Linda Kage Blog Page

Mini Blog Tour

2012-01-30T05:00:00.004-06:00

Last week I detailed the reason why the coming of RIGHT TO REMAIN MINE has left me with some worry. Today, I think I'll talk about all the reasons I'm excited about its arrival.

1) I get to see my book for sale to the public, (no brainer!)

2) This is my first true alpha male hero. My other heroes are either tortured heroes, beta heroes, comedian heroes, boy-next-door heroes, or well, you get the idea. Raith is my first apologetically MALE hero. Yum. And Willow is probably the only heroine I've created who has all the just-right qualities to handle him. I loved watching them bump heads and fight, then make up!

3) It's about a cop, and I have a BIG thing for cops (ie: my hubby!!).

4) My Mini Blog Tour. I'm excited about the new places I'll be visiting on the web to talk about my writing and my latest stories (like, ahem, THE RIGHT TO REMAIN MINE).

HERE are more details on that:

The first stop came last Tuesday. But I'm sure you didn't miss it, right!

The next place I'll be is at The Rose of Prose Blog. I'll be guest posting with the roses tomorrow, and if you want to see what my back yard looks like (though sadly, it's nothing to write home about), I'll see you there!!!

See you tomorrow!

-Jan 24 (Tues) Interview at Books-N-Kisses

-Jan 31 (Tues) Guest Post at The Roses of Prose

-Feb 13 (Mon) Interview at You Gotta Read

-Feb 20 (Mon) Guest Post at Romancing the Book

-Feb 24 (Fri) Interview at Fallen Angel Reviews

-Feb 2012 Interview at Joyfully Reviewed

-Mar 06 (Tues) Interview at BookWenches

A Page with Kage (4)

2012-01-27T05:00:00.003-06:00

I thought I'd do another Page-with-Kage post today since it's been a while. So, yep, I'm going to share with you one of my favorite pages from one of my favorite stories.

Molly Daniels used to be the only author I knew who wrote actual college-age romance, but last month I discovered a couple more.

So after about a month-long binge of reading YA romance (high school and college age both), I've fallen hard for a ton of new authors. Jessica Park is one of them. Her story Flat-Out Love had me from page one, so that's what I'll share with you. Page 1!

They say you're supposed to have all the who, what, when, where questions answered within the first page of the book. Well, Park answers them with style, class, and a bit of humor despite the poor heroine's desperation.

She also employs all five senses in that first page. I could hear the screeching breaks on the bus that passed, smell and taste the burritos, feel the heat from the sidewalk crawl up her legs, and see the vivid scene she drew.

And after making sure all those details were in place, she still managed to draw a complete, rounded character with a great plot hook and even suck my emotions into the story, so I already felt connected with Julie.

Okay, okay, yes. Fine! I'll stop gushing about the excerpt now and simply give it to you so you can read it for yourself.

Without further ado: FLAT-OUT LOVE by Jessica Park.

***

Julie Seagle stared straight ahead and promised herself one thing: She would never again rent an apartment via Craigslist. The strap of her overstuffed suitcase dug into her shoulder, and she let it drop onto the two suitcases that sat on the sidewalk. It wasn’t like she had anywhere to carry them now. Julie squinted in disbelief at the flashing neon sign that touted the best burritos in Boston. Rereading the printout of the email again did nothing to change things. Yup, this was the correct address. While she did love a good burrito, and the small restaurant had a certain charm about it, it seemed pretty clear that the one-story building did not include a three-bedroom apartment that could house college students. She sighed and pulled her cell phone from her purse.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Honey! I gather you made it to Boston? Ohio is missing you already. I can’t believe you’re already off at college. How is the apartment? Have you met your roommates yet?”

Julie cleared her throat and looked at the flat roof of the restaurant. “The apartment is… airy. It has a very open floor plan.”

“How is your room? Is it tiny?” Her mother sounded concerned. “Well, even if it is, it’s probably better than some concrete dorm room, right?”

“My room? Oh, it’s, uh, rather sparse, I’d say.” Julie sat down on one of her bags. A city bus squealed to a halt just behind her, and she flinched at the high-pitched noise.

“What was that? Is your room right on the street? Oh God, are you on the first floor? That’s dangerous, Julie. It’s much easier for some criminal to break in. Are there locks on the windows? Let me ask your uncle about that. Maybe there is something you could do to make it more secure.”

“I’m not seeing any windows at the moment, Mom.” Julie felt her eyes begin to tear up. This was a nightmare. She had been in Boston, or more specifically Jamaica Plain, for a mere hour, and already her hopes for a glamorous college life were beginning to smell a lot more like South American specialties than she’d envisioned. “I don’t seem to actually have a room.”

Her mother paused. “What do you mean you don’t have a room? I sent first, last, and a security deposit just like the landlord asked. A cashier’s check, for God’s sake! He gave away your room?” The rising panic in her mother’s voice was not helping.

“I’m at the correct address. The taxi driver assured me I was in the right place. But my supposed apartment building is a burrito restaurant.”

“Burritos! Holy mother of God!”

“I know. Burritos are always alarming.” Julie looked around, totally unsure what she should do next. “Mom, what am I going to do?” Although she didn’t want to freak out her mother more than she had to, Julie couldn’t control the waver in her voice. She was alone in an unfamiliar city, knew no one here, and was sitting on a mountain of luggage.

At least the advantage of being stranded on a crowded street was that no one seemed to think she looked at all out of place. Plenty of people had walked by without giving her a second glance. It was the first week of September, and she was in a college town; more than one U-Haul truck could be spotted weaving through traffic, delivering students and their possessions to actual apartments that did not double as restaurants. Julie quickly wiped her eyes and pulled her sunglasses down from her head. She’d give anything to be riding in one of those moving trucks, crammed in with a pile of friends.

“I don’t have anywhere to live. And all that money you spent… This was supposed to be cheaper than the dorms. And it wasn’t supposed to smell like burritos.” Leaving home for the first time, getting scammed into paying for a non-existent apartment, and finding oneself homeless in Boston was proving to be agitating.

“Julie, don’t worry about the money right now. This isn’t your fault. I thought the ad looked perfectly normal, too. You sit tight for a few minutes and I’m going to call the college and see if they can help you, OK? Just hold on. You all right?”

Julie sniffed. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Don’t move. I’ll call you right back and we’ll fix this.”

Julie put in her earphones and passed the next excruciating twenty minutes by listening to morose music, chipping off the deep purple nail polish she’d applied the night before, and updating her Facebook status.

Julie Seagle Boston, Day 1: Refuse to refer to city as Beantown as would sound too touristy. Still, am full resident now despite not having actual residence.

The pavement radiated heat, and so far this sauna of a city was not winning her over. A little self-pity seemed in order. All she wanted was a normal college experience and the chance to enjoy school without worrying that her friends would think it was ridiculous that she actually liked learning.

***

(This excerpt was provided at Amazon.com )

And Another Day Goes By

2012-01-25T05:00:00.001-06:00

I don't have much to say today. I was interviewed over at the Books-N-Kisses blog yesterday, had plenty to yap about there!! Feel free to stop by and say hi.

To add to my not-so-wonderful month, the hubby and I mourned the death of our refrigerator this week. At least it wasn't another family member.

I'm working on a story I've decided to dedicate to my Dad. It's about a farmer and he was a farmer, though the hero isn't fashioned after him at all. I find it soothing and therapeutic to work on.

And I'm out! Hope your Wednesday is going good. See you Friday.

All Kinds of Confused

2012-01-23T05:00:00.006-06:00

I always hate it when I know a book I really want to read is coming out soon and then five months later, I'm like ack, I was so going to buy that on its release date but totally missed it. Bummer.

To avoid that for all you avid Linda Kage fans (all zero of you!! Okay, maybe there's one or two...hey, a girl can dream!), I'm having a couple countdown posts for my peeps who are eagerly anticipating the release of The Right to Remain Mine.

On the other hand, I also hate it when I hear so much about an upcoming book from an author. I start thinking, shut up already, I heard you the first million times. Your book's coming out soon. We got it.

That's why I'm attempting to find a happy middle ground and am only going to write a limited few countdown posts. ERGO...For the next two Mondays, I'm going to blather on about this book until its release date on February 6th. See, only two countdown posts, that shouldn't be too painful!

LET THE BUTTERFLIES BEGIN!

Every author out there gets the butterflies stirring around in her belly when her big release day draws near (right? please tell me I'm not the only one). But I have a little more uneasy flutters than usual for this project.

Here's why.

One place that initially rejected this story asked to read the full manuscript and then wanted to read it again after I made a few suggested changes. This is good news because it's farther than one of my submitted stories had ever gone with them before (yay!). I actually made the changes, but instead of re-submitting to them (and I have no idea why I didn't re-submit...silly me), I sent it off to another place.

More good news. The next place--the lovely Champagne Book Group--offered me a contract for the story within twenty-four hours--yeah, I said hours not days or weeks--of receiving it, plus the acquiring editor even thanked me for keeping her up half the night to finish it. Wow!

So, okay, at that point, I'm feeling pretty good, got my optimism cranked to full throttle. Then my line editor got a hold of my manuscript.

She didn't suggest any major changes to the plot (yes!). Actually, she had less revision suggestions for this story than she did for Hot Commodity, which is a 2012 Epic finalist. So, cool, that gave me another happy high. But apparently, it was a little too steamy for her taste. Strangely, I had tried to bump up the sensuality heat before subbing to them, thinking they needed it hotter. Boy, was I wrong! She actually said she'd prefer not to receive any future submissions with that level of sexuality.

Pretty much the only thing I heard was "I'd prefer not to receive future submissions from you... Period" which isn't what she said at all. But it still wounded--or more accurately CRUSHED--my delicate little author feelings. It also made me feel like a big ol' fat pervert for writing such dirty scenes. I know, I can be a bit dramatic in the hurt-feelings department, huh?

Anyway, I worked hard to cut out most of the steamy heat, while trying to actually keep the lovely tension. In the end, it really didn't seem like my story any longer and I mostly just felt sick about the entire ordeal. But I eventually brushed it off, moved on, and decided to start pushing promotions despite all my new insecurities.

I contacted a few people and set up a few interviews and guest posts (which I'll go into more next Monday). And I sent complimentary ARCs to reviewers for an honest review. People wanted to give the story a try, which helped my optimism began to rise again.

An honest review is definitely what I got! One reviewer has already looked it over and given it a two-star on Goodreads. The full review isn't complete--so I couldn't tell you everything that turned her off--but her only comment so far is that the hero is a real jerk.

Seeing that, I was like, "Well, yeah. That's the point." Then I froze with horror. Uh-oh, what if I didn't redeem him well enough? He and the heroine both are supposed to be very strong, dominating characters. They're supposed to butt head and create lots of friction. Neither are the type to apologize for what they do, and they do plenty which need apologizing for. Double, uh-oh. What if I didn't even put in a scene where he apologizes for being such a jerk? Do I even infer that he's sorry? Geesh. I totally loved him for his alpha maleness when I was writing him; it made his non-jerk scenes ultra sweet. But did none of that shine through to readers?

I'd been so worried about the stupid sensuality level, I'd forgotten about the actual heart of the story.

I'm afraid to re-read it again (because, well, it's too late to fix anything now!!) to see if I made my hero likeable enough despite his somewhat overbearing attitude.

Optimism plummeting, I've returned to the phase of "long, excruciating, bite-all-my-fingernails-off wait" to see if anyone else enjoys the story.

Here's what I know I'm supposed to say to all this. This is my story and I like it. I had fun writing it, it gave me a grand sense of completion to flesh it out, and I feel good about how far it's come. But seriously, who am I kidding? We all like to see that little thumbs-up from other people and a receive that good-job sticker, that five-star review.

But at this point, I feel too uncertain. I put one of my babies out there for the world to see, and I'm just so afraid it's going to be ridiculed into an early grave.

After all your hard work and effort to see a project through, do you ever get the butterflies just before the big moment your project goes live?

Maybe we can all worry together!!!

~~SPECIAL NOTE~~

To start my mini-blog tour, I will be interviewed tomorrow (1/24/2012) at the lovely BOOKS-N-KISSES Blog. That's at link: http://www.books-n-kisses.com/. Thanks!!

Friday Forwards #37

2012-01-20T05:00:00.000-06:00

PARAPROSDOKIANS : A figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation."

1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.

3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.

12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR.'

13. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

17. I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

18. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

19. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

20. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.

21. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

22. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

23. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

24. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

25. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

26. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

27. A diplomat is someone who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip.

28. Hospitality is making your guests feel at home even when you wish they were.

29. I always take life with a grain of salt. Plus a slice of lemon, and a shot of tequila.

30. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.

31. Where there's a will, I want to be in it!

Contest Judging

2012-01-18T05:00:00.002-06:00

My RWA national contest stories to judge were delivered last night!! I was super psyched. Then I grew a bit intimidated when I opened the box to find EIGHT books to read. Wow. I thought I'd have four, maybe five. Finishing all these in time might be a challenge. But I feel up to it.

I didn't get any novels under the first preference of sub-genre I chose, but that's okay. I did get a book I'd actually planned on buying one of these days. I'd read other stories by one author I received so I'm familiar with her, and I'd heard of two other authors. The rest in the package will be a happy surprises.

I also recently received scores back from some contests I'd entered. They were low but gave a couple useful tidbits I can use in the future. With one story, I had shared the first chapter with my local group during open critique. They all simply adored it.

Energized by such positive comments, I hurriedly spit out another chapter and entered it into one of these contests. But, yeah, none of the judges liked it. One judge said it didn't feel as if I even liked my own heroine (which I really love her), and another judge said things didn't pick up until chapter two. How funny, huh?!

It kind of buzz killed the progress on that story for a while. But, oh well. Thank goodness I have another WIP I really want to work on anyway.

Do you ever let outsides forces energize or deflate your enthusiasm about any of your WIPs?? How do you deal with all that?

I Forgot My Dream

2012-01-16T05:00:00.002-06:00

I hardly ever remember my dreams. And my overall vision on life? Uh, yeah, I have no idea. That's why MLKjr is such an awesome guy. He knew what he wanted for himself. He knew what he wanted for the world. And he wasn't afraid to speak up about it.

I don't think today's American holiday is only to honor one single man, or even different races coming together. I think it's also been created to honor everyone who sets a worthy goal and isn't afraid to reach for it. So, look forward, envision a better life for all, and work toward that.

Too corny? Oh, well. Dream on and dream big, my friends. Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!!

I'm Back

2012-01-13T05:00:00.003-06:00

Hey, I'm beginning to trickle back into circulation on the web...on a Friday the 13th no less. I must be pressing my luck! Anyway, I hope everyone had a better Christmas/New Years break than I did.

Actually, my Christmas went fine. The kiddo enjoyed opening her presents. She gasped and smiled when she opened each one and had to run around the room, showing each person what she got.

One thing her silly mother (yes, me!) got her was a roll full of 1600 stickers. Hey, she likes stickers, but honestly, what was I thinking?? Stickers are kind of like beach sand. Days, weeks--heck, months--later, you're still finding them in the oddest places!

For our family Christmas present, the hubby and I got us a new TV, which has WiFi, so we signed up to Netflix. On New Years eve, we invited another couple (that has a kid two years older than ours--and boy, did they have fun with those stickers) to watch a movie on our new screen. We were all in bed by ten, thirty. I know, we're wild party animals, huh?

On New Years Day, my mother-in-law declared she was having kiddo withdrawals. Since she usually babysits my daughter while I'm at work, she hadn't seen the little one all week. The hubby and I talked her into watching our daughter that night so we could have the evening to ourselves.

It was about eight-thirty on January 1st when the two of us--sans kid--curled up on the couch to watch a little Netflix when my sister called. And the entire year went downhill from there.

Now a little back story.

My dad had always had heart problems. He had one of those quadruple-heart bypass surgeries or whatever they're called in the early nineties. Then he had a stint put in in '01. In mid December 2011, he began to talk about an irregular heartbeat. So, on the 29th of December, they took him to St. Johns (yeah, the St. Johns in Joplin that was destroyed by the big May 22nd tornado, which is now made up of a bunch of temporary buildings) for an angiogram.

Lydia and I visited my parents' place the day before his angiogram. I had no idea that would be the last time I would see him alive. He had to take some special medicine before the tests, and I guess it tasted really nasty so he had to mix it with a bottle of diet cola to get it down. I'd never seen him drink pop from a bottle before. It was very strange to watch. He said the stuff made him feel dizzy.

Before the kiddo and I left, I told her to give hugs and kisses. She ran over to my mom and hugged her and kissed her, then paused when she turned to Grandpa, unsure whether to hug him too. He'd never been the huggy-kissy type, but for some reason, I picked her up and held her down to him where he was sitting in his chair and she gave him a peck on the lips, where she then dutifully waved and said, "Bye, Papa." I'm so very glad I did that.

The next day, we got the text from my second oldest sister who drove Mom and Dad to the angiogram, and learned the blockage was too bad to put in another stint. We were told the only option left was a pacemaker.

So mom set up appointment to get Dad a pacemaker in February. The next couple of days, she was busy trying to get him medicine and calling doctor's offices.

Now...Returning to the eve of January one, where hubby and I are snuggling on the couch. My third sister called and told me Mom and our oldest brother had taken Dad to the hospital and were going to life-flight him to Freeman Heart Center (another hospital in the famous Joplin).

I guess he'd been having chest pains since about six that evening. Mom had left for bible study, so he tried to heat up a hamburger in the microwave by himself, but burned it to a blackened crisp. Mom got to church (or rather my sister's house to pick her up) before she learned there was no study group, so she returned home, where Dad told her he wasn't feeling well. She and my oldest brother drove them to the nearest hospital, where my father walked in the front doors on his own two feet.

They looked him over, told him he was "trying" to have a heart attack, and said they were going to send him over to Freeman. Mom told us he was still talking and coherent, answering questions, when he was put onto the helicopter. That was the last time SHE saw him alive.

When she came home to pack a bag, ready to stay at the hospital for a while if need be, me, my hubby, one sister, a brother, and sister-in-law were waiting at her house to caravan our way to the hospital to wait with her through the night.

On our way, another sister called. She'd reached the hospital first with her husband, daughter, and son-in-law. Someone had been by the waiting room to give her a room number of what room they planned to move Dad to. They asked her a few questions about his problems and told her he was resting comfortably.

My cavaran of peeps arrived at the hospital at about ten-thirty, eleven o'clock to find another brother had arrive there before. So that made eleven of the family waiting around, quieting joking with each other to keep from going bored as we waited another half hour before a tall, stately doctor appeared in the doorway of our waiting room.

The doctor commenced to tell us of my father's problems. Blockage was so bad there was a stone (whatever that means). He arrived in shock. We went on to explain more; I can't remember all he said, I just remember him monotonously sliding in, "He won't survive the night." After that, I have no clue what the man said except that he'd make sure we got in to see my father.

No one in the room moved a muscle while he spoke, we all just sat there in frozen shock. This was not the news we were expecting to hear at all. As soon as the doctor left, we finally all just sorta stood up and fled to all parts of the hospital, calling more family members, crying and hugging. It was all so very unreal feeling.

When they let us back to see him, he was already gone, which is what finally put me to tears.

The next few days were a blur, with family crowding Mom's house. A few members had just got over a nasty stomach flu. So my husband caught the flu and threw up and so forth on the night of the visitation. We were actually driving there to the funeral home when he had to pull around and go back home. So I lived through that night without him by my side.

Mom, a sister, and a brother caught the flu very early on the morning of the funeral. My daughter caught it the day after, as well as a few other family members. And I got it Monday morning.

And now it's Friday the 13th!!

My mom is doing okay. It's still strange to visit her and not see Dad sitting in "his" chair. But we're all beginning to adjust to this new phase.

So....That's what's been up with me. I'll travel around now and visit all your blogs to see what's been up with you.

Hugs to all.

Out of the Office

2012-01-04T06:53:00.002-06:00

My father passed away late Sunday evening so I will be offline for a while. For the blogs I had scheduled to post this week, I would like to apologize to Claire for not getting the cover of her book posted on Monday. I was going to go over what I had for her and fancy it up the night before it aired but that's when everything happened.

Hope everyone is having a better 2012 than I am. I'll return to blogosphere in a few weeks. Thank you.

CLAIRE ASHGROVE in the house!

2012-01-02T05:00:00.002-06:00

(Today I'm just going to sit back, relax, and let my buddy Claire Ashgrove take over this post. She is going to interview the hero of her paranormal story: IMMORTAL HOPE. So, okay, Claire...Take us away!)

This interview is transcribed as I was not allowed to broadcast live, nor was I allowed to offer photographs, due to security concerns. Going back to pen and paper days, the interview took place beneath ground, in a small stone office, that lacked any source of artificial light, but somehow was illuminated. If you doubt me, Anne describes this in her story.

Merrick entered, wearing a white surcoat branded with the Templar cross, which I’m told is formal attire. He’s quite tall, quite broad, and had to twist sideways to get through the door. Long dark hair, slightly unkempt, dusted his shoulders and n ornate broadsword swung loose at his left hip. He limped, quite obviously. When I inquired, he gave me the impression he didn’t want to talk about it.

I had expected Anne, not Merrick. But on my inquiry, was informed she was busy with the chefs. I’ll never know, but a large part of me suspects the sudden change in interviewees had more to do with Merrick protecting Anne, than it did with her being occupied. I would learn, through the course of the interview, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to keep her safe.

These are the highlights:

Merrick, the truths that are revealed in Immortal Hope are pretty shocking. Immortal knights, Azazel being able to destroy the Almighty, seraphs who can save your men – is this really true?

Merrick: Aye. Centuries ago, my men and I dug beneath the Temple Mount and uncovered something we were not supposed to see. We were punished. Cursed with immortality and sworn to fight against Azazel’s unholy designs. We fight, and our souls suffer. ‘Tis why the seraphs are so important.”

And Azazel – who’s he?

Merrick: He is the most unholy and wishes to ascend to the highest throne.

Which he will accomplish if he finds the sacred relics before the knights become powerful enough, again, to stop him?

Merrick: Aye.

Wow. Sounds scary. These relics, what are they? Are they some place safe? I mean, do we have to worry about this happening any time soon?

The moment I asked this question, Mikhail entered. Despite the obvious sighting of wings, I was immediately struck by the presence of divinity. Greetings were exchanged, and it wouldn’t be until later, when I wrote these notes, that I realized my question had gone unanswered. I’m fairly certain this was a deliberate act.

Merrick, you said the seraphs can heal you. Anne is one of these seraphs. When did you realize this?

Merrick: When I met Anne, I believed her a demon. Mikhail explained our circumstances, and although I had no desire to look after Anne, I became aware of her status almost immediately. Twas not until much later, I would learn she bore my mark.

Really? I have to confess, you’re quite … handsome. I’d think she’d be delighted to know she was spending eternity with you.

(Merrick chuckles.) Delighted twas not amongst her reactions. Aggrieved is more suitable. Nay… she was quite pissed as she would say. She speaks like a man – a habit I have become quite fond of.

So she didn’t want to be here? Didn’t want to be with you?

Merrick: Aye, she wanted to be with me. As I wished to be with her. Twas her visions of the future—of my death—that created difficulties. The rest took some time for her to accept.

But her visions weren’t the only set backs you had. She was kidnapped wasn’t she?

Merrick’s features hardened here, and I couldn’t help but notice his right hand slid to the pommel of his sword.

Merrick: Aye, Anne was taken. I nearly killed the man who thought to try, as well. As I would should anyone be so foolish again.

That made me shiver, Merrick. What drew you to her? My understanding is you two didn’t get along so well in the beginning.

(Merrick smirks at the question and shakes his head.) We had some differences of opinion, aye. But she is the strongest woman I know, and her gentleness gave me hope. Anne inspires me.”

Aww. A softy at heart. Okay on that note, let’s take a look at why Anne softens you. Here’s a short excerpt from IMMORTAL HOPE.

~~~~~

Seeing a thin white scar that spanned across the back of his hand, she traced the mark with her nail. “I want to know about you,” she added more quietly. “What caused this?”

Merrick looked down to where she touched him. Using his opposite index finger, he traced the same path her fingernail had taken. Briefly, their fingertips touched. “’Tis a mark from a lance.”

“A lance?” Anne struggled with the urge to twine her finger around his.

“Aye. ’Twas a battle that came to us unexpectedly. I was not given time to don my armor before the riders set upon us. The knight struck me there, and here.” He touched his ribs beneath his right arm.

Anne’s gaze lifted to the vulnerable spot and pictured the battle as it might have occurred: Merrick standing down an armored knight on horse back, the sharp metal spear that punctured his flesh, the way his face might have contorted as he bit back a painful cry. Impulsively, she gathered his hand in both of hers and lifted it, bringing it to her lips to place a gentle kiss over the scar. “I’m sorry.”

Merrick said nothing, and in his silence, she began to question maybe she’d taken one too many liberties. They’d hardly begun to get along—what if her unchecked impulse just crossed some invisible boundary? Slowly, cautiously, she lifted her eyes to his. What she found in his fathomless dark eyes, however, said nothing of anger or annoyance. They gleamed with startling intensity, light bright enough to make her catch her breath.

“Do not be sorry,” he murmured. His eyes canvassed her face, lingered on her mouth. “’Twas a scar borne from duty. An order I was sworn to obey.”

The husky quality of his voice sent shivers coursing up and down her spine. She tried to look away, ordered her eyes to settle anywhere but on the sudden softening of Merrick’s expression. But her body refused, leaving her unable to do anything but choke down a dry swallow. When her thoughts cleared enough to form coherent words, she sought to lighten the moment with a bit of humor. “Orders can do that to you, I guess. Like now, you’re stuck with me.”

“I cannot say I find these orders entirely displeasing.” Merrick lifted his free hand to push a length of her hair away from her shoulder.

The back of his hand grazed the side of her neck and goose bumps scattered down her arms. “No?”

BLURB:

CENTURIES AGO,

Templar knights defied the archangels and unearthed the copper scroll, revealing the gates to hell. Cursed for their forbidden act, they forever roam the earth protecting mankind from evil. But darkness stalks them, and battles they fight bring them ever-closer to eternal damnation. One promise remains to give them salvation – the return of the seraphs.

Embittered by his purpose, Merrick du Loire must honor an ancient pact and bring peace to his cousin’s soul. When he stumbles upon history professor Anne MacPherson, he discovers she possesses a sacred artifact that marks her as a seraph. Duty demands he set aside his personal quest and locate the knight she’s fated to heal. As he struggles with conflicting oaths, Anne arouses buried hope and sparks forbidden desire that challenges everything he’s sworn to uphold.

Anne has six weeks to complete her thesis on the Knights Templar. When Merrick takes her to the Templar stronghold, he presents her with all she needs—and awakens a soul-deep ache, he alone can soothe. Yet loving Merrick comes with a price. If she admits she's destined for him, her gift of foresight predicts his death.

www.claireashgrove.com

www.toristclaire.com

TWITTER: @ClaireAshgrove

Claire has giveaways on Mondays on her blog. Stop by and visit at: http://claireashgrove.blogspot.com !

Have A Very Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-23T05:00:00.003-06:00

This is my last post until 2012!!! I'm taking off work next week and everything. Hopefully I'll be sane by the time I return in January!

So I will wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year now.

(viewers of this video beware: if you suffer from epileptic seizures, there is a lot of lights flashing, but it's sooo cool. I'm doing this to my house next year...I wish!)

The Winner of my Christmas Present Giveaway is:

JENNIFER SHIRK

And don't forget tomorrow on Christmas Eve, Champagne Books will sell Hot Commodity for only $.99!! Here's the link: http://champagnebooks.com/shop/index.php

Season's Greetings to you from LINDA KAGE!!

Giveaway Prizes

2011-12-19T05:00:00.012-06:00

At the end of last year, I listed all the books I'd won in contests and giveaways throughout 2010. So I decided to do it again this year. I can't remember if-or-what I won early in 2011, but boy have the prizes rolled in this past month.

'Tis the season for sure!!!

I would love to thank:

...Allison Knight, who provided a giveaway of her highland historical, Battlesong, in a recent Champagne Books chat, which I won.

...Annie Rayburn, author of Bittersweet Obsessions, a paranormal sci fi romance. I won a copy of that book on a contest in Carol Kilgore's Tiki Hut.

...Jessica Nelson, who gave away not one but TWO books on her blog BookingIt! There, I won inspirational romance stories Polar Bear Plunge by Linda S. Glaz and Savannah's Gift by Camille Eide!

...Claire Ashgrove. She has a giveaway of her books on her blog every Monday (Yeah, I know! Too cool!). From there, I won paranormal romance novella, Tormented by Darkness.

...and AllRomance eBooks is having a free book a day on the twelve days of Christmas. I won a contemporary interracial romance story there called Black Butterfly by Sienna Mynx.

***

And here, the year isn't even over yet. Who knows what else could happen before 2012 rolls around!

Finally in the giving Christmas spirit myself, I have decided to throw a little giveaway contest here on this blog! About time, huh!!

So... If you won a prize this year, tell us about it. If not, feel free to rant about that! Pretty much just leave any kind of comment below and you'll be entered in my Christmas present giveaway.

I would like to gift someone with the complete works of Linda Kage in PDF ebook (geez, it makes me sound all important when I say it that way...The Complete Works...heehee!). I'll even throw in ARC ebooks of my two forthcoming novels, The Best Mistake & The Right to Remain Mine.

That makes nine books total! And if you'd like to pick and choose from the nine (ie: you have a copy of one or two of them already, so you only want five books, or some of the stories don't look like something you'd enjoy, thus you only want two), that's perfectly fine with me! Whatever.

I'll announce the winner on Friday! Good luck with all the Christmas Contests you guys have entered this festive season....

The Horrors of Christmas Cards

2011-12-16T05:00:00.005-06:00

Well, I survived. Barely. But what an awful experience.

I ordered our cute, Walgreens photo Christmas cards with an adorable picture of the hubby helping my baby put the star on the Christmas tree (see below!). Then I had another picture of her in her Christmas dress standing in front of the tree. It was a bit blurry but too sweet to keep out, so I put it in the smaller frame next to the "star" picture.

Yeah, all was good and well there. The order processed within the day and by that evening we had the pretty cards in our possession. I'd typed up a nice letter and had the hubby proof it to make sure it read okay.

And then the big day came. Stuffing and addressing letters.

Oh, the horror.

I used to have everyone's name in my computer where I typed up quick labels and was done with that part. But we got a new computer this year, ergo no names were in the new system. So I had to hunt up everyone who was supposed to be on the list and print out all the names...yes, with my awful handwriting.

What's worse, I always make mistakes and have to cross out, mark off or line through. Without fail, I put the wrong address with the wrong person's name...more than once. Once I wrote in one family member on two envelopes...you get the gist, I suppose.

After scrounging up what was hopefully an up-do-date list of people to send cards to, the assembly line began.

Hubby decided to 'help.' Yeah. HELP!!!! As I scribbled out addresses on the envelopes, he stuffed the pictures and letters (letters which we soon learned need to be physically cut to fit into the short envelopes, ugh), then he stamped and sealed.

Since he'd had a bad day at work, he was already in a mood....which in hindsight makes me wish I just would've said, "You sit on the couch, dear, and watch TV. I got this." But I didn't. Oh, why didn't I?

So the kid whined down out our feet the entire time, demanding constant attention and stringing toys and whatnot across the house in retaliation (oh, you know she did it just to get even!), while the husband and I bickered back and forth. Do we really need to send a card to "these" people? Honestly?

I kept checking my emails, hoping people I'd asked for current addresses might've responded.

And halfway through addressing envelopes, the freaking envelopes ran out! We only got enough envelopes to fit half the cards. So, we pulled out the ugly security envelopes we use to send out bills.

Then we ran out of cards to fit everyone on the list. I scurried to print out pictures on our home printer. The sad thing was, the people we like most were at the bottom of the list and got shafted on the cute Walgreen cards.

Then the big argument began over whether Great Aunt Dorothy REALLY needed a card because she probably wouldn't remember who we were anyway.

I didn't strangle hubby, thankfully, but I did walk out the room once, and so did he. I made him finish the cards since I wasn't doing 'anything' right (I know, there's going to be coal in my stocking this year). While he did that, I cleaned up the mess our child had made. I would die for this wonderful man, really, but stuff Christmas cards with him again? No, thank you.

Meanwhile, the kiddo found a baggie of animal crackers to eat, so at least she didn't starve!!

To conclude, a handful of cards went into our mailbox this morning to be delivered. And all three of us survived the night!

I KNOW I missed sending cards to lots of important people, but as of right now, I'm not sending any more this year. And with that, I'm all Ba-hum-bug. Give me a book to read or write any day. I am not a good Christmas Card sender.

Okay, I'm not the best book writer either, but at least I find joy in that!

So, I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas. Just don't expect a card from me this year!

More Book Trailers!

2011-12-14T05:00:00.002-06:00

Well, I got a book trailer finished for my February story, The Right to Remain Mine. I'm showing it over at The Writers Vineyard today since it's my day to guest post there. It felt like a ho-hum trailer.

It's felt like a ho-hum month all around actually, and I really don't know why. I've been blessed with so many things. My family is safe and okay, I'm safe and okay. I've sold some of my stories and even held them in my hands and smelled the lovely pages. I've received royalties, and yet...I think I've fallen into that nasty rut where I just want more. MORE! I want what I've seen people more fortunate than me have gotten.

What a greedy, greedy girl I've become.

Well, it's time to give back...somehow. So, okay, how about I offer my story HOT COMMODITY to everyone for $0.99 on Christmas Eve? Okay, done!

Alright, alright, that was the publisher's decision. But it's still exciting to share. One December 24th, my story will be available to buy for one buck at Champagne Books! On the twelves days of Christmas, they're offering different stories each day to sell for ninety-nine cents and I was lucky to catch the 24th.

Since they already took care of that, I guess I'll just have to find something else selfless to do. Ideas anyone?

A Page with Kage (3)

2011-12-09T06:00:00.005-06:00

Round three of my "Page with Kage" series starts now! Here's another excerpt from a story on my all-time favorites list.

I've returned to crush on historical romance again today, celebrating Julia Quinn's An Offer from a Gentleman. It had a spicy heat rating and this is one of my favorite scenes because the moment Benedict first sees Sophie never fails to take my breath away. I think I fall in love with her right along with him. It's just so sigh-worthy.

EXCERPT:

With a sigh, Benedict started to make this way toward the lemonade table. He could practically taste that brandy, smooth and mellow in his mouth, but he supposed that a glass of lemonade would tide him over for a few minutes.

"Miss Featherington!" he called out, trying not to shudder when three Miss Featheringtons turned around. With what he knew could not possibly be anything but the weakest of smiles, he added, "Er, Penelope, that is."

From about ten feet away, Penelope beamed at him, and Benedict was reminded that he actually liked Penelope Featherington. Truly, she wouldn't be considered so antidotal if she weren't always lumped together with her unfortunate sisters, who could easily make a grown man wish himself aboard a ship to Australia.

He'd nearly closed the gap between them when he heard a low rumble of whispers rippling across the ballroom behind him. he knew he ought to keep going and get this duty-dance over with, but God help him, his curiosity got the best of him and he turned around.

And found himself facing what had to be the most breath-taking woman he'd ever seen.

He couldn't even tell if she was beautiful. Her hair was a rather ordinary dark blond, and with her mask tied securely around her head he couldn't even see half her face.

But there was something about her that held him mesmerized. It was her smile, the shape of her eyes, the way she held herself and looked about the ballroom as if she'd never seen a more glorious sight than the silly members of the ton all dressed up in ridiculous costume.

Her beauty came from within.

She shimmered. She glowed.

She was utterly radiant, and Benedict suddenly realized that it was because she looked so damned happy. Happy to be where she was, happy to be who she was.

Happy in a way Benedict could barely remember. His was a good life, it was true, maybe even a great life. He had seven wonderful siblings, a loving mother, and scores of friends. But this woman--

This woman knew joy.

And Benedict had to know her.

Penelope forgotten, he pushed his way through the crowd until he was but a few steps from her side.

~~Julia Quinn provides lots a great info and a chapter one excerpt for this story on her website.~~

What a Weekend.

2011-12-07T05:00:00.002-06:00

Well, I now have a new sister-in-law. My husband's brother got hitched this weekend, and I'd say "hitched" is the proper word here because they were married in boots and cowboy hats inside an indoor roping arena. Knowing nothing about horses and roping and all that, I found it to be quite an experience.

This was a second marriage, so they didn't make a big deal about it. In fact, my husband found out he was the best man a couple minutes before the I do's!! It was like, "here, stand up here with us, hold the ring for me, give it to the plaid-shirted preacher guy when he asks for it, then sign as witness when we're done."

It was lovely though. The hubby and I lost track of our daughter and she got into the arena with the galloping horses and riders only once, so that wasn't too bad. Okay, fine, it scared the bejesus out of me, and I didn't let her down the rest of the night...a fact which she did NOT appreciate.

What's worse, we found out that morning she had an ear infection, so she was kind of cranky to start with. This is her first ear infection, poor thing. The night before the wedding, she cried as I haven't seen her cry in a long time. She'd been sickly with a runny nose all week. But we didn't notice the wax draining out of her ear until the next morning, which was a Saturday, of course. So we had to take her to the hospital emergency room's urgent care. Ugh.

She's finally starting to feel a little better, even though I have to gag medicine down her for another eight days. I'm hoping she'll begin sleeping throughout the night again...real soon.

Those things kept me busy enough. But to top off that, my writing bud, Miranda received a bad review from RT Book Reviews. It wasn't just the worst review she ever received, I swear it's the worst review I've ever READ! The woman was inconsolable.

She was even too afraid to let her husband see it because she feared he'd think worse of her for writing such a story to horrify this reviewer the way she did. It was an erotic horror/romantic suspense story, so yes, it's supposed to disturb the reader to some extent, but she certainly didn't mean to disturb anyone this way.

I know what she was trying to accomplish. She wanted to show how the heroine went to extreme measures to heal herself after a harrowing event. I could see where she was going with the story, but it was shocking to see someone else interpret it in entirely a different, appalling way. The reviewer was totally grossed out.

Miranda was ready to give up writing altogether. She thought all her writing friends would dissociate themselves with her because she wrote such disturbing material. She actually went through the stages of grief: Sorrow, anger, denial. I think she's finally beginning to accept and move on, but whew, it was harsh there for a while.

Problem is, this is her first and only review on the book so far, so it's hard to say if everyone will see the story the way this one reviewer did, or if it was just one person construing her own way. The reviewer DID get a couple facts in the story wrong, though they were close enough I could see how she could make them if she'd been reading fast or skimming. Still...I'm crossing my fingers Miranda will get another more-favorable (even a two-star at this point) review to help boost her ego a little bit.

How do you all help a friend when they've hit such a low point? I tried to tell her that at least three other people had to have read the story before it was published and no one mentioned any of that bad stuff, so it really couldn't be THAT bad, but that didn't help her..at all.

Ideas??

She's Baaaack!!! Welcome, Linda LaRoque.

2011-12-05T05:00:00.006-06:00

A week or so ago (on Black Friday), Linda LaRogue visited us, explaining the history of undergarments. If you missed her lovely post, you can go here (Guest Post + Giveaway = Linda LaRogue) to check it out.

Well, today we're back with her to spotlight her book releasing TODAY!!!!

BORN IN ICE

This futuristic romantic suspense story grew from a dream, one of a woman frozen in a block of ice and found by fishermen from an undersea world. She’s taken to their home and with the help of advanced medical technology, she recovers. In time she learns she must learn to fit into their social system, one different from what she’s known.

Blurb:

Pulled from an icy grave…into a world of doubt and danger.

Frozen in ice for seventy-five years, Zana Forrester suffers the agony of rebirth to learn her son is dead, and her daughter's whereabouts is unknown. The year is 2155. A man's soothing voice and gray eyes haunt her drug induced dreams. When she recovers, she meets their owner and finds her heart in danger. But, a relationship isn’t a consideration; she must find her daughter.

Brock Callahan is drawn to the beautiful woman taken aboard his salvage ship. He's determined she'll be his wife and a mother to his young daughter, but he vows not to love her. All the women he’s loved died. While Zana searches for her daughter, Brock must protect Zana from the evil that threatens.

My editor for Champagne Books has graciously given permission for me to post the Prologue and Chapter One of Born in Ice, so for 10 days I’ll be sharing another installment.

Prologue – 2

Lifting Jonathan, she passed through the automatic-sealing dead-air
space to the garage. Though she’d turned on the exhaust system earlier and
started the Polar Excursion to let it warm, the moisture from her breath
formed ice crystals in the air. Even in the garage, the thermometer read
minus twenty-nine degrees Celsius.

A squirming Jonathan babbled, “Go bye-bye,” as she locked him in
his car seat. The baby was fully dressed under his protective outerwear
designed for particularly low temperatures. His clunky gloves kept him from
removing the knitted facemask that covered his sensitive skin. She probably
looked as strange as he did in her suit, the hood trimmed with silver fake fur
to match her face covering.

With her remote control, she turned off the exhaust and pushed the
door opener. She backed out and turned down the hill. The big tires on the
powerful all-terrain vehicle designed especially for extremely cold weather,
traversed over the snow and ice like an Aspen skier on snow skies. The
darkened windows cut the stunning glare from the sun on snow and ice. Just
before his accident, David bought the truck for her. He didn’t want her and
the kids out in something unreliable. It had been a Godsend since his death. It
could and would continue to operate in all kinds of conditions, giving her
independence she valued in getting the supplies they needed. Other families
weren’t as lucky, and she helped them when she could.

It had been two years since David died, buried under a mountain of
snow while trying to rescue a family whose home was covered under an
avalanche. The hill behind the house literally slid down on top burying them
all. Twenty men had perished that day as well as the six-member family
inside. Zana feared the cold, ice, and snow would be the death of them all
before long.

The trip into town never ceased to make her nervous. It was always a
relief to get supplies and return home. Today was no different. Her dread
eased as they neared the four-lane bridge that crossed a small waterway. The
road wove close to the drop-off into the bay, and the snow-covered hills on
the opposite side rose majestically toward the sky. In five minutes they’d
have left this eerie pass behind.

Her heart stopped at the rumble in the distance and then pounded in
her chest when the carpet of white moved. No, no, no! She stomped the
accelerator in an attempt to outrun the avalanche. Oh, God, please let me
make it. The vehicle rushed forward, and snow hit the road behind her. A
nervous giggle escaped her lips. She’d made it. A gigantic wave of white
moved under and over them blocking everything from view. They were
thrust forward as if from a cannon. The last words she heard were Jonathan’s
terrified scream, “Mamaaa!” And her last thought was, Oh Katy. I’m so
sorry, sweetheart.

Available TODAY at Champagne Books.

ABOUT LINDA LaROQUE

Linda LaRoque is a Texas girl, but the first time she got on a horse, it tossed her in the road dislocating her right shoulder. Forty years passed before she got on another, but it was older, slower, and she was wiser. Plus, her students looked on and it was important to save face.

A retired teacher who loves West Texas, its flora and fauna, and its people, Linda’s stories paint pictures of life, love, and learning set against the raw landscape of ranches and rural communities in Texas and the Midwest. She is a member of RWA, her local chapter of HOTRWA, NTRWA and Texas Mountain Trail Writers.

website | blog | facebook | twitter

Tune in tomorrow for the 3rd installment. I’ll be on Dawn Alexander’s blog at http://www.chasingsomeday.blogspot.com

Please leave a comment today to be entered into a drawing for an ecopy of A Way Back, my time travel set in the 1930s oil fields of Texas. Your name will also be entered in the GRAND PRIZE drawing for my blog tour—a KINDLE. A name will be draw at the end of my tour on December 16th.

I also have a release contest going. Sign up for my newsletter by emailing me at linda@lindalaroque.com with Born in Ice in the subject line. Your name will be added to the drawing for this rhinestone frog pin. For each of my releases I try to find a piece of jewelry significant to the story. After reading Born in Ice you’ll understand why I chose this frog.

Thank you, Linda, for having me here today, and thank you readers for stopping by. Good luck in all the give-a-ways!

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

If I'd been in NaNo

2011-12-02T05:00:00.001-06:00

I would have fallen short of the glory of Nano-dom!

I did not join NaNoWriMo. But if I had been in the national novel writing month craze and tried to finish penning 50,000 words throughout all of November, I only would've been four thousand short of my goal. Altogether, I'd say that was pretty good...for me.

It's interesting how each person's goals vary. I had a writing friend who averages over 5,000 words a day. I know, sickening, huh. But it's also inspiring.

Makes me wonder how they came up with the number 50,000 to be everyone's goal. For some, that's a walk in the park. For others, its impossible. I wonder what would happen if people were able to set their own goal for the Nano Month.

Which reminds me: This week I met my 2011 Goodreads Reading Challenge!!! I know...you may congratulate me now (he)! I was able to set my own goals. I decided I was going to try to read 65 books. And I did it!!! With a month to spare. It feels so good to meet a challenge.

Have you challenged yourself lately? Met any relieving goals?

The year's coming to an end; it's time to see how much you've accomplished...and getting closer to the time to set new goals in January. Are you ready???

Recovered Yet?

2011-11-30T05:00:00.003-06:00

I still feel like I'm dragging from the holiday break.

I didn't even do that much. On Wednesday night, we had a girls' night (okay, two boys came along) and watched Breaking Dawn at the theater. Thursday was turkey at two family stops. Friday, yeah, was lazy day at home with the family. Then Saturday was a freezing, rainy, windy but really fun football game with the husband. Of course, on Sunday, little kiddo got sick from being around so many people on Thanksgiving. Then, Monday, I was so busy trying to work on the story edits I didn't get done over the holidays, I didn't have time to blog visit anyone.

Now it's time to catch up, and the more I try to get done, the more things pile up higher. I think I need another break...but maybe not a "holiday" break!!

Anyway, due to popular demand from the comments on my last blog, I guess I'll tell you all a little about The Right to Remain Mine, which is my next release coming out in February.

It's about the lovely lady lawyer, Willow DeVane, who meets big, tough (and sexy) cop Raith Malloy while he's writing out a parking ticket for her car. To say the least, their relationship gets off to a rocky start.

They argue every time they see each other. But after she's attacked, he argues with her, prodding her into agreeing to take from self defense lessons from him. From there, they argue themselves right into bed with each other, then argue themselves into a kind of sort of relationship. Of course, they argue themselves right back out of the kind of sort of relationship until she learns there's a stalker out to get her. And they argue themselves into each others' arms once again.

If you can't tell, they argue a lot!! I've never written two more stubborn people than Willow and Raith.

And that's a little bit of what the story is about. How are all you guys faring after your holiday "break"?

New Cover - The Right to Remain Mine

2011-11-28T05:00:00.002-06:00

Here's my new book cover for The Right to Remain Mine!!! I'm totally loving it. The purples are so pretty. Purple is my favorite color. I just keep staring at it!

So, anyway, this is what's big in my life today? How about you all? Did you have a good Thanksgiving??

Guest Post + Giveaway = LINDA LAROQUE!!

2011-11-25T05:00:00.008-06:00

Today I'm just going to sit back, relax, and let the fabulous author Linda LaRoque take over the reins. So, okay, Linda...Take us away!)

Women’s Undergarments in the Nineteenth Century

In A Marshal of Her Own, Dessa Wade resists the idea of wearing a corset but is informed she’ll be ostracized by the women in the community if she doesn’t. Being a modern gal, Dessa doesn’t much care what the womenfolk’ think about her, but her friends do.

Back in the 1950s we wore waist cinchers, girdles and hose, even to school on occasion. So, I have a little idea of what wearing whale bone might feel like. I imagine some of you out there know also. Back in 1976 after giving birth to my last child I was told to wear a girdle to help me get back in shape. I suffered through the torture for probably thirty seconds and then the garment was trashed.

Knickers, called drawers because they were drawn on, were first worn in the eighteen hundreds. Have you ever wondered why we say a pair of knickers or a pair of panties? They were actually two separate legs joined together at the waist. Some drawers came to just below the knees; others, called pantalettes, worn only by girls after the 1830s, were longer and decorated with frills.

Under their dress, a long chemise was worn. It protected the skin from the corset and helped keep the corset clean. Made of cotton, the chemise was cheaper and easier to launder than the corset. By the late nineteenth century, hoops had disappeared; silhouettes were slimmer, so women wore a petticoat or two under their dress. Often trim, tucks, or pleats sewn onto the garment added fullness, as did a heavy dose of starch. In the winter, a flannel petticoat was worn and helped keep her legs warm.

Thank goodness we live in the modern age!

References:
http://www.localhistories.org/underwear.html
http://www.knowlesville.com/vintage/getting-dressed-02.html
http://www.knowlesville.com/vintage/getting-dressed-04.html

About Linda LaRoque

Linda LaRoque is a Texas girl, but the first time she got on a horse, it tossed her in the road dislocating her right shoulder. Forty years passed before she got on another, but it was older, slower, and she was wiser. Plus, her students looked on and it was important to save face.

A retired teacher who loves West Texas, its flora and fauna, and its people, Linda’s stories paint pictures of life, love, and learning set against the raw landscape of ranches and rural communities in Texas and the Midwest. She is a member of RWA, her local chapter of HOTRWA, NTRWA and Texas Mountain Trail Writers.

Linda's Story : A Marshall of her Own

Blurb:

Despite rumors of “strange doings” at a cabin in Fredericksburg, investigative reporter Dessa Wade books the cottage from which lawyer, Charity Dawson, disappeared in 2008. Dessa is intent on solving the mystery. Instead, she is caught in the mystery that surrounds the cabin and finds herself in 1890 in a shootout between the Faraday Gang and a US Marshal.

Marshal Cole Jeffers doesn’t believe Miss Wade is a time traveler. He admits she’s innocent of being an outlaw, but thinks she knows more about the gang than she’s telling. When she’s kidnapped by Zeke Faraday, Cole is determined to rescue her. He’s longed for a woman of his own, and Dessa Wade just might be the one—if she’ll commit to the past.

EXCERPT:

Dessa stood still and watched as they conversed. Something stank to high heaven about this entire situation. Why were the cops chasing robbers on horseback? It’s not like Fredericksburg was that isolated. She glanced at the captured men. The boy moaned, and she made a step to go over and help him. The Marshal spun, and the expression in his eye froze her in place.

“He needs first aid.”

“He’s fine. The Doc will tend to him when we get to the jail.”

“You could at least call 911 and let them patch him up for you.” She nodded to the man lying so still with his eyes closed. “Your other prisoner doesn’t look so good. He’s going to die on you if you don’t start CPR or get him some help.”

“Lady, no one is going to hear a yell from out here. Never heard of any 911 or CPR.” He propped the hand not holding the shotgun on his hip and threw her a disgusted look. “Are you blind? That man is dead, shot through the heart.”

Her head swam for a moment, and she struggled not to give in to the sensation and faint. She drew in deep gulps of air. “Well...well..., what about the coroner and the meat wagon, not to mention the CSI folks? If you don’t get them to record the scene, how are you going to cover your butt? The authorities might say you shot him in cold blood.”

He looked at her like she’d sprouted an extra head. “I don’t know what the hell you are talking about woman. No one will question my authority. I’m the law in this county. Now, be quiet, or I’m going to gag you.”

A Marshal of Her Own will be available now at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and other online book stores. It is the sequel to A Law of Her Own, available at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.com and other online book stores. I’m awaiting a release date for A Love of His Own, the third story in the Prairie, Texas series.

My release contest for A Marshal of Her Own began November 9th. I’ll be giving away this vintage rhinestone typewriter pin. To enter the drawing, go to my website or blog and sign up for my newsletter. Don’t forget to verify your email address. If you already receive it, email me at linda@lindalaroque.com with A Marshal of Her Own contest in the subject line. Contest ends December 15, 2011.

Leave me a comment or ask a question today and you’ll be entered into a drawing for an ecopy of A Law of Her Own.

Also, today’s blog post is part of 2 blog tours—this one for A Marshal of Her Own and starting December 4th, one for Born in Ice. Follow along each day and leave a comment to be entered into the grand prize drawing and learn about my Born in Ice contest.

The Blog Tour schedule will be posted on my blog and website. It will last 25 days and the Grand Prize is a Kindle. Leave a comment each day and your name will be entered 25 times. Pretty good odds, huh?

Thank you for having me on your blog today, Linda!

Tomorrow, Nov. 26th, I’ll be on W. Lynn Chantale’s blog at http://wlynnchantale-decadentdecisions.blogspot.com/. Lynn has interviewed Dessa Wade.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda LaRoque
Writing Romance With a Twist in Time
www.LindaLaRoque.com
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T05:00:00.004-06:00

Book Trailer Fun

2011-11-21T07:29:00.003-06:00

I'm been making lots of book trailers lately it seems. But I just can't help it. They're so fun, yet frustrating, yet totally rewarding once the final result is complete.

My latest is for my story, The Best Mistake, which comes out in March. And I've been thinking up ideas for The Right to Remain Mine, releasing in February.

Here's what I have for The Best Mistake:

I also finished a trailer for Miranda Stowe on her Snatcher series book: Saved from a Killer. It is now in the You Gotta Reads Video contest.

I think I'm most proud of this book trailer. I needed my husband's acting talent to complete it, which was...an experience. Don't ask how many cans of soda pop were sacrificed in the making of this film. Yeesh. He only had one line too! Actually, his big problem was forgetting to take off his wedding ring!!! I finally figured out how to smudge his fingers out though and ended up using his first take.

Anyway, it's over at YouGottaReadVideos.blogspot.com if you want to see that one too. And if you love is as much as I do, or even half as much, feel free to vote on it. It's number 18 in the voting polls (located at the top on the far right column).

Jessica Nelson has a book trailer up for her upcoming story. She did a pretty cool job on that.

Other than that, I can't think up any of my fav authors with new trailers, though I do so love watching Katalina Leon's book trailers. She's amazing with them. Here's her YouTube page full of book trailers if you want to see true art in the book trailering craft!!

What are some book trailers you truly love?

Friday Forward #36

2011-11-18T05:00:00.001-06:00

(You can click on the picture to enlarge it if you need to)

Bugs in the Vineyard

2011-11-16T05:30:00.000-06:00

I'm not here today. I'm over at The Writers Vineyard, talking about bugs...okay, just one bug.

You can check it out at:

www.TheWritersVineyard.com

Happy Wednesday.

Do you...?

2011-11-14T07:39:00.002-06:00

Do you ever find yourself with too much to do any never enough time to do it? You wish you had more hands to accomplish all your goals? Do you ever wish there were more hours in the day? Do I sound like a cheesy advertisement that’s going to next ask you to send me a hundred bucks in return for a tacky self-help pamphlet?

Well, feel free to send me money; I could use the cash! (Hey a girl can try). But don’t expect a self-help pamphlet in return. Actually, I could use a handy self-help pamphlet myself (though I won’t be sending anyone a hundred bucks for it!!).

There’s just so much to do and I never get any of it done. And if I do accomplish something, I always feel so guilty because I know I should’ve spent that time doing something more productive elsewhere.

I read all these blogs about people needing more time to write. Well, I think I’m in the opposite boat right now. I’ve been writing…too much. Nothing else is getting done. And whenever I try to sneak off to write, I’m discovered in, like, thirty seconds. Which only makes me feel more guilty about all this writing I can't stop doing.

Yesterday, the family was camped out on the couch: my husband was watching football on TV, the kid had thieved my iPad and was watching PBS Kids clips. When the hubby fell asleep and the girl grew engrossed in Cat in the Hat, I snuck off. Two minutes later, the hubby’s yelling, the kid’s crying and my fingers are typing as fast as they can to squeeze in two more sentences before a little toddler is crawling into my lap and trying to reach for everything on the desk and the husband is scowling in the doorway asking, “Where’d you go?”

Geesh. So the house is a mess, the fam’s feeling neglected, and work is slipping….how do I make myself give the writing time a little breaky-poo so I can concentrate on REAL LIFE for a while??

Sigh, I feel like such a mess. Will be happy when this hectic era passes, yet I’m sure I’ll miss it once it’s gone.

A Page with Kage (2)

2011-11-11T06:00:00.002-06:00

Hi! It's the second round for my "Page with Kage" series, where I share a bit of my favorite scenes from my favorite stories with you and tell you why I love them so much.

Today, I'm in love with a short, paranormal romance novella called "Winter Born" by Sherrilyn Kenyon. It can be found in the Stroke of Midnight anthology and has a hot heat rating. I like this scene because Kenyon packed so much sexy tension in such a short amount of space, it simply crackled with electric intensity.

EXCERPT:

Warning: Language may be a tad explicit for some audiences

Dante headed out of the vendor’s area, toward the escalator. He’d barely reached it when he smelled the pantheress again. He turned sharply to the left expecting to see her.

She wasn’t there.

Still, he was hard for her. Ready. The animal inside was growling for a taste of her body.

He headed up the escalator to escape the scent.

It seemed to grow stronger.

His head low, he scanned the crowd intently, but there was none of his people there.

Closing his eyes, he sniffed the air. Her fragrance was subtle now. And it was…

He whirled around.

There was no woman there, only Romeo and he wreaked of the pantheress. Dante couldn’t stop himself from sniffing Romeo who immediately shoved him away.

“Man, you skeeve me when you do that. And don’t do it in public. Someone might get the wrong idea about us.”

He ignored his brother’s reprimanding tone. “Where is she?” Dante demanded.

“Out of reach.”

Her scent washed over him, even stronger than before. His body was raw. Needful. Every part of him craved her.

And it wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“Where?” he growled.

Romeo shook his head.

But then he didn’t have to tell him. Every hormone in his body sensed her. Against his will, Dante took off at a run as he cut through the crowd toward the elevator.

Without thought, he flashed himself from the lobby to the sixteenth floor.

The scent was even stronger here.

More desirable.

More intense.

Dante stalked his way down the hall until he found her door. He couldn’t breathe as her scent filled his entire being.

Leaning his head against the wood, he closed his eyes and fought the sudden urge to kick the door in.

That would probably scare her and it wouldn’t do to have an audience for what he intended to do with her.

He knocked on the door with a clenched fist and waited until a small, petite brunette opened it. She had large, lavender eyes and long hair that curled around an oval face.

His breathing ragged, he stared at her, wanting her with every piece of him.

~~Documentation: I copied this EXCERPT off the Sherrilyn Kenyon website.~~

Stay out of the Kitchen

2011-11-09T05:00:00.003-06:00

I've been skimming the workbook, "Writing the Breakout Novel" by Donald Maas, hoping to glean a few writing tips from it, which I am, and I came across a part where he advised authors not to write kitchen scenes.

He says (and I'm paraphrasing because I don't have the book in front of me) they're boring, nothing happens in them, and they don't develop the story at all. If you do have to use them, you're supposed to add action or some big major plot twist, lots of tension, or something to make it worth a reader's while.

Curious if I messed up and wrote a kitchen scene (or two), I thought back to my three stories I have coming out in the future, and you know what...all THREE of them have scenes that take place in the kitchen. Sigh. Guess I'm just a typical kitchen-scene author.

In The Right to Remain Mine (coming in Feb), the heroine learns the heroes first name in a kitchen scene, then an intruder breaks into her house, which starts a physical brawl in another kitchen scene. Actually, there were a bunch of scenes that took place in the kitchen in that book. Hmm. I'm all confused if they were worthwhile scenes though.

In The Best Mistake (coming in March), the heroine realizes the hero is actually the owner of the company where she works in their kitchen scene. It seemed like a big, revealing moment to me. Hopefully it's not something that should've been deleted because I've already finished editing the final round in that book.

The Color of Grace (who knows when that is coming out) has a handful of kitchen scenes as well. But I personally felt like I needed those because they showed the growing tension between Grace and her mother.

Maas's writing advice really makes you look at your story though. I swear I went through every kitchen scene I've ever written, and more times than not, I realized they really didn't need to be in the story. It just felt like filler that stalled out the plot and went nowhere.

Do you have kitchen scenes in your book? Do they really need to be there? Or can you jazz them up so that the scene is integral for the plot of your story?

It's something to think about anyway.

We Survived the Earthquake!

2011-11-07T07:37:00.002-06:00

There was a small earthquake in central Oklahoma on Saturday night, and apparently some people in my area felt the tremor. Cool, huh?

This morning, when I dropped the kiddo off at my mother-in-law's who babysits her while I'm at work (I know, I'm a lucky SOB, huh? Or would I be a DOB since I'm a girl?...shrug), she immediately asked if we survived the earthquake.

She felt it herself at about 11pm on Saturday night. She and her hubby were watching the late news, and they were talking about the quake in OK on the television. About that time, my in-laws heard the rumble, like thunder (though it wasn't stormy at all), their dishes rattled, and the TV flickered off.

I was dead asleep by 11pm, so I heard and felt nothing.

And that's my big earthquake story, coming at you from Southeast Kansas.

If you can't tell, not much is going on with me. Been busy in my writing cave...writing.

Happy Monday!

Cover - The Best Mistake

2011-11-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Here is the final cover for my humorous contemporary novella, THE BEST MISTAKE! It was designed by artist Debby Taylor.

When I first saw this cover a few weeks ago on her site, before any official cover was sent to me, ta different couple graced the forefront. But I guess that couple didn't past muster, because this is the couple that was on it when I got it.

I guess I could see why the first couple didn't work. The heroine was much too skinny, and my heroine is by no means a toothpick in the book. Then, the hero is supposed to have blond hair, which was extra dark on the first couple. (though I have to confess; I thought the first cover hero was better looking--I know, shame on me). The heroine on the first cover wore a beautiful blue dress, and the fancy dress she wears in the story is blue, so that actually fit better. But, I dunno. This is how it ended. So.... ta da!

I also have a release day for THE BEST MISTAKE. It will be available exclusively in ebook on MARCH 14, 2012 at The Wild Rose Press.

In other Linda Kage writing news, I found a new review on The Romance Studio website for The Trouble for Tomboys, which has been out for over a year now. What a happy surprise. Here's what Jaye over at TRS had to say:

"At first, B.J. Gilmore's rough talk put me off. However, I soon realized that, underneath the gruff exterior, was a kind, loving and very feminine woman. The author has done an excellent job in creating the backgrounds for the main characters. B.J.'s tomboy characteristics, which come from growing up with a father and brothers, but no mother, are well defined and natural to her character. The grieving widower's actions are also realistic and well drawn. The author has written two characters who balance each other beautifully. The settings are excellent, putting the reader right in the scenes, the emotions beautifully done. I loved the way the writer dealt with B.J.'s lack of knowledge of how a female should act. The main characters battle their way into loving one another, right up to a wonderful conclusion.

I really loved this book, and definitely grew to care for the characters."

Then to top that off, The Long and Short of it Reviews just contacted me with yet another review. My sweet romance, A Man for Mia, fell under the gun for this one. But, whew, she passed with a 4-star rating as well. Poinsettia had so many nice things to say, I can't post it all without having a super long blog, so I'll just show you a glimpse of the last two concluding paragraphs. And here they are:

"A Man for Mia certainly deals with a lot of serious issues. Infidelity, abandonment, and death are all touched on. However, I must say that Ms. Kage sprinkled in just the right amount of lighter scenes to keep the story from being too ponderous. I particularly like the scene when Mia and Drew go out on their “not date” and have pizza. When Mia and Drew finally relax and flirt a little, sparks fly. I really felt that was when they started to click as a couple, and I eagerly anticipated their happy ending.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to read A Man for Mia. I recommend it to anyone seeking a touching story of love, loss, and hope. Read it with a box of tissues close at hand."

Which room in your house is haunted???

2011-10-31T05:15:00.002-05:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Nothing creeps me out more than spooky real-life ghost stories. So, I gotta talk about spooky real-life ghosts today, of course!!

The husband had to go into work at 3AM last Friday morning. So when Lydia woke a bit before five, I changed her diaper, got her a tippy cup of chocolate milk, and dragged her into bed with me so I could nap until the alarm clock went off.

After about two or three minutes of us snuggling under the covers together, this huge BANG, CRASH, BOOM echoed through the house (I know, cool sound effects, huh!). As I wondered why this always always had to happen when the husband was gone, I realize what caused the sound.

Apparently, the doorway into my library/computer room does not like baby gates put across it. That was the third or fourth time it fell down without anyone being near it. And this very same gate has been put up in front of other doorways in the house, never having the same problem in those doorways.

I've had to get up in the middle of the night before with the Lydia and I've seen the computer screen blaring the screen saver in the library. Okay, fine, I'd left the computer on. But after a while, it goes into this dormant sleep mode and doesn't wake up unless someone wiggles the mouse or clicks on the keyboard, so something had to have disturbed it. (In reality, I'm guessing some update program popped up and activated it somehow, but this is October 31st, so work me on this one).

Thus, I've decided...if there is a haunted room in my house, it would have to be the computer / library room. The problem is I have no idea who would be haunting it. The house is only three years old and we're the only residents who've ever lived here. On the other hand, the ground we built on is old Indian ground. My husband has even found an arrowhead out in the yard. Maybe we've ticked off some ancient native Americans wanting our house off their resting place.

Makes you wonder!

So, if you had to pick out a room in your house to be inhibited by paranormal activity, which room would it be...and why?

Friday Forwards - #35

2011-10-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Everyone loves Guns & Roses.

I will slap you silly.

Born to rock.

'Sup, G?

Is that edible?

On second thought...

That's right, baby, I still got it.

Rice cereal? I don't need no stinkin' rice cereal.

OH! C-c-c-cold Wipes! Cold Wipes!

I can't believe this place.

Tonight, you die in your sleep!

Yeah. I just farted.

Tell me she did NOT just say that!!

Hey, this doesn't taste like chicken.

Happy Hump Day with MARIE ROSE DUFOUR

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Liz woke up with the sounds of waves crashing in her ears. Confident of the lack of beachfront property within her condo, she wondered what destiny had in mind for her now. She sat up looking around at her surroundings. Lying under a beautiful canopy tent draped with yards and yards of gauzy royal blue material swaying gently in the breeze, and keeping the rays of the sun from beating down on her body. Liz ran her hands over the bedding beneath her. It felt softer and smoother than the highest count Egyptian cotton sheets bought in Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

The beautiful beach reminded her of pictures of exquisite Caribbean beaches with turquoise waves and miles and miles of powdery white sand. The gentle breezes lightly ruffled her hair as she walked down the beach to the edge of the water which rose up to meet her feet, tickling her toes.

“Well, Dorothy, you’re not in Kansas anymore,” she said looking up at a foreign sky with two moons in the distance.

“I must be dreaming. I read so much information about Serralia I’m dreaming about it in Technicolor. Damn! This is one realistic mother of a dream.”

Suddenly, her senses went on high alert. She didn’t know if the air around her had changed or if her body sensed another person behind her, but she knew she was no longer alone and somehow her mate stood behind her.

Two strong bronze hands slowly encircled her waist, pulling her gently back to into a lean, hard body. Liz sighed. This felt right. She snuggled deeper into the embrace. Nothing ever felt this right before. She could stand here in the safety of his arms forever.

“I’ve been waiting for you. I thought you would never get here,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry it took so long. I never let myself believe you existed.”

“I read your file.” The hands moving on her stomach stilled. “I’m sorry for what you had to go through alone. I would have been there for you if I had known.”

“I wouldn’t have been there if I had faith I would find you someday.” Dragon’s chest expanded letting her love and comfort wash over him. “So you know?”

“About everything that happened to you when you were taken prisoner? Yes, I know. I know you lost an eye and still wear an eye patch. I bet it makes you look rakishly handsome.”

She felt the chuckle in his chest before she heard it. The heat of his body warmed her back and aroused her body.

“I have never been told such a thing.”

“Well, I’m sure it does.”

She stroked the muscular forearms at her waist with light caresses. His body trembled behind her.

“We’ve never met in person, but I already feel connected to you. Is it normal?”

“The bonding happens when we are connected as mates. Normal. I don’t know. Right, yes.”

“Do you know about me?” she whispered.

“I know you are perfect.” He leaned down and sweetly kissed the top of her head.
Liz stilled, she might as well tell him about her marriage. She didn’t want any secrets between them.

“I was married before,” she blurted out nervously. “He was not a nice man. He hurt me, not only physically, but verbally too. It took a long time, but I left him.”

Dragon fully stilled behind her. All the wonderful stroking stopped. Her stomach dropped down to her feet. S@%t! I’ve ruined this already. She knew her mistake of a marriage would follow her around for the rest of her life. She knew it.

“You don’t know how much pain it causes me to know how much pain you had to endure. I would gladly be tortured again if it meant taking it away from you. You never have to be afraid with me. I would sooner cut off my own arm than hurt a hair on this beautiful head.”

Liz nodded, the lump in her throat making any physical speech impossible.

“I realize it might be a while before you believe this, but it is true.”

“I do believe you. I don’t know why, but I do.”

“Good. Now, we can continue what we started here.”

Callused thumbs again stroked her stomach making it quiver and her pulse quicken. If this was what he could do to her body with only his thumbs, she might actually die from pleasure. She smiled thinking about what her obituary would say. Woman dies from having the most intense sexual experience of her life, then her brain stopped working; her body took over and went into overload.

********************BLURB********************
You just read an excerpt from:
FATED MATES
by
Marie Rose Dufour

Buy Link: Secret Cravings Publishing
*********************************************

Linda Kage: It's about time I host another interview. So let's get this week rolling with author MARIE ROSE DUFOUR. Hey, Marie Rose Dufour!!! Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Marie:I am the oldest of four children who always was making up stories growing up. My head is constantly filled with them. I live in Rhode Island with my husband and two very curious cats who think they are people. I write erotica. My first book is a sci-fi erotic romance. My second book is a contemporary/fantasy story set in Ireland.

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Marie: The first book I ever wrote was when I was thirteen. It was about a girl who walked into a mirror into an another dimension. I still someday might rewrite that story using a parallel dimensional twist. I don’t know what happened to it. I probably threw it away. The first book I wrote as an adult is Fated Mates which was published by Secret Cravings Publishing.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Marie: My next story Irish Rising is coming out in March. I am currently writing book two in the Fated Mates series.

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Marie: Fated Mates is a sci-fi erotic romance. Imagine if Earth had been visited by
ancient aliens and they found out that we were suitable as mates. Some people were taken to colonize a new planet but when suitable mates started to dwindle, they came back to Earth to search for more. This story is about a school teacher named Liz, who doesn’t believe in love anymore afteran abusive marriage and a scarred Serralian warrior who never hoped to find love. It was released on September 19th, from Secret Cravings Publishing.

********************BLURB********************
*****
by
Marie Rose Dufour

We know that we are no longer alone in the universe. Descendants of Earthly ancestors have returned to find the other halves of themselves, their destined mates.  Dragon, a scarred Serralian warrior drawn to the planet of his ancestors, never believed the Goddess had a mate for him but no matter what he believes, he’s unable to resist the pull of the planet deep within in soul.

Liz, a curvy teacher who escaped an abusive marriage three years earlier is afraid to take another chance on love. Tired of being a bystander in her own love life, she participates in an ancient ritual to identify Serralian mates. Taking that chance changes her life forever. Can these two people overcome their pasts to become each other’s true Fated Mates?
*********************************************

Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Marie: Since I write erotica, if Fated Mates was a movie, it would be rated NC-17..

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Marie: Hmmm…that’s a tough one. I guess I would say, true love exits even if it has to travel across the universe to be found.

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit FATED MATES under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Marie: I would say the element of being “fated” or destined to be with a certain someone. In Fated Mates, Sacred Stones determine
if people are meant to be together, almost as if it were destined in the stars.

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Marie: The beginning of the story is always the easiest for me to write. The beginning of Fated Mates came to me in a dream. I know it’s going to sound weird but sometimes my characters nag me and won’t leave me alone until I tell their story.

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Marie: I like how my main characters are flawed. They are easy to relate to, they are far from perfect. Although the main character Dragon, is near and dear to my heart. Don’t tell my husband but I fell in love with him as I wrote. What I learned is my male characters are usually more formed in my head than my female characters. I find them a lot easier to write. I wonder what that says
about me???

Kage:Marie, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Marie: I just hope people enjoy reading Fated Mates as much as I enjoyed writing it.

If you're still curious about Marie, here are other places to find her on the web:

Website: www.marierosedufour.com

Blog: http://marierosedufour.blogspot.com

Facebook: Marie Rose Dufour

Twitter: Marie_R_Dufour

Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing

Goodreads: Marie Rose Dufour

Happy For my Friends!!

2011-10-24T05:40:00.003-05:00

I'm just chillin' around here today, celebrating good news for my blogger friends.

First off, it's a book release day for MOLLY DANIELS!!! Her story, Love on the Rocks, is available at Secret Cravings Publishing. Here's a little sneaky-peek of one of her excerpts she posted on her blog last week.

EXCERPT:

"Y'know, you're awfully pretty, lady. How'd you like a beer?"

Elicia looked at the short man, whose greasy hair fell past his shoulders. "No thanks, you're drunk."

He pulled himself up straight. "Am not. I'm jus' getting started. Wha's your name?"

Instead of answering, Elicia moved past the group to the other side of the flames and joined another group, this time discussing the campus policy on coed dorms. She had voiced her opinion when she was jostled again by the same guy.

“Hey, pretty lady, I'm Ron. Wha's your name again?"

“I'm not telling you my name. You're drunk." Elicia sniffed and turned her back on him.

"Now tha's not very nice. I jus' wanna know, can I get you a beer?"

"No thanks." Elicia excused herself and moved on.

The third group of people she joined were gossiping about a couple's sexual activities, and when she saw Ron approach, she headed for Eric's side and slipped her arm through his.

Eric looked surprised. Elicia whispered, “I can't get rid of this guy over there...please, just play along?"

***************

Then, I'm also celebrating for MARIE ROSE DUFOUR who sold her second book, Irish Rising, last week to...can you guess? Yep, to Secret Cravings Publishing ! Wow, Secret Cravings sure is signing up some totally sweet authors lately.

So, congrats to all. I'm very excited for you.

Voting Starts Today!

2011-10-21T06:00:00.016-05:00

In a moment of insanity, I entered my book trailer for KISS IT BETTER into the You Gotta Read Videos monthly contest. And today, the voting starts and goes through OCTOBER 26th.

I'm not asking you to go vote for my video or anything (okay, maybe I am...please), but my video entry for KISS IT BETTER is #17 if you want to hop over to YouGottaReadvVdeos.Blogspot.Com and check it out.

What are some crazy contests you've entered in your lifetime? Win any of them?

Writing Tip at the Vineyard

2011-10-19T06:00:00.004-05:00

It's my day be a guest at the The Writers Vineyard, where I created a new writing term (well, as far as I know, no one's ever used it before, but I'm not much of an original, so I have a bad feeling it may not be new....sigh).

You can check it out at:

www.TheWritersVineyard.com

Oh, and I think I know a happy little secret. I was browsing The Wild Rose Press website on Monday, and clicking on links for their cover artists, wondering who was going to design the cover for my story, The Best Mistake, when I clicked on Debby Taylor's site.

I saw the title of this one book first. And when I read The Best Mistake, I gasped. Wow, someone else had a book out with the same title as me. So I glanced at the author, and gasped again. Wow, someone had the same name as me!!! Then it finally clicked, wow, that's the cover for MY book!!

Nothing is official yet. I haven't gotten an email from the publisher letting me know this is MY book cover, but it was still thrilling to see. If you want to take a peek at it, too, it's over at http://www.dcagraphics.com/.

The Skeleton in my Closet

2011-10-17T06:00:00.006-05:00

Today, I'm talking about closets. Literal closets.

The first closet in this topic is my closet at home. After trying my daughter's Halloween outfit for this year on her, she for some reason ran into my closet and began to play. So, of course, I had to share a picture of the cutest little skeleton to ever invade my closet.

Isn't she just adorable? Well, I think so.

The second closet I'd like to discuss is my closet at work.

In the opening scene of my soon-to-be-released novella, The Best Mistake, my heroine is stocking paper in a supply closet. And it just so happens, the inspiration for that came from real life. My real life. As an assistant acquisitions librarian in an academic library, I am also in charge of ordering supplies. One thing I buy on a monthly basis is printer paper. The staff and students (needing to print assignments for classes) go through roughly a hundred reams of paper--give or take--each month. And if my student employee is on break or if I'm between employees, it is my job to stock the supply closet once a paper order comes in.

I was putting away paper one day when the magical scene in question came to me, which goes to show you, even my boring ol' life can come in handy every once in a while.

Something I discovered halfway through writing the rest of the manuscript, however, is that I have absolutely no talent in Math. Okay, fine, I always knew I had no talent in math, but for some reason I calculated each ream of paper weighing in at five pounds (this is after seeing how a ten-ream box weighed twenty pounds. I know, don't ask.) when in fact, a single ream only weighs two pounds.

That little eye-opener stopped my in my writing tracks. Technically, it wouldn't have altered much of the story if I had changed the poundage to the correct sum, though I kinda liked my heroine's fear of a half-ton truck falling on her. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to keep it 'as is' only for her to find out later on that she'd miscalculated in the very beginning, in effect helping round out her character as Deri "the Mistake" Crandall.

So actually, my mistake became Deri's mistake and in turn made her more realistic...and funny (I was totally going for humor in this novella).

And there you have it, the inspiration behind the Supply Closet of Death in The Best Mistake, which will be released sometime in the future from The Wild Rose Press!

Have you ever gotten inspiration from strange little moments like this?

Here's my very own Supply Closet at work!

===================
Blurb For:
THE BEST MISTAKE
by Linda Kage
===================

Deri "The Mistake" Crandall wants nothing more than the love and acceptance from a family. After her mother dies, she finally discovers who her father is—except he and his family aren't exactly everything she's dreamed of. Not about to let a little thing like that bother her, she strives her hardest to fit in. Though honest to a fault, she even lies to gain their affection. But who could have predicted the one man with whom she immediately clicks is the very millionaire her grandfather orders her to betray?

Cole Harrety’s life is all about work and ignoring play, until a petite, curvy bundle of quirky woman literally tumbles into his lap. From the moment he loses a staring contest with her, he knows Deri is exactly what's been missing from his mundane life and no other woman will ever compete with her.

With a web of deception already woven, can their new bond survive a shattered trust?

===================

"The" Supply Closet Scene From:
THE BEST MISTAKE
by Linda Kage
===================

She’d go down in the history books for this, she was sure.

She could see the headlines now: Deri Crandall, first woman to be squashed to death by printer paper. A noteworthy event indeed.

Deri cringed as the six-tiered metal shelf swayed and groaned after she hauled another three reams onto the second-to-top rung. On an average, the entire building of Harrety International used two hundred packages of paper each month. And it all sat right here, stored on this shelf in this tiny supply closet.

Figuring as she worked, she concluded at five pounds per ream, two hundred of these suckers would put her up there at a thousand pounds. The rickety old shelf she stocked didn’t look as if it could hold ten pounds, much less a whole thousand.

A thousand pounds of paper. That’d be like having a half-ton truck fall on her if this baby went down. Deri lurched back and eyed the support beams anew. No way could this rusted hunk of metal sustain an entire truck. She glanced at the five full boxes sitting on the floor, waiting to be shelved.

Patrick hadn’t warned her about over-piling when he’d told her to put the new shipment of paper away. Still, she had her doubts. Glancing at the doorway leading from the supply closet, she bit her lip. Temptation to flee seized her, but she remained rooted in her cheap flats, determined to proceed.

Careful to bend at the knees instead of the waist because the seams in her skirt had screeched in protest the first time she’d tried bending the other way, she scooped another armful of paper into her grasp, sneezing when cardboard dust fluttered up her nose.

The entire Beecham clan might think she was the family screw-up, but she was by no means a quitter. She’d see this through, just as she’d successfully find her way into her family’s acceptance. And if gaining their respect started in this tiny, airless room, risking life and limb by monotonously hauling stack after stack of paper onto a shelf, then by God, she’d do it.

If nothing else, maybe it’d prompt her father into attending her graveside service.

Half an hour later, the muscles in her arms wept while sweat made her cheeks glow an unhealthy puce, plastering her dark bangs flush against her forehead. But every ream lay in neat order on the shelves. And fortunately, she hadn’t needed to become a human pancake in the process.

After breaking down all the now-empty boxes that had held the paper reams and lugging them to the recycling room, she hunted up her supervisor, wondering what new and unique torture he wanted to afflict on her next......

A Page with Kage (1)

2011-10-14T06:00:00.004-05:00

My creative juices feel like they're running dry lately, so...I'm starting a new series on my blog called "A Page with Kage" where I share one page of a scene from a story I've read that I just adore.

I'm staring my happy series with Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas. This is a regency romance with a steamy rating. And I love this excerpt because it holds one of my favorite first lines that I'll always remember.

EXCERPT:

Chapter One

London
The Rutledge Hotel
May 1852

Her chances of a decent marriage were about to be dashed--and all because of a ferret.

Unfortunately Poppy Hathaway had pursued Dodger halfway through Rutledge Hotel before she recalled an important fact: to a ferret, a straight line included six zigs and seven zags.

"Dodger," Poppy said desperately. "Come back. I'll give you a biscuit, any of my hair ribbons, anything! Oh, I'm going to make a scarf out of you..."

As soon as she caught her sister's pet, Poppy swore she was going to alert the management of Rutledge that Beatrix was harboring wild creatures in their family suite, which was definitely against hotel policy. Of course, that might cause the entire Hathaway clan to be forcibly removed from the premises.

At the moment, Poppy didn't care.

Dodger had stolen a love letter that had been sent to her from Michael Bayning, and nothing in the world mattered except retrieving it. All the situation needed was for Dodger to hide the blasted thing in some public place where it would be discovered.

~~Documentation: I copied this EXCERPT off the "start reading now" at Amazon.~~

God Bless Morale

2011-10-12T06:00:00.002-05:00

My husband is a Green Bay Packers fan. So this past Sunday night after putting the kiddo to bed, I crawled onto the couch with him to watch a little of the game, saying I’d go to bed at the end of the third quarter.

Well, by the end of the third quarter, I was as glued to the television as he was. It was just so interesting to watch. At the beginning of the game, the Atlanta Falcons were psyched with home field advantage and a winning attitude. They were so confident. Then a vital Packers player got hurt, and they took immediate advantage of that weak spot. It didn’t look good for Green Bay.

To say the least, my hubby was in a crabby mood by the time I was able to watch the game with him. But then the strangest thing happened. Green Bay made a really good play. Then they made another awesome play. Next thing we know, the Falcons made a big mistake.

And just like that, the morale of the game shifted. Packer spirits grew and Falcon’s self-assurance dwindled. It seemed to happen in the blink of an eye.

I see the same kind of thing happen with my writing. I get a review where the reader pointed out all these details that could’ve been better, and I duck my head with that, geesh yeah, I messed up there. Then an editor finds all these glaringly obvious mistakes that a person would think should be caught even before the rough draft was written. My morale plummets. My drive to tell more stories shrivels, and I ache to hide away somewhere safe and warm and eat ice cream.

Then a nice word comes along unexpectedly. And like an April rain shower, the grass immediately turns green. I lift my face, glance around. Everyone is smiling, the sun is shining. Yep, birds are singing. And I want to write again. I’m actually eager to revise a manuscript.

Maybe that makes me bipolar, but I say it simply makes me human. It’s just so easy to be dragged down or lifted up. At this point of the blog, you’d think maybe I should say finding that happy medium would be the ultimate goal. But nope, I think not. I say, embrace both the ups and the downs.

(warning: Linda is now going into preach mode now)

I’m reminded of the middle grade story, Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days by Stephen Manes. Tired of always messing up, the main character decides to become the perfect person. After stumbling across a book in the library, he tries to follow the rules of perfection, only to realize perfect people did nothing but sit around properly and drink tea all day. Turns out perfect was boring.

If you never made any mistakes, if you never failed to reach your goals, if you messed up more than once, then those moments when you finally do it right, when you finally get what you’ve been striving for won’t be so utterly amazing.

You’d have a dull, humdrum existence without some kind of failure.

So just remember, next time morale is down and the world looks foggy and grey and miserable, it’s times like this that will make those sunny days even sweeter.

Green Bay won their game on Sunday, and the victory was so much better than if they'd started off looking good.

Here’s to the good…and the bad. Happy Wednesday.

Friday Forwards - #34

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

New State Mottos

Alabama: At Least We're not Mississippi -&- Yes, We Have Electricity

Alaska: 11,623 Eskimos Can't be Wrong! -&- We Also Take American Money

Arizona: But It's a Dry Heat

Arkansas: Litterasee Ain't Everything

California: As Seen on TV

Colorado: If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother

Connecticut: Like Massachusetts, Only Dirtier and With Less Character

Delaware: We Really Do Like the Chemicals in our Water

Florida: Ask Us About Our Grandkids

Georgia: We Put the "Fun" in Fundamentalist Extremism

Hawaii: Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru (Death to Mainland Scum, But Leave Your
Money)

Idaho: More Than Just Potatoes... Well Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Sure Are
Real Good -or- Potatoes and Neo Nazi's... What More Could You Ask For?

Illinois: Please Don't Pronounce the "S"

Indiana: 2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free

Iowa: We Do Amazing Things With Corn

Kansas: First Of The Rectangle States -&- Where Science Don't Mean Squat

Kentucky: Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names

Louisiana: We're Not All Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign

Maine: We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster

Maryland: A Thinking Man's Delaware

Massachusetts: Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's (For Most Tax Brackets)

Michigan: First Line of Defense From the Canadians

Minnesota: "10,000 Lakes and 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes"

Mississippi: Come Feel Better About Your Own State

Missouri: Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars at Work

Montana: Land of the Big Sky, the Unabomber, Right-Wing Crazies, and Very Little Else

Nebraska: Ask About Our State Motto Contest

Nevada: Whores and Poker!

New Hampshire: Go Away and Leave Us Alone

New Jersey: Ya Wanna ##$%##! Motto? I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right Here!

New Mexico: Lizards Make Excellent Pets

New York: You Have the Right to Remain Silent, You Have the Right to an Attorney...

North Carolina: Tobacco is a Vegetable

North Dakota: We Really Are One of the 50 States!

Ohio: We Wish We Were In Michigan

Oklahoma: Like the Play, Only No Singing

Oregon: Spotted Owl... It's What's For Dinner

Pennsylvania: Cook With Coal

Rhode Island: We're Not REALLY An Island

South Carolina: Remember the Civil War? We Didn't Actually Surrender

South Dakota: Closer Than North Dakota

Tennessee: The Educashun State

Texas: Si' Hablo Ing'les (Yes, I Speak English)

Utah: Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus

Vermont: Yep

Virginia: Who Says Government Stiffs and Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?

Washington: Help! We're Overrun By Nerds and Slackers!

Washington, D.C.: Wanna Be Mayor?

West Virginia: One Big Happy Family -- Really!

Wisconsin: Eat Cheese or Die -&- Come Cut Our Cheese

Wyoming: Wynot? -&- Where Men Are Men and Sheep Are Sacred

Win Free Stuff!

2011-10-03T06:00:00.004-05:00

One of my publishers, Champagne Books, is coming up on its fourth anniversary of being in business, so it's having a huge giveaway on its blog, The Writers Vineyard. And it just so happens, my week to donate something to this celebration is...this week: October 3rd - 7th!

I'll be giving away a paperback copy of my story Hot Commodity.

To enter, visit TheWritersVineyard.com on my showcase day (October 3rd), read the question there. Then head over to my website (www.LindaKage.com) to find the answer. Finally, email the answer of that question to me at linda@lindakage.com before this Saturday. I know it sounds like lots of work, but it's supposed to be fun and adventuresome! So go...join the adventure!

But that's not all the news I have on winning free books!

If you click over to my contest page (http://www.lindakage.com/contests.html), you can put your name in to win a free PDF ebook copy of Kiss it Better.

Since I usually like to give away two books (an ebook and a print paperback) in my website drawings, I'm adding one more book in this drawing because Kiss It Better isn't available in print. Just let me know which story of mine I have available in print that you'd prefer to win whenever you enter the drawing, and I'll send the book of your choice to whoever wins the paperback drawing.

So, that's three possible chances to win three stories.

The worst part about these contests is spreading the word, I think. Does anyone else know about places where you can advertise your book giveaways?

Someone once listed one of my book contests at http://www.contestlisting.com/ (I still don't know who did that), and I got lots of visitors stopping by to drop their name into the drawings, so I might try listing it there again.

There is also a Book Contest announcements page on Facebook where you can announce a book contest as well. I might try talking about my contest there, see how that goes.

I could also list them on some Yahoo chat loops on their author promo days, but after that, I'm clueless.

Hope you have a good week. It's October! My favorite month.

The Joy of Newsletters

2011-09-30T06:00:00.005-05:00

It's that time of year again when I put together a newsletter to send out to people who've signed up to receive updates about my writing. I don't do it every month, or every quarter, or even every year. But I send a letter whenever I have a new release and a book-winning contest. My last release was in August, so I'm a bit behind.

I never know what to say in a newsletter. I try to make it short and simple, but it usually ends up stretching one or two pages long.

At first, I tried all these neat graphics with covers of all my books embedded in the body of the email, but then I figured out not all those go through all the email providers the same way and some people received blank pages from me, so I've narrowed it down to two or three pictures. I've seen where some authors put their letters in PDF format and attach it to the email. I guess I could do that. What do you prefer when receiving author newsletters, or do you like getting them at all?

I also wonder WHAT to write about. I've seen some authors go on about their personal life or add food recipes or interesting little facts and quotes. But I don't do that. I try to get out what just released, what's coming next, announce any awards or special recognition any of my stories have won, then announce some kind of contest for readers to win free stuff. And that's it.

So again, I'm all curious, what kind of stuff do you like to find in an author's newsletter? Just details about their books, or other things as well? My mind usually begins to wander if a newsletter goes on too long with too many different topics.

I wish I could find some site that does those professional newsletter things, where when you subscribe, you get the automated message and have to visit this site to verify your address and so on. But I have a bad feeling those cost money, which isn't something I'm abundant in at the moment. So I go cheap...unless anyone out there knows about a free newsletter provider place.

One neat fact I've learned recently is how to send off my newsletter so that the receiver doesn't see everyone else's email addresses in the sent-to line. To do this, you add yourself into your contacts. So I would add linda@lindakage.com into my email address book but instead of naming me Linda Kage, I use the words "Undisclosed Recipients" in the name spot. Then...when I send off the newsletter. "Undisclosed Recipients" goes in the TO line, while everyone else goes into the BCC line.

Did you know...CC in email lingo means Carbon Copy, and BCC means Blind Carbon Copy. Okay, fine, I was the only one that didn't know that then! So anyway, when your newsletter subscriber receives their newsletter, they only see that you sent a letter to..."Undisclosed Recipients," because the BCC is obviously blind and doesn't show up everyone else's addresses. Isn't that just the coolest thing? Well, it was cool for me to learn.

And now that I've taught you something you probably already knew, I'm off to finish my newsletter. I think I'll send it out Monday, so if you want to subscribe (though really, if you follow my blog, then you'll probably already know most everything I'll blather on about), then I've set up a "subscribe to my newsletter" box on the side bar to the left there somewhere.

Have a good weekend! I look forward to reading some good newsletter advice and opinions in your comments!!

2011 Banned Books Week!

2011-09-28T07:00:00.001-05:00

I totally forgot Banned Books Week started September 24th and is going on 'til October 1st!!

If you'd like to celebrate the freedom to read, you can follow Banned Books Week on on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and YouTube.

There's not much to report in other areas of my life. I noticed my book A MAN FOR MIA is selling cheaper at Amazon.com. It used to be, like, eight bucks, which was even more than I was wiling to spend. But now it's a more reasonable $4.99.

A couple of my friends have gotten some cool book covers finished for their stories. Heather Snow in my Midwest Romance Writers RWA group has a cover for her historical novel, SWEET ENEMY, coming out in February from Signet. It's totally sweet (the cool sweet, not the other kind, because it looks a bit too spicy to be that kind of sweet!)

Then Tori St. Claire, also in my MRW Group, has a new cover for her Berkley Heat book, STRIPPED, coming out in January. Then her other pen name, Claire Ashgrove, has a cover for her Templar book, IMMORTAL HOPE, also coming out in January, from TOR (She's a busy woman). I'm so excited for them and their great success.

I'm hoping to get a cover for my story THE RIGHT TO REMAIN MINE in another month or two. It releases in February, and I'm anxious to see what the cover artist comes up with.

Okay, and now I'm really out of stuff to say. Have a good Wednesday.

I'm an EPIC Finalist!

2011-09-26T08:17:00.009-05:00

I was cruising the internet yesterday, and came across the Electronic Publishing Internet Coalition's (EPIC) website, where I discovered a happy little surprise. My story HOT COMMODITY, is a finalist in their 2012 Ebook Awards Contest, in the Contemporary Romance division. I was so happy, I danced all around the house with Lydia, which she loved, grinning and screaming with laughter as we whirled this way and that. The hubby's only response to the whole thing was, "You're going to hurt your back if you keep dancing around with her like that." Which I didn't (ha!). I hurt my knee.

In other areas of my life, I had my first in-depth conversation with my daughter this weekend. I was pushing her in her new-old swing and this tractor chugged to life across our field over at the neighbor's place. Lydia and I looked at each other and I gasped. "What's that?"

She turned to squint across the way until she finally saw movement. Then her eyes lit up and she pointed. "Car!" she proudly proclaimed.

"No," I said. "That's a tractor."

"Car," she repeated.

"No, no. It's really a tractor. See, cars have four wheels and...and, well, okay. So do tractors, but--"

"Car, car," she argued.

With a sigh, I gave in. "Okay. Fine. A tractor is a kind of car, I guess."

She nodded, most wisely. "Car."

This morning, we had another heart to heart. I knocked a bottle of baby lotion off the side of the bathroom sink.

Lydia gasped, "Uh oh," and rushed over to swipe it up. She looked up at me and accused, "Broke it."

I might have been a little defensive when I responded, "I did not."

So I'd say we're getting better at our communications skills. Outside is still pronounced "Owie," and so is the boo-boo on her knee. But you can tell which owie she means. If she brings you shoes and points toward the door, she means the outside owie. If she points to her knee, she means the boo-boo owie. Obviously.

Her newest words of the week are dirty, which is what the trash can is. And spider, pronounced "Pide-er."

And the kid has learned one very talented skill from me. After playing on the swing set and having our car/tractor conversation, she spotted a dead grasshopper on the sidewalk. When she spotted it, she paused to inspect it a moment before stomping on it with her shoe, 'cause that's exactly what Mommy does when she sees bugs and spiders. I was so proud I had to wipe a tear from my eye. That's my special girl.

Happy Monday to all!

Friday Forwards - #33

2011-09-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

Sorry, but I have a little bit of promo news before I share my Friday Forwards.

FIRST, I was interviewed by the lovely blogger, Courtney, over at Courtney's Book Nook, so you can check that out if you're so inclined. Then I was spotlighted over at wonderful DeAnn Sicard's Blog, A Writer's Guide to Words.

Okay, Let the FRIDAY FORWARDING commence!!

Six Classic Affairs

The 1st Affair:

A married man was having an affair with his secretary. One day they went her place and made love all afternoon. Exhausted, they fell asleep and woke up at 8 PM. The man hurriedly dressed and told his lover to take his shoes outside and rub them in the grass and dirt. He put on his shoes and drove home."Where have you been?" his wife demanded."I can't lie to you," he replied, "I'm having an affair with my secretary. We had sex all afternoon.""You lying @#$%! You've been playing golf!"

The 2nd Affair:

A middle-aged couple had two beautiful daughters but always talked about having a son. They decided to try one last time for the son they always wanted. The wife got pregnant and delivered a healthy baby boy. The joyful father rushed to the nursery to see his new son. He was horrified at the ugliest child he had ever seen. He told his wife, "There's no way I can be the father of this baby. Look at the two beautiful daughters I fathered! Have you been fooling around behind my back?" The wife smiled sweetly and replied, "Not this time!"

The 3rd Affair:

A mortician was working late one night. He examined the body of Mr. Schwartz, about to be cremated, and made a startling discovery. Schwartz had the largest private part he had ever seen! "I'm sorry Mr. Schwartz," the mortician commented, "I can't allow you to be cremated with such an impressive private part. It must be saved for posterity. "So, he removed it, stuffed it into his briefcase, and took it home."I have to show you something you won't believe," he said to his wife, opening his briefcase."My God!" the wife exclaimed, "Schwartz is dead?!?!"

The 4th Affair:

A woman was in bed with her lover when she heard her husband opening the front door."Hurry," she said, "stand in the corner. She rubbed baby oil all over him, then dusted him with talcum powder."Don't move until I tell you," she said. "Pretend you're a statue." "What's this?" the husband inquired as he entered the room. "Oh it's a statue." she replied. "The Smith's bought one and I liked it so much I got one for us, too. "No more was said, not even when they went to bed. Around 2 AM the husband got up, went to the kitchen and returned with a sandwich and a beer."Here," he said to the statue, "have this. I stood like that for two days at the Smith's and nobody offered me a thing."

The 5th Affair:

A man walked into a cafe, went to the bar and ordered a beer. "Certainly, Sir, that'll be one cent." "One Cent?" the man thought. He glanced at the menu and asked, "How much for a nice juicy steak and a bottle of wine?" "A nickel," the barman replied. "A nickel?" exclaimed the man. "Where's the guy who owns this place?" The bartender replied, "Upstairs, with my wife." The man asked, "What's he doing upstairs with your wife?" The bartender replied, "The same thing I'm doing to his business down here."

The 6th Affair:

Jake was dying. His wife sat at the bedside. He looked up and said weakly, "I have something I must confess." "There's no need to," his wife replied. "No," he insisted, "I want to die in peace. I slept with your sister, your best friend, her best friend, and your mother!" "I know, I know," she replied. "Now just rest and let the poison work."

Can I Have a little Cheese with my Whine

2011-09-21T06:00:00.002-05:00

Today, I'm guesting at THE WRITER'S VINEYARD, talking about putting complaints in your blog.

Happy Release Day

2011-09-19T07:53:00.004-05:00

.....to MARIE ROSE DUFOUR!!

I've been following her blog since late 2010, and have been honored to watch her go from unpublished to published!

Today, her FIRST story, Fated Mates, released from Secret Cravings Publishing. When I purchased my copy to read, I noticed she's already number four on the publisher site's bestseller list, WOOT!!

I think her story is an erotic sci fi romance. For a blurb and excerpt plus a chance to win a free copy, head over to her blog and leave her a "happy release day" comment!

I'm so happy for her.

In my own life, things are and aren't quite as exciting. I was offered a contract for two books since complaining about waiting for a submission responses last week, YAY!! One story I was super excited about finally selling (my second young adult book). But I'll talk about those more later...probably way later.

Then I received a ho-hum review from The Romance Reviews for How to Resist Prince Charming. The reviewer had good things to say and bad things to say. Usually, I can learn something good from the negative comments, but I don't know how to change disjointed pacing and disconnection for a reader. Sounds almost like a subjective thing, where another person might not feel the same way. Oh, well. Can't win over everyone.

On the other hand, I received a GLOWING review on Goodreads for my story, Delinquent Daddy. So, it all evens out. And that's my Monday updates!!

Happy Monday to all. Hope you have a good week.

I need some expert excerpt opinions if y'all don't mind.

2011-09-16T06:00:00.002-05:00

Guess what-guess what-guess what!?

As I said on Wednesday, whenever I complain about not receiving a response from a query letter, I usually receive a response that very day. Well, yep, I heard back from an editor and....woo hoo...I sold my first Linda Kage short story (the rest of my published works are stories over 50,000 words long, making them not so short).

I'll reveal all the juicy details whenever I get them, but until then...I need to pick out an excerpt to use as my big promo piece.

They say it needs to be "alluring," something a reader will think "I must buy this book" after reading it, something with enough conflict and excitement to keep a reader interested but not so much as to give away the ending.

I've narrowed it down to four. Now, I'm all curious...which one do you like best, or do you think I should keep searching for something better? Any opinion would be greatly appreciated, even if you think I should delete all these scenes from my story entirely.

Thank you, thank you. Have a great weekend.

******************************************************************************

--EXCERPT A--

“How’re you doing?”

Deri gritted her teeth. “Hurts.”

His chocolate brown eyes filled with sympathy as he lightly stroked her hair. “We’ve almost got you free. Just hang in there.”

A moment later, some unknown person yanked the ladder away. The release of pressure was almost more brutal than the pinching agony, but it soon dissipated to a dull throb. Deri closed her eyes and let out a breath. Her head lulled against that thigh tucked beneath her cheek, and she focused on the warmth and muscles layered under smooth cotton slacks to keep her mind off the pain.

“I’m going to check your ankle out, okay?” Large capable fingers slipped off her shoe.

She ground her teeth and swallowed yet another whimper.

“Sorry,” he rasped. He gently cupped her heel as he examined the damage, prodding with the barest of thumb pressure. Deri held her breath but the burning was not appeased.

When she heard, “Holy Mother of God,” her eyes flew open, and she lifted her face.

“What?”

Hot Guy shifted to block her view from the damage. “Don’t look.”

That didn’t exactly placate her. “What’s wrong?”

“Well, it’s…it’s swelling and bruising already. We need to get you to a hospital. Now.”

She nodded. “Okay.” Then she blew out a breath to hype herself. “Okay,” she said again. But how was she supposed to walk out of here? Gah, even the thought of standing made her stomach pitch with nausea.

“Wrap your arms around my neck,” he answered her unspoken question. “I’ll carry you.”

The sheer, noble romance of his command caused Deri to lose her breath.

What? Run away with you and bare your twenty children?

Sure.

As long as he kept looking at her exactly as he was looking at her, she was pretty much game for any suggestion he made.

She stared deeply into his brown eyes and nodded. “Okay.”

******************************************************************************

--EXCERPT B--

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“But you fell because I distracted you,” he argued.

"Yeah, well I’m the doofus who lost her balance.” She rolled her head along the back of the leather seat to turn it his way.

He glanced at her, his mouth open as if ready to keep arguing, but when he saw her face, he cracked a smile. “Just how many painkillers did they give you?”

She shrugged a loose shoulder. “Dunno. I’ve always been a cheap drunk though. Maybe I’m a cheap druggie too.”

Unable to stop smirking, he shook his head. “Are you even going to be able to tell me how to get you home?”

“Sure.” Yet as soon as she made the adamant claim, she scowled, thinking hard about her address. When half of it came, she grinned and proudly pronounced, “Eight-twelve.”

“Okay...” He paused. “Eight-twelve, what?”

She frowned again. Hmm. Now there was a stumper.

“Eight-twelve, eight-twelve, eight-twelve…Aha! Dragon—I mean, Daggon, Doggon, Dogwood. Yeah, tha’s it. I live at eight-twelve Dogwood Lane.”

His shoulders eased. “Great. Dogwood Lane I can find. Now… do you know if that’s east or west Dogwood Lane?”

Deri pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth as she thought about it. Finally, she said, “East?”

When she made it sound more like a question than a fact, he sighed. “Is that your final answer or a guess?”

After another brain-smarting moment, she decided, “My answer.”

“All right then. We’re going to eight-twelve east Dogwood Lane.”

Deri perked to attention. “Really? Hey, tha’s where I live.”

******************************************************************************

--EXCERPT C--

“Do you need help with anything else?” he asked.

She lifted her head to look around. They’d made it to the second floor and now stood in front of her apartment entrance.

Had they come to the end of their association, already?

“No,” she mumbled, her voice full of all her forlorn thoughts. Time to let the hunk go now and never see him again. “I’ve got it from here. But thank you. Thank you sooooo much.”

Deri didn’t want him to leave. A dozen excuses came to mind. She should make him a hot cup of tea. Or maybe she could have him help her into bed and then just coax him into joining her there.

Ack, what was she thinking? A man running on his level of hotness did not tinker around with short, dumpty nut cases like Deri.

Besides, she didn’t even know him. The safe plan would be to send him on his way. Pronto.

Except, he looked so good standing there watching her as if he really did want to help her with, well, anything.

“Oh, what the hell,” she slurred and reached for him, her fingers groping clumsily for the lapels on his jacket, which blurred in her drug-hazed vision.

He immediately caught her shoulders, his eyebrows pinched with worry. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she garbled out the irritated mutter, and finally caught his slippery jacket within her two fists. “I’m jus’…I’m trying to thank you property…I mean, properly.”

He squinted. “You’re trying to…what?”

“Thank you,” she stressed with a little more force as she used the last of her strength to tug on his jacket, jerking him close.

Unprepared for her heave, Cole stumbled against her, which was just fine, because somehow, she lifted her face perfectly and aligned—mostly aligned, anyway—their mouths as they smashed together.

******************************************************************************

--EXCERPT D--

A baffled frown wrinkled Cole forehead. He cleared his throat. “So, umm…will you come back to work at Harrety then?”

Huh? “No,” Deri answered hoarsely.

His eyes flashed to hers. “But you have to,” he almost whined. “If you don’t go out with me, you really need to come back to work.”

Deri sent him a startled look. “Are those my only two options?”

“Well…they’re the only two I’ll accept.”

His honestly startled and pleased her. She threw back her head and laughed.

Cole’s gaze grew hot as he watched. “You just had to go and do that, didn’t you?”

When he visibly swallowed and let out a little groan, swaying almost across the threshold toward her, she faltered. “D-do what?”

He rested the side of his face against the doorjamb as he stared with a yearning that made her mouth go dry. “I think I’ve become quite desperately obsessed with your laugh, Dericka Crandall.”

Oh, boy. She had to physically restrain herself from confessing she’d become quite desperately obsessed with pretty much everything about him.

“I…I…” She shook her head, a loss for words.

He took a step toward her, his gaze vigilant, intent. “I’m just going to throw one more thing out there we both need to consider before you make a final decision.”

She licked her lips, more tempted by the second. “What’s that?”

“This.”

Before she could figure out what he meant, he eased one more step closer, barely entering her apartment. She could only gawk, mesmerized as he lifted a single hand and curled his fingers around the back of her neck to draw her close. Then she was against him.

His mouth sealed over hers.

She Who Rambles with No Purpose

2011-09-14T06:00:00.002-05:00

Last time I complained about waiting for a word back from my book submissions, I think I got two responses that week, so I'm going to complain again in the hopes history will repeat itself. Honestly, I really do love being pampered in the digital age, an era where a 77-day response wait feels like FOREVER (yeah, yeah, I keep track of the days!).

Though all this technology does sometimes have its downfalls. I told you about my adventures in electronically entering a manuscript contest last week. After about thirteen emails and one very patient contest coordinator, I finally got my entry turned in. Whew. But then, a few days later, I tried to submit one of my stories to a publisher, and I didn't get back my automatic response email. Thinking it didn't go through, I submitted it again, then again, and again. Poor lady ended up with four of my query letters. Sigh. I think I know just enough about digital technology to be dangerous.

If you can't tell, this is my ramble post, where I meander from topic to topic without purpose because basically....I got nothing. My life is pretty well off comparatively speaking. I haven't been struck with any of the huge natural disasters that seem to have hit record proportions this year. I still have my job. My family is safe and healthy. There's really nothing to complain about. It's really all quite boring in my little nook of the world...and that's okay with me.

Okay, topic change. My kid (nineteen-months-old now) is beginning to say words. She actually calls me Mama now. She uses this sweet, little high-pitch voice that sounds totally adorable. And even after she says it fifty times in a row, it still sounds almost cute.

One of my husband's bosses (one husband, multiple supervisors) gave us his kid's old swing set, so Kiddo's been swinging like crazy. She'll bring me my shoes and dance around insisting, "owie, owie." I think "owie" is her word for outside. Either that or she's hurt herself. Who knows.

Cookie is her all time favorite term these days. We adults have started to spell it out when we mention that word. Other cute phrases and words she says latey: chicken, thirsty (though it sounds more like tir-tee), right back, I got, I (I'm thinking that means Ice tea), puppy, moo (she refuses to say cow), and uh-oh.

The phase of screaming fits have started. I'll be happen when that's over (please tell me it passes) because honestly, I don't know how to deal with them. I really don't like watching my kid hyperventilate just because I punished her by putting her in her crib for time out.

Okay, new topic. I received my first review for my latest release, Kiss it Better. Here's what Stacey over at SIZZLING HOT BOOK REVIEWS had to say:

Sophia has dated a lot of men with heavy baggage and keeps getting burned. Reed has some very heavy baggage he hasn’t shared but he wants Sophia. Can Sophia Kiss it Better and make things work with Reed despite his baggage?

Sophia is a professional who is attracted to Reed, a man she works with. He seems stable enough and a normal guy, so she starts dropping hints. But, when a family crisis affects Reed, Sophia becomes more interested. She is the type of person who wants to fix it and make it better. I could easily relate to Sophia and her desire to make Reed smile.

Reed is a successful business person who loves his job and his family. When family trouble strikes, he has to deal with the crisis, only he isn’t prepared to deal with his feelings or those of his sister. Reed is a likable character, very realistic. As Sophia begins to become more and more a part of his life, he knows he can’t keep his secrets for very long.

Kiss it Better is a quickly read contemporary romance. For a novel length book, Kiss it Better went quickly and I still wanted more. While Kiss it Better had a conclusive ending, I didn’t feel like it was really finished.

With strong characters and a sweet romance, Kiss it Better is a great story to curl up with and enjoy. I would recommend picking it up if you are looking for some down to earth people in real situations that make the best of who they are and what they are faced with.

It received a 4-star rating.

And with that, I think I'm out of things to ramble. Happy Wednesday!

Ten Years Later

2011-09-11T06:00:00.002-05:00

The Eleventh Of September
Written by Roger J. Robicheau ©2002
The Poetic Plumber
www.thepoeticplumber.com

We mourn their loss this day this year
Those now with God, no danger near

So many loved ones left do stand
Confronting loss throughout our land

My heart goes out to those who do
No one can fathom what they view

I firmly pray for peace of mind
Dear God please help each one to find

And to our soldiers now at war
God guide above, at sea, on shore

They are the best, I have no doubt
Our country’s pride, complete, devout

The finest force you’ll ever see
All freedom grown through liberty

One final thought comes clear to me
For what must live in infamy

Absolutely - We’ll Remember
The Eleventh - Of September

Friday Forwards - #32

2011-09-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

ZEN AND THE WISDOM OF LIFE

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Sex is like air -- it's not important unless you aren't getting any.

5. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

6. No one is listening until you fart.

7. Always remember you are unique -- just like everyone else.

8. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

9. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

10. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away, and you have their shoes.

11. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

12. Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

13. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

14. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

15. Some days you are the bug; some days you are the windshield.

16. Don't worry--It only seems kinky the first time.

17. Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

18. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

19. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

20. Duct tape is like the Force--It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

21. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

22. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

23. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

24. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

25. We are born naked, wet, and hungry, and get slapped on our ass...then things get worse.

26. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

27. There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness".

28. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.

29. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday...around age 11.

30. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

What's a girl to do?

2011-09-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

I've been entering contests like crazy these past couple of months. Well, more often than usual, and by usual, I mean not at all. So two or three is a big number number for me.

I kind of like doing everything electronically: fill out the electronic entry form, pay through electronic PayPal, upload my story partial straight to their website, and that's all there is to it...until I encountered a problem.

I was entering this one contest recently (like yesterday), and the rules were a bit scattered. I'm one of those people that likes steps to her rules. Step one: fill out this form. Step two: follow the link to pay for entry...and so forth.

After reading all the rules and FAQs, I decided to give it a go and entered the contest. Well, first of all, the entry form link didn't work, so I rooted around the website until I found another link for it. Once I made it there, I filled out the entry form without a problem. Directly upon submitting my information, it sent me straight to PayPal to pay...yay! All good there, too.

Then, I got a little lost.

I went back to the rules to see what to do next. When I found a line that said to send all attachments to such and such an email, I figured, okay, that's where I send my story. So I emailed the contest coordinator, letting him/her know I'd filled out the electronic entry form, already paid via paypal, and that my story was attached in an RTF file, which is what the rules said to save our stories under.

Sent that off and then opened an email I got from the contest. And in that confirmation letter, it said something about going to this other link to upload your story entry directly to their site.

Yikes.

Thinking I'd messed up and shouldn't have sent anything at all to the coordinator, I sent her a "sorry" note, explaining how I'd just received my instructions to upload my entry and to please ignore my earlier email.

But after I went to the upload screen, the freaking thing wouldn't let me upload my RTF file. Ugh. So, back to the coordinator I wrote another letter. "Yes, sorry, it's me again, but I have a slight problem."

You know, I really hate being that picky person that writes email after email to someone. They probably think I'm a nut by now. I haven't heard a response from any of my three wacky emails yet, though technically, it wasn't all that long ago, so there's still plenty of time for someone to respond.

What's worse, after about five or six times of trying to upload that stupid story on two different computers, I thought, "I'm trying this in a DOC file instead of an RTF file, and see what happens." AND IT ACCEPTED THE DOC FILE!!!

Can you believe the nerve of that computer? A DOC file.

So, now....do I write the poor, harnessed coordinator AGAIN and tell him/her that the computer accepted my story in DOC, though the rules clearly said RTF? Plus, there really is a line that says to send all attachments to coordinator, but what attachment am I supposed to send? All prompts have already led me to upload all my entry and entry information straight to their site.

Maybe I was supposed to send a second copy of the story to the coordinator, after all.

I'm so confused.

Sigh. I have to bug him/her again to find out my answers, don't I? I hate that.

Fourth Anniversary Book Contest

2011-09-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

Starting MONDAY (September 5th), TheWritersvineyard.com will be throwing a huge, HUGE contest, lasting every Monday until November 28th (that's thirteen weeks of prizes!!!).

To celebrate their fourth anniversary, at least one Champagne Books author will give away a prize (prizes consist of books--print, e-wise, or on CD--plus other goodie bags).

Here's how to play:

Each Monday an author will announce their mystery question to win a paperback. You simply go to their website (which will be provided in the blog) and search for the answer hidden in their excerpts. Then you submit your answer to that author's email (also provided in the blog). The winner will be randomly drawn from correct answers by the next Monday.

In concordance with print book contest, a contest for ebooks will occur every other Monday, and play the same way as the print contest.

I guess there are a few rules though. I know, ugh. They are...

- For paperbacks, CD, and goodie bag prizes, which are shipped via snail mail, only USA and Canada residents can play.

- Winners of E copies can be from anywhere.

- To be fair to all, you can only win a prize one time.

So, on THIS MONDAY, go forth, my lovely blogger buddies, and check The Writers Vineyard every week for a chance to win something new!!

My book-HOT COMMODITY-will start its contest to win a print copy on October 3rd (I think...I'll let you know when the times comes for certain though!).

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

I'm Toothless

2011-08-31T07:22:00.003-05:00

Okay, fine, I confess. I still have all my teeth...except one.

It started back in April. Or May. Whatever. I blame my Parents as Teachers lady.

Our school district offers this program, you see. Where a representative will come into your house about once a month if you have a child under the age of three, and test your toddler, give the parents helpful advice, and provide her with little games to play as a way to make sure she's progressing okay and will be ready to start school when the time comes.

Well, one of the topics our Parents as Teachers lady discussed with us was making sure our children had healthy teeth. If their teeth grow in wrong, then it can affect their speech, which in turn will affect their education, and so forth. She recommended getting our child to a dentist as early as possible.

It had been awhile--okay, years--since I'd actually gone to a dentist myself. When my childhood dentist retired, I just never got around to making an appointment with the new dentist all my records had been sent to. But if I needed to take my kid to get her teeth checked out, then I figured I better get myself established somewhere.

So I made an appointment. Surprisingly enough, I only had four cavities. In fact, I was actually complimented for how well I took care of my teeth and kept them clean (yeah, take that hubby who insists I don't brush long enough).

They set me up with a July date to get fillings put in the four cavity-infected teeth. Except...in early June, one of the loose fillings they planned to get re-filled fell out while I was chewing gum (evil stuff, that gum).

I called the dentist to let them know. So the the next three times they called to get me into an earlier spot, the time was already filled by the time I contacted them back. Therefore, yep, I had to wait over a month with a hole in my tooth, in which time it started to ache and throb and hurt like you wouldn't believe.

By the day my July appointment rolled around, I was soooo ready for my new filling, I almost bawled. But even after I got it filled, that stupid tooth still ached and throbbed and hurt like you wouldn't believe. As one who hates to pester people, I dragged my feet a week before I called the dentist again. They said sometimes they get the fillings too high, or some such dentist jargon I really don't understand, so they got me in that day to take a look. Sure enough, they had to shave the filling down a bit, and told me, "There, that should make you feel lots better."

After a couple days, it actually did begin to feel better, but this little bump had started to bulge out of my gums directly above "that" tooth. Maybe I should mention sometime in here that this is a baby tooth we're talking about. It never fell out and a new tooth never came in. Yes, I'm almost thirty-two years old and still have a couple baby teeth in there.

I waited, dragged my feet some more, and gave the bulge time to deflate. It didn't. In fact, it just grew bigger. At this point, the husband demanded, "CALL THE DENTIST." Ugh. So less than three weeks after my bump appeared, I called the dentist.

They, of course, wanted to look at my bump. That was on this Monday ago. I got a 3pm appointment and took off work early to show it to them. Turns out, my baby tooth "rejected" its new filling, as they termed it, and I got an abscess in my tooth.

I know, eww.

So, the doctor numbed me up, drained the abscess, and "slipped" my tooth out of there. Right then and there...he pulled my beloved baby tooth out.

Oh, the horror.

It's way in the back, so you can't see it. But when I look at in the mirror, it looks as if half my freaking teeth are gone. I'm quite traumatized (well, I am a little). I feel way too young to be toothless.

I guess the next step is to figure out what I want done with that big gaping hole: bridge it, leave it be, or whatever. I know I want something filling the space, but I'm not sure yet what it'll be.

To say the least, I haven't gotten a lot of writing done this week.

Hope everyone is having a good hump day.

Can't Win for Losing

2011-08-29T09:00:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone on the east coast is doing okay today and survived last week. I've heard lots are without power, some people have flooded homes, and many more sustained wind damage. Doesn't seem to matter where you live these days, some natural force is out to get you: Earthquake, hurricane, tornado, avalanche, blizzard, flood, drought. I swear, the grasshopper plague had descended on my house.

Can't win for losing, huh?

Ergo, I don't recommend moving to some region of the world to get away from one natural disaster, because you'll probably just move right smack into the middle of another.

***

So last week, I decided to wash my car. Spent eight bucks at the drive through so I wouldn't have to leave the kid inside by herself. After getting it all shiny and spotless clean, I started home. When I reached my gravel road, I slowed way down, making sure not to kick up any dust and ruin my nice, clean car. I have to drive only half a mile on gravel to make it to my drive way. It was the longest half mile I ever drove. Despite my creeping, crawling speed, when I got home, a thick layer of dust covered the entire, freaking automobile.

Just can't win for losing.

Next time, I think I'll drive as fast as I can down the gravel road so no dust had time to catch up with my car!

***

So, I submitted this story I wrote a couple months back. Worried it wasn't explicit enough for this publishing house, I heated up the bedroom scenes. And it sold within twenty-hour hours, which is frankly a record for me. But once I got halfway through edits, I learned it was too graphic. Now I'm busy toning down the bedroom scenes. Sigh.

Honestly, you just can't win for losing.

***

Curious to know exactly what "can't win for losing," meant, since it has become my life lately, I looked the phrase up this week. And I found an answer on Yahoo Answers that I just love. Someone said it means, "When you put yourself out there and settle for less, you still don't get ahead."

I am currently of the opinion that everyone should, as Dr. Seuss says, "Be who you are because those who mind don't matter and those who matter won't mind."

Hope you all have a good week.

Friday Forwards - #31

2011-08-26T06:00:00.001-05:00

***(There's a new, young blogger out there named Courtney. She's celebrating her two-month bloggoversary at http://courtneysbooknook.blogspot.com/ and wants twenty followers if anyone is interested. I met her on Goodreads. She likes young adult books and is a total sweetheart.)***

And now for my Friday Forwards!

WHY WE LOVE CHILDREN:

1) NUDITY

I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, "Mom! That lady isn't wearing a seat belt!"

2) OPINIONS

On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, "The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents."

3) KETCHUP

A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone. "Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle."

4) MORE NUDITY

A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, "What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?"

5) POLICE # 1

While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, "Are you a cop?" Yes," I answered and continued writing the report. "My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right? "Yes, that's right," I told her. "Well, then, "she said as she extended her foot toward me, "would you please tie my shoe?"

6) POLICE # 2

It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me "Is that a dog you got back there?" he asked. "It sure is," I replied. Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said," What'd he do?"

7) ELDERLY

While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, "The tooth fairy will never believe this!"

8) DRESS-UP

A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, "Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit." "And why not, darling?" "You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning. "

9) DEATH

While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: "Glory be unto the Faaaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he gooooes." ......aka(unto the Holy Ghost:)

10) SCHOOL

A little girl had just finished her first week of school. "I'm just wasting my time," she said to her mother. "I can't read, I can't write and they won't let me talk!"

11) BIBLE

A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages "Mama,
look what I found," the boy called out. "What have you got there, dear?" With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear."

Lots of Hugs from Linda!

2011-08-24T09:48:00.002-05:00

It's crazy how one little sick eighteen-month-old can put a mom's entire life on hold. This morning, my baby was diagnosed with tonsillitis. She's had to get two shots already and now has a prescription of medicine to take after her supper for the next six days, though we haven't been able to get her to eat breakfast or lunch, much less supper for the past forty-eight hours (except Oreo cookies).

She's been quite the mama's girl, always needing held and hugged. So I've been dishing out hugs like they're going out a style.

Her fever has finally dropped to below one hundred, thus I thought I'd pop in to my blog and say hi (HI!) since it's my day to guest post on THE WRITER'S VINEYARD. And being that I'm already handing out hugs, I thought I'd title it, Hug a Cover Artist Today! Feel free to read it if you have nothing better to do.

Hope you have a good Wednesday.

It's Here!! KISS IT BETTER is available today.

2011-08-19T07:23:00.004-05:00

(new addition: Amber Skyze is hosting me on her blog today.)

I'm floating on air (well, I would be if that were possible!). A story I started working on nearly ten years ago is finally available to the world!

I know it's not possible for a reader to experience everything a writer does when she goes through the whole creation process. They can't know all the ups and downs, the frustrating writer's block or those beautiful "ah-ha, that's exactly what I want to say" moments. But it still feels very satisfying to get this far and actually stare at your story for sale on Amazon and say, "Wow, it's here. It's really here." You can only hope someone out there gives it a try and returns with, "wow, you know, that wasn't half bad."

So, here is my "wow, it's really here!" moment. Now I guess it's up to everyone else to decide if it was worth ten years of headache or not!!!!

Kiss It Better by Linda Kage
Whispers Publishing
Sensual contemporary romance
60,666 words

***Blurb:***

A PAST TO PLAGUE HIM: When his sister is attacked, memories of his miserable childhood assault Reed Walker and interfere with his perfectly structured life. To add to the chaos, just when dating becomes the last thing on Reed’s mind, Sophia Eschell, the very woman he’s been dreaming about for the past three years, noses her way into his life.

AND A WOMAN TO HEAL HIM: After hooking up with too many troubled men, Sophia is determined to find a normal, average guy sans baggage. She turns her attention to Reed, only to discover he has more issues than anyone. But if he can learn to open up to her, can she honestly reject him or will she kiss it all better?

***Excerpt:***

Mentally counting to ten, she blew out a breath and bent again. The fabric of her skirt stretched once more, but she ignored it for the moment and wormed her fingers into the dark cranny, feeling for bits of paper. After her grasp slipped twice and she only came away with a one inch by one inch scrap of document, she growled. “That’s it, buster. You’re going down.”

She had no idea how she was going to take down a six-hundred-pound copying machine. But with the mood she was in, she knew she could manage it somehow.

“Who’s going down?”

Yelping when the voice came from behind her, Sophie jerked upright, smacking her head on the back of an infeed tray. She whirled around to find Reed standing in the doorway, a thick pile of papers in hand. He’d been looking down, most likely at her rear, but he zipped his gaze up guiltily as she glared at him.

She was tempted to snap, “You are,” for turning her down last night and then ogling her now. But then she reminded herself he had every right to say no to her offer. And he was merely being a normal, red-blooded, heterosexual male for checking her out. She had to admit she liked that he found her attractive. But still. It stung that he wasn’t interested in her personality.

Tears sprang to her eyes and she lifted her hand to the back of her noggin, thankful it still hurt from smacking into the copying machine’s tray. At least she could blame her wet eyes on physical pain.

“This thing,” she muttered, motioning to the machine.

“Are you okay?” he asked, coming forward and setting his papers-to-be-copied on a nearby table so he could reach for her. “Let me see.” His voice was soft and concerned.

Sophia only wanted to bawl harder because he had to be so freaking nice, a quality that was the exact opposite of every loser she’d dated lately.

“It’s nothing,” she mumbled, but she let him let him sink his hands into her hair and under her messy bun to feel the back of her head. Lips parting as he smoothed his fingers along her scalp, she lifted her face and looked up at him.

When he reached a tender spot, she sucked in a breath and unconsciously grabbed his wrist. He winced and met her gaze. “You have a bump.”

“Oh.” She had nothing else left in her vocabulary to add, so she merely stared into his light grey eyes that looked more silver under these fluorescent lights.

His touch slowed to a stop but he continued to leave his hand buried deep in her hair. Their faces remained less than a foot apart. He licked his lips, and her tummy went all fluttery. She could read the desire in his silver depths. He wanted to kiss her.

She wanted it too. Her chin seemed to tilt up on its own accord, aligning their mouths perfectly. All he needed to do was close the eight inches separating them and seal his lips to hers. When he swayed forward a breath, she swallowed, anticipating his touch, his flavor....

***AVAILABLE***

At Fictionwise:

https://store.fictionwise.com/servlet/mw?t=bookpreview&bookid=158171

At Mobipocket:
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/eBookDetails.asp?BookID=500366

At Whispers Store:
http://whispershome.com/whispersstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=201&zenid=f34071dc31ed34fd082dbfbe113f197d

At All Romance E-Books:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-kissitbetter-594274-149.html

Writers' Retreats Rule!

2011-08-15T08:16:00.003-05:00

I just spent the entire weekend in a lake house with nine other authors, having the time of my life. My ribs still hurt from laughing so much. Here are just a couple reason why I recommend every writer attend a writing retreat:

10. Rejuvenation. No one knows how to pump you up and get you eager to write like another author, or in this case, nine other authors. But it seems to work in every area of your life as well, not just in fiction land. I feel completely refreshed, inside and out, after a vacation like this.

9. Food. OMG, I don't think I'll have to eat again for another month!

8. Support. In open critique time, not only do you get lots of advice and great ideas to help you improve your own WIP, but hearing other stories and the responses for their chapters also helps you on your own WIP.

7. Prizes. Holy guacomole, I never came away from anything with so much wonderful loot. I swear, I went home with ten new books, a totally awesome tote, cups, and so much more. My favorite was the ceramic coaster that reads, "Not Now. My muse is kicking ass."

6. Camaraderie. You can't truly get to know your co-writing group members until you've spent enough days and nights together to discover Vagisil also helps soothe itchiness under the armpits.

5. The ideas. From tarot-card readings to intense brainstorming sessions, you learn just how much help your friends can be when you need their ideas with problems in your story.

4. TBR List. I now have an overflowing pile of stories on my must-read list. And most of them are my group members' amazing tales. Honestly, if they don't finish their WIPs soon so I can read the rest of their story, I may go postal. Just saying.

3. Rest. Wait, That one's wrong. By two or four in the morning, the motto is more along the lines of "Sleep. We don't need no freaking sleep." Though it helps when someone actually knows how to work the coffee maker!

2. The stories. And some are true stories at that. Seriously though, where else can you go to hear how lighting farts can lead to never having to landscape certain areas of your anatomy again, though it'll also land you in the emergency room.

1. Love. For someone who's in love with romance and happily ever afters, I have to say getting to know Candy, Alfie, De Ann, Gwen, Paula, Kim, Erin, and Sunny as well as I did in two days is what made the retreat as special as it was. I so love you guys, thanks for your kindness, your help, and most of all your friendship.

And now that I'm all weepy and ready for next year's retreat, I think I'll go work on that story I'm pumped to finish.

What is your favorite part of getting together with other authors?

Friday Forwards - #30

2011-08-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

BEST BUSINESS SLOGANS

At an Optometrist’s office:
“If you don’t see what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place.”

In a Restaurant window:
“Don’t stand there hungry. Come on in and get fed up.”

In a Podiatrist’s office:
“Time wounds all heels.”

On a Plumber’s Shop:
“We repair what your husband fixed.”

On another Plumbing Shop:
“Don’t sleep with a drip. Call us.”

Pizza Shop Slogan:
“7 days without pizza makes one weak.”

At a Tire Shop:
“Invite us to your next blowout.”

On a Plastic Surgeon’s Office:
“Hello. Can we pick your nose?”

At a Towing company:
“We don’t charge an arm and a leg. We want tows.”

On an Electrician’s truck:
“Let us remove your shorts.”

In a Nonsmoking Area:
“If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and put you out.”

On a Septic Tank Truck sign:
“We’re #1 in the #2 business.”

On a Fence:
“Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive.”

At a Car Dealership:
“The best way to get back on your feet — miss a car payment.”

Outside a Muffler Shop:
“No appointment necessary. We hear you coming.”

At the Electric Company:
“We would be delighted if you send in your payment. However, if you don’t, you will be de-Lighted.”

In the front yard of a Funeral Home:
“Please drive carefully. We’ll wait.”

Sign over a Gynecologist's Office:
"Dr. Jones, at your cervix."

On another Septic Tank Truck:
"Yesterday's Meals on Wheels"

At a Proctologist's door:
"To expedite your visit please back in."

On a Church's Billboard:
"7 days without God makes one weak."

On a Maternity Room door:
"Push. Push. Push."

At an Optometrist's Office :
"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."

On a Taxidermist's window:
"We really know our stuff."

On a Fence:
"Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!"

At a Car Dealership:
"The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment."

Outside a Muffler Shop:
"No appointment necessary We hear you coming."

In a Veterinarian's waiting room:
"Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"

At the Electric Company:
"We would be delighted if you sent in your payment.
However, if you don't, you will be."

In a Restaurant window:
"Don't stand there and be hungry. Come on in and get fed up."

At a Propane Filling Station :
"Thank heaven for little grills."

On a Radiator Shop:
"Best place in town to take a leak"

Kiss it Better Trailer

2011-08-08T07:45:00.001-05:00

As promised, here is the trailer for KISS IT BETTER, which is coming August 19th from Whispers Publishing.

Edits and Dreams

2011-08-05T07:00:00.001-05:00

I’ve been swamped with editing stories lately. Seems like as soon as I finish one and send it back to an editor, another editor emails me, “Here are the first edits to so-and-so. The story releases in two weeks.”

Say what?!

So I’d just received my third ‘here’s your edits to do’ email in one week and was starting to panic when the kid runs up to me, holding a ball and says, “Ball,” in her sweet little girl voice. The hubby and I thought she’d never start to talk. We’ve been trying to force words out of her, holding her ball up out of her reach and instructing, “if you want the ball, you have to say ball,” which only made her scream, and stomp her feet and throw herself on the floor. And here, she walks up to me, pretty as you please, and volunteers the word. Crazy kid.

Speaking of the crazy kid, I’ve been trying to train her to put herself to sleep, setting her in her crib, then kissing her and tucking the blankets around her, and smiling before walking out of the room. But I’ve decided, screw that. I don’t care if this makes me a weak mom, I just can’t handle listening to her cry herself to sleep. What if she thinks I’ve left her forever? What if it gives her nightmares? What if she grows up with these awful abandonment issues?

Thus, I’ve decided, I don’t care if I have to spend forty-five minutes every night until she’s sixteen, walking and rocking her to sleep, and she turns out to be a major mama’s girl with no independent skills, I’m not listening to her cry herself to sleep one more night.

I don’t know if it was the guilt of listening to her last night, or if it’s because I finally read about Casey Anthony on Wikipedia, or because the hubby had to work a night shift (which always makes me have disturbing dreams), but I dreamt about my baby being in some car that had been wrecked and people informing me she hadn’t made it. Don’t ask what she was doing in a car without me, or why it had been wrecked, I have no clue. My dreams never make much sense. But it totally freaked me out.

When she woke up at five ‘til five this morning, I wasn’t upset about getting up that early. I popped right up and went to her so we could snuggle. After changing her diaper and grabbing her tippy cup of milk from the fridge, I brought her back to bed with me (another big parent no-no I don’t care that I broke). It didn’t even bother me that she crawled up on my neck, like she likes to do, and went back to sleep there. I was just glad she was okay. When my alarm went off and I had to get up and ready for work, life was good. Both my hubby, who’d made it home from work only a few hours earlier, and baby were safe and sound, snuggled up on the bed snoozing next to each other.

Okay, fine, by the time I got out of the shower, I heard Hubby growling, “Quit kicking me in the back,” but that only made me happier, letting me know everything was back to normal.

And that’s what I’ve been up to lately. I’m down to one and a half edits to finish, and my family is wonderfully okay. Oh, and my next story KISS IT BETTER will be out in TWO WEEKS from today (August 19th)!!! I think I’ll have a video for you to watch about it next week.

Happy Friday.

Diane Estrella's Microfiction Muse Day

2011-08-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

So last week, my daughter's picture was on Diane Estrella's blog for her MicroFiction Muse Wednesday. This week, I've joined the game.

Here are the rules: Come up with a micro story (140 characters or less) for the picture of the day and post both picture and story on your blog.

Well, here's the picture of the day:

And here's my story:

I swear it, Grandpa, two legs were sticking out from under the house. RIGHT HERE! And they wore ruby red slippers.

Maybe they’re under this grass. Dig, Grandpa, dig!

***
To read other MicroFiction Muse stories, you can go to Diane's That's What I'm Here For blog for all the connecting links!

Curious Authors Who Want to Know

2011-07-29T06:00:00.002-05:00

I've discovered NovelRank and am kind of addicted.

I'm one of those people who is always uber-curious to know how my book is selling. Some of my publishers are too sweet and send an itemized list of exactly how many copies sold at each vendor when they hand out royalties. Some publishers are a bit more general: you sold this many this quarter, here's your money.

But impatient me, I wanna know now...and I wanna know every detail. So, I would haunt all the vendor sites.

-On All Romance Ebooks, if I looked up my name in the author search, then organized or "showed" them by bestseller, I could tell something had sold every time the order changed.

-On Fictionwise (yet another vendor place that sells some of my ebooks), I do the same thing. Look up my name, then display them in order of bestseller. Fictionwise usually only updates once a week (on Mondays), so I don't daily check them.

On Amazon and Barnes and Noble (yeah, you think I have a serious problem by now, don't you?!), you can look up each book and look at your "sales rank." If you don't have a sales rank or if it's blank, then your story hasn't sold there yet. BUT...if you do have rank, you've sold at least one. Each time you sell a copy, your ranking number goes down, and then it climbs right back up...until you sell another copy. So, every times you check and the ranking is lower than it was the last time you checked, you sold a book there. I know, cool, huh.

That's how I kept track of my Amazon sells for forever until I learned about NovelRank. You just give them the URL for your book on Amazon and they keep track of each sale for you. Now I don't have to guess how many books I've sold on Amazon.

Isn't that amazing? Well, I think it's totally cool. And seriously, I don't believe I'm the only curious author who wants to constantly know how many of my books have sold because I've looked up other authors' books on NovelRank and found their books too!

There's my curious author tid-bit for the day. For those who already knew, well...sorry. That's all I got for now!

Disclaimer: Tracking your books sales can become a bad addiction and can lead to loss of having a social life plus you might spend so much time tracking, you never get back to work on your current WIP. Proceed at your own risk.

Guest Posts and Guest Pictures

2011-07-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

I'm guest posting over at THE WRITERS VINEYARD today, talking about funerals, automobile accidents, writing, and walking on water!

And a picture of my daughter is on DIANE ESTRELLA'S Blog today for her MicroFiction Muse Wednesday. If you ask me, it's too adorable to miss (not that I'm biased!).

So that's where I am today.

Happy Wednesday.

Friday Forwards - #29

2011-07-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Children's Science Exam Answers

Q: Name the four seasons.
A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink.
A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists.

Q: How is dew formed?
A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.

Q: How can you delay milk turning sour?
A: Keep it in the cow.

Q: What causes the tides in the oceans?
A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.

Q: What are steroids?
A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs.

Q: What happens to your body as you age?
A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.

Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery.

Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.
A: Premature death.

Q: What is artificial insemination?
A: When the farmer does it to the bull instead of the cow.

Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized? (e.g., abdomen)
A: The body is consisted into three parts -- the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels, A, E, I, O, and U.

Q: What is the fibula?
A: A small lie.

Q: What does "varicose" mean?
A: Nearby.

Q: Give the meaning of the term "Caesarian Section"
A: The Caesarian Section is a district in Rome.

Q: What does the word "benign" mean?
A: Benign is what you will be after you are eight.

Those Bulky-Armed Heroes

2011-07-20T06:00:00.002-05:00

I recently noticed in the past three manuscripts I completed, I have the hero carrying the heroine somewhere after she hurts her ankle.

I can't figure out if this means I've fallen into some kind of clichéd rut, or if my psyche is trying to tell me something.

In any case, I loved every instance, and I'm not taking them out, so hmmph!

What say you? Is the hero carrying the heroine around totally lame, cheesy, goes against all feminine rights, or sigh...absolutely romantic?

I fall under the romantic school of thought, of course. I just loved it in Gone with the Wind, Sense and Sensibility and even in Twilight (both of Jacob's and Edward's carrying turns). There's just something sweet and yet utterly tummy-swirling about cuddling up to a nice, strong chest and being pampered a bit.

Though seriously, I should probably come up with something new in my next story, huh? Or hey, maybe it could become my new signature scene. Yes, here comes "the bulky-armed hero carrying his heroine" move. Classic Linda Kage style from her early works.

No? Okay, I'll tame down on them then. Sheesh. It's just so much fun to write sorta the same scene in different books; each one has different charcters, flair, mood, style. Makes me feel almost artistic to come up with different ways to say the same thing. Except, yeah, I bet readers are all like, "Hey, you already did that. THREE TIMES."

So, here's my new challenge to myself: No more hero-carrying-heroine scenes...for now!

Took a Little Break, Got a Little Sun, Now I Need a Nap

2011-07-18T06:00:00.006-05:00

Last week was my TEN-YEAR wedding anniversary. So, the hubby and I dropped our kid off at Grandma's and spent four days at Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri. We boated, we swam, we lazed around. It was fun, relaxing and nice, but now I'm all sunburned (okay, just a little colored), sore, and finding it hard to get back into the swing of things.

I haven't written since I returned, and didn't write while on vacation.

Feeling like a bum today.

Maybe I'll write tomorrow.

Happy Monday!

TMI Age

2011-07-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

I think we might be moving from the Information Age into the Too-Much-Information Age.

We all have our own Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, LinkedIn, Blogger, MySpace, Whatever account now. It's just so easy to hop online and announce, "Hey, I just caught my oven on fire." If we're in a good mood, we can celebrate with all our cyber friends. And if something ticks us off, we can rant, rant, rant.

But I've noticed... My mood will come and go, but my words online stay...forever--or quite a while, at least. If I get upset with old stupid-face for calling me stinky-pants, and type out a vindictive little eulogy for him/her on my facebook page, everyone and their dog can read it and see just how upset I am.

The next day, my mood might change--it probably will--and friends are still writing me, "what'd stupid-face do this time? What'd he/she say to you?" If only I'd waited 24-hours to rant, my anger would've drained out and I wouldn't have anything nasty to write. Now everyone thinks I'm bipolar because I just sent stupid-face a cow on FarmTown five minutes ago.

Okay, that really didn't happen in real life, but can't you so easily see it happening? It just seems like we can learn way more than we want to know about people these days, and I can't tell if that's a good thing or bad.

I guess it depends on your thought process. So what are you? A dude-have-you-never-heard-of-privacy or a Ooh-juicy-details-spill-all-the-juicy-details kind of person?

Burning Down the House

2011-07-13T06:00:00.005-05:00

I caught my oven on fire last week, though I think I might actually be able to blame the husband on this one.

It was almost one o’clock when we made it home from church last Sunday. I was starving, the kid had just woken from her one-hour-trip-home nap, and it was hot. So I found one of those box meals where you pretty much pour the contents into a baking dish, throw it in the oven for a while, and you’re good to go, except…all the small baking dishes for cooking were sitting in the refrigerator, holding leftovers.

Why we didn’t just eat leftovers, I have no idea. But, ack, leftovers? Gross.

Being the lazy person I am, I didn’t dump out the any of the leftovers I knew we’d never eat, clean the dish, and use that for baking my chicken pot pie. No, I found this pretty little heart-shaped ceramic pan my aunt had given us for a wedding present and poured everything in there. It all came pretty close to the top of the pan, but I didn’t think much of it, and put it in the oven to cook for half an hour to forty-five minutes, in which the kid whined—probably hungry—the husband complained about her whining, and I continued to starve…in the heat.

The timer goes off, my stomach rejoices, and I throw open the oven door to find that the evil pot pie had boiled over the sides of the pretty, but worthless, heart-shaped pan and onto the floor of my new oven.

I know, the nerve, huh?

The blond-headed version of Mr. Clean, otherwise known as my husband, thought it needed to be cleaned immediately. So, he pushed that CLEAN button on the oven, thinking that would be that. We did not hunt up the oven instructions that explicitly say, “spills need to be cleaned prior to self-cleaning or they may start a fire” until after we learned that nifty little fact for ourselves.

So, I’m holding the kid on my hip and scooping up lunch—it’s now almost two o’clock by then—when I glance over and see nothing but flames behind the little window on my oven door. Not wanting to put my daughter down in case we have to go all ‘save yourselves!’ I scream my husband’s name—like a banshee, he later described it—and hop around the kitchen, waiting for him to come save the day.

Hey, he's the one that pushed the button in the first place.

My mother used to have the same version of that oven and had told me long ago that once you push the clean button, the door locks and there’s no canceling it until it’s done cleaning. So I’m thinking there’s no way to get in there to put out that fire.

But the hubby starts pushing buttons and manages to open the door. He kept saying something about, “It can’t have oxygen. We can’t give it oxygen.” I wasn’t totally sure what I was supposed to do about that, hold my breath? But somehow he got the fire out, we read the instructions (finally), and the oven has yet to be cleaned to this day.

From there, we had to open all the windows and doors—yes, IN THE HEAT—to clear out the smoke and smell.

And that, my dear blogger friends, is just the kind of cook I am! Aren’t you glad you only know me cyber-wise so I can’t invite you over for a dinner?!

Start your week with hero, MORGAN BINGHAM!

2011-07-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

Linda Kage: Since author Alison Henderson has already visited with us before, we decided to interview a charater in her book instead. Please welcome Morgan Bingham, hero in Alison's newest story, A Man Like That. Well, hello there, Morgan. The burning question is...Who IS Morgan Bingham? Describe yourself to us please.

Morgan:Ex-Confederate guerilla, ex-outlaw. I’m a man of few words, a hard man who’s lived a hard life. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, but I aim to put all that behind me and return to my roots in the Ozark Mountains. If only that little red-haired wildcat will let me …

Kage: Give us a peek into your head. What is one happy memory you have?

Morgan: I don’t have many good memories of growing up. My family was dirt poor trying to scrape a living out of the rocky hillsides. And my Pa … well, I won’t go into that. Leastwise not with ladies present. Without a doubt, my strongest memory is the first time I saw Miss Jessamine Randall coming down the staircase at her best friend’s house. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. She asked me to escort her to her buggy. As I said, I’m a man of few words, and on that occasion the few I have deserted me completely. Holding Jessy’s hand was like touching a live flame. If I saw her every day for the rest of my life, I’d still never forget that first time.

Kage:Okay, now let’s skip to the stuff I want to hear about…this is a romance writer’s blog, after all! Before going into this story, what was your romance life like

Morgan: There was no such thing as “romance” in my life. Before I left home for the army, life in the hills was lonely. The only time I saw anyone outside the family was when I drove to town for supplies every couple of months. The proper ladies seemed just as scared of me as I was of them, and Camdenton was too small to have the other kind. Of course, I did manage to spend an evening or two with a soiled dove over the years, but I don’t believe you could count that as “romance”.

Kage: And now that your book has begun, who’s the woman starring in your romance? And what’s the trouble with her?

Morgan: Jessy Randall is the daughter of the town judge in Weston, Missouri. She’s beautiful and too spirited by half. A real do-gooder. Always interfering. Always trying to save someone, even if they can’t be saved. She ran the Freedman’s Bureau school until a gang of cowards burned it down, and she was too stubborn to admit defeat even as the flaming rafters crashed down around her. I breathed in so much smoke pulling her out of that fire I ended up spending nigh on to three weeks in bed over at the doc’s. Big mistake. While I was laid up, Jessy got the notion to marry me. Now I couldn’t let her do that—not a fine lady like her and a no-good outlaw like me. As soon as I could draw a full breath, I lit out there fast.

Kage: What do you like most about her? And what do you like least?

Morgan: That’s two sides of the same coin. I admire her determination, but her stubbornness makes my blood boil. She’s big-hearted, but sometimes her generosity looks an awful lot like meddling. I guess you could say she riles me up, for better or worse. She’s a force to be reckoned with, that’s for certain. .

Kage: Thanks for stopping by and gracing us with some eye candy--I mean, with your presence. Was there anything else you'd like to add before getting along on your way?

Morgan: I’d like to thank you for inviting me to visit today. I’ve never been too comfortable in the presence of ladies, but you all were most gracious. I tip my hat to you. If you’d like to understand why Jessy makes me so crazy, you can read a bit of our story below.

********************EXCERPT for********************
A Man Like That
by
Alison Henderson

Buy Link: The Wild Rose Press
*********************************************

Jessy took a step forward and slid her arms beneath his jacket and around his waist. “Now aren’t you going to kiss me?”

He grabbed her wrists and threw her hands off him as if she harbored a dread disease.

“Are you sure you don’t want to kiss me?” she persisted. “Aren’t you glad to see me?” Her seductive tone was pure torture.

Morgan scowled and didn’t answer. He had no intention of answering the first question and wasn’t sure about the second. At the moment, it required every ounce of strength and resolve he had to keep from jerking her into his arms and taking everything she offered and more.

He stared down at Jessy’s face in the flickering firelight. Her sparkling eyes beckoned him. Her moist lips parted in invitation. But the same fresh innocence that had always stopped him held him back again.

He could take what he wanted; he knew it. There was no one around to stop him, and Jessy wouldn’t resist. She was crazy enough to think she loved him.

It would be so easy to give in, so easy to forget the past and the future for a few sweet hours in her arms, to forget their differences and lose himself in the generosity of her love. But he couldn’t do it. To take her and leave her would be to steal something more precious than her virginity. He would be stealing the bright fire that formed the essence of her, the fire that had drawn him from the beginning. As much as he wanted her, he prayed for the strength to resist her.

*********************************************

If you're still curious about Morgan's author, here are other places to find Alison Henderson on the web:

Website: http://www.alisonhenderson.com/

Blog/Goodreads: Blog on Alison's GOODREADS page.

(A MAN LIKE THAT is a sequel to Alison's first book, HARVEST OF DREAMS)

Friday Forwards - #28

2011-07-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

DICTIONARY FOR WOMEN'S PERSONAL ADS

40-ish = 49
Adventurous = Slept with everyone
Athletic = No tits
Average looking = Ugly
Beautiful = Pathological liar
Contagious Smile = Does a lot of pills
Emotionally secure = On medication
Feminist = Fat
Free spirit = Junkie
Friendship first = Former very *friendly* person
Fun = Annoying
New Age = Body hair in the wrong places
Open-minded = Desperate
Outgoing = Loud and Embarrassing
Passionate = Sloppy drunk
Professional = Bitch
Voluptuous = Very Fat
Large frame = Hugely Fat
Wants Soul mate = Stalker

WOMEN'S ENGLISH:

1. Yes = No
2. No = Yes
3. Maybe = No
4. We need = I want
5. I am sorry = you'll be sorry
6. We need to talk = you're in trouble
7. Sure, go ahead = you better not
8. Do what you want = you will pay for this later
9. I am not upset = Of course I am upset, you moron!
10. You're very attentive tonight = is sex all you ever think about?

MEN'S ENGLISH

1. I am hungry = I am hungry
2. I am sleepy = I am sleepy
3. I am tired = I am tired
4. Nice dress = Nice cleavage!
5. I love you = Let's have sex now
6. I am bored = Do you want to have sex?
7. May I have this dance? = I'd like to have sex with you
8. Can I call you sometime? = I'd like to have sex with you
9. Do you want to go to a movie? = I'd like to have sex with you
10. Can I take you out to dinner? = I'd like to have sex with you
11. Those shoes don't go with that outfit = I'm gay

And finally.....

A recent scientific study found that women find different male faces attractive depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle.

For example, when a woman is ovulating she will prefer a man with rugged, masculine features.

However when she is menstruating, she prefers a man doused in petrol and set on fire, with scissors stuck in his eye and a cricket stump shoved up his backside.

From BEYOND PERFECT to A TROUBLED PAST to KISS IT BETTER

2011-07-06T06:00:00.005-05:00

One of the first stories I finished writing after graduating from college with my nifty new bachelors’ degree in creative fiction writing was a novel I called BEYOND PERFECT.

It was the fifth story I’d completed and a total of 107,000 words long about a children’s illustrator/author named Lucy who was raped in chapter one and then goes to live with her brother to recuperate, where the brother’s roommate helps her heal.

It had a little suspense, where everyone tried to discover who the rapists was, and of course, the bad guy had to come back and try to get at her one more time, though her dashing, handsome Kade (her brother’s roommate) saves her, and they live happily ever after.

In short, the story totally sucked.

I never even bothered submitting it anywhere.

That was back in 2002 (I think—okay, I’m pretty certain it was. Well, it could’ve been in 2001, I guess).

A couple of years rolled by. I wrote more stories (twelve more, in fact), and forget about Lucy and Kade for six years. Then one day in mid 2008, I don’t know why, but I opened this old document from one of my dusty computer files and start reading through it again.

It still sucked, but I decided I wasn’t going be deterred by that small, insignificant detail. I had put a lot of freaking work (or what I thought was a lot at that time) into the story.

Thus, I pulled out my handy machete (metaphorical, of course) and began to chop away. I changed Lucy to Dani (pronounced Danny) and Kade to Sam and made her share the story with her brother (who’s name I also changed from Andrew to Reed) in order for him to get a romance with his beautiful co-worker, Sophia (and she’s the only character name I never changed…Huh, strange).

There was no more suspense in version two since, in this account, Lucy’s—I mean, Dani’s—rapist was caught before chapter one even started. Plus, I added a deep painful past for both her and her brother, heaping them each with lots of childhood issues. The story theme morphed into a motivational one, where both couples learned to overcome painful pasts, ergo a title change to A TROUBLED PAST was in order. This edition was 72,000 words long.

I didn’t submit this overhaul to any publishers this time around either, but I did enter chapter one into a contest, and received some pretty dour reviews. I seriously don’t think a single judge liked it. I know, shucks, huh? But I did get one piece of good advice back from the whole disaster. I probably should make the story about just one couple…not two.

So back to the chopping board we went. Well, okay, fine, I sulked for a while first. Then I hid the story away for a couple more years, completing two full novels in the process. And THEN…back to the chopping board we went.

Delete some words, paragraphs, chapters…add some words, paragraphs, and chapters. Take out all the bedrooms scenes; then add a few bedroom scenes back in. It went from sensual, to sweet, and back to a sensual heat rating.

And on the revisions went.

Dani’s name was altered to Danni, so readers would know better how to pronounce her. Kade/Sam turned into Nic. And both of them became merely supporting characters. I deleted about ninety percent of their airtime until the manuscript shrank down to about 50,000 words at one point. Then I focused the rest of my efforts on Reed (who’s Lucy/Dani/Danni’s brother, remember) and Sophia (his co-worker), who became the star hero and heroine.

My sister suggested I tame down poor Danni’s past (she’d already been through enough torment, I guess), so I did, which beefed up poor Reed’s painful past (sorry, bud). And viola! KISS IT BETTER, a 60,000-word emotionally-packed sensual romance was born in early 2011.

So many changes.

From 2002 (or 2001) to 2011….from 107,000 to 60,000 words…from the sister’s point of view to the brother’s…from suspense to motivational romance…from BEYOND PERFECT to KISS IT BETTER, I’m so pleased to report my story finally has a home.

In the coming months, Reed and Sophia cordially invite you to witness their journey at Whispers Publishing, where they battle through a whole warehouse (forget the mere closet) full of emotional skeletons to find a pure, binding love that lasts a lifetime.

Here is your first peek at Kiss it Better. (for a blurb or excerpt, you can check out the “Kiss It Better” page on my website: http://www.lindakage.com/kiss.html)

And that’s the whole story behind my next release: Kiss it Better.

Happy Independence Day!!

2011-07-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

I hope you have a happy, SAFE, fourth of July!

To all the non-Americans...have a happy, um, Monday!

That's EXACTLY it!!

2011-07-01T06:00:00.002-05:00

They say...

You're not supposed to read the reviews about your book. So of course, I haunt the review sites, checking for new ratings morning, noon, and night.

You learn a lot about your own writing from complete strangers, you know. Okay, mostly, you make little mental comments, sometimes indignant snorts (you're wrong, buster, just completely wrong), sometimes embarrassed head-hanging moments follow (oh crap, that was a good point; why didn't I do that?), and other times you glow with pride (Yep, that's MY story this person is praising).

And then there are the times you come across someone who has a bigger insight into your story than you do. This week I read the line, "The book doesn't have some big unbelievable whopper of a plot. It's simplicity is what makes it complex."

And I was like, BINGO. That's it. That's exactly that I was trying to write about! Wow, someone actually got it.

In my young adult stories, I really don't create huge save-the-world situations. It's usually about one person and how everyday life affects them. Boring, real life...except I try not to make it so boring.

But all this time, I've never known how to explain it. And now I do.

So thank you _yay_, you totally made my week! It's nice to know someone really understood me.

Making a Mess in the Vineyard

2011-06-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

I'm guest posting today at THE WRITERS VINEYARD about my messing writing style.

If you're an author, stop by and let me know how you write. I've always been curious about how others go about it.

If you're a reader, stop by if you want to learn the true way I whip up a story. Oh, the horror...bwa-ha-ha-ha!

For all others, have a happy Wednesday!!

Start your week with...MOLLY DANIELS / KENZIE MICHAELS

2011-06-27T06:00:00.002-05:00

Steve and Angie:

“I’m just going to say this.” His voice was rough. “I love you. You’re the one thing that kept me going, that kept me from going to Prison Tech 101. After I got clean, I decided I was going to do whatever it took to serve my time, and get a respectable job, all so I could win you back.” He cleared his throat. “God, Ange…I swear to you…that one dose of speed fucked up my future, but I’m not going to let it fuck up the rest of my life. I’m staying with Josh; I’ve got my driver’s license; tomorrow I’m buying a car. And my parole officer’s trying to help me get a good job, so I can afford my own place.” His voice dropped to a whisper and one hand stole into Angie’s bright tresses. His head angled toward hers and softly touched his lips to hers. When his tongue nudged her lips open and touched hers, she recoiled and dropped her head on his chest.

“Don’t,” she whispered. “I can’t…”

He lifted her chin with a finger. “It’s okay. I’ve waited nearly two years; I can wait a little longer.” He kissed her eyelids, her nose, and then her lips again before releasing her.“Thanks for the water and for hearing me out.” He stepped around her and left the condo, carefully closing the door behind him.

Once outside, he leaned against the wall by the mailbox, eyes closed. He was surprised Angie hadn’t locked the door. And suddenly she was outside with him, her arms around his neck.

Steve couldn’t speak. He gathered her up and moved into the condo again, pulling the door closed behind them. He kissed her, their tongues exploring and rediscovering each other.

His pent-up desire flared; he tried to keep it in check by remembering he’d never seen her undressed. His lips traveled all over her face; his fingertips traced the contours of her delicate features and the lines of her slender neck. His lips found her earlobe and grazed it with his teeth; he heard her inhale and moan when his tongue touched a sensitive spot just below it.

“I remember how you used to love this.” He gathered her hair in one hand and increased the pressure with his mouth.

“No hickies,” she gasped, clutching at his shoulders.

Steve laughed. Nothing new there. He moved to her jaw and traced her throat with his tongue, moving her backwards toward the couch. One hand slipped under her shirt and slowly skimmed upwards, hesitating before brushing against the gentle swell of her breasts.He eased her down onto the cushions and when she didn’t protest, he tugged her bra aside and closed his hand around her firm, small flesh.

Angie sighed and shifted; it was all the encouragement he needed. Raising her shirt, he bent his head and drew the taunt nipple into his mouth, reaching behind her back to find the bra clasp, Getting it unsnapped, the fabric fell away, and he filled his hand with her other breast, getting to know her all over again.

Panting, Steve worked his own shirt over his head and pressed their torsos together, feeling her breasts burn against his chest. He tongued both nipples, hearing her soft moans and the rush of blood pounding in both his head and his groin. He unsnapped his jeans with the uncomfortable pressure building, and managed to free himself. Holding his swollen cock with one hand, he unfastened Angie’s slacks and tugged them down over her hips, nearly losing it when he saw the transparent underwear and the ginger triangle beneath. He inserted a finger in the waistband. Angie bucked her hips; he peeled the final barrier down and stroked her entrance. She cried out at the contact, and he tugged both slacks and underwear to her ankles.
He brushed his palms over her mound, feeling the tension in her muscles and listening to her increased breathing. He reached behind him for his wallet and withdrew the blue-foiled packet. He waved it in front of her.
“Do I need this?”

* * * * * *
Brad and Emma:

Her damp hair was caught up in a silver clip, and dark blonde ringlets cascaded down her back. Her cowboy boots sounded firmly on the wooden floor as she walked toward the men, her slight frame in black jeans and a loose red shirt. Brad felt his mouth go dry when he realized there was no bra under that shirt, and had to keep tearing his eyes away from the glimpse of cleavage when she greeted Gavin. She slid into the chair beside the older man, and Brad shifted uncomfortably every time she leaned forward.

Emma reached for the hot wings Gavin had ordered and told the waitress to bring her a Coors.

“Gavin likes that crap, but I prefer to stick with Busch,” she stated as Brad shifted in his seat again. “Something wrong, Mr. Morrison?”

“No, no. It’s just I’ve had too much good food the past two days,” he lied.

“Don’t they feed you back home?” Emma patted Gavin on the back. Brad swallowed at the sight of her nipples through the fabric and looked away. Keep breathing; remember Angie.…

“Actually, my girlfriend is quite a cook,” Brad managed to get his tongue working. He reached for a wing at the same time she did, and as their fingers brushed, Brad felt an electric jolt all the way to his groin.

“Maybe she doesn’t feed you enough,” Gavin laughed.

Brad was spared by the appearance of the waitress, ready to take their orders. Brad and Gavin ordered the Prime Rib; Emma opted for the shrimp scampi. Brad ordered another beer, and then excused himself, hoping to get his raging hormones under control.
* * *
Emma, for her part, was enjoying Brad’s obvious discomfort. She’d left her bedroom in a cheerful mood and her confidence up, thanks to Bob’s worshipful and masterful handling of her body. Bob liked her without underwear, so she’d dressed for his benefit, not this stranger who thought he knew his way around an invoice.

“Emma, darlin’, what are you doing?” Gavin smiled once Brad was out of earshot.

“Doing what?” She ate the last hot wing and took another sip of her beer.

“You look like you just fell out of bed. And sweetie, I can tell there’s nothing under that shirt.” Gavin coughed. “I can’t believe I’m even having this conversation with you, but I need Brad’s company. And if you cause him to withdraw the deal, I’ll spank you, no matter if you are nearly thirty.
”
“I did. Are you shocked?” Emma had always been straightforward with her old friend.“And don’t worry; I’ll behave myself. I’m not a child anymore, Gavin.”

“Who’s the lucky man?” he frowned. “Do I need to have a talk with him?”

Emma laughed. “Oh Gavin, I love you. I had the same conversation with Nora yesterday, and she approves. Can’t you trust her judgment?”

********************BLURB********************
You just read an excerpt from:
WILD AT HEART
by
Kenzie Michaels

Buy Link: XOXO Publishing
*********************************************

Linda Kage: Please welcome author, MOLLY DANIELS also known as KENZIE MICHAELS! Hey, Molly/Kenzie. Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Molly/Kenzie: Thanks for having me today, Linda! As Kenzie Michaels I write Adult Contemporary Romance and as Molly Daniels, Women’s Fiction. I live in Indiana with my husband, three children, and two honorary grandchildren who are visiting for the summer. And to the neighborhood kids, I’m ‘Aunt Molly’. I answer to just about anything, lol!

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Molly/Kenzie: LOL! It is still in my filing cabinet, and I’ve cannibalized a few characters. I never did finish that book, so I guess the first one I actually finished was Love Finds A Way. And I think the fifth version is the one I finally published.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Molly/Kenzie: Both Kenzie and Molly have two books out and one arriving in the fall. Kenzie has All She Ever Wanted (published with Freya’s Bower) and Wild At Heart (with XOXO Publishing). I’ve recently signed a contract with Freya’s Bower for the sequel to ASEW, called Class Reunion, which should arrive sometime in 2012. The third book in that series has also been submitted and waiting for approval. Another stand-alone, Teacher’s Pet, is awaiting edits, while Appetite For Desire will be arriving in September from Secret Cravings Publishing. So Kenzie should have two books arriving soon this year (I hope!)

Molly’s first two books, Love Is Sober and Love Finds A Way were self-published through iUniverse and AuthorHouse, and are available in print through amazon.com. The third book in this series, Forbidden Love, is hopefully arriving in October, also from Secret Cravings.

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Molly/Kenzie: Wild At Heart is the first Kenzie story I ever wrote. I literally wrote it in four weeks; I’d written the first chapter during a Boy Scout Campout, and began typing it on September 11, 2007. The characters grabbed me and wouldn’t let go until I finished it on October 11th. After many rejections and trying to ‘tone down’ one of my heroes, XOXO offered me a contract for it, and the cover is my favorite (so far). The book was released Nov 29, 2010.

********************BLURB********************
WILD AT HEART
by
Kenzie Michaels

Angela Clayborn has just discovered Steve Blumenthal, the man she sent to prison nearly two years before, has been granted an early release. Torn between wanting to see him and fearful if she does, sparks fly when Steve Blumenthal appears in her gift shop and later at her condo. Will Angie free her heart from its icy prison? Has Steve really turned his life around, or is it a hoax?

Meanwhile, in Colorado on business, Angie’s current boyfriend, Brad Morrison, is wrestling with his own call of the wild. He’s met unconventional, sexy Emma Nichols, who runs not only her own riding stable, but helps out with her family’s woodworking store in EstesPark. Emma resents Brad’s offer to help during a family crisis, but eventually discovers that Fate sometimes sends people down unexpected paths to love. Can Brad tame a wildcat? Or will Emma settle for the safe path?
*********************************************

Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Molly/Kenzie: Definitely R, with two scenes ending up on the cutting room floor, and one scene rewritten..

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Molly/Kenzie: Angie and Steve’s storyline would be the good girl/bad boy, while Brad and Emma would be a combination of Rebel-Forbidden Love and White Knight (saves the damsel in distress, or in this case, the family business).

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit WILD AT HEART under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Molly/Kenzie: It’s not your typical romance. The story shows how the lives of four people are changed forever in the course of six days. Each chapter follows each character through a certain part of each day. There’s also a blatant plug for author Anny Cook. I was relieved when my editor allowed it to stay in, since Anny writes for Ellora’s Cave!

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Molly/Kenzie: Dialogue is always easy for me, and honestly, this book practically wrote itself. Character names; the setting; action….it all flowed. The only thing I was remotely ‘stuck’ on was when I wrote the scene at Nicky’s Resort and Restaurant. I’ve only eaten there twice, and could not remember what was on the menu, or my father’s favorite beer. I called the restaurant and fortunately talked to the hostess, who was thrilled when I told her I was showcasing the town of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. I also had to call my mother, since she had been to Denver recently, so I could stay true to the downtown area. I remember eating at the Spaghetti Factory when I was twelve, and thrilled we ate in a ‘bed’. I wanted to incorporate that humor, since Brad and Emma are trying to stay out of bed at that point!

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Molly/Kenzie: Angie was a little uptight at first; I originally had Steve sent away for fifteen years, not months, and it took me a while to finally get into her head, to understand her initial fear. Steve is the one who jumped into my head and demanded I write his story. I loved writing his cocky and angry attitude! Brad and Emma were a complete surprise; I didn’t know half my story would take place in Colorado. I would love to write a sequel someday about Gavin and Nora, or even Bob the cowboy and his new lady friend Natalie! I think Emma came off a little juvenile at times; I patterned her spats with her brother Ethan after other siblings I’ve observed, admittedly in their late teens.

Kage:Molly, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Molly/Kenzie: As always, I love hearing from readers! If you like my books, please let me know. If you hate something in a story, let me know. If you have a suggestion, please let me know. And start a ‘whispering campaign’ to Freya’s Bower, asking for Teacher’s Pet? I’ve now been waiting an entire year for my edits, and would like to see that book out soon!

If you're still curious about Molly/Kenzie, here are other places to find her on the web:

Molly's Blog: http://www.mjdaniels.blogspot.com/

Kenzie's Blog: http://kenziemichaels.blogspot.com/

Romance Books R Us: Molly/Kenzie posts every 19th of the month

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/KenzieMichaels

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/891253

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/mollyjdaniels

Friday Forwards - #27

2011-06-24T06:00:00.002-05:00

Interesting Facts about Human Body

-Scientists say the higher your I.Q. The more you dream.

-The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm.

-You use 200 muscles to take one step.

-The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man.

-Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three.

-A pair of human feet contains 250,000 sweat glands.

-A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball.

-The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades.

-The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica.

-It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.

-The average human dream lasts 2-3 seconds.

-Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair.

-At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell.

-There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.

-Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil.

-The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body.

-Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born.

-When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, and they do the same when you are looking at someone you hate.

-Your thumb is the same length of your nose.

At this very moment I know well you are putting this last fact to the test...
...now remove your thumb from your nose and move on the next blog!!!

It All Ends...in less than a month

2011-06-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

I just can't believe the last Harry Potter movie of the last book is about to release in less than a month--July 15!!!. So exciting. Yet sadly, it also feels like the end of an era.

For all us HPers (like me), who stood in huge long lines at midnight waiting to buy the stories or get into the feature presentation, this will be our last opportunity to join the great JK Rowling sensation.

After that, all we'll have are memories to tell our grandchildren...I remember when I waited three hours and had to pee behind a video deposit box to get a copy of...

Okay, that never actually happened to me, but it'd make a great story, huh? I actually only waited in a midnight line for the last book and the fifth movie (in iMAX!). In the book-waiting line, my nephew came with my sister and I and dressed up as Harry. He made a great imitation if I do say so myself.

Good times, good times.

Were you ever sucked into a pop sensation? Star Wars? Twilight? Tickle-me-Elmo? New Kids on the Block? Hey, I was only a first grader--though Donny was my fav!

What's a crazy fan story you have?

Worse than Rejection

2011-06-17T06:00:00.002-05:00

What's worse than rejection, you say?

WAITING!

Ack. Nasty, I know.

But when you send off that story of yours, you shouldn't think about the wait. You should move on to the next story, or take a break from writing altogether. Spend some time with the family, go out with friends, take a walk, read a book. You should definitely make good use of your time.

You shouldn't check your emails every thirty seconds. You shouldn't obsess about whether cyber space sent your precious words off into Never-Never Land. You shouldn't reread the submission you already shipped out and start sweating bullets because you found a misspelled word. And you really shouldn't compose a total-waste-of-time diddy in the tune to RAWHIDE about what's really going on in their mind when they received your query letty.

But, sigh, that's what I did anyway.

I need help.

And here is my editor/agent version (or attempt thereof) of Rawhide:

Stalling, stalling, stalling

Keep Stalling, stalling, stalling
Stalling, stalling, stalling
Though they're status checkin',
Keep them authors waiting. Ignore!
Don't try to read submissions,
Just stack them in a pile,
And push them to the way side.
Boy my time’s too busy'
This author will stay waitin', ‘til I’m a done a readin’.

Ship 'em in, read 'em up,
Read 'em up, Ship 'em out,
Move 'em through, read some more. Ignore!
Set 'em aside, read another
Read some more, forget to respond,
Cut 'em up, ask for changes. DISLIKE!

Stalling, stalling, stalling
Stalling, stalling, stalling
Stalling, stalling, stalling
Stalling, stalling, stalling
Ignore!

Stalling, stalling, stalling
Though the story’s golden
Keep them author’s waitin' Ignore!
Plot and voice and hero
May be rather special
But the dialogue’s quite lackin’
Can’t make my mind up whether,
To reject this one submission,
Or offer them a contract.

Ship 'em in, read 'em up,
Read 'em up, Ship 'em out,
Move 'em through, read some more. Ignore!
Set 'em aside, read 'another
Read some more, forget to respond,
Cut 'em up, ask for changes. DISLIKE!

Just Another Hump Day

2011-06-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

Great News!!!

Author Jessica Nelson, whose blog BookingIt I like to follow, got "the call"!!! She just sold to Love Inspired Historical and tells all about it on her blog today.

More good news:

I've received a few reviews for my latest story, A Man for Mia. Here they are:

Night Owl Reviews (4.25 Stars)

Linda Kage shares a story of heartache and hope, distress and desire. Mia is a woman who survives something so painful it isn't hard to simply feel sorry for her, but more than that I felt a connection with her. I wanted her to find happiness and Drew seemed to be the one man who could help her find it. I felt bad for Drew as he was stuck between two women he has strong feelings for. He wasn't the bad guy in the situation and yet it seemed that he was the one left to deal with all the fallout. This was a sweet and insightful story dealing with not just one sensitive subject matter but many difficult issues. The tone and setting had an almost soothing effect. The supporting characters were just as well developed as the lead couple and I'd love to see a few of them get their very own stories. I am looking forward to seeing what else this author has to offer. This is an absolute must-read if you enjoy your romances on the soft and gentle side.

Single Titles (4 Stars)

A Man For Mia is an intricate story that involves two people who have something special, only to have outside loyalties driving them apart. I really felt for both Mia and Drew who were both caught in the middle. Mia’s story about her past is truly heartbreaking and Drew is fantastic when the truth comes out. A wonderful read.

But it seems like you can't ever just have straight happy news, have you noticed that?

It's like that one law "every action has to have an opposite and equal reaction" has to prove true in your personal life as well. Things go good with writing, the family gets mad and resents your time away from them. Rejections with writing start pouring in, and boom, the kid learns a new talent and the hubby has an awesome day.

So yesterday, I get a nice review, and the kid decides she doesn't want to eat anymore...unless it's junk food, which we're not going to give her until she eats something healthy. Grr. Then the hubby turns grumpy because he gets called into work on his day off. With everyone miserable in your house, it's hard to be happy yourself. So, yep, there's another day in the life of me!

Happy Wedsnesday.

Start your week with Miranda Stowe

2011-06-13T06:00:00.002-05:00

Shaw Griffin jerked awake as the alarm sounded through the dim compound. He snatched his combat boots off the tabletop and pushed out of the old office chair, ignoring the sore muscles that shrieked at him for falling asleep at his desk again.

He didn’t pause to roll his thick shoulders for a nice, relaxing stretch. There was no time.

One of his traps had been sprung.

After slapping off the alarm, he grabbed his shotgun from the peg where it hung on the wall and strode toward the door as he opened the action to make sure it was still loaded. When he spied a shell resting where it should be, he slung the gun’s strap over his shoulder. Grabbing a spotlight on his way, he pulled open the door. He didn’t turn on the light but found the ladder’s railing by feel.

Grasping the sides, he hoisted himself up by his arms and began to climb. Twenty feet later, he reached the ceiling, where he grunted as he cranked on a lever and pressed open the round hatch before shoving it out of his way. After doing a chin-up to pull himself from the earth, he pushed through the hole, hefted his jean-clad @#$! onto the ground beside the opening and then swung his feet up after him. By the time he had the hatch replaced, he was already panting with exhaustion. Hot, moist marshy air pressed against his lungs, sucking away even more of his oxygen. Using the tail of his black t-shirt, he wiped at the sweat beaded on his brow.

All that work and he still had to hike through the thickest part of the woods to check the trap.

If he’d caught another opossum or raccoon, he was going to be good and @#$!.

Unable to see @#$! in this darkness, he itched to turn on his light but resisted the urge. There was no reason to bring any more attention to himself than necessary. He already knew these @#$! would be able to smell and hear him coming a mile away.

Their fine-tuned animal senses put his pathetic human instincts to shame. Not that such a frightening fact was going to make him stop his pursuit. Clutching the darkened spotlight and patting the shotgun to reassure himself it was still there, he started his hike. Breathing evenly so his panting wouldn’t echo too far ahead of him, he paused every few steps to listen.

It took him ten minutes to reach the spot. Before approaching the clearing where he’d set the trap, he stopped and crouched into the underbrush. Waiting until the forest returned to its usual rustle from him disturbing its environment, he lifted his ear toward the direction of the trap.

Finally, he heard the faint sound of something struggling to break free. It wheezed in anxious exertion. It didn’t sound like a coon.

His lips spread. Maybe he’d caught one, after all.

****************************************
You just read an excerpt from:
CAUGHT IN HEAT

by

Miranda Stowe

Buy Link: Cobblestone Press, LLC
*********************************************

Linda Kage: Please welcome erotic romance author, MIRANDA STOWE! Miranda wants to take a five-word challenge and see if she can answer every question in five words or less. Let's see if she can accomplish it!! Hey, Miranda. Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Miranda: White, thirty-something, erotic-romance American novelist. (Dashes totally make two words count as one, right?!)

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Miranda: Dunno. Lost it. Bad Miranda.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Miranda: Out Now:
Best Friends Share Everything (from Whispers Publishing)
Caught in Heat (from Cobblestone Press)

Coming Soon:
Mile High Service (from Whispers)
Dreams of Wolf (from Cobblestone)
Take by a Killer (from Liquid Silver Books)

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Miranda: CAUGHT IN HEAT (Ha! That only took three words. Wait! Phrases in parentheses don't count, do they??)

*******************BLURB**************************
Fearful of how she’ll react during her first mating heat, Riley Bane flees toward a sanctuary, hoping to arrive before her fever hits. But she’s caught in an animal trap set by hunter Shaw Griffin, and her fever begins, consuming her with lust.

Determined to wipe out the entire shape shifting race after a wolf pack murdered his family, Shaw snares his first shifter, only to capture Riley begging him to fulfill every wicked desire pounding through her. As things turn hot and heavy, the scent of their mating attracts nearby shifters and soon brings Shaw’s monstrous past to their doorstep.
*********************************************

Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Miranda: It's an *EROTIC* romance. Hello! That would be an R rating if not NC-17!.

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Miranda: Opposites attract meets Survivors Hooking-up. (kind of but not really)

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit CAUGHT IN HEAT under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Miranda: Shapeshifter heroine, human hero.

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Miranda: Action & Dialogue. There were lots of witty talk and characters doing lots of wild things!!

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Miranda: Most - What they learned about each other and themselves. Oh and the hero is totally hot.

Least - Like me, the heroine is afraid of spiders. WIMP. (okay, she's not really; honestly, she can kick butt like you wouldn't believe)
Learn - Don't be so quick to judge something you know nothing about.

Kage: Miranda, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Miranda: Okay, so I bombed my self-imposed five-word challenge. To pay you all back for listening to my wordy interview, I'll gift one commenter with a free ebook copy of CAUGHT IN HEAT. It's nice to meet everyone.

If you're still curious about Miranda, here are other places to find her on the web:

Website / Blog : http://mirandastowe.blogspot.com/

Good Reads : Miranda Stowe

Twitter : MirandaStoweBks

Facebook : Miranda Stowe

Friday Forwards - #26

2011-06-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

An Irishman , a Mexican and an idiot were doing construction work on scaffolding on the 20th floor of a building.

They were eating lunch and the Irishman said, 'Corned beef and cabbage! If I get corned beef and cabbage one more time for lunch, I'm going to jump off this building.'

The Mexican opened his lunch box and exclaimed, 'Burritos again! If I get burritos one more time I'm going to jump off, too.'

The idiot opened his lunch and said, ' Bologna again! If I get a bologna sandwich one more time, I'm jumping too.'

The next day, the Irishman opened his lunch box, saw corned beef and cabbage, and jumped to his death.

The Mexican opened his lunch, saw a burrito, and jumped, too.

The idiot opened his lunch, saw the bologna and jumped to his death as well.

At the funeral, the Irishman's wife was weeping. She said, 'If I'd known how really tired he was of corned beef and cabbage, I never would have given it to him again!'

The Mexican's wife also wept and said, 'I could have given him tacos or enchiladas! I didn't realize he hated burritos so much.'

Everyone turned and stared at the idiot's wife. The idiot's wife said,

'Don't look at me. The idiot makes his own lunch.'