Category Archives: books

A Tasty Tuesday Cover Reveal?

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A cover? What does that have to do with cooking you might be asking yourselves. Well I am here to put your minds at ease. A few of my dear writing friends have worked hard on putting together a cookbook of some of their Tasty Tuesday recipes and even added in some new stuff as well. This might leave you with another unanswered query. What do writers know about cooking? Ah, more than you might realize. With each recipe, there are either stories or anecdotes to go along with the recipe. Some of the recipes were actually used by characters in stories and some were just author favorites. I promise there is something within its pages for everyone. All we have to do now is anxiously await the birth of this book and I have to tell you….the wait is killing me. Oh well, for now we all must settle on oohing and awing over the cover until we can cook like a writer.

To get a sampling of some of the recipes you might see in this lovely little book, please stop by the blogs of these lovely ladies:

A Catherine Noon - http://acatherinenoon.blogspot.com/2013/02/cook-like-writer.html

Denise A. Agnew - http://deniseagnew.com/blog/?p=2900

Kimberley Troutte - http://kimberleytroutte.blogspot.com/2013/02/cookbook-comin.html

Nancy Lauzon - http://nancylauzon.com/2013/02/12/tasty-tuesday-cook-like-a-writer/

Selena Robins - http://selenarobinsmusings.com/2013/02/11/changing-the-world-one-recipe-at-a-time/

Denise A Agnew…You Flirt!

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Today I have the lovely and lively Denise A. Agnew with me. Come on in and sit a spell, while she weaves a little magic and lures you in with her wit and fun loving personality.

Moira: Let’s break the ice shall we, Denise? If you were stuck in the middle of a zombie apocalypse and you had three people to help you fight of the zombie horde, who would they be?

Denise: Been watching The Walking Dead, so I have answers. First, I’d want my husband there. Second I’d take Michonne and Daryl from The Walking Dead. Oh, they all have to be real people? Okay, my husband is one. I’d also take my friends Lena and Stacy because they’d kick some serious arse.

Moira: Love the Walking Dead. But I’ve already put in dibs on Daryl (and I believe the competition for him is pretty fierce). Tell me a little about the genre(s) you write in, and why?

Denise: I write in all genres. Okay, I haven’t written sci-fi romance or inspirational. I write in whatever genre that blows my skirt up at the moment because that’s the only way I can honestly enjoy my writing. It’s much more difficult for me to come up with a story if someone is saying, here write a vampire. Or here write about zombies. If I don’t have the inspiration to create it, it won’t be the best story it can be. I love writing stories that have paranormal and suspense elements, and I’ve also been on a historical romance kick lately. I have a trilogy coming out next year that combines historical and paranormal. Also next year (if I can manage it), I’ll have a military romance trilogy out which starts off with suspense right from the beginning.

Moira: Not big on historical romances, but throw in paranormal elements and I might be swayed. Excited to see that series come out. Do you need to be in a specific place or atmosphere before the words flow?

Denise: I don’t have to be in a specific place, but if there are phones ringing, lots of noise and interruptions that causes issues with concentration. I have “soundtrack” music for each novel I write, and that helps me tremendously with inspiration. If its actually gloomy, cloudy, and even cold I’m more likely to be inspired to write than if there’s sun in my eyes and its hot. My office shades are always closed to keep down distractions.

Moira: I love book ‘soundtracks’. What’s the strangest source of inspiration you’ve found for a story?

Denise: Oh, my! That’s a great question. Probably disasters. Yeah, I’m inspired by disasters to write romance novels. I wrote Love From The Ashes about the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, but the core story is a romance. The historical trilogy I mentioned features dimension/time travel and the stories are set during these real major disasters during certain periods in time. I think I’m inspired by these events because they’re a great catalyst for characters to show their true colors. What do people do when they encounter these events? Who do they love, who do they fall in love with? In Blackout (which is a contemporary I’m publishing in early 2013), a huge solar flare causes issues with the power grid across the world. How do the hero and heroine survive that situation ad fall in love at the same time…what’s the conflict they have and would have without the disaster?

Moira: That’s slightly morbid, Denise. Yet I’m intrigued to this side of you that is inspired by disaster. Name one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you.

Denise: Another excellent question. You’re making me think. I like whiskey. Straight. Okay, I’m not sure that would be surprising. I’m an introvert at heart. I can go for days without speaking to another human being and that’s doesn’t bother me. I did that one time in England not long after we moved there (lived there three years) and my husband was sent to his Advanced Warrant Officer course back in the U.S. This was way before inexpensive internet, etc. Talk about getting some writing done! My English neighbors checked on me because they hadn’t seen me in four days. I’m also an Honorary Army Mountain Ranger. I could tell you how I got that, but then I’d have ta kill ya. :)

Moira: A whiskey girl. Loving you more with each answer. Not that I have a choice. I’d hate for you to break out your Army Mountain Ranger skills on me. So, do you have any tattoos or piercings?

Denise: I have pierced ears. Got those way back in 1976. No tattoos.

Moira: Dang. I was hoping for some in-depth story about you getting inked. Oh well. Pierced ears is cool too. I have them myself. If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you spend the money on?

Denise: If it was enough money I’d pay off my house and car. I’d give some to certain charities. The rest I’d invest for the future.

Moira: Smart, especially in this economic climate, but we won’t discuss politics. Which household chore do you abhor and why?

Denise: Cleaning the bathroom because the cleaning product fumes bug me. My husband usually does that instead. :)

Moira: I detest cleaning the bathroom as well… and laundry. Both necessary evils. Do you have any guilty pleasures you feel comfortable sharing?

Denise: I once watched an entire season of Housewives of Orange County. Got sick of it. :) The only reality television I like are paranormal investigation programs like Ghost Hunters and The Dead FIles.

Moira: Not into reality shows. But I might need to check out the other two. Good fuel for the paranormal and urban fantasy writer within I’m sure. Which of your characters would you most/least like to invite to dinner and why?

Denise:Oh, lordy! Probably Alexandra Watson in Dark, Deadly Love. She’s an American forced to live in London during the Jack The Ripper killings of 1888. She gets caught up in that whole mess. She’s a gutsy character. I’d also like to talk to the hero and heroine in the story I’m working on now, to ask them questions on their motivations.

Moira: Okay I lied on the historical bit. That one you totally had me at Jack the Ripper (Guess I’m a little morbid too). One author, dead or alive, and you get to sit down and have a one on one with them. Who would it be and why?

Denise: Dean Koontz. He writes the most amazing stories that transcend genre, and he’s been very true to himself from everything I can tell. He’s also a funny man. Some of the podcasts and interviews I’ve heard with him are hysterical. I admire that he’s made a career out of writing what blows his skirt up. :) He writes strong female characters, too. Some male authors are all about plot…Dean’s got the plot down and the characters that make you care whether they make it through whatever mess they’ve gotten into.

Moira: Look we have more in common! I love Dean Koontz. He’s made of total awesome. One of my favorite books by him was Velocity. Loved it so much I unknowingly bought it twice. Name one scene you go back and re-read often because you like it so much.

Denise: That’s an easy one. There’s more than one scene like that. One I call the alley scene in Dangerous Intentions. The hero and heroine are antagonistic toward each other and both of them are mouthy and the sexual tension is off the charts. In Treacherous Wishes the first sex scene between the hero and heroine is hot as hell. They’re at a breaking point where they can’t keep their hands off each other. Also in Treacherous Wishes the bad guy is one of my worst villains ever. I have a scene where he’s in his house obsessively watching tapes he’s made of women he’s killed…not killing them but regular video of the woman living their lives. He feels guilty for doing it and he goes into the kitchen and…well, the whole scene was damned creepy. I even gave myself the creeps writing it. I love it when I do that. :)

Moira: If you could have one talent besides writing, what would it be?

Denise: Being an archaeologist. I’ve been a member of amateur archaeology groups since the ’80s.

Moira: A woman of many skills and talents I see. Any deep, dark, and/or dirty secrets you’d like to share?

Denise: I’m closet lover of spinach and chicken liver. But not at the same time. :)

Moira: You lost me at chicken liver. But since you are a whiskey lover and enjoy spinach, and we have that shared Dean Koontz love, I think our friendship will survive. In closing, tell us a bit about your latest release (& share an excerpt for those who aren’t yet familiar with your work)

Denise: My latest release is the Asylum Trilogy, three connected books all centered on an evil insane asylum. The first book (Shadows Wait) starts in 1908, the second (Shadows Rise) is set in 1918, and the last one (Shadows Fall) is set in modern times. Readers can pick up the books individually or as a three book ebook bundle. I was inspired to write the stories after seeing a show about an insane asylum and the rumor of a little girl ghost that haunts the property. Bang, I knew I had to write a trilogy about a haunted asylum. They’re all romances, of course. :)

Excerpt:
Asylum I: Shadows Wait

(Paranormal Historical Romance)

1908, Simple, Colorado

Lilly Luna’s mother gave birth to her in an asylum for the mad. Growing up in an insane asylum exposed her to horrors few could imagine, and yet her compassion and ability to heal frightens the broken and the healthy alike. The town fears her. The sane shun her. Morgan Healy’s father runs the creepy and rumor-maligned asylum. Morgan’s lineage is filled with insanity. Morgan holds together his crumbling family, hoping to escape his father’s legacy and the terrible secret it holds. When Lilly is hired as companion for Morgan’s sister, Morgan and Lilly form a reluctant alliance to corral the evil that seeps from Tranquil View and threatens not only the town, but also their growing love.

* *

Someone was screaming. At first Lilly thought it was Patricia, but immediately realized her own raw voice crying out, high-pitched with terrible fear. And the crushing knowledge her dear friend was dead.

A few seconds later, her doorknob rattled and held. “Lilly!” She stayed frozen to the spot. Pounding rattled the door. “Lilly! Lilly open this door!”

Morgan. She raced to the door without thinking, unlocked it, and flung it open. Bare-chested, barefooted and wearing only trousers, he looked like a wild man. His hair was mussed as if he’d just crawled from bed. His chest heaved up and down.

He stepped into the room, forcing her backward. “What the hell is going on? Are you all right?” She tried to speak, but nothing came out. He reached for her, his eyebrows drawn together in concern. He cupped her shoulders. “Lilly.”

“I have to leave. I have to go to the asylum.”

“Why?”

“It’s Nurse Franklin. Something terrible has happened to her. I had a vision.”

His nose wrinkled up. “A vision.”

He wouldn’t believe her, and she should have kept silent. “She was just here. Her head was ….” She swallowed hard and through a blur of tears, she said, “Oleta Franklin is dead. She was here in the room with me. I saw the blood —”

She stopped, aware that her hands splayed across his broad chest, her fingers feeling the heat, the hair on his chest, the solidness of muscle. His stomach muscles, delineated and strong, rippled slightly when he moved. He was power and prowess, a strong male. She’d never seen a chest like this before in all her days, and it struck her dumb for one second.

He shook her lightly. “Damn it, Lilly. What foolishness is this? I heard you scream like you were being murdered.”

“What the devil is going on?” Dr. Healy’s voice came from the other side of the landing as he left his bedroom in a dressing gown and his wife followed behind him.

Morgan released Lilly. “Lilly had a nightmare.”

“No it wasn’t a nightmare.”

Patricia came up the stairs, her eyes filled with teasing and guile. “I thought I heard a scream. What’s going on? Is Morgan trying to break into Lilly’s room?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Morgan planted his hands on his hips and stepped away. His glance remained on Lilly, burning her deep.

“Morgan, must you be so harsh?” Constance said as she came to stand by her husband. “Are you all right Lilly?”

Tears still hovered in her eyes, but she swallowed them with effort and lifted her chin. “I am fine. I’m sorry to have disturbed you all.”

Dr. Healy’s dubious expression said he didn’t believe her. “I thought I heard you say something about Oleta Franklin.”

Dr. Healy walked toward Lilly and Morgan with a stern expression. Lilly’s apprehension heightened. She sensed the older man’s disapproval, and knew consequences would come.

“She just had a bad dream,” Morgan said again. Lilly wanted to yell at them all that she’d been wide awake.

“A dream?” Dr. Healy’s disgust sounded in is voice and his face. “About Oleta? What was it about?”

It seemed a strange question, but she answered it. “She was ….” Lilly glanced at Morgan, then at Patricia and Constance. They all waited patiently, but she could hardly get the words passed her lips. “Oleta was in a terrible accident and she’s dead.”

“Oh, my goodness.” Constance put a hand to her mouth. “How awful.”

Lilly glanced at Dr. Healy and thought she saw a flicker of discomfort. His mouth tightened.

“Distasteful.” Patricia’s voice seeped with sugar and lemon.

“Patricia, must you be so contrary?” her mother asked.

Dr. Healy found his voice. “This is all poppycock. Anyone with an ounce of sense knows dreams are balderdash.”

“Freud didn’t think so,” Patricia said as she twirled in a circle. Her filmy nightgown whirled out from her body in a frothy cloud.

Dr. Healy glared at his daughter, but then turned on his heel and stalked back to his room. He slammed the door.

“My dear,” Constance said just as her husband slammed his bedroom door. “Are you certain you’re fine?”

Lilly didn’t want any more prying questions. She couldn’t answer honestly. “Yes.” She gave a weak smile. “Yes.”

“Then let us go back to our rooms and prepare for the day, shall we?” Constance’s smile was brittle, a vein of disapproval heavy in her voice. “And Morgan, do put a shirt on.”

Constance returned to her bedroom and closed the door much more softly than Dr. Healy had.

Patricia watched them with a half smile. “Were you in Lilly’s room, brother?”

Morgan made a scoffing noise. “Of course not. Go back to bed Patricia or do whatever you do in the morning.”

“I was reading in the library. I couldn’t sleep.” The young woman’s cocky smile widened, but she didn’t argue as she went back down the stairs in her dressing gown.

That left Lilly standing in the hallway with a half-naked Morgan. She licked her lips when she scanned across his powerful form once more. His biceps rippled as he crossed his arms.

Before he could register the same disapproval the other’s had, she jumped ahead. “Do you think it was a bad dream?”

“What else would it be?”

“I need to go to the asylum this morning.” Tears returned with a vengeance, and this time she couldn’t stop them. She wiped at them with her fingers as the ache in her throat wound tight. “I need to make certain Oleta is safe.”

“Lilly.” He moved forward, and before she knew it, his body cradled hers. “I’m sorry.”

Shocked, she stiffened in his arms. But his grip tightened, one hand smoothing over her back, the other cupping the back of her head. She found her head pressed to his shoulder. Thought she wasn’t petite, he was over six feet tall. His arms enveloped her in warmth and protection and a comfort she’d never expected. Her palms moved over his chest and rasped over his nipples. He sucked in a breath.

She looked up and those deep eyes captured hers and held. Fire bloomed there and transferred straight to every untutored and tender part of her body. Something feral and amazing grew between them until it pulsed between her legs and in her belly. It felt primitive—as untamed as a lion in the wild. She wanted to seize the feeling and embrace it until it enclosed her in an everlasting sweetness. He smelled like leather and musk. Her senses whirled. What could she do but enjoy his touch, the comfort he offered, no matter how inappropriate? No, if she didn’t escape his unseemly embrace now and his father or mother saw them, who knew what would happen. The danger in this didn’t elude her, and she pushed gently at his chest. With obvious reluctance he released her. Her tears had dried the moment she realized their compromising position.

Moira: Thank you so much for stopping by Denise. Everytime I get a chance to talk with you, I love you a little more. For those of you who’d like to get your hot little hands on this book, you can find it here:

Amazon

And learn more about Denise here:

Website / Facebook / Twitter

A Lot of Flirting with Selena Robins!

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Today I have the pleasure of interviewing a fantabulous author (who is made of complete awesomeness), a fun-loving and straight laced gal (the latter part only applies to those who don’t know better), and most importantly… a dear friend of mine. So help me welcome Selena Robins and make her feel at home.

Moira: Selena, pull up a chair. Let’s break the ice shall we? If you were stuck in the middle of a zombie apocalypse and you had three people to help you fight of the zombie horde, who would they be?

Selena: My husband. He’s a wilderness pro and master of getting rid of spiders, I don’t
know, but I’m sure those skills would come in handy. My son, he’s read all the Walking
Dead books and watched the shows, so he could outsmart the Zombies. I can’t think of
a third, but if they can shoot silver bullets and bring chocolate, then they’re welcome to
hang out with me.

Moira: Hmm, let me see. *Rummages through closet* Silver bullets – check. *Heads
to pantry* Chocolate – check. Apparently I’m your girl! Okay now that we know how
you intend to survive the apocalypse, tell us a little more about you for my readers that
haven’t yet had the privileged to curl up in bed with you – I meant your books!

Selena: Here are some extra tidbits about me that are not listed on my bio on website
or blog.

I didn’t learn to speak English until I was six years old, sometimes this can still
effect me, as I think in one language and things come out in English in an awkward
way. “English wasn’t my first language,” is what I say. That’s my story and I’m sticking
to it. I learned to play the accordion at an early age. Hey, I’m Italian, it’s a right of
passage and no I didn’t play Lady of Spain. I wasn’t that good at it. However, I did enjoy
practicing at home and driving my older siblings crazy with my attempts at Twinkle
Twinkle Little Star—serves them right, they had me convinced for years that I was left
on the doorstep, plus I was a teeny bit gullible and was an easy target for their pranks.

I hate coffee. I mean really hate it. I want to ban all coffee beans from the earth, better
yet, give them to the Zombies, maybe they’ll leave us alone once they get a whiff of that
stuff. I know what you’re thinking, how could an F.B.I. (full blooded Italian) hate coffee?
Answer: “I’m special.”

I also took Highland Dance classes. Yup, an Italian speaking-accordion playing, freckled
short little girl, highland dancing. Eclectic at its finest.

I used to be quite the daredevil. Broken knee, wore a full leg cast (downhill skiing),
shattered my radial head in my left arm (roller-blading), broken toe (fell down the stairs
while multi-tasking, some will say, I can be a klutz, I don’t agree…well, not 100%).

My husband has recently stated that he’d love to start a blog called, “Things my wife
says and does.” I’m not concerned, he doesn’t even like to write emails. Funny guy. He
makes me laugh, I make him laugh. I love to cook, he loves to eat what I cook. I also
like to make him blush, like when I publicly state, he has given me my happy-ever-after
that I love to write and read about in romance novels.

Moira: You do remember that I bleed coffee and Guinness if you cut me right? The
coffee remark nearly had me bringing this interview to a close. Then you redeemed
yourself when you brought up Highland dancing.

Selena: I wasn’t worried, you love me, you really love me. Come on over to the tea
side, I promise you’ll love it and while you sip your tea, I’ll do the sword dance for you.

Moira: So we are back on task. If I were to buy you a book for your birthday or just
because I am such total awesomeness, what genre would I need to scour?

Selena: I’m as diverse in my reading as I am in writing, so really anything goes, except
horror, math books or self-help books. I love the romance genre and the sub-genres,
I also love a good mystery, or thriller. Sorry, can’t pick one, so I guess you’ll really be
awesome when you bring me a basket full of books.

Moira: Well, I’ve already established the fact that I’m awesome and forgiving (see
coffee remark), but I think I would need to challenge you and look for something new for
that eclectic reader’s palate of yours.

Selena: If you really want to top the charts at awesomeness, then you’d hurry up and
write more books. Don’t forget, you broke me into my first fae story, and I loved it. Give
me more of those. Thank you in advance.

Moira: Well if you insist. I do aim to please after all. If you are writing, what is your genre preference? Is there a specific appeal to it? Like does it come with a heavy dose of chocolate and sex or is it the innocence of the genre that tempts you?

Selena: My first novel is sex-free, lots of sexual tension but the bedroom door was
shut tight. However, I have the rights back to that story and I’m revising it, I’m thinking
of opening the door a fraction. Same with my short story, lots of fun banter, not really
romance, but on the brink of a relationship. My current release, bedroom door is wide
open, lots of steamy scenes and talk about chocolate. In one of my works in progress, a
suspense/thriller, the heroine actually doesn’t like chocolate, the hero loves it, and yes
there will be some steam between those two. I like to mix it up as you can see.

Moira: But the constant seems to be chocolate. I’m on to you Selena. I will be watching
(and guarding my chocolate to ration out during the apocalypse). And I’m not buying
your innocent ‘closed door’ act any more either. I’ve seen behind the curtain.

Selena: Actually, there’s no chocolate in Decoy in Stiletto’s, but there is Guiness and
a lot of vodka. I get extra cool-chick points for that, right? And just a minute there, Ms Coffee Bean Addict, you are part of my trio during this Zombie invasion, so you have to take care of me, which means feeding me chocolate. It’s in my future non-fiction book, “Selena’s Zombie-Survival-Handbook.” By the way, I am innocent, I have no idea what curtain you are talking about. Someone must have high-jacked my computer the night the Nine Naughty Novelists had their 20 Questions chat.

Moira: Right, that’s the story we’re going with – computer hijacking. Totally believable.  And yes cool points for the Guinness. The vodka, not so much where this girl is concerned. Anyway, name one scene you go back and re-read often because you like it so much.

Selena: Once a book is published I don’t go back and re-read it, because of my anal
tendencies, I’ll think…Oh, I could have done this better, or I should have done this or
that. It’s a curse to have this internal editor hanging out with me 24/7, she’s such a
bitch sometimes. In my works in progress, there are two scenes which I get a kick out
of when I go back to edit and polish (yes, I do that a lot, as I said, my internal editor is
a hard ass bitch). One is my Decoy In Stiletto’s novel, when the heroine finds out the
Russian Mob is out to kill her and her reaction to it, while the hero stands around and
just let’s her get her crazy on until she settles down. My heroine’s get scared, they’re
not to proud to say, “I need help, protect me!” The other scene which I love, is in my
suspense thriller and it takes place in a lingerie shop between the hero and heroine.
The last place the hero wants to be in is this shop. Lots of sexual tension, some black
comedy and the banter between them, I really enjoy reading.

Moira: What? He doesn’t want to be in a lingerie shop with the heroine? Surely there
are visions of what he’d like to do to her flitting through his head right? Put that tension
to work, get some chocolate, and get it done!

Selena: Oh, no, this hero does NOT want to be in the lingerie shop. He’s an alpha-
undercover cop, tailing a mob bosses’ daughter, who he likes to call the Mafia Princess
and she is driving him nuts and vice versa. She’s not innocent, he’s not innocent, and
the last place they both want to be in is in a confided space with ultra sexy lingerie.
Trust me on this, it works better for them not to get all jiggy in this scene. The push/pull
and internal turmoil I put them both through is way more fun to watch.

Moira: Okay, well you know them best, so I will trust your judgment (See, I told you I can be a good friend). What is the oddest place you found inspiration for a story?

Selena: I don’t know where my inspiration comes from in the first place. I know this is
not a good answer for an author, but it’s the truth. Things pop in and out of my head at
all times, at different places, especially when I least expect it.

Moira: Like yoga class when you are supposed to be centering yourself, not watching
squirrels out the window. I’m just saying. (You can slap me later if you wish, but you
make it too easy sometimes)

Selena: I’d never smack you, because I tattle on myself all the time. Yoga does bring
out some inspiration, but usually for a blog that makes no sense.

Moira: It made total sense and was extremely entertaining! Worst and best pick up lines you either used or were used on you?

Selena: It’s been so long since one has been used on me. I remember when I was
single, and it was during Halloween and a bunch of gals decided to go out to a trendy
bar. Everyone was dressed in costume, except me. I’m not big on Halloween and it was
a last minute decision, so I just wore more makeup than I would normally wear, and
figured that was good enough.

A guy came up to me and asked, “Why I aren’t you wearing a costume?”

I said, “I am.”

He looked at me and said, “What are you supposed to be?”

I said, “I’m really a guy.”

He put his arm around me and said, “Well, hello there, I’m gay.”

It was cute and funny and we ended up chatting most of the night, about bad pick up
lines and became friends.

If I did encounter pick up lines from jerkwads, I’d usually tell them I was overjoyed that
they chose to talk to me, asked them when they’d like to meet my family, told them to
keep all Sundays open for family brunches. Saturday afternoon we could go register for
our china patterns…they usually walked away after that.

Moira: Okay, the I’m a guy remark hilarious. The last bit…wow. I imagine that a guy
deciding to put himself out there can be just as difficult as it is for a girl choosing to pick
up on a guy. Remind me to never try and pick you up.

Selena: Notice I only said jerkwads, so the good guys don’t need any kind of line. My
husband had zero game and I was smitten pretty quickly.

Moira: Ah, true love. Green with envy over here. Any deep, dark, and/or dirty secrets you’d like to share? Trust me, my readers can keep a secret.

Selena: I once thought an athletic support was something a guy used for lifting weights
and put around his friggin chest. So I walked into a sporting goods store and asked for
a 42 inch athletic support, then got pissed off because the clerk and a few guys in the
store were making cracks and laughing at me. I was young, not my fault!

Moira: Um….*snickering* hmmm…I’m speechless. And my mother said she never
thought the day would come. (As she is sitting here having breakfast with me, she says
she seconds and thirds that) Let’s move on shall we? Why do you write?

Selena: It’s cheaper than therapy.

Moira: Right? We exorcise our demons by writing about them. Or we give voice to the
other ten thousand personalities we possess by giving them voice on the page. Therapy
shmerapy. So tell me, are the experiences in your current release WHAT A GIRL
WANTS based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Selena: The only similarity between the lead characters and my life is that their close
friendship led to love. Okay, I will admit to being a bit mischievous, but not nearly as
much as the heroine

Moira: A bit? I feel compelled to call bullshit on that remark…bless your heart. Why is
injecting humor so important in the stories you write?

Selena: Laughter, especially self-deprecating humor is something I appreciate in books
I read and they are also part of real life. Eliciting emotion from a reader means that a
writer has nailed it. If a reader tells me they laughed hard at something I wrote or even
cried, then I feel that I’ve done my job.

Moira: You can say that again. And you do it well my dear. You do it well. Please round
out our interview by sharing a little about your stories!

Selena: Thank you for inviting me on your blog. It’s been a blast and I hope your
readers realize how difficult it was for me to come out of my shell and be so open like
this.

Moira: I’m sure they will get that impression. Now lets get to the books!

What a Girl Wants is a contemporary romance for readers who enjoy a spicy ‘friends-to-
lovers’ themed romance, filled with witty repartee, lots of sexual innuendos, unexpected
twists, a splash of mystery, comedic moments and red-hot-sex scenes. The heroine
(Maddie) is known as “the woman with the black belt in mischief.” Alex (the hero) has
accepted Maddie’s pranks over the years and enjoys their friendship, even though
he compares her to Lucille Ball on Red Bull at times. Deep down, I think he really
likes it…well, most times. Ultimately, What a Girl Wants is about friendship, love,
commitment, family and forgiveness.

Excerpt: Readers can read an excerpt of What A Girl Wants on my website: https://selenarobins.com/Excerpt.html

There is also a fun character interview with the hero/heroine on my website: https://
selenarobins.com/Character_Interview.html (along with a picture of who I picture Alex, the hero to look like)

What A Girl Wants is available in both Paperback and e-Book at: Amazon, Kobo,
Barnes and Noble, Samhain Publishing and most e-book distributors.

Tempted by An Angel, a FREE Short Story, a comedy with romantic undertones is
available in all formats. Kobo, Barnes & Noble, I-Tunes, Sony, Smashwords and many
other e-book distributors.

Blurb: Matthew Lockwood hired entertainment for his nephew’s birthday party, instead an Angel showed up, wearing killer heels, carrying a bouquet of balloons and a body that was heavenly—except she had an attitude that was anything but angelic.

Unfortunately for Angel Montgomery, life doesn’t have auto-correct.

Matthew and Angel are both victims of unsynchronized mishaps.

Links:

Website: https://SelenaRobins.com/

Blog: http://SelenaRobinsMusings.com/

Follow Selena on Twitter: @SelenaRobins

Thanks for stopping by and visiting with Selena and I! We always love when others join our Mad Hatter Guinness, coffee, tea party!

Getting My Flirt On!

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Come tumbling down the rabbit hole with me as we delve into my first installment of Friday Flirts! My flirts will vary. Sometimes I will be ‘flirting’ with little tidbits about an author (think of it as a speed date with an author) or even interviews, and other days, I will turn the floor over to my fellow authors to flirt with my readers. Today, I am going to flirt with Denise A Agnew and PG Forte! Why? Well why the hell not?! My blog, my prerogative.

Hot PursuitFirst up in my Flirt Hot Seat…Denise A Agnew ~ She is a red-headed vixen who has penned over thirty five novels and counting! Genres she writes in? Romantic suspense, erotic, historical, fantasy, contemporary and paranormal romance - wait is there a genre she hasn’t written in? Perhaps that would have been easier to address.  As an author, I love to read. It kind of comes with the territory. A few fun facts about Denise that you may or may not know are that she is a paranormal investigator (watch out all you ghosts because Denise is on the prowl), she likes archery, and archaeology.

I recently read Hot Pursuit which is one of the aforementioned thirty-five and counting novels, and the one thing that I really loved about her writing was the character building. Some characters pull you in, some leave you feeling lukewarm, and others you plain can’t connect with. Lucy and Vic definitely were characters that pulled me and left me feeling for them. It was my first introduction to her writing and with a story that deals with a hot military man and a jaded woman looking for a one night stand…what more could you possibly want?

Second (but surely not least)… PG Forte! This hot California blonde might be a Jersey Girl by birth, but we won’t hold that against her. Since she was penning scandalous and sexy stories while attending an all girls Catholic High School, you can imagine the type of trouble this woman is likely to stir up in her novels. She has written over twenty novels and counting (watch out Denise, she is hot on your tail). Her genre preferences for her stories are romantic suspense, psychic fiction, erotic romance and paranormal. Whew, it’s getting very hot in here. Fun facts about PG? She likes to hold the whip. Get your minds out of the gutter. I totally meant for writing challenges (of course we might see if we can’t get in touch with Mr. Forte to be sure).

Currently, I am reading one of PG’s books – Old Sins, Long Shadows. As usual, I selected a book that is part of a series having not read any of the other books first. Thankfully, due to the writing quality of the book, I do not feel lost and am enjoying the poor tortured (and I do mean TORTURED) souls that are struggling to find their happy moments. I can not wait to share with you my thoughts on this lovely read when all is said and done.

There you have it. If you haven’t had the pleasure of indulging in a reading date with Denise A Agnew or PG Forte, might I suggest that you pick up one of their books and schedule that date for this weekend? Just click on the book cover to be whisked off to Amazon. You never know, you just might find yourself dating them quite frequently!

And So it Begins~

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The big countdown is upon us. We are ten days out from the release of Blood and Moonlight. That’s right, I said TEN! Can you believe it? I know I can’t. This book has been a true labor of love. You’re asking, “But Moira, aren’t all books a labor of love?”

True, every book an author pens is a labor of love, just some more so than others. This was my ‘some more than others’ book. When people ask what inspired me to write, it was delving into the worlds of Kim Harrison, Laurell K Hamilton, and Vicki Pettersson. Urban Fantasies that just sucked me in and made me want to live in the pages of those books. Strong female characters that were flawed and full of potential and serious attitude. This book was measured against my own personal writing heroines.

So where do you go next after you’ve written your ultimate labor of love? You start working on the next book of course! A trilogy doesn’t write itself after all and I have a story to tell. So while Blood and Moonlight might introduce you to Kiara Morrigan, it is hardly the last time you will see her or her wolf and his Celtic brogue. Their story is just beginning. It’s mean for me to tease. I know, but I can hardly help myself. I’m excited about sharing this story with you.

So as we near the BIG day, I am looking to celebrate. I will be tortured…um interviewed rather, blogging, giving away, and just plain screaming from the rafters.

http://moirakeith.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/moira-sig1.png

Sitting Down With Lauren Murphy!

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I am so excited to have the lovely and talented Lauren Murphy here with me today. She agreed to come hang out with me for the day. Lauren and I met through Romance Divas and we immediately seemed to get along. I’ve had the honor of critiquing her stories as well as beta reading them. (It’s kind of like being the first person invited to a raging party) So without further adieu, Iet’s start the grilling… I mean interview.

Moira: Let’s break the ice shall we, my dear? If you could be intimate with three people (not necessarily all at one time) without getting in trouble with your significant other, who would they be?

Lauren: *rubs hands together* Three you say? Vin Diesel. I mean oh my GAWD! What a body, what smile… what a voice. *melts at the thought of…* Ahem. Sorry I got little distracted. Matt Bomer. *fans* That man is intensely gorgeous! I mean those eyes… *happy sigh* Er…um… moving right along. *cough* Chris Hemsworth, because I mean REALLY, who wouldn’t want to get acquainted with Thor’s Hammer. Soooo wait a minute… I don’t get them all at the same time?  

Moira:Yeah, I knew you wouldn’t be too thrilled with the ‘not all at the same time bit’ yet you still managed to enjoy the question so don’t act all put out and heart broken. You forget my dear, I know you.

Lauren: *pout* fine then.

Moira: Haha. Moving on before you lay on the pouting to thick, tell us what genre do you write in, and why?

Lauren: I write duuuuuurdy. Paranormal Erotic Romance is what I love to write. I have tried my hand at Contemporary Romance and it was all dreck so I am sticking to what I’m good at. I love the sensual aspects of the energy shared between the characters. The heat, the tension… *fans and opens window* I’m sorry what were we talking about?

Moira: Don’t lose focus yet, I still have a lot more questions. How long were you writing before you received your first contract for publication?

Lauren: I got my first contract about a year after I’d decided to get serious about writing. When I first started my writing was rough enough to make me reconsider. I had no idea my writing needed so much help, but I was willing to learn and there were many who were willing to guide me.

Moira: And the learning doesn’t cease with the sale either. When you’re ready to get down to business, do you need to be in a specific place or atmosphere before the words flow?

Lauren: Nope. All I need is a working computer… which is sometimes harder to come by than I’d like.

Moira: Ah the working computer…it can be as elusive as finding a faerie in Vegas. Speaking of faeries in Vegas, care to share what you found to be the strangest source of inspiration for a story?

Lauren: Another story. One of my dreckelicious Contemps helped to spawn a Paranormal premise I still can’t believe came from me. Just wait till I get that one going.

Moira: Dreckelicious? I love it. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Lauren: Sleep… but I never actually get to do that. Two of my favorite things are reading and scrapbooking. I love to immerse myself in a good story. With a book I can go anywhere and be anything. And scrapbooking really just let’s my creative juices flow and it helps to quiet my very busy and cluttered mind.

Moira: Name one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you.

Lauren: I’m not really what most people would consider romantic. Flowers and candy do absolutely nothing for me, though I may write about them if they make sense in a story. I prefer quiet moments alone with my husband (known as The Man) or to sneak out (usually while the kids are sleeping) to have a quick date to McDonalds. Yep McDonalds.

Moira: Quick dates are sometimes the best ones. Do you have any tattoos or piercings?

Lauren: Do ear piercings count, cause I have those? Well I do have a tattoo in a place that shall remain unnamed.

Moira: That is so wrong. You should’ve just not even mentioned the tatt if you weren’t going to divulge the information. Sheesh. You don’t play fair. Alright, if you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you spend the money on?

Lauren: Pay off all my debt, purchase a house and give my family and The Man’s family some financial assistance as well.  And then I would take a super long vacation at a beach with endless eye candy. What? A girl can dream… 

Moira: Yes endless eye candy is a dream… and we will allow you those dreams. Why? Because we love you. Now let’s move from dreams to something less romantic or fun. Which household chore do you abhor and why?

Lauren: There are too many to name. I will go with dishes though. Doing dishes it the devil. End of story.

Moira: Dishes are the devil. But I think that Laundry is either a close second or the devil’s consort. Hmm…the devil, nice segue. Do you have any guilty pleasures you feel comfortable sharing?

Lauren: What is this guilt you speak of? Only pleasure… ok so maybe sometimes, on occasion, rarely… ahem… I enjoy my 2 year old’s shows more than he does. Don’t judge me.

Moira: Hardly a ‘guilty’ pleasure. I’m going to assume that you are giving me the G rated version of that answer. One author, dead or alive, and you get to have a one on one with them. Who would it be and why?

Lauren: Kresley Cole. I just plain love that woman.

Moira: Ooh, you recommended her books to me once. I think I’ve got her in my TBR pile, problem is I need the shovel to dig through it. So where can readers find you?

Lauren: My blog is the best place. http://mslaurenmurphy.blogspot.com

Moira: In closing, tell us a bit about your latest release (& share a yummy excerpt for those who aren’t yet familiar with your work)

Lauren: My current Release is called Curse of the Demon Queen. Aamon and Lilith are unlike any characters I’ve ever written but they turned out to be two of my favorites. He spends a lot of the story trying to resist the irresistible… her. 

 Excerpt:
 When he transported back to his domain, Lilith stood, proud and tall, waiting on him. His body betrayed him and hardened at the sight of her. To make matters worse, his head still hurt from the pressure of trying to ignore the woman he’d helped. The pain would probably plague him for the rest of the week and screw with his much needed focus.

 He sucked in a breath as he got a full on view of her new attire. Heaven knew why she insisted on the leather getup. It didn’t suit her. A black, sheer gown blew around her lithe body and bronze skin tantalized him as she sauntered toward him. The scent of lavender and vanilla wafted in the air, forcing him to close his eyes and strengthen his stance. Lilith’s beauty had blinded him once before and he’d paid dearly for it. As far as looks went, no other woman had ever come close, but some things were more important than physical splendor. Like how he’d declared fifty years ago they were an ill match and decided she needed to be off limits. As if he could stop wanting her.

 Pathetic.

 “Did she leave so soon?” Lilith cooed in a sensual voice, interrupting his thoughts. “The ladies don’t fawn over you if they can’t see your beautiful face, do they?”

 As the cruel words left her lips, she cupped his head between her hands. His face transformed, making him appear completely human.

 “That’s better, isn’t it?”

Blurb:

 Fifty years ago, Lilith, Queen of the Demons, took the fall for something she wanted no part in and it cost her the only man she ever loved.

 Betrayed and cursed, Aamon wants nothing but his freedom. Unable to let him go, Lilith watches him constantly, selfishly lusting for the love she destroyed. No matter how long he’s forced to serve, he’ll never forgive her. 

 The two end up on a treacherous ride of depravity and burning desire. Only absolute forgiveness will be able bring them back from this perilous journey.  

http://cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/demonqueen.htm

http://www.fictionwise.com/servlet/mw?t=book&bi=125856&si=0 

Thank you so much for stopping by Lauren. As always, it was fun and I hope everyone else enjoyed your visit as much as I did!

Ah Reading!

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Between the Kindle, the Nook, and my bookcases, there is no shortage for reading material around my house. However, it seems as though I’ve read very little over the last year. In fact, I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I’ve only read about two and a half books in the last twelve months that I know of. And one of them was required for my English class.

So the lovely Bethanne Strasser and I were discussing this reading drought we both seem to be painfully suffering at the moment. We decided to each choose a book and we would both read them. It seems like such a small thing. Make a commitment to read. It is fuel for the muse, not to mention that it often offers us an opportunity to escape and recharge.

I’ve chosen the first book, and so far it’s off to a great start. The cover is fantastic, and the story is intriguing right from the get go. My enthusiasm for this book will hopefully last throughout the end of the book. Is your interest piqued? Fine, I will share.

 New author, new book, and lots of reading to do when I’m taking a break from writing or winding down at the end of the evening. My summer of reading is going to start early. I miss reading. Lets see if I can increase my overall reading total beyond ten by the end of the summer shall we? An aggressive goal? Perhaps it is with all that is on my plate, but even if I don’t reach it, the fun is in the journey isn’t it?

Feeding the Writer

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No this isn’t a post about food. Though I could definitely do that. Today though, I decided to talk about the one thing that I’ve slacked on lately. Feeding the writer is a bit of a necessity. Why and how are likely questions you have at this juncture. Well my own opinion on the matter is simple. To breed creative works, you must view the world differently. You must view it through the ‘what if’ glasses to take a simple thing and let it blossom into something great.

The avenues I choose to take when feeding my writing soul are by no means a one size fits all approach. However, there are three distinct things I turn to for creative fuel.

Reading ~ when I delve into a book, be it an awesome NYT Bestseller that I can’t put down or a crappy book no one’s ever heard of, there is inspiration and knowledge to be gleaned from those glorious pages. From the character development to the plot, you can learn a lot about what works (or doesn’t) for a particular story. Even better, a book can light a fire under my arse if I’ve been slacking on getting my words on paper.

Movies & Television ~ Stories acted out for a viewer can be a great source of creative fodder. Everything is visual. So depending on what your eye is attracted to, you can see what works or doesn’t work in a story. Sometimes, the characters might not stand out to you as ‘the evil doer’ because of the way the screen/script writer drafted the character. They make the character blend. On the other hand, you have characters that are so in your face that you can’t forget them even if you tried. Settings are another big thing. When you read a book, everything is left to your imagination. If the author did a good job, then your mind can recreate the scene effortlessly. Television and movies leave little to the imagination in that arena, but from an author’s perspective, you can pick apart the setting and try to describe the pieces that really set the scene.

Life ~ Nothing sparks the ‘what if’ game more to me than life itself. For example, let’s say you were on a road trip. Everyone else in the car is sleeping. You’re tired. So you start playing the game to entertain yourself. Here you are, driving down the road, late at night, a long drive. Darkness surrounding you. Two jails set back from the highway. A sign that states hitchhiking prohibited. Tell me that doesn’t just set the minds wheels into motion. Go on I dare you.

It’s always easy to blame the ‘muse’ when it seems the creative well has run dry. Honestly though, she can only work with what we give her. So if I’m not feeding my creative self, then she’s got zilch to go on. There’s only one way to keep her working for me and not against me. I’ve got to feed her with more than just Guinness (though that definitely doesn’t hurt). So tell me what are your tricks to feeding your creative self, or share what book or movie really stood out to you because the story was well told. Better yet, what are you reading now? Me? I’m reading Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore and so far, enjoying it. Sláinte!

Peeking Behind the Curtain~ with Rebekah Purdy

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Today I’m excited to have Rebekah Purdy here to help me celebrate my new site. I had the opportunity to sit down with Rebekah in a virtual cafe, where she showed up wearing fairy wings and clutching a wand. What was that? You haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her yet? Well here’s your chance. Everybody, this is Young Adult Author Rebekah Purdy—the awesomeness behind the books Staking Shadows and My Dad’s a Paranormal Investigator: Seeking Shapeshifters. Rebekah, this is…well, everybody! Now let’s get to peeling back the curtain and seeing what makes her tick.

 

Moira: Let’s break the ice shall we? If you could go on a dream date with three people who most influenced your writing, who would they be?

Rebekah: Okay, as many people know, I have a problem with counting (hehehe). So here are 5 instead of three: Wilson Rawls and Ann M. Martin for capturing my attention in 4th grade and instilling a love for reading. R.L. Stine and L.J. Smith for introducing me to YA Thrillers/Paranormal/Horror when I was in high school and making me want to write books. Lastly, Suzanne Collins for inspiring me to want to be a better writer.

Moira: I said three. Not one for following the rules apparently. Fine. I can work with this…just don’t make it a habit. What genre do you write in, and why?

Rebekah: I write YA Fantasy/Paranormal. I think it’s because I’ve always loved the thought of faraway lands and the fantastic. A place where the obscure is the normal.

Moira: I guess your faux pas is forgiven, but only because I’m a huge fan of the obscure, faraway, and fantastical. How long were you writing before you received your first contract for publication?

Rebekah: Hmmm…like 6-7 years (mind totally blanked out—LOL). But yeah, definitely a few years.

Moira: A few perhaps, but they’ve produced some great stories. Speaking of producing great stories, do you need to be in a specific place or atmosphere before the words flow?

Rebekah: Not necessarily, however, I do tend to write better when it’s dreary and stormy out, or if I’m at the beach, listening to the waves crashing in.

Moira: Ha! When I’m at the beach I’m thinking about drinks with little umbrellas, surfers, and relaxing. What’s the strangest source of inspiration you’ve found for a story?

Rebekah: LOL—um, actually it was a spam email I got. I’m hoping to actually write that story later this year.

Moira: Proof that spam can be beneficial (and no we aren’t talking the canned variety). When you aren’t being inspired by spam or dreary weather, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Rebekah: Watch football, soccer, camp, write, sing, hang with my kidlets, watch movies and TV.

Moira: For a fan of the obscure those are very normal spare time occupiers. Let’s see if we can shake things up a bit. Name one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you.

Rebekah: I spent a few years in the US Army and graduated with Honors from Advanced Individual Training (for both the course work/physical fitness).

Moira: Nope. Not obscure enough…though it is a great accomplishment. Still, I want something more. Do you have any tattoos or piercings?

Rebekah: My ears are pierced, and believe it or not I have a tattoo of a crescent moon/star on my ankle (which I got when I was 17).

Moira: Ears?! I’m trying to get to the deeper darker side of Rebekah Purdy and you give me pierced ears! Sheesh. You don’t play fair Ms. Purdy. Sooner or later I’m going to figure you out. If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you spend the money on?

Rebekah: What wouldn’t I spend it on? LOL. No, but seriously, I’d buy everyone in my family/my hubby’s family a house (or help pay off an existing mortgage). I’d set money aside for my kids. I’d also send some to my friends as well as donate money to the local schools and libraries in support of literacy.

Moira: Well I can’t knock that. Literacy is definitely an issue I think we can all get behind. Which household chore do you abhor and why?

Rebekah: This is a tough one. But I’d say laundry. I don’t mind washing it, but I HATE folding it. It’s like the socks take 2 million years to pair up.

Moira: Agreed. I always thought they were joking about the dryer eating socks when I was younger. Okay, one last attempt to get some dirt on you to be used at an undisclosed time and place for my own benefit. Do you have any guilty pleasures you feel comfortable sharing?

Rebekah: Crushing on celebrities (LOL): Ian Somerhalder, Johnny Depp, Taylor Lautner…

Moira: You can have Taylor. :) The other two we might have to discuss. Which of your characters would you most/least like to invite to dinner and why?

Rebekah: I’d probably invite Maggie, Seth, and Ima over to dinner. They’re all funny/quirky characters and I absolutely LOVE a good laugh.

Moira: I can see that as being one rowdy and hilarious dinner party. One author, dead or alive, and you get to have a one on one with them. Who would it be and why?

Rebekah: Suzanne Collins, because I think she’s brilliant.

Moira: Well should you ever get the chance for that one on one, let me know. Might have a few questions of my own to throw into the pot. Every author has a moment of brilliance in their writing world. Something that just strikes a chord with them for one reason or another. Name one scene you go back and re-read often because you like it so much.

Rebekah: This is hard because I have a few. But probably the scene where my main character Maggie is trying to convince the guy she’s had a crush on since elementary school that she already has a boyfriend.

Moira: Ooh, that’s definitely a good one. If you could have one talent besides writing, what would it be?

Rebekah: Ohhh…making movies. Like using real special effects and stuff.

Moira: The Fairy Godmother Files: Cinderella Complex is the first in a series about Maggie Winters. What gave you the idea for the series?

Rebekah: Actually, I was kinda playing the what-if game one day. What if a teen found out she was to become the new Fairy Godmother? What if her first assignment was someone she completely loathed, and on top of that the guy she’s crushing on might be a part of that happy ending?

Moira: The ‘what-if’ game is one of my favorite brainstorming activities. So, is there anything top secret or special you’d like to share?

Rebekah: Hmmm…not at the moment. But I suppose people might like to know that I have several Star Wars songs on my MP3 player (hehehe). May the Force be with you! Oh and I like to do character voices (Yoda, Stitch (from Lilo and Stitch).

Moira: Not exactly what I had in mind there young Padawan. In closing, tell us a bit about your latest release (& share an excerpt for those who aren’t yet familiar with your work)

Rebekah: The Fairy Godmother Files: Cinderella Complex Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Maggie Winters can’t think of anything more exciting than junior year. There’s her first prom to look forward to, she can drive, and most important Connor Prince has finally noticed her. But unfortunately so has the school snob, Katrina Melville, who goes out of her way to make Maggie’s life a living hell. If that’s not enough, Maggie’s grandma has decided to retire, which doesn’t seem like such a big deal. That is until she finds out her grandma is a Fairy Godmother, and not just any Fairy Godmother. The Fairy Godmother, as in Cinderella, pumpkins, and mice. And she has informed Maggie that she’s next in line to become the new Fairy Godmother.

 

At first Maggie is excited, the whole getting wings, flying (or rather trying not to crash), and a wand that lets her grant wishes. It’s like being a superhero, without all the action, explosions, and spandex. Then she gets her first assignment, Katrina Melville, her nemesis. And if that doesn’t make her want to poof herself into oblivion, she finds out that part of Katrina’s happily-ever-after is Connor Prince. Life is so unfair. Even worse, she can’t tell her two best friends about any of it and they’re getting sick of her disappearing acts. Then there are the dangerous creatures, called Grimms who will stop at nothing to keep the happy endings from being fulfilled, even if it means destroying the Fairy Godmother responsible. With time running out, Maggie has to make this wish come true or it will ruin the fates of everyone involved, and open the world to darkness beyond imagination. Maggie will soon find out what it truly means to be a Fairy Godmother—and it isn’t all about princes, gowns, and wings, but something much more.

 

Excpert:

“Now comes the fun part.” Grandma opened the sliding glass doors leading onto the balcony. “You need to learn how to fly.” She tugged a lounge chair next to the railing. “Just climb up here and leap off.”

Not that I didn’t love my grandma, but she’d lost her ever-loving mind. No way in the world did any of my plans include jumping to my death. I took a step back. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“It’s like riding a bike.”

Maybe now was a good time to remind her how much I’d fallen down while learning to ride my bike. Taking a deep breath, I glanced at the ground below. It was a long way down. My pulse buzzed like a warning bell in my ears. Insane didn’t begin to describe this idea. More like freakin’ idiotic. And yet, I climbed onto the chair, then up onto the railing. I felt like a suicide on the ledge of a skyscraper.

“Think of your wings.” Grandma stood next to me, her hand resting on my calf.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I imagined my wings. The back of my shirt ripped and my wings expanded. Ugh, I loved this shirt. “Okay, I’m up here.” I kept my focus straight ahead. As long as I didn’t see the ground, I’d be all right, or at least I hoped I would be.

Grandma shoved me. I flailed off the balcony. She was trying to flippin’ kill me. In two seconds I’d be splatter on the lawn.

“Flap your wings,” she called.

The ground came at me at an alarming rate. Then, to my amazement, my wings kicked in, brushing air. Like a butterfly, I shot forward, gliding.

“Make sure you’re steering yourself.” Grandma’s voice sounded far away.

My lips tilted into a smile as I flew higher. Cool night air kissed my cheeks and whipped through my hair. I felt so free. I felt so—smack—a low-hanging tree limb whapped me in the face. Ow, crap! My face stung and my eyes watered. Right. Need to watch where I’m going. A strong gust of wind billowed in, catching my wings and tipping me backward. Like an out-of-control kite, I half fell, half glided toward the ground and into the side of a car.

Beep. Beep. Beep. The car alarm blared. I rubbed my arm and head. Now I knew how road kill felt.

“You okay?” Grandma hollered down.

“Sure, just give me a second to pull the fiberglass out of my face.” I stood and wiped myself off.

Grandma laughed. “You’ll get the hang of it. Maybe you should fly home tonight. Give yourself a chance to get used to your new wings.”

Sure, great idea. Then maybe I’d fly into the grill of a semi-truck or a hunter might shoot me out of the sky, thinking I was a big duck or something. And they’d stuff me like a turduken—only I’d be a turMaggen. Yeah, not a great visual. Because either way I looked at it, something or someone was going to be shoved into some place they didn’t want to go.

What had I gotten myself into? Grandma smiled and gestured for me to fly back up to her.

A Fairy Godmother. Me. Maggie Winters. The new Fairy Godmother. And I had no idea what I was doing.

 

Moira: Well that was definitely a treat! Thanks for letting me torture you Rebekah and hanging out with us today. For all you voracious readers out there, you can learn more about Rebekah Purdy and her books over at http://rebekahlpurdy.wordpress.com/ .

Thanks for stopping in. One copy of Cinderella Complex is up for grabs so ask your questions or just comment!

 

New Direction Take Two

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As in life, things are rarely perfect the first go around. Or we tend to change our minds, evolve, and realize that what we need is different than we first imagined. So is the case with my home here on the web. My site just didn’t feel like it fit ‘me’ anymore. Though it was lovely and worked when I first acquired it, what I wanted to project as my web presence changed. Now, thanks to Kim Killion and her very talented staff at Hot Damn Designs, I have this lovely new home that I feel is a better fit for the writer I am. I swear that Kim has a bit of magic fairy dust or possesses a certain fairy godmother gene…because she nailed what I wanted right out of the gate.

Speaking of fairy dust and fairy godmothers, next week I will have some fun things coming your way. One thing I’m willing to divulge is that I will be having the lovely Rebekah Purdy here to help celebrate my new look and her new release The Fairy Godmother Files. Yay! It is a fantastic young adult book that I just can’t wait to share with you! I might just try my hand at a little fairy dust and see what I can whip up for a giveaway or two so definitely come back by!