Destiny's Decisions...

Well for once I'm on time with my blogging day. LOL I actually woke up this morning and remembered will wonders never cease.

While I've been steadily working on Doomed to be Charmed my gay paranormal romance I've also started another sequel to Destiny's Choices that I've tentatively titled Destiny's Decisions. It takes place a year after Destiny's Choices and Tiana and James' troubles aren't over yet, as much as they would like them to be. Here's a little teaser for the book!

“My gallery.” Tiana sighed and then rubbed her eyes tiredly with her other hand. “It’s toast, James.”

She heard a thump, and then James’ breath accelerated. “Someone burned it down?”

“No, but they might as well have. The front window is busted out, the door is hanging on one hinge, and from what I can see through the window, any and all stock I had is completely destroyed. Anything that was breakable is smashed. I can’t see the glass case that I locked the beadwork in but it’s probably been destroyed as well.”

“Stay right there. Don’t get out of your truck, you are in your truck right?”

“Of course.”

“Stay there, and lock yourself in. Whoever did this could still be around, and I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I know that James, I’m not a complete idiot.” Tiana growled.

“Sorry babe, can’t help it. I just found you again, and I have no intention of losing you the way we did Grandmother. Have you called the police yet?”

At the mention of her grandmother’s death the year before, Tiana’s heart clenched tightly before she took a deep breath and released the tension.

“You’re kidding right? After what happened last year, I think it’s going to be a long time before I trust a tribal cop again.” Tiana’s voice turned sour.

Tiana heard James take a deep breath. “Tiana, you can’t blame what happened with Starla on the entire tribal police force. Most of them are good people, she was just one bad apple in the barrel.”

“Want to bet?” Tiana muttered beneath her breath. No way was she trusting anyone but James from now on. He might not be a cop, but she would trust him with her life. He would never betray her, she knew that with complete certainty.

“Tiana.” James’ voice wasn’t scolding precisely, but it got his point across none the less.

“Yeah, yeah. I know, one bad apple in the barrel. I still trust you more than I’ll ever trust a tribal cop again. Call them if you want to, but I’m not going to.”

“Well now, if that’s not a declaration of love, I don’t know what is. Be still my beating heart.” James teased, a mechanism he frequently applied when worried.

“Yeah, well it might be another year before you hear it again, babe.” Tiana emphasized the last word, teasing him right back.

“Is that a challenge?”

“Nah, just stating a fact.” She replied nonchalantly.

(c) 2008 by Regina Paul. All Rights Reserved.

Valentine's Day

I'll be celebrating Valentine's Day this year with a chat on Talking Two Lips group. I'll be talking about my latest release, THE VIOLIN. Sometime between 12 o'clock noon and 6 o'clock PM I'll be giving away the the big prize from my violin contest that's been going on since the first of February. It's an easy contest and there's still some time left to get in on a chance to win a big basket of delicious treats including a precious little violin pin in its own little violin case. It's an adorable little violin pin. Just go to my website at www.sarahmcneal.com, read the excerpt from THE VIOLIN in the books section and email me the answers to the three questions posted in the Contest section. Be sure to put Violin Contest in the subject line of your email.
I hope you'll join me for the chat on Talking Two Lips Valentine's Day. I look forward to seeing you there.
Here is a review for The Violin:

Title: The Violin
Category: Historical Paranormal
Reviewer: Kathleen R.
Reviewer email: kathyrowl@aol.com
Author: Sarah McNeal
Publisher: Amira Press
ISBN #: 9781934475225
Author homepage: http://www.sarahmcneal.com/los-ex.htm
Blue Ribbon Rating: 4.5
Format: PRINT/EBOOK
Publishing editor: Robin
Content Editor: Sarah
Catchy Snippet:
Genevieve Beaumont often dreams about a teasing rogue from the turn of the last century. A collector of antiques, she sees a well used violin in a shop. Stunned, she’s certain the violin belonged to the man in her nocturnal adventures and goes through a time warp to find him.
Former foster child Genevieve longs for warm family ties and fills her apartment with furnishings from yesteryear. She is haunted by dreams about a man who plays the violin beguilingly. When she finds a violin with photos and his 1927 death certificate in an antique shop, she has enough information to research the life of John Douglas. Locating the abandoned Pennsylvania cottage where he once lived, she enters it. Overcome from the shock of its familiarity, she faints to the floor. When she awakens, she is doted upon by the enticing rogue and his entire family.
John’s mother, Matilda, worries over Genevieve, the pretty young woman who somehow wandered into their home. Matilda convinces her to stay by asking for her help with making pies, a cake, and baked beans for the church picnic. As the Douglas family guest, Genevieve learns that John is considered a wild, bad boy and is sometimes with Ruby, a femme fatale. He also has a tender side. Genevieve falls in love. Does Ruby cause him so much anguish that he drowns himself in two feet of water? Can Genevieve save him? Will she have to leave this wonderful man and era?
Author Sarah McNeal writes a sweet romance of a man and woman across time. Tears welled in my eyes when John comforted Genevieve about her past. His family doesn’t always approve of him, but they love him. I adored Genevieve, an appreciative and strong woman who has a positive impact on others. I highly recommend THE VIOLIN to my friends who would like to experience life true to the 1920s, a time gifted author McNeal knows well.

All good things to your corner of the universe.
Sarah McNeal

Mills & Boon 100th Birthday Party

The cover art is the copyright of Harlequin Mills & Boon. This is the picture of my regency published in December 2007

Hi everyone. Yesterday, wearing my Anne Herries hat, I went to the Mills & Boon 100th birthday party. this wonderful romance publisher is, with Harlequin, the largest and probably the most successful publisher of romance worldwide. They were started all those years ago by a Mr Mills who was then joined by Mr Boon and their first book happened to be a romance. Over the years they have grown into a household name and given pleasure to millions of people worldwide.

Last night they threw a wonderful party for authors, editors and people who were associated with them in some way. Torches flared at the door and pink flamingoes on stilts walked about waving feathers at the arriving guests. Held in the Wallace Collection in Manchester Square it was a glittering occasion with plenty of champagne and cocktails - also speeches from a celebrity and members of the M&B hierachy. However, because of the crush it wasn't easy to hear anyone speaking.

I think it acheived their aim, which was to bring publicity for the publisher. They thanked the authors, because, as they said, they couldn't do it without us. I hope the next hundred years will be as good for them, though I shall not be around to see it!

New stuff on my website...

Well, Kayleigh isn't the only one highjacking Pat's day to post! LOL Here I thought I'd be one of the ones who posted faithfully on her day, and oopsss this is the third week that I've posted late. Oh, well with all the deadlines I've been dealing with lately, it's a wonder I know what day it is! LOL

I added the new desktop wallpaper mentioned in last week's post, so if you want to get a larger version of "Communion" the picture with my elf Ayana and her pet dragon, you can find it here.

I've also added a new contest for February. January's contest for a copy of my holiday sequel to Destiny's Choices, Destiny's Holiday, went so well that I decided to have a second contest. This is for those of you who didn't have a chance to take advantage of the special to get this sequel for free when you purchased a copy of Destiny's Choices over the holidays. While you can read Destiny's Holiday on its own, you will understand Tiana's world better if you read Destiny's Choices first.

Oh, and there's a brand new newsletter out! To get access to your copy, sign up for Regina's Universe. Oh, and you get access to all sorts of other freebies as well including a serial Native American reincarnation romance called Soul Memories, so be sure and sign up today!

Hearing from the readers

By Pat Cromwell

One of the things I like most about being a writer is hearing from people who have read my book, Behind Blue Eyes. One fan in particular has sent me several emails about my first published work. I love the way she expressed herself and the encouragement in her words. I especially love the fact that she understood the hero. Her kind words made my day!

Excerpt from Behind Blue Eyes
"His gaze slowly wandered from her doe-like eyes past her patrician nose, to her full, luscious lips. Her skin was the shade of café au lait and he imagined that it felt just as smooth and tasted just as sweet while still bold and strong. Just the way he liked it. Without conscious thought, his eyes perused her body and he saw in her something he had purposely denied seeing in the past. He saw a desirable woman; Seine had grown up.

Then she moistened her lips. It was an action so innocent and one he had seen her do on many occasions, but today it took on a completely new meaning. Curiosity gave way to an emotion that he had clamped down on years ago - need. A simple swipe of her lips with that perky little tongue and he knew he was lost. He wanted to characterize what he was feeling as nothing more than a reaction to a sexy girl, but he could not. Of the women he’d known, and there had been plenty, not one had ever affected him like that."

Check out Behind Blue Eyes today and drop by my website for snippets of my future releases, works in progress, etc.

Happy Reading!
Pat Cromwell
http://www.freewebs.com/patcromwell/
Behind Blue Eyes at http://www.amirapress.com/

Cover for ENCHANTED BEAUTY!

Feast your eyes on the cover for ENCHANTED BEAUTY! WOO-HOO! I'm still on the new cover high. LOL The cover for Enchanted Beauty was created by the talented Alex DeShanks! I'm very pleased with it. :) Enchanted Beauty is a full length fantasy paranormal romance coming soon from New Concepts Publishing!

Here's the tag line and blurb:
ENCHANTED BEAUTY BY MARLY MATHEWS
Annabelle Hawthorne-Morton is a beauty with a mysterious past—Lord Malachi Hawthorne is the beast that will touch her heart—she will heal his tortured soul and he will bring the light back into her dark world.

Annabelle Hawthorne Morton hails from an ancient mystical line—even though she herself has not been endowed with the mark of magic that the magic-kind of Thaliana are born with. Despite this, she aspires for magical greatness, and while performing a spell the enchantment backfires in her face, robbing her of half her sight. But it doesn't take her long to realize that within a few months she will be completely blind. When her father enrages the local lord and he's imprisoned for his crimes, Annabelle must muster her courage and save her father from the beast's wrath.

Lord Malachi Hawthorne, Earl of Markham has been horribly disfigured during a magical battle. His sister betrayed him—and now her curse has put him into his own living hell. Believing that the outside world will revile him for his monstrous appearance, he retreats to his enchanted castle. He is determined to make Annabelle's father his indentured servant, until he meets Annabelle. He quickly decides that she is the one that might finally set him free from his living hell, and knows he must have her as his own.

Have a lovely day, everyone!

~Marly

Edited to add: I just found Enchanted Beauty's cover on the sneak peek page over at New Concepts Publishing! I'm thrilled!

Enchanted Beauty on the sneak peek page at NCP!

The Many Emotions of An Author

Creativity is a strange thing. A blessing, a curse, a form of insanity... It's a fascinating truth that many creative people are at best odd, and at worst just plain nuts. I spend a lot of time trying to figure out why that is, since a good portion of my life before I found my niche was passed thinking I was cuckoo bananas. After all, normal people don't spend hours, days, weeks, living entirely in their heads, do they? Normal people don't find the stories they create in their minds more interesting than real life. And normal people certainly don't talk to themselves in order to work out bits of dialog amongst their characters. Hell, do normal people even think up characters?

Since I'm not a normal person, I couldn't tell you.

You've heard me talk about "suckitis" before, that crushing fear of failure that often comes following the completion or release of a new book. You'd think I'd feel accomplished, proud, happy. I do - for a while. Then the apprehension sets in.

Case in point: Leading Her to Heaven is now available in print. It's the first book of mine to get to print. When my copies arrived on friday, I went through a range of emotions and activities. I cried. I giggled like a maniac. I sniffed the inside. I flipped through the pages. All expected.

Then the weirdness set in. Looking at my book now, I feel...weird. It's been available in ebook format for over a year now, and has been well received. But the suckitis has hit yet again, and I didn't anticipate it this time.

Another thing I didn't see coming: I'm actually a bit embarrassed by the sex scenes. My gravy, I used the word "cock" a lot in this book. For some reason, it's different to see it in print than on the screen.

Overall, I'm exceedingly happy to finally be in print - there's a sense of accomplishment and vindication - but right now, I just feel...weird.

My publisher has given me a deadline (at my request) of May for Reckless Liaisons. I'm hoping that being under the gun will help me get my ass in gear so that I can begin writing again, and stop thinking about the weirdness.

KJ