How to Leave Texas…

Tags

Alana Cash. humor, modern romance. Austin, novella, Texas. Lone Star State. short story collections

Well, I’d like to know and think Alana Cash can tell us!  Join Alana on a funny journey from the Lone Star State.

BLURB:   

How You Leave Texas is a volume of three short stories and a novella about four young women who leave Midland, Austin, Fort   Worth and Mayville, Texas for New York, California, Jakarta, and in one instance, jail.  They seek escape from boredom and sorrow and find it.  The stories are hilarious, tragic, revelatory.

EXCERPT:

 Here is an excerpt from the novella Frying Your Burger:

I picked up the phone and called Mehta.

When he answered I asked, “Do you want to meet me somewhere and hang out for a while?”

“I can’t. I’m in the middle of tinting the hair under my arms.”

“What color?”

“Red.”

“Mehta, I’m in a quandary.”

“Go on.”

“That guy Zach called and we’ve got a date to meet at his house on Saturday night.”

“Did he mention anything about electric appliances or a collie suit?”

“No.”

“A live studio audience.”

“No.”

“Acrobatics?  Bondage?  A trained flea circus?”

“No.”

“I can understand your quandary. I wouldn’t want to go either.”

“It’s not going I’m worried about. It’s leaving.”

“Just don’t leave anything behind,” he said. “Hold on a minute, the timer just went off.”

He put the phone down and I heard water running in the background. Mehta rinsing his armpits. Then there was silence as he viewed his underarm handiwork in the mirror.

“Now where were we,” he said when he picked up the phone again.

“How does it look?”

“Cheerful. Now, about the date.”

“I’m not sure I’ll have a good time.”

“My, what a poor attitude. If you don’t have a good time, steal something.”

“What?”

“Take a little souvenir. An ashtray, a towel, a Ming vase.”

“Anything you particularly want for your apartment?”

“Let me think. I’d like something crystal. You can never have enough crystal.”

“You don’t have any crystal.”

“See what I mean.”

_________________________

I thought that scene was witty and very funny!

__________________________

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Alana Cash is an adventurer.  She’s trekked alone through war-torn Serbia and has slept in a KGB interrogation room in Prague.  She’s been to a gypsy fair in rural England, a bullfight in Laredo, and parasailing in Acapulco.  She’s been inside the New York Stock Exchange and eaten in J. Pierpont Morgan’s home dining room.  She’s gone on a ride-along in a New York City patrol car and kissed a man inside the Norman Bates Psycho house at Universal Studios.  She’s been a lifeguard, legal secretary, accountant, writer, teacher, filmmaker and artist.

Her experiences are inspiration for her work as an acclaimed writer and filmmaker.

• She was one of 60 US teachers profiled on the PBS series,  “A Writer’s Exchange,” for her talent as a teacher at the University of  Texas Informal Classes  – many of her students published and won      writing awards
• Her feature film, “Tom’s Wife,” based on her novel of the same name, won awards all over the  world
• Her documentary “Anna Freud: Under Analysis,” part of documentary trilogy on women in   science, was translated into German for broadcast in Austria, Germany & Switzerland.

Now, add to that Alana Cash and How You Leave Texas placed first place in the Short Story category of the GLOBAL BOOK CONTEST 2013.

Alana will be awarding a screen printed camisole (What Happens in the Bedroom Stays in the Bedroom) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour as well as a screen printed Brass Nuts t-shirt to another commenter. Also, everyone who reviews the book will receive their choice of a camisole or T-shirt.

Follow the tour for more chances to win:

BLURB BLITZ TOUR
7/8/2013 The Dan O’Brien Project
7/8/2013 SECOND STOP Andi’s Book Reviews
7/9/2013 You Gotta Read Reviews
7/9/2013 SECOND STOP Harlie’s Books
7/10/2013 Reviews by Crystal
7/11/2013 Musings and Ramblings
7/12/2013 Danita Minnis
7/15/2013 Full Moon Dreaming
7/15/2013 SECOND STOP The Book Tart
7/16/2013 Sandra’s Blog
7/17/2013 Loose the Hounds
7/18/2013 Tina Donahue Presents
7/19/2013 A Writer’s Life
7/22/2013 Worlds of Possibilities
7/23/2013 Desiree Holt
7/24/2013 Janna Shay’s Fair Play
7/25/2013 Renee Luke
7/26/2013 Margay Leah Justice
7/29/2013 Linda Nightingale-Wordsmith
7/30/2013 Lindsay’s Scribblings
7/31/2013 Hope Dreams. Life… Love
8/1/2013 The Snarkology of a Romance Author
8/2/2013 Pink Fluffy Hearts: Diary of a Coffee Addict

REVIEW TOUR
8/5/2013
8/6/2013 Sharing Links and Wisdom
8/7/2013
8/8/2013 Just Trying to Let it Be
8/9/2013 My Devotional Thoughts

 

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Murder is murder no matter who the victim is…Vigilante

Tags

Goddess Fish Productions, Jacqui Morrison, mystery, pornography, thriller, Toronto

I’d like to welcome Jacqui Morrison and her dynamic heroine, Lynnette, who is out to get her man!

Blurb:

It isn’t safe for men who work in the porn business in the city of Toronto.

When porn producer Sal Turbit is found dead in his apartment, no one seems to care. No one, that is, except Detective Lynette Wilton. Lynette has been a homicide detective for only three months, and has yet to earn her stripes.

Murder is murder no matter who the victim is—and Lynette is out to catch a killer.

Could the killer be Wanda Chambers, a mentally ill woman who hates the “scumbags” who prey on the vulnerable? Wanda’s beloved sister, Cathy, was one such woman. Cathy became a porn actress and then took her own life when her sleazy manager/boyfriend, Gil Lee, wouldn’t let her go.

Lynette’s sergeant doesn’t think it’s possible. Wanda has a debilitating illness. But Lynette believes that Wanda’s hatred and harsh childhood make her a prime suspect, and she proves it by catching Wanda in the act of attempting to shoot Lee.

Renowned defense lawyer Maxine Swayman takes on Wanda’s case; Maxine has a different view of the accused. She wants to help Wanda get the help that she needs, and it’s not going to happen in a prison cell.

As the trial proceeds, will Maxine prevail and save Wanda, or will Lynette be able to tie Wanda to Turbit’s murder as well?

*****

“Morrison knows how to create suspense! She brings readers on a roller-coaster ride that leaves you breathless from start to finish!” —Trey Anthony, star and producer “Da Kink in Da Hair”

EXCERPT:

Chapter 1

“Hey,” Sal said, “come on in. You’re right on time. Good to meet ya.” He left the visitor in the living room of his shabby apartment in a grungy, low-rent building, and slipped into the kitchen. The metallic pop of a beer bottle opening echoed in the other room. Then another.

Six empty beer bottles, a heaping ashtray, and assorted marijuana paraphernalia were already strewn across his table. The grandfather clock struck four times. Sal stumbled back into the room. “I got you a beer.”

Glassy-eyed, Sal said, “I’ve got lots of great products for you to move today.” He showed the visitor the cover of a DVD. “This one is new. It’ll sell out. She’s a real sweet thing. Told me she was eighteen ’n had the ID to prove it. Likely just some little tramp from nowhere-ville. Came to the big, bad city for excitement––”

The metal felt cool as the visitor pulled out a gun.

“What the hell?” Sal screamed, just before the bullet penetrated his skull.

He fell onto the sofa, blood oozing out the back of his head. His face was contorted, almost angry looking. Certainly surprised.

The spent cartridge from the handgun ricocheted against a metal garbage can––reminiscent of the pop of a beer cap––and then landed on the carpet.

The murderer studied the victim’s splayed body, feeling a sense of elation and satisfaction. Out came a Swiss Army knife, and the killer wordlessly hacked off a section of Sal’s hair, stuffed it into a small plastic bag, and then threw it into a knapsack. The killer then picked up the half-spilled beer that Sal had been handing over when the shot was fired. Perfect. Grinning, the murderer chugged the beer, retrieved the spent cartridge, and smugly looked at Sal Turbit’s still body, now surrounded by pooling blood.

Still wearing leather gloves, the murderer put the beer bottle and hot metal bullet charge into a knapsack and fled, smiling, into the dense night.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am Jacqui Morrison. I started writing poems and short stories as a child. I also enjoyed public speaking in elementary school and at University. In High School, a great teacher, Lenore Hawley, inspired me and in 1995 I pursued my life-long passion for writing.

My career is a complicated web and includes: owning an ice cream parlour and fine food shop, teaching life-skills management to adults, teaching computer applications, social service work and marketing.

From 1994 to 2003, I assisted survivors of domestic violence in both criminal and family court as a support worker. I’ve always had a strong interest in law and justice.

I love to write and I am happiest writing or encouraging others to fulfill their writing dreams. I facilitate writing seminars for Canadore College and various agencies.

I live in northern Ontario, Canada with my daughter Alison, my husband Wayne, and a three-legged dog named Willow. Our daughter has convinced us to adopt four cats so Felix, Sasha, Nikke and Angel round out our family. Angel, at four-months-of-age was abandoned by its owner and we rescued her in -15 degree weather.

Alison has a future in politics, animal rescue work or sales … because I’m not really a cat person and she’s persuaded me to adopt four.

My parents are the late Drs John and Irene Morrison. Mom was a family physician and a competitive swimmer. My father worked for the Provincial Parole Board. Dad enjoyed to write fictional stories in his spare time. He was my mentor, my editor and my hero. I have one sister named Trish. She is a competitive swimming coach. Trish resides in southern Ontario with her husband, four children, two dogs and a cat.

In our spare time we like to cruise Georgian Bay on our boat or spend quality family time.

Her Website: http://jacquimorrison.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacqui.morrison

Jacqui will be awarding Loose Tea and Chipnuts to two randomly drawn commenters during this tour and the Virtual Reviews Tour combined.  Follow the tour for more chances to win! 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/06/virtual-super-book-blast-vigilante-by.html

NY Journal of Books – Fab Review for Sinners’ Opera

Tags

book review, classical pianist, Double Dragon Publishing, HEA, new releases, New York Journal of Books, opera, paranormal romance, romance, vampire

…a fascinating journey through the psyche…

“Sinners’ Opera is a beautifully written love story with vivid imagery, dry humor, sarcastic wit, and sensuous love scenes. The descriptions of Charleston bring that city to life. It’s also a fascinating journey through the psyche of a man who’s lived through the centuries but is now willing to die for the woman he loves and to bring his kind into the light of the mortal’s world.

 

“And thereby hangs this tale of love, deception, murder, and revenge.”

—New York Journal of Books

Read the entire review!

http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/review/sinners%E2%80%99-opera

Blood Destiny Series by Helen Harper

Tags

Blood Magic Series, dark fantasy, fantasy, fantasy romance, Goddess Fish Promotions, Helen Harper, new releases, series, shapeshifters, urban fantasy

If you like shifters–and don’t we all–you’ll want to read this post.  I welcome Helen Harper and MacKenzie Smith…who has grown up a little different.

HELEN IS GIVING AWAY A $25 GIFT CARD TO ONE LUCKY COMMENTER.  TALK TO HER and I’ll add a little author swag of my own!!  The link to follow the blog hop for more chances to win is listed at the end of the post.  Enjoy!

This series sounds way beyond intriging…let’s try enchanting…

 

BLURBS:

Bloodfire

Mackenzie Smith has always known that she was different. Growing up as the only human in a pack of rural shapeshifters will do that to you, but then couple it with some mean fighting skills and a fiery temper and you end up with a woman that few will dare to cross. However, when the only father figure in her life is brutally murdered, and the dangerous Brethren with their predatory Lord Alpha come to investigate, Mack has to not only ensure the physical safety of her adopted family by hiding her apparent humanity, she also has to seek the blood-soaked vengeance that she craves.

Bloodmagic

After escaping the claws of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the Brethren, Mack is trying to lead a quiet lonely life in Inverness in rural Scotland, away from anyone who might happen to be a shapeshifter. However, when she lands a job at an old bookstore owned by a mysterious elderly woman who not only has a familiar passion for herbal lore but also seems to know more than she should, Mack ends up caught in a maelstrom between the Ministry of Mages, the Fae and the Brethren.

Now she has to decide between staying hidden and facing the music, as well as confronting her real feelings for the green eyed power of Corrigan himself.

(HOST’S NOTE:  Aren’t these covers dynamic?!  Don’t they make you want to grab the books??)

Bloodrage

Mack begins her training at the mages’ academy in the hope that, by complying, the stasis spell will be lifted from her old friend, Mrs. Alcoon. However, once there, she finds herself surrounded by unfriendly adults and petulant teenagers, the majority of whom seem determined to see her fail.

Feeling attacked on all fronts, Mack finds it harder and harder to keep a rein on her temper. Forced to attend anger management classes and deal with the predatory attentions of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the shapeshifter world, her emotions start to unravel. But when she comes across a familiar text within the walls of the mages’ library, which might just provide the clues she needs to unlock the secrets of her background and her dragon blood, she realises that her problems are only just beginning…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT  from Bloodfire:

I slowly uncurled my fingers and forced myself to relax. Perhaps they weren’t coming after all I pondered, half hoping – and half chafing at the thought that they had so little regard for my pack that they couldn’t even show up on time.  Didn’t they understand what we’d all just been through?  I almost growled.  Even without the I Tom look worriedly over at me again.  I ignored him.  Screw the Brethren. Part of me wished that I could have been long gone and then wouldn’t have to be witnessing the pathetic displays of my pack, my surrogate family, straining at the bit to do anything to please the sodding Brethren.  Idiots.

I’d confirmed that none of them other than Julia had ever had cause to come in contact with the Brethren before now – well, let’s face it, we lived in a backwater town in Cornwall for chrissakes, nothing had ever happened before that would have warranted the Brethren’s attention – but the crème de la crème of the shapeshifters’ reputation still preceded them.  They were known to be bloody, ruthless and entirely without mercy for anyone who didn’t meet their exacting standards.  And still, the pack sighed over them as if they were gallant heroes galloping in to save the day.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you want to keep up with Helen (and I know you do!):

Helen Harper is an English teacher currently living abroad in Malaysia. As a long time reader of urban fantasy, she finally bit the bullet and began to develop her own series of novels.

Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland. “I always loved the escapism provided by those genres,” states Helen. “No matter how bad life gets, you can always find a route out, even if only temporarily, in the pages of a good book.”

The growth of urban fantasy fascinated her – the mix of reality and fantasy along with strong heroic female characters appealed from the very beginning, and inspired her to write her own.

Facebook Author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Helen-Harper/101590660022586

Twitter: @HarperFire

Amazon.com buy links:

Bloodfire

http://www.amazon.com/Bloodfire-Blood-Destiny-1-ebook/dp/B00AU43ZXK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Bloodmagic

http://www.amazon.com/Bloodmagic-Blood-Destiny-2-ebook/dp/B00AU0O00G/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Bloodrage

http://www.amazon.com/Bloodrage-Blood-Destiny-3-ebook/dp/B00BQEFTPK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1362894945&sr=1-1&keywords=bloodrage

Follow the blog for more chances to win:

1.  Wicked Readings by Tawania
2.  Deb Deb Reviews
3.  Andi’s Book Reviews
4.  Loose the Hounds
5.  Queen of the Night Reviews
6.  Christine Young Romance Writer
7.  Book- Marks The Spot
8.  Musings of Mistress of the Dark Path
9.  Reading In Twilight
10.  The Darker Side of Romance
11.  Dalene’s Book Reviews
12.  Chris Redding Author
13.  Punya Reviews…
14.  Gin’s Book Notes
15.  Welcome to My World of Dreams
16.  Literal Hotties Naughty Books Reviews
17.  Worlds of Possibilities
18.  Reviews by Crystal
19.  Linda Nightingale-Wordsmith
20.  Donna’s Blog Home
21.  The Eternal Scribe
22.  fuonlyknew
23.  Writer Wonderland
24.  My Devotional Thoughts
25.   The Life (and lies) of an inanimate flying object
26.  Fantasy Pages

 

Sequel to Sinners’ Opera

Tags

Kindle, new releases, paranormal romance, romance, vampires

I am currently working on the sequel to Sinners’ Opera, which was released in print as well this week.  Amazon has the book at a discounted price.  http://www.amazon.com/Sinners-Opera-ebook/dp/B00DIKLEH2/ref=sr_1_1/192-6242563-2157269?ie=UTF8&qid=1372504733&sr=8-1&keywords=sinners+opera

To the WIP:

MORNING OF THE NIGHT

Chapter 1

In six months, the pain should have subsided.

Yet grief and sorrow still twisted her heart.

Isabeau hurried through the darkness along the familiar path to the log cabin.  She’d grown up in Beaufort, but it no longer felt like home.  Nowhere does.

Only the whisper of the pines broke the silence of the chill November night.  Before she left the stables, she’d checked the white ceramic watch she’d bought on sale.  The silver hands pointed to nine o’clock.  In her jewelry box at home were countless reminders of a life lost.  She never wore the emeralds, diamonds or expensive watches anymore.  The jewelry he’d bought her glittered alone in the darkness.

Time had dimmed the exquisite, dreamlike happiness she’d known but not the memories.

By eight, her mother would have tucked Eroica into bed.  She’d stayed too long with Bianco, grooming and petting the white stallion.   On her sixteenth birthday, a transport van delivered the answer to Isabeau’s prayers.  For thirteen years, she’d begged her parents for a horse.  The driver claimed that her father had won a contest, the prize a beautiful Andalusian.  Bianco was the first of many mysterious gifts.  Marianne Gervase had kept a secret from her daughter…and her husband.  When Isabeau learned the truth, it was too late.  She was already in love with her godfather.

Last month, on October 11^th, a miracle was born.  Isabeau intended to breast fed her little Libra, but the baby had tried to bite her nipple.  Knowing who—what—Eroica’s father was, Isabeau decided to bottle feed her daughter.  As Lucien St. Albans had predicted, Eroica looked like a female reproduction of her father.  She had his silken blonde hair, his captivating blue eyes.  Isabeau had rejected Morgan’s calls, hadn’t opened his emails or the snail mail letters that arrived once a week.  He was trying to seduce his way back into her life.  If she’d heard his lilting voice on the phone or read the same cadence in the emails, she’d have lost her battle against him.

But God it hurt.

The Thanksgiving holiday had raced by.  On Sunday morning, Isabeau would return to Charleston.  She and Eroica would be alone in her echoing Orange Street house.  Her friend Kirsty offered to babysit, but, except for the hours spent at LifeGen earning their living, Isabeau hated to be separated from her miraculous child.   She refused to touch the small fortune Morgan sent as child support.  That money belonged to Eroica and would, one day, pay college tuition and settle her comfortably for life.  She didn’t dress her daughter at the expensive children’s boutiques as her father would have done, but shopped at sensible department stores.

Isabeau’s life centered around Eroica—and the genetic puzzle of vampire DNA.  She longed for the state-of-the art lab behind Rover House, abandoned now for months.  In fact, she yearned for the idyllic life she’d shared with Morgan.  She’d been a princess, living in a fairytale spun by her beautiful lover.  She hadn’t chosen this lonely existence.  Fate and Lucien St. Albans had made the choice.  Isabeau knew the truth of freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.  Still, her life was in her hands now.  Oh, but tonight she wished Morgan were here to whisper promises—whisper madness—in her ear.

A shadow materialized from the trees.  Her heart chugged over a beat of fear.  She halted in her tracks, a shiver rippling the hair at her nape.  Who—what—lurked on the path ahead?  Her mother wouldn’t leave the sleeping baby.   Strangers failed to notice the dirt and gravel drive to the cabin.  She would have called, “Who’s there?” but her dry throat constricted.

Six months ago, Isabeau had made a bargain with the devil.  Her racing heart cramped.  Had he come to collect?  The shadow wafted closer.  Holding her breath, she retreated.  Again it moved.  Too fast to be human.  If the dark figure was Lucien St. Albans, she’d be lucky to escape the confrontation with her life.

Morning of the Night is the working title.  Toni Sweeney, an author friend who pens great vampire novels, suggested Sinners’ Obsession since I am also working on a prequel, Sinners’ Waltz.  Which title do you like better?

Excerpt from Sinners’ Opera

Tags

classical music, classical pianist, Double Dragon Publishing, Earl, new releases, paranormal romance, vampire, vampire romance

From the hero Morgan D’Arcy’s POV:

For almost four hundred years, I’ve witnessed miracles of technology and the political wars that reshaped the world’s destiny.  I’ve seen much to hate and a great deal worthy of forgiveness.  I was born May 29, 1632, the only son of the Earl of St. Averil and his Lady Ilsabeth de Gueraint D’Arcy.  He died at the Battle of Naseby fighting with Charles I.  My mother died alone in 1685.  By that time, an unnaturally long youth had forced me to fake my own death for the first time.  I watched from afar, unable to attend her funeral.

Yesterday, I was a celebrated pianist.  I learned my art on the harpsichord from an Austrian genius named Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  Later, I studied with Liszt, Ravel and Debussy.  From the Duke of Newcastle then the Frenchman de la Gueriniere, I learned classical horsemanship.

Tonight, I am a wanted man.  Mortal justice would hang me for a crime I did not commit.  My brethren wish to destroy me for a crime I committed with willful intent.

It all began in December, a brief six months ago.  Actually, my saga began in 1659 before the restoration of Charles II, but that’s another story…

This is our story—Isabeau’s and mine—our Folie à deux.

I hope Travis Fimmel won’t mind that I used his pix here to show what Morgan looks like (sort of):