I'm an EPIC Finalist!

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!

Linda Kage, Boat Rocker

Today, I'm guest blogging about writing TABOO TOPICS over at

The Writer's Vineyard

So, hop over and tell me I'm not insane for rocking the boat.

Thanks so much!

HOT COMMODITY by Linda Kage

Between November 1, 2008 and November 1, 2010, I have sold five of my stories to publishers. In the past three and half weeks, three of those stories have been released. So, you got it, I'm celebrating the release of yet another story today.

But don't worry. After this, I got nothing going (thus far, anyway), so I won't be cramming another one of my new books down your throat for a good long while. I can only dream that some nice publisher will want one of the many submissions I have floating around out there.

Until then, it is my great honor to introduce...

Hot Commodity
Contemporary Adult Romance*
From Champagne Books
ISBN : 9781926681900
Available : NOW!!!!
In Ebook (print version coming soon)
*Explicit Scenes and Language


SHE MARRIED THE ONE MAN SHE WAS TRYING TO AVOID

Thinking to assure a business merger with the wealthy, successful Cameron Banks, Olivia Donovan’s mother drags her to Las Vegas for a business convention, demanding she meet Banks and seduce him into wanting to marry her. But Olivia’s finished being Little Miss Yes-mother-whatever-you-say-mother. So, she sneaks away, intending to rebel and marry the very antithesis of Cameron Banks.

Who she finds is a drunk hottie that takes her to new heights of pleasure and shows her a side of herself she never knew existed before.

But after her amazing night in her new husband’s arms, she awakens the next morning only to discover she married and slept with the very Cameron Banks she’d been trying to avoid.

Is Cam the devil she feared, or will he end up being her one true hero?









EXCERPT- (Warning: This excerpt contains some explicit language, nudity, and sexual suggestion)

Sobbing wives and nasty hangovers weren’t exactly an ideal way to start the day. Coffee would’ve been nice. But by the way his sister glared at him, Cameron knew Leah certainly wasn’t going to offer him a cup.

"Leah." He sighed. "Can you…?" He motioned toward the door with a hand, silently asking her to skedaddle.

His obstinate sister ignored the hint. She folded her arms over her chest and rooted her feet to the floor, staring at him as if waiting for an explanation. Since there was no way he could explain any of this, he frowned.

"Will you wait in the damn hall?" he snapped, noticing from the corner of his eye how his bed companion jerked at his tone of voice. She whipped her face up to watch him but he was too busy glaring at his sister to soothe the wife’s tender feelings.

"We need a minute to figure this out," he said. "And to put some clothes on. Unless you want to watch me change," he added and reached for the corner of the sheet, threatening to lift it.

Leah jumped back. "Eww, gross. Cameron, that’s sick."

"Then a minute, please," he said, lifting his eyebrows in warning. "Damn interfering older sister," he muttered as soon as she was gone. He sucked in a breath, but when his head continued to throb, he sighed and pushed the sheet off his lap. His attention swerved to Olivia Donovan—at least, that’s who the slip of paper in his hand claimed her to be. Olivia Bette Donovan-Banks, his new wife.

He ran a shaky hand through his hair and let out another long breath. “So, uh, crazy night, huh?”

Hey, it sounded like a good icebreaker to him. Not that she responded.

She’d eased up on the tears, but remained huddled under the sheets with her face buried in her palms. A glitter of light caught the huge chunk of diamond clinging to a platinum band wrapped around the ring finger of her left hand. He wondered idly if he’d gotten the ring for her last night in his drunken state or if she’d been engaged to someone else before seeking him out.

And she HAD sought him. He knew that much for sure. He remembered her approaching him, remembered how she’d looked so desperate when she’d told him she’d needed a husband. He’d been only half wasted at that point. But from then on, everything turned blurry.



He also remembered the sex. Vaguely. He recalled thinking he’d never wanted it so bad before. He remembered how good she’d felt when he first slid inside her. He remembered pounding into her and making her come, more than once.

But other than that…

“Look,” he said, trying to sound gentle since she was obviously spooked. “I’m still having trouble remembering much. But if you want to help me clear up a few details, like WHY and HOW this happened, I’d be real willing to hear what you have to say so we can fix it as expediently as possible. And I’m not going to hurt you, so you don’t have to flinch away from me every time I speak.”

She didn’t answer.

“Are you okay?” he tried. “Olivia?”

She didn’t even glance his way as she wiped at her eyes.

“Humph,” he muttered to himself. “Not even married twenty-four hours and the wife’s already giving me the silent treatment.”

And still, he got nothing.

Cameron rolled his eyes. “Alrighty then,” he said, deciding it was time to put some clothes on.

He pushed himself to his feet, and finally she responded with an outraged gasp. Wondering what her problem was now, he glanced over. She’d turned her attention to him. Her blue eyes had gone wide, her hand covered her mouth while she gaped at his crotch. He looked down to discover his raging erection was immodestly swaying her way. It almost surprised him he could get it up. After the workout she’d given the little guy last night, Cameron figured junior wouldn’t want to come out of hibernation again for a while.

But nope, there he was, straining at the site of the blond goddess as if seeking an introduction. Wife, this is my hard-on. Hard-on, meet the wife. Hmm, however could the two shake and properly get to know each other?

*******

Buy Link But why buy when you can just win a copy for free? Head over to my Contests page for a chance to win your own free copy of HOT COMMODITY. Contest open until November 30th.

Sold Book Three!

I've signed a contract with the epublisher, Champagne Books, for my THIRD book!! Wow, this is turning into a phenomenon.

Book three is an adult contemporary romance, even a little more racy than my second--which is The Trouble with Tomboys--but it will still be fun to read (it was a blast to write, anyway). I haven't even been in contact with my editor yet, so I don't know much, but here's what I DO know:

Book Title - HOT COMMODITY
Publisher - Champagne Books
Release Date - November 2010
Format - eBook and Print
Genre - Contemporary Adult Romance

Hopefully you know me well enough by now to be assured that once I receive more information (like a blurb, trailer, excerpt, and all that good stuff), I will most definitely let you know.

Anyway, I just HAD to share my exciting news. More on Hot Commodity later!

If you missed my baby update, it posted yesterday. Check it out to learn how the little one is doing.

Otherwise, I'll see you guys Thursday. Make sure to come back for a very special interview I'm having with author, Nancy J. Parra. Cheers!