake leaned in. The captain fixed Red with a slight smile on his lips. “Face it, Red. While you were distracted by petticoats, Nate held down the fort. I don’t blame him for offering to help, after all, are we not in this to help the crown?”

“Since when are you so noble?” Red demanded.

“Since I have a pocket full of coin,” Drake said smugly. “Things have been going uncommonly well of late. I don’t see why Nate cannot help Jacob Grey and be back in time for our next outing.”

“Uncommonly well?” Nate’s brother lifted a brow. “After Knight’s illness and the storm that near tore your ship in half, you were complaining of curses. Now you think things are going uncommonly well?”

Knight glowered. The giant of a man sat with his arms folded, a great scowl etched upon his face that in some lights looked as though it could be made of granite. Were it not for being friends with him, Nate would give him a wide berth. The man looked like trouble and, potentially, he was. No one really knew anything about him apart from the fact he was useful muscle and a damned hard worker. Though Nate suspected there was something more under that silent exterior. What that was, however, he was not sure.

“It was not an illness,” Knight protested.

Drake laughed. “You vomited on my boots, Knight. What would you call it?”

Knight fell back into silent mode and glowered some more.

About the Author

Samantha is a full-time author who lives in England with her twins girls and a dachshund called Duke. When not writing, she loves to explore stately homes and castles around the country.

Find Samantha on her website www.samanthaholtromance.com

Rafflecopter:

Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MDYzOTU4N2QzM2ZmMDcwZDVjNmU4OGE2Mjk0NjkwOjIzOA==/?

 

FRIDAY STIR FRY - New Release!

I am thrilled to host a very talented author today and a friend, Lisa Medley. She has a new book out and of course it is about strange things. Her other books include reapers, ghosts, and space cowboys, so why not throw in a handsome Sasquatch. Enjoy this preview and I hope you will visit her links.

 



 

No one's ever captured a Sasquatch. 
Until now. 

Sasquatches have roamed the Pacific Northwest for centuries, hiding in the wilds of the northern territories and protected by the Lummi nation. 

When Seattle author Ethan Lane’s secret is exposed after a first date with Ruby Parsons goes wonderfully right, then horribly wrong, he’s faced with betraying his clan or losing his only chance at true love and a normal life.

Excerpt:

“Ruby! It’s him!”

Ruby Parsons peered around her iPad at her roommate Claire, who bounced excitedly on the opposite end of the couch. “And who would he be?”

“Listen to this Daveslist “Near Misses” ad:

H.P. Lovecraft: Stand-Up Comedian – m4w (Annex Theater) - Seattle

Tuesday night, after the show, you and I flirted while in line for the bathroom. We agreed that even if the staff had to clean up a blood sacrifice, the place was still nicer than the streets below.

You smiled at me as you took off, but there was no chance for me to get your name.

Buy you a drink sometime? We might as well enjoy ourselves before Cthulhu rises…”

Ruby scrambled across the couch and stuffed herself into the crack between Claire and the cushioned back for a look at the ad.

“It’s Cthulhu! Your Lovecraftian lobster,” Claire said, handing over the iPad for her to see.

“You have got to quit watching Friends reruns.” Ruby read the ad. Her heart hammered in her chest, and a blush of heat covered her face and neck. It was him. Too many exact details not to be. Still. A classified ad? In “Near Misses”? It was so…seedy. Wasn’t it? What kind of people posted ads like that, or worse…responded to them? “Listen, I met the guy for like thirty seconds in line for the bathroom.”

“And then reread The Call of Cthulhu even though you practically have the thing memorized and went on and on and on about him and his hipster beardedness for weeks. Weeks!” Claire snatched her iPad out of Ruby’s hands then launched off the couch and into the swinging papasan chair. She began typing furiously on the tablet.

“What are you doing?” Ruby asked, concerned.

“Answering him, of course.”

Book Links: 

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Shifted-Seattle-Lisa-Medley-ebook/dp/B01KH7LBP8

Smart URL Amazon http://smarturl.it/shiftedinseattle

Smashwords  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/658503

KOBO https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/shifted-in-seattle

iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shifted-in-seattle/id1144596984

NOOK http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shifted-in-seattle-lisa-medley/1124391849

 

 

About the Author: 

Lisa has always enjoyed reading about monsters in love and now she writes about them because monsters need love too.

She adores beasties of all sorts, fictional as well as real, and has a farm full of them in her Southwest Missouri home, including: one child, one husband, two dogs, two cats, a dozen hens, thousands of Italian bees, and a guinea pig. 

She may or may not keep a complete zombie apocalypse bug-out bag in her trunk at all times, including a machete. Just. In. Case.

Social Media Links

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lisamedleyauthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/lisamedley

Website http://lisa-medley.com

Lisa Medley Newsletter http://eepurl.com/9Zhcz

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7824406.Lisa_Medley

Google + https://plus.google.com/u/1/+LisaMedley/posts

Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Medley/e/B00I66M24M/

Newsletter http://eepurl.com/9Zhcz

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Another Year Older

http://morguefile.com

Yep, another birthday came and went. I guess I should be happy to see another one considering my age which is ... let's just say older than dirt.

Best part about the day? My employer gives it off with pay. Yea!

I didn't do much. Watched oldie tv - Perry Mason and Matlock. Took a nap (because that's what old people do). And then went to my hangout for a free beer. I was in bed by eight o'clock. Exciting right? Bet you all are so jealous.

My son shipped me some items off my Amazon wish list, so I got stuff I needed and wanted. Good boy! Other than that, it was an ordinary day. No cake, no balloons, no fireworks. I do enjoy a good fireworks show but alas it wasn't to be.

Today, I'm writing, which is a good thing. No hangover like in my younger days. So, maybe I am not only older, but wiser.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - What Happens If . . .

http://www.morguefile.com

As writers, we often ask ourselves "what happens if ..." Our characters need challenges or there is no story. It can be internal or external, but something needs to happen to them to keep the story moving. Of course, we must limit the challenges so the pacing is smooth and the story line is believable. Otherwise our readers will say "Really?' and throw our book across the room or remove it from their reading device.

This week I did a "what happens if". I put my book Beyond The Horizon on Amazon free for two days. Just to see what happens. I wasn't selling that many copies anyway. It's been out over a year, so that's understandable. Here are the results:

• Almost 900 downloads.
• Pages read - close to 400 (I don't know how Amazon knows this and to tell you the truth it kind of creeps me out)
• 2 new reviews. Yippee

Reviews were actually what I was hoping for. And I hope many more are on the way. I was stuck at 22 forever. Reviews are like Amazon gold for an author.

Remember that next time you read a book. It doesn't have to be long and drawn out synopsis of the whole story. Just a simple "I really enjoyed this book" will do.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - An Author Spotlight

Please help me welcome Michele Stegman to my blog today.

Don't you just love the cover of her new novel?

Blurb:

Her people conquered his country. How can they overcome the distrust they feel to find love? 

In 1067 England, Madeline, a Norman, wants a big, brash, never-defeated-in-battle, Norman knight. What she gets, by order of the king, is a wiry Saxon who once studied for the priesthood instead of warfare. But is this gentle man she is falling in love with entangled in the rebellion now sweeping the land?

Ranulf wants to marry the girl next door. What he gets, by order of the king, is a lush, strong Norman woman who just might be a spy reporting his every move. He wants her in every way a man can possibly want a woman. But can he trust his heart to a woman who might have been sent to root out the struggle for freedom his people are engaged in?

I love to interview authors and find out a little more about them. Here are some fun questions for my guest. 

Do you listen to music when you write and if so, what is your favorite playlist? 

I love music. I play piano for church. I go to the opera. But when I write, I turn off the music. Music, for me, is so full, there is so much going on in every measure, that it becomes a distraction. Now, for inspiration to write, that's another story! Classical music and some movie themes paint pictures in my head, and sometimes that leads to a story idea.

 What is your favorite food and what food would you never eat? 

I don't eat coconut, coffee, chocolate or liver. I just don't like them. I think coffee is the most disgusting tasting stuff! How can people drink it? I sometimes like a little mild milk chocolate, but not much. As for my favorite food, that's just about everything else. Seriously, I guess if I had to pick I would say bread. My husband and I both love good bread. I bake it myself two or three times a week. It seems that even if I have just brought home a big load of groceries, if we are out of bread, there's nothing to eat in the house. When I take loaves out of the oven, I often say to my husband, "There's food in the house!"

What is the best advice you've ever received about the writing process? 

I used to think I needed to wait for inspiration to write. Well, that helps, but getting the words down takes work. I like this quote from Pearl Buck: "I don't wait for mood. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work."

 Tell us something interesting about yourself? 

I am a hand spinner and weaver. I enjoy taking raw fleeces just as they come from the sheep (shearing doesn't hurt the sheep), and preparing them for spinning, and then spinning the wool into yarn. I then weave the yarn into shawls or scarves, or I knit or crochet it into other garments.

Thanks so much for answering those questions, Michele. Now, enjoy an excerpt from Conquest of the Heart

 He let his gaze travel back to his bride walking stiffly, reluctantly, toward him. For once, Ranulf felt speech was beyond him. She was so much more than he had expected. So beautiful. So clean. She  glittered like a bright jewel in a dung heap. For Etherby, no matter how much he loved it, was not much better than one right now.

 If only he could say to this magnificent woman, "Go away. Come back in a year. Give me time to build the castle the king has ordered, tear down this rotting hall, teach cleanliness to servants to whom filth is a way of life. Then you won't have to grit your teeth and square our shoulders as if going into battle as you come to wed me." But it was already too late. She was here. The wedding was now. And he felt as randy as a billy goat.

He would begin building the king's castle immediately. The work would distract him from Lady Madeline's seductive lure. She would find no treason with which to fill the king's ears, and, like his mother's attitude toward his father, he was sure the lady would be glad not to have him in her bower, not the way he felt now, the things he wanted to do to her.

 I hope you enjoyed this visit with a talented author. Please check out her links below.

You can contact Michele on her website, www.MicheleStegman.com, or on her Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/MicheleStegmanAuthor.

Buy links for Conquest of the Heart

 Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1cVjVKN

Smashwords:  http://bit.ly/1JP7QFB

Bio:

Michele Stegman has always loved history and she lives it every day. She spins, weaves, makes her own soap and bread, and lives in a 175 year old log cabin with her husband, Ron, who is the basis for all her heroes.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - It's Out!

http://www.morguefile.com

What's out???? The lights, the gas tank, my pet tiger?


No silly. My book Beyond The Horizon is back up on Amazon with a new cover and a whole new attitude. Can't you see it taunting you, tempting you. "Buy me, read me, enjoy me, and then leave a glowing review!
http://amzn.to/1Jl5Bbw

And, hopefully soon, a print copy will finally be born. It's every author's dream to hold her baby in her hands (and not on an e-reader).

Now that my shameless self-promotion is over, let's move on to more enjoyable stuff.

With summer just around the corner, I thought a survey would be fun. You can find it over there on the right. Results will be discussed next Friday.

If you're killing time at work, you might want to visit this page and meet new authors including myself.
http://bit.ly/1Jl3JiS

Update: I'm over trying to find a new hangout. I've been through the whole loss process. Anger, depression, mourning, etc. I feel much better and less needy. Plus, who knows with the money I save, I may be able to enjoy a summer activity of my own!

FRIDAY STIR FRY - A New Direction

http://www.morguefile.com

Received the news this week that my publisher, Breathless Press, is closing shop. Financial reasons were the explanation. With many authors going the self-publishing route through Amazon and offering their work at an inexpensive price, it's difficult for a small press publisher to charge enough per book to make any money. Especially after they pay the editors and cover artists. It's understandable, but sad.

About this time last year I was in the midst of final edits for Beyond The Horizon. It was all so new and exciting. A dream come true. I had a publisher, a fantastic cover and an editor I loved. Now, I have to begin all over. Well, not quite. I don't have to write the book again since I'm getting my rights back.

Many of my writer friends are urging me to self-publish. Some have even offered to help with cover art and formatting. Bless their hearts. I already published Briefs and Shorts on Kindle, so I think I could do the same with my book. I've set up a Create Space account to print a paperback version. Onward and upward. I can do this. I think.

So (fingers crossed), in about a month, Beyond The Horizon will be back out there with a new cover, a paper edition, and a lower price.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Author Spotlight

http://www.morguefile.com

I'm thrilled to host Allison Merritt today. Not only is she a talented writer with many books to her credit, I consider her a good friend. She writes in various romance genres including Steampunk, Vikings, 1800 era Ozarks, and modern day Cowboy. Her current release involves demons and the evil they unleash on a small western town. How cool is that!

Before I introduce you to her current release, please enjoy this quick interview.

Your books cover many different historical times from Vikings to modern day. Which is your favorite and why? 

I've always loved 19th century culture. My first attempts at writing romance were set in the 1800s and it's still my favorite time period to write. The first romance novel I read was In the Shadow of the Mountains by Roseanne Bittner and I read a ton of Louis L'Amour. Both authors had a serious impact on my writing. I like cowboys in general, so do expect to see those whether they're modern, historical or in an alternate world. Although, Vikings were a great switch, because they're the ultimate alpha hero.

What would you consider a perfect day?

Wake up late, maybe 10-ish, get in the car, take a drive, perhaps south toward Arkansas, because right now, the trees and flowers are blooming and the scenery is great. Have a late lunch, maybe do a little shopping, no rush to get back, just time to marvel at the beauty of nature. End the day curled up in my chair with my dogs and watching a good movie. Then bedtime and a nice, uninterrupted sleep.

Favorites:

Movie: Secondhand Lions - action, adventure, mystery, romance. It has it all.

Food: Mac n'cheese

Drink: Dr. Pepper

Shoes: Flip flops

Car: Mustang

Animal: My Japanese chins. They're hilariously crazy dogs.

Thanks Allison! And, by the way, I love Secondhand Lions.

Blurb:

If love can’t save them, there will be hell to pay.

Grateful for his mother’s human blood that cools the dark fire of his demon father, Eban Heckmaster has set up a medical practice in New Mexico territory. But there’s no hope of living a normal life until he rids himself of a seductive demon that’s been pursuing him.

Vanquishing it won’t be as simple as sharpening his demon-hunting sword. The clever creature is hiding inside his best friend’s head, and she has no idea of the havoc she’s been wreaking, especially with his body.

Beryl suspects Eban knows why she’s been waking up with no memory of where she’s been or what she’s done, but he’s not talking. But when she inevitably learns what he’s hiding—or rather, what’s hiding inside her—she wonders if her love for him is real, or an illusion created by the demon’s lust.

Eban is losing the battle to hold his rising desire in check. There may be only one way to extricate Beryl from the beast entangling her mind. Call upon his demon blood…and offer it as a sacrifice.

Excerpt:

Eban’s lungs ached for breath and his eyes shot open. Startled by weight settling on his abdomen, he tried to sit up, but two small hands held him down. Thanks to his demon blood, it only took a moment to adjust to the dark. In the nonexistent light, he peered up at Beryl Brookshier’s angelic face. She gave him a wicked smile as long strands of wheat-blonde hair tickled his bare chest. He sucked in a breath when he realized she was naked and a sheet was the only thing separating her from his raging erection.

“What are you doing?”

The second the words were out of his mouth, Eban knew he wasn’t talking to Beryl.

“Ravish me, Ebaneezer.”

The demon used Beryl’s voice and body, but the thing talking to him was far from human. The notion of taking its head off and sparing himself a lot of trouble was tempting. If not for the real Beryl’s trusting green eyes and bashful smile.

“That stopped being funny the first time you got naked in front of me.”

She caressed his cheek. “You were dreaming. I was trying to make your dreams more pleasant.”

He slapped her hands away. “You thought you’d tempt me into bedding you and then letting some other parasite into my brain. That’s not going to happen, Rosemar.”

“You want this body. Why deny it, Heckmaster?” The lust demon glowered at him, her irritation creasing the smooth face she borrowed.

“Get off me.” He pushed her away, then grabbed the sheet as she slid off his chest. “What I want is for you to vacate it, leaving Beryl’s mind intact so I can get out of Berner.”

Buy links:

Samhain - https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5394/eban

Amazon - http://amzn.com/B00QZVS0I2

B & N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wystan-allison-merritt/1119847207?ean=9781619222892

Are - https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-eban-1724448-140.html

Google Books - https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=CL3VBQAAQBAJ&rdid=book-CL3VBQAAQBAJ&rdot=1&source=gbs_atb&pcampaignid=books_booksearch_atb

Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/eban

About the author:

A love of reading inspired Allison Merritt to pursue her dream of becoming an author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she's not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas.

Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that's gathering dust after it was determined that she's better at writing fluff than hard news.

Social links:

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/authorallisonmerritt

Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/Allison_Merritt

Blog – http://havenovelwilledit.blogspot.com

Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/allisonmwrites/

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/allisonmwrites


Now - for those of you who did the right thing and read this post all the way through - leave a comment and/or question for Allison - your name will go into a drawing for a $5.00 Amazon gift card. Make sure I have your e-mail address so I can notify you if you win.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Big News!

http://www.morguefile.com

Notice something different to the right? It's a new e-book for your reading pleasure. I jumped into the Amazon and self-published my first book. The process was much easier than I thought it would be. Priced at a very reasonable 99 cents, how can you pass it up?

It's a collection of eight stories I've written over the last fifteen years including the first one I ever penned. Disclaimer here: I had to re-write that one and a few others. It's amazing how much I've learned about writing since that first attempt. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? I'd be remiss if I didn't credit some of my education to both writing groups I belong to - Sleuths' Ink and especially Ozarks Romance Authors who conduct a monthly critique group. I've learned so much from having my writing evaluated and by critiquing other members' work.

I think you'll be surprised at the variety. It's not all happily ever after. I have a bit of a dark side. A few have won or placed in contests. The others have just been sitting on my computer waiting for somebody, anybody to read them. I had to grant their wish.

A special shout out to Allison Merritt who designed my cover.

And don't forget, the best way to make an author happy is to leave a review.

Be sure and come back next week when I'll be hosting and interviewing a very talented author, Tierney James. She writes thrillers and will be giving us a taste of her new release.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Authors You Might Want To Check Out

http://www.morguefile.com

Today I'm featuring more of my talented writer friends. If you missed the first batch, check the archives November 29, 2014.

I feel lucky to know and be associated with these people. Please check out their sites and their books.

First up is Shirley McCann. She is a talented mystery writer with several books available and also her short mystery stories have been published in Woman's World Magazine. Here is her blog link    http://shirleymccann.blogspot.com/
And here is her Amazon Author page   http://amzn.to/18XhPZM

Next up is Cara Bristol. This lady has many books published and specializes in erotica.
Here is her web page link
http://carabristol.com/
And her Amazon author page   http://amzn.to/17Y7USG

And last but not least is Vera Jane Schultz. A talented writer she has something for everyone from mystery to humor to romance.
 Here is the link to her website  http://verasversion.blogspot.com/
Here is her Amazon author page     http://amzn.to/1ETOP0I

I hope you take the time to visit them and perhaps support them with a purchase.

FRIDAY STIR FRY - This and That

              

         Another edition of this and that. No theme, just observations from the week past. 

http://www.morguefile.com



What has happened to human intelligence?
I'm not claiming to be the smartest roll in the basket, but compared to some people, I'm a genus.
We have a lot of forms where I work. Way too many. But they are pretty self explanatory. Sign here, date here, answer yes or no. Do I ever get a correctly completed form? Maybe 1% of the time.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about people who are truly challenged. I'm talking about people who appear to be fully functional. They drive, they have kids, they work. Some of the worst offenders are caseworkers helping their clients. Scary. Filling out forms seems to be a true challenge for them. Like the sign says on my desk. "There is no life guard in the gene pool." Man oh man, I wish there was.
Enough about the hell I call work.

I participated in my first book signing last week. Technically not a book signing, since my novel is e-book only. I was next to three other talented writer friends, which made it easier. I didn't feel like a total pimp. I gave away an origami book featuring my cover, the first 1000 words and buying info. At least half were gone at the end of the night. I did have a bump in sales ranking on Amazon over the weekend. So, maybe my efforts were not for waste. I might participate in another one down the line.

As treasurer for Ozarks Romance Authors, I'm really busy gearing up for our annual writing conference. Collecting registration fees and compiling lists. Have I mentioned I'm not a number person?

If you are interested in attending a great conference, find more info here: 

  http://ozarks-romance-authors.com/conference-2014/oracon-2014/

Oh, and somewhere in all this mess, I need to write. 

How was your week??

FRIDAY STIR FRY - AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Today I am excited to bring you a debut author who is also a friend of mine. Not only is she smart and funny but her writing voice is captivating.
First a little about her, then a fun interview and a excerpt from her book. And don't miss the links at the end for more info and where to purchase a copy.

Lisa Medley writes reapers. The grim kind. Her urban fantasy romance, Reap & Repent is available now in a Harlequin E Box Set with three other Harlequin debut authors. A lover of beasties of all sorts, she has a farm full of them in her SW MO home including:  one child, one husband, two dogs, two cats, a dozen hens, thousands of Italian bees and a guinea pig. Not so in love with the guinea pig. She can do ten pushups IN A ROW and may or may not have a complete zombie apocalypse bug-out bag in her trunk at all times. Just. In. Case.

Reap & Repent Blurb:

Deacon Walker is a burned out loner, whose two hundred years as a reaper have left him empty inside. But when he meets Ruth Scott, a gorgeous shut-in with unusual gifts, he’s forced to set his career complacency aside to train her for a destiny she never knew existed. Soon the two will face the ultimate test: a battle against demons determined to destroy humanity, one soul at a time.

 

What draws you to paranormal stories?

 

I have always loved monsters. I think it all started with Scooby Doo back in the day and eventually graduated to the King of monsters, Stephen King. I drew the line at Clive Barker. I like monsters with at least the chance at redemption. When I discovered there was an entire genre devoted to monsters in love called paranormal romance…I was hooked!

Keyboard or paper and pen?

Reap & Repent was mostly written in a notebook until I got a little netbook. Now it’s all keyboard. Occasionally I’ll take notes in my phone or in notebooks still if the muse inspires me while I’m away from my computer. I have to write things down when they come to me, ha!

Do you ever experience writer's block and if so what do you do about it?

I’ve been a little stuck a few times but not really blocked. The only thing that really blocks me is making time to write. I read some great advice from fantasy author Terry Prachett who said when he’s stuck he’ll ask himself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen for this person?” Then he’ll do that to his character. Works for me! I’ve been unintentionally doing this since book one. It’s a terrific way to get yourself unstuck.

Which is easier for you: beginning, middle or end?

I’m a starter for sure, but I’ve found if you start strong often the momentum will carry you. The more I transition from pantser to plotter, the easier the transition from beginning to middle to end becomes. Wandering the back roads is fun, but things move along much more smoothly when you have a map.

Do you have a muse and if so what is his/her name?

My muse’s name is CHOCOLATE. I summon him/her often.

One marketing tip?

I’m still learning, but what I’m trying to do is to reach out and make connections via social media. I don’t friend or follow everyone, but if they look even mildly interesting, I add them to me realm of influence. You never know who might give you that little push that will take you viral. I focus on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads. You just can’t do it all.

Do you go out of your way to kill bugs or do you run and hide?

Oh I’ll stomp a spider or bug no problem. It’s the snakes that send me running. I can face about anything except a snake. I’m not so fond of mice either.

Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning or do you not see the point?

I LIKE having my bed made. I do not make it very often. Mostly I make it when I know someone is coming over.

What one thing would surprise people about you? 

I keep bees. Or more, I have a beehive and they hang around and make me honey when they feel like it. I used to really try to ‘work’ them. That only led to disaster. Like a squashed Queen. Finally I learned to leave them alone and let nature find a way. I’ve lost the colony a couple of times and had to start over, but mostly they do better without me.

Prologue from Reap & Repent:

           What does a guy have to do around here to get some service? Deacon Walker marveled as he glared at the undulating queue of grotesque reapers in front of him. 

For all that’s holy, move the hell along already.

It had been a long week, and it wasn’t over yet. He needed to make at least one more pass through the hospital circuit before he could call it a day. He could already feel the tug of a freshly departed soul. Again. People were dropping like flies lately.

 

He massaged his brow, trying to soothe his exhausted patience as the line inched forward at a snail’s pace. 

He was worn thin. Over the past few weeks, three demon soul poachers had popped up in his fair city of Meridian like poisonous mushrooms after a hard rain. While it wasn’t unheard of for one to slip out from Hell every now and then, three was a nightmare.

When it got topside, a demon’s M.O. was to steal a human body, poach a few souls from the dead and dying, and then make its merry way back to Hell, taking its host’s soul along for the ride. The only way to save the souls a poacher was carrying was to behead the host with a scythe. Not a pretty thing to do, but the poor suckers were too far gone by then to survive anyway. No human could withstand the pressures of being ridden by a demon. And it was worth it to save a handful of souls, not to mention inconveniencing the demon.

           Deacon refused to lose any souls from his territory. At all.
 
           So far the score was Deacon, 3. Demons, 0.
 

As a reaper, carrying souls to Purgatory for judgment was his job and he wasn’t about to cede his territory to poachers who used up their hosts like they were disposable Tupperware. So now, in addition to his normal day job, he also had to keep an eye out for more demon invaders.

While demons burned through most human hosts in a matter of days, some in a matter of hours, they had discovered long ago that under the right circumstances they could ride a reaper. Of course, they couldn’t just worm their way in like they did with humans—they had to be invited. But once a deal was struck? They were in.

 

And reapers? Yeah, they could hang on for decades inside a reaper. Deacon knew that fact firsthand.

           His stomach twisted at the thought, but he shook it off, looking ahead with a heavy sigh.

Seriously, this line? Still. Not. Moving?

 

God, he needed a freakin’ vacation. Extended. He dragged a hand through his hair in frustration as his mind flipped through postcard-esque locations of reapings past. He snarled at the thought of New Orleans in summer. He would definitely want to go someplace cool—cool as in frigid, not hip. He was sick of the heat, and it was only the beginning of summer in the semitropical Midwest.

           
            Come to think of it, he was sick of a lot of things.

This place was high on the list. It was as hot as…well, Hell actually. Or at least what he imagined Hell to be, although he’d never actually been there. Thank God.

 

Steam rose from random cracks in the stone floor of the underground station, veiling the place in a humid sulfur stench.  

He pushed forward, finally making his way to the front to deposit his cargo of souls. He didn’t bother chatting. In. Out. Move on. It was a motto that served him well. 

Mission completed, he hustled through the crowd, forgoing the bar-side frivolity of some of the more socially inclined reapers and their small talk about their glory days in the field or—even better—the missteps of the newest reapers. Newbies often tested their limits to humorous if not disastrous effect at least once in their early careers. That was exactly why new reapers had mentors or at least worked in teams. From all the laughter, he could tell that the stories were good ones. It didn’t tempt him.

He slapped his palm against the black granite monolith and flashed out of Purgatory to what he prayed was his last stop of the day.

  BUY LINKS: Reap & Repent is available March 3, 2014 in a Harlequin E Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance Box Set with the works of three other amazing new Harlequin authors! Reap & Repent will be available for single-title release June 2, 2014.

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